Маленька принцеса
Ram Dass
Thiswaswhatwouldhappen:whenshewasoldershewouldbeexpectedtodrudgeintheschoolroomasshedrudgednowinvariouspartsofthehouse;theywouldbeobligedtogivehermorerespectableclothes,buttheywouldbesuretobeplainanduglyandtomakeherlooksomehowlikeaservant.Thatwasallthereseemedtobetolookforwardto,andSarastoodquitestillforseveralminutesandthoughtitover.
Thenathoughtcamebacktoherwhichmadethecolorriseinhercheekandasparklightitselfinhereyes.Shestraightenedherthinlittlebodyandliftedherhead.
"Whatevercomes,"shesaid,"cannotalteronething.IfIamaprincessinragsandtatters,Icanbeaprincessinside.ItwouldbeeasytobeaprincessifIweredressedinclothofgold,butitisagreatdealmoreofatriumphtobeoneallthetimewhennooneknowsit.TherewasMarieAntoinettewhenshewasinprisonandherthronewasgoneandshehadonlyablackgownon,andherhairwaswhite,andtheyinsultedherandcalledherWidowCapet.Shewasagreatdealmorelikeaqueenthenthanwhenshewassogayandeverythingwassogrand.Ilikeherbestthen.Thosehowlingmobsofpeopledidnotfrightenher.Shewasstrongerthantheywere,evenwhentheycutherheadoff."
Thiswasnotanewthought,butquiteanoldone,bythistime.
