Маленькая принцесса

           Shetolditquitesimply,andinasfewwordsaspossible;butsomehowtheIndiangentlemanfounditnecessarytoshadehiseyeswithhishandandlookdownatthecarpet.

           "AndIwassupposingakindofplan,"shesaid,whenshehadfinished."IwasthinkingIshouldliketodosomething."

           "Whatwasit?"saidMr.Carrisford,inalowtone."Youmaydoanythingyouliketodo,princess."

           "Iwaswondering,"ratherhesitatedSara—"youknow,yousayIhavesomuchmoney—IwaswonderingifIcouldgotoseethebun-woman,andtellherthatif,whenhungrychildren—particularlyonthosedreadfuldays—comeandsitonthesteps,orlookinatthewindow,shewouldjustcalltheminandgivethemsomethingtoeat,shemightsendthebillstome.CouldIdothat?"

           "Youshalldoittomorrowmorning,"saidtheIndiangentleman.

           "Thankyou,"saidSara."Yousee,Iknowwhatitistobehungry,anditisveryhardwhenonecannotevenPRETENDitaway."

           "Yes,yes,mydear,"saidtheIndiangentleman."Yes,yes,itmustbe.Trytoforgetit.Comeandsitonthisfootstoolnearmyknee,andonlyrememberyouareaprincess."

           "Yes,"saidSara,smiling;"andIcangivebunsandbreadtothepopulace."Andshewentandsatonthestool,andtheIndiangentleman(heusedtolikehertocallhimthat,too,sometimes)drewhersmalldarkheaddownonhiskneeandstrokedherhair.

           Thenextmorning,MissMinchin,inlookingoutofherwindow,sawthethingssheperhapsleastenjoyedseeing.