Маленькая принцесса

           "Whowashe?"askedErmengarde,lookingatitquiteasifithadnotbeenamereordinarysilversixpence.

           "Hewasadarlinglittlethinggoingtoaparty,"saidSara."HewasoneoftheLargeFamily,thelittleonewiththeroundlegs—theoneIcallGuyClarence.IsupposehisnurserywascrammedwithChristmaspresentsandhampersfullofcakesandthings,andhecouldseeIhadnothing."

           Ermengardegavealittlejumpbackward.Thelastsentenceshadrecalledsomethingtohertroubledmindandgivenherasuddeninspiration.

           "Oh,Sara!"shecried."WhatasillythingIamnottohavethoughtofit!"

           "Ofwhat?"

           "Somethingsplendid!"saidErmengarde,inanexcitedhurry."Thisveryafternoonmynicestauntsentmeabox.Itisfullofgoodthings.Inevertouchedit,Ihadsomuchpuddingatdinner,andIwassobotheredaboutpapa’sbooks."Herwordsbegantotumbleovereachother."It’sgotcakeinit,andlittlemeatpies,andjamtartsandbuns,andorangesandred-currantwine,andfigsandchocolate.I’llcreepbacktomyroomandgetitthisminute,andwe’lleatitnow."

           Saraalmostreeled.Whenoneisfaintwithhungerthementionoffoodhassometimesacuriouseffect.SheclutchedErmengarde’sarm.

           "Doyouthink—youCOULD?"sheejaculated.

           "IknowIcould,"answeredErmengarde,andsherantothedoor—openeditsoftly—putherheadoutintothedarkness,andlistened.ThenshewentbacktoSara."Thelightsareout.Everybody’sinbed.Icancreep—andcreep—andnoonewillhear."