Маленькая принцесса
The Diamond Mines Again
Beckysteppedasiderespectfullytoallowthesuperiorservantstopassoutfirst.Shecouldnothelpcastingalongingglanceattheboxonthetable.Somethingmadeofbluesatinwaspeepingfrombetweenthefoldsoftissuepaper.
"Ifyouplease,MissMinchin,"saidSara,suddenly,"mayn’tBeckystay?"
Itwasaboldthingtodo.MissMinchinwasbetrayedintosomethinglikeaslightjump.Thensheputhereyeglassup,andgazedathershowpupildisturbedly.
"Becky!"sheexclaimed."MydearestSara!"
Saraadvancedasteptowardher.
"IwantherbecauseIknowshewillliketoseethepresents,"sheexplained."Sheisalittlegirl,too,youknow."
MissMinchinwasscandalized.Sheglancedfromonefiguretotheother.
"MydearSara,"shesaid,"Beckyisthescullerymaid.Scullerymaids—er—arenotlittlegirls."
Itreallyhadnotoccurredtohertothinkoftheminthatlight.Scullerymaidsweremachineswhocarriedcoalscuttlesandmadefires.
"ButBeckyis,"saidSara."AndIknowshewouldenjoyherself.Pleaseletherstay—becauseitismybirthday."
MissMinchinrepliedwithmuchdignity:
"Asyouaskitasabirthdayfavor—shemaystay.Rebecca,thankMissSaraforhergreatkindness."
