Маленька принцеса
One of the Populace
"IfI’maprincess,"shewassaying,"ifI’maprincess—whentheywerepooranddrivenfromtheirthrones—theyalwaysshared—withthepopulace—iftheymetonepoorerandhungrierthanthemselves.Theyalwaysshared.Bunsareapennyeach.IfithadbeensixpenceIcouldhaveeatensix.Itwon’tbeenoughforeitherofus.Butitwillbebetterthannothing."
"Waitaminute,"shesaidtothebeggarchild.
Shewentintotheshop.Itwaswarmandsmelleddeliciously.Thewomanwasjustgoingtoputsomemorehotbunsintothewindow.
"Ifyouplease,"saidSara,"haveyoulostfourpence—asilverfourpence?"Andsheheldtheforlornlittlepieceofmoneyouttoher.
Thewomanlookedatitandthenather—atherintenselittlefaceanddraggled,oncefineclothes.
"Blessus,no,"sheanswered."Didyoufindit?"
"Yes,"saidSara."Inthegutter."
"Keepit,then,"saidthewoman."Itmayhavebeenthereforaweek,andgoodnessknowswholostit.YOUcouldneverfindout."
"Iknowthat,"saidSara,"butIthoughtIwouldaskyou."
"Notmanywould,"saidthewoman,lookingpuzzledandinterestedandgood-naturedallatonce.
"Doyouwanttobuysomething?"sheadded,asshesawSaraglanceatthebuns.
"Fourbuns,ifyouplease,"saidSara."Thoseatapennyeach."
Thewomanwenttothewindowandputsomeinapaperbag.
Saranoticedthatsheputinsix.
"Isaidfour,ifyouplease,"sheexplained."Ihaveonlyfourpence."
"I’llthrowintwoformakeweight,"saidthewomanwithhergood-naturedlook.
