Маленькая принцесса
The Diamond Mines Again
"No—ye-es!"shesaid."Butitistooshortforher.Shehasonlytheoldblackvelvet,andshehasoutgrownit."
"Goandtellhertotakeoffthatpreposterouspinksilkgauze,andputtheblackoneon,whetheritistooshortornot.Shehasdonewithfinery!"
ThenMissAmeliabegantowringherfathandsandcry.
"Oh,sister!"shesniffed."Oh,sister!WhatCANhavehappened?"
MissMinchinwastednowords.
"CaptainCreweisdead,"shesaid."Hehasdiedwithoutapenny.Thatspoiled,pampered,fancifulchildisleftapauperonmyhands."
MissAmeliasatdownquiteheavilyinthenearestchair.
"HundredsofpoundshaveIspentonnonsenseforher.AndIshallneverseeapennyofit.Putastoptothisridiculouspartyofhers.Goandmakeherchangeherfrockatonce."
"I?"pantedMissAmelia."M-mustIgoandtellhernow?"
"Thismoment!"wasthefierceanswer."Don’tsitstaringlikeagoose.Go!"
PoorMissAmeliawasaccustomedtobeingcalledagoose.Sheknew,infact,thatshewasratheragoose,andthatitwaslefttogeesetodoagreatmanydisagreeablethings.Itwasasomewhatembarrassingthingtogointothemidstofaroomfullofdelightedchildren,andtellthegiverofthefeastthatshehadsuddenlybeentransformedintoalittlebeggar,andmustgoupstairsandputonanoldblackfrockwhichwastoosmallforher.Butthethingmustbedone.Thiswasevidentlynotthetimewhenquestionsmightbeasked.
