Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
DuringthefirstweeksofhergriefSarafeltasifsheweretoostupefiedtotalk,soithappenedthatsometimepassedbeforetheysaweachothermuchorexchangedvisits.Becky’shearttoldherthatitwasbestthatpeopleintroubleshouldbeleftalone.
ThesecondofthetrioofcomforterswasErmengarde,butoddthingshappenedbeforeErmengardefoundherplace.
WhenSara’smindseemedtoawakenagaintothelifeabouther,sherealizedthatshehadforgottenthatanErmengardelivedintheworld.Thetwohadalwaysbeenfriends,butSarahadfeltasifshewereyearstheolder.ItcouldnotbecontestedthatErmengardewasasdullasshewasaffectionate.SheclungtoSarainasimple,helplessway;shebroughtherlessonstoherthatshemightbehelped;shelistenedtohereverywordandbesiegedherwithrequestsforstories.Butshehadnothinginterestingtosayherself,andsheloathedbooksofeverydescription.Shewas,infact,notapersononewouldrememberwhenonewascaughtinthestormofagreattrouble,andSaraforgother.
Ithadbeenalltheeasiertoforgetherbecauseshehadbeensuddenlycalledhomeforafewweeks.WhenshecamebackshedidnotseeSaraforadayortwo,andwhenshemetherforthefirsttimesheencounteredhercomingdownacorridorwithherarmsfullofgarmentswhichweretobetakendownstairstobemended.Saraherselfhadalreadybeentaughttomendthem.Shelookedpaleandunlikeherself,andshewasattiredinthequeer,outgrownfrockwhoseshortnessshowedsomuchthinblackleg.
Ermengardewastooslowagirltobeequaltosuchasituation.Shecouldnotthinkofanythingtosay.Sheknewwhathadhappened,but,somehow,shehadneverimaginedSaracouldlooklikethis—sooddandpoorandalmostlikeaservant.
