Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
"Severalofyouherehavealsobeenelevenyearsold,butSara’sbirthdaysareratherdifferentfromotherlittlegirls’birthdays.Whensheisoldershewillbeheiresstoalargefortune,whichitwillbeherdutytospendinameritoriousmanner."
"Thediamondmines,"giggledJessie,inawhisper.
Saradidnothearher;butasshestoodwithhergreen-grayeyesfixedsteadilyonMissMinchin,shefeltherselfgrowingratherhot.WhenMissMinchintalkedaboutmoney,shefeltsomehowthatshealwayshatedher—and,ofcourse,itwasdisrespectfultohategrown-uppeople.
"Whenherdearpapa,CaptainCrewe,broughtherfromIndiaandgaveherintomycare,"thespeechproceeded,"hesaidtome,inajestingway,’Iamafraidshewillbeveryrich,MissMinchin.’Myreplywas,’Hereducationatmyseminary,CaptainCrewe,shallbesuchaswilladornthelargestfortune.’Sarahasbecomemymostaccomplishedpupil.HerFrenchandherdancingareacredittotheseminary.Hermanners—whichhavecausedyoutocallherPrincessSara—areperfect.Heramiabilitysheexhibitsbygivingyouthisafternoon’sparty.Ihopeyouappreciatehergenerosity.Iwishyoutoexpressyourappreciationofitbysayingaloudalltogether,’Thankyou,Sara!’"
TheentireschoolroomrosetoitsfeetasithaddonethemorningSararememberedsowell.
"Thankyou,Sara!"itsaid,anditmustbeconfessedthatLottiejumpedupanddown.Saralookedrathershyforamoment.Shemadeacurtsy—anditwasaveryniceone.
"Thankyou,"shesaid,"forcomingtomyparty."
