English
Therewerefinesunsetseveninthesquare,sometimes.
Onecouldonlyseepartsofthem,however,betweenthechimneysandovertheroofs.
Fromthekitchenwindowsonecouldnotseethematall,andcouldonlyguessthattheyweregoingonbecausethebrickslookedwarmandtheairrosyoryellowforawhile,orperhapsonesawablazingglowstrikeaparticularpaneofglasssomewhere.
Therewas,however,oneplacefromwhichonecouldseeallthesplendorofthem:thepilesofredorgoldcloudsinthewest;orthepurpleonesedgedwithdazzlingbrightness;orthelittlefleecy,floatingones,tingedwithrose-colorandlookinglikeflightsofpinkdovesscurryingacrosstheblueinagreathurryiftherewasawind.
Theplacewhereonecouldseeallthis,andseematthesametimetobreatheapurerair,was,ofcourse,theatticwindow.
Whenthesquaresuddenlyseemedtobegintoglowinanenchantedwayandlookwonderfulinspiteofitssootytreesandrailings,Saraknewsomethingwasgoingoninthesky;andwhenitwasatallpossibletoleavethekitchenwithoutbeingmissedorcalledback,sheinvariablystoleawayandcreptuptheflightsofstairs,and,climbingontheoldtable,gotherheadandbodyasfaroutofthewindowaspossible.
Whenshehadaccomplishedthis,shealwaysdrewalongbreathandlookedallroundher.
Itusedtoseemasifshehadalltheskyandtheworldtoherself.
Nooneelseeverlookedoutoftheotherattics.
Generallytheskylightswereclosed;buteveniftheywereproppedopentoadmitair,nooneseemedtocomenearthem.
AndthereSarawouldstand,sometimesturningherfaceupwardtothebluewhichseemedsofriendlyandnear—justlikealovelyvaultedceiling—sometimeswatchingthewestandallthewonderfulthingsthathappenedthere:thecloudsmeltingordriftingorwaitingsoftlytobechangedpinkorcrimsonorsnow-whiteorpurpleorpaledove-gray.
Sometimestheymadeislandsorgreatmountainsenclosinglakesofdeepturquoise-blue,orliquidamber,orchrysoprase-green;sometimesdarkheadlandsjuttedintostrange,lostseas;sometimesslenderstripsofwonderfullandsjoinedotherwonderfullandstogether.
Therewereplaceswhereitseemedthatonecouldrunorclimborstandandwaittoseewhatnextwascoming—until,perhaps,asitallmelted,onecouldfloataway.
AtleastitseemedsotoSara,andnothinghadeverbeenquitesobeautifultoherasthethingsshesawasshestoodonthetable—herbodyhalfoutoftheskylight—thesparrowstwitteringwithsunsetsoftnessontheslates.
Thesparrowsalwaysseemedtohertotwitterwithasortofsubduedsoftnessjustwhenthesemarvelsweregoingon.
TherewassuchasunsetasthisafewdaysaftertheIndiangentlemanwasbroughttohisnewhome;and,asitfortunatelyhappenedthattheafternoon’sworkwasdoneinthekitchenandnobodyhadorderedhertogoanywhereorperformanytask,Sarafounditeasierthanusualtoslipawayandgoupstairs.
Shemountedhertableandstoodlookingout.Itwasawonderfulmoment.
Therewerefloodsofmoltengoldcoveringthewest,asifaglorioustidewassweepingovertheworld.
Adeep,richyellowlightfilledtheair;thebirdsflyingacrossthetopsofthehousesshowedquiteblackagainstit.
“It’saSplendidone,”saidSara,softly,toherself.“Itmakesmefeelalmostafraid—asifsomethingstrangewasjustgoingtohappen.TheSplendidonesalwaysmakemefeellikethat.”
Shesuddenlyturnedherheadbecausesheheardasoundafewyardsawayfromher.
Itwasanoddsoundlikeaqueerlittlesqueakychattering.
Itcamefromthewindowofthenextattic.
Someonehadcometolookatthesunsetasshehad.
Therewasaheadandapartofabodyemergingfromtheskylight,butitwasnottheheadorbodyofalittlegirlorahousemaid;itwasthepicturesquewhite-swathedformanddark-faced,gleaming-eyed,white-turbanedheadofanativeIndianman-servant—”aLascar,”Sarasaidtoherselfquickly—andthesoundshehadheardcamefromasmallmonkeyheheldinhisarmsasifhewerefondofit,andwhichwassnugglingandchatteringagainsthisbreast.
AsSaralookedtowardhimhelookedtowardher.
Thefirstthingshethoughtwasthathisdarkfacelookedsorrowfulandhomesick.
Shefeltabsolutelysurehehadcomeuptolookatthesun,becausehehadseenitsoseldominEnglandthathelongedforasightofit.
Shelookedathiminterestedlyforasecond,andthensmiledacrosstheslates.
Shehadlearnedtoknowhowcomfortingasmile,evenfromastranger,maybe.
Herswasevidentlyapleasuretohim.Hiswholeexpressionaltered,andheshowedsuchgleamingwhiteteethashesmiledbackthatitwasasifalighthadbeenilluminatedinhisduskyface.
ThefriendlylookinSara’seyeswasalwaysveryeffectivewhenpeoplefelttiredordull.
Itwasperhapsinmakinghissalutetoherthatheloosenedhisholdonthemonkey.
Hewasanimpishmonkeyandalwaysreadyforadventure,anditisprobablethatthesightofalittlegirlexcitedhim.
Hesuddenlybrokeloose,jumpedontotheslates,ranacrossthemchattering,andactuallyleapedontoSara’sshoulder,andfromtheredownintoheratticroom.
Itmadeherlaughanddelightedher;butsheknewhemustberestoredtohismaster—iftheLascarwashismaster—andshewonderedhowthiswastobedone.
Wouldhelethercatchhim,orwouldhebenaughtyandrefusetobecaught,andperhapsgetawayandrunoffovertheroofsandbelost?Thatwouldnotdoatall.
PerhapshebelongedtotheIndiangentleman,andthepoormanwasfondofhim.
SheturnedtotheLascar,feelinggladthatsherememberedstillsomeoftheHindustanishehadlearnedwhenshelivedwithherfather.Shecouldmakethemanunderstand.
Shespoketohiminthelanguageheknew.
“Willheletmecatchhim?”sheasked.
Shethoughtshehadneverseenmoresurpriseanddelightthanthedarkfaceexpressedwhenshespokeinthefamiliartongue.
Thetruthwasthatthepoorfellowfeltasifhisgodshadintervened,andthekindlittlevoicecamefromheavenitself.
AtonceSarasawthathehadbeenaccustomedtoEuropeanchildren.
Hepouredforthafloodofrespectfulthanks.HewastheservantofMisseeSahib.
Themonkeywasagoodmonkeyandwouldnotbite;but,unfortunately,hewasdifficulttocatch.
Hewouldfleefromonespottoanother,likethelightning.Hewasdisobedient,thoughnotevil.
RamDassknewhimasifhewerehischild,andRamDasshewouldsometimesobey,butnotalways.
IfMisseeSahibwouldpermitRamDass,hehimselfcouldcrosstherooftoherroom,enterthewindows,andregaintheunworthylittleanimal.
ButhewasevidentlyafraidSaramightthinkhewastakingagreatlibertyandperhapswouldnotlethimcome.
ButSaragavehimleaveatonce.
“Canyougetacross?”sheinquired.
“Inamoment,”heansweredher.
“Thencome,”shesaid;“heisflyingfromsidetosideoftheroomasifhewasfrightened.”
RamDassslippedthroughhisatticwindowandcrossedtohersassteadilyandlightlyasifhehadwalkedonroofsallhislife.
Heslippedthroughtheskylightanddroppeduponhisfeetwithoutasound.
ThenheturnedtoSaraandsalaamedagain.
Themonkeysawhimandutteredalittlescream.
RamDasshastilytooktheprecautionofshuttingtheskylight,andthenwentinchaseofhim.Itwasnotaverylongchase.
Themonkeyprolongeditafewminutesevidentlyforthemerefunofit,butpresentlyhesprangchatteringontoRamDass’sshoulderandsattherechatteringandclingingtohisneckwithaweirdlittleskinnyarm.
RamDassthankedSaraprofoundly.Shehadseenthathisquicknativeeyeshadtakeninataglanceallthebareshabbinessoftheroom,buthespoketoherasifhewerespeakingtothelittledaughterofarajah,andpretendedthatheobservednothing.
Hedidnotpresumetoremainmorethanafewmomentsafterhehadcaughtthemonkey,andthosemomentsweregiventofurtherdeepandgratefulobeisancetoherinreturnforherindulgence.
Thislittleevilone,hesaid,strokingthemonkey,was,intruth,notsoevilasheseemed,andhismaster,whowasill,wassometimesamusedbyhim.
Hewouldhavebeenmadesadifhisfavoritehadrunawayandbeenlost.
Thenhesalaamedoncemoreandgotthroughtheskylightandacrosstheslatesagainwithasmuchagilityasthemonkeyhimselfhaddisplayed.
WhenhehadgoneSarastoodinthemiddleofheratticandthoughtofmanythingshisfaceandhismannerhadbroughtbacktoher.
Thesightofhisnativecostumeandtheprofoundreverenceofhismannerstirredallherpastmemories.
Itseemedastrangethingtorememberthatshe—thedrudgewhomthecookhadsaidinsultingthingstoanhourago—hadonlyafewyearsagobeensurroundedbypeoplewhoalltreatedherasRamDasshadtreatedher;whosalaamedwhenshewentby,whoseforeheadsalmosttouchedthegroundwhenshespoketothem,whowereherservantsandherslaves.Itwaslikeasortofdream.
Itwasallover,anditcouldnevercomeback.
Itcertainlyseemedthattherewasnowayinwhichanychangecouldtakeplace.
SheknewwhatMissMinchinintendedthatherfutureshouldbe.
Solongasshewastooyoungtobeusedasaregularteacher,shewouldbeusedasanerrandgirlandservantandyetexpectedtorememberwhatshehadlearnedandinsomemysteriouswaytolearnmore.
Thegreaternumberofhereveningsshewassupposedtospendatstudy,andatvariousindefiniteintervalsshewasexaminedandknewshewouldhavebeenseverelyadmonishedifshehadnotadvancedaswasexpectedofher.
Thetruth,indeed,wasthatMissMinchinknewthatshewastooanxioustolearntorequireteachers.
Giveherbooks,andshewoulddevourthemandendbyknowingthembyheart.
Shemightbetrustedtobeequaltoteachingagooddealinthecourseofafewyears.
Thiswaswhatwouldhappen:whenshewasoldershewouldbeexpectedtodrudgeintheschoolroomasshedrudgednowinvariouspartsofthehouse;theywouldbeobligedtogivehermorerespectableclothes,buttheywouldbesuretobeplainanduglyandtomakeherlooksomehowlikeaservant.
Thatwasallthereseemedtobetolookforwardto,andSarastoodquitestillforseveralminutesandthoughtitover.
Thenathoughtcamebacktoherwhichmadethecolorriseinhercheekandasparklightitselfinhereyes.Shestraightenedherthinlittlebodyandliftedherhead.
“Whatevercomes,”shesaid,“cannotalteronething.
IfIamaprincessinragsandtatters,Icanbeaprincessinside.
ItwouldbeeasytobeaprincessifIweredressedinclothofgold,butitisagreatdealmoreofatriumphtobeoneallthetimewhennooneknowsit.
TherewasMarieAntoinettewhenshewasinprisonandherthronewasgoneandshehadonlyablackgownon,andherhairwaswhite,andtheyinsultedherandcalledherWidowCapet.
Shewasagreatdealmorelikeaqueenthenthanwhenshewassogayandeverythingwassogrand.Ilikeherbestthen.
Thosehowlingmobsofpeopledidnotfrightenher.
Shewasstrongerthantheywere,evenwhentheycutherheadoff.”
Thiswasnotanewthought,butquiteanoldone,bythistime.
Ithadconsoledherthroughmanyabitterday,andshehadgoneaboutthehousewithanexpressioninherfacewhichMissMinchincouldnotunderstandandwhichwasasourceofgreatannoyancetoher,asitseemedasifthechildwerementallylivingalifewhichheldheraboveherestoftheworld.
Itwasasifshescarcelyheardtherudeandacidthingssaidtoher;or,ifsheheardthem,didnotcareforthematall.
Sometimes,whenshewasinthemidstofsomeharsh,domineeringspeech,MissMinchinwouldfindthestill,unchildisheyesfixeduponherwithsomethinglikeaproudsmileinthem.
AtsuchtimesshedidnotknowthatSarawassayingtoherself:
“Youdon’tknowthatyouaresayingthesethingstoaprincess,andthatifIchoseIcouldwavemyhandandorderyoutoexecution.
IonlyspareyoubecauseIamaprincess,andyouareapoor,stupid,unkind,vulgaroldthing,anddon’tknowanybetter.”
Thisusedtointerestandamusehermorethananythingelse;andqueerandfancifulasitwas,shefoundcomfortinitanditwasagoodthingforher.
Whilethethoughtheldpossessionofher,shecouldnotbemaderudeandmaliciousbytherudenessandmaliceofthoseabouther.
“Aprincessmustbepolite,”shesaidtoherself.
Andsowhentheservants,takingtheirtonefromtheirmistress,wereinsolentandorderedherabout,shewouldholdherheaderectandreplytothemwithaquaintcivilitywhichoftenmadethemstareather.
“She’sgotmoreairsandgracesthanifshecomefromBuckinghamPalace,thatyoungone,”saidthecook,chucklingalittlesometimes.
“Ilosemytemperwithheroftenenough,butIwillsaysheneverforgetshermanners.
`Ifyouplease,cook’;`Willyoubesokind,cook?’
`Ibegyourpardon,cook’;`MayItroubleyou,cook?’
Shedrops‘emaboutthekitchenasiftheywasnothing.”
ThemorningaftertheinterviewwithRamDassandhismonkey,Sarawasintheschoolroomwithhersmallpupils.
Havingfinishedgivingthemtheirlessons,shewasputtingtheFrenchexercise-bookstogetherandthinking,asshedidit,ofthevariousthingsroyalpersonagesindisguisewerecalledupontodo:AlfredtheGreat,forinstance,burningthecakesandgettinghisearsboxedbythewifeoftheneat-herd.
Howfrightenedshemusthavebeenwhenshefoundoutwhatshehaddone.
IfMissMinchinshouldfindoutthatshe—Sara,whosetoeswerealmoststickingoutofherboots—wasaprincess—arealone!
ThelookinhereyeswasexactlythelookwhichMissMinchinmostdisliked.
Shewouldnothaveit;shewasquitenearherandwassoenragedthatsheactuallyflewatherandboxedherears—exactlyastheneat-herd’swifehadboxedKingAlfred’s.ItmadeSarastart.
Shewakenedfromherdreamattheshock,and,catchingherbreath,stoodstillasecond.
Then,notknowingshewasgoingtodoit,shebrokeintoalittlelaugh.
“Whatareyoulaughingat,youbold,impudentchild?”MissMinchinexclaimed.
IttookSaraafewsecondstocontrolherselfsufficientlytorememberthatshewasaprincess.Hercheekswereredandsmartingfromtheblowsshehadreceived.
“Iwasthinking,”sheanswered.
“Begmypardonimmediately,”saidMissMinchin.
Sarahesitatedasecondbeforeshereplied.
“Iwillbegyourpardonforlaughing,ifitwasrude,”shesaidthen;“butIwon’tbegyourpardonforthinking.”
“Whatwereyouthinking?”demandedMissMinchin.
“Howdareyouthink?Whatwereyouthinking?”
Jessietittered,andsheandLavinianudgedeachotherinunison.
Allthegirlslookedupfromtheirbookstolisten.
Really,italwaysinterestedthemalittlewhenMissMinchinattackedSara.
Saraalwayssaidsomethingqueer,andneverseemedtheleastbitfrightened.
Shewasnotintheleastfrightenednow,thoughherboxedearswerescarletandhereyeswereasbrightasstars.
“Iwasthinking,”sheansweredgrandlyandpolitely,“thatyoudidnotknowwhatyouweredoing.”
“ThatIdidnotknowwhatIwasdoing?”MissMinchinfairlygasped.
“Yes,”saidSara,“andIwasthinkingwhatwouldhappenifIwereaprincessandyouboxedmyears—whatIshoulddotoyou.
AndIwasthinkingthatifIwereone,youwouldneverdaretodoit,whateverIsaidordid.
AndIwasthinkinghowsurprisedandfrightenedyouwouldbeifyousuddenlyfoundout—”
ShehadtheimaginedfuturesoclearlybeforehereyesthatshespokeinamannerwhichhadaneffectevenuponMissMinchin.
Italmostseemedforthemomenttohernarrow,unimaginativemindthattheremustbesomerealpowerhiddenbehindthiscandiddaring.
“What?”sheexclaimed.“Foundoutwhat?”
“ThatIreallywasaprincess,”saidSara,“andcoulddoanything—anythingIliked.”
Everypairofeyesintheroomwidenedtoitsfulllimit.Lavinialeanedforwardonherseattolook.
“Gotoyourroom,”criedMissMinchin,breathlessly,“thisinstant!Leavetheschoolroom!Attendtoyourlessons,youngladies!”
Saramadealittlebow.
“Excusemeforlaughingifitwasimpolite,”shesaid,andwalkedoutoftheroom,leavingMissMinchinstrugglingwithherrage,andthegirlswhisperingovertheirbooks.
“Didyouseeher?Didyouseehowqueershelooked?”Jessiebrokeout.“Ishouldn’tbeatallsurprisedifshedidturnouttobesomething.Supposesheshould!”
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