Маленька принцеса

           "What,ho,there,minstrels!Strikeupwithyourviolsandbassoons.Princesses,"sheexplainedrapidlytoErmengardeandBecky,"alwayshadminstrelstoplayattheirfeasts.Pretendthereisaminstrelgalleryupthereinthecorner.Nowwewillbegin."

           Theyhadbarelyhadtimetotaketheirpiecesofcakeintotheirhands—notoneofthemhadtimetodomore,when—theyallthreesprangtotheirfeetandturnedpalefacestowardthedoor—listening—listening.

           Someonewascomingupthestairs.Therewasnomistakeaboutit.Eachofthemrecognizedtheangry,mountingtreadandknewthattheendofallthingshadcome.

           "It’s—themissus!"chokedBecky,anddroppedherpieceofcakeuponthefloor.

           "Yes,"saidSara,hereyesgrowingshockedandlargeinhersmallwhiteface."MissMinchinhasfoundusout."

           MissMinchinstruckthedooropenwithablowofherhand.Shewaspaleherself,butitwaswithrage.Shelookedfromthefrightenedfacestothebanquettable,andfromthebanquettabletothelastflickeroftheburntpaperinthegrate.

           "Ihavebeensuspectingsomethingofthissort,"sheexclaimed;"butIdidnotdreamofsuchaudacity.Laviniawastellingthetruth."

           SotheyknewthatitwasLaviniawhohadsomehowguessedtheirsecretandhadbetrayedthem.MissMinchinstrodeovertoBeckyandboxedherearsforasecondtime.

           "Youimpudentcreature!"shesaid."Youleavethehouseinthemorning!"

           Sarastoodquitestill,hereyesgrowinglarger,herfacepaler.Ermengardeburstintotears.