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shall I never see you again？〃
And then she burst into tears。 But young people's tears have very little
saltness or acidity in them； and do not inflame the eyes so much as those
of grown persons； so that it is not to be wondered at； if； a few moments
afterwards； Proserpina was sporting through the hall almost as merrily as
she and the four sea nymphs had sported along the edge of the surf wave。
King Pluto gazed after her； and wished that he； too； was a child。 And little
Proserpina； when she turned about； and beheld this great king standing in
his splendid hall； and looking so grand； and so melancholy； and so
lonesome； was smitten with a kind of pity。 She ran back to him； and； for
the first time in all her life； put her small； soft hand in his。
〃I love you a little；〃 whispered she； looking up in his face。
〃Do you； indeed； my dear child？〃 cried Pluto； bending his dark face
down to kiss her； but Proserpina shrank away from the kiss； for； though his
features were noble； they were very dusky and grim。 〃Well； I have not
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deserved it of you； after keeping you a prisoner for so many months； and
starving you besides。 Are you not terribly hungry？ Is there nothing which I
can get you to eat？〃
In asking this question； the king of the mines had a very cunning
purpose； for； you will recollect； if Proserpina tasted a morsel of food in his
dominions； she would never afterwards be at liberty to quit them。
〃No indeed；〃 said Proserpina。 〃Your head cook is always baking； and
stewing； and roasting； and rolling out paste； and contriving one dish or
another； which he imagines may be to my liking。 But he might just as well
save himself the trouble； poor； fat little man that he is。 I have no appetite
for anything in the world； unless it were a slice of bread； of my mother's
own baking； or a little fruit out of her garden。〃
When Pluto heard this； he began to see that he had mistaken the best
method of tempting Proserpina to eat。 The cook's made dishes and
artificial dainties were not half so delicious； in the good child's opinion； as
the simple fare to which Mother Ceres had accustomed her。 Wondering
that he had never thought of it before； the king now sent one of his trusty
attendants with a large basket； to get some of the finest and juiciest pears；
peaches； and plums which could anywhere be found in the upper world。
Unfortunately； however； this was during the time when Ceres had
forbidden any fruits or vegetables to grow； and； after seeking all over the
earth； King Pluto's servant found only a single pomegranate； and that so
dried up as not to be worth eating。 Nevertheless； since there was no better
to be had； he brought this dry； old withered pomegranate home to the
palace。
put it on a magnificent golden salver； and carried it up to Proserpina。
Now； it happened； curiously enough； that； just as the servant was bringing
the pomegranate into the back door of the palace； our friend Quicksilver
had gone up the front steps； on his errand to get Proserpina away from
King Pluto。
As soon as Proserpina saw the pomegranate on the golden salver； she
told the servant he had better take it away again。
〃I shall not touch it； I assure you；〃 said she。 〃If I were ever so hungry； I
should never think of eating such a miserable； dry pomegranate as that。〃
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〃It is the only one in the world；〃 said the servant。
He set down the golden salver； with the wizened pomegranate upon it；
and left the room。 When he was gone； Proserpina could not help coming
close to the table； and looking at this poor specimen of dried fruit with a
great deal of eagerness； for； to say the truth； on seeing something that
suited her taste； she felt all the six months' appetite taking possession of
her at once。 To be sure； it was a very wretched…looking pomegranate； and
seemed to have no more juice in it than an oyster shell。 But there was no
choice of such things in King Pluto's palace。 This was the first fruit she
had seen there； and the last she was ever likely to see； and unless she ate it
up immediately； it would grow drier than it already was； and be wholly
unfit to eat。
〃At least； I may smell it；〃 thought Proserpina。
So she took up the pomegranate； and applied it to her nose； and；
somehow or other； being in such close neighborhood to her mouth； the
fruit found its way into that little red cave。 Dear me！ what an everlasting
pity！ Before Proserpina knew what she was about； her teeth had actually
bitten it； of their own accord。 Just as this fatal deed was done； the door of
the apartment opened； and in came King Pluto； followed by Quicksilver；
who had been urging him to let his little prisoner go。 At the first noise of
their entrance； Proserpina withdrew the pomegranate from her mouth。 But
Quicksilver （whose eyes were very keen； and his wits the sharpest that
ever anybody had） perceived that the child was a little confused； and
seeing the empty salver； he suspected that she had been taking a sly nibble
of something or other。 As for honest Pluto； he never guessed at the secret。
〃My little Proserpina；〃 said the king； sitting down； and affectionately
drawing her between his knees； 〃here is Quicksilver； who tells me that a
great many misfortunes have befallen innocent people on account of my
detaining you in my dominions。 To confess the truth； I myself had already
reflected that it was an unjustifiable act to take you away from your good
mother。 But； then； you must consider； my dear child； that this vast palace
is apt to be gloomy （although the precious stones certainly shine very
bright）； and that I am not of the most cheerful disposition； and that
therefore it was a natural thing enough to seek for the society of some
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merrier creature than myself。 I hoped you would take my crown for a
plaything； and meah； you laugh； naughty Proserpiname； grim as I am；
for a playmate。 It was a silly expectation。〃
〃Not so extremely silly；〃 whispered Proserpina。 〃You have really
amused me very much； sometimes。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said King Pluto； rather dryly。 〃But I can see plainly
enough； that you think my palace a dusky prison； and me the iron…hearted
keeper of it。 And an iron heart I should surely have； if I could detain you
here any longer； my poor child； when it is now six months since you tasted
food。 I give you your liberty。 Go with Quicksilver。 Hasten home to your
dear mother。〃
Now； although you may not have supposed it； Proserpina found it
impossible to take leave of poor King Pluto without some regrets； and a
good deal of compunction for not telling him about the pomegranate。 She
even shed a tear or two； thinking how lonely and cheerless the great palace
would seem to him； with all its ugly glare of artificial light； after she
herselfhis one little ray of natural sunshine； whom he had stolen； to be
sure； but only because he valued her so muchafter she should have
departed。 I know not how many kind things she might have said to the
disconsolate king of the mines； had not Quicksilver hurried her way。
〃Come along quickly；〃 whispered he in her ear； 〃or his majesty may
change his royal mind。 And take care； above all things； that you say
nothing of what was brought you on the golden salver。〃
In a very short time； they had passed the great gateway （leaving the
three…headed Cerberus； barking； and yelping； and growling； with threefold
din； behind them）； and emerged upon the surface of the earth。 It was
delightful to behold； as Proserpina hastened along； how the path grew
verdant behind and on either side of her。 Wherever she set her blessed foot；
there was at once a dewy flower。 The violets gushed up along the wayside。
The grass and the grain began to sprout with tenfold vigor and luxuriance；
to make up for the dreary months th