English
Onceonadarkwinter’sday,whentheyellowfoghungsothickandheavyinthestreetsofLondonthatthelampswerelightedandtheshopwindowsblazedwithgasastheydoatnight,anodd-lookinglittlegirlsatinacabwithherfatherandwasdrivenratherslowlythroughthebigthoroughfares.
Shesatwithherfeettuckedunderher,andleanedagainstherfather,whoheldherinhisarm,asshestaredoutofthewindowatthepassingpeoplewithaqueerold-fashionedthoughtfulnessinherbigeyes.
Shewassuchalittlegirlthatonedidnotexpecttoseesuchalookonhersmallface.
Itwouldhavebeenanoldlookforachildoftwelve,andSaraCrewewasonlyseven.
Thefactwas,however,thatshewasalwaysdreamingandthinkingoddthingsandcouldnotherselfrememberanytimewhenshehadnotbeenthinkingthingsaboutgrown-uppeopleandtheworldtheybelongedto.
Shefeltasifshehadlivedalong,longtime.
AtthismomentshewasrememberingthevoyageshehadjustmadefromBombaywithherfather,CaptainCrewe.
Shewasthinkingofthebigship,oftheLascarspassingsilentlytoandfroonit,ofthechildrenplayingaboutonthehotdeck,andofsomeyoungofficers’wiveswhousedtotrytomakehertalktothemandlaughatthethingsshesaid.
Principally,shewasthinkingofwhataqueerthingitwasthatatonetimeonewasinIndiaintheblazingsun,andtheninthemiddleoftheocean,andthendrivinginastrangevehiclethroughstrangestreetswherethedaywasasdarkasthenight.
Shefoundthissopuzzlingthatshemovedclosertoherfather.
“Papa,”shesaidinalow,mysteriouslittlevoicewhichwasalmostawhisper,“papa.”
“Whatisit,darling?”CaptainCreweanswered,holdinghercloserandlookingdownintoherface.“WhatisSarathinkingof?”
“Isthistheplace?”Sarawhispered,cuddlingstillclosertohim.“Isit,papa?”
“Yes,littleSara,itis.Wehavereacheditatlast.”Andthoughshewasonlysevenyearsold,sheknewthathefeltsadwhenhesaidit.
Itseemedtohermanyyearssincehehadbeguntopreparehermindfor“theplace,”asshealwayscalledit.
Hermotherhaddiedwhenshewasborn,soshehadneverknownormissedher.
Heryoung,handsome,rich,pettingfatherseemedtobetheonlyrelationshehadintheworld.
Theyhadalwaysplayedtogetherandbeenfondofeachother.
Sheonlyknewhewasrichbecauseshehadheardpeoplesaysowhentheythoughtshewasnotlistening,andshehadalsoheardthemsaythatwhenshegrewupshewouldberich,too.
Shedidnotknowallthatbeingrichmeant.
Shehadalwayslivedinabeautifulbungalow,andhadbeenusedtoseeingmanyservantswhomadesalaamstoherandcalledher“MisseeSahib,”andgaveherherownwayineverything.
Shehadhadtoysandpetsandanayahwhoworshippedher,andshehadgraduallylearnedthatpeoplewhowererichhadthesethings.
That,however,wasallsheknewaboutit.
Duringhershortlifeonlyonethinghadtroubledher,andthatthingwas“theplace”shewastobetakentosomeday.
TheclimateofIndiawasverybadforchildren,andassoonaspossibletheyweresentawayfromit—generallytoEnglandandtoschool.
Shehadseenotherchildrengoaway,andhadheardtheirfathersandmotherstalkabouttheletterstheyreceivedfromthem.
Shehadknownthatshewouldbeobligedtogoalso,andthoughsometimesherfather’sstoriesofthevoyageandthenewcountryhadattractedher,shehadbeentroubledbythethoughtthathecouldnotstaywithher.
“Couldn’tyougotothatplacewithme,papa?”shehadaskedwhenshewasfiveyearsold.“Couldn’tyougotoschool,too?Iwouldhelpyouwithyourlessons.”
“Butyouwillnothavetostayforaverylongtime,littleSara,”hehadalwayssaid.
“Youwillgotoanicehousewheretherewillbealotoflittlegirls,andyouwillplaytogether,andIwillsendyouplentyofbooks,andyouwillgrowsofastthatitwillseemscarcelyayearbeforeyouarebigenoughandcleverenoughtocomebackandtakecareofpapa.”
Shehadlikedtothinkofthat.Tokeepthehouseforherfather;toridewithhim,andsitattheheadofhistablewhenhehaddinnerparties;totalktohimandreadhisbooks—thatwouldbewhatshewouldlikemostintheworld,andifonemustgoawayto“theplace”inEnglandtoattainit,shemustmakeuphermindtogo.
Shedidnotcareverymuchforotherlittlegirls,butifshehadplentyofbooksshecouldconsoleherself.
Shelikedbooksmorethananythingelse,andwas,infact,alwaysinventingstoriesofbeautifulthingsandtellingthemtoherself.
Sometimesshehadtoldthemtoherfather,andhehadlikedthemasmuchasshedid.
“Well,papa,”shesaidsoftly,“ifwearehereIsupposewemustberesigned.”
Helaughedatherold-fashionedspeechandkissedher.
Hewasreallynotatallresignedhimself,thoughheknewhemustkeepthatasecret.
HisquaintlittleSarahadbeenagreatcompaniontohim,andhefeltheshouldbealonelyfellowwhen,onhisreturntoIndia,hewentintohisbungalowknowingheneednotexpecttoseethesmallfigureinitswhitefrockcomeforwardtomeethim.
Soheheldherverycloselyinhisarmsasthecabrolledintothebig,dullsquareinwhichstoodthehousewhichwastheirdestination.
Itwasabig,dull,brickhouse,exactlylikealltheothersinitsrow,butthatonthefrontdoorthereshoneabrassplateonwhichwasengravedinblackletters:
MissMinchin,
SelectSeminaryforYoungLadies.
“Hereweare,Sara,”saidCaptainCrewe,makinghisvoicesoundascheerfulaspossible.
Thenheliftedheroutofthecabandtheymountedthestepsandrangthebell.
SaraoftenthoughtafterwardthatthehousewassomehowexactlylikeMissMinchin.
Itwasrespectableandwellfurnished,buteverythinginitwasugly;andtheveryarmchairsseemedtohavehardbonesinthem.
Inthehalleverythingwashardandpolished—eventheredcheeksofthemoonfaceonthetallclockinthecornerhadaseverevarnishedlook.
Thedrawingroomintowhichtheywereusheredwascoveredbyacarpetwithasquarepatternuponit,thechairsweresquare,andaheavymarbletimepiecestoodupontheheavymarblemantel.
Asshesatdowninoneofthestiffmahoganychairs,Saracastoneofherquicklooksabouther.
“Idon’tlikeit,papa,”shesaid.“ButthenIdaresaysoldiers—evenbraveones—don’treallylikegoingintobattle.”
CaptainCrewelaughedoutrightatthis.Hewasyoungandfulloffun,andhenevertiredofhearingSara’squeerspeeches.
“Oh,littleSara,”hesaid.“WhatshallIdowhenIhavenoonetosaysolemnthingstome?Nooneelseisassolemnasyouare.”
“Butwhydosolemnthingsmakeyoulaughso?”inquiredSara.
“Becauseyouaresuchfunwhenyousaythem,”heanswered,laughingstillmore.
Andthensuddenlyhesweptherintohisarmsandkissedherveryhard,stoppinglaughingallatonceandlookingalmostasiftearshadcomeintohiseyes.
ItwasjustthenthatMissMinchinenteredtheroom.
Shewasverylikeherhouse,Sarafelt:tallanddull,andrespectableandugly.
Shehadlarge,cold,fishyeyes,andalarge,cold,fishysmile.
ItspreaditselfintoaverylargesmilewhenshesawSaraandCaptainCrewe.
Shehadheardagreatmanydesirablethingsoftheyoungsoldierfromtheladywhohadrecommendedherschooltohim.
Amongotherthings,shehadheardthathewasarichfatherwhowaswillingtospendagreatdealofmoneyonhislittledaughter.
“Itwillbeagreatprivilegetohavechargeofsuchabeautifulandpromisingchild,CaptainCrewe,”shesaid,takingSara’shandandstrokingit.
“LadyMeredithhastoldmeofherunusualcleverness.
Acleverchildisagreattreasureinanestablishmentlikemine.”
Sarastoodquietly,withhereyesfixeduponMissMinchin’sface.Shewasthinkingsomethingodd,asusual.
“WhydoesshesayIamabeautifulchild?”shewasthinking.“Iamnotbeautifulatall.
ColonelGrange’slittlegirl,Isobel,isbeautiful.
Shehasdimplesandrose-coloredcheeks,andlonghairthecolorofgold.
Ihaveshortblackhairandgreeneyes;besideswhich,Iamathinchildandnotfairintheleast.
IamoneoftheugliestchildrenIeversaw.Sheisbeginningbytellingastory.”
Shewasmistaken,however,inthinkingshewasanuglychild.
ShewasnotintheleastlikeIsobelGrange,whohadbeenthebeautyoftheregiment,butshehadanoddcharmofherown.
Shewasaslim,supplecreature,rathertallforherage,andhadanintense,attractivelittleface.
Herhairwasheavyandquiteblackandonlycurledatthetips;hereyesweregreenishgray,itistrue,buttheywerebig,wonderfuleyeswithlong,blacklashes,andthoughsheherselfdidnotlikethecolorofthem,manyotherpeopledid.
Stillshewasveryfirminherbeliefthatshewasanuglylittlegirl,andshewasnotatallelatedbyMissMinchin’sflattery.
“IshouldbetellingastoryifIsaidshewasbeautiful,”shethought;“andIshouldknowIwastellingastory.IbelieveIamasuglyassheis—inmyway.Whatdidshesaythatfor?”
AftershehadknownMissMinchinlongershelearnedwhyshehadsaidit.Shediscoveredthatshesaidthesamethingtoeachpapaandmammawhobroughtachildtoherschool.
SarastoodnearherfatherandlistenedwhileheandMissMinchintalked.
ShehadbeenbroughttotheseminarybecauseLadyMeredith’stwolittlegirlshadbeeneducatedthere,andCaptainCrewehadagreatrespectforLadyMeredith’sexperience.
Sarawastobewhatwasknownas“aparlorboarder,”andshewastoenjoyevengreaterprivilegesthanparlorboardersusuallydid.
Shewastohaveaprettybedroomandsittingroomofherown;shewastohaveaponyandacarriage,andamaidtotaketheplaceoftheayahwhohadbeenhernurseinIndia.
“Iamnotintheleastanxiousabouthereducation,”CaptainCrewesaid,withhisgaylaugh,asheheldSara’shandandpattedit.
“Thedifficultywillbetokeepherfromlearningtoofastandtoomuch.
Sheisalwayssittingwithherlittlenoseburrowingintobooks.
Shedoesn’treadthem,MissMinchin;shegobblesthemupasifshewerealittlewolfinsteadofalittlegirl.
Sheisalwaysstarvingfornewbookstogobble,andshewantsgrown-upbooks—great,big,fatones—FrenchandGermanaswellasEnglish—historyandbiographyandpoets,andallsortsofthings.
Dragherawayfromherbookswhenshereadstoomuch.
MakeherrideherponyintheRoworgooutandbuyanewdoll.Sheoughttoplaymorewithdolls.”
“Papa,”saidSara,“yousee,ifIwentoutandboughtanewdolleveryfewdaysIshouldhavemorethanIcouldbefondof.Dollsoughttobeintimatefriends.
Emilyisgoingtobemyintimatefriend.”
CaptainCrewelookedatMissMinchinandMissMinchinlookedatCaptainCrewe.
“WhoisEmily?”sheinquired.
“Tellher,Sara,”CaptainCrewesaid,smiling.
Sara’sgreen-grayeyeslookedverysolemnandquitesoftassheanswered.
“SheisadollIhaven’tgotyet,”shesaid.
“Sheisadollpapaisgoingtobuyforme.Wearegoingouttogethertofindher.IhavecalledherEmily.
Sheisgoingtobemyfriendwhenpapaisgone.Iwanthertotalktoabouthim.”
MissMinchin’slarge,fishysmilebecameveryflatteringindeed.
“Whatanoriginalchild!”shesaid.“Whatadarlinglittlecreature!”
“Yes,”saidCaptainCrewe,drawingSaraclose.“Sheisadarlinglittlecreature.Takegreatcareofherforme,MissMinchin.”
Sarastayedwithherfatherathishotelforseveraldays;infact,sheremainedwithhimuntilhesailedawayagaintoIndia.
Theywentoutandvisitedmanybigshopstogether,andboughtagreatmanythings.
Theybought,indeed,agreatmanymorethingsthanSaraneeded;butCaptainCrewewasarash,innocentyoungmanandwantedhislittlegirltohaveeverythingsheadmiredandeverythingheadmiredhimself,sobetweenthemtheycollectedawardrobemuchtoograndforachildofseven.
Therewerevelvetdressestrimmedwithcostlyfurs,andlacedresses,andembroideredones,andhatswithgreat,softostrichfeathers,anderminecoatsandmuffs,andboxesoftinyglovesandhandkerchiefsandsilkstockingsinsuchabundantsuppliesthatthepoliteyoungwomenbehindthecounterswhisperedtoeachotherthattheoddlittlegirlwiththebig,solemneyesmustbeatleastsomeforeignprincess—perhapsthelittledaughterofanIndianrajah.
AndatlasttheyfoundEmily,buttheywenttoanumberoftoyshopsandlookedatagreatmanydollsbeforetheydiscoveredher.
“Iwanthertolookasifshewasn’tadollreally,”Sarasaid.
“IwanthertolookasifshelistenswhenItalktoher.
Thetroublewithdolls,papa”—andsheputherheadononesideandreflectedasshesaidit—”thetroublewithdollsisthattheyneverseemtohear.”
Sotheylookedatbigonesandlittleones—atdollswithblackeyesanddollswithblue—atdollswithbrowncurlsanddollswithgoldenbraids,dollsdressedanddollsundressed.
“Yousee,”Sarasaidwhentheywereexaminingonewhohadnoclothes.
“If,whenIfindher,shehasnofrocks,wecantakehertoadressmakerandhaveherthingsmadetofit.
Theywillfitbetteriftheyaretriedon.”
Afteranumberofdisappointmentstheydecidedtowalkandlookinattheshopwindowsandletthecabfollowthem.
Theyhadpassedtwoorthreeplaceswithoutevengoingin,when,astheywereapproachingashopwhichwasreallynotaverylargeone,Sarasuddenlystartedandclutchedherfather’sarm.
“Oh,papa!”shecried.“ThereisEmily!”
Aflushhadrisentoherfaceandtherewasanexpressioninhergreen-grayeyesasifshehadjustrecognizedsomeoneshewasintimatewithandfondof.
“Sheisactuallywaitingthereforus!”shesaid.“Letusgointoher.”
“Dearme,”saidCaptainCrewe,“Ifeelasifweoughttohavesomeonetointroduceus.”
“YoumustintroducemeandIwillintroduceyou,”saidSara.“ButIknewhertheminuteIsawher—soperhapssheknewme,too.”
Perhapsshehadknownher.ShehadcertainlyaveryintelligentexpressioninhereyeswhenSaratookherinherarms.
Shewasalargedoll,butnottoolargetocarryabouteasily;shehadnaturallycurlinggolden-brownhair,whichhunglikeamantleabouther,andhereyeswereadeep,clear,gray-blue,withsoft,thickeyelasheswhichwererealeyelashesandnotmerepaintedlines.
“Ofcourse,”saidSara,lookingintoherfaceassheheldheronherknee,“ofcoursepapa,thisisEmily.”
SoEmilywasboughtandactuallytakentoachildren’soutfitter’sshopandmeasuredforawardrobeasgrandasSara’sown.
Shehadlacefrocks,too,andvelvetandmuslinones,andhatsandcoatsandbeautifullace-trimmedunderclothes,andglovesandhandkerchiefsandfurs.
“Ishouldlikeheralwaystolookasifshewasachildwithagoodmother,”saidSara.“I’mhermother,thoughIamgoingtomakeacompanionofher.”
CaptainCrewewouldreallyhaveenjoyedtheshoppingtremendously,butthatasadthoughtkepttuggingathisheart.
Thisallmeantthathewasgoingtobeseparatedfromhisbeloved,quaintlittlecomrade.
HegotoutofhisbedinthemiddleofthatnightandwentandstoodlookingdownatSara,wholayasleepwithEmilyinherarms.
HerblackhairwasspreadoutonthepillowandEmily’sgolden-brownhairmingledwithit,bothofthemhadlace-rufflednightgowns,andbothhadlongeyelasheswhichlayandcurledupontheircheeks.
EmilylookedsolikearealchildthatCaptainCrewefeltgladshewasthere.
Hedrewabigsighandpulledhismustachewithaboyishexpression.
“Heigh-ho,littleSara!”hesaidtohimself“Idon’tbelieveyouknowhowmuchyourdaddywillmissyou.”
ThenextdayhetookhertoMissMinchin’sandleftherthere.Hewastosailawaythenextmorning.
HeexplainedtoMissMinchinthathissolicitors,Messrs.Barrow&Skipworth,hadchargeofhisaffairsinEnglandandwouldgiveheranyadviceshewanted,andthattheywouldpaythebillsshesentinforSara’sexpenses.
HewouldwritetoSaratwiceaweek,andshewastobegiveneverypleasuresheaskedfor.
“Sheisasensiblelittlething,andsheneverwantsanythingitisn’tsafetogiveher,”hesaid.
ThenhewentwithSaraintoherlittlesittingroomandtheybadeeachothergood-by.Sarasatonhiskneeandheldthelapelsofhiscoatinhersmallhands,andlookedlongandhardathisface.
“Areyoulearningmebyheart,littleSara?”hesaid,strokingherhair.
“No,”sheanswered.“Iknowyoubyheart.Youareinsidemyheart.”Andtheyputtheirarmsroundeachotherandkissedasiftheywouldneverleteachothergo.
Whenthecabdroveawayfromthedoor,Sarawassittingonthefloorofhersittingroom,withherhandsunderherchinandhereyesfollowingituntilithadturnedthecornerofthesquare.
Emilywassittingbyher,andshelookedafterit,too.
WhenMissMinchinsenthersister,MissAmelia,toseewhatthechildwasdoing,shefoundshecouldnotopenthedoor.
“Ihavelockedit,”saidaqueer,politelittlevoicefrominside.“Iwanttobequitebymyself,ifyouplease.”
MissAmeliawasfatanddumpy,andstoodverymuchinaweofhersister.
Shewasreallythebetter-naturedpersonofthetwo,butsheneverdisobeyedMissMinchin.
Shewentdownstairsagain,lookingalmostalarmed.
“Ineversawsuchafunny,old-fashionedchild,sister,”shesaid.“Shehaslockedherselfin,andsheisnotmakingtheleastparticleofnoise.”
“Itismuchbetterthanifshekickedandscreamed,assomeofthemdo,”MissMinchinanswered.
“Iexpectedthatachildasmuchspoiledassheiswouldsetthewholehouseinanuproar.
Ifeverachildwasgivenherownwayineverything,sheis.”
“I’vebeenopeninghertrunksandputtingherthingsaway,”saidMissAmelia.
“Ineversawanythinglikethem—sableandermineonhercoats,andrealValencienneslaceonherunderclothing.Youhaveseensomeofherclothes.Whatdoyouthinkofthem?”
“Ithinktheyareperfectlyridiculous,”repliedMissMinchin,sharply;“buttheywilllookverywellattheheadofthelinewhenwetaketheschoolchildrentochurchonSunday.
Shehasbeenprovidedforasifshewerealittleprincess.”
AndupstairsinthelockedroomSaraandEmilysatonthefloorandstaredatthecornerroundwhichthecabhaddisappeared,whileCaptainCrewelookedbackward,wavingandkissinghishandasifhecouldnotbeartostop.
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