Маленька принцеса

           Shealwayshadplentytoeat!"

           "Of—ofcourse,"agreedMissAmelia,humbly,alarmedtofindthatshehad,asusual,saidthewrongthing.

           "Thereissomethingverydisagreeableinseeingthatsortofthinginachildofherage,"saidMissMinchin,withhaughtyvagueness.

           "What—sortofthing?"MissAmeliaventured.

           "Itmightalmostbecalleddefiance,"answeredMissMinchin,feelingannoyedbecausesheknewthethingsheresentedwasnothinglikedefiance,andshedidnotknowwhatotherunpleasanttermtouse."Thespiritandwillofanyotherchildwouldhavebeenentirelyhumbledandbrokenby—bythechangesshehashadtosubmitto.But,uponmyword,sheseemsaslittlesubduedasif—asifshewereaprincess."

           "Doyouremember,"putintheunwiseMissAmelia,"whatshesaidtoyouthatdayintheschoolroomaboutwhatyouwoulddoifyoufoundoutthatshewas—"

           "No,Idon’t,"saidMissMinchin."Don’ttalknonsense."Butsherememberedveryclearlyindeed.

           Verynaturally,evenBeckywasbeginningtolookplumperandlessfrightened.Shecouldnothelpit.Shehadhershareinthesecretfairystory,too.Shehadtwomattresses,twopillows,plentyofbed-covering,andeverynightahotsupperandaseatonthecushionsbythefire.TheBastillehadmeltedaway,theprisonersnolongerexisted.Twocomfortedchildrensatinthemidstofdelights.