Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
ShehadalwaysmadeMissMinchinfeelsecretlyuncomfortable,andshedidsonow.ShedidnotspeakwithrudenesssomuchaswithacoldsteadinesswithwhichMissMinchinfeltitdifficulttocope—perhapsbecausesheknewshewasdoingaheartlessandinhumanthing.
"Youwillhavenotimefordollsinfuture,"shesaid."Youwillhavetoworkandimproveyourselfandmakeyourselfuseful."
Sarakeptherbig,strangeeyesfixedonher,andsaidnotaword.
"Everythingwillbeverydifferentnow,"MissMinchinwenton."IsupposeMissAmeliahasexplainedmatterstoyou."
"Yes,"answeredSara."Mypapaisdead.Heleftmenomoney.Iamquitepoor."
"Youareabeggar,"saidMissMinchin,hertemperrisingattherecollectionofwhatallthismeant."Itappearsthatyouhavenorelationsandnohome,andnoonetotakecareofyou."
Foramomentthethin,palelittlefacetwitched,butSaraagainsaidnothing.
"Whatareyoustaringat?"demandedMissMinchin,sharply."Areyousostupidthatyoucannotunderstand?Itellyouthatyouarequitealoneintheworld,andhavenoonetodoanythingforyou,unlessIchoosetokeepyouhereoutofcharity."
"Iunderstand,"answeredSara,inalowtone;andtherewasasoundasifshehadgulpeddownsomethingwhichroseinherthroat."Iunderstand."
"Thatdoll,"criedMissMinchin,pointingtothesplendidbirthdaygiftseatednear—"thatridiculousdoll,withallhernonsensical,extravagantthings—Iactuallypaidthebillforher!"
