Little Prince — Chapter 26

　　"I am glad that you have found what was the matter with your engine," he said. "Now you can go back home--"

　　"How do you know about that?"

　　I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyond anything that I had dared to hope. He made no answer to my question, but he added:

　　"I, too, am going back home today..."

　　Then, sadly--

　　"It is much farther... it is much more difficult..."

　　I realised clearly that something extraordinary was happening. I was holding him close in my arms as if he were a little child; and yet it seemed to me that he was rushing headlong toward an abyss from which I could do nothing to restrain him...

　　His look was very serious, like some one lost far away.

　　"I have your sheep. And I have the sheep‘s box. And I have the muzzle..." And he gave me a sad smile.

　　I waited a long time. I could see that he was reviving little by little.

　　"Dear little man," I said to him, "you are afraid..."

　　He was afraid, there was no doubt about that. But he laughed lightly.

　　"I shall be much more afraid this evening..."