Маленька принцеса
The Other Side of the Wall
Carmichaelansweredhiminaratherlowvoice.
"Notexactly,"hesaid.
"Healwayssays,’Tom,oldman—Tom—whereistheLittleMissus?’"HecaughtatCarmichael’shandandclungtoit."Imustbeabletoanswerhim—Imust!"hesaid."Helpmetofindher.Helpme."
OntheothersideofthewallSarawassittinginhergarrettalkingtoMelchisedec,whohadcomeoutforhiseveningmeal.
"Ithasbeenhardtobeaprincesstoday,Melchisedec,"shesaid."Ithasbeenharderthanusual.Itgetsharderastheweathergrowscolderandthestreetsgetmoresloppy.WhenLavinialaughedatmymuddyskirtasIpassedherinthehall,Ithoughtofsomethingtosayallinaflash—andIonlyjuststoppedmyselfintime.Youcan’tsneerbackatpeoplelikethat—ifyouareaprincess.Butyouhavetobiteyourtonguetoholdyourselfin.Ibitmine.Itwasacoldafternoon,Melchisedec.Andit’sacoldnight."
Quitesuddenlysheputherblackheaddowninherarms,assheoftendidwhenshewasalone.
"Oh,papa,"shewhispered,"whatalongtimeitseemssinceIwasyour’LittleMissus’!"
Thiswaswhathappenedthatdayonbothsidesofthewall.
