Маленька принцеса

           "Becauseyouaresuchfunwhenyousaythem,"heanswered,laughingstillmore.Andthensuddenlyhesweptherintohisarmsandkissedherveryhard,stoppinglaughingallatonceandlookingalmostasiftearshadcomeintohiseyes.

           ItwasjustthenthatMissMinchinenteredtheroom.Shewasverylikeherhouse,Sarafelt:tallanddull,andrespectableandugly.Shehadlarge,cold,fishyeyes,andalarge,cold,fishysmile.ItspreaditselfintoaverylargesmilewhenshesawSaraandCaptainCrewe.Shehadheardagreatmanydesirablethingsoftheyoungsoldierfromtheladywhohadrecommendedherschooltohim.Amongotherthings,shehadheardthathewasarichfatherwhowaswillingtospendagreatdealofmoneyonhislittledaughter.

           "Itwillbeagreatprivilegetohavechargeofsuchabeautifulandpromisingchild,CaptainCrewe,"shesaid,takingSara’shandandstrokingit."LadyMeredithhastoldmeofherunusualcleverness.Acleverchildisagreattreasureinanestablishmentlikemine."

           Sarastoodquietly,withhereyesfixeduponMissMinchin’sface.Shewasthinkingsomethingodd,asusual.

           "WhydoesshesayIamabeautifulchild?"shewasthinking."Iamnotbeautifulatall.ColonelGrange’slittlegirl,Isobel,isbeautiful.Shehasdimplesandrose-coloredcheeks,andlonghairthecolorofgold.Ihaveshortblackhairandgreeneyes;besideswhich,Iamathinchildandnotfairintheleast.IamoneoftheugliestchildrenIeversaw.Sheisbeginningbytellingastory."

           Shewasmistaken,however,inthinkingshewasanuglychild.ShewasnotintheleastlikeIsobelGrange,whohadbeenthebeautyoftheregiment,butshehadanoddcharmofherown.