Маленька принцеса

           IwonderMissMinchindidn’tturnSaraout—evenifshedoeswantherforateacher."

           "Ifshewasturnedoutwherewouldshego?"inquiredJessie,atrifleanxiously.

           "HowdoIknow?"snappedLavinia."She’lllookratherqueerwhenshecomesintotheschoolroomthismorning,Ishouldthink—afterwhat’shappened.Shehadnodinneryesterday,andshe’snottohaveanytoday."

           Jessiewasnotasill-naturedasshewassilly.Shepickedupherbookwithalittlejerk.

           "Well,Ithinkit’shorrid,"shesaid."They’venorighttostarvehertodeath."

           WhenSarawentintothekitchenthatmorningthecooklookedaskanceather,andsodidthehousemaids;butshepassedthemhurriedly.Shehad,infact,oversleptherselfalittle,andasBeckyhaddonethesame,neitherhadhadtimetoseetheother,andeachhadcomedownstairsinhaste.

           Sarawentintothescullery.Beckywasviolentlyscrubbingakettle,andwasactuallygurglingalittlesonginherthroat.Shelookedupwithawildlyelatedface.

           "ItwastherewhenIwakened,miss—theblanket,"shewhisperedexcitedly."Itwasasrealasitwaslastnight."

           "Sowasmine,"saidSara."Itisalltherenow—allofit.WhileIwasdressingIatesomeofthecoldthingsweleft."

           "Oh,laws!Oh,laws!"Beckyutteredtheexclamationinasortofrapturousgroan,andduckedherheadoverherkettlejustintime,asthecookcameinfromthekitchen.

           MissMinchinhadexpectedtoseeinSara,whensheappearedintheschoolroom,verymuchwhatLaviniahadexpectedtosee.