Маленькая принцесса

           Hewasevidentlygladtogettothefire,andwhenshesatdownandheldhimonherkneehelookedfromhertoBeckywithmingledinterestandappreciation.

           "HeISplain-looking,miss,ain’the?"saidBecky.

           "Helookslikeaveryuglybaby,"laughedSara."Ibegyourpardon,monkey;butI’mgladyouarenotababy.YourmotherCOULDN’Tbeproudofyou,andnoonewoulddaretosayyoulookedlikeanyofyourrelations.Oh,Idolikeyou!"

           Sheleanedbackinherchairandreflected.

           "Perhapshe’ssorryhe’ssougly,"shesaid,"andit’salwaysonhismind.IwonderifheHASamind.Monkey,mylove,haveyouamind?"

           Butthemonkeyonlyputupatinypawandscratchedhishead.

           "Whatshallyoudowithhim?"Beckyasked.

           "Ishalllethimsleepwithmetonight,andthentakehimbacktotheIndiangentlemantomorrow.Iamsorrytotakeyouback,monkey;butyoumustgo.Yououghttobefondestofyourownfamily;andI’mnotaREALrelation."

           Andwhenshewenttobedshemadehimanestatherfeet,andhecurledupandsleptthereasifhewereababyandmuchpleasedwithhisquarters."