Маленька принцеса

           "This’ere,"shesuggested,withaglanceroundtheattic—"isittheBastillenow—orhasitturnedintosomethin’different?"

           "Oh,yes,yes!"saidSara."Quitedifferent.Itisabanquethall!"

           "Myeye,miss!"ejaculatedBecky."Ablanket’all!"andsheturnedtoviewthesplendorsaboutherwithawedbewilderment.

           "Abanquethall,"saidSara."Avastchamberwherefeastsaregiven.Ithasavaultedroof,andaminstrels’gallery,andahugechimneyfilledwithblazingoakenlogs,anditisbrilliantwithwaxentaperstwinklingoneveryside."

           "Myeye,MissSara!"gaspedBeckyagain.

           Thenthedooropened,andErmengardecamein,ratherstaggeringundertheweightofherhamper.Shestartedbackwithanexclamationofjoy.Toenterfromthechilldarknessoutside,andfindone’sselfconfrontedbyatotallyunanticipatedfestalboard,drapedwithred,adornedwithwhitenapery,andwreathedwithflowers,wastofeelthatthepreparationswerebrilliantindeed.

           "Oh,Sara!"shecriedout."YouarethecleverestgirlIeversaw!"

           "Isn’titnice?"saidSara."Theyarethingsoutofmyoldtrunk.IaskedmyMagic,andittoldmetogoandlook."

           "Butoh,miss,"criedBecky,"waittillshe’stoldyouwhattheyare!Theyain’tjust—oh,miss,pleasetellher,"appealingtoSara.

           SoSaratoldher,andbecauseherMagichelpedhershemadeherALMOSTseeitall:thegoldenplatters—thevaultedspaces—theblazinglogs—thetwinklingwaxentapers.