Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
Sheoftenthoughtafterwardhowstrangeitwasthatjustasshehadfinishedsayingthis—justatthatverymoment—MissAmeliacameintotheroom.
"Sara,"shesaid,"yourpapa’ssolicitor,Mr.Barrow,hascalledtoseeMissMinchin,and,asshemusttalktohimaloneandtherefreshmentsarelaidinherparlor,youhadallbettercomeandhaveyourfeastnow,sothatmysistercanhaveherinterviewhereintheschoolroom."
Refreshmentswerenotlikelytobedisdainedatanyhour,andmanypairsofeyesgleamed.MissAmeliaarrangedtheprocessionintodecorum,andthen,withSaraathersideheadingit,sheleditaway,leavingtheLastDollsittinguponachairwiththegloriesofherwardrobescatteredabouther;dressesandcoatshunguponchairbacks,pilesoflace-frilledpetticoatslyingupontheirseats.
Becky,whowasnotexpectedtopartakeofrefreshments,hadtheindiscretiontolingeramomenttolookatthesebeauties—itreallywasanindiscretion.
"Gobacktoyourwork,Becky,"MissAmeliahadsaid;butshehadstoppedtopickupreverentlyfirstamuffandthenacoat,andwhileshestoodlookingatthemadoringly,sheheardMissMinchinuponthethreshold,and,beingsmittenwithterroratthethoughtofbeingaccusedoftakingliberties,sherashlydartedunderthetable,whichhidherbyitstablecloth.
MissMinchincameintotheroom,accompaniedbyasharp-featured,drylittlegentleman,wholookedratherdisturbed.MissMinchinherselfalsolookedratherdisturbed,itmustbeadmitted,andshegazedatthedrylittlegentlemanwithanirritatedandpuzzledexpression.
Shesatdownwithstiffdignity,andwavedhimtoachair.
