Маленькая принцесса
The Visitor
Theywereallgoodandexpensivethings,andonthepocketofthecoatwaspinnedapaper,onwhichwerewrittenthesewords:"Tobeworneveryday.Willbereplacedbyotherswhennecessary."
MissMinchinwasquiteagitated.Thiswasanincidentwhichsuggestedstrangethingstohersordidmind.Coulditbethatshehadmadeamistake,afterall,andthattheneglectedchildhadsomepowerfulthougheccentricfriendinthebackground—perhapssomepreviouslyunknownrelation,whohadsuddenlytracedherwhereabouts,andchosetoprovideforherinthismysteriousandfantasticway?Relationsweresometimesveryodd—particularlyricholdbacheloruncles,whodidnotcareforhavingchildrennearthem.Amanofthatsortmightprefertooverlookhisyoungrelation’swelfareatadistance.Suchaperson,however,wouldbesuretobecrotchetyandhot-temperedenoughtobeeasilyoffended.Itwouldnotbeverypleasantifthereweresuchaone,andheshouldlearnallthetruthaboutthethin,shabbyclothes,thescantfood,andthehardwork.Shefeltveryqueerindeed,andveryuncertain,andshegaveasideglanceatSara.
"Well,"shesaid,inavoicesuchasshehadneverusedsincethelittlegirllostherfather,"someoneisverykindtoyou.Asthethingshavebeensent,andyouaretohavenewoneswhentheyarewornout,youmayaswellgoandputthemonandlookrespectable.Afteryouaredressedyoumaycomedownstairsandlearnyourlessonsintheschoolroom.Youneednotgooutonanymoreerrandstoday."
