Маленькая принцесса

           TherewassuchasunsetasthisafewdaysaftertheIndiangentlemanwasbroughttohisnewhome;and,asitfortunatelyhappenedthattheafternoon’sworkwasdoneinthekitchenandnobodyhadorderedhertogoanywhereorperformanytask,Sarafounditeasierthanusualtoslipawayandgoupstairs.

           Shemountedhertableandstoodlookingout.Itwasawonderfulmoment.Therewerefloodsofmoltengoldcoveringthewest,asifaglorioustidewassweepingovertheworld.Adeep,richyellowlightfilledtheair;thebirdsflyingacrossthetopsofthehousesshowedquiteblackagainstit.

           "It’saSplendidone,"saidSara,softly,toherself."Itmakesmefeelalmostafraid—asifsomethingstrangewasjustgoingtohappen.TheSplendidonesalwaysmakemefeellikethat."

           Shesuddenlyturnedherheadbecausesheheardasoundafewyardsawayfromher.Itwasanoddsoundlikeaqueerlittlesqueakychattering.Itcamefromthewindowofthenextattic.Someonehadcometolookatthesunsetasshehad.Therewasaheadandapartofabodyemergingfromtheskylight,butitwasnottheheadorbodyofalittlegirlorahousemaid;itwasthepicturesquewhite-swathedformanddark-faced,gleaming-eyed,white-turbanedheadofanativeIndianman-servant—"aLascar,"Sarasaidtoherselfquickly—andthesoundshehadheardcamefromasmallmonkeyheheldinhisarmsasifhewerefondofit,andwhichwassnugglingandchatteringagainsthisbreast.

           AsSaralookedtowardhimhelookedtowardher.