English
NeverhadsuchjoyreignedinthenurseryoftheLargeFamily.
Neverhadtheydreamedofsuchdelightsasresultedfromanintimateacquaintancewiththelittle-girl-who-was-not-a-beggar.
Themerefactofhersufferingsandadventuresmadeherapricelesspossession.
Everybodywantedtobetoldoverandoveragainthethingswhichhadhappenedtoher.
Whenonewassittingbyawarmfireinabig,glowingroom,itwasquitedelightfultohearhowcolditcouldbeinanattic.
Itmustbeadmittedthattheatticwasratherdelightedin,andthatitscoldnessandbarenessquitesankintoinsignificancewhenMelchisedecwasremembered,andoneheardaboutthesparrowsandthingsonecouldseeifoneclimbedonthetableandstuckone’sheadandshouldersoutoftheskylight.
Ofcoursethethinglovedbestwasthestoryofthebanquetandthedreamwhichwastrue.
Saratolditforthefirsttimethedayaftershehadbeenfound.
SeveralmembersoftheLargeFamilycametotaketeawithher,andastheysatorcurleduponthehearth-rugshetoldthestoryinherownway,andtheIndiangentlemanlistenedandwatchedher.
Whenshehadfinishedshelookedupathimandputherhandonhisknee.
“Thatismypart,”shesaid.“Nowwon’tyoutellyourpartofit,UncleTom?”Hehadaskedhertocallhimalways“UncleTom.”“Idon’tknowyourpartyet,anditmustbebeautiful.”
Sohetoldthemhow,whenhesatalone,illanddullandirritable,RamDasshadtriedtodistracthimbydescribingthepassersby,andtherewasonechildwhopassedoftenerthananyoneelse;hehadbeguntobeinterestedinher—partlyperhapsbecausehewasthinkingagreatdealofalittlegirl,andpartlybecauseRamDasshadbeenabletorelatetheincidentofhisvisittotheatticinchaseofthemonkey.
Hehaddescribeditscheerlesslook,andthebearingofthechild,whoseemedasifshewasnotoftheclassofthosewhoweretreatedasdrudgesandservants.
Bitbybit,RamDasshadmadediscoveriesconcerningthewretchednessofherlife.
Hehadfoundouthoweasyamatteritwastoclimbacrossthefewyardsofrooftotheskylight,andthisfacthadbeenthebeginningofallthatfollowed.
“Sahib,”hehadsaidoneday,“Icouldcrosstheslatesandmakethechildafirewhensheisoutonsomeerrand.
Whenshereturned,wetandcold,tofinditblazing,shewouldthinkamagicianhaddoneit.”
TheideahadbeensofancifulthatMr.Carrisford’ssadfacehadlightedwithasmile,andRamDasshadbeensofilledwithrapturethathehadenlargeduponitandexplainedtohismasterhowsimpleitwouldbetoaccomplishnumbersofotherthings.
Hehadshownachildlikepleasureandinvention,andthepreparationsforthecarryingoutoftheplanhadfilledmanyadaywithinterestwhichwouldotherwisehavedraggedwearily.
OnthenightofthefrustratedbanquetRamDasshadkeptwatch,allhispackagesbeinginreadinessintheatticwhichwashisown;andthepersonwhowastohelphimhadwaitedwithhim,asinterestedashimselfintheoddadventure.
RamDasshadbeenlyingflatupontheslates,lookinginattheskylight,whenthebanquethadcometoitsdisastrousconclusion;hehadbeensureoftheprofoundnessofSara’sweariedsleep;andthen,withadarklantern,hehadcreptintotheroom,whilehiscompanionremainedoutsideandhandedthethingstohim.
WhenSarahadstirredeversofaintly,RamDasshadclosedthelantern-slideandlainflatuponthefloor.
Theseandmanyotherexcitingthingsthechildrenfoundoutbyaskingathousandquestions.
“Iamsoglad,”Sarasaid.“Iamsogladitwasyouwhoweremyfriend!”
Thereneverweresuchfriendsasthesetwobecame.
Somehow,theyseemedtosuiteachotherinawonderfulway.
TheIndiangentlemanhadneverhadacompanionhelikedquiteasmuchashelikedSara.
Inamonth’stimehewas,asMr.Carmichaelhadprophesiedhewouldbe,anewman.
Hewasalwaysamusedandinterested,andhebegantofindanactualpleasureinthepossessionofthewealthhehadimaginedthatheloathedtheburdenof.
ThereweresomanycharmingthingstoplanforSara.
Therewasalittlejokebetweenthemthathewasamagician,anditwasoneofhispleasurestoinventthingstosurpriseher.
Shefoundbeautifulnewflowersgrowinginherroom,whimsicallittlegiftstuckedunderpillows,andonce,astheysattogetherintheevening,theyheardthescratchofaheavypawonthedoor,andwhenSarawenttofindoutwhatitwas,therestoodagreatdog—asplendidRussianboarhound—withagrandsilverandgoldcollarbearinganinscription.
“IamBoris,”itread;“IservethePrincessSara.”
TherewasnothingtheIndiangentlemanlovedmorethantherecollectionofthelittleprincessinragsandtatters.
TheafternoonsinwhichtheLargeFamily,orErmengardeandLottie,gatheredtorejoicetogetherwereverydelightful.
ButthehourswhenSaraandtheIndiangentlemansataloneandreadortalkedhadaspecialcharmoftheirown.
Duringtheirpassingmanyinterestingthingsoccurred.
Oneevening,Mr.Carrisford,lookingupfromhisbook,noticedthathiscompanionhadnotstirredforsometime,butsatgazingintothefire.
“Whatareyou`supposing,’Sara?”heasked.
Saralookedup,withabrightcoloronhercheek.
“Iwassupposing,”shesaid;“Iwasrememberingthathungryday,andachildIsaw.”
“Buttherewereagreatmanyhungrydays,”saidtheIndiangentleman,withratherasadtoneinhisvoice.“Whichhungrydaywasit?”
“Iforgotyoudidn’tknow,”saidSara.“Itwasthedaythedreamcametrue.”
Thenshetoldhimthestoryofthebunshop,andthefourpenceshepickedupoutofthesloppymud,andthechildwhowashungrierthanherself.
Shetolditquitesimply,andinasfewwordsaspossible;butsomehowtheIndiangentlemanfounditnecessarytoshadehiseyeswithhishandandlookdownatthecarpet.
“AndIwassupposingakindofplan,”shesaid,whenshehadfinished.“IwasthinkingIshouldliketodosomething.”
“Whatwasit?”saidMr.Carrisford,inalowtone.“Youmaydoanythingyouliketodo,princess.”
“Iwaswondering,”ratherhesitatedSara—”youknow,yousayIhavesomuchmoney—IwaswonderingifIcouldgotoseethebun-woman,andtellherthatif,whenhungrychildren—particularlyonthosedreadfuldays—comeandsitonthesteps,orlookinatthewindow,shewouldjustcalltheminandgivethemsomethingtoeat,shemightsendthebillstome.CouldIdothat?”
“Youshalldoittomorrowmorning,”saidtheIndiangentleman.
“Thankyou,”saidSara.“Yousee,Iknowwhatitistobehungry,anditisveryhardwhenonecannotevenpretenditaway.”
“Yes,yes,mydear,”saidtheIndiangentleman.“Yes,yes,itmustbe.Trytoforgetit.Comeandsitonthisfootstoolnearmyknee,andonlyrememberyouareaprincess.”
“Yes,”saidSara,smiling;“andIcangivebunsandbreadtothepopulace.”
Andshewentandsatonthestool,andtheIndiangentleman(heusedtolikehertocallhimthat,too,sometimes)drewhersmalldarkheaddownonhiskneeandstrokedherhair.
Thenextmorning,MissMinchin,inlookingoutofherwindow,sawthethingssheperhapsleastenjoyedseeing.
TheIndiangentleman’scarriage,withitstallhorses,drewupbeforethedoorofthenexthouse,anditsownerandalittlefigure,warmwithsoft,richfurs,descendedthestepstogetintoit.
Thelittlefigurewasafamiliarone,andremindedMissMinchinofdaysinthepast.
Itwasfollowedbyanotherasfamiliar—thesightofwhichshefoundveryirritating.
ItwasBecky,who,inthecharacterofdelightedattendant,alwaysaccompaniedheryoungmistresstohercarriage,carryingwrapsandbelongings.AlreadyBeckyhadapink,roundface.
Alittlelaterthecarriagedrewupbeforethedoorofthebaker’sshop,anditsoccupantsgotout,oddlyenough,justasthebun-womanwasputtingatrayofsmoking-hotbunsintothewindow.
WhenSaraenteredtheshopthewomanturnedandlookedather,and,leavingthebuns,cameandstoodbehindthecounter.
ForamomentshelookedatSaraveryhardindeed,andthenhergood-naturedfacelightedup.
“I’msurethatIrememberyou,miss,”shesaid.“Andyet—”
“Yes,”saidSara;“onceyougavemesixbunsforfourpence,and—”
“Andyougavefiveof‘emtoabeggarchild,”thewomanbrokeinonher.“I’vealwaysrememberedit.Icouldn’tmakeitoutatfirst.”
SheturnedroundtotheIndiangentlemanandspokehernextwordstohim.
“Ibegyourpardon,sir,butthere’snotmanyyoungpeoplethatnoticesahungryfaceinthatway;andI’vethoughtofitmanyatime.
Excusetheliberty,miss,”—toSara—“butyoulookrosierand—well,betterthanyoudidthat—that—”
“Iambetter,thankyou,”saidSara.“And—Iammuchhappier—andIhavecometoaskyoutodosomethingforme.”
“Me,miss!”exclaimedthebun-woman,smilingcheerfully.“Why,blessyou!Yes,miss.WhatcanIdo?”
AndthenSara,leaningonthecounter,madeherlittleproposalconcerningthedreadfuldaysandthehungrywaifsandthebuns.
Thewomanwatchedher,andlistenedwithanastonishedface.
“Why,blessme!”shesaidagainwhenshehadhearditall;“it’llbeapleasuretometodoit.
Iamaworking-womanmyselfandcannotaffordtodomuchonmyownaccount,andthere’ssightsoftroubleoneveryside;but,ifyou’llexcuseme,I’mboundtosayI’vegivenawaymanyabitofbreadsincethatwetafternoon,justalongo’thinkingofyou—an’howwetan’coldyouwas,an’howhungryyoulooked;an’yetyougaveawayyourhotbunsasifyouwasaprincess.”
TheIndiangentlemansmiledinvoluntarilyatthis,andSarasmiledalittle,too,rememberingwhatshehadsaidtoherselfwhensheputthebunsdownontheravenouschild’sraggedlap.
“Shelookedsohungry,”shesaid.“ShewasevenhungrierthanIwas.”
“Shewasstarving,”saidthewoman.“Many’sthetimeshe’stoldmeofitsince—howshesatthereinthewet,andfeltasifawolfwasa-tearingatherpooryounginsides.”
“Oh,haveyouseenhersincethen?”exclaimedSara.“Doyouknowwheresheis?”
“Yes,Ido,”answeredthewoman,smilingmoregood-naturedlythanever.
“Why,she’sinthattherebackroom,miss,an’hasbeenforamonth;an’adecent,well-meanin’girlshe’sgoin’toturnout,an’suchahelptomeintheshopan’inthekitchenasyou’dscarcebelieve,knowin’howshe’slived.”
Shesteppedtothedoorofthelittlebackparlorandspoke;andthenextminuteagirlcameoutandfollowedherbehindthecounter.
Andactuallyitwasthebeggar-child,cleanandneatlyclothed,andlookingasifshehadnotbeenhungryforalongtime.
Shelookedshy,butshehadaniceface,nowthatshewasnolongerasavage,andthewildlookhadgonefromhereyes.
SheknewSarainaninstant,andstoodandlookedatherasifshecouldneverlookenough.
“Yousee,”saidthewoman,“Itoldhertocomewhenshewashungry,andwhenshe’dcomeI’dgiveheroddjobstodo;an’Ifoundshewaswilling,andsomehowIgottolikeher;andtheendofitwas,I’vegivenheraplacean’ahome,andshehelpsme,an’behaveswell,an’isasthankfulasagirlcanbe.Hername’sAnne.Shehasnoother.”
Thechildrenstoodandlookedateachotherforafewminutes;andthenSaratookherhandoutofhermuffandhelditoutacrossthecounter,andAnnetookit,andtheylookedstraightintoeachother’seyes.
“Iamsoglad,”Sarasaid.“AndIhavejustthoughtofsomething.
PerhapsMrs.Brownwillletyoubetheonetogivethebunsandbreadtothechildren.
Perhapsyouwouldliketodoitbecauseyouknowwhatitistobehungry,too.”
“Yes,miss,”saidthegirl.
And,somehow,Sarafeltasifsheunderstoodher,thoughshesaidsolittle,andonlystoodstillandlookedandlookedafterherasshewentoutoftheshopwiththeIndiangentleman,andtheygotintothecarriageanddroveaway.
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