Маленька принцеса
I Tried Not to Be
Carrisfordaguardianaswellasafriend.
MissMinchinwasnotacleverwoman,andinherexcitementshewassillyenoughtomakeonedesperateefforttoregainwhatshecouldnothelpseeingshehadlostthroughherworldlyfolly.
"Hefoundherundermycare,"sheprotested."Ihavedoneeverythingforher.Butformesheshouldhavestarvedinthestreets."
HeretheIndiangentlemanlosthistemper.
"Astostarvinginthestreets,"hesaid,"shemighthavestarvedmorecomfortablytherethaninyourattic."
"CaptainCreweleftherinmycharge,"MissMinchinargued."Shemustreturntoituntilsheisofage.Shecanbeaparlorboarderagain.Shemustfinishhereducation.Thelawwillinterfereinmybehalf."
"Come,come,MissMinchin,"Mr.Carmichaelinterposed,"thelawwilldonothingofthesort.IfSaraherselfwishestoreturntoyou,IdaresayMr.Carrisfordmightnotrefusetoallowit.ButthatrestswithSara."
"Then,"saidMissMinchin,"IappealtoSara.Ihavenotspoiledyou,perhaps,"shesaidawkwardlytothelittlegirl;"butyouknowthatyourpapawaspleasedwithyourprogress.And—ahem—Ihavealwaysbeenfondofyou."
Sara’sgreen-grayeyesfixedthemselvesonherwiththequiet,clearlookMissMinchinparticularlydisliked.
"HaveYOU,MissMinchin?"shesaid."Ididnotknowthat."
MissMinchinreddenedanddrewherselfup.
"Yououghttohaveknownit,"saidshe;"butchildren,unfortunately,neverknowwhatisbestforthem.
