Маленька принцеса
The Indian Gentleman
Doyouhear?"
Shelookedatthestaringglasseyesandcomplacentface,andsuddenlyasortofheartbrokenrageseizedher.SheliftedherlittlesavagehandandknockedEmilyoffthechair,burstingintoapassionofsobbing—Sarawhonevercried.
"YouarenothingbutaDOLL!"shecried."Nothingbutadoll—doll—doll!Youcarefornothing.Youarestuffedwithsawdust.Youneverhadaheart.Nothingcouldevermakeyoufeel.YouareaDOLL!"Emilylayonthefloor,withherlegsignominiouslydoubledupoverherhead,andanewflatplaceontheendofhernose;butshewascalm,evendignified.Sarahidherfaceinherarms.Theratsinthewallbegantofightandbiteeachotherandsqueakandscramble.Melchisedecwaschastisingsomeofhisfamily.
Sara’ssobsgraduallyquietedthemselves.Itwassounlikehertobreakdownthatshewassurprisedatherself.AfterawhilesheraisedherfaceandlookedatEmily,whoseemedtobegazingatherroundthesideofoneangle,and,somehow,bythistimeactuallywithakindofglassy-eyedsympathy.Sarabentandpickedherup.Remorseovertookher.Sheevensmiledatherselfaverylittlesmile.
"Youcan’thelpbeingadoll,"shesaidwitharesignedsigh,"anymorethanLaviniaandJessiecanhelpnothavinganysense.Wearenotallmadealike.Perhapsyoudoyoursawdustbest."Andshekissedherandshookherclothesstraight,andputherbackuponherchair.
Shehadwishedverymuchthatsomeonewouldtaketheemptyhousenextdoor.
