Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
Saranevermadeanymischiefherself,orinterferedwithanyone.Sheworkedlikeadrudge;shetrampedthroughthewetstreets,carryingparcelsandbaskets;shelaboredwiththechildishinattentionofthelittleones’Frenchlessons;asshebecameshabbierandmoreforlorn-looking,shewastoldthatshehadbettertakehermealsdownstairs;shewastreatedasifshewasnobody’sconcern,andherheartgrewproudandsore,butshenevertoldanyonewhatshefelt.
"Soldiersdon’tcomplain,"shewouldsaybetweenhersmall,shutteeth,"Iamnotgoingtodoit;Iwillpretendthisispartofawar."
Buttherewerehourswhenherchildheartmightalmosthavebrokenwithlonelinessbutforthreepeople.
Thefirst,itmustbeowned,wasBecky—justBecky.Throughoutallthatfirstnightspentinthegarret,shehadfeltavaguecomfortinknowingthatontheothersideofthewallinwhichtheratsscuffledandsqueakedtherewasanotheryounghumancreature.Andduringthenightsthatfollowedthesenseofcomfortgrew.Theyhadlittlechancetospeaktoeachotherduringtheday.Eachhadherowntaskstoperform,andanyattemptatconversationwouldhavebeenregardedasatendencytoloiterandlosetime."Don’tmindme,miss,"Beckywhisperedduringthefirstmorning,"ifIdon’tsaynothin’polite.Someun’dbedownonusifIdid.IMEANS’please’an’’thankyou’an’’begpardon,’butIdassn’ttotaketimetosayit."
ButbeforedaybreaksheusedtoslipintoSara’satticandbuttonherdressandgivehersuchhelpassherequiredbeforeshewentdownstairstolightthekitchenfire.AndwhennightcameSaraalwaysheardthehumbleknockatherdoorwhichmeantthatherhandmaidwasreadytohelpheragainifshewasneeded.
