Маленька принцеса
It Is the Child!
"Idon’tthinkIknowexactlyWHATIam,"shereplied.
"Whynot?"
"AtfirstIwasapupil,andaparlorboarder;butnow—"
"Youwereapupil!Whatareyounow?"
ThequeerlittlesadsmilewasonSara’slipsagain.
"Isleepintheattic,nexttothescullerymaid,"shesaid."Irunerrandsforthecook—Idoanythingshetellsme;andIteachthelittleonestheirlessons."
"Questionher,Carmichael,"saidMr.Carrisford,sinkingbackasifhehadlosthisstrength."Questionher;Icannot."
Thebig,kindfatheroftheLargeFamilyknewhowtoquestionlittlegirls.Sararealizedhowmuchpracticehehadhadwhenhespoketoherinhisnice,encouragingvoice.
"Whatdoyoumeanby’Atfirst,’mychild?"heinquired.
"WhenIwasfirsttakentherebymypapa."
"Whereisyourpapa?"
"Hedied,"saidSara,veryquietly."Helostallhismoneyandtherewasnoneleftforme.TherewasnoonetotakecareofmeortopayMissMinchin."
"Carmichael!"theIndiangentlemancriedoutloudly."Carmichael!"
"Wemustnotfrightenher,"Mr.Carmichaelsaidasidetohiminaquick,lowvoice.AndheaddedaloudtoSara,"Soyouweresentupintotheattic,andmadeintoalittledrudge.Thatwasaboutit,wasn’tit?"
"Therewasnoonetotakecareofme,"saidSara."Therewasnomoney;Ibelongtonobody."
"Howdidyourfatherlosehismoney?"theIndiangentlemanbrokeinbreathlessly.
"Hedidnotloseithimself,"Saraanswered,wonderingstillmoreeachmoment."Hehadafriendhewasveryfondof—hewasveryfondofhim
