Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
Sherubbedhereyeswithherhandkerchiefuntiltheylookedquitered.Afterwhichshegotupandwentoutoftheroom,withoutventuringtosayanotherword.Whenheroldersisterlookedandspokeasshehaddonejustnow,thewisestcoursetopursuewastoobeyorderswithoutanycomment.MissMinchinwalkedacrosstheroom.Shespoketoherselfaloudwithoutknowingthatshewasdoingit.Duringthelastyearthestoryofthediamondmineshadsuggestedallsortsofpossibilitiestoher.Evenproprietorsofseminariesmightmakefortunesinstocks,withtheaidofownersofmines.Andnow,insteadoflookingforwardtogains,shewaslefttolookbackuponlosses.
"ThePrincessSara,indeed!"shesaid."ThechildhasbeenpamperedasifshewereaQUEEN."Shewassweepingangrilypastthecornertableasshesaidit,andthenextmomentshestartedatthesoundofaloud,sobbingsniffwhichissuedfromunderthecover.
"Whatisthat!"sheexclaimedangrily.Theloud,sobbingsniffwasheardagain,andshestoopedandraisedthehangingfoldsofthetablecover.
"HowDAREyou!"shecriedout."Howdareyou!Comeoutimmediately!"
ItwaspoorBeckywhocrawledout,andhercapwasknockedononeside,andherfacewasredwithrepressedcrying.
"Ifyouplease,’m—it’sme,mum,"sheexplained."IknowIhadn’toughtto.ButIwaslookin’atthedoll,mum—an’Iwasfrightenedwhenyoucomein—an’slippedunderthetable."
"Youhavebeenthereallthetime,listening,"saidMissMinchin.
"No,mum,"Beckyprotested,bobbingcurtsies."Notlistenin’—IthoughtIcouldslipoutwithoutyournoticin’,butIcouldn’tan’Ihadtostay.ButIdidn’tlisten,mum—Iwouldn’tfornothin’.ButIcouldn’thelphearin’."
