Маленька принцеса
What Melchisedec Heard and Saw
"Shehasgoneoutwithherbasketandmaybegoneforhours.IfIstandhereIcanhearanystepbeforeitreachesthelastflightofthestairs."
Thesecretarytookapencilandatabletfromhisbreastpocket.
"Keepyourearsopen,"hesaid;andhebegantowalkslowlyandsoftlyroundthemiserablelittleroom,makingrapidnotesonhistabletashelookedatthings.
Firsthewenttothenarrowbed.Hepressedhishanduponthemattressandutteredanexclamation.
"Ashardasastone,"hesaid."Thatwillhavetobealteredsomedaywhensheisout.Aspecialjourneycanbemadetobringitacross.Itcannotbedonetonight."Heliftedthecoveringandexaminedtheonethinpillow.
"Coverletdingyandworn,blanketthin,sheetspatchedandragged,"hesaid."Whatabedforachildtosleepin—andinahousewhichcallsitselfrespectable!Therehasnotbeenafireinthatgrateformanyaday,"glancingattherustyfireplace.
"NeversinceIhaveseenit,"saidRamDass."Themistressofthehouseisnotonewhoremembersthatanotherthanherselfmaybecold."
Thesecretarywaswritingquicklyonhistablet.Helookedupfromitashetoreoffaleafandslippeditintohisbreastpocket.
"Itisastrangewayofdoingthething,"hesaid."Whoplannedit?"
RamDassmadeamodestlyapologeticobeisance.
"Itistruethatthefirstthoughtwasmine,Sahib,"hesaid;"thoughitwasnaughtbutafancy.Iamfondofthischild;wearebothlonely.Itisherwaytorelatehervisionstohersecretfriends.
