Маленькая принцесса
The Other Side of the Wall
"IfthechildatMadamePascal’sschoolinPariswastheoneyouareinsearchof,"heansweredsoothingly,"shewouldseemtobeinthehandsofpeoplewhocanaffordtotakecareofher.Theyadoptedherbecauseshehadbeenthefavoritecompanionoftheirlittledaughterwhodied.Theyhadnootherchildren,andMadamePascalsaidthattheywereextremelywell-to-doRussians."
"Andthewretchedwomanactuallydidnotknowwheretheyhadtakenher!"exclaimedMr.Carrisford.
Mr.Carmichaelshruggedhisshoulders.
"Shewasashrewd,worldlyFrenchwoman,andwasevidentlyonlytoogladtogetthechildsocomfortablyoffherhandswhenthefather’sdeathlefthertotallyunprovidedfor.Womenofhertypedonottroublethemselvesaboutthefuturesofchildrenwhomightproveburdens.Theadoptedparentsapparentlydisappearedandleftnotrace."
"Butyousay’IFthechildwastheoneIaminsearchof.Yousay’if.’Wearenotsure.Therewasadifferenceinthename."
"MadamePascalpronounceditasifitwereCarewinsteadofCrewe—butthatmightbemerelyamatterofpronunciation.Thecircumstanceswerecuriouslysimilar.AnEnglishofficerinIndiahadplacedhismotherlesslittlegirlattheschool.Hehaddiedsuddenlyafterlosinghisfortune."Mr.Carmichaelpausedamoment,asifanewthoughthadoccurredtohim."AreyouSUREthechildwasleftataschoolinParis?AreyousureitwasParis?"
"Mydearfellow,"brokeforthCarrisford,withrestlessbitterness,"IamSUREofnothing.
