Маленька принцеса
I Tried Not to Be
ShehadwantedSaraforsomething,andoninquiryhadheardanastonishingthing.Oneofthehousemaidshadseenherstealoutoftheareawithsomethinghiddenunderhercloak,andhadalsoseenhergoupthestepsofthenextdoorandenterthehouse.
"Whatdoesshemean!"criedMissMinchintoMissAmelia.
"Idon’tknow,I’msure,sister,"answeredMissAmelia."UnlessshehasmadefriendswithhimbecausehehaslivedinIndia."
"Itwouldbejustlikehertothrustherselfuponhimandtrytogainhissympathiesinsomesuchimpertinentfashion,"saidMissMinchin."Shemusthavebeeninthehousefortwohours.Iwillnotallowsuchpresumption.Ishallgoandinquireintothematter,andapologizeforherintrusion."
SarawassittingonafootstoolclosetoMr.Carrisford’sknee,andlisteningtosomeofthemanythingshefeltitnecessarytotrytoexplaintoher,whenRamDassannouncedthevisitor’sarrival.
Sararoseinvoluntarily,andbecameratherpale;butMr.Carrisfordsawthatshestoodquietly,andshowednoneoftheordinarysignsofchildterror.
MissMinchinenteredtheroomwithasternlydignifiedmanner.Shewascorrectlyandwelldressed,andrigidlypolite.
"IamsorrytodisturbMr.Carrisford,"shesaid;"butIhaveexplanationstomake.IamMissMinchin,theproprietressoftheYoungLadies’Seminarynextdoor."
TheIndiangentlemanlookedatherforamomentinsilentscrutiny.
