Маленька принцеса
I Tried Not to Be
"Andnowyou’velosther,"shecriedwildly;"andsomeotherschoolwillgetherandhermoney;andifshewerelikeanyotherchildshe’dtellhowshe’sbeentreated,andallourpupilswouldbetakenawayandweshouldberuined.Anditservesusright;butitservesyourightmorethanitdoesme,foryouareahardwoman,MariaMinchin,you’reahard,selfish,worldlywoman!"
Andshewasindangerofmakingsomuchnoisewithherhystericalchokesandgurglesthathersisterwasobligedtogotoherandapplysaltsandsalvolatiletoquiether,insteadofpouringforthherindignationatheraudacity.
Andfromthattimeforward,itmaybementioned,theelderMissMinchinactuallybegantostandalittleinaweofasisterwho,whileshelookedsofoolish,wasevidentlynotquitesofoolishasshelooked,andmight,consequently,breakoutandspeaktruthspeopledidnotwanttohear.
Thatevening,whenthepupilsweregatheredtogetherbeforethefireintheschoolroom,aswastheircustombeforegoingtobed,Ermengardecameinwithaletterinherhandandaqueerexpressiononherroundface.Itwasqueerbecause,whileitwasanexpressionofdelightedexcitement,itwascombinedwithsuchamazementasseemedtobelongtoakindofshockjustreceived.
"WhatISthematter?"criedtwoorthreevoicesatonce.
"Isitanythingtodowiththerowthathasbeengoingon?"saidLavinia,eagerly.
