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 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 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。〃
〃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 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 that had been wasted in barrenness。 The starved cattle immediately set to work grazing； after their long fast； and ate enormously； all day； and got up at midnight to eat more。
But I can assure you it was a busy time of year with the farmers； when they found the summer coming upon them with such a rush。 Nor must I forget to say； that all the birds in the whole world hopped about upon the newly…blossoming trees； and sang together； in a prodigious ecstasy of joy。
Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home； and was sitting disconsolately on the doorstep； with her torch burning in her hand。 She had been idly watching the flame for some moments past； when； all at once； it flickered and went out。
〃What does this mean？〃 thought she。 〃It was an enchanted torch； and should have kept burning till my child came back。