Маленькая принцесса
In the Attic
Yousee,nowthattrialshavecome,theyhaveshownthatIamNOTanicechild.Iwasafraidtheywould.Perhaps"—wrinklingherforeheadwisely—"thatiswhattheyweresentfor."
"Idon’tseeanygoodinthem,"saidErmengardestoutly.
"NeitherdoI—tospeakthetruth,"admittedSara,frankly."ButIsupposethereMIGHTbegoodinthings,evenifwedon’tseeit.ThereMIGHT"—doubtfully—"begoodinMissMinchin."
Ermengardelookedroundtheatticwitharatherfearsomecuriosity.
"Sara,"shesaid,"doyouthinkyoucanbearlivinghere?"
Saralookedroundalso.
"IfIpretendit’squitedifferent,Ican,"sheanswered;"orifIpretenditisaplaceinastory."
Shespokeslowly.Herimaginationwasbeginningtoworkforher.Ithadnotworkedforheratallsincehertroubleshadcomeuponher.Shehadfeltasifithadbeenstunned.
"Otherpeoplehavelivedinworseplaces.ThinkoftheCountofMonteCristointhedungeonsoftheChateaud’If.AndthinkofthepeopleintheBastille!"
"TheBastille,"halfwhisperedErmengarde,watchingherandbeginningtobefascinated.SherememberedstoriesoftheFrenchRevolutionwhichSarahadbeenabletofixinhermindbyherdramaticrelationofthem.NoonebutSaracouldhavedoneit.
Awell-knownglowcameintoSara’seyes.
