Certainly! He had imagined this as flowing very smoothly, and now it turned out not to be as simple as he had thought. What was the use, here, of having the best intentions? Bambi did not want to seem to be badly brought up, but that is how he would seem if he came out here without saying a word. Nor did he want to impose himself on the stag, but that was what he would be doing if he started speaking.
The stag stood there in indignant majesty. Bambi was alarmed and felt humiliated. He tried in vain to shake himself into doing something and just one thought kept running through his head: Why should I let him frighten me ...? I’m just as good as he is ... just as good as he is!
It did not help. Bambi continued to feel frightened and felt deep in the heart of him that he was not just as good as he is. Not by a long way. He felt pitiful, and he needed all his strength to keep any kind of dignity.
The stag looked at him and thought: He is charming ... truly delightful ... so good looking ... so elegant ... so fine in all his movements. But I’d better not stare at him like this. That would really not be proper. And I might even embarrass him.
And he looked away from Bambi and went back to gazing into the distance.
That haughty look, Bambi decided! It’s unbearable, the way he puffs himself up!
The stag thought: I’d like to talk with him ... he seems so likeable ... it’s so stupid, the way that people never talk to each other! And he continued to occupy himself with gazing thoughtfully into the distance.
I’m just like the air for him, said Bambi, people like that always act as if they were the only people in the world!
But what should I say to him ...? the stag wondered. I’ve never had any practice in this ... I’d say something ridiculous and make a fool of myself ... as I’m sure he’s very clever.
Bambi pulled himself together and looked hard at the stag. He’s so majestic! he thought, still unsure of himself.