Маленька принцеса

           "Wemustpretendthereisone!"

           Hereyesweptthebareboardswithaswiftglanceofadmiration.Therugwaslaiddownalready.

           "Howsoftandthickitis!"shesaid,withthelittlelaughwhichBeckyknewthemeaningof;andsheraisedandsetherfootdownagaindelicately,asifshefeltsomethingunderit.

           "Yes,miss,"answeredBecky,watchingherwithseriousrapture.Shewasalwaysquiteserious.

           "Whatnext,now?"saidSara,andshestoodstillandputherhandsoverhereyes."SomethingwillcomeifIthinkandwaitalittle"—inasoft,expectantvoice."TheMagicwilltellme."

           Oneofherfavoritefancieswasthaton"theoutside,"asshecalledit,thoughtswerewaitingforpeopletocallthem.Beckyhadseenherstandandwaitmanyatimebefore,andknewthatinafewsecondsshewoulduncoveranenlightened,laughingface.

           Inamomentshedid.

           "There!"shecried."Ithascome!Iknownow!ImustlookamongthethingsintheoldtrunkIhadwhenIwasaprincess."

           Sheflewtoitscornerandkneeleddown.Ithadnotbeenputintheatticforherbenefit,butbecausetherewasnoroomforitelsewhere.Nothinghadbeenleftinitbutrubbish.Butsheknewsheshouldfindsomething.TheMagicalwaysarrangedthatkindofthinginonewayoranother.

           Inacornerlayapackagesoinsignificant-lookingthatithadbeenoverlooked,andwhensheherselfhadfounditshehadkeptitasarelic.Itcontainedadozensmallwhitehandkerchiefs.Sheseizedthemjoyfullyandrantothetable.