Маленька принцеса

           Shehadfoundoutalreadythatshewastobeheldaccountableforeverythingwhichwasobjectedto.Ifthechildrenwerenotattentive,iftheytalked,iftheywererestless,itwasshewhowouldbereproved.

           ButLottiewasadeterminedlittleperson.IfSarawouldnottellherwhereshelived,shewouldfindoutinsomeotherway.Shetalkedtohersmallcompanionsandhungabouttheeldergirlsandlistenedwhentheyweregossiping;andactinguponcertaininformationtheyhadunconsciouslyletdrop,shestartedlateoneafternoononavoyageofdiscovery,climbingstairsshehadneverknowntheexistenceof,untilshereachedtheatticfloor.Thereshefoundtwodoorsneareachother,andopeningone,shesawherbelovedSarastandinguponanoldtableandlookingoutofawindow.

           "Sara!"shecried,aghast."MammaSara!"Shewasaghastbecausetheatticwassobareanduglyandseemedsofarawayfromalltheworld.Hershortlegshadseemedtohavebeenmountinghundredsofstairs.

           Saraturnedroundatthesoundofhervoice.Itwasherturntobeaghast.Whatwouldhappennow?IfLottiebegantocryandanyonechancedtohear,theywerebothlost.Shejumpeddownfromhertableandrantothechild.

           "Don’tcryandmakeanoise,"sheimplored."Ishallbescoldedifyoudo,andIhavebeenscoldedallday.It’s—it’snotsuchabadroom,Lottie."

           "Isn’tit?"gaspedLottie,andasshelookedrounditshebitherlip.Shewasaspoiledchildyet,butshewasfondenoughofheradoptedparenttomakeanefforttocontrolherselfforhersake.Then,somehow,itwasquitepossiblethatanyplaceinwhichSaralivedmightturnouttobenice."Whyisn’tit,Sara?"shealmostwhispered.