Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
MissMinchinhadneverlookedquitesostillandhardasshedidwhenSaracametoher,afewhourslater,inresponsetoamessageshehadsenther.
EvenbythattimeitseemedtoSaraasifthebirthdaypartyhadeitherbeenadreamorathingwhichhadhappenedyearsago,andhadhappenedinthelifeofquiteanotherlittlegirl.
Everysignofthefestivitieshadbeensweptaway;thehollyhadbeenremovedfromtheschoolroomwalls,andtheformsanddesksputbackintotheirplaces.MissMinchin’ssittingroomlookedasitalwaysdid—alltracesofthefeastweregone,andMissMinchinhadresumedherusualdress.Thepupilshadbeenorderedtolayasidetheirpartyfrocks;andthishavingbeendone,theyhadreturnedtotheschoolroomandhuddledtogetheringroups,whisperingandtalkingexcitedly.
"TellSaratocometomyroom,"MissMinchinhadsaidtohersister."AndexplaintoherclearlythatIwillhavenocryingorunpleasantscenes."
"Sister,"repliedMissAmelia,"sheisthestrangestchildIeversaw.Shehasactuallymadenofussatall.YouremembershemadenonewhenCaptainCrewewentbacktoIndia.WhenItoldherwhathadhappened,shejuststoodquitestillandlookedatmewithoutmakingasound.Hereyesseemedtogetbiggerandbigger,andshewentquitepale.WhenIhadfinished,shestillstoodstaringforafewseconds,andthenherchinbegantoshake,andsheturnedroundandranoutoftheroomandupstairs.Severaloftheotherchildrenbegantocry,butshedidnotseemtohearthemortobealivetoanythingbutjustwhatIwassaying.Itmademefeelquitequeernottobeanswered;andwhenyoutellanythingsuddenandstrange,youexpectpeoplewillsaySOMETHING—whateveritis."
