Маленька принцеса
The Magic
ShealwaysfeltverytenderofErmengarde,andtriednottoletherfeeltoostronglythedifferencebetweenbeingabletolearnanythingatonce,andnotbeingabletolearnanythingatall.Asshelookedatherplumpface,oneofherwise,old-fashionedthoughtscametoher.
"Perhaps,"shesaid,"tobeabletolearnthingsquicklyisn’teverything.Tobekindisworthagreatdealtootherpeople.IfMissMinchinkneweverythingonearthandwaslikewhatsheisnow,she’dstillbeadetestablething,andeverybodywouldhateher.Lotsofcleverpeoplehavedoneharmandhavebeenwicked.LookatRobespierre—"
ShestoppedandexaminedErmengarde’scountenance,whichwasbeginningtolookbewildered."Don’tyouremember?"shedemanded."Itoldyouabouthimnotlongago.Ibelieveyou’veforgotten."
"Well,Idon’trememberALLofit,"admittedErmengarde.
"Well,youwaitaminute,"saidSara,"andI’lltakeoffmywetthingsandwrapmyselfinthecoverletandtellyouoveragain."
Shetookoffherhatandcoatandhungthemonanailagainstthewall,andshechangedherwetshoesforanoldpairofslippers.Thenshejumpedonthebed,anddrawingthecoverletabouthershoulders,satwithherarmsroundherknees."Now,listen,"shesaid.
SheplungedintothegoryrecordsoftheFrenchRevolution,andtoldsuchstoriesofitthatErmengarde’seyesgrewroundwithalarmandsheheldherbreath.
