English
ThenextafternoonthreemembersoftheLargeFamilysatintheIndiangentleman’slibrary,doingtheirbesttocheerhimup.
Theyhadbeenallowedtocomeintoperformthisofficebecausehehadspeciallyinvitedthem.
Hehadbeenlivinginastateofsuspenseforsometime,andtodayhewaswaitingforacertaineventveryanxiously.
ThiseventwasthereturnofMr.CarmichaelfromMoscow.
Hisstaytherehadbeenprolongedfromweektoweek.
Onhisfirstarrivalthere,hehadnotbeenablesatisfactorilytotracethefamilyhehadgoneinsearchof.
Whenhefeltatlastsurethathehadfoundthemandhadgonetotheirhouse,hehadbeentoldthattheywereabsentonajourney.
Hiseffortstoreachthemhadbeenunavailing,sohehaddecidedtoremaininMoscowuntiltheirreturn.
Mr.Carrisfordsatinhisrecliningchair,andJanetsatonthefloorbesidehim.HewasveryfondofJanet.
Norahadfoundafootstool,andDonaldwasastridethetiger’sheadwhichornamentedtherugmadeoftheanimal’sskin.
Itmustbeownedthathewasridingitratherviolently.
“Don’tchirrupsoloud,Donald,”Janetsaid.
“Whenyoucometocheeranillpersonupyoudon’tcheerhimupatthetopofyourvoice.
Perhapscheeringupistooloud,Mr.Carrisford?”turningtotheIndiangentleman.
Butheonlypattedhershoulder.
“No,itisn’t,”heanswered.“Anditkeepsmefromthinkingtoomuch.”
“I’mgoingtobequiet,”Donaldshouted.“We’llallbeasquietasmice.”
“Micedon’tmakeanoiselikethat,”saidJanet.
Donaldmadeabridleofhishandkerchiefandbouncedupanddownonthetiger’shead.
“Awholelotofmicemight,”hesaidcheerfully.“Athousandmicemight.”
“Idon’tbelievefiftythousandmicewould,”saidJanet,severely;“andwehavetobeasquietasonemouse.”
Mr.Carrisfordlaughedandpattedhershoulderagain.
“Papawon’tbeverylongnow,”shesaid.“Maywetalkaboutthelostlittlegirl?”
“Idon’tthinkIcouldtalkmuchaboutanythingelsejustnow,”theIndiangentlemananswered,knittinghisforeheadwithatiredlook.
“Welikehersomuch,”saidNora.“Wecallherthelittleun-fairyprincess.”
“Why?”theIndiangentlemaninquired,becausethefanciesoftheLargeFamilyalwaysmadehimforgetthingsalittle.
ItwasJanetwhoanswered.
“Itisbecause,thoughsheisnotexactlyafairy,shewillbesorichwhensheisfoundthatshewillbelikeaprincessinafairytale.
Wecalledherthefairyprincessatfirst,butitdidn’tquitesuit.”
“Isittrue,”saidNora,“thatherpapagaveallhismoneytoafriendtoputinaminethathaddiamondsinit,andthenthefriendthoughthehadlostitallandranawaybecausehefeltasifhewasarobber?”
“Buthewasn’treally,youknow,”putinJanet,hastily.
TheIndiangentlemantookholdofherhandquickly.
“No,hewasn’treally,”hesaid.
“Iamsorryforthefriend,”Janetsaid;“Ican’thelpit.Hedidn’tmeantodoit,anditwouldbreakhisheart.Iamsureitwouldbreakhisheart.”
“Youareanunderstandinglittlewoman,Janet,”theIndiangentlemansaid,andheheldherhandclose.
“DidyoutellMr.Carrisford,”Donaldshoutedagain,“aboutthelittle-girl-who-isn’t-a-beggar?Didyoutellhimshehasnewniceclothes?P’r’apsshe’sbeenfoundbysomebodywhenshewaslost.”
“There’sacab!”exclaimedJanet.“It’sstoppingbeforethedoor.Itispapa!”
Theyallrantothewindowstolookout.
“Yes,it’spapa,”Donaldproclaimed.“Butthereisnolittlegirl.”
Allthreeofthemincontinentlyfledfromtheroomandtumbledintothehall.
Itwasinthiswaytheyalwayswelcomedtheirfather.
Theyweretobeheardjumpingupanddown,clappingtheirhands,andbeingcaughtupandkissed.
Mr.Carrisfordmadeanefforttoriseandsankbackagain.
“Itisnouse,”hesaid.“WhatawreckIam!”
Mr.Carmichael’svoiceapproachedthedoor.
“No,children,”hewassaying;“youmaycomeinafterIhavetalkedtoMr.Carrisford.GoandplaywithRamDass.”
Thenthedooropenedandhecamein.Helookedrosierthanever,andbroughtanatmosphereoffreshnessandhealthwithhim;buthiseyesweredisappointedandanxiousastheymettheinvalid’slookofeagerquestionevenastheygraspedeachother’shands.
“Whatnews?”Mr.Carrisfordasked.“ThechildtheRussianpeopleadopted?”
“Sheisnotthechildwearelookingfor,”wasMr.Carmichael’sanswer.
“SheismuchyoungerthanCaptainCrewe’slittlegirl.HernameisEmilyCarew.Ihaveseenandtalkedtoher.
TheRussianswereabletogivemeeverydetail.”
HowweariedandmiserabletheIndiangentlemanlooked!HishanddroppedfromMr.Carmichael’s.
“Thenthesearchhastobebegunoveragain,”hesaid.“Thatisall.Pleasesitdown.”
Mr.Carmichaeltookaseat.Somehow,hehadgraduallygrownfondofthisunhappyman.
Hewashimselfsowellandhappy,andsosurroundedbycheerfulnessandlove,thatdesolationandbrokenhealthseemedpitifullyunbearablethings.
Iftherehadbeenthesoundofjustonegaylittlehigh-pitchedvoiceinthehouse,itwouldhavebeensomuchlessforlorn.
Andthatamanshouldbecompelledtocarryaboutinhisbreastthethoughtthathehadseemedtowronganddesertachildwasnotathingonecouldface.
“Come,come,”hesaidinhischeeryvoice;“we’llfindheryet.”
“Wemustbeginatonce.Notimemustbelost,”Mr.Carrisfordfretted.“Haveyouanynewsuggestiontomake—anywhatsoever?”
Mr.Carmichaelfeltratherrestless,andheroseandbegantopacetheroomwithathoughtful,thoughuncertainface.
“Well,perhaps,”hesaid.“Idon’tknowwhatitmaybeworth.Thefactis,anideaoccurredtomeasIwasthinkingthethingoverinthetrainonthejourneyfromDover.”
“Whatwasit?Ifsheisalive,sheissomewhere.”
“Yes;sheissomewhere.WehavesearchedtheschoolsinParis.LetusgiveupParisandbegininLondon.Thatwasmyidea—tosearchLondon.”
“ThereareschoolsenoughinLondon,”saidMr.Carrisford.Thenheslightlystarted,rousedbyarecollection.“Bytheway,thereisonenextdoor.”
“Thenwewillbeginthere.Wecannotbeginnearerthannextdoor.”
“No,”saidCarrisford.“Thereisachildtherewhointerestsme;butsheisnotapupil.Andsheisalittledark,forlorncreature,asunlikepoorCreweasachildcouldbe.”
PerhapstheMagicwasatworkagainatthatverymoment—thebeautifulMagic.Itreallyseemedasifitmightbeso.
WhatwasitthatbroughtRamDassintotheroom—evenashismasterspoke—salaamingrespectfully,butwithascarcelyconcealedtouchofexcitementinhisdark,flashingeyes?
“Sahib,”hesaid,“thechildherselfhascome—thechildthesahibfeltpityfor.
Shebringsbackthemonkeywhohadagainrunawaytoheratticundertheroof.Ihaveaskedthatsheremain.
Itwasmythoughtthatitwouldpleasethesahibtoseeandspeakwithher.”
“Whoisshe?”inquiredMr.Carmichael.
“Godknows,”Mr.Carrrisfordanswered.“SheisthechildIspokeof.Alittledrudgeattheschool.”
HewavedhishandtoRamDass,andaddressedhim.“Yes,Ishouldliketoseeher.Goandbringherin.”ThenheturnedtoMr.Carmichael.
“Whileyouhavebeenaway,”heexplained,“Ihavebeendesperate.Thedaysweresodarkandlong.
RamDasstoldmeofthischild’smiseries,andtogetherweinventedaromanticplantohelpher.
Isupposeitwasachildishthingtodo;butitgavemesomethingtoplanandthinkof.
Withoutthehelpofanagile,soft-footedOrientallikeRamDass,however,itcouldnothavebeendone.”
ThenSaracameintotheroom.Shecarriedthemonkeyinherarms,andheevidentlydidnotintendtopartfromher,ifitcouldbehelped.
Hewasclingingtoherandchattering,andtheinterestingexcitementoffindingherselfintheIndiangentleman’sroomhadbroughtaflushtoSara’scheeks.
“Yourmonkeyranawayagain,”shesaid,inherprettyvoice.
“Hecametomygarretwindowlastnight,andItookhiminbecauseitwassocold.
Iwouldhavebroughthimbackifithadnotbeensolate.
Iknewyouwereillandmightnotliketobedisturbed.”
TheIndiangentleman’sholloweyesdweltonherwithcuriousinterest.
“Thatwasverythoughtfulofyou,”hesaid.
SaralookedtowardRamDass,whostoodnearthedoor.
“ShallIgivehimtotheLascar?”sheasked.
“HowdoyouknowheisaLascar?”saidtheIndiangentleman,smilingalittle.
“Oh,IknowLascars,”Sarasaid,handingoverthereluctantmonkey.“IwasborninIndia.”
TheIndiangentlemansatuprightsosuddenly,andwithsuchachangeofexpression,thatshewasforamomentquitestartled.
“YouwereborninIndia,”heexclaimed,“wereyou?Comehere.”Andheheldouthishand.
Sarawenttohimandlaidherhandinhis,asheseemedtowanttotakeit.Shestoodstill,andhergreen-grayeyesmethiswonderingly.Somethingseemedtobethematterwithhim.
“Youlivenextdoor?”hedemanded.
“Yes;IliveatMissMinchin’sseminary.”
“Butyouarenotoneofherpupils?”
AstrangelittlesmilehoveredaboutSara’smouth.Shehesitatedamoment.
“Idon’tthinkIknowexactlywhatIam,”shereplied.
“Whynot?”
“AtfirstIwasapupil,andaparlorboarder;butnow—”
“Youwereapupil!Whatareyounow?”
ThequeerlittlesadsmilewasonSara’slipsagain.
“Isleepintheattic,nexttothescullerymaid,”shesaid.“Irunerrandsforthecook—Idoanythingshetellsme;andIteachthelittleonestheirlessons.”
“Questionher,Carmichael,”saidMr.Carrisford,sinkingbackasifhehadlosthisstrength.“Questionher;Icannot.”
Thebig,kindfatheroftheLargeFamilyknewhowtoquestionlittlegirls.Sararealizedhowmuchpracticehehadhadwhenhespoketoherinhisnice,encouragingvoice.
“Whatdoyoumeanby`Atfirst,’mychild?”heinquired.
“WhenIwasfirsttakentherebymypapa.”
“Whereisyourpapa?”
“Hedied,”saidSara,veryquietly.“Helostallhismoneyandtherewasnoneleftforme.TherewasnoonetotakecareofmeortopayMissMinchin.”
“Carmichael!”theIndiangentlemancriedoutloudly.“Carmichael!”
“Wemustnotfrightenher,”Mr.Carmichaelsaidasidetohiminaquick,lowvoice.
AndheaddedaloudtoSara,“Soyouweresentupintotheattic,andmadeintoalittledrudge.Thatwasaboutit,wasn’tit?”
“Therewasnoonetotakecareofme,”saidSara.“Therewasnomoney;Ibelongtonobody.”
“Howdidyourfatherlosehismoney?”theIndiangentlemanbrokeinbreathlessly.
“Hedidnotloseithimself,”Saraanswered,wonderingstillmoreeachmoment.
“Hehadafriendhewasveryfondof—hewasveryfondofhim.Itwashisfriendwhotookhismoney.Hetrustedhisfriendtoomuch.”
TheIndiangentleman’sbreathcamemorequickly.
“Thefriendmighthavemeanttodonoharm,”hesaid.“Itmighthavehappenedthroughamistake.”
Saradidnotknowhowunrelentingherquietyoungvoicesoundedassheanswered.Ifshehadknown,shewouldsurelyhavetriedtosoftenitfortheIndiangentleman’ssake.
“Thesufferingwasjustasbadformypapa,”shesaid.Itkilledhim.”
“Whatwasyourfather’sname?”theIndiangentlemansaid.“Tellme.”
“HisnamewasRalphCrewe,”Saraanswered,feelingstartled.“CaptainCrewe.HediedinIndia.”
Thehaggardfacecontracted,andRamDasssprangtohismaster’sside.
“Carmichael,”theinvalidgasped,“itisthechild—thechild!”
ForamomentSarathoughthewasgoingtodie.
RamDasspouredoutdropsfromabottle,andheldthemtohislips.Sarastoodnear,tremblingalittle.
ShelookedinabewilderedwayatMr.Carmichael.
“WhatchildamI?”shefaltered.
“Hewasyourfather’sfriend,”Mr.Carmichaelansweredher.“Don’tbefrightened.Wehavebeenlookingforyoufortwoyears.”
Saraputherhanduptoherforehead,andhermouthtrembled.Shespokeasifshewereinadream.
“AndIwasatMissMinchin’sallthewhile,”shehalfwhispered.“Justontheothersideofthewall.”
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