Маленькая принцесса
Melchisedec
Shehadfoundoutalreadythatshewastobeheldaccountableforeverythingwhichwasobjectedto.Ifthechildrenwerenotattentive,iftheytalked,iftheywererestless,itwasshewhowouldbereproved.
ButLottiewasadeterminedlittleperson.IfSarawouldnottellherwhereshelived,shewouldfindoutinsomeotherway.Shetalkedtohersmallcompanionsandhungabouttheeldergirlsandlistenedwhentheyweregossiping;andactinguponcertaininformationtheyhadunconsciouslyletdrop,shestartedlateoneafternoononavoyageofdiscovery,climbingstairsshehadneverknowntheexistenceof,untilshereachedtheatticfloor.Thereshefoundtwodoorsneareachother,andopeningone,shesawherbelovedSarastandinguponanoldtableandlookingoutofawindow.
"Sara!"shecried,aghast."MammaSara!"Shewasaghastbecausetheatticwassobareanduglyandseemedsofarawayfromalltheworld.Hershortlegshadseemedtohavebeenmountinghundredsofstairs.
Saraturnedroundatthesoundofhervoice.Itwasherturntobeaghast.Whatwouldhappennow?IfLottiebegantocryandanyonechancedtohear,theywerebothlost.Shejumpeddownfromhertableandrantothechild.
"Don’tcryandmakeanoise,"sheimplored."Ishallbescoldedifyoudo,andIhavebeenscoldedallday.It’s—it’snotsuchabadroom,Lottie."
"Isn’tit?"gaspedLottie,andasshelookedrounditshebitherlip.Shewasaspoiledchildyet,butshewasfondenoughofheradoptedparenttomakeanefforttocontrolherselfforhersake.Then,somehow,itwasquitepossiblethatanyplaceinwhichSaralivedmightturnouttobenice."Whyisn’tit,Sara?"shealmostwhispered.
