Маленька принцеса

           Sheisalwaysstarvingfornewbookstogobble,andshewantsgrown-upbooks—great,big,fatones—FrenchandGermanaswellasEnglish—historyandbiographyandpoets,andallsortsofthings.Dragherawayfromherbookswhenshereadstoomuch.MakeherrideherponyintheRoworgooutandbuyanewdoll.Sheoughttoplaymorewithdolls."

           "Papa,"saidSara,"yousee,ifIwentoutandboughtanewdolleveryfewdaysIshouldhavemorethanIcouldbefondof.Dollsoughttobeintimatefriends.Emilyisgoingtobemyintimatefriend."

           CaptainCrewelookedatMissMinchinandMissMinchinlookedatCaptainCrewe.

           "WhoisEmily?"sheinquired.

           "Tellher,Sara,"CaptainCrewesaid,smiling.

           Sara’sgreen-grayeyeslookedverysolemnandquitesoftassheanswered.

           "SheisadollIhaven’tgotyet,"shesaid."Sheisadollpapaisgoingtobuyforme.Wearegoingouttogethertofindher.IhavecalledherEmily.Sheisgoingtobemyfriendwhenpapaisgone.Iwanthertotalktoabouthim."

           MissMinchin’slarge,fishysmilebecameveryflatteringindeed.

           "Whatanoriginalchild!"shesaid."Whatadarlinglittlecreature!"

           "Yes,"saidCaptainCrewe,drawingSaraclose."Sheisadarlinglittlecreature.Takegreatcareofherforme,MissMinchin."

           Sarastayedwithherfatherathishotelforseveraldays;infact,sheremainedwithhimuntilhesailedawayagaintoIndia.Theywentoutandvisitedmanybigshopstogether,andboughtagreatmanythings.