Маленька принцеса

           Whatwouldhavehappenedifshehadnothiddenitjustthen,andifshehadchancedtolookupattheskylightatthewrongmoment,Idonotknow—perhapstheendofthischaptermighthavebeenquitedifferent—becauseifshehadglancedattheskylightshewouldcertainlyhavebeenstartledbywhatshewouldhaveseen.ShewouldhaveseenexactlythesamefacepressedagainsttheglassandpeeringinatherasithadpeeredinearlierintheeveningwhenshehadbeentalkingtoErmengarde.

           Butshedidnotlookup.Shesatwithherlittleblackheadinherarmsforsometime.Shealwayssatlikethatwhenshewastryingtobearsomethinginsilence.Thenshegotupandwentslowlytothebed.

           "Ican’tpretendanythingelse—whileIamawake,"shesaid."Therewouldn’tbeanyuseintrying.IfIgotosleep,perhapsadreamwillcomeandpretendforme."

           Shesuddenlyfeltsotired—perhapsthroughwantoffood—thatshesatdownontheedgeofthebedquiteweakly.

           "Supposetherewasabrightfireinthegrate,withlotsoflittledancingflames,"shemurmured."Supposetherewasacomfortablechairbeforeit—andsupposetherewasasmalltablenear,withalittlehot—hotsupperonit.Andsuppose"—asshedrewthethincoveringsoverher—"supposethiswasabeautifulsoftbed,withfleecyblanketsandlargedownypillows.Suppose—suppose—"Andherverywearinesswasgoodtoher,forhereyesclosedandshefellfastasleep.

           Shedidnotknowhowlongsheslept.