Маленька принцеса

           Sarawassittingquietlyinherseat,waitingtobetoldwhattodo.ShehadbeenplacednearMissMinchin’sdesk.Shewasnotabashedatallbythemanypairsofeyeswatchingher.Shewasinterestedandlookedbackquietlyatthechildrenwholookedather.Shewonderedwhattheywerethinkingof,andiftheylikedMissMinchin,andiftheycaredfortheirlessons,andifanyofthemhadapapaatalllikeherown.ShehadhadalongtalkwithEmilyaboutherpapathatmorning.

           "Heisontheseanow,Emily,"shehadsaid."Wemustbeverygreatfriendstoeachotherandtelleachotherthings.Emily,lookatme.YouhavethenicesteyesIeversaw—butIwishyoucouldspeak."

           Shewasachildfullofimaginingsandwhimsicalthoughts,andoneofherfancieswasthattherewouldbeagreatdealofcomfortinevenpretendingthatEmilywasaliveandreallyheardandunderstood.AfterMariettehaddressedherinherdark-blueschoolroomfrockandtiedherhairwithadark-blueribbon,shewenttoEmily,whosatinachairofherown,andgaveherabook.

           "YoucanreadthatwhileIamdownstairs,"shesaid;and,seeingMariettelookingathercuriously,shespoketoherwithaseriouslittleface.

           "WhatIbelieveaboutdolls,"shesaid,"isthattheycandothingstheywillnotletusknowabout.Perhaps,really,Emilycanreadandtalkandwalk,butshewillonlydoitwhenpeopleareoutoftheroom.Thatishersecret.Yousee,ifpeopleknewthatdollscoulddothings,theywouldmakethemwork.So,perhaps,theyhavepromisedeachothertokeepitasecret.Ifyoustayintheroom,Emilywilljustsitthereandstare;butifyougoout,shewillbegintoread,perhaps,orgoandlookoutofthewindow.Thenifsheheardeitherofuscoming,shewouldjustrunbackandjumpintoherchairandpretendshehadbeenthereallthetime."