Маленька принцеса

           Shehadbeensentuptoputthebedroomsinorderfortheevening.Therewereagreatmanyofthem,andshehadbeenrunningaboutallday.Sara’sroomsshehadsaveduntilthelast.Theywerenotliketheotherrooms,whichwereplainandbare.Ordinarypupilswereexpectedtobesatisfiedwithmerenecessaries.Sara’scomfortablesittingroomseemedabowerofluxurytothescullerymaid,thoughitwas,infact,merelyanice,brightlittleroom.Buttherewerepicturesandbooksinit,andcuriousthingsfromIndia;therewasasofaandthelow,softchair;Emilysatinachairofherown,withtheairofapresidinggoddess,andtherewasalwaysaglowingfireandapolishedgrate.Beckysavedituntiltheendofherafternoon’swork,becauseitrestedhertogointoit,andshealwayshopedtosnatchafewminutestositdowninthesoftchairandlookabouther,andthinkaboutthewonderfulgoodfortuneofthechildwhoownedsuchsurroundingsandwhowentoutonthecolddaysinbeautifulhatsandcoatsonetriedtocatchaglimpseofthroughthearearailing.

           Onthisafternoon,whenshehadsatdown,thesensationofrelieftohershort,achinglegshadbeensowonderfulanddelightfulthatithadseemedtosootheherwholebody,andtheglowofwarmthandcomfortfromthefirehadcreptoverherlikeaspell,until,asshelookedattheredcoals,atired,slowsmilestoleoverhersmudgedface,herheadnoddedforwardwithoutherbeingawareofit,hereyesdrooped,andshefellfastasleep.ShehadreallybeenonlyabouttenminutesintheroomwhenSaraentered,butshewasinasdeepasleepasifshehadbeen,liketheSleepingBeauty,slumberingforahundredyears.Butshedidnotlook—poorBecky—likeaSleepingBeautyatall.Shelookedonlylikeanugly,stunted,worn-outlittlescullerydrudge.

           Saraseemedasmuchunlikeherasifshewereacreaturefromanotherworld.