Page:A Little Princess.djvu/273

Rh be so rich when she is found that she will be like a princess in a fairy tale. We called her the fairy princess at first, but it did n't quite suit."

"Is it true," said Nora, "that her papa gave all his money to a friend to put in a mine that had diamonds in it, and then the friend thought he had lost it all and ran away because he felt as if he was a robber?"

"But he was n't really, you know," put in Janet, hastily.

The Indian gentleman took hold of her hand quickly.

"No, he was n't really," he said.

"I am sorry for the friend," Janet said; "I can't help it. He did n't mean to do it, and it would break his heart. I am sure it would break his heart."

"You are an understanding little woman, Janet," the Indian gentleman said, and he held her hand close.

"Did you tell Mr. Carrisford," Donald shouted again, "about the little-girl-who-is-n't-a-beggar? Did you tell him she has new nice clothes? P'r'aps she 's been found by somebody when she was lost."

"There 's a cab!" exclaimed Janet. "It 's stopping before the door. It is papa!"

They all ran to the windows to look out.

"Yes, it 's papa," Donald proclaimed. "But there is no little girl."

All three of them incontinently fled from the room and tumbled into the hall. It was in this way they always welcomed their father. They were to be heard jumping up and down, clapping their hands, and being caught up and kissed.