Маленькая принцесса

           Sara,whohadkeenears,suddenlyturnedalittleandlookedupattheroof.

           "Thatdidn’tsoundlikeMelchisedec,"shesaid."Itwasn’tscratchyenough."

           "What?"saidErmengarde,alittlestartled.

           "Didn’tyouthinkyouheardsomething?"askedSara.

           "N-no,"Ermengardefaltered."Didyou?"anothered.has"No-no,"

           "PerhapsIdidn’t,"saidSara;"butIthoughtIdid.Itsoundedasifsomethingwasontheslates—somethingthatdraggedsoftly."

           "Whatcoulditbe?"saidErmengarde."Coulditbe—robbers?"

           "No,"Sarabegancheerfully."Thereisnothingtosteal—"

           Shebrokeoffinthemiddleofherwords.Theybothheardthesoundthatcheckedher.Itwasnotontheslates,butonthestairsbelow,anditwasMissMinchin’sangryvoice.Sarasprangoffthebed,andputoutthecandle.

           "SheisscoldingBecky,"shewhispered,asshestoodinthedarkness."Sheismakinghercry."

           "Willshecomeinhere?"Ermengardewhisperedback,panic-stricken.

           "No.ShewillthinkIaminbed.Don’tstir."

           ItwasveryseldomthatMissMinchinmountedthelastflightofstairs.Saracouldonlyrememberthatshehaddoneitoncebefore.Butnowshewasangryenoughtobecomingatleastpartofthewayup,anditsoundedasifshewasdrivingBeckybeforeher.

           "Youimpudent,dishonestchild!"theyheardhersay."Cooktellsmeshehasmissedthingsrepeatedly."

           "’Twarn’tme,mum,"saidBeckysobbing."Iwas’ungryenough,but’twarn’tme—never!"

           "Youdeservetobesenttoprison,"saidMissMinchin’svoice.