A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett Read Free Book Online Page A

only like an ugly, stunted, worn-out little
scullery drudge.
    Sara seemed as much unlike her as if she were a creature from
another world.
    On this particular afternoon she had been taking her dancing
lesson, and the afternoon on which the dancing master appeared
was rather a grand occasion at the seminary, though it occurred
every week. The pupils were attired in their prettiest frocks,
and as Sara danced particularly well, she was very much brought
forward, and Mariette was requested to make her as diaphanous and
fine as possible.
    Today a frock the color of a rose had been put on her, and
Mariette had bought some real buds and made her a wreath to wear
on her black locks. She had been learning a new, delightful
dance in which she had been skimming and flying about the room,
like a large rose-colored butterfly, and the enjoyment and
exercise had brought a brilliant, happy glow into her face.
    When she entered the room, she floated in with a few of the
butterfly steps—and there sat Becky, nodding her cap sideways
off her head.
    "Oh!" cried Sara, softly, when she saw her. "That poor thing!"
    It did not occur to her to feel cross at finding her pet chair
occupied by the small, dingy figure. To tell the truth, she was
quite glad to find it there. When the ill-used heroine of her
story wakened, she could talk to her. She crept toward her
quietly, and stood looking at her. Becky gave a little snore.
    "I wish she'd waken herself," Sara said. "I don't like to waken
her. But Miss Minchin would be cross if she found out. I'll
just wait a few minutes."
    She took a seat on the edge of the table, and sat swinging her
slim, rose-colored legs, and wondering what it would be best to
do. Miss Amelia might come in at any moment, and if she did,
Becky would be sure to be scolded.
    "But she is so tired," she thought. "She is so tired!"
    A piece of flaming coal ended her perplexity for her that very
moment. It broke off from a large lump and fell on to the
fender. Becky started, and opened her eyes with a frightened
gasp. She did not know she had fallen asleep. She had only sat
down for one moment and felt the beautiful glow—and here she
found herself staring in wild alarm at the wonderful pupil, who
sat perched quite near her, like a rose-colored fairy, with
interested eyes.
    She sprang up and clutched at her cap. She felt it dangling
over her ear, and tried wildly to put it straight. Oh, she had
got herself into trouble now with a vengeance! To have
impudently fallen asleep on such a young lady's chair! She would
be turned out of doors without wages.
    She made a sound like a big breathless sob.
    "Oh, miss! Oh, miss!" she stuttered. "I arst yer pardon, miss!
Oh, I do, miss!"
    Sara jumped down, and came quite close to her.
    "Don't be frightened," she said, quite as if she had been
speaking to a little girl like herself. "It doesn't matter the
least bit."
    "I didn't go to do it, miss," protested Becky. "It was the warm
fire—an' me bein' so tired. It—it WASN'T impertience!"
    Sara broke into a friendly little laugh, and put her hand on her
shoulder.
    "You were tired," she said; "you could not help it. You are not
really awake yet."
    How poor Becky stared at her! In fact, she had never heard such
a nice, friendly sound in anyone's voice before. She was used to
being ordered about and scolded, and having her ears boxed. And
this one—in her rose-colored dancing afternoon splendor—was
looking at her as if she were not a culprit at all—as if she had
a right to be tired—even to fall asleep! The touch of the
soft, slim little paw on her shoulder was the most amazing thing
she had ever known.
    "Ain't—ain't yer angry, miss?" she gasped. "Ain't yer goin' to
tell the missus?"
    "No," cried out Sara. "Of course I'm not."
    The woeful fright in the coal-smutted face made her suddenly so
sorry that she could scarcely bear it. One of her queer
thoughts rushed into her mind. She put her hand against Becky's
cheek.
    "Why," she said, "we are just the