Маленькая принцесса
I Tried Not to Be
"TherehasbeensucharowinMissMinchin’sroom,MissAmeliahashadsomethinglikehystericsandhashadtogotobed."
Ermengardeansweredthemslowlyasifshewerehalfstunned.
"IhavejusthadthisletterfromSara,"shesaid,holdingitouttoletthemseewhatalongletteritwas.
"FromSara!"Everyvoicejoinedinthatexclamation.
"Whereisshe?"almostshriekedJessie.
"Nextdoor,"saidErmengarde,"withtheIndiangentleman."
"Where?Where?Hasshebeensentaway?DoesMissMinchinknow?Wastherowaboutthat?Whydidshewrite?Tellus!Tellus!"
Therewasaperfectbabel,andLottiebegantocryplaintively.
Ermengardeansweredthemslowlyasifshewerehalfplungedoutintowhat,atthemoment,seemedthemostimportantandself-explainingthing.
"ThereWEREdiamondmines,"shesaidstoutly;"thereWERE!"Openmouthsandopeneyesconfrontedher.
"Theywerereal,"shehurriedon."Itwasallamistakeaboutthem.Somethinghappenedforatime,andMr.Carrisfordthoughttheywereruined—"
"WhoisMr.Carrisford?"shoutedJessie.
"TheIndiangentleman.AndCaptainCrewethoughtso,too—andhedied;andMr.Carrisfordhadbrainfeverandranaway,andHEalmostdied.AndhedidnotknowwhereSarawas.Anditturnedoutthatthereweremillionsandmillionsofdiamondsinthemines;andhalfofthembelongtoSara;andtheybelongedtoherwhenshewaslivingintheatticwithnoonebutMelchisedecforafriend,andthecookorderingherabout.AndMr.
