Читать книгу A Little Princess / Маленькая принцесса. А1 - Фрэнсис-Элиза Ходжсон Бёрнетт - Страница 5

On that first morning, when Sara sat at Miss Minchin's side, she noticed a girl. She was sitting in amazement when Sara spoke to Monsieur Dufarge. It was very difficult for this girl to learn French. She stared at Sara so hard and bit the ribbon on her pigtail so bad that Miss Minchin noticed her.

“Miss St. John!” she exclaimed severely. “Get your elbows off the table! Take your ribbon out of your mouth! Sit up at once!”

Lavinia and Jessie giggled. Miss St. John looked as if she wanted to cry. Sara saw her and was so sorry for her that she began rather to like her and want to be her friend.

After the classes the pupils gathered together in groups to talk, Sara looked for Miss St. John. She found her sitting by the window all alone. She walked over to her and spoke.

“What is your name?” she said friendly.

“My name's Ermengarde St. John,” she answered. She was surprised that the new pupil was talking to her.

“Mine is Sara Crewe,” said Sara. “Yours is very pretty. It sounds like a story book.”

“You can speak French, can't you?” Ermengarde said politely.

“I can speak it because I heard it all my life,” she answered. “You can speak it when you always hear it.”

“Oh, no, I couldn't,” said Ermengarde sadly. “I never could speak it!”

She paused a moment.

“You are clever, aren't you?” she added with a touch of awe in her voice.

“I don't know,” Sara said. “I can't tell.”

She gave a little laugh and changed the subject.

“Do you want to go in my room to play?” she asked.

“Sure,” said Ermengarde.

They jumped down from the window-seat together, and went upstairs.

“Is it true,” Ermengarde whispered-“is it true that you have a playroom only for you?”

“Yes,” Sara answered. “Papa asked Miss Minchin give me one. When I play I make up stories and tell them to myself, and I don't like people to hear me. The story becomes bad when people listen.”

“You make up stories!” she gasped. “Can you do that-as well as speak French? Can you?”

Sara looked at her in simple surprise.

“Why, anyone can make up things,” she said.

She put her hand warningly on Ermengarde's.

“Let us go very quietly to the door,” she whispered mysteriously, “and then I will open it quite suddenly; perhaps we may catch her.”

Ermengarde didn't know what Sara was talking about. Sara suddenly turned the handle, and opened the door wide. The room behind the door was quite neat and quiet. Ermengarde saw a gorgeous doll sitting in a chair before the fire. Captain Crewe bought that doll for Sara before he left to India. Sara named the doll Emily.

“Oh, she sat down to her seat before we could see her!” Sara explained.

Ermengarde looked from her to the doll and back again.

“Can she-walk?” she asked in a surprise.

“Yes,” answered Sara. “At least I believe she can. At least I pretend I believe she can. Don't you ever pretend things?”

“No,” said Ermengarde. “Never. I-tell me about it.”

Sara sat upon the hearth-rug and told her strange things. She told stories of the voyage, and stories of India; and about the doll, Emily, too. She told how her papa bought it for her and how she believed it comes to life when no one sees. Ermengarde saw Sara became sad in the face.

“Have you a-a pain?” Ermengarde asked.

“I just miss my papa,” Sara answered. “I love him more than anything in the world. But I promised him I would bear it. And I will.”

Ermengarde was in a surprise of her strength. Since that moment, they became best friends, just like Lavinia and Jessie.

Glossary

catch (cauɡht, cauɡht) [kæʧ] – v ловить

cry [kraɪ] – n крик; v кричать, воскликнуть; плакать

fire [faɪǝ] – n огонь; пожар; камин

ɡasp [ɡɑ:sp] – n перехват дыхания; затруднённое дыхание; сильный резкий вдох; v задыхаться; тяжело дышать

pretend [prɪ'tend] – v притворяться