Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
"Pray,beseated,Mr.Barrow,"shesaid.
Mr.Barrowdidnotsitdownatonce.HisattentionseemedattractedbytheLastDollandthethingswhichsurroundedher.Hesettledhiseyeglassesandlookedattheminnervousdisapproval.TheLastDollherselfdidnotseemtomindthisintheleast.Shemerelysatuprightandreturnedhisgazeindifferently.
"Ahundredpounds,"Mr.Barrowremarkedsuccinctly."Allexpensivematerial,andmadeataParisianmodiste’s.Hespentmoneylavishlyenough,thatyoungman."
MissMinchinfeltoffended.Thisseemedtobeadisparagementofherbestpatronandwasaliberty.
Evensolicitorshadnorighttotakeliberties.
"Ibegyourpardon,Mr.Barrow,"shesaidstiffly."Idonotunderstand."
"Birthdaypresents,"saidMr.Barrowinthesamecriticalmanner,"toachildelevenyearsold!Madextravagance,Icallit."
MissMinchindrewherselfupstillmorerigidly.
"CaptainCreweisamanoffortune,"shesaid."Thediamondminesalone—"
Mr.Barrowwheeledrounduponher."Diamondmines!"hebrokeout."Therearenone!Neverwere!"
MissMinchinactuallygotupfromherchair.
"What!"shecried."Whatdoyoumean?"
