Маленька принцеса
Melchisedec
"Wasit—aghost?"quakedErmengarde.
"No,"saidSara,laughing."Itwasmyrat."
Ermengardemadeonebound,andlandedinthemiddleofthelittledingybed.Shetuckedherfeetunderhernightgownandtheredshawl.Shedidnotscream,butshegaspedwithfright.
"Oh!Oh!"shecriedunderherbreath."Arat!Arat!"
"Iwasafraidyouwouldbefrightened,"saidSara."Butyouneedn’tbe.Iammakinghimtame.HeactuallyknowsmeandcomesoutwhenIcallhim.Areyoutoofrightenedtowanttoseehim?"
Thetruthwasthat,asthedayshadgoneonand,withtheaidofscrapsbroughtupfromthekitchen,hercuriousfriendshiphaddeveloped,shehadgraduallyforgottenthatthetimidcreatureshewasbecomingfamiliarwithwasamererat.
AtfirstErmengardewastoomuchalarmedtodoanythingbuthuddleinaheapuponthebedandtuckupherfeet,butthesightofSara’scomposedlittlecountenanceandthestoryofMelchisedec’sfirstappearancebeganatlasttorousehercuriosity,andsheleanedforwardovertheedgeofthebedandwatchedSaragoandkneeldownbytheholeintheskirtingboard.
"He—hewon’trunoutquicklyandjumponthebed,willhe?"shesaid.
"No,"answeredSara."He’saspoliteasweare.Heisjustlikeaperson.Nowwatch!"
Shebegantomakealow,whistlingsound—solowandcoaxingthatitcouldonlyhavebeenheardinentirestillness.Shediditseveraltimes,lookingentirelyabsorbedinit.
