Маленька принцеса

           Shebegantoarrangethemupontheredtable-cover,pattingandcoaxingthemintoshapewiththenarrowlaceedgecurlingoutward,herMagicworkingitsspellsforherasshedidit.

           "Thesearetheplates,"shesaid."Theyaregoldenplates.Thesearetherichlyembroiderednapkins.NunsworkedtheminconventsinSpain."

           "Didthey,miss?"breathedBecky,herverysoulupliftedbytheinformation.

           "Youmustpretendit,"saidSara."Ifyoupretenditenough,youwillseethem."

           "Yes,miss,"saidBecky;andasSarareturnedtothetrunkshedevotedherselftotheeffortofaccomplishinganendsomuchtobedesired.

           Saraturnedsuddenlytofindherstandingbythetable,lookingveryqueerindeed.Shehadshuthereyes,andwastwistingherfaceinstrangeconvulsivecontortions,herhandshangingstifflyclenchedathersides.Shelookedasifshewastryingtoliftsomeenormousweight.

           "Whatisthematter,Becky?"Saracried."Whatareyoudoing?"

           Beckyopenedhereyeswithastart.

           "Iwasa-’pretendin’,’miss,"sheansweredalittlesheepishly;"Iwastryin’toseeitlikeyoudo.Ialmostdid,"withahopefulgrin."Butittakesaloto’stren’th."

           "Perhapsitdoesifyouarenotusedtoit,"saidSara,withfriendlysympathy;"butyoudon’tknowhoweasyitiswhenyou’vedoneitoften.Iwouldn’ttrysohardjustatfirst.Itwillcometoyouafterawhile.I’lljusttellyouwhatthingsare.Lookatthese."

           Sheheldanoldsummerhatinherhandwhichshehadfishedoutofthebottomofthetrunk.