Маленька принцеса
Ram Dass
IttookSaraafewsecondstocontrolherselfsufficientlytorememberthatshewasaprincess.Hercheekswereredandsmartingfromtheblowsshehadreceived.
"Iwasthinking,"sheanswered.
"Begmypardonimmediately,"saidMissMinchin.
Sarahesitatedasecondbeforeshereplied.
"Iwillbegyourpardonforlaughing,ifitwasrude,"shesaidthen;"butIwon’tbegyourpardonforthinking."
"Whatwereyouthinking?"demandedMissMinchin."Howdareyouthink?Whatwereyouthinking?"
Jessietittered,andsheandLavinianudgedeachotherinunison.Allthegirlslookedupfromtheirbookstolisten.Really,italwaysinterestedthemalittlewhenMissMinchinattackedSara.Saraalwayssaidsomethingqueer,andneverseemedtheleastbitfrightened.Shewasnotintheleastfrightenednow,thoughherboxedearswerescarletandhereyeswereasbrightasstars.
"Iwasthinking,"sheansweredgrandlyandpolitely,"thatyoudidnotknowwhatyouweredoing."
"ThatIdidnotknowwhatIwasdoing?"MissMinchinfairlygasped.
"Yes,"saidSara,"andIwasthinkingwhatwouldhappenifIwereaprincessandyouboxedmyears—whatIshoulddotoyou.AndIwasthinkingthatifIwereone,youwouldneverdaretodoit,whateverIsaidordid.AndIwasthinkinghowsurprisedandfrightenedyouwouldbeifyousuddenlyfoundout—"
ShehadtheimaginedfuturesoclearlybeforehereyesthatshespokeinamannerwhichhadaneffectevenuponMissMinchin
