Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
"Atanyrate,"answeredMr.Barrow,quitesnappishly,"itwouldhavebeenmuchbetterifthereneverhadbeenany."
"Anydiamondmines?"ejaculatedMissMinchin,catchingatthebackofachairandfeelingasifasplendiddreamwasfadingawayfromher.
"Diamondminesspellruinoftenerthantheyspellwealth,"saidMr.Barrow."Whenamanisinthehandsofaverydearfriendandisnotabusinessmanhimself,hehadbettersteerclearofthedearfriend’sdiamondmines,orgoldmines,oranyotherkindofminesdearfriendswanthismoneytoputinto.ThelateCaptainCrewe—"
HereMissMinchinstoppedhimwithagasp.
"TheLATECaptainCrewe!"shecriedout."TheLATE!Youdon’tcometotellmethatCaptainCreweis—"
"He’sdead,ma’am,"Mr.Barrowansweredwithjerkybrusqueness."Diedofjunglefeverandbusinesstroublescombined.Thejunglefevermightnothavekilledhimifhehadnotbeendrivenmadbythebusinesstroubles,andthebusinesstroublesmightnothaveputanendtohimifthejunglefeverhadnotassisted.CaptainCreweisdead!"
MissMinchindroppedintoherchairagain.Thewordshehadspokenfilledherwithalarm.
"WhatWEREhisbusinesstroubles?"shesaid."WhatWEREthey?"
"Diamondmines,"answeredMr.Barrow,"anddearfriends—andruin."
MissMinchinlostherbreath.
"Ruin!"shegaspedout.
