Маленька принцеса
The Magic
Shewasaproud,bravelittlechatelaine,anddispensedgenerouslytheonehospitalityshecouldoffer—thedreamsshedreamed—thevisionsshesaw—theimaginingswhichwereherjoyandcomfort.
So,astheysattogether,Ermengardedidnotknowthatshewasfaintaswellasravenous,andthatwhileshetalkedshenowandthenwonderedifherhungerwouldlethersleepwhenshewasleftalone.Shefeltasifshehadneverbeenquitesohungrybefore.
"IwishIwasasthinasyou,Sara,"Ermengardesaidsuddenly."Ibelieveyouarethinnerthanyouusedtobe.Youreyeslooksobig,andlookatthesharplittlebonesstickingoutofyourelbow!"
Sarapulleddownhersleeve,whichhadpusheditselfup.
"Ialwayswasathinchild,"shesaidbravely,"andIalwayshadbiggreeneyes."
"Iloveyourqueereyes,"saidErmengarde,lookingintothemwithaffectionateadmiration."Theyalwayslookasiftheysawsuchalongway.Ilovethem—andIlovethemtobegreen—thoughtheylookblackgenerally."
"Theyarecat’seyes,"laughedSara;"butIcan’tseeinthedarkwiththem—becauseIhavetried,andIcouldn’t—IwishIcould."
Itwasjustatthisminutethatsomethinghappenedattheskylightwhichneitherofthemsaw.Ifeitherofthemhadchancedtoturnandlook,shewouldhavebeenstartledbythesightofadarkfacewhichpeeredcautiouslyintotheroomanddisappearedasquicklyandalmostassilentlyasithadappeared.NotQUITEassilently,however.
