Маленькая принцесса
The Diamond Mines
Hehadmadewonderfulpreparationsforherbirthday.Amongotherthings,anewdollhadbeenorderedinParis,andherwardrobewastobe,indeed,amarvelofsplendidperfection.Whenshehadrepliedtotheletteraskingherifthedollwouldbeanacceptablepresent,Sarahadbeenveryquaint.
"Iamgettingveryold,"shewrote;"yousee,Ishallneverlivetohaveanotherdollgivenme.Thiswillbemylastdoll.Thereissomethingsolemnaboutit.IfIcouldwritepoetry,Iamsureapoemabout’ALastDoll’wouldbeverynice.ButIcannotwritepoetry.Ihavetried,anditmademelaugh.ItdidnotsoundlikeWattsorColeridgeorShakespeareatall.NoonecouldevertakeEmily’splace,butIshouldrespecttheLastDollverymuch;andIamsuretheschoolwouldloveit.Theyalllikedolls,thoughsomeofthebigones—thealmostfifteenones—pretendtheyaretoogrownup."
CaptainCrewehadasplittingheadachewhenhereadthisletterinhisbungalowinIndia.Thetablebeforehimwasheapedwithpapersandletterswhichwerealarminghimandfillinghimwithanxiousdread,buthelaughedashehadnotlaughedforweeks.
"Oh,"hesaid,"she’sbetterfuneveryyearshelives.Godgrantthisbusinessmayrightitselfandleavemefreetorunhomeandseeher.Whatwouldn’tIgivetohaveherlittlearmsroundmyneckthisminute!WhatWOULDN’TIgive!"
Thebirthdaywastobecelebratedbygreatfestivities.Theschoolroomwastobedecorated,andtherewastobeaparty.Theboxescontainingthepresentsweretobeopenedwithgreatceremony,andtherewastobeaglitteringfeastspreadinMissMinchin’ssacredroom.Whenthedayarrivedthewholehousewasinawhirlofexcitement.
