Маленька принцеса

           TherewasnopertnessinSara’smanner.Itwasonlysadandquiet.

           "Iwaswondering,"shesaidinalowvoice,"whatMYpapawouldsayifheknewwhereIamtonight."

           MissMinchinwasinfuriatedjustasshehadbeenbeforeandherangerexpresseditself,asbefore,inanintemperatefashion.Sheflewatherandshookher.

           "Youinsolent,unmanageablechild!"shecried."Howdareyou!Howdareyou!"

           Shepickedupthebooks,swepttherestofthefeastbackintothehamperinajumbledheap,thrustitintoErmengarde’sarms,andpushedherbeforehertowardthedoor.

           "Iwillleaveyoutowonder,"shesaid."Gotobedthisinstant."AndsheshutthedoorbehindherselfandpoorstumblingErmengarde,andleftSarastandingquitealone.

           Thedreamwasquiteatanend.Thelastsparkhaddiedoutofthepaperinthegrateandleftonlyblacktinder;thetablewasleftbare,thegoldenplatesandrichlyembroiderednapkins,andthegarlandsweretransformedagainintooldhandkerchiefs,scrapsofredandwhitepaper,anddiscardedartificialflowersallscatteredonthefloor;theminstrelsintheminstrelgalleryhadstolenaway,andtheviolsandbassoonswerestill.Emilywassittingwithherbackagainstthewall,staringveryhard.Sarasawher,andwentandpickedherupwithtremblinghands.

           "Thereisn’tanybanquetleft,Emily,"shesaid."Andthereisn’tanyprincess.ThereisnothingleftbuttheprisonersintheBastille."Andshesatdownandhidherface.