Маленька принцеса

           "Doyouknowwheresheis?"

           "Yes,Ido,"answeredthewoman,smilingmoregood-naturedlythanever."Why,she’sinthattherebackroom,miss,an’hasbeenforamonth;an’adecent,well-meanin’girlshe’sgoin’toturnout,an’suchahelptomeintheshopan’inthekitchenasyou’dscarcebelieve,knowin’howshe’slived."

           Shesteppedtothedoorofthelittlebackparlorandspoke;andthenextminuteagirlcameoutandfollowedherbehindthecounter.Andactuallyitwasthebeggar-child,cleanandneatlyclothed,andlookingasifshehadnotbeenhungryforalongtime.Shelookedshy,butshehadaniceface,nowthatshewasnolongerasavage,andthewildlookhadgonefromhereyes.SheknewSarainaninstant,andstoodandlookedatherasifshecouldneverlookenough.

           "Yousee,"saidthewoman,"Itoldhertocomewhenshewashungry,andwhenshe’dcomeI’dgiveheroddjobstodo;an’Ifoundshewaswilling,andsomehowIgottolikeher;andtheendofitwas,I’vegivenheraplacean’ahome,andshehelpsme,an’behaveswell,an’isasthankfulasagirlcanbe.Hername’sAnne.Shehasnoother."

           Thechildrenstoodandlookedateachotherforafewminutes;andthenSaratookherhandoutofhermuffandhelditoutacrossthecounter,andAnnetookit,andtheylookedstraightintoeachother’seyes.

           "Iamsoglad,"Sarasaid."AndIhavejustthoughtofsomething.PerhapsMrs.Brownwillletyoubetheonetogivethebunsandbreadtothechildren