English
IfSarahadbeenadifferentkindofchild,thelifesheledatMissMinchin’sSelectSeminaryforthenextfewyearswouldnothavebeenatallgoodforher.
Shewastreatedmoreasifshewereadistinguishedguestattheestablishmentthanasifshewereamerelittlegirl.
Ifshehadbeenaself-opinionated,domineeringchild,shemighthavebecomedisagreeableenoughtobeunbearablethroughbeingsomuchindulgedandflattered.
Ifshehadbeenanindolentchild,shewouldhavelearnednothing.
PrivatelyMissMinchindislikedher,butshewasfartooworldlyawomantodoorsayanythingwhichmightmakesuchadesirablepupilwishtoleaveherschool.
SheknewquitewellthatifSarawrotetoherpapatotellhimshewasuncomfortableorunhappy,CaptainCrewewouldremoveheratonce.
MissMinchin’sopinionwasthatifachildwerecontinuallypraisedandneverforbiddentodowhatsheliked,shewouldbesuretobefondoftheplacewhereshewassotreated.
Accordingly,Sarawaspraisedforherquicknessatherlessons,forhergoodmanners,forheramiabilitytoherfellowpupils,forhergenerosityifshegavesixpencetoabeggaroutofherfulllittlepurse;thesimplestthingshedidwastreatedasifitwereavirtue,andifshehadnothadadispositionandacleverlittlebrain,shemighthavebeenaveryself-satisfiedyoungperson.
Butthecleverlittlebraintoldheragreatmanysensibleandtruethingsaboutherselfandhercircumstances,andnowandthenshetalkedthesethingsovertoErmengardeastimewenton.
“Thingshappentopeoplebyaccident,”sheusedtosay.
“Alotofniceaccidentshavehappenedtome.
ItjusthappenedthatIalwayslikedlessonsandbooks,andcouldrememberthingswhenIlearnedthem.
ItjusthappenedthatIwasbornwithafatherwhowasbeautifulandniceandclever,andcouldgivemeeverythingIliked.
PerhapsIhavenotreallyagoodtemperatall,butifyouhaveeverythingyouwantandeveryoneiskindtoyou,howcanyouhelpbutbegood-tempered?
Idon’tknow”—lookingquiteserious—”howIshalleverfindoutwhetherIamreallyanicechildorahorridone.
PerhapsI’mahideouschild,andnoonewilleverknow,justbecauseIneverhaveanytrials.”
“Laviniahasnotrials,”saidErmengarde,stolidly,“andsheishorridenough.”
Sararubbedtheendofherlittlenosereflectively,asshethoughtthematterover.
“Well,”shesaidatlast,“perhaps—perhapsthatisbecauseLaviniaisgrowing.”
ThiswastheresultofacharitablerecollectionofhavingheardMissAmeliasaythatLaviniawasgrowingsofastthatshebelieveditaffectedherhealthandtemper.
Lavinia,infact,wasspiteful.ShewasinordinatelyjealousofSara.
Untilthenewpupil’sarrival,shehadfeltherselftheleaderintheschool.
Shehadledbecauseshewascapableofmakingherselfextremelydisagreeableiftheothersdidnotfollowher.
Shedomineeredoverthelittlechildren,andassumedgrandairswiththosebigenoughtobehercompanions.
Shewasratherpretty,andhadbeenthebest-dressedpupilintheprocessionwhentheSelectSeminarywalkedouttwobytwo,untilSara’svelvetcoatsandsablemuffsappeared,combinedwithdroopingostrichfeathers,andwereledbyMissMinchinattheheadoftheline.
This,atthebeginning,hadbeenbitterenough;butastimewentonitbecameapparentthatSarawasaleader,too,andnotbecauseshecouldmakeherselfdisagreeable,butbecausesheneverdid.
“There’sonethingaboutSaraCrewe,”Jessiehadenragedher“bestfriend”bysayinghonestly,“she’snever`grand’aboutherselftheleastbit,andyouknowshemightbe,Lavvie.
IbelieveIcouldn’thelpbeing—justalittle—ifIhadsomanyfinethingsandwasmadesuchafussover.
It’sdisgusting,thewayMissMinchinshowsheroffwhenparentscome.”
”`DearSaramustcomeintothedrawingroomandtalktoMrs.MusgraveaboutIndia,’”mimickedLavinia,inhermosthighlyflavoredimitationofMissMinchin.
”`DearSaramustspeakFrenchtoLadyPitkin.Heraccentissoperfect.’
Shedidn’tlearnherFrenchattheSeminary,atanyrate.
Andthere’snothingsocleverinherknowingit.
Shesaysherselfshedidn’tlearnitatall.
Shejustpickeditup,becauseshealwaysheardherpapaspeakit.
And,astoherpapa,thereisnothingsograndinbeinganIndianofficer.”
“Well,”saidJessie,slowly,“he’skilledtigers.
HekilledtheoneintheskinSarahasinherroom.That’swhyshelikesitso.
Sheliesonitandstrokesitshead,andtalkstoitasifitwasacat.”
“She’salwaysdoingsomethingsilly,”snappedLavinia.“Mymammasaysthatwayofhersofpretendingthingsissilly.Shesaysshewillgrowupeccentric.”
ItwasquitetruethatSarawasnever“grand.”
Shewasafriendlylittlesoul,andsharedherprivilegesandbelongingswithafreehand.
Thelittleones,whowereaccustomedtobeingdisdainedandorderedoutofthewaybymatureladiesagedtenandtwelve,werenevermadetocrybythismostenviedofthemall.
Shewasamotherlyyoungperson,andwhenpeoplefelldownandscrapedtheirknees,sheranandhelpedthemupandpattedthem,orfoundinherpocketabonbonorsomeotherarticleofasoothingnature.
Sheneverpushedthemoutofherwayoralludedtotheiryearsasahumiliationandablotupontheirsmallcharacters.
“Ifyouarefouryouarefour,”shesaidseverelytoLaviniaonanoccasionofherhaving—itmustbeconfessed—slappedLottieandcalledher“abrat;”“butyouwillbefivenextyear,andsixtheyearafterthat.
And,”openinglarge,convictingeyes,“ittakessixteenyearstomakeyoutwenty.”
“Dearme,”saidLavinia,“howwecancalculate!”Infact,itwasnottobedeniedthatsixteenandfourmadetwenty—andtwentywasanagethemostdaringwerescarcelyboldenoughtodreamof.
SotheyoungerchildrenadoredSara.Morethanonceshehadbeenknowntohaveateaparty,madeupofthesedespisedones,inherownroom.
AndEmilyhadbeenplayedwith,andEmily’sownteaserviceused—theonewithcupswhichheldquitealotofmuch-sweetenedweakteaandhadblueflowersonthem.
Noonehadseensuchaveryrealdoll’steasetbefore.
FromthatafternoonSarawasregardedasagoddessandaqueenbytheentirealphabetclass.
LottleLeghworshippedhertosuchanextentthatifSarahadnotbeenamotherlyperson,shewouldhavefoundhertiresome.
Lottiehadbeensenttoschoolbyaratherflightyyoungpapawhocouldnotimaginewhatelsetodowithher.
Heryoungmotherhaddied,andasthechildhadbeentreatedlikeafavoritedolloraveryspoiledpetmonkeyorlapdogeversincethefirsthourofherlife,shewasaveryappallinglittlecreature.
Whenshewantedanythingordidnotwantanythingsheweptandhowled;and,asshealwayswantedthethingsshecouldnothave,anddidnotwantthethingsthatwerebestforher,hershrilllittlevoicewasusuallytobeheardupliftedinwailsinonepartofthehouseoranother.
Herstrongestweaponwasthatinsomemysteriouswayshehadfoundoutthataverysmallgirlwhohadlosthermotherwasapersonwhooughttobepitiedandmademuchof.
Shehadprobablyheardsomegrown-uppeopletalkingheroverintheearlydays,afterhermother’sdeath.
Soitbecameherhabittomakegreatuseofthisknowledge.
ThefirsttimeSaratookherinchargewasonemorningwhen,onpassingasittingroom,sheheardbothMissMinchinandMissAmeliatryingtosuppresstheangrywailsofsomechildwho,evidently,refusedtobesilenced.
SherefusedsostrenuouslyindeedthatMissMinchinwasobligedtoalmostshout—inastatelyandseveremanner—tomakeherselfheard.
“Whatisshecryingfor?”shealmostyelled.
“Oh—oh—oh!”Saraheard;“Ihaven’tgotanymam—ma-a!”
“Oh,Lottie!”screamedMissAmelia.“Dostop,darling!Don’tcry!Pleasedon’t!”
“Oh!Oh!Oh!Oh!Oh!”Lottlehowledtempestuously.“Haven’t--got—any—mam—ma-a!”
“Sheoughttobewhipped,”MissMinchinproclaimed.“Youshallbewhipped,younaughtychild!”
Lottlewailedmoreloudlythanever.MissAmeliabegantocry.
MissMinchin’svoiceroseuntilitalmostthundered,thensuddenlyshesprangupfromherchairinimpotentindignationandflouncedoutoftheroom,leavingMissAmeliatoarrangethematter.
Sarahadpausedinthehall,wonderingifsheoughttogointotheroom,becauseshehadrecentlybegunafriendlyacquaintancewithLottieandmightbeabletoquiether.
WhenMissMinchincameoutandsawher,shelookedratherannoyed.
Sherealizedthathervoice,asheardfrominsidetheroom,couldnothavesoundedeitherdignifiedoramiable.
“Oh,Sara!”sheexclaimed,endeavoringtoproduceasuitablesmile.
“Istopped,”explainedSara,“becauseIknewitwasLottie—andIthought,perhaps—justperhaps,Icouldmakeherbequiet.MayItry,MissMinchin?”
“Ifyoucan,youareacleverchild,”answeredMissMinchin,drawinginhermouthsharply.
Then,seeingthatSaralookedslightlychilledbyherasperity,shechangedhermanner.
“Butyouarecleverineverything,”shesaidinherapprovingway.“Idaresayyoucanmanageher.Goin.”Andshelefther.
WhenSaraenteredtheroom,Lottiewaslyinguponthefloor,screamingandkickinghersmallfatlegsviolently,andMissAmeliawasbendingoverherinconsternationanddespair,lookingquiteredanddampwithheat.
Lottiehadalwaysfound,wheninherownnurseryathome,thatkickingandscreamingwouldalwaysbequietedbyanymeanssheinsistedon.
PoorplumpMissAmeliawastryingfirstonemethod,andthenanother.
“Poordarling,”shesaidonemoment,“Iknowyouhaven’tanymamma,poor—”Theninquiteanothertone,“Ifyoudon’tstop,Lottie,Iwillshakeyou.Poorlittleangel!There—!
Youwicked,bad,detestablechild,Iwillsmackyou!Iwill!”
Sarawenttothemquietly.Shedidnotknowatallwhatshewasgoingtodo,butshehadavagueinwardconvictionthatitwouldbebetternottosaysuchdifferentkindsofthingsquitesohelplesslyandexcitedly.
“MissAmelia,”shesaidinalowvoice,“MissMinchinsaysImaytrytomakeherstop—mayI?”
MissAmeliaturnedandlookedatherhopelessly.“Oh,doyouthinkyoucan?”shegasped.
“Idon’tknowwhetherIcan”,answeredSara,stillinherhalf-whisper;“butIwilltry.”
MissAmeliastumbledupfromherkneeswithaheavysigh,andLottie’sfatlittlelegskickedashardasever.
“Ifyouwillstealoutoftheroom,”saidSara,“Iwillstaywithher.”
“Oh,Sara!”almostwhimperedMissAmelia.“Weneverhadsuchadreadfulchildbefore.Idon’tbelievewecankeepher.”
Butshecreptoutoftheroom,andwasverymuchrelievedtofindanexcusefordoingit.
Sarastoodbythehowlingfuriouschildforafewmoments,andlookeddownatherwithoutsayinganything.
Thenshesatdownflatonthefloorbesideherandwaited.
ExceptforLottie’sangryscreams,theroomwasquitequiet.
ThiswasanewstateofaffairsforlittleMissLegh,whowasaccustomed,whenshescreamed,tohearotherpeopleprotestandimploreandcommandandcoaxbyturns.
Tolieandkickandshriek,andfindtheonlypersonnearyounotseemingtomindintheleast,attractedherattention.
Sheopenedhertight-shutstreamingeyestoseewhothispersonwas.Anditwasonlyanotherlittlegirl.
ButitwastheonewhoownedEmilyandallthenicethings.
Andshewaslookingathersteadilyandasifshewasmerelythinking.
Havingpausedforafewsecondstofindthisout,Lottiethoughtshemustbeginagain,butthequietoftheroomandofSara’sodd,interestedfacemadeherfirsthowlratherhalf-hearted.
“I—haven’t—any—ma—ma—ma-a!”sheannounced;buthervoicewasnotsostrong.
Saralookedatherstillmoresteadily,butwithasortofunderstandinginhereyes.
“NeitherhaveI,”shesaid.
Thiswassounexpectedthatitwasastounding.
Lottieactuallydroppedherlegs,gaveawriggle,andlayandstared.
Anewideawillstopacryingchildwhennothingelsewill.
AlsoitwastruethatwhileLottiedislikedMissMinchin,whowascross,andMissAmelia,whowasfoolishlyindulgent,sheratherlikedSara,littleassheknewher.
Shedidnotwanttogiveuphergrievance,butherthoughtsweredistractedfromit,soshewriggledagain,and,afterasulkysob,said,“Whereisshe?”
Sarapausedamoment.Becauseshehadbeentoldthathermammawasinheaven,shehadthoughtagreatdealaboutthematter,andherthoughtshadnotbeenquitelikethoseofotherpeople.
“Shewenttoheaven,”shesaid.“ButIamsureshecomesoutsometimestoseeme—thoughIdon’tseeher.Sodoesyours.Perhapstheycanbothseeusnow.Perhapstheyarebothinthisroom.”
Lottlesatboltupright,andlookedabouther.
Shewasapretty,little,curly-headedcreature,andherroundeyeswerelikewetforget-me-nots.
Ifhermammahadseenherduringthelasthalf-hour,shemightnothavethoughtherthekindofchildwhooughttoberelatedtoanangel.
Sarawentontalking.Perhapssomepeoplemightthinkthatwhatshesaidwasratherlikeafairystory,butitwasallsorealtoherownimaginationthatLottiebegantolisteninspiteofherself.
Shehadbeentoldthathermammahadwingsandacrown,andshehadbeenshownpicturesofladiesinbeautifulwhitenightgowns,whoweresaidtobeangels.
ButSaraseemedtobetellingarealstoryaboutalovelycountrywhererealpeoplewere.
“Therearefieldsandfieldsofflowers,”shesaid,forgettingherself,asusual,whenshebegan,andtalkingratherasifshewereinadream,“fieldsandfieldsoflilies—andwhenthesoftwindblowsoverthemitwaftsthescentofthemintotheair—andeverybodyalwaysbreathesit,becausethesoftwindisalwaysblowing.
Andlittlechildrenrunaboutinthelilyfieldsandgatherarmfulsofthem,andlaughandmakelittlewreaths.Andthestreetsareshining.
Andpeoplearenevertired,howeverfartheywalk.Theycanfloatanywheretheylike.
Andtherearewallsmadeofpearlandgoldallroundthecity,buttheyarelowenoughforthepeopletogoandleanonthem,andlookdownontotheearthandsmile,andsendbeautifulmessages.”
Whatsoeverstoryshehadbeguntotell,Lottiewould,nodoubt,havestoppedcrying,andbeenfascinatedintolistening;buttherewasnodenyingthatthisstorywasprettierthanmostothers.
ShedraggedherselfclosetoSara,anddrankineveryworduntiltheendcame—fartoosoon.
Whenitdidcome,shewassosorrythatsheputupherlipominously.
“Iwanttogothere,”shecried.“I—haven’tanymammainthisschool.”
Sarasawthedangersignal,andcameoutofherdream.Shetookholdofthechubbyhandandpulledherclosetohersidewithacoaxinglittlelaugh.
“Iwillbeyourmamma,”shesaid.“Wewillplaythatyouaremylittlegirl.AndEmilyshallbeyoursister.”
Lottie’sdimplesallbegantoshowthemselves.
“Shallshe?”shesaid.
“Yes,”answeredSara,jumpingtoherfeet.“Letusgoandtellher.AndthenIwillwashyourfaceandbrushyourhair.”
TowhichLottieagreedquitecheerfully,andtrottedoutoftheroomandupstairswithher,withoutseemingeventorememberthatthewholeofthelasthour’stragedyhadbeencausedbythefactthatshehadrefusedtobewashedandbrushedforlunchandMissMinchinhadbeencalledintousehermajesticauthority.
AndfromthattimeSarawasanadoptedmother.
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