Маленька принцеса
Becky
"TheMermaidsswamsoftlyaboutinthecrystal-greenwater,anddraggedafterthemafishing-netwovenofdeep-seapearls,"shesaid."ThePrincesssatonthewhiterockandwatchedthem."
ItwasawonderfulstoryaboutaprincesswhowaslovedbyaPrinceMerman,andwenttolivewithhiminshiningcavesunderthesea.
Thesmalldrudgebeforethegratesweptthehearthonceandthensweptitagain.Havingdoneittwice,shediditthreetimes;and,asshewasdoingitthethirdtime,thesoundofthestorysoluredhertolistenthatshefellunderthespellandactuallyforgotthatshehadnorighttolistenatall,andalsoforgoteverythingelse.Shesatdownuponherheelsasshekneltonthehearthrug,andthebrushhungidlyinherfingers.Thevoiceofthestorytellerwentonanddrewherwithitintowindinggrottosunderthesea,glowingwithsoft,clearbluelight,andpavedwithpuregoldensands.Strangeseaflowersandgrasseswavedabouther,andfarawayfaintsingingandmusicechoed.
Thehearthbrushfellfromthework-roughenedhand,andLaviniaHerbertlookedround.
"Thatgirlhasbeenlistening,"shesaid.
Theculpritsnatchedupherbrush,andscrambledtoherfeet.Shecaughtatthecoalboxandsimplyscuttledoutoftheroomlikeafrightenedrabbit.
Sarafeltratherhot-tempered.
"Iknewshewaslistening,"shesaid."Whyshouldn’tshe?"
Laviniatossedherheadwithgreatelegance.
