Маленька принцеса
Melchisedec
Shesatdownonthefloorinherfavoriteattitude,holdingherknees.
"Besides,"shesaid,"heisaBastilleratsenttobemyfriend.Icanalwaysgetabitofbreadthecookhasthrownaway,anditisquiteenoughtosupporthim."
"IsittheBastilleyet?"askedErmengarde,eagerly."DoyoualwayspretenditistheBastille?"
"Nearlyalways,"answeredSara."SometimesItrytopretenditisanotherkindofplace;buttheBastilleisgenerallyeasiest—particularlywhenitiscold."
JustatthatmomentErmengardealmostjumpedoffthebed,shewassostartledbyasoundsheheard.Itwasliketwodistinctknocksonthewall.
"Whatisthat?"sheexclaimed.
Saragotupfromthefloorandansweredquitedramatically:
"Itistheprisonerinthenextcell."
"Becky!"criedErmengarde,enraptured.
"Yes,"saidSara."Listen;thetwoknocksmeant,’Prisoner,areyouthere?’"
Sheknockedthreetimesonthewallherself,asifinanswer.
"Thatmeans,’Yes,Iamhere,andalliswell.’"
FourknockscamefromBecky’ssideofthewall.
"Thatmeans,"explainedSara,"’Then,fellow-sufferer,wewillsleepinpeace.Goodnight.’"
