Маленька принцеса

           "WouldyouliketoseeEmily?"sheinquired.

           "WhoisEmily?"Ermengardeasked,justasMissMinchinhaddone.

           "Comeuptomyroomandsee,"saidSara,holdingoutherhand.

           Theyjumpeddownfromthewindow-seattogether,andwentupstairs.

           "Isittrue,"Ermengardewhispered,astheywentthroughthehall—"isittruethatyouhaveaplayroomalltoyourself?"

           "Yes,"Saraanswered."PapaaskedMissMinchintoletmehaveone,because—well,itwasbecausewhenIplayImakeupstoriesandtellthemtomyself,andIdon’tlikepeopletohearme.ItspoilsitifIthinkpeoplelisten."

           TheyhadreachedthepassageleadingtoSara’sroombythistime,andErmengardestoppedshort,staring,andquitelosingherbreath.

           "YouMAKEupstories!"shegasped."Canyoudothat—aswellasspeakFrench?CANyou?"

           Saralookedatherinsimplesurprise.

           "Why,anyonecanmakeupthings,"shesaid."Haveyounevertried?"

           SheputherhandwarninglyonErmengarde’s.

           "Letusgoveryquietlytothedoor,"shewhispered,"andthenIwillopenitquitesuddenly;perhapswemaycatchher."

           Shewashalflaughing,buttherewasatouchofmysterioushopeinhereyeswhichfascinatedErmengarde,thoughshehadnottheremotestideawhatitmeant,orwhomitwasshewantedto"catch,"orwhyshewantedtocatchher.