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we must inquire what Proserpina had been doing ever since we saw her
last。
The child had declared； as you may remember； that she would not taste
a mouthful of food as long as she should be compelled to remain in King
Pluto's palace。 How she contrived to maintain her resolution； and at the
same time to keep herself tolerably plump and rosy； is more than I can
explain； but some young ladies； I am given to understand； possess the
faculty of living on air； and Proserpina seems to have possessed it too。 At
any rate； it was now six months since she left the outside of the earth； and
not a morsel； so far as the attendants were able to testify； had yet passed
between her teeth。 This was the more creditable to Proserpina； inasmuch
as King Pluto had caused her to be tempted day by day； with all manner of
sweetmeats； and richly…preserved fruits； and delicacies of every sort； such
as young people are generally most fond of。 But her good mother had
often told her of the hurtfulness of these things； and for that reason alone；
if there had been no other； she would have resolutely refused to taste them。
All this time； being of a cheerful and active disposition； the little
damsel was not quite so unhappy as you may have supposed。 The
immense palace had a thousand rooms； and was full of beautiful and
wonderful objects。 There was a never…ceasing gloom； it is true； which half
hid itself among the innumerable pillars； gliding before the child as she
wandered among them； and treading stealthily behind her in the echo of
her footsteps。 Neither was all the dazzle of the precious stones； which
flamed with their own light； worth one gleam of natural sunshine； nor
could the most brilliant of the many…colored gems； which Proserpina had
for playthings； vie with the simple beauty of the flowers she used to gather。
But still； whenever the girl went among those gilded halls and chambers； it
seemed as if she carried nature and sunshine along with her； and as if she
scattered dewy blossoms on her right hand and on her left。 After
Proserpina came； the palace was no longer the same abode of stately
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artifice and dismal magnificence that it had before been。 The inhabitants
all felt this； and King Pluto more than any of them。
〃My own little Proserpina；〃 he used to say。 〃I wish you could like me a
little better。 We gloomy and cloudy…natured persons have often as warm
hearts； at bottom； as those of a more cheerful character。 If you would only
stay with me of your own accord； it would make me happier than the
possession of a hundred such palaces as this。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Proserpina； 〃you should have tried to make me like you
before carrying me off。 And the best thing you can now do is； to let me go
again。 Then I might remember you sometimes； and think that you were as
kind as you knew how to be。 Perhaps； too； one day or other； I might come
back； and pay you a visit。〃
〃No； no；〃 answered Pluto； with his gloomy smile； 〃I will not trust you
for that。 You are too fond of living in the broad daylight； and gathering
flowers。 What an idle and childish taste that is！ Are not these gems； which
I have ordered to be dug for you； and which are richer than any in my
crownare they not prettier than a violet？〃
〃Not half so pretty；〃 said Proserpina； snatching the gems from Pluto's
hand； and flinging them to the other end of the hall。 〃O my sweet violets；
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