Маленька принцеса

           Neverinherdull,shortlifehadMissSt.Johndreamedofsuchanhourastheoneshespentwiththequeernewpupilbeforetheyheardthelunch-bellringandwereobligedtogodownstairs.

           Sarasatuponthehearth-rugandtoldherstrangethings.Shesatratherhuddledup,andhergreeneyesshoneandhercheeksflushed.Shetoldstoriesofthevoyage,andstoriesofIndia;butwhatfascinatedErmengardethemostwasherfancyaboutthedollswhowalkedandtalked,andwhocoulddoanythingtheychosewhenthehumanbeingswereoutoftheroom,butwhomustkeeptheirpowersasecretandsoflewbacktotheirplaces"likelightning"whenpeoplereturnedtotheroom.

           "WEcouldn’tdoit,"saidSara,seriously."Yousee,it’sakindofmagic."

           Once,whenshewasrelatingthestoryofthesearchforEmily,Ermengardesawherfacesuddenlychange.Acloudseemedtopassoveritandputoutthelightinhershiningeyes.Shedrewherbreathinsosharplythatitmadeafunny,sadlittlesound,andthensheshutherlipsandheldthemtightlyclosed,asifshewasdeterminedeithertodoorNOTtodosomething.Ermengardehadanideathatifshehadbeenlikeanyotherlittlegirl,shemighthavesuddenlyburstoutsobbingandcrying.Butshedidnot.

           "Haveyoua—apain?"Ermengardeventured.

           "Yes,"Saraanswered,afteramoment’ssilence."Butitisnotinmybody."Thensheaddedsomethinginalowvoicewhichshetriedtokeepquitesteady,anditwasthis:"Doyouloveyourfathermorethananythingelseinallthewholeworld?"