Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
Thatnight,whenSarawenttoherattic,shewaslaterthanusual.Shehadbeenkeptatworkuntilafterthehouratwhichthepupilswenttobed,andafterthatshehadgonetoherlessonsinthelonelyschoolroom.Whenshereachedthetopofthestairs,shewassurprisedtoseeaglimmeroflightcomingfromundertheatticdoor.
"Nobodygoestherebutmyself,"shethoughtquickly,"butsomeonehaslightedacandle."
Someonehad,indeed,lightedacandle,anditwasnotburninginthekitchencandlestickshewasexpectedtouse,butinoneofthosebelongingtothepupils’bedrooms.Thesomeonewassittinguponthebatteredfootstool,andwasdressedinhernightgownandwrappedupinaredshawl.ItwasErmengarde.
"Ermengarde!"criedSara.Shewassostartledthatshewasalmostfrightened."Youwillgetintotrouble."
Ermengardestumbledupfromherfootstool.Sheshuffledacrosstheatticinherbedroomslippers,whichweretoolargeforher.Hereyesandnosewerepinkwithcrying.
"IknowIshall—ifI’mfoundout."shesaid."ButIdon’tcare—Idon’tcareabit.Oh,Sara,pleasetellme.Whatisthematter?Whydon’tyoulikemeanymore?"
SomethinginhervoicemadethefamiliarlumpriseinSara’sthroat.Itwassoaffectionateandsimple—soliketheoldErmengardewhohadaskedhertobe"bestfriends."Itsoundedasifshehadnotmeantwhatshehadseemedtomeanduringthesepastweeks.
