Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines
Shehadmeantittoberatherasecret,andherewasLaviniaderidingitbeforenearlyalltheschool.Shefeltthebloodrushupintoherfaceandtingleinherears.Sheonlyjustsavedherself.Ifyouwereaprincess,youdidnotflyintorages.Herhanddropped,andshestoodquitestillamoment.Whenshespokeitwasinaquiet,steadyvoice;sheheldherheadup,andeverybodylistenedtoher.
"It’strue,"shesaid."SometimesIdopretendIamaprincess.IpretendIamaprincess,sothatIcantryandbehavelikeone."
Laviniacouldnotthinkofexactlytherightthingtosay.SeveraltimesshehadfoundthatshecouldnotthinkofasatisfactoryreplywhenshewasdealingwithSara.Thereasonforthiswasthat,somehow,therestalwaysseemedtobevaguelyinsympathywithheropponent.Shesawnowthattheywereprickinguptheirearsinterestedly.Thetruthwas,theylikedprincesses,andtheyallhopedtheymighthearsomethingmoredefiniteaboutthisone,anddrewnearerSaraaccordingly.
Laviniacouldonlyinventoneremark,anditfellratherflat.
"Dearme,"shesaid,"Ihope,whenyouascendthethrone,youwon’tforgetus!"
"Iwon’t,"saidSara,andshedidnotutteranotherword,butstoodquitestill,andstaredathersteadilyasshesawhertakeJessie’sarmandturnaway.
Afterthis,thegirlswhowerejealousofherusedtospeakofheras"PrincessSara"whenevertheywishedtobeparticularlydisdainful,andthosewhowerefondofhergaveherthenameamongthemselvesasatermofaffection.
