Маленькая принцесса
Ram Dass
Thesightofhisnativecostumeandtheprofoundreverenceofhismannerstirredallherpastmemories.Itseemedastrangethingtorememberthatshe—thedrudgewhomthecookhadsaidinsultingthingstoanhourago—hadonlyafewyearsagobeensurroundedbypeoplewhoalltreatedherasRamDasshadtreatedher;whosalaamedwhenshewentby,whoseforeheadsalmosttouchedthegroundwhenshespoketothem,whowereherservantsandherslaves.Itwaslikeasortofdream.Itwasallover,anditcouldnevercomeback.Itcertainlyseemedthattherewasnowayinwhichanychangecouldtakeplace.SheknewwhatMissMinchinintendedthatherfutureshouldbe.Solongasshewastooyoungtobeusedasaregularteacher,shewouldbeusedasanerrandgirlandservantandyetexpectedtorememberwhatshehadlearnedandinsomemysteriouswaytolearnmore.Thegreaternumberofhereveningsshewassupposedtospendatstudy,andatvariousindefiniteintervalsshewasexaminedandknewshewouldhavebeenseverelyadmonishedifshehadnotadvancedaswasexpectedofher.Thetruth,indeed,wasthatMissMinchinknewthatshewastooanxioustolearntorequireteachers.Giveherbooks,andshewoulddevourthemandendbyknowingthembyheart.Shemightbetrustedtobeequaltoteachingagooddealinthecourseofafewyears.
