Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
"MayI?"exclaimedSara."Oh,pleaseletme!IknowIcanteachthem.Ilikethem,andtheylikeme."
"Don’ttalknonsenseaboutpeoplelikingyou,"saidMissMinchin."Youwillhavetodomorethanteachthelittleones.Youwillrunerrandsandhelpinthekitchenaswellasintheschoolroom.Ifyoudon’tpleaseme,youwillbesentaway.Rememberthat.Nowgo."
Sarastoodstilljustamoment,lookingather.Inheryoungsoul,shewasthinkingdeepandstrangethings.Thensheturnedtoleavetheroom.
"Stop!"saidMissMinchin."Don’tyouintendtothankme?"
Sarapaused,andallthedeep,strangethoughtssurgedupinherbreast.
"Whatfor?"shesaid.
"Formykindnesstoyou,"repliedMissMinchin."Formykindnessingivingyouahome."
Saramadetwoorthreestepstowardher.Herthinlittlechestheavedupanddown,andshespokeinastrangeun-childishlyfierceway.
"Youarenotkind,"shesaid."YouareNOTkind,anditisNOTahome."AndshehadturnedandrunoutoftheroombeforeMissMinchincouldstopherordoanythingbutstareafterherwithstonyanger.
Shewentupthestairsslowly,butpantingforbreathandsheheldEmilytightlyagainstherside.
"Iwishshecouldtalk,"shesaidtoherself."Ifshecouldspeak—ifshecouldspeak!"
