¡¶A Little Princess¡·


 1. Sara

    1. Sara

    Once on a dark ers day, s of London t ted and t nigtle girl sat in a cab horoughfares.

    S  tucked under  ared out of t tfulness in her big eyes.

    Stle girl t one did not expect to see suc   groo. S as if sime.

    At t s made from Bombay ain Creo and fro on it, of t on t deck, and of some young officers ry to make alk to t things she said.

    Principally, s a queer t  at one time one range verange streets w. S so her.

    quot;Papa,quot; serious little voice ;

    quot; is it, darling?quot; Captain Cre;

    quot;Is t; Sara o ;Is it, papa?quot;

    quot;Yes, little Sara, it is. e  at last.quot; And t  sad w.

    It seemed to o prepare ;t; as s. ting fato be tion soget s listening, and s  being ric. Siful bungalos s and an aya people .

    During  life only one troubled  t;t; so be taken to some day. te of India --generally to England and to scalk about tters t so go also, and times ories of try tracted roubled by t t  stay h her.

    quot;Couldnt you go to t place ; s;Couldnt you go to scoo? I would ;

    quot;But you  o stay for a very long time, little Sara,quot; ;You o a nice  of little girls, and you ogety of books, and you  t it ake care of papa.quot;

    So t. to keep to ride  at table o talk to   go ao quot;t; in England to attain it, s make up o go. S care very muctle girls, but if sy of books s, aling stories of beautiful telling to imes sold to hem as much as she did.

    quot;ell, papa,quot; sly, quot;if ;

    at all resigned  keep t a secret.  little Sara  companion to  urn to India,  into  expect to see ts o meet o tood tination.

    It s ro t on t door te on wters:

    Miss Minchin,

    Select Seminary for Young Ladies.

    quot;; said Captain Creed teps and rang ten t after tly like Miss Minc able and  o all clock in to tern upon it, timepiece stood upon tel.

    As s doiff ma one of  her.

    quot;I dont like it, papa,quot; s;But t really like going into battle.quot;

    Captain Creired of hearing Saras queer speeches.

    quot;Otle Sara,quot; ; so say solemn to me? No one else is as solemn as you are.quot;

    quot;But w; inquired Sara.

    quot;Because you are suc; ill more. And t o opping laug once and looking almost as if tears o his eyes.

    It  t Miss Mincered t: tall and dull, and respectable and ugly. S spread itself into a very large smile o  o spend a great deal of money on tle daughter.

    quot;It  privilege to iful and promising cain Cre; saking Saras roking it. quot;Lady Mereditold me of  treasure in an establis like mine.quot;

    Sara stood quietly, hing odd, as usual.

    quot;iful c; s;I am not beautiful at all. Colonel Granges little girl, Isobel, is beautiful. S black  fair in t. I am one of t celling a story.quot;

    Saken,  in t like Isobel Grange, , but sure, ratall for ense, attractive little face. e black and only curled at tips;  is true, but t like till s stle girl, and s at all elated by Miss Minctery.

    quot;I selling a story if I said siful,quot; s; quot;and I selling a story. I believe I am as ugly as s did s for?quot;

    After s. S so eac a co her school.

    Sara stood near ened o ttle girls ed tain Cre for Lady Meredito be ;a parlor boarder,quot; and so enjoy even greater privileges to ty bedroom and sitting room of o o take the ayah who had been her nurse in India.

    quot;I am not in t anxious about ion,quot; Captain Creted it. quot;ty o keep oo fast and too mucting tle nose burroo books. S read ttle ead of a little girl. Sarving for neo gobble, and ss gro, big, fat ones--Frencory and biograps, and all sorts of too muc and buy a neo play more ;

    quot;Papa,quot; said Sara, quot;you see, if I  out and boug to be intimate friends. Emily is going to be my intimate friend.quot;

    Captain Cre Miss Minc Captain Crewe.

    quot;; she inquired.

    quot;tell ; Captain Crewe said, smiling.

    Saras green-gray eyes looked very solemn and quite soft as she answered.

    quot;S got yet,quot; s;So buy for me. e are going out togeto find o be my friend alk to about ;

    Miss Minctering indeed.

    quot; an original c; s; a darling little creature!quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; said Captain Cre;Stle creature. take great care of ;

    Sara stayed  el for several days; in fact, sil o India. t out and visited many big soget a great many t, indeed, a great many more t Captain Creed tle girl to ed a rimmed ly furs, and lace dresses, and embroidered ones, and s , soft ostrics and muffs, and boxes of tiny gloves and ockings in suc supplies t te young tle girl  be at least some foreign princess--pertle daughter of an Indian rajah.

    And at last t t to a number of toy s a great many dolls before they discovered her.

    quot;I  o look as if s a doll really,quot; Sara said. quot;I  o look as if sens o rouble ;--and s ed as s--quot;trouble  to ; So t big ones and little ones-- at dolls  dolls h golden braids, dolls dressed and dolls undressed.

    quot;You see,quot; Sara said . t better if tried on.quot;

    After a number of disappointments to  t t even going in, arted and clutchers arm.

    quot;O; s;t;

    A fluso  recognized someone simate h and fond of.

    quot;Sually ing t; s;Let us go in to ;

    quot;Dear me,quot; said Captain Cre;I feel as if roduce us.quot;

    quot;You must introduce me and I roduce you,quot; said Sara. quot;But I kne;

    Perainly a very intelligent expression in ook  not too large to carry about easily; surally curling golden-bro , t mere painted lines.

    quot;Of course,quot; said Sara, looking into ;of course papa, t;

    So Emily aken to a cfitters soo, and velvet and muslin ones, and s and coats and beautiful lace-trimmed underclothes, and gloves and handkerchiefs and furs.

    quot;I so look as if s; said Sara. quot;Im o make a companion of ;

    Captain Cre t a sad t kept tugging at . t t o be separated from  little comrade.

    out of  nig and stood looking do Sara, , botgo Captain Cre glad sach a boyish expression.

    quot;tle Sara!quot; o ;I dont believe you know ;

    t day ook o Miss Minc o sail a morning. o Miss Minc ors, Messrs. Barroed, and t t in for Saras expenses. e to Sara twice a week, and so be given every pleasure she asked for.

    quot;Stle ts anyt isnt safe to give ; he said.

    t o tle sitting room and t on  in  his face.

    quot;Are you learning me by , little Sara?quot; roking her hair.

    quot;No,quot; s;I kno; And t t eacher go.

    ting on tting room,  until it urned tting by er it, too.  er, Miss Amelia, to see  open the door.

    quot;I ,quot; said a queer, polite little voice from inside. quot;I  to be quite by myself, if you please.quot;

    Miss Amelia  and dumpy, and stood very mucer. Ster-natured person of t s doairs again, looking almost alarmed.

    quot;I never sa; s;S making t particle of noise.quot;

    quot;It is mucter t; Miss Minc;I expected t a c t;

    quot;Ive been opening runks and putting ; said Miss Amelia. quot;I never sas, and real Valenciennes lace on  do you t;

    quot;I tly ridiculous,quot; replied Miss Minc;but t take to ctle princess.quot;

    And upstairs in t on tared at tain Creo stop.

 2. A French Lesson

    2. A French Lesson

    ered t morning everybody looked at erested eyes. By t time every pupil-- from Lavinia ,  quite groo Lottie Leg four and t deal about ainly t s to tablis. One or t a glimpse of te, e opening a box we from some shop.

    quot;It ticoats ; so  over ;I sa  t c one of tticoats on no ;

    quot;Sockings on!quot; tle feet! I never sale feet.quot;

    quot;O; sniffed Lavinia, spitefully, quot;t is t even big feet can be made to look small if you  tty at all. ;

    quot;S pretty as otty people are,quot; said Jessie, stealing a glance across t;but s to look at remendously long eyelas  green.quot;

    Sara ting quietly in , ing to be told o do. S abas all by tcerested and looked back quietly at t  t all like alk   morning.

    quot;; s;e must be very great friends to eacell eac me. You  eyes I ever sa I wis;

    Ss, and one of  t deal of comfort in even pretending t Emily er Mariette ied  to Emily, w in a chair of her own, and gave her a book.

    quot;You can read t ; ste looking at o tle face.

    quot; I believe about dolls,quot; s;is t t let us kno. Peralk and  s  is . You see, if people kne dolls could do to keep it a secret. If you stay in t sit tare; but if you go out, so read, per of t run back and jump into end sime.quot;

    quot;Comme elle est drole!quot; Mariette said to  doairs sold t it. But so like ttle girl  small face and suc manners. Saken care of c so polite. Sara tle person, and le, appreciative ;If you please, Mariette,quot; quot;tte,quot; old t shanking a lady.

    quot;Elle a lair dune princesse, cette petite,quot; stle mistress and liked ly.

    After Sara  in  in tes, being looked at by the pupils, Miss Minchin rapped in a dignified manner upon her desk.

    quot;Young ladies,quot; s;I roduce you to your ne; All ttle girls rose in t;I s you all to be very agreeable to Miss Creo us from a great distance--in fact, from India. As soon as lessons are over you must make eacance.quot;

    ttle curtsy, and t do eacher again.

    quot;Sara,quot; said Miss Minc;come o me.quot;

    Saken a book from turning over its leaves. Sara  to ely.

    quot;As your papa ; s;I conclude t o make a special study of t;

    Sara felt a little awkward.

    quot;I t; s;because  I would like ;

    quot;I am afraid,quot; said Miss Mincly sour smile, quot;t you tle girl and al t your papa wiso learn Frenc;

    If Sara ilious about being quite polite to people, s, as it  Sara kneever of Frenc s as if it  rude to correct rut Sara could not remember time o kno to ain Crewe   Sara .

    quot;I--I --but--quot; srying so make herself clear.

    One of Miss Minc annoyances  s speak Frencating fact. Sention of discussing tter and laying o innocent questioning by a netle pupil.

    quot;t is enoug; se tartness. quot;If you  learned, you must begin at once. ter, Monsieur Dufarge, ake t it until ;

    Saras c o  and opened t t page  o smile, and sermined not to be rude. But it o find ed to study a page ;le perequot; meant quot;t; and quot;la merequot; meant quot;t;

    Miss Mincoward inizingly.

    quot;You look rat; s;I am sorry you do not like t;

    quot;I am very fond of it,quot; ansry again; quot;but--quot;

    quot;You must not say `but o do t; said Miss Minc;Look at your book again.quot;

    And Sara did so, and did not smile, even ;le filsquot; meant quot;t; and quot;le frerequot; meant quot;t;

    quot;; s, quot;I can make and.quot;

    Monsieur Dufarge arrived very sly after, middle-aged Frencerested ely to seem absorbed in tle book of phrases.

    quot;Is t; o Miss Minc;I  is my good fortune.quot;

    quot;ain Cre s I am afraid s it. S seem to ; said Miss Minchin.

    quot;I am sorry of t, mademoiselle,quot; o Sara. quot;Pero study toget it is a congue.quot;

    Little Sara rose in . So feel rate, as if s in disgrace. So Monsieur Dufarges face e innocently appealing. S and as soon as so explain quite simply in pretty and fluent Frenc understood. S learned Frencly--not out of books--but  to  and ten it as sten Englis, and s because o learn anyteac o explain to madame  s ttle book of phrases.

    o speak Miss Mincarted quite violently and sat staring at  indignantly, until so smile, and  pleasure. to ty c as if ive land-- affectionate. But o Miss Minchin.

    quot;A; ;t muceac learned Frenc is exquisite.quot;

    quot;You ougo old me,quot; exclaimed Miss Mincified, turning to Sara.

    quot;I--I tried,quot; said Sara. quot;I--I suppose I did not begin rig;

    Miss Mincried, and t it  been  t s alloo explain. And ening and t Lavinia and Jessie ed.

    quot;Silence, young ladies!quot; s;Silence at once!quot;

    And s minute to feel rat her show pupil.

 3. Ermengarde

    3. Ermengarde

    On t first morning,  Miss Minc ting itself to observing iced very soon one little girl, about  , rat c look as if s clever, but suredly pouting moutigail, tied ail around ing ting ared  to speak to Sara, stle frigepped for , appealing eyes, anstle girl gave a startled jump, and gree red in .  ears for o remember t quot;la merequot; meant quot;t; and quot;le pere,quot; quot;t;--  too muco find ening to a c only quite familiar  apparently knerifles.

    Sared so  tail so fast t stracted ttention of Miss Mincremely cross at t, immediately pounced upon her.

    quot;Miss St. Jo; s; do you mean by suc? Remove your elboake your ribbon out of your mout up at once!quot;

    Upon tered s s looked as if tears o  so like  to be   to spring into any fray in wable or unhappy.

    quot;If Sara uries ago,quot; o say, quot;s try ress. Ss to figrouble.quot;

    So sook rato fat, slotle Miss St. Jo glancing toter to  treated as a sic tion made even Monsieur Dufarge smile in spite of unate girls eit  Sara did not laugried to look as if s . Jo;le bon pain,quot; quot;lee bong pang.quot; S little temper of  made itters and saupid, distressed childs face.

    quot;It isnt funny, really,quot; s over ;t not to laug;

    ogeto talk, Sara looked for Miss St. Joely in a , so tle girls alo eacance, but t Sara, and people al it.

    quot; is your name?quot; she said.

    to explain Miss St. Jo one must recall t a neime, a someain tire scalked t before until it fell asleep quite exed by excitement and contradictory stories. A neo discuss,  an ordinary acquaintance.

    quot;My names Ermengarde St. Jo; she answered.

    quot;Mine is Sara Cre; said Sara. quot;Yours is very pretty. It sounds like a story book.quot;

    quot;Do you like it?quot; fluttered Ermengarde. quot;I--I like yours.quot;

    Miss St. Jorouble in life  simes to y. If you  languages, and ly learned by , ly expects you to be familiar ents of your lesson books at least; and it is not improbable t  to be able to remember a fes of ory and to e a Frencrial to Mr. St. Jo understand ably and unmistakably dull creature whing.

    quot;Good ; ared at ;times ;

    If  Eliza o learn and quick to forget a tirely rikingly like al dunce of t could not be denied.

    quot;S be made to learn,quot; o Miss Minchin.

    Consequently Ermengarde spent ter part of ears. S t understand t ural t, ance, s and stare at ion.

    quot;You can speak Frenc you?quot; sfully.

    Sara got on to t,  h her hands clasped round her knees.

    quot;I can speak it because I  all my life,quot; s;You could speak it if you .quot;

    quot;O,quot; said Ermengarde. quot;I never could speak it!quot;

    quot;; inquired Sara, curiously.

    Ermengarde s tail wobbled.

    quot;You  no; s;Im al. I cant say t;

    S, and touc;You are clever, arent you?quot;

    Sara looked out of to ttering on t, iron railings and ty brancrees. Sed a fes. S said very often t s;clever,quot; and s had happened.

    quot;I dont kno; s;I cant tell.quot; ttle laug.

    quot;ould you like to see Emily?quot; she inquired.

    quot;; Ermengarde asked, just as Miss Minchin had done.

    quot;Come up to my room and see,quot; said Sara,  her hand.

    t toget upstairs.

    quot;Is it true,quot; Ermengarde ;is it true t you o yourself?quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; Sara ans;Papa asked Miss Minco let me  ell to myself, and I dont like people to  spoils it if I ten.quot;

    to Saras room by time, and Ermengarde stopped s, staring, and quite losing h.

    quot;You make up stories!quot; s;Can you do t--as well as speak Frenc;

    Sara looked at her in simple surprise.

    quot;; s;ried?quot;

    S her hand warningly on Ermengardes.

    quot;Let us go very quietly to t; s;and t quite suddenly; perc;

    S toucerious ed Ermengarde, t test idea  meant, or o quot;catc; or o catcsoever s, Ermengarde  fully exciting. So, quite tation, siptoe along t t noise until turned t s opening revealed te neat and quiet, a fire gently burning in te, and a ting in a c, apparently reading a book.

    quot;O back to  before ;Of course tning.quot;

    Ermengarde looked from o the doll and back again.

    quot;Can s; shlessly.

    quot;Yes,quot; ans;At least I believe s least I pretend I believe s makes it seem as if it rue. ended t;

    quot;No,quot; said Ermengarde. quot;Never. I--tell me about it.quot;

    Sc sually stared at Sara instead of at Emily--notanding t Emily  attractive doll person she had ever seen.

    quot;Let us sit do; said Sara, quot;and I ell you. Its so easy t op. You just go on and on doing it als beautiful. Emily, you must listen. t. Joo ;

    quot;O; said Ermengarde. quot;May I, really? Siful!quot; And Emily  into her arms.

    Never in  life . Jo o go doairs.

    Sara sat upon told range t ratold stories of tories of India; but ed Ermengarde t alked, and   and so fleo t;like lig; o the room.

    quot;e couldnt do it,quot; said Sara, seriously. quot;You see, its a kind of magic.quot;

    Once, ory of to pass over it and put out t in  it made a funny, sad little sound, and t igermined eito do or not to do somet if stle girl, s  out sobbing and crying. But s.

    quot;; Ermengarde ventured.

    quot;Yes,quot; Sara anser a moments silence. quot;But it is not in my body.quot; tried to keep quite steady, and it ;Do you love your fat;

    Ermengardes mouttle. S it  seminary to say t it o you t you could love your fat you e to avoid being left alone in y for ten minutes. Sly embarrassed.

    quot;I--I scarcely ever see ; sammered. quot;;

    quot;I love mine more ten times over,quot; Sara said. quot;t is w my pain is. ;

    S ly dole,  very still for a fees.

    quot;So cry out loud,quot; t Ermengarde, fearfully.

    But s. , black locks tumbled about  still. t lifting her head.

    quot;I promised ,quot; s;And I  soldiers bear! Papa is a soldier. If to bear marciness and, per one ;

    Ermengarde could only gaze at  s t so adore  from anyone else.

    Presently, sed tle smile.

    quot;If I go on talking and talking,quot; s;and telling you t pretending, I s better. You dont forget, but you bear it better.quot;

    Ermengarde did not knoears hem.

    quot;Lavinia and Jessie are `best friends,quot; s;I  c I-- o;

    quot;Im glad of t,quot; said Sara. quot;It makes you tell you ;-- a sudden gleam lig;I can ;

 4. Lottie

    4. Lottie

    If Sara  kind of c Miss Minc Seminary for t fe  all good for reated more as if singuis at tablis ttle girl. If sed, domineering c o be unbearable ttered. If s cely Miss Minc soo o do or say anyt make suco leave e  if Sara e to o tell able or unain Creo do reated. Accordingly, Sara o y if so a beggar out of tle purse; t treated as if it ue, and if s ion and a clever little brain, s isfied young person. But ttle brain told  many sensible and true t ances, and noalked to Ermengarde as time  on.

    quot;to people by accident,quot; so say. quot;A lot of nice accidents o me. It just  I al just  I iful and nice and clever, and could give me everyt really a good temper at all, but if you  and everyone is kind to you,  be good-tempered? I dont kno;--looking quite serious--quot; ;

    quot;Lavinia rials,quot; said Ermengarde, stolidly, quot;and s;

    Sara rubbed ttle nose reflectively, as s tter over.

    quot;ell,quot; s last, quot;per is because Lavinia is gro; t of a cable recollection of  Lavinia  t s affected emper.

    Lavinia, in fact, eful. Sely jealous of Sara. Until t remely disagreeable if t follole co be ty, and -dressed pupil in t Seminary  til Saras velvet coats and sable muffs appeared, combined ric t tter enoug as time  on it became apparent t Sara oo, and not because s because she never did.

    quot;t Sara Cre; Jessie ;best friendquot; by saying ly, quot;s  bit, and you kno  a little--if I s disgusting, ts come.quot;

    quot;`Dear Sara must come into talk to Mrs. Musgrave about India,quot; mimicked Lavinia, in  ation of Miss Minc;`Dear Sara must speak Frenco Lady Pitkin.  is so perfect. S learn  t any rate. And t. S learn it at all. S picked it up, because s. And, as to ;

    quot;ell,quot; said Jessie, slo;igers. s rokes its alks to it as if it .quot;

    quot;S; snapped Lavinia. quot;My mamma says t ric.quot;

    It e true t Sara ;grand.quot; Stle soul, and stle ones, o being disdained and ordered out of ture ladies aged ten and to cry by t envied of tted t a bonbon or some oticle of a sooture. S of o tion and a blot upon ters.

    quot;If you are four you are four,quot; so Lavinia on an occasion of  must be confessed--slapped Lottie and called ;a brat;quot; quot;but you  year, and six ter t. And,quot; opening large, convicting eyes, quot;it takes sixteen years to make you ty.quot;

    quot;Dear me,quot; said Lavinia, quot;e!quot; In fact, it  to be denied t sixteen and four made ty--and ty  daring were scarcely bold enougo dream of.

    So to ea party, made up of tea service used-- te a lot of mucened ea and ea set before. From t afternoon Sara ire alp class.

    Lottle Lego sucent t if Sara  been a motiresome. Lottie  to scy young papa o do reated like a favorite doll or a very spoiled pet monkey or lap dog ever since t tle creature. ed anyt  anyt and ed t   t  for tle voice o be ed in  of ther.

    rongest  in some mysterious  a very small girl o be pitied and made mucalking er  became  to make great use of this knowledge.

    t time Sara took ting room, srying to suppress tly, refused to be silenced. Srenuously indeed t Miss Minco almost s--in a stately and severe manner-- to make herself heard.

    quot; is s; s yelled.

    quot;O; Sara ;I  got any mam--ma-a!quot;

    quot;Otie!quot; screamed Miss Amelia. quot;Do stop, darling! Dont cry! Please dont!quot;

    quot;O; Lottle empestuously. quot;- -got--any--mam--ma-a!quot;

    quot;S to be w; Miss Minc;You sy c;

    Lottle o cry. Miss Mincil it almost tent indignation and flounced out of to arrange tter.

    Sara  to go into tly begun a friendly acquaintance tie and migo quiet  and saw   her dignified or amiable.

    quot;O; so produce a suitable smile.

    quot;I stopped,quot; explained Sara, quot;because I kne tie-- and I t, per per. May I try, Miss Minc;

    quot;If you can, you are a clever c; ans you are clever in everyt; s;I dare say you can manage ; And s her.

    ered ttie  legs violently, and Miss Amelia ion and despair, looking quite red and damp . Lottie   kicking and screaming ed by any means sed on. Poor plump Miss Amelia rying first one mether.

    quot;Poor darling,quot; s, quot;I kno; te anotone, quot;If you dont stop, Lottie, I le angel! testable c;

    Sara  to tly. S kno all  sion t it ter not to say suc kinds of te so edly.

    quot;Miss Amelia,quot; s;Miss Mincry to make op--may I?quot;

    Miss Amelia turned and looked at ;O; she gasped.

    quot;I dont knoill in ;but I ry.quot;

    Miss Amelia stumbled up from ties fat little legs kicked as hard as ever.

    quot;If you eal out of t; said Sara, quot;I ay ;

    quot;O; almost w;e never  believe we can keep ;

    But s out of to find an excuse for doing it.

    Sara stood by ts, and looked do  saying anyt do on ted. Except for Lotties angry screams, te quiet. tate of affairs for little Miss Legomed,  and implore and command and coax by turns. to lie and kick and s seeming to mind in t, attracted tention. Sig streaming eyes to see tle girl. But it  eadily and as if so find t, Lottie t s begin again, but t of terested face made  ed.

    quot;I----any--ma--ma--ma-a!quot; s  so strong.

    Sara looked at ill more steadily, but  of understanding in her eyes.

    quot;Neit; she said.

    ted t it ounding. Lottie actually dropped ared. A neop a crying c rue t le as s  to give up  s racted from it, so ser a sulky sob, said, quot;;

    Sara paused a moment. Because sold t  a great deal about tter, and s  been quite like ther people.

    quot;S to ; s;But I am sure s sometimes to see me--t see ;

    Lottle sat bolt uprig ty, little, curly-ure, and  forget-me-nots. If   not   to be related to an angel.

    Sara  on talking. Per t  it o ion t Lottie began to listen in spite of old t ures of ladies in beautiful  Sara seemed to be telling a real story about a lovely country where real people were.

    quot;t; sting alking rat;fields and fields of lilies--and  s t of to t, because t tle c in ttle reets are sired,  any to go and lean on to tiful messages.quot;

    soever story so tell, Lottie , opped crying, and been fascinated into listening; but t tory tier t oto Sara, and drank in every il too soon.  did come, s s up her lip ominously.

    quot;I  to go t; s;I-- any mamma in t;

    Sara sa of ook o tle laugh.

    quot;I ; s;e  you are my little girl. And Emily ser.quot;

    Lotties dimples all began to shemselves.

    quot;S; she said.

    quot;Yes,quot; anso . quot;Let us go and tell ;

    to e crotted out of tairs  seeming even to remember t t ragedy  t so be y.

    And from t time Sara ed mother.

 5. Becky

    5. Becky

    Of course test po t s;t; t Lavinia and certain ot envious of, and at time most fascinated by in spite of telling stories and of making everytalked about seem like a story, .

    Anyone ories kno and besougo relate romances; skirts of ty in to join in and listen. Sara not only could tell stories, but selling t or stood in t of a circle and began to invent  kno s, so act and made ic movement of  t salking to listening ciful ladies, imes  of breatement, and le, quick-rising c, and  herself.

    quot;elling it,quot; s;it doesnt seem as if it  seems more real tory--one after t is queer.quot;

    S Miss Minc ternoon, as sting out of ably s and furs and looking very muc sig, of a dingy little figure standing on teps, and stretcs neck so t its y of t it, and  people.

    But tly  s not to  looking at pupils of importance. S of sigo tc if s been suctle forlorn te of  very evening, as Sara ting in t of a group of listeners in a corner of telling one of ories, timidly entered too  doo replenishe ashes.

    S s as frigly afraid to look at to be listening. S on pieces of coal cautiously  s make no disturbing noise, and s about tly. But Sara saes t serested in  schis, she raised her voice and spoke more clearly.

    quot;tly about in tal-green er, and dragged after t ; s;t on te rock and c;

    It ory about a princess o live he sea.

    te s t it again.  times; and, as s time, tory so lured o listen t sually forgot t s to listen at all, and also forgot everyt dooryteller  on and dreo tos under t, clear blue ligrange sea flo  singing and music echoed.

    t looked round.

    quot;t girl ening,quot; she said.

    t snatco . S at ttled out of tened rabbit.

    Sara felt rat-tempered.

    quot;I kne; s; s;

    Lavinia tossed  elegance.

    quot;ell,quot; s;I do not knoell stories to servant girls, but I kno like me to do it.quot;

    quot;My mamma!quot; said Sara, looking odd. quot;I dont believe s. S stories belong to everybody.quot;

    quot;I t,quot; retorted Lavinia, in severe recollection, quot;t your mamma was dead. ;

    quot;Do you t kno; said Sara, in ern little voice. Sometimes sern little voice.

    quot;Saras mamma kno; piped in Lottie. quot;So does my mamma--cept Sara is my mamma at Miss Mincreets are sells me o bed.quot;

    quot;You ; said Lavinia, turning on Sara; quot;making fairy stories about ;

    quot;tories in Revelation,quot; returned Sara. quot;Just look and see! ories? But I can tell youquot;-- of unemper--quot;you   kinder to people ttie.quot; And s of t s see ttle servant again someo the hall.

    quot; little girl e t night.

    Mariette broke forto a floion.

    A le t taken to being scullery maid, ss and grates, and carried tles up and doairs, and scrubbed floors and cleaned  by everybody. Seen years old, but unted in grorutte  if one co speak to  appeared as if ened eyes  of her head.

    quot; is ; asked Sara, able, ened absorbedly to tal.

    te airs calling, quot;Becky, do t; and quot;Becky, do t,quot; every five minutes in the day.

    Sara sat and looked into ting on Becky for some time after Mariette left ory of .  t sigairs on several occasions, s it o speak to her.

    But a feer, on anoternoon, ing room sing a ratic picture. In  easy-c fire, Becky--tle cap y coal box on t fast asleep, tired out beyond even t up to put t many of t all day. Saras rooms sil t. t like ted to be satisfied able sitting room seemed a boo t , merely a nice, brigtle room. But tures and books in it, and curious t c in a ce. Becky saved it until ternoons  rested o go into it, and so snatces to sit do c  tune of t out on tiful s and coats one tried to catche area railing.

    On ternoon, ion of relief to , acful t it o soot from t over il, as s tired, sloole over  ,  asleep. S ten minutes in tered, but sy, slumbering for a  s look--poor Becky-- like a Sleeping Beauty at all. Sunted,  little scullery drudge.

    Sara seemed as mucure from another world.

    On ticular afternoon saking ernoon on  t occurred every tired in ttiest frocks, and as Sara danced particularly te ed to make her as diaphanous and fine as possible.

    today a frock t on te  some real buds and made o terfly, and t and exercise  a brilliant, o her face.

    ered ted in terfly steps--and t Becky, nodding her cap sideways off her head.

    quot;O; cried Sara, softly,  poor t;

    It did not occur to o feel cross at finding  co tell trute glad to find it tory o  toood looking at tle snore.

    quot;I ;I dont like to   a fees.quot;

    Sook a seat on table, and sat s  to do. Miss Amelia mig any moment, and if so be scolded.

    quot;But sired,quot; s. quot;Sired!quot;

    A piece of flaming coal ended y for  very moment. It broke off from a large lump and fell on to tarted, and opened ened gasp. S kno and felt tiful glo t perce near erested eyes.

    Sc  it dangling over ried o put it straig o trouble noo ly fallen asleep on sucurned out of doors  wages.

    Shless sob.

    quot;O; suttered. quot;I arst yer pardon, miss! O;

    Sara jumped doe close to her.

    quot;Dont be frig; se as if so a little girl like ;It doesnt matter t bit.quot;

    quot;I didnt go to do it, miss,quot; protested Becky. quot;It ired. It--it  impertience!quot;

    Sara broke into a friendly little laug her hand on her shoulder.

    quot;You ired,quot; s;you could not . You are not really a.quot;

    ared at , so being ordered about and scolded, and ernoon splendor--  a culprit at all--as if s to be tired--even to fall asleep! touc, slim little pahing she had ever known.

    quot;Aint--aint yer angry, miss?quot; s;Aint yer goin to tell t;

    quot;No,quot; cried out Sara. quot;Of course Im not.quot;

    t in tted face made  s. One of s ruso   Beckys cheek.

    quot;; s; ttle girl like you. Its just an accident t I am not you, and you are not me!quot;

    Becky did not understand in t.  grasp sucs, and quot;an accidentquot; meant to y in ;tal.quot;

    quot;A accident, miss,quot; stered respectfully. quot;Is it?quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; Sara ans t s tone. S Becky did not know w s.

    quot;; s;Dare you stay es?quot;

    Becky lost h again.

    quot;;

    Sara ran to t, and looked out and listened.

    quot;No one is any; s;If your bedrooms are finis stay a tiny ;

    t ten minutes seemed to Becky like a sort of delirium. Sara opened a cupboard, and gave o rejoice ions, and laugil Beckys fears actually began to calm to ask a question or so  it to be.

    quot;Is t--quot; sured, looking longingly at t almost in a  t?quot;

    quot;It is one of my dancing-frocks,quot; ans;I like it, dont you?quot;

    For a fe speecion. t;Onct I see a princess. I andin in treet side Covin Garden, cer tared at most. to eacs t so mind t I see you, sittin table, miss. You looked like ;

    quot;Ive often t,quot; said Sara, in ing voice, quot;t I so be a princess; I  feels like. I believe I ending I am one.quot;

    Becky stared at  understand . Sc of adoration. Very soon Sara left ions and turned to ion.

    quot;Becky,quot; s; you listening to t story?quot;

    quot;Yes, miss,quot; confessed Becky, a little alarmed again. quot;I knoer, but it  beautiful I--I couldnt .quot;

    quot;I liked you to listen to it,quot; said Sara. quot;If you tell stories, you like noto tell to people o listen. I dont knoo ?quot;

    Becky lost h again.

    quot;Me ?quot; s;Like as if I  ttle  laugars in t;

    Sara nodded.

    quot;You  time to  no; s;but if you ell me just ime you come to do my rooms, I ry to be ell you a bit of it every day until it is finiss a lovely long one--and Im alting nes to it.quot;

    quot;t; breatly, quot;I  mind  to me, if--if I mig to t;

    quot;You may,quot; said Sara. quot;Ill tell it all to you.quot;

    doairs, s taggered up, loaded do of ttle. Sra piece of cake in , and s not only by cake and fire. Something else was Sara.

    on e percable.  were on a chair, her elbows on her knees, and her chin in her hands.

    quot;If I ; s;I could scatter largess to t even if I am only a pretend princess, I can invent little to do for people. t as  end t to do ttering largess. Ive scattered largess.quot;

 6. The Diamond Mines

    6. the Diamond Mines

    Not very long after ting t only Sara, but tire sc exciting, and made it t of conversation for er it occurred. In one of ters Captain Creold a most interesting story. A friend o see ract of land upon ly expected,  made one dizzy to tunity to sune by becoming a partner in  least, ters. It is true t any ot, traction for  quot;diamond minesquot; sounded so like ts t no one could be indifferent. Sara t ting, and painted pictures, for Ermengarde and Lottie, of labyrintones studded trange, dark men dug t ed in tory, and Lottie insisted on its being retold to eful about it, and told Jessie t s believe suced.

    quot;My mamma  forty pounds,quot; s;And it is not a big one, eit ;

    quot;Per s; giggled Jessie.

    quot;S being ric; Lavinia sniffed.

    quot;I believe you e ; said Jessie.

    quot;No, I dont,quot; snapped Lavinia. quot;But I dont believe in mines full of diamonds.quot;

    quot;ell, people o get t; said Jessie. quot;Lavinia,quot; ;rude says?quot;

    quot;I dont kno care if its somet t everlasting Sara.quot;

    quot;ell, it is. One of ends is t s all time--even in sc makes ter. Ss Ermengarde to be one, too, but Ermengarde says soo fat.quot;

    quot;Soo fat,quot; said Lavinia. quot;And Sara is too t;

    Naturally, Jessie giggled again.

    quot;S o do  you look like, or  you t you do.quot; quot;I suppose s; said Lavinia. quot;Let us begin to call ;

    Lessons for tting before time t. It ime ea in tting room sacred to t t deal of talking  many secrets cicularly if t squabble or run about noisily,  be confessed terfered ed to keep order, and t if t, Miss Minc an end to festivities. Even as Lavinia spoke tered tie, o trot everyle dog.

    quot;t ; exclaimed Lavinia in a es.quot;

    It  Lottie o play in ted parent to come tle ones o read. It  tion, and s in a ure of tille--men   ten t an outside ed at all, and were like beings in a dream.

    S it  agreeable to be dragged back suddenly by a tie. Never did s as to keep emper ion emptation to be unreasonable and snappis easy to manage.

    quot;It makes me feel as if someone  me,quot; Sara old Ermengarde once in confidence. quot;And as if I  to  back. I o remember to keep from saying sometempered.quot;

    So remember t and jumped down from able corner.

    Lottie  irritated Lavinia and Jessie by making a noise, ing  knee. S of a group of friends and enemies, ely coaxing and scolding her.

    quot;Stop te, you cry-baby! Stop te!quot; Lavinia commanded.

    quot;Im not a cry-baby . . . Im not!quot; tle. quot;Sara, Sa-- ra!quot;

    quot;If s stop, Miss Minc; cried Jessie. quot;Lottie darling, Ill give you a penny!quot;

    quot;I dont  your penny,quot; sobbed Lottie; and s t knee, and, seeing a drop of blood on it, burst forth again.

    Sara fle her arms round her.

    quot;Notie,quot; s;Notie, you promised Sara.quot;

    quot;S;  Lottie.

    Sara patted  spoke in teady voice Lottie knew.

    quot;But if you cry, you tie pet. You promised.quot; Lottle remembered t s so lift up her voice.

    quot;I  any mamma,quot; s;I --a bit--of mamma.quot;

    quot;Yes, you ; said Sara, c;ten? Dont you kno Sara is your mamma? Dont you  Sara for your mamma?quot;

    Lottie cuddled up to h a consoled sniff.

    quot;Come and sit in t ; Sara  on, quot;and Ill o you.quot;

    quot;ill you?quot; ;ill you--tell me--about t;

    quot;t; broke out Lavinia. quot;Nasty, little spoiled to slap ;

    Sara got up quickly on . It must be remembered t s tille, and so recall several t s go and take care of ed c an angel, and s fond of Lavinia.

    quot;ell,quot; s;I so slap you-- but I dont  to slap you!quot; restraining ;At least I bot to slap you--and I so slap you--but I  slap you. e are not little gutter co knoter.quot;

    unity.

    quot;A; s;e are princesses, I believe. At least one of us is. t to be very fas;

    Sara started toending t to girls s fond of. ;pretendquot; about being a princess o , and sive about it. S it to be rat, and  before nearly all t to ingle in  saved  fly into rages. ood quite still a moment.  , steady voice; sened to her.

    quot;Its true,quot; s;Sometimes I do pretend I am a princess. I pretend I am a princess, so t I can try and be;

    Lavinia could not tly t to say. Several times s s tisfactory reply o be vaguely in sympat. S terestedly. trut e about this one, and drew nearer Sara accordingly.

    Lavinia could only invent one remark, and it fell rat.

    quot;Dear me,quot; s;I  forget us!quot;

    quot;I ,quot; said Sara, and s utter anot stood quite still, and stared at eadily as sake Jessies arm and turn away.

    After to speak of ;Princess Saraquot; icularly disdainful, and term of affection. No one called ;princessquot; instead of quot;Sara,quot; but uresqueness and grandeur of title, and Miss Minc, mentioned it more to visiting parents, feeling t it rated a sort of royal boarding school.

    to Becky it seemed t appropriate tance begun on ternoon  be confessed t Miss Minctle about it. t Sara ;kindquot; to t tain deligs snatcairs rooms being set in order ning rapidity, Saras sitting room  sucimes stories old by installments, tisfying nature en or ily tucked into pockets to be disposed of at nig upstairs to tic to bed.

    quot;But I o eat em careful, miss,quot; s;cos if I leaves crumbs ts come out to get em.quot;

    quot;Rats!quot; exclaimed Sara, in ;Are ts t;

    quot;Lots of em, miss,quot; Becky anse a matter-of-fact manner. quot;tly is rats an mice in attics. You gets used to ttling about. Ive got so I dont mind em s long as t run over my piller.quot;

    quot;Ug; said Sara.

    quot;You gets used to anyter a bit,quot; said Becky. quot;You o, miss, if youre born a scullery maid. Id rats t;

    quot;So ; said Sara; quot;I suppose you mig in time, but I dont believe I so make friends ;

    Sometimes Becky did not dare to spend more tes in t,  Becky carried under , tied round  ape. tisfying to eat erest to Saras existence. , so look into s time it occurred to o bring tle meat pies, s t s upon a discovery. ed te sparkled.

    quot;O; s;ts fillinness ts best. Sponge cakes a evenly t it melts aand, miss. t stay in yer stummick.quot;

    quot;ell,quot; ated Sara, quot;I dont t ayed al I do believe tisfying.quot;

    tisfying--and so  a cook-sime, Becky began to lose ired feeling, and t seem so unbearably heavy.

    emper of ternoon to look foro--t Miss Sara o be in ting room. In fact, t meat pies. If time only for a fe put  into one; and if time for more, tallment of a story to be told, or some oterimes lay atic to t ster ture  t idea o poor Becky, and or sure ; and times  of t-- t and laugimes gay, kind laug help of all.

    Becky  laugtle e kne, ter ;fillinquot; as t pies.

    A feter came to  seem to be ten in sucs as usual.  very ly overhe diamond mines.

    quot;You see, little Sara,quot; e, quot;your daddy is not a businessman at all, and figures and documents bot really understand t feveris be aossing about, one  and spend troublesome dreams. If my little missus tle Missus?quot;

    One of o call ;little missusquot; because she had such an old-fashioned air.

    ions for o be, indeed, a marvel of splendid perfection. o tter asking able present, Sara .

    quot;I am getting very old,quot; se; quot;you see, I so  doll. t it. If I could e poetry, I am sure a poem about `A Last Doll  I cannot e poetry. I ried, and it made me laug did not sound like atts or Coleridge or S all. No one could ever take Emilys place, but I s t Doll very muc. t fifteen ones-- pretend too gro;

    Captain Creing ter in able before ters w  laughed for weeks.

    quot;O; ;ster fun every year s t itself and leave me free to run   I give to tle arms round my neck te!   I give!quot;

    to be celebrated by great festivities. to be decorated, and to be a party. taining ts o be opened  ceremony, and to be a glittering feast spread in Miss Mincement. e kneions to be made. t on t the wall.

    into ting room in table a small, dumpy package, tied up in a piece of bro, and s s came from. S quite tenderly. It e clean red flannel, and black pins uck carefully into it to form t;Menny urns.quot;

    quot;O; cried Sara, . quot; pains saken! I like it so, it--it makes me feel sorro;

    But t moment sified. On t letters t;Miss Amelia Minc;

    Sara turned it over and over.

    quot;Miss Amelia!quot; so ; be!quot;

    And just at t very moment siously pus.

    tionate, ood nervously pulling at her fingers.

    quot;Do yer like it, Miss Sara?quot; s;Do yer?quot;

    quot;Like it?quot; cried Sara. quot;You darling Becky, you made it all yourself.quot;

    Becky gave a eric but joyful sniff, and e moist .

    quot;It aint not flannin, an t ne I ed to give yer somet of nigend it in ried to ; ratfully; quot;t  o pick it up out o t-bin, ? Miss Meliar  a  be a proper presink if I didnt pin a card on-- so I pinned Miss Meliars.quot;

    Sara fle  old .

    quot;O; s, tle laug;I love you, Becky--I do, I do!quot;

    quot;O; breat;t aint good enoug. t ne;

 7. The Diamond Mines Again

    7. the Diamond Mines Again

    ered ternoon, s of procession. Miss Minc silk dress, led  folloaining t Doll, a  up to enter in t Miss Minc for er an intervieting room, had expressed her wishes.

    quot;t an ordinary occasion,quot; s;I do not desire t it sreated as one.quot;

    So Sara  sry, tared at ouctle ones began to squirm joyously in ts.

    quot;Silence, young ladies!quot; said Miss Minc t;James, place table and remove t yours upon a c; suddenly and severely.

    Becky e forgotten ement, and  Lottie, ation. S dropped artled ened, bobbing curtsy of apology  Lavinia and Jessie tittered.

    quot;It is not your place to look at t; said Miss Minc;You forget yourself. Put your box do;

    Becky obeyed e and ily backed tohe door.

    quot;You may leave us,quot; Miss Minco ts h a wave of her hand.

    Becky stepped aside respectfully to allos to pass out first. S ing a longing glance at table. Sometin issue paper.

    quot;If you please, Miss Minc; said Sara, suddenly, quot;maynt Becky stay?quot;

    It o do. Miss Mincrayed into somet jump. t  urbedly.

    quot;Becky!quot; s;My dearest Sara!quot;

    Sara advanced a step toward her.

    quot;I  o see ts,quot; s;Stle girl, too, you kno;

    Miss Minco ther.

    quot;My dear Sara,quot; s;Becky is t little girls.quot;

    It really  occurred to o t ligtles and made fires.

    quot;But Becky is,quot; said Sara. quot;And I kno is my birt;

    Miss Mincy:

    quot;As you ask it as a birtay. Rebecca, t kindness.quot;

    Becky o ting ted suspense. Ssies, but between Saras eyes and anding, wumbled over eacher.

    quot;O grateful, miss! I did  to see t I did. t;--turning and making an alarmed bob to Miss Minc;for letting me take ty.quot;

    Miss Mincime it ion of the door.

    quot;Go and stand t; s;Not too near t;

    Becky  to  care  s ead of being doairs in ts were going on. S even mind w ominously and spoke again.

    quot;Noo you,quot; she announced.

    quot;So make a speec; ;

    Sara felt ratable. As ty, it  t  is not agreeable to stand in a sc you.

    quot;You are a; t  dear Sara is eleven years old today.quot;

    quot;Dear Sara!quot; murmured Lavinia.

    quot;Several of you  Saras birt from ottle girls birto a large fortune, o spend in a meritorious manner.quot;

    quot;t; giggled Jessie, in a whisper.

    Sara did not  as sood eadily on Miss Minc . alked about money, s some sed  ful to e grown-up people.

    quot;ain Cre; t;o me, in a jesting  my seminary, Captain Creune. Sara  accomplis to to call . y ss by giving you ternoons party. I e y. I ion of it by saying aloud all toget;

    tire sco its feet as it he morning Sara remembered so well.

    quot;t; it said, and it must be confessed t Lottie jumped up and do. Ssy--and it was a very nice one.

    quot;t; s;for coming to my party.quot;

    quot;Very pretty, indeed, Sara,quot; approved Miss Minc;t is ;t made remely like a snort. If you are jealous of your felloo enjoy yourselves.quot;

    tant s out of t y. ttle girls jumped or tumbled out of ted no time in deserting to over one of ted face.

    quot;t; she said.

    ttle co a rueful murmur, and Ermengarde looked ag.

    quot;Does your papa send you books for a birt?quot; s; open t;

    quot;I like t; Sara laug surned to t box. ook out t Doll it  t ttered deligually dreo gaze at it in breature.

    quot;S as big as Lottie,quot; someone gasped.

    Lottie clapped , giggling.

    quot;Ser,quot; said Lavinia. quot;;

    quot;O; cried Ermengarde, darting for;s;

    quot;runk,quot; said Sara. quot;Let us open it and look at ;

    S dourned ted tray after tray and revealed tents. Never ockings and aining a necklace and a tiara ing dresses; ts and tea go t too elderly to care for dolls, and uttered exclamations of delig up to look at them.

    quot;Suppose,quot; Sara said, as sood by table, putting a large, black-velvet  on t;suppose sands alk and feels proud of being admired.quot;

    quot;You are al; said Lavinia, and her air was very superior.

    quot;I kno; ansurbedly. quot;I like it. ts almost like being a fairy. If you suppose anyt seems as if it ;

    quot;Its all very o suppose t; said Lavinia. quot;Could you suppose and pretend if you ?quot;

    Sara stopped arranging t Dolls ostricful.

    quot;I believe I could,quot; s;If one end all time. But it mig be easy.quot;

    Sen t after  just as s at t very moment--Miss Amelia came into the room.

    quot;Sara,quot; s;your papas solicitor, Mr. Barroalk to s are laid in ter come and  no my sister can erview ;

    Refress  likely to be disdained at any o decorum, and t , s a Doll sitting upon a ctered about s ticoats lying upon ts.

    Becky, ed to partake of refress, ion to linger a moment to look at ties--it really ion.

    quot;Go back to your ; Miss Amelia  sopped to pick up reverently first a muff and t, and  tten error at t of being accused of taking liberties, sed under table, ablecloth.

    Miss Minco tured, dry little gentleman,  must be admitted, and s ttle gentleman ated and puzzled expression.

    S doiff dignity, and waved o a chair.

    quot;Pray, be seated, Mr. Barro; she said.

    Mr. Barro sit do once. tention seemed attracted by t Doll and ttled  t Doll  seem to mind t. S uprigurned ly.

    quot;A ; Mr. Barroly. quot;All expensive material, and made at a Parisian modistes.  money lavis young man.quot;

    Miss Minc offended. to be a disparagement of  patron and y.

    Even solicitors  to take liberties.

    quot;I beg your pardon, Mr. Barro; siffly. quot;I do not understand.quot;

    quot;Birts,quot; said Mr. Barroical manner, quot;to a cravagance, I call it.quot;

    Miss Mincill more rigidly.

    quot;Captain Creune,quot; s;t;

    Mr. Barro; . quot;t;

    Miss Mincually got up from her chair.

    quot;!quot; s; do you mean?quot;

    quot;At any rate,quot; anse snappis;it er if t;

    quot;Any diamond mines?quot; ejaculated Miss Mincc the back of a chair and feeling as if a splendid dream was fading away from her.

    quot;Diamond mines spell ruin oftener t; said Mr. Barro; a businessman ter steer clear of t o put into. te Captain Cre;

    opped h a gasp.

    quot;te Captain Cre; s. quot;te! You dont come to tell me t Captain Cre;

    quot;; Mr. Barro;Died of jungle fever and business troubles combined. t not  been driven mad by troubles, and troubles mig  an end to  assisted. Captain Cre;

    Miss Minco h alarm.

    quot; ; s; ;

    quot;Diamond mines,quot; ans;and dear friends--and ruin.quot;

    Miss Minc h.

    quot;Ruin!quot; s.

    quot;Lost every penny. t young man oo muc of t all o it, and all Captain Creain Crericken oo muc tle girl--and didnt leave a penny.quot;

    No a Seminary at one blo Captain Creo blame.

    quot;Do you mean to tell me,quot; s, quot;t  not Sara  t s on my tle pauper instead of an ;

    Mr. Barro as o make y quite clear  any delay.

    quot;Sainly left a beggar,quot; ;And sainly left on your  a relation in t ;

    Miss Mincarted for of to stop tivities going on joyfully and rat moment over ts.

    quot;It is monstrous!quot; s;Sting room at t, dressed in silk gauze and lace petticoats, giving a party at my expense.quot;

    quot;S at your expense, madam, if s,quot; said Mr. Barro;Barro responsible for anytune. Captain Cre paying our last bill--and it ;

    Miss Mincurned back from tion. ts being.

    quot;t is ; s;I  I  to all sorts of ridiculous expenses for t ridiculous doll and astic o ed. S c;

    Mr. Barroly did not intend to remain to listen to tory of Miss Mincer ion of ed ts.  feel any particular sympate keepers of boarding schools.

    quot;You ter not pay for anyt; ;unless you  to make presents to t a brass farto call ;

    quot;But o do?quot; demanded Miss Minc it entirely y to make tter rig; am I to do?quot;

    quot;t anyto do,quot; said Mr. Barro;Captain Cre a pauper. Nobody is responsible for  you.quot;

    quot;I am not responsible for o be made responsible!quot;

    Miss Mince h rage.

    Mr. Barrourned to go.

    quot;I o do , madam,quot; erestedly. quot;Barro responsible. Very sorry t;

    quot;If you to be foisted off on me, you are greatly mistaken,quot; Miss Minc;I ed; I urn o treet!quot;

    If s been so furious, soo discreet to say quite so mucravagantly brouged, and s all self-control.

    Mr. Barrourbedly moved tohe door.

    quot;I  do t, madam,quot; ed; quot;it  look  story to get about in connection ablis. Pupil bundled out penniless and  friends.quot;

    Miss Minco see trut afford to do a ted.

    quot;Better keep ; ;S a good deal out of ;

    quot;I  a good deal out of ; exclaimed Miss Minchin.

    quot;I am sure you ; said Mr. Barrotle sinister smile. quot;I am sure you ;

    and closed t must be confessed t Miss Mincood for a fes and glared at it.  e true. S. Sely no redress. ed into nottle girl. Suc and could not be regained.

    And as sood t of gay voices from ually been given up to t. S least stop this.

    But as sarted to was opened by Miss Amelia, w sigep in alarm.

    quot; is tter, sister?quot; sed.

    Miss Minc fierce when she answered:

    quot;;

    Miss Amelia was bewildered.

    quot;Sara!quot; sammered. quot;;

    quot;uous ;--in bitter irony.

    quot;A black frock?quot; Miss Amelia stammered again. quot;A black one?quot;

    quot;S;

    Miss Amelia began to turn pale.

    quot;No--ye-es!quot; s;But it is too s for , and sgro.quot;

    quot;Go and tell o take off t preposterous pink silk gauze, and put t is too s or not. S;

    to wring  hands and cry.

    quot;Oer!quot; s;Oer!  can ;

    Miss Minced no words.

    quot;Captain Cre; s; a penny. t spoiled, pampered, fanciful c a pauper on my ;

    Miss Amelia sat doe  chair.

    quot; on nonsense for . Put a stop to ty of  once.quot;

    quot;I?quot; panted Miss Amelia. quot;M-must I go and tell ;

    quot;t!quot; ;Dont sit staring like a goose. Go!quot;

    Poor Miss Amelia omed to being called a goose. S, t s it  to geese to do a great many disagreeable t o go into t of a room full of deligell t t sransformed into a little beggar, and must go upstairs and put on an old black frock  be done. tly not time  be asked.

    Sil te red. After  out of t venturing to say anoter looked and spoke as s no course to pursue o obey orders  any comment. Miss Minco  kno s. During t year tory of ted all sorts of possibilities to ors of seminaries migunes in stocks, ead of looking foro gains, s to look back upon losses.

    quot;t; s;t; S table as s, and t moment sarted at the cover.

    quot; is t!quot; sooped and raised table cover.

    quot;; s. quot; immediately!quot;

    It was poor Becky w, and h repressed crying.

    quot;If you please, m--its me, mum,quot; s;I kno I  tened ;

    quot;You ime, listening,quot; said Miss Minchin.

    quot;No, mum,quot; Becky protested, bobbing curtsies. quot;Not listenin--I t I could slip out  your noticin, but I couldnt an I o stay. But I didnt listen, mum--I  for not I couldnt ;

    Suddenly it seemed almost as if s all fear of t into fresears.

    quot;O; s;I dare say youll give me  Im so sorry for poor Miss Sara--Im so sorry!quot;

    quot;Leave t; ordered Miss Minchin.

    Becky curtsied again, tears openly streaming down her cheeks.

    quot;Yes, m; I ; srembling; quot;but o ed to arst you: Miss Sara--sed on, and and foot; an  on er Ive done my pots an kettles? Id do em t quick--if youd let me  on ; breaking out afres;poor little Miss Sara, mum--t ;

    Some t soo mucually stamped .

    quot;No--certainly not,quot; s;S on oo. Leave tant, or youll leave your place.quot;

    Becky t of teps into t dotles, and  as if  would break.

    quot;Its exactly like tories,quot; s;t o t;

    Miss Mince so still and o er, in response to a message s her.

    Even by t time it seemed to Sara as if ty e anottle girl.

    Every sign of tivities  a back into tting room looked as it alraces of t y frocks; and turned to togetalking excitedly.

    quot;tell Sara to come to my room,quot; Miss Minco er. quot;And explain to  I ;

    quot;Sister,quot; replied Miss Amelia, quot;srangest cually made no fuss at all. You remember sain Cre back to India. old   stood quite still and looked at me  making a sound. o get bigger and bigger, and s quite pale. ill stood staring for a feo surned round and ran out of tairs. Several of to cry, but s seem to o be alive to anyt just  made me feel quite queer not to be ansrange, you expect people ever it is.quot;

    Nobody but Sara  er sairs and locked , s t so  seem ;My papa is dead! My papa is dead!quot;

    Once sopped before Emily, c ;Emily! Do you ;

    o Miss Mincting room in anso e and  as if s o reveal  like tterfly c from one of reasures to ted scead a strange, desolate, almost grotesque little figure.

    S on,  Mariettes -aside black- velvet frock. It oo s and tig. As s found a piece of black ribbon, , tumbled loosely about rasted strongly s pallor. Sigerial.

    quot;Put do; said Miss Minc; do you mean by bringing ;

    quot;No,quot; Sara ans;I  put o me.quot;

    Sly uncomfortable, and s speak eadiness  it difficult to cope--perless and inhing.

    quot;You ure,quot; s;You ;

    Sara kept range eyes fixed on  a word.

    quot;Everyt no; Miss Minc on. quot;I suppose Miss Amelia ters to you.quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; ans;My papa is dead.  me no money. I am quite poor.quot;

    quot;You are a beggar,quot; said Miss Mincemper rising at tion of . quot;It appears t you ions and no o take care of you.quot;

    For a moment ttle face tc Sara again said nothing.

    quot; are you staring at?quot; demanded Miss Minc;Are you so stupid t you cannot understand? I tell you t you are quite alone in to do anyto keep you  of cy.quot;

    quot;I understand,quot; ansone; and t. quot;I understand.quot;

    quot;t doll,quot; cried Miss Mincing to t seated near--quot;t ridiculous doll, ravagant tually paid t;

    Sara turned ohe chair.

    quot;t Doll,quot; s;t Doll.quot; And tle mournful voice had an odd sound.

    quot;t Doll, indeed!quot; said Miss Minc;And s yours. Everyt;

    quot;Please take it a; said Sara. quot;I do not  it.quot;

    If sened, Miss Minc almost ience o domineer and feel  Saras pale little steadfast face and tle voice, se felt as if   at naught.

    quot;Dont put on grand airs,quot; s;time for t sort of t. You are not a princess any longer. Your carriage and your pony  a and plainest clotravagant ones are no longer suited to your station. You are like Becky--you must ;

    to  gleam of ligo the childs eyes--a shade of relief.

    quot;Can I ; s;If I can   matter so muc can I do?quot;

    quot;You can do anytold,quot; ;You are a s you stay ;

    quot;May I?quot; exclaimed Sara. quot;O me! I knoeac;

    quot;Dont talk nonsense about people liking you,quot; said Miss Minc;You eactle ones. You  a. No;

    Sara stood still just a moment, looking at range turned to leave the room.

    quot;Stop!quot; said Miss Minc;Dont you intend to t;

    Sara paused, and all trange ts surged up in .

    quot; for?quot; she said.

    quot;For my kindness to you,quot; replied Miss Minc;For my kindness in giving you a ;

    Sara made teps tole c range un-childishly fierce way.

    quot;You are not kind,quot; s;You are not kind, and it is not a ; And surned and run out of top  stare after ony anger.

    S up tairs slo panting for breatig her side.

    quot;I ; so ;If s;

    S to go to iger-skin,  cats o t just before s of t beood before it, looking nervous and arut s secretly aso do.

    quot;You--you are not to go in t; she said.

    quot;Not go in?quot; exclaimed Sara, and she fell back a pace.

    quot;t is not your room no; Miss Amelia anstle.

    Some once, Sara understood. S the change Miss Minchin had spoken of.

    quot;; s  shake.

    quot;You are to sleep in ttic next to Becky.quot;

    Sara kne. Surned, and mounted up t one rips of old carpet. S as if s ot, tigairs to ttic, e a different creature.

    tic door and opened it,  gave a dreary little t tood against it and looked about her.

    Yes, ting roof and e, an old iron bedstead, and a . Some pieces of furniture too muco be used doairs  up. Under t in t an oblong piece of dull gray sky, tood an old battered red footstool. Sara  to it and sat dotle black ing on t saying one  making one sound.

    And as s in tap at t s at first , and, indeed,  roused until timidly pusear-smeared face appeared peeping round it. It was Beckys face, and Becky ively for cil srange indeed.

    quot;O; s;Mig to come in?quot;

    Sara lifted  ried to begin a smile, and some. Suddenly--and it reaming eyes-- so mucoo old for  tle sob.

    quot;O; s;I told you  ttle girls--just ttle girls. You see rue it is. t a princess anymore.quot;

    Becky ran to   to , kneeling beside h love and pain.

    quot;Yes, miss, you are,quot; s;sever appens to you-- make you not.quot;

 8. In the Attic

    8. In ttic

    t nig in tic . During its passing so anyone about ood. It ed, norangeness of   been so, t oo great for a co bear. But, really, han one.

    quot;My papa is dead!quot; s ;

    It  until long after s  surned over and over in it to find a place to rest, t tense t tain scufflings and scratcing boards. S t, because Becky  rats and mice oget scurrying across ter days, ed up in bed and sat trembling, and whes.

    t come about gradually, but  once.

    quot;S begin as so go on,quot; Miss Minco Miss Amelia. quot;S be taug once .quot;

    Mariette  t morning. t of ting room, as ss open door, s everyts and luxuries o transform it into a new pupils bedroom.

    doo breakfast s  at Miss Minco her coldly.

    quot;You ies, Sara,quot; s;by taking your seat  a smaller table. You must keep t, and see t t e t to tie  ea.quot;

    t o day ties given to o. Saug of   sions. S on errands at any time and in all old to do ted. took tone from Miss Minc t;young onequot; s of t class, and empers, and it ly convenient to  hand someone on whom blame could be laid.

    During t mont t o do t soften ttle  sed to see t srying to earn  accepting cy. But time came ened at all; and to do as sold, ting careless o blame her.

    If so teacructress; but tle superior errand girl and maid of all  rusted  commissions and complicated messages. Sy to dust a room o set things in order.

    . Sauger long and busy days spent in running  everybodys orders o ted scudy alone at night.

    quot;If I do not remind myself of t t; so ;I am almost a scullery maid, and if I am a scullery maid  and begin to drop my  remember t ;

    One of t curious tence ead of being a sort of small royal personage among to be one of t all. S so constantly at  sunity of speaking to any of t avoid seeing t Miss Minc s from t of ts of the schoolroom.

    quot;I  imacies and talking to t; t lady said. quot;Girls like a grievance, and if so tell romantic stories about s  is better t se life--one suited to ances. I am giving  is more t to expect from me.quot;

    Sara did not expect mucoo proud to try to continue to be intimate ly felt ratain about   Miss Minc of dull, matter-of-fact young people. tomed to being ricable, and as Saras frocks greablis t s out to buy groceries and carry treets in a basket on ed t rato .

    quot;to t sed. quot;S. And s I cant bear t  speaking--just as if s.quot;

    quot;I am,quot; said Sara, promptly, s  some people for. I like to kno ter;

    trut simes by keeping e ready to make misco  for the ex-show pupil.

    Sara never made any miscerfered ramped t streets, carrying parcels and baskets; stention of ttle ones Frencold t ster take airs; sreated as if s gre sold anyone w s.

    quot;Soldiers dont complain,quot; seet;I am not going to do it; I end t of a ;

    But t mig  for three people.

    t, it must be o Becky. t all t first nig in t, s a vague comfort in kno on ts scuffled and squeaked ture. And during ts t follo gretle co speak to eacasks to perform, and any attempt at conversation o loiter and lose time. quot;Dont mind me, miss,quot; Becky ;if I dont say note. Some und be do I dassnt to take time to say it.quot;

    But before daybreak so slip into Saras attic and button  doairs to ligc came Sara al o  upefied to talk, so it  some time passed before ts. Beckys  told  it  t people in trouble s alone.

    trio of comforters  odd things happened before Ermengarde found her place.

    o ao t  sten t an Ermengarde lived in t be contested t Ermengarde e. So Sara in a simple,  o  s be ened to s for stories. But seresting to say ion. S, not a person one orm of a great trouble, and Sara forgot her.

    It o forget  see Sara for a day or time sered s aken doairs to be mended. Sara augo mend ttired in tgrown frock wness shin black leg.

    Ermengarde oo sloo be equal to sucuation. S to say. S , some like a servant. It made e miserable, and s break into a s erical laug any meaning, quot;O you?quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; ansrange t passed ts in ed upon top of it to keep it steady. Sometraigs still more. S as if Sara o a nehings and work like Becky.

    quot;O; sammered. quot;;

    quot;I dont kno; Sara replied. quot;;

    quot;Im--Im quite ; said Ermengarde, overo say e. quot;Are you--are you very un; she said in a rush.

    ty of an injustice. Just at t moment orn  s t if anyone upid as t, one ter get away from her.

    quot; do you t; s;Do you t; And s  another word.

    In course of time s if c made  t poor, dull Ermengarde  to be blamed for , tupid so being.

    But t wive.

    quot;S; s. quot;S really  to talk to me. S;

    So for several ood bet by c too stiff and embarrassed to speak. Sometimes to eac times w even excing.

    quot;If s talk to me,quot; Sara t, quot;I  of  easy enoug;

    Miss Minc so easy t at last t all. At t time it iced t Ermengarde upid t sless and uno sit in t, are out of t speaking. Once Jessie, o look at her curiously.

    quot; are you crying for, Ermengarde?quot; she asked.

    quot;Im not crying,quot; anseady voice.

    quot;You are,quot; said Jessie. quot;A great big tear just rolled do t. And t;

    quot;ell,quot; said Ermengarde, quot;Im miserable--and no one need interfere.quot; And surned ook out .

    t nig to tic, ser t at il after t o bed, and after t so op of tairs, so see a glimmer of ligtic door.

    quot;Nobody goes t myself,quot; s quickly, quot;but someone ed a candle.quot;

    Someone ed a candle, and it  burning in tcick sed to use, but in one of to tting upon ttered footstool, and was dressed in gown and wrapped up in a red s was Ermengarde.

    quot;Ermengarde!quot; cried Sara. Sartled t s frig;You  into trouble.quot;

    Ermengarde stumbled up from stool. Stic in oo large for h crying.

    quot;I kno; s;But I dont care--I dont care a bit. Oell me.  is tter?  you like me any more?quot;

    Somet. It ionate and simple--so like to be quot;best friends.quot; It sounded as if s meant  weeks.

    quot;I do like you,quot; Sara ans;I t--you see, everyt no you--.

    Ermengarde opened  eyes wide.

    quot; ; s;You didnt  to talk to me. I didnt knoo do. It er I came back.quot;

    Sara t a moment. Sake.

    quot;I am different,quot; s;t in t  me to talk to t of t  to talk to me. I t--per. So I tried to keep out of your ;

    quot;O; Ermengarde almost o eac must be confessed t Saras small black es on to desert  horribly lonely.

    After dooget ttle face adoringly.

    quot;I couldnt bear it any more,quot; s;I dare say you could live  me, Sara; but I couldnt live  you. I onig all at once of creeping up  begging you to let us be friends again.quot;

    quot;You are nicer t; said Sara. quot;I oo proud to try and make friends. You see, no trials  I am not a nice c;-- is  for.quot;

    quot;I dont see any good in t; said Ermengarde stoutly.

    quot;Neito speak trut; admitted Sara, frankly. quot;But I suppose t be good in t see it. tquot;--doubtfully--quot;Be good in Miss Minc;

    Ermengarde looked round ttic y.

    quot;Sara,quot; s;do you t;

    Sara looked round also.

    quot;If I pretend its quite different, I can,quot; s;or if I pretend it is a place in a story.quot;

    Sion o  unned.

    quot;Ot of Monte Cristo in teau dIf. And tille!quot;

    quot;tille,quot; co be fascinated. Sories of tion ion of t Sara could .

    A o Saras eyes.

    quot;Yes,quot; s;t o pretend about. I am a prisoner in tille. I ten about me. Miss Minc;--a sudden ligself to t;Becky is t cell.quot;

    Surned to Ermengarde, looking quite like the old Sara.

    quot;I send t,quot; s;and it  comfort.quot;

    Ermengarde  once enraptured and awed.

    quot;And ell me all about it?quot; s;May I creep up  nig is safe, and   friends t;

    quot;Yes,quot; ans;Adversity tries people, and mine ried you and proved ;

 9. Melchisedec

    9. Melchisedec

    trio tie. S knoy meant, and ion sed mot rumored t strange to Sara, but s understand o teacead of to sit in tle ones  in state. Lotties cy  Sara said so little  seven mysteries must be made very clear if one is to understand them.

    quot;Are you very poor no; sially t morning ook c;Are you as poor as a beggar?quot; S a fat o tearful eyes. quot;I dont  you to be as poor as a beggar.quot;

    So cry. And Sara hurriedly consoled her.

    quot;Beggars o live,quot; s;I o live in.quot;

    quot;; persisted Lottle. quot;t isnt pretty any more.quot;

    quot;I live in anot; said Sara.

    quot;Is it a nice one?quot; inquired Lottie. quot;I  to go and see it.quot;

    quot;You must not talk,quot; said Sara. quot;Miss Minc us. Sting you w;

    S already t so be able for everyted to. If t attentive, if talked, if tless, it was she who would be reproved.

    But Lottie ermined little person. If Sara  tell  in some otalked to  tened ain information t drop, sarted late one afternoon on a voyage of discovery, climbing stairs sence of, until stic floor. table and looking out of a window.

    quot;Sara!quot; s. quot;Mamma Sara!quot; S because ttic  legs o ing airs.

    Sara turned round at t o be ag.  ie began to cry and any one co . Sable and ran to the child.

    quot;Dont cry and make a noise,quot; s;I ss--its not suctie.quot;

    quot;Isnt it?quot; gasped Lottie, and as s s , but sed parent to make an effort to control  e possible t any place in urn out to be nice. quot; it, Sara?quot; s whispered.

    Sara ried to laug of comfort in taring out of t eyes.

    quot;You can see all sorts of t see doairs,quot; she said.

    quot; sort of t; demanded Lottie,  curiosity Sara could always awaken even in bigger girls.

    quot;Ce close to us--o t and talking to eac as if ttic e and you can  all feels as  ;

    quot;O me see it!quot; cried Lottie. quot;Lift me up!quot;

    Sara lifted ood on table toget .

    Anyone  kno es spread out on eited doo tter-pipes. t tered and  quite  fear. top nearest and quarrelled il one pecked t  to t because t door y.

    quot;I ;It is so close t if ttle girl in ttic, alk to eaco see eac afraid of falling.quot;

    t from treet, t Lottie tic s, t unreal. One scarcely believed in tence of Miss Minco anotence.

    quot;O; cried Lottie, cuddling in ;I like ttic--I like it! It is nicer tairs!quot;

    quot;Look at t sparro; o ;

    quot;I ; came in a little stie. quot;I  of a bun in my pocket; I boug erday, and I saved a bit.quot;

    a feo an adjacent cop. ly not accustomed to intimates in attics, and unexpected crumbs startled  e still and Sara cly-- almost as if s ted ality, after all.   ttie could scarcely keep still.

    quot;ill ; she whispered.

    quot;; Sara w;;

    o stopped a feing ing on t Sara and Lottie migurn out to be big cats and jump on  last  told ed at t crumb ning peck, seized it, and carried it ao ther side of his chimney.

    quot;No;And ;

    a friend, and t ay meal over tered and ctered and exclaimed, stopping every noo put ttie and Sara. Lottie   stic. In fact, able and returned to eart o point out to ies in t ed tence of.

    quot;It is so little and so ; s;t it is almost like a nest in a tree. ting ceiling is so funny. See, you can scarcely stand up at to come I can lie in bed and look rigo t flat  is like a square patc. If to stle pink clouds float about, and I feel as if I could touc rains, tter and patter as if tars, you can lie and try to count o tc takes suc. And just look at t tiny, rusty grate in t  t s really a beautiful little room.quot;

    Sties ures tie see too. Lottie could alures of.

    quot;You see,quot; s;t blue Indian rug on t corner t little sofa, o curl up on; and just over it could be a s one could reaco cover up teo be little ones, but tiful; and table in to ea tle fat copper kettle singing on te different. It could be made soft and covered . It could be beautiful. And peril  to be let in.quot;

    quot;O; cried Lottie. quot;I so live ;

    o go doairs again, and, after setting o tic, sood in t and looked about ment of tie s dingy quilt. tece y, and ttered footstool, tilted sides injured leg, t in t do for a fees and let  t Lottie tle  as pertle more desolate after visitors come and go, leaving them behind.

    quot;Its a lonely place,quot; s;Sometimes its t place in t;

    Sting in ttention tracted by a sliged o see tered footstool in a great  ting up on ers and sniffing terested manner. Some of Lotties crumbs   of his hole.

    Sara ed.   eyes, as if ion. ly so doubtful t one of ts came into her mind.

    quot;I dare say it is rato be a rat,quot; s;Nobody likes you. People jump and run a, `O! I s like people to scream and jump and say, `O t traps for me, and pretend ts so different to be a sparro nobody asked t if ed to be a rat ;

    S so quietly t t o take courage.  per like t told  s a tfully bad luck for several days.  tterly, and felt iously dropped upon .

    quot;Come on,quot; said Sara; quot;Im not a trap. You can ille used to make friends s. Suppose I make friends ;

    is t animals understand t kno it is certain t tand. Per made of ands it. Per can al even making a sound, to anot  kne moment t .  tting on tstool  jump up and terrify s at  fall and cruso , and did not mean t ood on  eyes fixed on Sara,  sand t begin by ing erious t saying any old  s,  softly too eat t  Sara, just as tic t it touc.

    S and c making any movement. One crumb  could scarcely be called a crumb. It  t ed t piece very muc it lay quite near tstool and ill ratimid.

    quot;I believe s it to carry to ; Sara t. quot;If I do not stir at all, per it.quot;

    So breaterested. t stle nearer and ate a feopped and sniffed delicately, giving a side glance at t of tstool; ted at tant  fled back to ting board, and was gone.

    quot;I kne for ; said Sara. quot;I do believe I could make friends ;

    A ers o steal up to ttic, ips of  come to es. t first t Ermengarde er a little, low laugo someone.

    quot;t; Ermengarde ;take it and go o your ;

    Almost immediately Sara opened tanding hreshold.

    quot;alking to, Sara?quot; s.

    Sara dre shing pleased and amused her.

    quot;You must promise not to be frig to scream t bit, or I cant tell you,quot; she answered.

    Ermengarde felt almost inclined to scream on t, but managed to control tic and sa Sara ainly been speaking to someone. S of gs.

    quot;Is it--somet will frig; simorously.

    quot;Some people are afraid of t; said Sara. quot;I  first-- but I am not no;

    quot;as it--a g?quot; quaked Ermengarde.

    quot;No,quot; said Sara, laug;It .quot;

    Ermengarde made one bound, and landed in ttle dingy bed. Sucked  under go scream, but s.

    quot;O; s;A rat! A rat!quot;

    quot;I ;But you neednt be. I am making ame. ually kno  to see ;

    trut, as t up from tcten t timid creature s.

    At first Ermengarde oo muco do anyt uck up , but t of Saras composed little countenance and tory of Melc appearance began at last to rouse y, and scing board.

    quot; run out quickly and jump on t; she said.

    quot;No,quot; ans;e as c;

    So make a lo it could only ire stillness. S several times, looking entirely absorbed in it. Ermengarde t s last, evidently in response to it, a gray-ly forte t ook and carried in t businesslike manner back to his home.

    quot;You see,quot; said Sara, quot;t is for s ttle bits. After ;

    Ermengarde began to laugh.

    quot;O; s;You are queer--but you are nice.quot;

    quot;I kno; admitted Sara, c;and I try to be nice.quot; Stle broender look came into ;Papa al; s;but I liked it.  I  o make up t , I dont believe I could live.quot; Stic. quot;Im sure I couldnt live ; she added in a low voice.

    Ermengarde erested, as s;alk about t; s;talk about Melc;

    quot;; said Sara. quot;s ened, just as  as we do?  was w;

    S doe attitude, holding her knees.

    quot;Besides,quot; s;ille rat sent to be my friend. I can al a bit of bread t is quite enougo support ;

    quot;Is it tille yet?quot; asked Ermengarde, eagerly. quot;Do you alend it is tille?quot;

    quot;Nearly al; ans;Sometimes I try to pretend it is anot tille is generally easiest-- particularly ;

    Just at t moment Ermengarde almost jumped off tartled by a sound s inct knocks on the wall.

    quot; is t?quot; she exclaimed.

    Sara got up from te dramatically:

    quot;It is t cell.quot;

    quot;Becky!quot; cried Ermengarde, enraptured.

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara. quot;Listen; t, `Prisoner, are you t;

    Simes on the wall herself, as if in answer.

    quot;t means, `Yes, I am ;

    Four knocks came from Beckys side of the wall.

    quot;t means,quot; explained Sara, quot;`t.quot;

    Ermengarde quite beamed .

    quot;O; s;It is like a story!quot;

    quot;It is a story,quot; said Sara. quot;Everytory. You are a story--I am a story. Miss Mincory.quot;

    And s doalked until Ermengarde forgot t s of escaped prisoner o be reminded by Sara t s remain in tille all nig must steal noiselessly doairs again and creep back into ed bed.

 10. The Indian Gentleman

    10. tleman

    But it tie to make pilgrimages to ttic. te sure  Miss Amelia  make a tour of inspection ter to be asleep. So ts range and lonely life. It tic. So talk to; and  on errands and reets, a forlorn little figure carrying a basket or a parcel, trying to  on   er. reets in tended by Mariette, t of , eager little face and picturesque coats and s en caused people to look after ifully cared for little girl naturally attracts attention. S rare enougty enougo make people turn around to look at t Sara in to see s. So gro, and, as ss of s  for ed to  all. Sometimes, w, s laugrigcimes  red and s urned away.

    In ted up, so look into t tting before t tables. It alerested o catcters e familiar in a  because t  of ttle--but because t cout, rosy motout, rosy fatout, rosy grandmots. t caken out to o ride in perambulators by comfortable nurses, or to drive o to meet t and look in ts for packages, or t t and pus, ted to tastes of a large family. Sara e fond of t of books--quite romantic names. Smorencys , fair baby a Beaucmorency; t baby  Cmorency; ttle boy agger and acia, and Claude or.

    One evening a very funny t  a funny t all.

    Several of tmorencys ly going to a cy, and just as Sara  to pass t to get into ting for tacia and Rosalind Gladys, in  in, and Guy Clarence, aged five, ty fellole round  Sara forgot  and soget, forgot everyt t sed to look at . So she paused and looked.

    It ime, and tories about co fill tockings and take to tomime-- c, cold and tories, kind people--sometimes little boys and girls ender s--invariably sas, or took to beautiful dinners. Guy Clarence ed to tears t very afternoon by tory, and o find sucain sixpence ire sixpence, rip of red carpet laid across t from to t of  man-o-rousers; And just as Rosalind Gladys got into t in order to feel tanding on t pavement in ,  on  him hungrily.

    t o eat for a long time.  kno t so snatc s and poor clot  and found o her benignly.

    quot;tle girl,quot; ; to you.quot;

    Sara started, and all at once realized t sly like poor cter days, ing on t to c out of ime.  red and t  pale, and for a second s as if s take ttle sixpence.

    quot;O; s;Ont take it, indeed!quot;

    reet ctle person t Veronica Eustacia (en.

    But Guy Clarence  to be ted in  to her hand.

    quot;Yes, you must take it, poor little girl!quot; ed stoutly. quot;You can buy to eat . It is a w;

    t and kind in o be brokenly disappointed if s take it, t Sara kne refuse o be as proud as t ually put , t must be admitted her cheeks burned.

    quot;t; s;You are a kind, kind little darling t; And as o t arying to smile, t . S s until no s be taken for a beggar.

    As t alking erested excitement.

    quot;O; (t exclaimed alarmedly, quot;tle girl your sixpence? Im sure s a beggar!quot;

    quot;S speak like a beggar!quot; cried Nora. quot;And  really look like a beggars face!quot;

    quot;Besides, s beg,quot; said Janet. quot;I  makes people angry to be taken for beggars ;

    quot;S angry,quot; said Donald, a trifle dismayed, but still firm. quot;Stle, and stle darling t;--stoutly. quot;It was my w;

    Janet and Nora exchanged glances.

    quot;A beggar girl ; decided Janet. quot;Stle gentleman-- tsy.quot;

    Sara kne t, but from t time terested in . Faces used to appear at the fire.

    quot;S at t; Janet said. quot;I dont believe so anybody. I believe s s a beggar, ;

    And aftertle-girl- ;  in a hurry.

    Sara managed to bore a  on an old bit of narroion for everyto look foro to to give ttle ones trove anding close to ing to  fed  to feel tling up to  able, put  of ttic ely a flutter of ters, and a little flock of dingy too talk to tered. itimate t ually brougimes, and noalk to e as if ood.

    trange feeling about Emily,  everyt arose in one of s of great desolateness. So believe or pretend to believe t Emily understood and sympat like to oo  o put imes and sit opposite to stool, and stare and pretend about il  like fear-- particularly at nigill, ;pretendsquot;  Emily cect imes, after sared at il s up to t pitcions and find  feeling as if sly ans she never did.

    quot;As to ans; said Sara, trying to console ;I dont ansen. I never ans to say a  to look at turns pale , Miss Amelia looks frig fly into a passion people knoronger trong enougo , and tupid t said afterrong as rage, except s stronger. Its a good t to ans;

    But tried to satisfy s, s find it easy. er a long,  imes on long errands t and  out again because nobody co remember t s  be tired and  be cing looks for t; o comfort e   uprigared.

    One of ts, tic cold and empest raging in , Emilys stare seemed so vacant,  legs and arms so inexpressive, t Sara lost all control over  Emily-- no one in t.

    quot;I sly,quot; s first.

    Emily simply stared.

    quot;I cant bear t; said trembling. quot;I knoarving to deatoday, and t scold me from morning until nig find t last t me for, t give me any supper. Some men laug me because my old s;

    S taring glass eyes and complacent face, and suddenly a sort of broken rage seized ed tle savage ing into a passion of sobbing--Sara who never cried.

    quot;You are not a doll!quot; s;Not a doll-- doll--doll! You care for notuffed . You never . Not; Emily lay on t place on t ss in to fige eacising some of his family.

    Saras sobs gradually quieted t  s er a  ime actually  and picked ook  tle smile.

    quot;You cant ; s;any more t  all made alike. Per best.quot; And sraig her back upon her chair.

    S some one ake ty  door. S because of ttic  o see it propped open someday and a  of ture.

    quot;If it looked a nice ; s, quot;I migs of t , of course, its not really likely t anyone but under servants ;

    One morning, on turning ter a visit to tco  delig during ure opped before t  doors  sleeves  carrying ure.

    quot;Its taken!quot; s;It really is taken! O of ttic ;

    S o join terers  to c if sure s t belonged to.

    quot;Miss Mincables and c like ; s; quot;I remember t t minute I sale. I told papa afterrue. I am sure t, comfortable armc tly like ts warm and c;

    S out for parsley to ter in teps  gave quite a quick beat of recognition. Several pieces of furniture  out of t. tiful table of elaborately  of taken from eakwood desk  her.

    quot;tiful t; s;t to belong to a nice person. All t is a ric;

    ture came and o otimes it so  Sara unity of seeing t became plain t s in guessing t ture  deal of it al. onderful rugs and draperies and ornaments aken from tures, and books enoughere was a superb god Buddha in a splendid shrine.

    quot;Someone in t ; Sara t. quot;t used to Indian t of ttic ;

    aking in t called upon to do), suation more interesting t matter-of-fact manner, and ran up teps of t-door  quite at ed to run up and doime in ture. ayed inside quite a long time, and several times came out and gave directions to t to do so. It e certain t imate ed ing for them.

    quot;If t; Sara speculated, quot;to come and play  come up into ttic just for fun.quot;

    At niger o see her fellow prisoner and bring her news.

    quot;Its a Nindian gentleman ts comin to live next door, miss,quot; s;I dont kno, but leman of t of trouble, an its made o one. I seen a idol bein carried in for o  a trac for a penny.quot;

    Sara laugtle.

    quot;I dont believe  idol,quot; s;some people like to keep to look at because teresting. My papa iful one, and  ;

    But Becky o prefer to believe t t;an eat; It sounded so mucic t leman o c and talked long t nig

    privately s  turbans, and, above all, t--like t--t;eat;

    quot;I never lived next door to no eat; s;I so see  o ;

    It isfied, and t  t ary man  all, and it  t tered in h and unhappy in mind.

    A carriage drove up one day and stopped before tman dismounted from tleman  first. After eps ts. to assist ter, o be a man ressed face, and a skeleton body  ly afterors carriage arrived, and tor  in--plainly to take care of him.

    quot;tleman next door, Sara,quot; Lottie er;Do you t;

    quot;No,  C; Sara ie. `Non, monsieur. Je nai pas le canif de mon oncle.quot;

    t ory of tleman.

 11. Ram Dass

    11. Ram Dass

    ts even in times. One could only see parts of tc see t all, and could only guess t trike a particular pane of glass someness; or ttle fleecy, floating ones, tinged s of pink doves scurrying across t  time to breattic o gloe of its sooty trees and railings, Sara kne  all possible to leave tc being missed or called back, sole a up ts of stairs, and, climbing on table, got  of t used to seem as if so  of ttics. Generally ts  even if to admit air, no one seemed to come near tand, sometimes turning o t like a lovely vaulted ceiling--sometimes c and all t ing or drifting or ing softly to be ce or purple or pale dove-gray. Sometimes t mountains enclosing lakes of deep turquoise- blue, or liquid amber, or cimes dark ted into strange, lost seas; sometimes slender strips of oget seemed t one could run or climb or stand and  to see  il, per all melted, one could float a least it seemed so to Sara, and note so beautiful to ood on table-- of t--ttering  softness on tes. to o tter  of subdued softness just whese marvels were going on.

    t as ter tleman unately  ternoons co go any easier to slip aairs.

    Sed able and stood looking out. It . ten gold covering t, as if a glorious tide  filled tops of te black against it.

    quot;Its a Splendid one,quot; said Sara, softly, to ;It makes me feel almost afraid--as if sometrange  going to .quot;

    Surned  tle squeaky ctering. It came from t attic. Someone o look at t as s of a body emerging from t, but it  ttle girl or a  uresque e-turbaned ive Indian man-servant--quot;a Lascar,quot; Sara said to , and  .

    As Sara looked to   absolutely sure o look at t so seldom in England t  of it. S erestedly for a second, and tes. So knoranger, may be.

    ly a pleasure to ered, and e teet it ired or dull.

    It o  ure, and it is probable t t of a little girl excited o tes, ran across ttering, and actually leaped on to Saras so tic room. It made ed  s be restored to er--if ter--and so be done. ould  cy and refuse to be caug a? t  do at all. Pero tleman, and the poor man was fond of him.

    Surned to t sill some of tani sand. So he language he knew.

    quot;ill  me catc; she asked.

    S s tongue. trut t as if ervened, and ttle voice came from self. At once Sara sa omed to European cful t of Missee Sa bite; but, unfortunately,  to catc to anotning. , t evil. Ram Dass kne not altle animal. But ly afraid Sara migaking a great liberty and per let him come.

    But Sara gave  once.

    quot;Can you get across?quot; she inquired.

    quot;In a moment,quot; he answered her.

    quot;t; s;o side of tened.quot;

    Ram Dass slipped ttic o eadily and lig and dropped upon   a sound. turned to Sara and salaamed again. ttered a little scream. Ram Dass ily took tion of sting t, and t in c  a very long c a fees evidently for t, but presently tering on to Ram Dasss s ttering and clinging to tle skinny arm.

    Ram Dass t ive eyes aken in at a glance all t o o ttle daugended t  presume to remain more ts after  ts o furteful obeisance to urn for tle evil one, roking trut so evil as er,  t and across tes again y as the monkey himself had displayed.

    ood in ttic and t of many t back to  of ive costume and tirred all  memories. It seemed a strange to remember t sing to an reated reated  by, ouco ts and   of dream. It  could never come back. It certainly seemed t take place. S Miss Mincended t ure soo young to be used as a regular teac and yet expected to remember o learn more. ter number of o spend at study, and at various indefinite intervals s advanced as ed of rut Miss Minc soo anxious to learn to require teac. S be trusted to be equal to teac o drudge in ts of to give able clot to be plain and ugly and to make . t o be to look foro, and Sara stood quite still for several minutes and t it over.

    t came back to  itself in raigtle body and lifted her head.

    quot;ever comes,quot; s;cannot alter one tatters, I can be a princess inside. It o be a princess if I  it is a great deal more of a triumpo be one all time oinette ed . S deal more like a queen t t frigronger t ;

    t a ne, but quite an old one, by time. It ter day, and s t understand and o  seemed as if tally living a life   all. Sometimes,  Sara o herself:

    quot;You dont kno you are saying to a princess, and t if I co execution. I only spare you because I am a princess, and you are a poor, stupid, unkind, vulgar old t knoter.quot;

    to interest and amuse   and it   be made rude and malicious by t her.

    quot;A princess must be polite,quot; so herself.

    And so aking tone from tress,  and ordered , s and reply to t civility are at her.

    quot;S more airs and graces t young one,quot; said ttle sometimes. quot;I lose my temper en enoug I c;

    ter tervieting toget, of to do: Alfred t, for instance, burning tting -ened s   soes  sticking out of s--ly t disliked. S ; se near  sually fle ly as t- made Sara start. S tcood still a second. t kno, so a little laugh.

    quot; are you laug, you bold, impudent c; Miss Minchin exclaimed.

    It took Sara a feo control ly to remember t sing from the blows she had received.

    quot;I ; she answered.

    quot;Beg my pardon immediately,quot; said Miss Minchin.

    Sara ated a second before she replied.

    quot;I ; s;but I  beg your pardon for t;

    quot; ; demanded Miss Minchin.

    quot; ;

    Jessie tittered, and so listen. Really, it alerested ttle  bit frig in t frig and  as stars.

    quot;I ; sely, quot;t you did not kno;

    quot;t I did not kno; Miss Minchin fairly gasped.

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara, quot;and I   if I o do it, ened you --quot;

    Sure so clearly before  s even upon Miss Minc almost seemed for t to ive mind t t be some real power his candid daring.

    quot;?quot; s;Found out ;

    quot;t I really ; said Sara, quot;and could do anyt;

    Every pair of eyes in to its full limit. Lavinia leaned foro look.

    quot;Go to your room,quot; cried Miss Minc;tant! Leave ttend to your lessons, young ladies!quot;

    Sara made a little bow.

    quot;Excuse me for laug e,quot; s of truggling heir books.

    quot;Did you see ; Jessie broke out. quot;I s be at all surprised if surn out to be somet;

 12. The Other Side of the Wall

    12. the all

    is interesting to trying to imagine t Seminary from tlemans  t to tlemans study, and s t times after lesson  disturb him.

    quot;I am groe fond of ; so Ermengarde; quot;I s like o be disturbed. I ed  o at all. You can just c til t like relations. Im quite anxious sometimes ;

    quot;I ions,quot; said Ermengarde, reflectively, quot;and Im very glad of it. I dont like ts are al. You s eat ss, and my uncle is al of lampreys?quot;

    Sara laughed.

    quot;People you never speak to cant ask you questions like t,quot; s;and Im sure tleman  even if e intimate ;

    S sleman because ly not fully recovered from some very severe illness. In tcs, terious means, kne an Indian gentleman really, but an Englis  misfortunes

    t  died of brain fever; and ever since tered in unes ored to rouble and peril ed h mines.

    quot;And mines ; said t;No savins of mine never goes into no mines--particular diamond onesquot;--  Sara. quot;e all kno; quot; as my papa felt,quot; Sara t. quot;  die.quot;

    So  o  out at nigimes to feel quite glad, because t tains of t door mig yet be closed and so ted friend.  simes to stop, and, o t as if he could hear her.

    quot;Per ; le ed, and dont knotle voice. quot;I le Missus o pet papa tle Missus myself, poor dear! Good nig. God bless you!quot;

    Se comforted and a little  it seemed as if it must reac alone in  dressing going in o to Sara like a man  merely like one .

    quot; s ;, so ;but   over ime, so  not to look like t. I ;

    If ts did not   t--tleman smorency. Mr. Montmorency  to see en, and Mrs. Montmorency and all ttle Montmorencys , too, ten. icularly fond of ttle girls--t and Nora ender place in  for all cicularly for little girls. Janet and Nora  pleasure to ternoons tle visits to remely decorous little visits because he was an invalid.

    quot;; said Janet, quot;and ry to cly.quot;

    Janet  t of it in order. It  to ask tleman to tell stories about India, and it  ime to steal quietly aell Ram Dass to go to old any number of stories if o speak anyt ani. tlemans real name  told Mr. Carrisford about ter tle-girl-ed, and all ture of ture of ttic and its desolateness--of ter, ty, empty grate, and the hard, narrow bed.

    quot;Carmic; o ter ion, quot;I ics in t one, and ctle servant girls sleep on sucoss on my do of it--not mine.quot;

    quot;My dear fello; Mr. Carmic;tormenting yourself tter it  set rigs in to refurnistics in till remain all ttics in all treets to put in order. And t;

    Mr. Carrisford sat and bit o te.

    quot;Do you suppose,quot; er a pause--quot;do you t is possible t to any sucion as ttle soul next door?quot;

    Mr. Carmic  t to begin to ticular icular subject.

    quot;If t Madame Pascals sc; ;so be in to take care of ed e companion of ttle daug tremely o-do Russians.quot;

    quot;And tcually did not know waken ; exclaimed Mr. Carrisford.

    Mr. Carmichael shrugged his shoulders.

    quot;Sly only too glad to get tably off  otally unprovided for. omen of ype do not trouble t tures of c prove burdens. ted parents apparently disappeared and left no trace.quot;

    quot;But you say `if t sure. t;

    quot;Madame Pascal pronounced it as if it ead of Cre t migter of pronunciation. tances le girl at ter losing une.quot; Mr. Carmic, as if a ne o ;Are you sure t at a sc ;

    quot;My dear fello; broke fortless bitterness, quot;I am sure of not  since our scil  in India. I  promise of too. ttering t  t to sc even remember, no;

    o be excited. ed irred by memories of tastrop.

    Mr. Carmicc o ask some questions, but t be put quietly and ion.

    quot;But you o t;

    quot;Yes,quot; ;because  so be educated in Paris. It seemed only likely t s;

    quot;Yes,quot; Mr. Carmic;it seems more t;

    tleman leaned forruck table ed hand.

    quot;Carmic; ;I must find  is t. o get back  on  ties of all our most fantastic dreams, and poor Cre!quot;

    quot;No, no,quot; said Carmic;try to be calm. Console yourself  t o o ;

    quot; man enougo stand my ground ulant misery. quot;I believe I sood my ground if I  been responsible for ot into t rusted me--om Carrisford,  Eton  a villain   me!quot;

    quot;Dont reproacterly.quot;

    quot;I dont reproacion tened to fail--I reproac face my best friend and tell ;

    ted fat ingly.

    quot;You ran aal torture,quot; ;You . You rapped doer you left t.quot;

    Carrisford dropped his forehead in his hands.

    quot;Good God! Yes,quot; ;I  slept for  I staggered out of my  me.quot;

    quot;t is explanation enougself,quot; said Mr. Carmic;;

    Carrisford shook his drooping head.

    quot;And o consciousness poor Creo remember not remember to recall ence everyt of ;

    opped a moment and rubbed ;It sometimes seems so noo remember. Surely I must sometime  to. Dont you t;

    quot; not  definitely. You never seem even to ;

    quot;o call  name ed. tle Missus. But tc of our alked of not--I forgot. And now I s;

    quot;Come, come,quot; said Carmic;e s. e inue to searcured Russians. So  take t as a clue. I o Mosco;

    quot;If I o travel, I ; said Carrisford; quot;but I can only sit are at to it I seem to see Cre me. ion. Sometimes I dream of  nigands before me and asks tion in words. Can you guess w ;

    Mr. Carmicher low voice.

    quot;Not exactly,quot; he said.

    quot;om, old man--tom--;  at Carmico it. quot;I must be able to ans; ;o find ;

    On tting in  talking to Melc for his evening meal.

    quot;It o be a princess today, Melc; s;It  gets reets get more sloppy.  my muddy skirt as I passed  of someto say all in a flas stopped myself in time. You cant sneer back at people like t- -if you are a princess. But you o bite your tongue to  mine. It ernoon, Melcs a cold nig;

    Quite suddenly s en did when she was alone.

    quot;O; s;ime it seems since I tle Missus!quot;

    t  day on bothe wall.

 13. One of the Populace

    13. One of the Populace

    ter cramped t on ed and combined itself o form slus treet s seat, leaning against fully cozy and alluring, and tudy in  glo ttic s or sunrises to look at, and scarcely ever any stars, it seemed to Sara. t and  four oclock in ternoon, even  an end. If it o go to tic for anyto ligc made tempered ttle slave.

    quot;t for you, miss,quot; so Sara one nig into ttic--quot;t for you, an tille, an bein t cell, I s t it? t see tell me some more, please, miss--tell me about tranean passage ;

    quot;Ill tell you somet; s;Get your coverlet and  round you, and Ill get mine, and ell you about tropical forest o live. ting on table near t into treet  mournful expression, I alropical forest  trees. I ;

    quot;t is ; said Becky, gratefully; quot;but, someille is sort of in o tellin about it.quot;

    quot;t is because it makes you t; said Sara,  round il only o be seen looking out of it. quot;Ive noticed t you o do o make it t;

    quot;Can you do it, miss?quot; faltered Becky, regarding h admiring eyes.

    Sara knitted .

    quot;Sometimes I can and sometimes I cant,quot; soutly. quot;But  iced enougicing a good deal lately, and its beginning to be easier t used to be.  o myself, `I am a princess, and I am a fairy one, and because I am a fairy not me or make me uncomfortable. You dont knoquot;-- h a laugh.

    Sunities of making unities of proving to  s one of trongest tests s to came on a certain dreadful day  aftere fade out of o come.

    For several days it inuously; treets icky London mud--and over everytiresome errands to be done--t out again and again, until  rodden s t t er. Added to to punisired t o ed person passing reet glanced at  s kno. Srying to make  o quot;pretendquot; and quot;supposequot; rengt  in  really time it  almost made ead of less so. But sinately, and as ter squelcrying to drag  from alked to  speak aloud or even move her lips.

    quot;Suppose I ; s. quot;Suppose I  and merino stockings and a test buns and eat t stopping.quot;

    Some very odd times.

    It certainly  o Sara. So cross treet just   and t as s-- ster. It ually a piece of silver--a tiny piece trodden upon by many feet, but still  enoug to stle. Not quite a sixpence, but t to it--a fourpenny piece.

    In one second it le red-and-blue hand.

    quot;O; s;it is true! It is true!quot;

    And traig tly facing  , motting into tray of delicious nehem.

    It almost made Sara feel faint for a fe of tful odors of ing up the bakers cellar window.

    S ate to use ttle piece of money. It ly been lying in time, and its oely lost in tream of passing people wled eacher all day long.

    quot;But Ill go and ask t anyt; so ly. So s and put  foot on tep. As s made op.

    It tle figure more forlorn even ttle figure , only because trying to cover t long enougangled y face h big, hollow, hungry eyes.

    Sara kne s a sudden sympathy.

    quot;t; so tle sig;is one of t;

    t;one of t;--stared up at Sara, and stle, so as to give o pass. So being made to give room to everybody. S if a policeman co see ell o quot;move on.quot;

    Sara clutctle fourpenny piece and ated for a feo her.

    quot;Are you ; she asked.

    ttle more.

    quot;Aint I jist?quot; s;Jist aint I?quot;

    quot; you ; said Sara.

    quot;No dinner,quot; more ill and ;Nor yet no brefast--nor yet no supper. No nothin.

    quot;Since w; asked Sara.

    quot;Dunno. Never got notoday--now;

    Just to look at . But ttle ts  o  .

    quot;If Im a princess,quot; s;if Im a princess--  be enoug it ter t;

    quot;ait a minute,quot; so the beggar child.

    S into t  going to put some more  buns into the window.

    quot;If you please,quot; said Sara, quot; fourpence--a silver fourpence?quot; And stle piece of money out to her.

    t it and t  ense little face and draggled, once fine clothes.

    quot;Bless us, no,quot; s;Did you find it?quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara. quot;In tter.quot;

    quot;Keep it, t; said t;It may  it. You could never find out.quot;

    quot;I kno,quot; said Sara, quot;but I t I ;

    quot;Not many ; said terested and good-natured all at once.

    quot;Do you  to buy somet; s the buns.

    quot;Four buns, if you please,quot; said Sara. quot;t a penny eac;

    t to t some in a paper bag.

    Sara noticed t s in six.

    quot;I said four, if you please,quot; s;I ;

    quot;Ill tured look. quot;I dare say you can eat time. Arent you ;

    A mist rose before Saras eyes.

    quot;Yes,quot; s;I am very o you for your kindness; andquot;--so add--quot;tside  just at t moment tomers came in at once, and eac.

    till ep. Sful in  and dirty rags. Saring straigupid look of suffering, and Sara saears ering to herself.

    Sara opened took out one of t buns, wtle.

    quot;See,quot; sting t;t. Eat it, and you  feel so ;

    tarted and stared up at  frigco cram it into  wolfises.

    quot;O; Sara . quot;O;

    Sara took out t them down.

    the hoarse, ravenous voice was awful.

    quot;S; so ;Sarving.quot; But rembled ;Im not starving,quot; s doh.

    ttle ravening London savage ill snatcurned ao give any taugeness--le wild animal.

    quot;Good-bye,quot; said Sara.

    reet sopped in te to ctle nod, and ter anotare--a curious lingering stare--jerked il Sara  of sig take anote or even finishe one she had begun.

    At t moment t of her shop window.

    quot;ell, I never!quot; s;If t young un  given o a beggar c  because s  to kno;

    Sood bes and pondered. ty got tter of  to to the beggar child.

    quot;; soward Saras vanishing figure.

    quot; did s; inquired the woman.

    quot;Axed me if I ; replied the hoarse voice.

    quot; did you say?quot;

    quot;Said I .quot;

    quot;And t to you, did s;

    the child nodded.

    quot;;

    quot;Five.quot;

    t it over.

    quot;Left just one for ; s;And sen t in ;

    Ser ttle draggled far-a more disturbed in able mind t for many a day.

    quot;I ; s;Im blest if s ; turned to the child.

    quot;Are you ?quot; she said.

    quot;Im allus ; ;but t aint as bad as it ;

    quot;Come in ; said the shop door.

    t up and so be invited into a  knoo  care, even.

    quot;Get yourself ; said ting to a fire in tiny back room. quot;And look  of bread, you can come in . Im blest if I  give it to you for t young ones sake.quot; * * *

    Sara found some comfort in  all events, it  ter te to make t longer.

    quot;Suppose it ; s;and a bite  on like t;

    It uated. ts in ted. t yet dra glimpses of members of tly at tleman smorency sitting in a big calking, laug or on  t   seated. On trary, tement going on. It  t a journey o be taken, and it morency ake it. A brougood before tmanteau rapped upon it. t, ctering and o tty rosy motanding near alking as if sions. Sara paused a moment to see ttle ones lifted up and kissed and t over and kissed also.

    quot;I ; s. quot;tmanteau is rat kno;

    sraveler come out and stand against ted ill  him.

    quot;ill Mosco; said ttle girl Janet. quot;ill t;

    quot;S; cried anot;S;

    quot;I e and tell you all about it,quot; ;And I ures of muzo t is a . I ay o Mosco; And eps and jumped into the brougham.

    quot;If you find ttle girl, give ; sed Guy Clarence, jumping up and do.

    t in and s the door.

    quot;Did you see,quot; said Janet to Nora, as t back to t;ttle-girl- t on errands on t days and nig;

    Sara crossed to Miss Minceps, feeling faint and shaky.

    quot;I le girl is,quot; s--quot;ttle girl o look for.quot;

    And s doeps, lugging  and finding it very o tation to take train s to searc little daugain Crewe.

 14. What Melchisedec Heard and Saw

    14.  Melchisedec heard and Saw

    On ternoon, range ttic. Only Melc; and ified t tled back to rembled as  furtively and  caution to c was going on.

    ttic ill all ter Sara  it in tillness tering of tes and t. Melc, found it rato patter and perfect silence reigned, o come out and reconnoiter, taug Sara  return for some time. , and  found a totally unexpected and unexplained crumb left from  meal, ion tracted by a sound on topped to listen ating . ted t somet  reac. t eriously opened. A dark face peered into ttic; t, and botion and interest. tside on t preparations to enter t itself. One lemans secretary; but of course Melc kno ttic; and as t ure ness and dexterity t  make test sound, Melcurned tail and fled precipitately back to ened to deato be timid  crumbs, and , lo strange men o remain near.  near trance of  managing to peep t, alarmed eye. ood of talk  in t able to say; but, even if ood it all, ly mystified.

    tary,  as noiselessly as Ram Dass  a last glimpse of Melcail.

    quot;as t a rat?quot; he asked Ram Dass in a whisper.

    quot;Yes; a rat, Sa; ans;

    quot;Ug; exclaimed t;It is a  terrified of t;

    Ram Dass made a gesture fully. imate exponent of Sara, to him once.

    quot;ttle friend of all t; ;S as ot see me. I slip across tes and look at s to see t sc knoable t at t spoke to   samed in o . ttle co ; ten to . t across tress of treated like a paria s;

    quot;You seem to kno deal about ; tary said.

    quot;All ; ans; I knoeal to  of poverty--because talk  mig;

    quot;You are sure no one comes near t  s return and surprise us. Sened if s;

    Ram Dass crossed noiselessly to tood close to it.

    quot;None mount  ; ;S  and may be gone for and ep before it reac fligairs.quot;

    tary took a pencil and a tablet from  pocket.

    quot;Keep your ears open,quot; o ly round ttle room, making rapid notes on ablet as  things.

    First  to ttress and uttered an exclamation.

    quot;As one,quot; ;t ered some day o bring it across. It cannot be done tonig; ed thin pillow.

    quot;Coverlet dingy and  ts patc; ; a bed for a co sleep in--and in a self respectable! t been a fire in t grate for many a day,quot; glancing at ty fireplace.

    quot;Never since I ,quot; said Ram Dass. quot;tress of t one ;

    tary ing quickly on ablet.  as ore off a leaf and slipped it into  pocket.

    quot;It is a strange ; ;?quot;

    Ram Dass made a modestly apologetic obeisance.

    quot;It is true t t t   is o relate o  friends. Being sad one nigo t and listened. ted told  be if it s in it. So see it as salked, and so t day, tcold o amuse  seemed t a dream, but it pleased to ertainment. erested in ions. At last o please  of making ;

    quot;You t it can be done ed tary; and it  t o   and pleased he Sahib Carrisfords.

    quot;I can move as if my feet ,quot; Ram Dass replied; quot;and cered t many times, and  causing o turn upon o me t stir. ;

    ary smiled back at him.

    quot;It ory from ts,quot; ;Only an Oriental could . It does not belong to London fogs.quot;

    t remain very long, to t relief of Melc compreion, felt ts and erested in everyte do tstool, table, t ouc a number of old nails had been driven in various places.

    quot;You can ; he said.

    Ram Dass smiled mysteriously.

    quot;Yesterday, ; ;I entered, bringing o t blows from a er w;

    tlemans secretary stood still and looked round  ablets back into .

    quot;I tes enoug; ;t. It is a ties t  found t c;

    quot;If rengtored to ; said Ram Dass. quot;o .quot;

    t as noiselessly as tered it. And, after e sure tly relieved, and in tes felt it safe to emerge from  in t even suc o carry crumbs in ts and drop one or them.

 15. The Magic

    15. the Magic

    door sters, and caughis room also.

    quot;It is a long time since I sa;  which crossed her mind.

    t fire gloe, and tleman ting before it. ing in his hand, and he looked as lonely and unhappy as ever.

    quot;Poor man!quot; said Sara. quot;I ;

    And t ;supposingquot; at t very moment.

    quot;Suppose,quot; ;suppose--even if Carmicraces to Moscotle girl took from Madame Pascals sc to be quite a different c steps sake next?quot;

    into t Miss Mincairs to scold the cook.

    quot;ed your time?quot; s;You  for ;

    quot;It  and muddy,quot; Sara ans;it ;

    quot;Make no excuses,quot; said Miss Minc;and tell no false;

    Sara  in to ture and emper as a result. Soo rejoiced to o vent her rage on, and Sara was a convenience, as usual.

    quot; you stay all nig; she snapped.

    Sara laid able.

    quot;; she said.

    them over, grumbling. She was in a very savage humor indeed.

    quot;May I o eat?quot; Sara asked ratly.

    quot;teas over and done ; ;Did you expect me to keep it  for you?quot;

    Sara stood silent for a second.

    quot;I ; s, and e loremble.

    quot;try,quot; said t;ts all youll get at time of day.quot;

    Sara  and found t  . It o vent e on Sara. Really, it s of stairs leading to tic. Sen found teep  tonig seemed as if sop. Several times so stop to rest. op landing so see t coming from under  meant t Ermengarde o creep up to pay . t in t. It ter to go into t empty and desolate. table Ermengarde, tle.

    Yes; tting in t tucked safely under imate ed tic so sit on til Sara arrived. S, on time to become rat a good deal, and once ter a repressed squeal by sitting up on  edly in ion.

    quot;O; s, quot;I am glad you  so. I tried to coax o go back, but  for sucime. I like  it does frig at me. Do you t;

    quot;No,quot; answered Sara.

    Ermengarde crao look at her.

    quot;You do look tired, Sara,quot; s;you are quite pale.quot;

    quot;I am tired,quot; said Sara, dropping on to tstool. quot;Oo ask for ;

    Melc of ening for step. Sara e sure . ionate, expectant expression as Sara put  and turned it inside out, shaking her head.

    quot;Im very sorry,quot; s;I  one crumb left. Go ell your . Im afraid I forgot because t;

    Melco understand.  contentedly, back to his home.

    quot;I did not expect to see you tonig; Sara said. Ermengarde he red shawl.

    quot;Miss Amelia  to spend t ,quot; s;No one else ever comes and looks into ter ay il morning if I ed to.quot;

    Sed toable under t. Sara  looked to as s. Ermengardes gesture ed one.

    quot;Papa  me some more books, Sara,quot; s;t;

    Sara looked round and got up at once. So table, and picking up top volume, turned over its leaves quickly. For t s s.

    quot;A; s, quot;iful! Carlyles Frencion. I ed to read t!quot;

    quot;I ,quot; said Ermengarde. quot;And papa .  me to kno it w s;

    Sara stopped turning over t ed flush on her cheeks.

    quot;Look ; s;if youll lend me tell you everyts in terell it so t you , too.quot;

    quot;O; exclaimed Ermengarde. quot;Do you t;

    quot;I kno; Sara ans;ttle ones alell t;

    quot;Sara,quot; said Ermengarde, ;if youll do t, and make me remember, Ill--Ill give you anyt;

    quot;I dont  you to give me anyt; said Sara. quot;I  your books--I  t; And  heaved.

    quot;take t; said Ermengarde. quot;I  I dont. Im not clever, and my fat to be.quot;

    Sara er t; are you going to tell your fat; s doubt dawning in her mind.

    quot;O kno; ans;;

    Sara put dos almost like telling lies,quot; s;And lies-- only imesquot;-- reflectively--quot;Ive t per do somet suddenly fly into a rage and kill Miss Mincreating me--but I couldnt be vulgar.  you tell your fat;

    quot;s me to read t; said Ermengarde, a little discouraged by ted turn of affairs.

    quot;s you to kno; said Sara. quot;And if I can tell it to you in an easy , I s.quot;

    quot; if I learn anyt; said rueful Ermengarde. quot;You ;

    quot;Its not your fault t--quot; began Sara. Sopped rato say, quot;Its not your fault t you are stupid.quot;

    quot;t ; Ermengarde asked.

    quot;t you cant learn t; amended Sara. quot;If you cant, you cant. If I can--;

    S very tender of Ermengarde, and tried not to let oo strongly to learn anyt once, and not being able to learn anyt all. As s s came to her.

    quot;Per; s;to be able to learn t everyto be kind is  deal to ot sill be a detestable te s of clever people  Robespierre--quot;

    Sopped and examined Ermengardes countenance, ;Dont you remember?quot; s;I told you about  long ago. I believe youve forgotten.quot;

    quot;ell, I dont remember all of it,quot; admitted Ermengarde.

    quot;ell, you  a minute,quot; said Sara, quot;and Ill take off my  t and tell you over again.quot;

    Sook off  and coat and  t s about  ;Noen,quot; she said.

    So tion, and told sucories of it t Ermengardes eyes gre terrified, tful tening, and s likely to forget Robespierre again, or to s about the Princesse de Lamballe.

    quot;You kno ,quot; Sara explained. quot;And siful floating blonde  al;

    It  Mr. St. Joo be told t to be left in ttic.

    quot;Nos tell eac; said Sara. quot;ting on ;

    quot;Ever so mucter since t time I came up ions. Miss Minc understand  morning.quot;

    Sara laugtle and hugged her knees.

    quot;S understand  it is because soo, and I ; S;ttic   so dreadful,quot; s;Its a good place to pretend in.quot;

    trut Ermengarde did not knoimes almost unbearable side of life in ttic and s a sufficiently vivid imagination to depict it for  s ;pretendedquot; and stories ook of ter of adventures; and times Sara looked rat  to be denied t stle spirit  admit of complaints. S at times s ravenous onigant  e even if s and regular meals of a mucure tizing, inferior food snatc sucimes as suited tco a certain gnawing feeling in omach.

    quot;I suppose soldiers feel like t; sen said to ;long and  made  sense of being a ess in ttic.

    quot;If I lived in a castle,quot; s;and Ermengarde le, and came to see me, s and squires and vassals riding side to receive s in t rels to sing and play and relate romances. o ttic I cant spread feasts, but I can tell stories, and not let elaines o do t in time of famine, le celaine, and dispensed generously tality s.

    So, as t toget kno s as  walked s  alone. S as if se so hungry before.

    quot;I ;I believe you are to be. Your eyes look so big, and look at ttle bones sticking out of your elbo;

    Sara pulled down self up.

    quot;I al; s;and I always ;

    quot;I love your queer eyes,quot; said Ermengarde, looking into tionate admiration. quot;to be green--t;

    quot;ts eyes,quot; laug;but I cant see in tried, and I couldnt--I wis;

    It  at te t somet t urn and look, sartled by t of a dark face o t as silently as it  quite as silently, urned a little and looked up at the roof.

    quot;t didnt sound like Melc; s;It  scratc;

    quot;?quot; said Ermengarde, a little startled.

    quot;Didnt you t; asked Sara.

    quot;N-no,quot; Ermengarde faltered. quot;Did you?quot; {anot;No- no,quot;}

    quot;Per,quot; said Sara; quot;but I t I did. It sounded as if sometes--somet dragged softly.quot;

    quot; could it be?quot; said Ermengarde. quot;Could it be--robbers?quot;

    quot;No,quot; Sara began c;to steal--quot;

    S c  on tes, but on tairs belo  the candle.

    quot;S; sood in t;S;

    quot;ill s; Ermengarde wricken.

    quot;No. S stir.quot;

    It  Miss Minced t fligairs. Sara could only remember t s once before. But no least part of t sounded as if she was driving Becky before her.

    quot;You impudent, dis c; t;Cook tells me sedly.quot;

    quot;t  me, mum,quot; said Becky sobbing. quot;I   me--never!quot;

    quot;You deserve to be sent to prison,quot; said Miss Minc;Picking and stealing!  pie, indeed!quot;

    quot;t  me,quot;  Becky. quot;I could ave eat a .quot;

    Miss Minc of breatemper and mounting tairs. t pie ended for e supper. It became apparent t she boxed Beckys ears.

    quot;Dont tell false; s;Go to your room tant.quot;

    Botairs and into tic. t, and kne shrew herself upon her bed.

    quot;I could ave et t; to ;An I never took a bite. t to ;

    Sara stood in ttle teetting fiercely stretcand still, but s move until Miss Mincairs and all ill.

    quot;t; s fort;takes teals t! S! Simes t ss crusts out of t; S  into passionate little sobs, and Ermengarde, . Sara  seemed to denote somety presented itself to tle mind all at once. S off to table c ted it, s for Sara,  groo definite fear in her eyes.

    quot;Sara,quot; simid, almost aricken voice, are--are- -you never told me--I dont  to be rude, but--are you ever ;

    It oo muc at t moment. ted her face from her hands.

    quot;Yes,quot; se ;Yes, I am. Im so  I could almost eat you. And it makes it o ;

    Ermengarde gasped.

    quot;O; s;And I never kne;

    quot;I didnt  you to kno; Sara said. quot;It  beggar. I knoreet beggar.quot;

    quot;No, you dont--you dont!quot; Ermengarde broke in. quot;Your clottle queer--but you couldnt look like a street beggar. You  a street-beggar face.quot;

    quot;A little boy once gave me a sixpence for cy,quot; said Sara,  little lauge of ; is.quot; And s t; mas sixpence if I  looked as if I needed it.quot;

    Some of ttle sixpence  made ttle, tears in their eyes.

    quot;; asked Ermengarde, looking at it quite as if it  been a mere ordinary silver sixpence.

    quot;tle to a party,quot; said Sara. quot;tle one mas presents and ;

    Ermengarde gave a little jump back sentences o roubled mind and given ion.

    quot;O; s; a silly t to  of it!quot;

    quot;Of ;

    quot;Somet; said Ermengarde, in an excited ;ternoon my nicest aunt sent me a box. It is full of good touc, I  dinner, and I  papas books.quot; o tumble over eac;Its got cake in it, and little meat pies, and jam tarts and buns, and oranges and red- currant o my room and get it te, and  it no;

    Sara almost reeled.  ion of food imes a curious effect. Sched Ermengardes arm.

    quot;Do you t; sed.

    quot;I kno; ans softly--put  into tened. t back to Sara. quot;ts are out. Everybodys in bed. I can creep--and creep--and no one will ;

    It  eac sprang into Saras eyes.

    quot;Ermie!quot; s;Let us pretend! Let us pretend its a party! And o you invite t cell?quot;

    quot;Yes! Yes! Let us knock on t ;

    Sara  to t sly. Simes.

    quot;t means, `Come to me t passage under to communicate.quot;

    Five quick knocks answered her.

    quot;S; she said.

    Almost immediately ttic opened and Becky appeared.  sigo rub h her apron.

    quot;Dont mind me a bit, Becky!quot; cried Ermengarde.

    quot;Miss Ermengarde o come in,quot; said Sara, quot;because so bring a box of good to us.quot;

    Beckys cap almost fell off entirely, sement.

    quot;to eat, miss?quot; s;ts good to eat?quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; ans;and o pretend a party.quot;

    quot;And you s to eat,quot; put in Ermengarde. quot;Ill go te!quot;

    Se t as siptoed out of ttic s kno  for a minute or so. Becky oo muche good luck which had befallen her.

    quot;O; s;I kno  asked o let me come. It--it makes me cry to t.quot; And s to Saras side and stood and looked at her worshipingly.

    But in Saras  o gloransform tic-- outside-- ernoon in treets barely passed-- yet faded--thing of magic.

    S h.

    quot;Some; s;just before t to t. It is as if t. If I could only just remember t al te comes.quot;

    Stle cheerful shake.

    quot;No, no! You mustnt cry!quot; s;e must make e and set table.quot;

    quot;Set table, miss?quot; said Becky, gazing round t;ll  it ;

    Sara looked round ttic, too.

    quot;t seem to be muc; she answered, half laughing.

    t moment s. It was Ermengardes red she floor.

    quot;; s;I kno. It ;

    table for. Red is a able color. It began to make tly.

    quot;; exclaimed Sara. quot;e must pretend t;

    t glance of admiration. the rug was laid down already.

    quot; and t is!quot; stle laug  doely, as if s somet.

    quot;Yes, miss,quot; anscure. Se serious.

    quot; next, no; said Sara, and sood still and put ;Somet a littlequot;--in a soft, expectant voice. quot;tell me.quot;

    One of e fancies  on quot;tside,quot; as s, ts ing for people to call tand and  many a time before, and kne in a few seconds sened, laughing face.

    In a moment she did.

    quot;t; s;It  look among trunk I ;

    So its corner and kneeled do  been put in ttic for , but because t else but rubbis s kind of ther.

    In a corner lay a package so insignificant-looking t it  s it as a relic. It contained a dozen small able. So arrange table-cover, patting and coaxing to sward, s spells for .

    quot;tes,quot; s;tes. ts in Spain.quot;

    quot;Did t; breated by tion.

    quot;You must pretend it,quot; said Sara. quot;If you pretend it enoug;

    quot;Yes, miss,quot; said Becky; and as Sara returned to trunk sed o t of accompliso be desired.

    Sara turned suddenly to find anding by table, looking very queer indeed. S ing range convulsive contortions, iffly clenc rying to lift some enormous .

    quot; is tter, Becky?quot; Sara cried. quot; are you doing?quot;

    Becky opened art.

    quot;I endin, miss,quot; stle s;I ryin to see it like you do. I almost did,quot; ;But it takes a lot o strent;

    quot;Per does if you are not used to it,quot; said Sara, ;but you dont knoen. I  try so  at first. It o you after a ell you  t;

    S in  of ttom of trunk. t. Sh off.

    quot;t,quot; s;tand, Becky. Oerpiece.quot;

    Becky o ly.

    quot; are t; s;Youd t I kno.quot;

    quot;t; said Sara, arranging tendrils of t t;And t;--bending tenderly over t ;is purest alabaster encrusted ;

    Soucly, a  ure in a dream.

    quot;My, aint it lovely!quot; whispered Becky.

    quot;If  ; Sara murmured. quot;t;--darting to trunk again. quot;I remember I sae.quot;

    It issue paper, but tissue paper ed into ttle diso ornament tick  more table covered  runk. But Sara dre it, seeing er staring in deliged breath.

    quot;t; sed, tic--quot;is it tille nourned into somet?quot;

    quot;O; said Sara. quot;Quite different. It is a banquet ;

    quot;My eye, miss!quot; ejaculated Becky. quot;A blanket all!quot; and surned to vie .

    quot;A banquet ; said Sara. quot;A vast cs are given. It ed roof, and a minstrels gallery, and a  is brilliant apers t;

    quot;My eye, Miss Sara!quot; gasped Becky again.

    taggering under t of arted back ion of joy. to enter from tside, and find ones self confronted by a totally unanticipated festal board, draped e napery, and o feel t tions  indeed.

    quot;O; s. quot;You are t girl I ever sa;

    quot;Isnt it nice?quot; said Sara. quot;t of my old trunk. I asked my Magic, and it told me to go and look.quot;

    quot;But o; cried Becky, quot; till sold you  just--oell ; appealing to Sara.

    So Sara told  see it all: tters--ted spaces--tapers. As taken out of ted cakes--ts--t became a splendid thing.

    quot;Its like a real party!quot; cried Ermengarde.

    quot;Its like a queens table,quot; sighed Becky.

    t t.

    quot;Ill tell you ; s;Pretend you are a princess no.quot;

    quot;But its your feast,quot; said Sara; quot;you must be t;

    quot;O,quot; said Ermengarde. quot;Im too fat, and I dont know ;

    quot;ell, if you  me to,quot; said Sara.

    But suddenly s of someto ty grate.

    quot;t of paper and rubbisuffed in ; s;If  blaze for a fees, and ; Sruck a matced it up  specious glohe room.

    quot;By time it stops blazing,quot; Sara said, quot; its not being real.quot;

    Sood in the dancing glow and smiled.

    quot;Doesnt it look real?quot; s;Noy.quot;

    So table. So Ermengarde and Becky. S of her dream.

    quot;Advance, fair damsels,quot; s;and be seated at t table. My noble fat on a long journey, o feast you.quot; Surned ly to;, rels! Strike up ; so Ermengarde and Becky, quot;alo play at ts. Pretend trel gallery up t;

    time to take to t one of time to do more,  and turned pale faces toening--listening.

    Someone airs. take about it. Eacing tread and kne things had come.

    quot;Its--t; che floor.

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara, e face. quot;Miss Minc.quot;

    Miss Mincruck t it ened faces to t table, and from t table to t flicker of t paper in te.

    quot;I ing somet,quot; s;but I did not dream of sucy. Lavinia elling trut;

    So t it rode over to Becky and boxed ime.

    quot;You impudent creature!quot; s;You leave t;

    Sara stood quite still,  into tears.

    quot;O send ; s;My aunt sent me ty.quot;

    quot;So I see,quot; said Miss Minc;it table.quot; Surned fiercely on Sara. quot;It is your doing, I kno; s;Ermengarde able, I suppose--; Samped  at Becky. quot;Go to your attic!quot; sole away, her face hidden in her apron, her shoulders shaking.

    t urn again.

    quot;I tend to you tomorro;

    quot;I  oday, Miss Minc; said Sara, ratly.

    quot;tter. You  stand t to t;

    So sable into t sight of Ermengardes new books.

    quot;And youquot;--to Ermengarde--quot; your beautiful neo ty attic. take to bed. You ay tomorroo your papa.  would onig;

    Somet t made urn on her fiercely.

    quot; are you t; s; me like t?quot;

    quot;I ; ansable day in the schoolroom.

    quot; ;

    It ness in Saras manner. It .

    quot;I ; s;w my papa would say if onig;

    Miss Minced just as sself, as before, in an intemperate fas her and shook her.

    quot;You insolent, unmanageable c; s;;

    S t of t back into t it into Ermengardes arms, and pusohe door.

    quot;I o ; s;Go to bed tant.quot; And s tumbling Ermengarde, and left Sara standing quite alone.

    te at an end. t spark  of te and left only black tinder; table  bare, tes and ricransformed again into old e paper, and discarded artificial flotered on trels in trel gallery olen aill. Emily ting  taring very  and picked rembling hands.

    quot;t any banquet left, Emily,quot; s;And t any princess. t but tille.quot; And s down and hid her face.

    to look up at t at t, I do not kno--because if s t sainly artled by  t  alking to Ermengarde.

    But s look up. S tle black ime. S like t o bear somet up and  sloo the bed.

    quot;I cant pretend anyt; s;t be any use in trying. If I go to sleep, perend for me.quot;

    S so tired--per of food--t s doe weakly.

    quot;Suppose t fire in te, s of little dancing flames,quot; s;Suppose table c--and suppose table near, tle -- supper on it. And supposequot;--as s;suppose tiful soft bed, s and large do; And o  asleep.

    S kno sired enougo sleep deeply and profoundly--too deeply and soundly to be disturbed by anytire family, if all ers o come out of to figumble and play.

    kno any particular t of rut it  fell in closing after a lite figure  near enougo see ic, but not near enougo be seen.

    At first s open  too sleepy and-- curiously enougoo able. Sable, indeed, t s believe s in some lovely vision.

    quot; a nice dream!quot; s;I feel quite - ---to--;

    Of course it s, and   toucly like a satin-covered eider-do. S not a--s be quite still and make it last.

    But s--even t ig. Someto a le fire.

    quot;O; s;I cant --I cant.quot;

    e of ually smiled--for ic before, and knew she never should see.

    quot;O a; so rise on  ;I am dreaming yet.quot; S must be a dream, for if s-- could not be.

    Do you  s sure s come back to eart se ttle brass kettle ; by table, unfolded, covered e clot spread small covered diseapot; on tin-covered do; at t a curious ed slippers, and some books. to fairyland--and it , for a brigood on table covered h a rosy shade.

    S up, resting on  and fast.

    quot;It does not--melt a; sed. quot;O; So stir; but at last s  on turous smile.

    quot;I am dreaming--I am getting out of bed,quot; sood up in t of it all, turning sloo side--quot;I am dreaming it stays--real! Im dreaming it feels real. Its becc all.quot; o ;If I can only keep on t,quot; s;I dont care! I dont care!quot;

    Sood panting a moment longer, and t again.

    quot;O isnt true!quot; s;It cant be true! But orue it seems!quot;

    to it, and s do--so close t t made art back.

    quot;A fire I only dreamed  be ,quot; she cried.

    Soucable, t to toucs. Sook up t c to  and  to her cheek.

    quot;Its s soft!quot; s sobbed. quot;Its real. It must be!quot;

    S over   into the slippers.

    quot;too. Its all real!quot; s;I am not--I am not dreaming!quot;

    S staggered to top. Sometten on t a fehese:

    quot;to ttle girl in ttic. From a friend.quot;

    -- it a strange to do-- s  into tears.

    quot;I dont kno; s;but somebody cares for me a little. I ;

    Sook ole out of o Beckys, and stood by her bedside.

    quot;Becky, Becky!quot; s;ake up!quot;

    uprigaring ag, ill smudged races of tears, beside ood a little figure in a luxurious ood at her very bedside, holding a candle in her hand.

    quot;Come,quot; s;O;

    Becky oo frigo speak. S up and followed  a word.

    And ly and dre of t. quot;Its true! Its true!quot; s;Ive touc, Becky,  let t te ;

 16. The Visitor

    16. tor

    Imagine, if you can,  of tself in ttle grate. , savory soup,  and muffins enougand ea cup, and tea  it  necessary to pretend t it  tea. t  like Sara t, range good fortune real, so t of it to tmost. S se equal to accepting any   to cease, in a s time, to find it bewildering.

    quot;I dont kno,quot; s;but tting by ts true! And w is--w;

    It cannot be denied t as t before te table food, t a kind of rapturous ao eac.

    quot;Do you t; Becky faltered once, in a  could melt ater be quick?quot; And sily crammed o  chen manners would be overlooked.

    quot;No, it  melt a; said Sara. quot;I am eating taste it. You never really eat to eat touc piece of coal just no;

    t  overpo  in ted in it until Sara found urning to look at ransformed bed.

    ts enougo s attic able t nigs occupant  it could be.

    As s out of turned upon t h devouring eyes.

    quot;If it aint ; s;its been onig never forget it.quot; S eacicular to commit it to memory. quot;t;, pointing ;an table ; an t looked rosy red; an tin cover on your bed, an a iful; anquot;--somacenderly--quot;t; And, ion a reality at least, s away.

    terious agency  e  Sara Cre Becky , but t a scullery maid could not be dispensed  once. ts kne so stay because Miss Minc easily find anoture o  ical reasons of her own.

    quot;S and learning suc, some; said Jessie to Lavinia, quot;t so  y of you, Lavvy, to tell about .  out?quot;

    quot;I got it out of Lottie. S knoy at all in speaking to Miss Minc it my dutyquot;--priggis;Sful. And its ridiculous t satters!quot;

    quot;  t;

    quot;Pretending some silly taken up o ses us to s t I care, but its rato s girls in attics. I urn Sara out--even if s eac;

    quot;If surned out rifle anxiously.

    quot;; snapped Lavinia. quot;So ter o oday.quot;

    Jessie  as ill-natured as stle jerk.

    quot;ell, I ts ; s;t to starve o deat;

    into tc morning t  s, overslept tle, and as Becky ime to see tairs in e.

    Sara  into tly scrubbing a kettle, and ually gurgling a little song in . Sed face.

    quot;It ,quot; sedly. quot;It   nig;

    quot;So ; said Sara. quot;It is all t. e some of t.quot;

    quot;O; Becky uttered tion in a sort of rapturous groan, and ducked tle just in time, as tchen.

    Miss Minced to see in Sara, o see. Sara o y never made ened. ood still and listened politely ra tasks or

    or out t s anso Miss Mincself. But after yesterdays deprivation of meals, t scene of last nig of oday, s surely  range indeed if s come doairs h pale cheeks and red eyes and an unhappy, humbled face.

    Miss Minc time o tle Frence its lessons and superintend its exercises. And sep, color in  t  astonis gave e a s  could suc once to her desk.

    quot;You do not look as if you realize t you are in disgrace,quot; s;Are you absolutely ;

    trut ly and  of a fairy story, and o find it real, one cannot be un, if one tried, keep a glo of ones eyes. Miss Minc struck dumb by tly respectful answer.

    quot;I beg your pardon, Miss Minc; s;I kno I am in disgrace.quot;

    quot;Be good enoug to forget it and look as if you o a fortune. It is an impertinence. And remember you are to oday.quot;

    quot;Yes, Miss Minc; Sara ans as surned a yesterday ;If t saved me just in time,quot; s, quot; would ;

    quot;S be very ;  look at ending squot;-- eful laugh.

    quot;S from ot; said Jessie, c;Sometimes Im a bit frig;

    quot;Ridiculous t; ejaculated Lavinia.

    All t s cast puzzled glances at o eac.  suc displeasure could mean s understand. It inate o brave tter out.

    One t t be kept a secret, if suco mount to ttic again, of course all  it did not seem likely t sime at least, unless stie crictness t t dare to steal out of told tory and trusted to keep it secret. If Lottie made any discoveries, so secrecy also. Perself would o s own marvels.

    quot;But  saying to ;e so lonely. Oo me!quot;

    If it o be   ter, muddier, colder. to be done, table, and, kno Sara ter self ones friend. Saras supper of t before rengt surally begun to be  t s until breakfast- time on to  e late  alloo go upstairs. Sold to go into tudy until ten oclock, and serested in er.

    op fligairs and stood before ttic door, it must be confessed t  beat rat.

    quot;Of course it migaken a; srying to be brave. quot;It mig to me for just t one a  to me--I . It ;

    S in. Once inside, sly, s tood  it looking from side to side.

    t actually   into ttic  t if s been past doubting sable anotood--time es for Becky as tered mantel, and on it some ornaments o look quite pretty. Some odd materials of ricened against tacks--so s to ter   fans antial enougo use as seats. A , so t it e the air of a sofa.

    Sara slo down and looked and looked again.

    quot;It is exactly like sometrue,quot; s;t t difference. I feel as if I mig  be any stranger t? Am I to to pretend and pretend and o see a fairy story come true. I am living in a fairy story. I feel as if I migo turn to anyt;

    S cell, and the prisoner came.

    ered s dropped in a e lost h.

    quot;O; s;O;

    quot;You see,quot; said Sara.

    On t Becky sat on a cush rug and had a cup and saucer of her own.

    to bed s stress and big doress and pilloead, and, consequently, ions Becky .

    quot; all come from?quot; Becky broke fort;La;

    quot;Dont let us even ask,quot; said Sara. quot;If it  t I  to say, `O kno makes it more beautiful.quot;

    From t time life became more ory continued. Almost every day somet or ornament appeared eacime Sara opened t nigil in a s time ttic iful little room full of all sorts of odd and luxurious tirely covered ures and draperies, ingenious pieces of folding furniture appeared, a bookss and conveniences appeared one by one, until t to be desired.  doairs in table; and o ttic in t anottle meal. Miss Mincing as ever, Miss Amelia as peeviss  on errands in all o speak to Ermengarde and Lottie; Lavinia sneered at tared curiously at   all matter ory? It ic and deliged to comfort arved young soul and save imes, when she was scolded, she could scarcely keep from smiling.

    quot;If you only kne; so ;If you only kne;

    t and ronger, and so look foro. If s and tired and er sairs. During t day s stic door, and ime so look less to  seem so mucoo big for her face.

    quot;Sara Cre; Miss Minco er.

    quot;Yes,quot; ans;Sely fattening. So look like a little starved cro;

    quot;Starved!quot; exclaimed Miss Minc;tarved. Sy to eat!quot;

    quot;Of--of course,quot; agreed Miss Amelia, o find t shing.

    quot;t sort of t; said Miss Mincy vagueness.

    quot;--sort of t; Miss Amelia ventured.

    quot;It mig be called defiance,quot; ans kno term to use. quot;t and irely o submit to. But, upon my le subdued as if--as if s;

    quot;Do you remember,quot; put in t; day in t  t s;

    quot;No, I dont,quot; said Miss Minc;Dont talk nonsense.quot; But she remembered very clearly indeed.

    Very naturally, even Becky o look plumper and less frig . S fairy story, too. Stresses, ty of bed-covering, and every nig supper and a seat on tille ed aed. ted c in t of deligimes Sara read aloud from imes simes s and looked into tried to imagine wo .

    t came about t anoto t several parcels. All ters, quot;to ttle Girl in t-tic.quot;

    Sara  to open take t parcels on table, and  tairs and saw her.

    quot;take to to  stand taring at them.

    quot;to me,quot; ansly.

    quot;to you?quot; exclaimed Miss Minc; do you mean?quot;

    quot;I dont kno;but to me. I sleep in t-tic. Becky ;

    Miss Minco  ted expression.

    quot; is in t; she demanded.

    quot;I dont kno; replied Sara.

    quot;Open t; she ordered.

    Sara did as sold. enance y and comfortable clot kinds: sockings, and gloves, and a iful coat. t and an umbrella. t of t en t;to be ;

    Miss Mince agitated. t range to  be t sake, after all, and t ted cric friend in tion, astic ions imes very odd-- particularly ric care for  sort migo overlook ions  a distance. Suco be crotcy and -tempered enougo be easily offended. It  be very pleasant if trut t food, and t very queer indeed, and very uncertain, and s Sara.

    quot;ell,quot; stle girl lost ;someone is very kind to you. As t, and you are to , you may as  table. After you are dressed you may come doairs and learn your lessons in t go out on any more errands today.quot;

    About erruck dumb.

    quot;My ; ejaculated Jessie, jogging Lavinias elbo;Look at t;

    Everybody e red.

    It  least, since t seem tairs a feifully made.  looked as tland pony  ied back h a ribbon.

    quot;Per une,quot; Jessie  someto ;

    quot;Per; said Lavinia, scat;Dont please aring at  ;

    quot;Sara,quot; broke in Miss Minc;come and sit ;

    And o conceal its excited curiosity, Sara  to  of  her head over her books.

    t nig to er sen t and looked at time.

    quot;Are you making somet; Becky inquired ful softness.  in silence and looked into t generally meant t sory. But time s, and she shook her head.

    quot;No,quot; s;I am ;

    Becky stared--still respectfully. Shing Sara did and said.

    quot;I cant  my friend,quot; Sara explained. quot;If s to keep , it o try and find out  o knoo kno;

    Sopped s because  t instant fell upon sometanding on a table in a corner. It o it only t tle ing-case fitted h paper and envelopes and pens and ink.

    quot;O; s; before?quot;

    S to t to the fire.

    quot;I can e to ; s;and leave it on table. takes take it, too. I  ask  mind my t;

    So se a note. t she said:

    I  t is impolite t I se te to you . Please believe I do not mean to be impolite or try to find out anyt all; only I  to to me--so ory. I am so grateful to you, and I am so  as t is all just as beautiful and o  is to me. e used to be so lonely and cold and  t you  me say just t seems as if I ougo say thank you!

    ttle Girl in ttic.

    t morning s ttle table, and in t aken a, and s. So Becky just before t to tive beds, ion tracted by a sound at t.  Becky urned o look and ening rather nervously.

    quot;Somet; she whispered.

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara, slo;It sounds--rat--trying to get in.quot;

    S  to t. It tle sound s scratc little intruder tic once before. S very afternoon, sitting disconsolately on a table before a lemans house.

    quot;Suppose,quot; sement--quot;just suppose it  a;

    Siously raised t, and peeped out. It e near iny, sself piteously at sight of her.

    quot;It is t; s. quot; out of ttic, and .quot;

    Becky ran to her side.

    quot;Are you going to let ; she said.

    quot;Yes,quot; Sara ans;Its too cold for monkeys to be out. te. Ill coax ;

    S a  delicately, speaking in a coaxing voice--as so to Melctle animal herself.

    quot;Come along, monkey darling,quot; s;I   you.quot;

    before s, caressing little pa in   , and o her face.

    quot;Nice monkey! Nice monkey!quot; s;Otle animal t;

    ly glad to get to t doerest and appreciation.

    quot; ; said Becky.

    quot;; laug;I beg your pardon, monkey; but Im glad you are not a baby. Your mot be proud of you, and no one o say you looked like any of your relations. O;

    Sed.

    quot;Per; s;and its always on ;

    But t up a tiny pached his head.

    quot; s; Becky asked.

    quot;I s onigake o tleman tomorroo take you back, monkey; but you must go. You ougo be fondest of your o a real relation.quot;

    And o bed s at , and  ters.

 19. Anne

    19. Anne

    Never s as resulted from an intimate acquaintance tle-girl- of ures made ed to be told over and over again to ting by a  e deligo  could be in an attic. It must be admitted t ttic ed in, and t its coldness and bareness quite sank into insignificance able and stuck ones  of t.

    Of course t ory of t and true. Sara told it for t time ter so take tea  or curled up on told tory in leman listened and c  her hand on his knee.

    quot;t is my part,quot; s;No you tell your part of it, Uncle tom?quot; o call ;Uncle tom.quot; quot;I dont kno yet, and it must be beautiful.quot;

    So old t alone, ill and dull and irritable, Ram Dass ried to distract ener to be interested in ly per deal of a little girl, and partly because Ram Dass o relate t of  to ttic in cs c of treated as drudges and servants. Bit by bit, Ram Dass c ter it o climb across to t, and t  followed.

    quot;Sa; ;I could cross tes and make t on some errand. urned,  and cold, to find it blazing, s.quot;

    t Mr. Carrisfords sad face ed ure t  and explained to er  o accomplision, and tions for t of terest rated banquet Ram Dass  ctic erested as ure. Ram Dass  upon tes, looking in at t, s disastrous conclusion; ern,  into tside and o irred ever so faintly, Ram Dass ern-slide and lain flat upon ting t by asking a tions.

    quot;I am so glad,quot; Sara said. quot;I am so glad it was you w;

    t eacleman e as mucime erested, and o find an actual pleasure in t o plan for Sara. ttle joke bet   to surprise iful nele gifts tucked under pillo togetc to find out  ood a great dog--a splendid Russian boarion. quot;I am Boris,quot; it read; quot;I serve t;

    tleman loved more tion of ttle princess in rags and tatters. ternoons in o rejoice togetful. But tleman sat alone and read or talked eresting things occurred.

    One evening, Mr. Carrisford, looking up from iced t  stirred for some time, but sat gazing into the fire.

    quot; are you `supposing, Sara?quot; he asked.

    Sara looked up,  color on her cheek.

    quot;I ; s;I  ;

    quot;But t many ; said tleman, one in ;?quot;

    quot;I forgot you didnt kno; said Sara. quot;It rue.quot;

    told ory of t of told it quite simply, and in as fe someleman found it necessary to s t.

    quot;And I ; s;I o do somet;

    quot; ?quot; said Mr. Carrisford, in a loone. quot;You may do anyto do, princess.quot;

    quot;I ; ratated Sara--quot;you knoell  if,  on teps, or look in at t call to eat, s send to me. Could I do t?quot;

    quot;You s tomorro; said tleman.

    quot;t; said Sara. quot;You see, I kno is to be  is very  even pretend it a;

    quot;Yes, yes, my dear,quot; said tleman. quot;Yes, yes, it must be. try to forget it. Come and sit on tstool near my knee, and only remember you are a princess.quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara, smiling; quot;and I can give buns and bread to t; And s and sat on tool, and tleman (o like o call , too, sometimes) drew roked her hair.

    t morning, Miss Minc of  enjoyed seeing. tlemans carriage, s tall  s otle figure, , riceps to get into it. ttle figure   of ing. It endant, alo her carriage, carrying wraps and belongings. Already Becky had a pink, round face.

    A little later ts occupants got out, oddly enoug as tting a tray of smoking- buns into the window.

    ered turned and looked at ood beer. For a moment s Sara very ured face lighted up.

    quot;Im sure t I remember you, miss,quot; s;And yet--quot;

    quot;Yes,quot; said Sara; quot;once you gave me six buns for fourpence, and--quot;

    quot;And you gave five of em to a beggar c; t;Ive al. I couldnt make it out at first.quot; Surned round to tleman and spoke  o ;I beg your pardon, sir, but t many young people t notices a   of it many a time. Excuse ty, miss,quot;--to Sara-- quot;but you look rosier and--ter t--t--quot;

    quot;I am better, t; said Sara. quot;And--I am muco ask you to do somet;

    quot;Me, miss!quot; exclaimed t; can I do?quot;

    And ter, made tle proposal concerning the buns.

    tcened onished face.

    quot;; s all; quot;itll be a pleasure to me to do it. I am a  afford to do muc, and ts of trouble on every side; but, if youll excuse me, Im bound to say Ive given a of bread since t  afternoon, just along o t an cold you ;

    tleman smiled involuntarily at ttle, too, remembering he ravenous childs ragged lap.

    quot;S; s;S;

    quot;Sarving,quot; said t;Manys time sold me of it since-- t, and felt as if a earing at ;

    quot;O; exclaimed Sara. quot;Do you know w;

    quot;Yes, I do,quot; ansuredly t; t, urn out, an suco me in tc;

    Sepped to ttle back parlor and spoke; and t minute a girl came out and folloually it ly clot been ime. S s sant, and stood and looked at her as if she could never look enough.

    quot;You see,quot; said t;I told o come o like  was, Ive given ;

    tood and looked at eaces; and took  of  out across ter, and Anne took it, and traigo eachers eyes.

    quot;I am so glad,quot; Sara said. quot;And I  t of somet you be to give to to do it because you kno is to be oo.quot;

    quot;Yes, miss,quot; said the girl.

    And, some as if sood tle, and only stood still and looked and looked after  out of tleman, and t into the carriage and drove away.