Маленька принцеса

           "Verypretty,indeed,Sara,"approvedMissMinchin."Thatiswhatarealprincessdoeswhenthepopulaceapplaudsher.Lavinia"—scathingly—"thesoundyoujustmadewasextremelylikeasnort.Ifyouarejealousofyourfellow-pupil,Ibegyouwillexpressyourfeelingsinsomemorelady-likemanner.NowIwillleaveyoutoenjoyyourselves."

           Theinstantshehadsweptoutoftheroomthespellherpresencealwayshaduponthemwasbroken.Thedoorhadscarcelyclosedbeforeeveryseatwasempty.Thelittlegirlsjumpedortumbledoutoftheirs;theolderoneswastednotimeindesertingtheirs.Therewasarushtowardtheboxes.Sarahadbentoveroneofthemwithadelightedface.

           "Thesearebooks,Iknow,"shesaid.

           Thelittlechildrenbrokeintoaruefulmurmur,andErmengardelookedaghast.

           "Doesyourpapasendyoubooksforabirthdaypresent?"sheexclaimed."Why,he’sasbadasmine.Don’topenthem,Sara."

           "Ilikethem,"Saralaughed,butsheturnedtothebiggestbox.WhenshetookouttheLastDollitwassomagnificentthatthechildrenuttereddelightedgroansofjoy,andactuallydrewbacktogazeatitinbreathlessrapture.

           "SheisalmostasbigasLottie,"someonegasped.

           Lottieclappedherhandsanddancedabout,giggling.

           "She’sdressedforthetheater,"saidLavinia."Hercloakislinedwithermine."

           "Oh,"criedErmengarde,dartingforward,"shehasanopera-glassinherhand—ablue-and-goldone!"