Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
Beckyhadbeenbackingintothecorner,twistingthehemofherapronindelightedsuspense.Shecameforward,bobbingcurtsies,butbetweenSara’seyesandherowntherepassedagleamoffriendlyunderstanding,whileherwordstumbledovereachother.
"Oh,ifyouplease,miss!I’mthatgrateful,miss!Ididwanttoseethedoll,miss,thatIdid.Thankyou,miss.Andthankyou,ma’am,"—turningandmakinganalarmedbobtoMissMinchin—"forlettingmetaketheliberty."
MissMinchinwavedherhandagain—thistimeitwasinthedirectionofthecornernearthedoor.
"Goandstandthere,"shecommanded."Nottooneartheyoungladies."
Beckywenttoherplace,grinning.Shedidnotcarewhereshewassent,sothatshemighthavetheluckofbeinginsidetheroom,insteadofbeingdownstairsinthescullery,whilethesedelightsweregoingon.ShedidnotevenmindwhenMissMinchinclearedherthroatominouslyandspokeagain.
"Now,youngladies,Ihaveafewwordstosaytoyou,"sheannounced.
"She’sgoingtomakeaspeech,"whisperedoneofthegirls."Iwishitwasover."
Sarafeltratheruncomfortable.Asthiswasherparty,itwasprobablethatthespeechwasabouther.Itisnotagreeabletostandinaschoolroomandhaveaspeechmadeaboutyou.
"Youareaware,youngladies,"thespeechbegan—foritwasaspeech—"thatdearSaraiselevenyearsoldtoday."
"DEARSara!"murmuredLavinia.
