Маленька принцеса
One of the Populace
Shewassocoldandhungryandtiredthatherfacebegantohaveapinchedlook,andnowandthensomekind-heartedpersonpassingherinthestreetglancedatherwithsuddensympathy.Butshedidnotknowthat.Shehurriedon,tryingtomakehermindthinkofsomethingelse.Itwasreallyverynecessary.Herwayofdoingitwasto"pretend"and"suppose"withallthestrengththatwasleftinher.Butreallythistimeitwasharderthanshehadeverfoundit,andonceortwiceshethoughtitalmostmadehermorecoldandhungryinsteadoflessso.Butsheperseveredobstinately,andasthemuddywatersquelchedthroughherbrokenshoesandthewindseemedtryingtodragherthinjacketfromher,shetalkedtoherselfasshewalked,thoughshedidnotspeakaloudorevenmoveherlips.
"SupposeIhaddryclotheson,"shethought."SupposeIhadgoodshoesandalong,thickcoatandmerinostockingsandawholeumbrella.Andsuppose—suppose—justwhenIwasnearabaker’swheretheysoldhotbuns,Ishouldfindsixpence—whichbelongedtonobody.SUPPOSEifIdid,Ishouldgointotheshopandbuysixofthehottestbunsandeatthemallwithoutstopping."
Someveryoddthingshappeninthisworldsometimes.
ItcertainlywasanoddthingthathappenedtoSara.Shehadtocrossthestreetjustwhenshewassayingthistoherself.Themudwasdreadful—shealmosthadtowade.
