Маленька принцеса
The Diamond Mines Again
Shemeanttogotoherroomandliedownonthetiger-skin,withhercheekuponthegreatcat’shead,andlookintothefireandthinkandthinkandthink.ButjustbeforeshereachedthelandingMissAmeliacameoutofthedoorandcloseditbehindher,andstoodbeforeit,lookingnervousandawkward.Thetruthwasthatshefeltsecretlyashamedofthethingshehadbeenorderedtodo.
"You—youarenottogointhere,"shesaid.
"Notgoin?"exclaimedSara,andshefellbackapace.
"Thatisnotyourroomnow,"MissAmeliaanswered,reddeningalittle.
Somehow,allatonce,Saraunderstood.SherealizedthatthiswasthebeginningofthechangeMissMinchinhadspokenof.
"Whereismyroom?"sheasked,hopingverymuchthathervoicedidnotshake.
"YouaretosleepintheatticnexttoBecky."
Saraknewwhereitwas.Beckyhadtoldheraboutit.Sheturned,andmounteduptwoflightsofstairs.Thelastonewasnarrow,andcoveredwithshabbystripsofoldcarpet.Shefeltasifshewerewalkingawayandleavingfarbehindhertheworldinwhichthatotherchild,whonolongerseemedherself,hadlived.Thischild,inhershort,tightoldfrock,climbingthestairstotheattic,wasquiteadifferentcreature.
Whenshereachedtheatticdoorandopenedit,herheartgaveadrearylittlethump.Thensheshutthedoorandstoodagainstitandlookedabouther.
