🔊 It took me a long time to learn where he came from. The little prince, who asked me so many questions, never seemed to hear the ones I asked him. It was from words dropped by chance that, little by little, everything was revealed to me.

It took me a long time to find out where he came from. The little prince asked me many questions, but he never seemed to hear my questions. Little by little, I learned everything from words he said by chance.

🔊

revealed /rɪˈviːld/

v. made something known that was previously secret➕

🔊 The first time he saw my airplane, for instance (I shall not draw my airplane; that would be much too complicated for me), he asked me: "What is that object?" "That is not an object. It flies. It is an airplane. It is my airplane." And I was proud to have him learn that I could fly. He cried out, then: "What! You dropped down from the sky?" "Yes," I answered, modestly. "Oh! That is funny!" And the little prince broke into a lovely peal of laughter, which irritated me very much. I like my misfortunes to be taken seriously.

For example, the first time he saw my airplane (I will not draw it; that is too hard for me), he asked me: "What is that thing?" "It is not a thing. It flies. It is an airplane. It is my airplane." And I was proud that he learned I could fly. He cried out: "What! You fell from the sky?" "Yes," I answered, modestly. "Oh! That is funny!" And the little prince laughed loudly, which annoyed me very much. I like people to take my problems seriously.

🔊

complicated /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/

adj. difficult to understand or deal with➕

🔊

modestly /ˈmɒdɪstli/

adv. in a way that is not too proud or confident➕

🔊

broke into /brəʊk ˈɪntuː/

phr. v. started suddenly doing something, such as laughing or crying➕

🔊

peal /piːl/

n. a loud sound of laughter or thunder➕

🔊

irritated /ˈɪrɪteɪtɪd/

adj. annoyed or angry➕

🔊

misfortunes /mɪsˈfɔːtʃuːnz/

n. bad luck or unfortunate events➕

🔊 Then he added: "So you, too, come from the sky! Which is your planet?" At that moment I caught a gleam of light in the impenetrable mystery of his presence; and I demanded, abruptly: "Do you come from another planet?" But he did not reply. He tossed his head gently, without taking his eyes from my plane: "It is true that on that you can't have come from very far away ..." And he sank into a reverie, which lasted a long time. Then, taking my sheep out of his pocket, he buried himself in the contemplation of his treasure.

Then he said: "So you also come from the sky! What is your planet?" At that moment, I saw a clue in the mystery of where he was from; and I asked suddenly: "Do you come from another planet?" But he did not answer. He shook his head gently, still looking at my plane: "It is true that with that, you cannot have come from very far..." And he thought deeply for a long time. Then, taking my sheep from his pocket, he looked at his treasure carefully.

🔊

gleam /ɡliːm/

n. a small bright light or flash➕

🔊

impenetrable /ɪmˈpenɪtrəbl/

adj. impossible to pass through or understand➕

🔊

mystery /ˈmɪstəri/

n. something that is not known or understood➕

🔊

presence /ˈprezns/

n. the state of being present➕

🔊

abruptly /əˈbrʌptli/

adv. suddenly and unexpectedly➕

🔊

reverie /ˈrevəri/

n. a state of being lost in thought➕

🔊

contemplation /ˌkɒntəmˈpleɪʃn/

n. the act of thinking deeply about something➕

🔊 You can imagine how my curiosity was aroused by this half-confidence about the "other planets." I made a great effort, therefore, to find out more on this subject. "My little man, where do you come from? What is this 'where I live,' of which you speak? Where do you want to take your sheep?" After a reflective silence he answered: "The thing that is so good about the box you have given me is that at night he can use it as his house." "That is so. And if you are good I will give you a string, too, so that you can tie him during the day, and a post to tie him to." But the little prince seemed shocked by this offer: "Tie him! What a queer idea!" "But if you don't tie him," I said, "he will wander off somewhere, and get lost." My friend broke into another peal of laughter: "But where do you think he would go?" "Anywhere. Straight ahead of him." Then the little prince said, earnestly: "That doesn't matter. Where I live, everything is so small!" And, with perhaps a hint of sadness, he added: "Straight ahead of him, nobody can go very far . . ."

You can guess how curious I was after hearing about "other planets." So, I tried hard to learn more. "My little friend, where are you from? What is this 'where I live' you talk about? Where do you want to take your sheep?" After thinking quietly, he answered: "The good thing about the box you gave me is that at night he can use it as his home." "That is right. And if you are good, I will give you a string too, so you can tie him during the day, and a post to tie him to." But the little prince seemed surprised by this: "Tie him! What a strange idea!" "But if you don't tie him," I said, "he will walk away and get lost." My friend laughed again: "But where do you think he would go?" "Anywhere. Straight ahead." Then the little prince said seriously: "That does not matter. Where I live, everything is very small!" And, with a bit of sadness, he added: "Straight ahead, nobody can go very far..."

🔊

curiosity /ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti/

n. the desire to know or learn something➕

🔊

aroused /əˈraʊzd/

v. caused to become active or interested➕

🔊

half-confidence /hɑːf ˈkɒnfɪdəns/

n. partial or incomplete confidence➕

🔊

reflective /rɪˈflektɪv/

adj. thinking deeply about things➕

🔊

queer /kwɪər/

adj. strange or unusual➕

🔊

wander /ˈwɒndər/

v. to walk or move aimlessly➕

🔊

earnestly /ˈɜːnɪstli/

adv. in a serious and sincere way➕

🔊

hint /hɪnt/

n. a small amount or indication➕

Chapter three