Маленька принцеса
Melchisedec
Sarahuggedhercloseandtriedtolaugh.Therewasasortofcomfortinthewarmthoftheplump,childishbody.Shehadhadaharddayandhadbeenstaringoutofthewindowswithhoteyes.
"Youcanseeallsortsofthingsyoucan’tseedownstairs,"shesaid.
"Whatsortofthings?"demandedLottie,withthatcuriositySaracouldalwaysawakeneveninbiggergirls.
"Chimneys—quiteclosetous—withsmokecurlingupinwreathsandcloudsandgoingupintothesky—andsparrowshoppingaboutandtalkingtoeachotherjustasiftheywerepeople—andotheratticwindowswhereheadsmaypopoutanyminuteandyoucanwonderwhotheybelongto.Anditallfeelsashighup—asifitwasanotherworld."
"Oh,letmeseeit!"criedLottie."Liftmeup!"
Saraliftedherup,andtheystoodontheoldtabletogetherandleanedontheedgeoftheflatwindowintheroof,andlookedout.
Anyonewhohasnotdonethisdoesnotknowwhatadifferentworldtheysaw.Theslatesspreadoutoneithersideofthemandslanteddownintotheraingutter-pipes.Thesparrows,beingathomethere,twitteredandhoppedaboutquitewithoutfear.Twoofthemperchedonthechimneytopnearestandquarrelledwitheachotherfiercelyuntilonepeckedtheotheranddrovehimaway.Thegarretwindownexttotheirswasshutbecausethehousenextdoorwasempty.
"Iwishsomeonelivedthere,"Sarasaid."Itissoclosethatiftherewasalittlegirlintheattic,wecouldtalktoeachotherthroughthewindowsandclimbovertoseeeachother,ifwewerenotafraidoffalling."
