Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
Itmadeherquitemiserable,andshecoulddonothingbutbreakintoashorthystericallaughandexclaim—aimlesslyandasifwithoutanymeaning,"Oh,Sara,isthatyou?"
"Yes,"answeredSara,andsuddenlyastrangethoughtpassedthroughhermindandmadeherfaceflush.Sheheldthepileofgarmentsinherarms,andherchinresteduponthetopofittokeepitsteady.Somethinginthelookofherstraight-gazingeyesmadeErmengardeloseherwitsstillmore.ShefeltasifSarahadchangedintoanewkindofgirl,andshehadneverknownherbefore.PerhapsitwasbecauseshehadsuddenlygrownpoorandhadtomendthingsandworklikeBecky.
"Oh,"shestammered."How—howareyou?"
"Idon’tknow,"Sarareplied."Howareyou?"
"I’m—I’mquitewell,"saidErmengarde,overwhelmedwithshyness.Thenspasmodicallyshethoughtofsomethingtosaywhichseemedmoreintimate."Areyou—areyouveryunhappy?"shesaidinarush.
ThenSarawasguiltyofaninjustice.Justatthatmomenthertornheartswelledwithinher,andshefeltthatifanyonewasasstupidasthat,onehadbettergetawayfromher.
"Whatdoyouthink?"shesaid."DoyouthinkIamveryhappy?"Andshemarchedpastherwithoutanotherword.
Incourseoftimesherealizedthatifherwretchednesshadnotmadeherforgetthings,shewouldhaveknownthatpoor,dullErmengardewasnottobeblamedforherunready,awkwardways.Shewasalwaysawkward,andthemoreshefelt,themorestupidshewasgiventobeing.
