Маленька принцеса
In the Attic
"Idolikeyou,"Saraanswered."Ithought—yousee,everythingisdifferentnow.Ithoughtyou—weredifferent."
Ermengardeopenedherweteyeswide.
"Why,itwasyouwhoweredifferent!"shecried."Youdidn’twanttotalktome.Ididn’tknowwhattodo.ItwasyouwhoweredifferentafterIcameback."
Sarathoughtamoment.Shesawshehadmadeamistake.
"IAMdifferent,"sheexplained,"thoughnotinthewayyouthink.MissMinchindoesnotwantmetotalktothegirls.Mostofthemdon’twanttotalktome.Ithought—perhaps—youdidn’t.SoItriedtokeepoutofyourway."
"Oh,Sara,"Ermengardealmostwailedinherreproachfuldismay.Andthenafteronemorelooktheyrushedintoeachother’sarms.ItmustbeconfessedthatSara’ssmallblackheadlayforsomeminutesontheshouldercoveredbytheredshawl.WhenErmengardehadseemedtodeserther,shehadfelthorriblylonely.
Afterwardtheysatdownuponthefloortogether,Saraclaspingherkneeswithherarms,andErmengarderolledupinhershawl.Ermengardelookedattheodd,big-eyedlittlefaceadoringly.
"Icouldn’tbearitanymore,"shesaid."Idaresayyoucouldlivewithoutme,Sara;butIcouldn’tlivewithoutyou.IwasnearlyDEAD.Sotonight,whenIwascryingunderthebedclothes,Ithoughtallatonceofcreepinguphereandjustbeggingyoutoletusbefriendsagain."
"YouarenicerthanIam,"saidSara."Iwastooproudtotryandmakefriends.
