Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
Butthesuddenthoughtwhichhadflasheduponherhadmadeherover-sensitive.
"Sheisliketheothers,"shehadthought."Shedoesnotreallywanttotalktome.Sheknowsnoonedoes."
Soforseveralweeksabarrierstoodbetweenthem.WhentheymetbychanceSaralookedtheotherway,andErmengardefelttoostiffandembarrassedtospeak.Sometimestheynoddedtoeachotherinpassing,butthereweretimeswhentheydidnotevenexchangeagreeting.
"Ifshewouldrathernottalktome,"Sarathought,"Iwillkeepoutofherway.MissMinchinmakesthateasyenough."
MissMinchinmadeitsoeasythatatlasttheyscarcelysaweachotheratall.AtthattimeitwasnoticedthatErmengardewasmorestupidthanever,andthatshelookedlistlessandunhappy.Sheusedtositinthewindow-seat,huddledinaheap,andstareoutofthewindowwithoutspeaking.OnceJessie,whowaspassing,stoppedtolookathercuriously.
"Whatareyoucryingfor,Ermengarde?"sheasked.
"I’mnotcrying,"answeredErmengarde,inamuffled,unsteadyvoice.
"Youare,"saidJessie."Agreatbigtearjustrolleddownthebridgeofyournoseanddroppedoffattheendofit.Andtheregoesanother."
"Well,"saidErmengarde,"I’mmiserable—andnooneneedinterfere."Andsheturnedherplumpbackandtookoutherhandkerchiefandboldlyhidherfaceinit.
