Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
"Iwillnothaveherformingintimaciesandtalkingtotheotherchildren,"thatladysaid."Girlslikeagrievance,andifshebeginstotellromanticstoriesaboutherself,shewillbecomeanill-usedheroine,andparentswillbegivenawrongimpression.Itisbetterthatsheshouldliveaseparatelife—onesuitedtohercircumstances.Iamgivingherahome,andthatismorethanshehasanyrighttoexpectfromme."
Saradidnotexpectmuch,andwasfartooproudtotrytocontinuetobeintimatewithgirlswhoevidentlyfeltratherawkwardanduncertainabouther.ThefactwasthatMissMinchin’spupilswereasetofdull,matter-of-factyoungpeople.Theywereaccustomedtobeingrichandcomfortable,andasSara’sfrocksgrewshorterandshabbierandqueerer-looking,anditbecameanestablishedfactthatsheworeshoeswithholesinthemandwassentouttobuygroceriesandcarrythemthroughthestreetsinabasketonherarmwhenthecookwantedtheminahurry,theyfeltratherasif,whentheyspoketoher,theywereaddressinganunderservant.
"Tothinkthatshewasthegirlwiththediamondmines,"Laviniacommented."Shedoeslookanobject.Andshe’squeererthanever.Ineverlikedhermuch,butIcan’tbearthatwayshehasnowoflookingatpeoplewithoutspeaking—justasifshewasfindingthemout."
"Iam,"saidSara,promptly,whensheheardofthis."That’swhatIlookatsomepeoplefor.Iliketoknowaboutthem.Ithinkthemoverafterward."
ThetruthwasthatshehadsavedherselfannoyanceseveraltimesbykeepinghereyeonLavinia,whowasquitereadytomakemischief,andwouldhavebeenratherpleasedtohavemadeitfortheex-showpupil.
