Маленька принцеса
I Tried Not to Be
"Yousentthethingstome,"shesaid,inajoyfulemotionallittlevoice,"thebeautiful,beautifulthings?YOUsentthem!"
"Yes,poor,dearchild,Idid,"heansweredher.Hewasweakandbrokenwithlongillnessandtrouble,buthelookedatherwiththelooksherememberedinherfather’seyes—thatlookoflovingherandwantingtotakeherinhisarms.Itmadeherkneeldownbyhim,justassheusedtokneelbyherfatherwhentheywerethedearestfriendsandloversintheworld.
"Thenitisyouwhoaremyfriend,"shesaid;"itisyouwhoaremyfriend!"Andshedroppedherfaceonhisthinhandandkisseditagainandagain.
"Themanwillbehimselfagaininthreeweeks,"Mr.Carmichaelsaidasidetohiswife."Lookathisfacealready."
Infact,hedidlookchanged.Herewasthe"LittleMissus,"andhehadnewthingstothinkofandplanforalready.Inthefirstplace,therewasMissMinchin.Shemustbeinterviewedandtoldofthechangewhichhadtakenplaceinthefortunesofherpupil.
Sarawasnottoreturntotheseminaryatall.TheIndiangentlemanwasverydetermineduponthatpoint.Shemustremainwhereshewas,andMr.CarmichaelshouldgoandseeMissMinchinhimself.
"IamgladIneednotgoback,"saidSara."Shewillbeveryangry.Shedoesnotlikeme;thoughperhapsitismyfault,becauseIdonotlikeher."
But,oddlyenough,MissMinchinmadeitunnecessaryforMr.Carmichaeltogotoher,byactuallycominginsearchofherpupilherself.