Маленька принцеса
The Other Side of the Wall
ShehadbecomefondoftheLargeFamilybecausetheylookedhappy;butshehadbecomefondoftheIndiangentlemanbecausehelookedunhappy.Hehadevidentlynotfullyrecoveredfromsomeverysevereillness.Inthekitchen—where,ofcourse,theservants,throughsomemysteriousmeans,kneweverything—therewasmuchdiscussionofhiscase.HewasnotanIndiangentlemanreally,butanEnglishmanwhohadlivedinIndia.Hehadmetwithgreatmisfortuneswhichhadforatimesoimperilledhiswholefortunethathehadthoughthimselfruinedanddisgracedforever.Theshockhadbeensogreatthathehadalmostdiedofbrainfever;andeversincehehadbeenshatteredinhealth,thoughhisfortuneshadchangedandallhispossessionshadbeenrestoredtohim.Histroubleandperilhadbeenconnectedwithmines.
"Andmineswithdiamondsin’em!"saidthecook."Nosavin’sofminenevergoesintonomines—particulardiamondones"—withasideglanceatSara."Weallknowsomethin’ofTHEM."
"Hefeltasmypapafelt,"Sarathought."Hewasillasmypapawas;buthedidnotdie."
Soherheartwasmoredrawntohimthanbefore.Whenshewassentoutatnightsheusedsometimestofeelquiteglad,becausetherewasalwaysachancethatthecurtainsofthehousenextdoormightnotyetbeclosedandshecouldlookintothewarmroomandseeheradoptedfriend.Whennoonewasaboutsheusedsometimestostop,and,holdingtotheironrailings,wishhimgoodnightasifhecouldhearher.
