Маленька принцеса

           "Couldn’tyougotothatplacewithme,papa?"shehadaskedwhenshewasfiveyearsold."Couldn’tyougotoschool,too?Iwouldhelpyouwithyourlessons."

           "Butyouwillnothavetostayforaverylongtime,littleSara,"hehadalwayssaid."Youwillgotoanicehousewheretherewillbealotoflittlegirls,andyouwillplaytogether,andIwillsendyouplentyofbooks,andyouwillgrowsofastthatitwillseemscarcelyayearbeforeyouarebigenoughandcleverenoughtocomebackandtakecareofpapa."

           Shehadlikedtothinkofthat.Tokeepthehouseforherfather;toridewithhim,andsitattheheadofhistablewhenhehaddinnerparties;totalktohimandreadhisbooks—thatwouldbewhatshewouldlikemostintheworld,andifonemustgoawayto"theplace"inEnglandtoattainit,shemustmakeuphermindtogo.Shedidnotcareverymuchforotherlittlegirls,butifshehadplentyofbooksshecouldconsoleherself.Shelikedbooksmorethananythingelse,andwas,infact,alwaysinventingstoriesofbeautifulthingsandtellingthemtoherself.Sometimesshehadtoldthemtoherfather,andhehadlikedthemasmuchasshedid.

           "Well,papa,"shesaidsoftly,"ifwearehereIsupposewemustberesigned."

           Helaughedatherold-fashionedspeechandkissedher.Hewasreallynotatallresignedhimself,thoughheknewhemustkeepthatasecret.HisquaintlittleSarahadbeenagreatcompaniontohim,andhefeltheshouldbealonelyfellowwhen,onhisreturntoIndia,hewentintohisbungalowknowingheneednotexpecttoseethesmallfigureinitswhitefrockcomeforwardtomeethim.Soheheldherverycloselyinhisarmsasthecabrolledintothebig,dullsquareinwhichstoodthehousewhichwastheirdestination.