登陆注册
5390100000040

第40章 Ram Dass(3)

It had consoled her through many a bitter day,and she had gone about the house with an expression in her face which Miss Minchin could not understand and which was a source of great annoyance to her,as it seemed as if the child were mentally living a life which held her above he rest of the world.It was as if she scarcely heard the rude and acid things said to her;or,if she heard them,did not care for them at all.Sometimes,when she was in the midst of some harsh,domineering speech,Miss Minchin would find the still,unchildish eyes fixed upon her with something like a proud smile in them.At such times she did not know that Sara was saying to herself:

"You don't know that you are saying these things to a princess,and that if I chose I could wave my hand and order you to execution.

I only spare you because I am a princess,and you are a poor,stupid,unkind,vulgar old thing,and don't know any better."

This used to interest and amuse her more than anything else;

and queer and fanciful as it was,she found comfort in it and it was a good thing for her.While the thought held possession of her,she could not be made rude and malicious by the rudeness and malice of those about her.

"A princess must be polite,"she said to herself.

And so when the servants,taking their tone from their mistress,were insolent and ordered her about,she would hold her head erect and reply to them with a quaint civility which often made them stare at her.

"She's got more airs and graces than if she come from Buckingham Palace,that young one,"said the cook,chuckling a little sometimes.

"I lose my temper with her often enough,but I will say she never forgets her manners.`If you please,cook';`Will you be so kind,cook?'`I beg your pardon,cook';`May I trouble you,cook?'She drops 'em about the kitchen as if they was nothing."

The morning after the interview with Ram Dass and his monkey,Sara was in the schoolroom with her small pupils.Having finished giving them their lessons,she was putting the French exercise-books together and thinking,as she did it,of the various things royal personages in disguise were called upon to do:Alfred the Great,for instance,burning the cakes and getting his ears boxed by the wife of the neat-herd.

How frightened she must have been when she found out what she had done.

If Miss Minchin should find out that she--Sara,whose toes were almost sticking out of her boots--was a princess--a real one!The look in her eyes was exactly the look which Miss Minchin most disliked.

She would not have it;she was quite near her and was so enraged that she actually flew at her and boxed her ears--exactly as the neat-herd's wife had boxed King Alfred's.It made Sara start.

She wakened from her dream at the shock,and,catching her breath,stood still a second.Then,not knowing she was going to do it,she broke into a little laugh.

"What are you laughing at,you bold,impudent child?"

Miss Minchin exclaimed.

It took Sara a few seconds to control herself sufficiently to remember that she was a princess.Her cheeks were red and smarting from the blows she had received.

"I was thinking,"she answered.

"Beg my pardon immediately,"said Miss Minchin.

Sara hesitated a second before she replied.

"I will beg your pardon for laughing,if it was rude,"she said then;

"but I won't beg your pardon for thinking."

"What were you thinking?"demanded Miss Minchin.

"How dare you think?What were you thinking?"

Jessie tittered,and she and Lavinia nudged each other in unison.

All the girls looked up from their books to listen.Really,it always interested them a little when Miss Minchin attacked Sara.Sara always said something queer,and never seemed the least bit frightened.

She was not in the least frightened now,though her boxed ears were scarlet and her eyes were as bright as stars.

"I was thinking,"she answered grandly and politely,"that you did not know what you were doing."

"That I did not know what I was doing?"Miss Minchin fairly gasped.

"Yes,"said Sara,"and I was thinking what would happen if I were a princess and you boxed my ears--what I should do to you.

And I was thinking that if I were one,you would never dare to do it,whatever I said or did.And I was thinking how surprised and frightened you would be if you suddenly found out--"

She had the imagined future so clearly before her eyes that she spoke in a manner which had an effect even upon Miss Minchin.

It almost seemed for the moment to her narrow,unimaginative mind that there must be some real power hidden behind this candid daring.

"What?"she exclaimed."Found out what?"

"That I really was a princess,"said Sara,"and could do anything--anything I liked."

Every pair of eyes in the room widened to its full limit.

Lavinia leaned forward on her seat to look.

"Go to your room,"cried Miss Minchin,breathlessly,"this instant!

Leave the schoolroom!Attend to your lessons,young ladies!"

Sara made a little bow.

"Excuse me for laughing if it was impolite,"she said,and walked out of the room,leaving Miss Minchin struggling with her rage,and the girls whispering over their books.

"Did you see her?Did you see how queer she looked?"Jessie broke out.

"I shouldn't be at all surprised if she did turn out to be something.

Suppose she should!"

同类推荐
  • 圣救度佛母二十一种礼赞经

    圣救度佛母二十一种礼赞经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 跌打秘方

    跌打秘方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 康熙侠义传

    康熙侠义传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 浪迹丛谈

    浪迹丛谈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绿野仙踪

    绿野仙踪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 何何之舞

    何何之舞

    枯木子刚离去前往王宫,他的随身侍从便指挥着抬架大帝像,并那颗被斩落的头颅,不顾诸人的围观纳闷,一道穿街过巷,逶迤婉转,最后在一条古陌幽深的小巷前行了许久,终于在尽头停下,那是一道奇异的窄门,迥异于青城民居普遍以木为门的形制,那门是用整块的石板镌成,花纹也极为特异,简简单单的几笔,却透出一股寒意来。那带头的侍从犹豫地看了一眼紧闭的铁门,正要伸手去拉石环叩门,那石环正在怪兽的口处,侍从伸手一拉,仿佛将手放入怪兽口中,有种凭空而逝的感觉。
  • 魏晋之我主沉浮

    魏晋之我主沉浮

    袁烜来到这个被唐朝人穿越并初步开发过世界,这是糅合了魏晋时期的独特时代。面对神秘强大的邪恶组织,身负血海深仇的袁烜将如何为生,又如何一步步走向巅峰!这个世界终究会被他所引导!
  • 美国中央情报局秘史

    美国中央情报局秘史

    2013年,中央情报局(CIA)前雇员斯诺登曝光的“棱镜计划”让美国颜面扫地,也把这个神秘的情报机构再次带进人们的视野。CIA是如何诞生的?它在美国和世界上扮演着怎样的角色?它都干了些什么?本书将为你揭开中央情报局的神秘面纱。
  • 先生,别来无恙

    先生,别来无恙

    我是一名被遗弃的盲人,从小和奶奶相依为命,十八岁那年,先生找到了我,他说只要我生个孩子,他就会医好我的眼睛。
  • 一品凰妃:王爷,井水不犯河水

    一品凰妃:王爷,井水不犯河水

    最后的最后,他才相信命中注定这一说,上千年的轮回,终究敌不过当初轻言许下的承诺。“不要试着离开我,否则,哪怕是上九天下地狱,拆了那天庭地府,我也要一寸一寸将你挖出,与我生死同衾!”*初遇之时,他救她于铁蹄之下,临了凉凉抛下一句:“脑子不灵,反应迟钝,以后无事少出门。”再次相见,便是花好月圆良辰美景洞房花烛夜,他手持喜秤,轻挑盖头,眸光平淡波澜不兴:“姿色平常,身无二两肉,坊间传闻洛家三小姐爹不疼娘不爱,看来是真的。”她语噎,坊间还有传闻,当今六王爷年过二十未曾娶妻,且容貌丑陋性格怪癖,嫁给他就等于守了活寡。*本想着井水不犯河水,不料刚过回门之日他便娶了个女人回来,还是地位在她之上的正妃。一句话,堵得她心慌。也罢,她不妨养养小草,悦目又怡情。指着老天咒怨无果,终于认命地决定好生做他的妃,殊不知这只是一切计谋的开始。*当一切温情不再,真相昭然,他,终究不再是他。绝望而笑,心底升腾而起的彻骨寒意犹如来自万丈幽冥,唇边笑容却妖冶如罂粟,惊艳了刹那,照亮了芳华。“若不爱我,便放我走。”“就算不爱,你也注定只能是我的女人。”情缘三生,何处繁华笙歌落,沧海万倾,唯愿一生为一人。*深情腹黑无限,结局一对一,亲们别忘了“加入书架”哈。
  • 凌潇之恋

    凌潇之恋

    神尊魔主一相逢,胜却人间无数。九万年前,神魔旷世大战。“帝凌尘!我夜潇,生生世世,再也不爱上你这个邪门神尊——天地为证,山河为鉴,若有违背则……把你变成一只烤鸡,买就送孜然那种!”她放下豪言壮语。 他挑眉:“行,你尽管试试。”混沌魔兽星辰助力,她卷土重来,东山再起。夜潇修炼像坐火箭,丹药如吃糖豆,兽宠似不要钱,总之,世人送她两个字——妖孽! 据说世上有一魔咒名为“真香定律”?夜潇不信,直至她与他再遇:“等等,誓言?不存在的!哎呀嘛,真香!”
  • Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm #6)

    Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm #6)

    Funny, suspenseful, and fast-paced, The Sisters Grimm continues to charm readers with its outrageous take on familiar fairy tales. In Ferryport Landing everyone gets a day in court—even the Big Bad Wolf, a.k.a. Mr. Canis. When Canis is put on trial for past crimes, Mayor Heart's kangaroo court is determined to find him guilty. It's up to the Grimms to uncover evidence to save their friend, though Sabrina starts to wonder whether they would all be safer with the Wolf in jail. Despite her misgivings, Sabrina and her sister, Daphne, investigate what actually happened in the Big Bad Wolf's most famous tale—and the real story is full of surprises!
  • 我亲爱的易先生

    我亲爱的易先生

    未婚夫劈腿小三,我还没和小三撕逼,就已经败下阵来。“敢不敢打个赌,我能有办法让你很快从失恋中走出来?”我以为这只是他的一句玩笑话,然而他所设的赌局,从来都不会输。亲爱的易先生,你告诉我,想要得到别人的爱,必须要先爱自己,可是,我的爱全都给了你,又如何还有爱自己的余地?
  • 太上灵宝芝草品

    太上灵宝芝草品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绝涩千金卖邪少

    绝涩千金卖邪少

    他,邪魅又冷枭。她,单纯又邪恶。她是全国排行前三的至尊千金,他是令人闻风丧胆的鬼魅少爷。可是他心中以为的小萌女,居然是这样的——“绝绝,快把我身上的蟑螂拿开。”“绝绝你能不在接吻的时候打喷嚏吗?”“绝绝,云南白药里怎么会有辣椒精?”“绝绝,葫芦娃是不是你放的!”“大姐,别再坑了,快救我出去。”都说一个坑神的背后总有一群被卖了还帮忙数钱的人,这是真的吗……