Маленька принцеса

           "MayIhavesomethingtoeat?"Saraaskedratherfaintly.

           "Tea’soveranddonewith,"wastheanswer."Didyouexpectmetokeepithotforyou?"

           Sarastoodsilentforasecond.

           "Ihadnodinner,"shesaidnext,andhervoicewasquitelow.Shemadeitlowbecauseshewasafraiditwouldtremble.

           "There’ssomebreadinthepantry,"saidthecook."That’sallyou’llgetatthistimeofday."

           Sarawentandfoundthebread.Itwasoldandhardanddry.Thecookwasintooviciousahumortogiveheranythingtoeatwithit.ItwasalwayssafeandeasytoventherspiteonSara.Really,itwashardforthechildtoclimbthethreelongflightsofstairsleadingtoherattic.Sheoftenfoundthemlongandsteepwhenshewastired;buttonightitseemedasifshewouldneverreachthetop.Severaltimesshewasobligedtostoptorest.Whenshereachedthetoplandingshewasgladtoseetheglimmerofalightcomingfromunderherdoor.ThatmeantthatErmengardehadmanagedtocreepuptopayheravisit.Therewassomecomfortinthat.Itwasbetterthantogointotheroomaloneandfinditemptyanddesolate.Themerepresenceofplump,comfortableErmengarde,wrappedinherredshawl,wouldwarmitalittle.

           Yes;thereErmengardewaswhensheopenedthedoor.Shewassittinginthemiddleofthebed,withherfeettuckedsafelyunderher.ShehadneverbecomeintimatewithMelchisedecandhisfamily,thoughtheyratherfascinatedher.