Маленька принцеса

           Ermengardehuggedherselfintheredshawl.

           "MissAmeliahasgoneouttospendthenightwithheroldaunt,"sheexplained."Nooneelseevercomesandlooksintothebedroomsafterweareinbed.IcouldstayhereuntilmorningifIwantedto."

           Shepointedtowardthetableundertheskylight.Sarahadnotlookedtowarditasshecamein.Anumberofbookswerepileduponit.Ermengarde’sgesturewasadejectedone.

           "Papahassentmesomemorebooks,Sara,"shesaid."Theretheyare."

           Saralookedroundandgotupatonce.Sherantothetable,andpickingupthetopvolume,turnedoveritsleavesquickly.Forthemomentsheforgotherdiscomforts.

           "Ah,"shecriedout,"howbeautiful!Carlyle’sFrenchRevolution.IhaveSOwantedtoreadthat!"

           "Ihaven’t,"saidErmengarde."AndpapawillbesocrossifIdon’t.He’llexpectmetoknowallaboutitwhenIgohomefortheholidays.WhatSHALLIdo?"

           Sarastoppedturningovertheleavesandlookedatherwithanexcitedflushonhercheeks.

           "Lookhere,"shecried,"ifyou’lllendmethesebooks,_I’ll_readthem—andtellyoueverythingthat’sinthemafterward—andI’lltellitsothatyouwillrememberit,too."

           "Oh,goodness!"exclaimedErmengarde."Doyouthinkyoucan?"

           "IknowIcan,"Saraanswered."ThelittleonesalwaysrememberwhatItellthem."

           "Sara,"saidErmengarde,hopegleaminginherroundface,"ifyou’lldothat,andmakemeremember,I’ll—I’llgiveyouanything."

           "Idon’twantyoutogivemeanything,"saidSara.