Маленькая принцесса

           "Severalofyouherehavealsobeenelevenyearsold,butSara’sbirthdaysareratherdifferentfromotherlittlegirls’birthdays.Whensheisoldershewillbeheiresstoalargefortune,whichitwillbeherdutytospendinameritoriousmanner."

           "Thediamondmines,"giggledJessie,inawhisper.

           Saradidnothearher;butasshestoodwithhergreen-grayeyesfixedsteadilyonMissMinchin,shefeltherselfgrowingratherhot.WhenMissMinchintalkedaboutmoney,shefeltsomehowthatshealwayshatedher—and,ofcourse,itwasdisrespectfultohategrown-uppeople.

           "Whenherdearpapa,CaptainCrewe,broughtherfromIndiaandgaveherintomycare,"thespeechproceeded,"hesaidtome,inajestingway,’Iamafraidshewillbeveryrich,MissMinchin.’Myreplywas,’Hereducationatmyseminary,CaptainCrewe,shallbesuchaswilladornthelargestfortune.’Sarahasbecomemymostaccomplishedpupil.HerFrenchandherdancingareacredittotheseminary.Hermanners—whichhavecausedyoutocallherPrincessSara—areperfect.Heramiabilitysheexhibitsbygivingyouthisafternoon’sparty.Ihopeyouappreciatehergenerosity.Iwishyoutoexpressyourappreciationofitbysayingaloudalltogether,’Thankyou,Sara!’"

           TheentireschoolroomrosetoitsfeetasithaddonethemorningSararememberedsowell.

           "Thankyou,Sara!"itsaid,anditmustbeconfessedthatLottiejumpedupanddown.Saralookedrathershyforamoment.Shemadeacurtsy—anditwasaveryniceone.

           "Thankyou,"shesaid,"forcomingtomyparty."