Маленька принцеса
One of the Populace
Itwasalittlefiguremoreforlorneventhanherself—alittlefigurewhichwasnotmuchmorethanabundleofrags,fromwhichsmall,bare,redmuddyfeetpeepedout,onlybecausetheragswithwhichtheirownerwastryingtocoverthemwerenotlongenough.Abovetheragsappearedashockheadoftangledhair,andadirtyfacewithbig,hollow,hungryeyes.
Saraknewtheywerehungryeyesthemomentshesawthem,andshefeltasuddensympathy.
"This,"shesaidtoherself,withalittlesigh,"isoneofthepopulace—andsheishungrierthanIam."
Thechild—this"oneofthepopulace"—staredupatSara,andshuffledherselfasidealittle,soastogiveherroomtopass.Shewasusedtobeingmadetogiveroomtoeverybody.Sheknewthatifapolicemanchancedtoseeherhewouldtellherto"moveon."
Saraclutchedherlittlefourpennypieceandhesitatedforafewseconds.Thenshespoketoher.
"Areyouhungry?"sheasked.
Thechildshuffledherselfandherragsalittlemore.
"Ain’tIjist?"shesaidinahoarsevoice."Jistain’tI?"
"Haven’tyouhadanydinner?"saidSara.
"Nodinner,"morehoarselystillandwithmoreshuffling."Noryetnobre’fast—noryetnosupper.Nonothin’.
"Sincewhen?"askedSara.
"Dunno.Nevergotnothin’today—nowhere.I’veaxedan’axed."
JusttolookathermadeSaramorehungryandfaint.Butthosequeerlittlethoughtswereatworkinherbrain,andshewastalkingtoherself,thoughshewassickatheart.
