Маленька принцеса
The Other Side of the Wall
"PerhapsyoucanFEELifyoucan’thear,"washerfancy."Perhapskindthoughtsreachpeoplesomehow,eventhroughwindowsanddoorsandwalls.Perhapsyoufeelalittlewarmandcomforted,anddon’tknowwhy,whenIamstandinghereinthecoldandhopingyouwillgetwellandhappyagain.Iamsosorryforyou,"shewouldwhisperinanintenselittlevoice."Iwishyouhada’LittleMissus’whocouldpetyouasIusedtopetpapawhenhehadaheadache.Ishouldliketobeyour’LittleMissus’myself,poordear!Goodnight—goodnight.Godblessyou!"
Shewouldgoaway,feelingquitecomfortedandalittlewarmerherself.HersympathywassostrongthatitseemedasifitMUSTreachhimsomehowashesataloneinhisarmchairbythefire,nearlyalwaysinagreatdressinggown,andnearlyalwayswithhisforeheadrestinginhishandashegazedhopelesslyintothefire.HelookedtoSaralikeamanwhohadatroubleonhismindstill,notmerelylikeonewhosetroubleslayallinthepast.
"HealwaysseemsasifhewerethinkingofsomethingthathurtshimNOW,"shesaidtoherself,"buthehasgothismoneybackandhewillgetoverhisbrainfeverintime,soheoughtnottolooklikethat.Iwonderifthereissomethingelse."
Iftherewassomethingelse—somethingevenservantsdidnothearof—shecouldnothelpbelievingthatthefatheroftheLargeFamilyknewit—thegentlemanshecalledMr.Montmorency.Mr.Montmorencywenttoseehimoften,andMrs.
