Маленька принцеса
The Other Side of the Wall
RamDassmadeforhimaveryclearpictureoftheatticanditsdesolateness—ofthebarefloorandbrokenplaster,therusty,emptygrate,andthehard,narrowbed.
"Carmichael,"hesaidtothefatheroftheLargeFamily,afterhehadheardthisdescription,"Iwonderhowmanyoftheatticsinthissquarearelikethatone,andhowmanywretchedlittleservantgirlssleeponsuchbeds,whileItossonmydownpillows,loadedandharassedbywealththatis,mostofit—notmine."
"Mydearfellow,"Mr.Carmichaelansweredcheerily,"thesooneryouceasetormentingyourselfthebetteritwillbeforyou.IfyoupossessedallthewealthofalltheIndies,youcouldnotsetrightallthediscomfortsintheworld,andifyoubegantorefurnishalltheatticsinthissquare,therewouldstillremainalltheatticsinalltheothersquaresandstreetstoputinorder.Andthereyouare!"
Mr.Carrisfordsatandbithisnailsashelookedintotheglowingbedofcoalsinthegrate.
"Doyousuppose,"hesaidslowly,afterapause—"doyouthinkitispossiblethattheotherchild—thechildIneverceasethinkingof,Ibelieve—couldbe—couldPOSSIBLYbereducedtoanysuchconditionasthepoorlittlesoulnextdoor?"
Mr.Carmichaellookedathimuneasily.Heknewthattheworstthingthemancoulddoforhimself,forhisreasonandhishealth,wastobegintothinkintheparticularwayofthisparticularsubject.
