Маленькая принцесса
What Melchisedec Heard and Saw
Heonlyknewthatthemenwereinvadingthesilenceandprivacyoftheattic;andastheonewiththedarkfacelethimselfdownthroughtheaperturewithsuchlightnessanddexteritythathedidnotmaketheslightestsound,Melchisedecturnedtailandfledprecipitatelybacktohishole.Hewasfrightenedtodeath.HehadceasedtobetimidwithSara,andknewshewouldneverthrowanythingbutcrumbs,andwouldnevermakeanysoundotherthanthesoft,low,coaxingwhistling;butstrangemenweredangerousthingstoremainnear.Helaycloseandflatneartheentranceofhishome,justmanagingtopeepthroughthecrackwithabright,alarmedeye.HowmuchheunderstoodofthetalkheheardIamnotintheleastabletosay;but,evenifhehadunderstooditall,hewouldprobablyhaveremainedgreatlymystified.
Thesecretary,whowaslightandyoung,slippedthroughtheskylightasnoiselesslyasRamDasshaddone;andhecaughtalastglimpseofMelchisedec’svanishingtail.
"Wasthatarat?"heaskedRamDassinawhisper.
"Yes;arat,Sahib,"answeredRamDass,alsowhispering."Therearemanyinthewalls."
"Ugh!"exclaimedtheyoungman."Itisawonderthechildisnotterrifiedofthem."
RamDassmadeagesturewithhishands.Healsosmiledrespectfully.HewasinthisplaceastheintimateexponentofSara,thoughshehadonlyspokentohimonce.
"Thechildisthelittlefriendofallthings,Sahib,"heanswered."Sheisnotasotherchildren.Iseeherwhenshedoesnotseeme.
