Маленька принцеса

           Suppose—suppose—anewdreadpossibilitypresenteditselftoherkind,slow,littlemindallatonce.Shecreptoffthebedinthedarkandfoundherwaytothetablewherethecandlestood.Shestruckamatchandlitthecandle.Whenshehadlightedit,shebentforwardandlookedatSara,withhernewthoughtgrowingtodefinitefearinhereyes.

           "Sara,"shesaidinatimid,almostawe-strickenvoice,"are—are—younevertoldme—Idon’twanttoberude,but—areYOUeverhungry?"

           Itwastoomuchjustatthatmoment.Thebarrierbrokedown.Saraliftedherfacefromherhands.

           "Yes,"shesaidinanewpassionateway."Yes,Iam.I’msohungrynowthatIcouldalmosteatyou.AnditmakesitworsetohearpoorBecky.She’shungrierthanIam."

           Ermengardegasped.

           "Oh,oh!"shecriedwoefully."AndIneverknew!"

           "Ididn’twantyoutoknow,"Sarasaid."Itwouldhavemademefeellikeastreetbeggar.IknowIlooklikeastreetbeggar."

           "No,youdon’t—youdon’t!"Ermengardebrokein."Yourclothesarealittlequeer—butyoucouldn’tlooklikeastreetbeggar.Youhaven’tastreet-beggarface."

           "Alittleboyoncegavemeasixpenceforcharity,"saidSara,withashortlittlelaughinspiteofherself."Hereitis."Andshepulledoutthethinribbonfromherneck."Hewouldn’thavegivenmehisChristmassixpenceifIhadn’tlookedasifIneededit."

           Somehowthesightofthedearlittlesixpencewasgoodforbothofthem.Itmadethemlaughalittle,thoughtheybothhadtearsintheireyes.