Маленька принцеса
A French Lesson
Sara’scheeksfeltwarm.Shewentbacktoherseatandopenedthebook.Shelookedatthefirstpagewithagraveface.Sheknewitwouldberudetosmile,andshewasverydeterminednottoberude.Butitwasveryoddtofindherselfexpectedtostudyapagewhichtoldherthat"lepere"meant"thefather,"and"lamere"meant"themother."
MissMinchinglancedtowardherscrutinizingly.
"Youlookrathercross,Sara,"shesaid."IamsorryyoudonotliketheideaoflearningFrench."
"Iamveryfondofit,"answeredSara,thinkingshewouldtryagain;"but—"
"Youmustnotsay’but’whenyouaretoldtodothings,"saidMissMinchin."Lookatyourbookagain."
AndSaradidso,anddidnotsmile,evenwhenshefoundthat"lefils"meant"theson,"and"lefrere"meant"thebrother."
"WhenMonsieurDufargecomes,"shethought,"Icanmakehimunderstand."
MonsieurDufargearrivedveryshortlyafterward.Hewasaverynice,intelligent,middle-agedFrenchman,andhelookedinterestedwhenhiseyesfelluponSaratryingpolitelytoseemabsorbedinherlittlebookofphrases.
"Isthisanewpupilforme,madame?"hesaidtoMissMinchin."Ihopethatismygoodfortune."
"Herpapa—CaptainCrewe—isveryanxiousthatsheshouldbeginthelanguage.ButIamafraidshehasachildishprejudiceagainstit.Shedoesnotseemtowishtolearn,"saidMissMinchin.
