Маленька принцеса
Melchisedec
Sheliftedherheadtoseewhereitcamefrom,andifshehadbeenanervouschildshewouldhaveleftherseatonthebatteredfootstoolinagreathurry.Alargeratwassittinguponhishindquartersandsniffingtheairinaninterestedmanner.SomeofLottie’scrumbshaddroppeduponthefloorandtheirscenthaddrawnhimoutofhishole.
Helookedsoqueerandsolikeagray-whiskereddwarforgnomethatSarawasratherfascinated.Helookedatherwithhisbrighteyes,asifhewereaskingaquestion.Hewasevidentlysodoubtfulthatoneofthechild’squeerthoughtscameintohermind.
"Idaresayitisratherhardtobearat,"shemused."Nobodylikesyou.Peoplejumpandrunawayandscreamout,’Oh,ahorridrat!’Ishouldn’tlikepeopletoscreamandjumpandsay,’Oh,ahorridSara!’themomenttheysawme.Andsettrapsforme,andpretendtheyweredinner.It’ssodifferenttobeasparrow.Butnobodyaskedthisratifhewantedtobearatwhenhewasmade.Nobodysaid,’Wouldn’tyouratherbeasparrow?’"
Shehadsatsoquietlythattherathadbeguntotakecourage.Hewasverymuchafraidofher,butperhapshehadaheartlikethesparrowandittoldhimthatshewasnotathingwhichpounced.Hewasveryhungry.Hehadawifeandalargefamilyinthewall,andtheyhadhadfrightfullybadluckforseveraldays.Hehadleftthechildrencryingbitterly,andfelthewouldriskagooddealforafewcrumbs,sohecautiouslydroppeduponhisfeet.
"Comeon,"saidSara;"I’mnotatrap.Youcanhavethem,poorthing!PrisonersintheBastilleusedtomakefriendswithrats.SupposeImakefriendswithyou."
HowitisthatanimalsunderstandthingsIdonotknow,butitiscertainthattheydounderstand.
