The Indian Gentleman

           ButitwasaperilousthingforErmengardeandLottietomakepilgrimagestotheattic.TheycouldneverbequitesurewhenSarawouldbethere,andtheycouldscarcelyeverbecertainthatMissAmeliawouldnotmakeatourofinspectionthroughthebedroomsafterthepupilsweresupposedtobeasleep.Sotheirvisitswererareones,andSaralivedastrangeandlonelylife.Itwasalonelierlifewhenshewasdownstairsthanwhenshewasinherattic.Shehadnoonetotalkto;andwhenshewassentoutonerrandsandwalkedthroughthestreets,aforlornlittlefigurecarryingabasketoraparcel,tryingtoholdherhatonwhenthewindwasblowing,andfeelingthewatersoakthroughhershoeswhenitwasraining,shefeltasifthecrowdshurryingpasthermadeherlonelinessgreater.WhenshehadbeenthePrincessSara,drivingthroughthestreetsinherbrougham,orwalking,attendedbyMariette,thesightofherbright,eagerlittlefaceandpicturesquecoatsandhatshadoftencausedpeopletolookafterher.Ahappy,beautifullycaredforlittlegirlnaturallyattractsattention.Shabby,poorlydressedchildrenarenotrareenoughandprettyenoughtomakepeopleturnaroundtolookatthemandsmile.NoonelookedatSarainthesedays,andnooneseemedtoseeherasshehurriedalongthecrowdedpavements.Shehadbeguntogrowveryfast,and,asshewasdressedonlyinsuchclothesastheplainerremnantsofherwardrobewouldsupply,sheknewshelookedveryqueer,indeed.