Маленька принцеса

           Icanjestseethembigkeysyousayshecarries.Thecookshe’slikeoneoftheunder-jailers.Tellmesomemore,please,miss—tellmeaboutthesubt’raneanpassagewe’vedugunderthewalls."

           "I’lltellyousomethingwarmer,"shiveredSara."Getyourcoverletandwrapitroundyou,andI’llgetmine,andwewillhuddleclosetogetheronthebed,andI’lltellyouaboutthetropicalforestwheretheIndiangentleman’smonkeyusedtolive.WhenIseehimsittingonthetablenearthewindowandlookingoutintothestreetwiththatmournfulexpression,Ialwaysfeelsureheisthinkingaboutthetropicalforestwhereheusedtoswingbyhistailfromcoconuttrees.Iwonderwhocaughthim,andifheleftafamilybehindwhohaddependedonhimforcoconuts."

           "Thatiswarmer,miss,"saidBecky,gratefully;"but,someways,eventheBastilleissortofheatin’whenyougetstotellin’aboutit."

           "Thatisbecauseitmakesyouthinkofsomethingelse,"saidSara,wrappingthecoverletroundheruntilonlyhersmalldarkfacewastobeseenlookingoutofit."I’venoticedthis.Whatyouhavetodowithyourmind,whenyourbodyismiserable,istomakeitthinkofsomethingelse."

           "Canyoudoit,miss?"falteredBecky,regardingherwithadmiringeyes.

           Saraknittedherbrowsamoment.

           "SometimesIcanandsometimesIcan’t,"shesaidstoutly."ButwhenICANI’mallright.AndwhatIbelieveisthatwealwayscould—ifwepracticedenough.