Маленька принцеса

           TheIndiangentleman’scarriage,withitstallhorses,drewupbeforethedoorofthenexthouse,anditsownerandalittlefigure,warmwithsoft,richfurs,descendedthestepstogetintoit.Thelittlefigurewasafamiliarone,andremindedMissMinchinofdaysinthepast.Itwasfollowedbyanotherasfamiliar—thesightofwhichshefoundveryirritating.ItwasBecky,who,inthecharacterofdelightedattendant,alwaysaccompaniedheryoungmistresstohercarriage,carryingwrapsandbelongings.AlreadyBeckyhadapink,roundface.

           Alittlelaterthecarriagedrewupbeforethedoorofthebaker’sshop,anditsoccupantsgotout,oddlyenough,justasthebun-womanwasputtingatrayofsmoking-hotbunsintothewindow.

           WhenSaraenteredtheshopthewomanturnedandlookedather,and,leavingthebuns,cameandstoodbehindthecounter.ForamomentshelookedatSaraveryhardindeed,andthenhergood-naturedfacelightedup.

           "I’msurethatIrememberyou,miss,"shesaid."Andyet—"

           "Yes,"saidSara;"onceyougavemesixbunsforfourpence,and—"

           "Andyougavefiveof’emtoabeggarchild,"thewomanbrokeinonher."I’vealwaysrememberedit.Icouldn’tmakeitoutatfirst."SheturnedroundtotheIndiangentlemanandspokehernextwordstohim."Ibegyourpardon,sir,butthere’snotmanyyoungpeoplethatnoticesahungryfaceinthatway;andI’vethoughtofitmanyatime.