English
Notverylongafterthisaveryexcitingthinghappened.
NotonlySara,buttheentireschool,founditexciting,andmadeitthechiefsubjectofconversationforweeksafteritoccurred.
InoneofhislettersCaptainCrewetoldamostinterestingstory.
AfriendwhohadbeenatschoolwithhimwhenhewasaboyhadunexpectedlycometoseehiminIndia.
Hewastheownerofalargetractoflanduponwhichdiamondshadbeenfound,andhewasengagedindevelopingthemines.
Ifallwentaswasconfidentlyexpected,hewouldbecomepossessedofsuchwealthasitmadeonedizzytothinkof;andbecausehewasfondofthefriendofhisschooldays,hehadgivenhimanopportunitytoshareinthisenormousfortunebybecomingapartnerinhisscheme.
This,atleast,waswhatSaragatheredfromhisletters.
Itistruethatanyotherbusinessscheme,howevermagnificent,wouldhavehadbutsmallattractionforherorfortheschoolroom;but“diamondmines”soundedsoliketheArabianNightsthatnoonecouldbeindifferent.
Sarathoughtthemenchanting,andpaintedpictures,forErmengardeandLottie,oflabyrinthinepassagesinthebowelsoftheearth,wheresparklingstonesstuddedthewallsandroofsandceilings,andstrange,darkmendugthemoutwithheavypicks.
Ermengardedelightedinthestory,andLottieinsistedonitsbeingretoldtohereveryevening.
Laviniawasveryspitefulaboutit,andtoldJessiethatshedidn’tbelievesuchthingsasdiamondminesexisted.
“Mymammahasadiamondringwhichcostfortypounds,”shesaid.“Anditisnotabigone,either.Iftherewereminesfullofdiamonds,peoplewouldbesorichitwouldberidiculous.”
“PerhapsSarawillbesorichthatshewillberidiculous,”giggledJessie.
“She’sridiculouswithoutbeingrich,”Laviniasniffed.
“Ibelieveyouhateher,”saidJessie.
“No,Idon’t,”snappedLavinia.“ButIdon’tbelieveinminesfullofdiamonds.”
“Well,peoplehavetogetthemfromsomewhere,”saidJessie.“Lavinia,”withanewgiggle,“whatdoyouthinkGertrudesays?”
“Idon’tknow,I’msure;andIdon’tcareifit’ssomethingmoreaboutthateverlastingSara.”
“Well,itis.Oneofher`pretends’isthatsheisaprincess.
Sheplaysitallthetime—eveninschool.
Shesaysitmakesherlearnherlessonsbetter.
ShewantsErmengardetobeone,too,butErmengardesayssheistoofat.”
“Sheistoofat,”saidLavinia.“AndSaraistoothin.”
Naturally,Jessiegiggledagain.
“Shesaysithasnothingtodowithwhatyoulooklike,orwhatyouhave.
Ithasonlytodowithwhatyouthinkof,andwhatyoudo.”
“Isupposeshethinksshecouldbeaprincessifshewasabeggar,”saidLavinia.
“LetusbegintocallherYourRoyalHighness.”
Lessonsforthedaywereover,andtheyweresittingbeforetheschoolroomfire,enjoyingthetimetheylikedbest.
ItwasthetimewhenMissMinchinandMissAmeliaweretakingtheirteainthesittingroomsacredtothemselves.
Atthishouragreatdealoftalkingwasdone,andagreatmanysecretschangedhands,particularlyiftheyoungerpupilsbehavedthemselveswell,anddidnotsquabbleorrunaboutnoisily,whichitmustbeconfessedtheyusuallydid.
Whentheymadeanuproartheoldergirlsusuallyinterferedwithscoldingandshakes.
Theywereexpectedtokeeporder,andtherewasdangerthatiftheydidnot,MissMinchinorMissAmeliawouldappearandputanendtofestivities.
EvenasLaviniaspokethedooropenedandSaraenteredwithLottie,whosehabitwastotroteverywhereafterherlikealittledog.
“Theresheis,withthathorridchild!”exclaimedLaviniainawhisper.“Ifshe’ssofondofher,whydoesn’tshekeepherinherownroom?Shewillbeginhowlingaboutsomethinginfiveminutes.”
IthappenedthatLottiehadbeenseizedwithasuddendesiretoplayintheschoolroom,andhadbeggedheradoptedparenttocomewithher.
Shejoinedagroupoflittleoneswhowereplayinginacorner.
Saracurledherselfupinthewindow-seat,openedabook,andbegantoread.
ItwasabookabouttheFrenchRevolution,andshewassoonlostinaharrowingpictureoftheprisonersintheBastille—menwhohadspentsomanyyearsindungeonsthatwhentheyweredraggedoutbythosewhorescuedthem,theirlong,grayhairandbeardsalmosthidtheirfaces,andtheyhadforgottenthatanoutsideworldexistedatall,andwerelikebeingsinadream.
ShewassofarawayfromtheschoolroomthatitwasnotagreeabletobedraggedbacksuddenlybyahowlfromLottie.
Neverdidshefindanythingsodifficultastokeepherselffromlosinghertemperwhenshewassuddenlydisturbedwhileabsorbedinabook.
Peoplewhoarefondofbooksknowthefeelingofirritationwhichsweepsoverthematsuchamoment.
Thetemptationtobeunreasonableandsnappishisonenoteasytomanage.
“Itmakesmefeelasifsomeonehadhitme,”SarahadtoldErmengardeonceinconfidence.“AndasifIwanttohitback.Ihavetorememberthingsquicklytokeepfromsayingsomethingill-tempered.”
Shehadtorememberthingsquicklywhenshelaidherbookonthewindow-seatandjumpeddownfromhercomfortablecorner.
Lottiehadbeenslidingacrosstheschoolroomfloor,and,havingfirstirritatedLaviniaandJessiebymakinganoise,hadendedbyfallingdownandhurtingherfatknee.
Shewasscreaminganddancingupanddowninthemidstofagroupoffriendsandenemies,whowerealternatelycoaxingandscoldingher.
“Stopthisminute,youcry-baby!Stopthisminute!”Laviniacommanded.
“I’mnotacry-baby...I’mnot!”wailedLottle.“Sara,Sa—ra!”
“Ifshedoesn’tstop,MissMinchinwillhearher,”criedJessie.“Lottiedarling,I’llgiveyouapenny!”
“Idon’twantyourpenny,”sobbedLottie;andshelookeddownatthefatknee,and,seeingadropofbloodonit,burstforthagain.
Saraflewacrosstheroomand,kneelingdown,putherarmsroundher.
“Now,Lottie,”shesaid.“Now,Lottie,youpromisedSara.”
“ShesaidIwasacry-baby,”weptLottie.
Sarapattedher,butspokeinthesteadyvoiceLottieknew.
“Butifyoucry,youwillbeone,Lottiepet.Youpromised.”Lottlerememberedthatshehadpromised,butshepreferredtoliftuphervoice.
“Ihaven’tanymamma,”sheproclaimed.“Ihaven’t—abit—ofmamma.”
“Yes,youhave,”saidSara,cheerfully.“Haveyouforgotten?Don’tyouknowthatSaraisyourmamma?Don’tyouwantSaraforyourmamma?”
Lottiecuddleduptoherwithaconsoledsniff.
“Comeandsitinthewindow-seatwithme,”Sarawenton,“andI’llwhisperastorytoyou.”
“Willyou?”whimperedLottie.“Willyou—tellme—aboutthediamondmines?”
“Thediamondmines?”brokeoutLavinia.“Nasty,littlespoiledthing,Ishouldliketoslapher!”
Saragotupquicklyonherfeet.ItmustberememberedthatshehadbeenverydeeplyabsorbedinthebookabouttheBastille,andshehadhadtorecallseveralthingsrapidlywhensherealizedthatshemustgoandtakecareofheradoptedchild.
Shewasnotanangel,andshewasnotfondofLavinia.
“Well,”shesaid,withsomefire,“Ishouldliketoslapyou—butIdon’twanttoslapyou!”restrainingherself.
“AtleastIbothwanttoslapyou—andIshouldliketoslapyou—butIwon’tslapyou.Wearenotlittlegutterchildren.Wearebotholdenoughtoknowbetter.”
HerewasLavinia’sopportunity.
“Ah,yes,yourroyalhighness,”shesaid.“Weareprincesses,Ibelieve.Atleastoneofusis.TheschooloughttobeveryfashionablenowMissMinchinhasaprincessforapupil.”
Sarastartedtowardher.Shelookedasifsheweregoingtoboxherears.Perhapsshewas.
Hertrickofpretendingthingswasthejoyofherlife.
Sheneverspokeofittogirlsshewasnotfondof.
Hernew“pretend”aboutbeingaprincesswasveryneartoherheart,andshewasshyandsensitiveaboutit.
Shehadmeantittoberatherasecret,andherewasLaviniaderidingitbeforenearlyalltheschool.
Shefeltthebloodrushupintoherfaceandtingleinherears.Sheonlyjustsavedherself.
Ifyouwereaprincess,youdidnotflyintorages.
Herhanddropped,andshestoodquitestillamoment.
Whenshespokeitwasinaquiet,steadyvoice;sheheldherheadup,andeverybodylistenedtoher.
“It’strue,”shesaid.“SometimesIdopretendIamaprincess.IpretendIamaprincess,sothatIcantryandbehavelikeone.”
Laviniacouldnotthinkofexactlytherightthingtosay.
SeveraltimesshehadfoundthatshecouldnotthinkofasatisfactoryreplywhenshewasdealingwithSara.
Thereasonforthiswasthat,somehow,therestalwaysseemedtobevaguelyinsympathywithheropponent.
Shesawnowthattheywereprickinguptheirearsinterestedly.
Thetruthwas,theylikedprincesses,andtheyallhopedtheymighthearsomethingmoredefiniteaboutthisone,anddrewnearerSaraaccordingly.
Laviniacouldonlyinventoneremark,anditfellratherflat.
“Dearme,”shesaid,“Ihope,whenyouascendthethrone,youwon’tforgetus!”
“Iwon’t,”saidSara,andshedidnotutteranotherword,butstoodquitestill,andstaredathersteadilyasshesawhertakeJessie’sarmandturnaway.
Afterthis,thegirlswhowerejealousofherusedtospeakofheras“PrincessSara”whenevertheywishedtobeparticularlydisdainful,andthosewhowerefondofhergaveherthenameamongthemselvesasatermofaffection.
Noonecalledher“princess”insteadof“Sara,”butheradorersweremuchpleasedwiththepicturesquenessandgrandeurofthetitle,andMissMinchin,hearingofit,mentioneditmorethanoncetovisitingparents,feelingthatitrathersuggestedasortofroyalboardingschool.
ToBeckyitseemedthemostappropriatethingintheworld.
Theacquaintancebegunonthefoggyafternoonwhenshehadjumpedupterrifiedfromhersleepinthecomfortablechair,hadripenedandgrown,thoughitmustbeconfessedthatMissMinchinandMissAmeliaknewverylittleaboutit.
TheywereawarethatSarawas“kind”tothescullerymaid,buttheyknewnothingofcertaindelightfulmomentssnatchedperilouslywhen,theupstairsroomsbeingsetinorderwithlightningrapidity,Sara’ssittingroomwasreached,andtheheavycoalboxsetdownwithasighofjoy.
Atsuchtimesstoriesweretoldbyinstallments,thingsofasatisfyingnaturewereeitherproducedandeatenorhastilytuckedintopocketstobedisposedofatnight,whenBeckywentupstairstoherattictobed.
“ButIhastoeat‘emcareful,miss,”shesaidonce;”’cosifIleavescrumbstheratscomeouttoget‘em.”
“Rats!”exclaimedSara,inhorror.“Arethereratsthere?”
“Lotsof‘em,miss,”Beckyansweredinquiteamatter-of-factmanner.
“Theremostlyisratsan’miceinattics.
Yougetsusedtothenoisetheymakesscuttlingabout.
I’vegotsoIdon’tmind‘ems’longastheydon’trunovermypiller.”
“Ugh!”saidSara.
“Yougetsusedtoanythin’afterabit,”saidBecky.“Youhaveto,miss,ifyou’rebornascullerymaid.I’dratherhaveratsthancockroaches.”
“SowouldI,”saidSara;“Isupposeyoumightmakefriendswitharatintime,butIdon’tbelieveIshouldliketomakefriendswithacockroach.”
SometimesBeckydidnotdaretospendmorethanafewminutesinthebright,warmroom,andwhenthiswasthecaseperhapsonlyafewwordscouldbeexchanged,andasmallpurchaseslippedintotheold-fashionedpocketBeckycarriedunderherdressskirt,tiedroundherwaistwithabandoftape.
Thesearchforanddiscoveryofsatisfyingthingstoeatwhichcouldbepackedintosmallcompass,addedanewinteresttoSara’sexistence.
Whenshedroveorwalkedout,sheusedtolookintoshopwindowseagerly.
Thefirsttimeitoccurredtohertobringhometwoorthreelittlemeatpies,shefeltthatshehadhituponadiscovery.
Whensheexhibitedthem,Becky’seyesquitesparkled.
“Oh,miss!”shemurmured.“Themwillbenicean’fillin.’It’sfillin’nessthat’sbest.
Spongecake’sa‘evenlything,butitmeltsawaylike—ifyouunderstand,miss.These’lljuststayinyerstummick.”
“Well,”hesitatedSara,“Idon’tthinkitwouldbegoodiftheystayedalways,butIdobelievetheywillbesatisfying.”
Theyweresatisfying—andsowerebeefsandwiches,boughtatacook-shop—andsowererollsandBolognasausage.
Intime,Beckybegantoloseherhungry,tiredfeeling,andthecoalboxdidnotseemsounbearablyheavy.
Howeverheavyitwas,andwhatsoeverthetemperofthecook,andthehardnessoftheworkheapeduponhershoulders,shehadalwaysthechanceoftheafternoontolookforwardto—thechancethatMissSarawouldbeabletobeinhersittingroom.
Infact,themereseeingofMissSarawouldhavebeenenoughwithoutmeatpies.
Iftherewastimeonlyforafewwords,theywerealwaysfriendly,merrywordsthatputheartintoone;andiftherewastimeformore,thentherewasaninstallmentofastorytobetold,orsomeotherthingonerememberedafterwardandsometimeslayawakeinone’sbedintheattictothinkover.
Sara—whowasonlydoingwhatsheunconsciouslylikedbetterthananythingelse,Naturehavingmadeherforagiver—hadnottheleastideawhatshemeanttopoorBecky,andhowwonderfulabenefactorsheseemed.
IfNaturehasmadeyouforagiver,yourhandsarebornopen,andsoisyourheart;andthoughtheremaybetimeswhenyourhandsareempty,yourheartisalwaysfull,andyoucangivethingsoutofthat—warmthings,kindthings,sweetthings—helpandcomfortandlaughter—andsometimesgay,kindlaughteristhebesthelpofall.
Beckyhadscarcelyknownwhatlaughterwasthroughallherpoor,littlehard-drivenlife.
Saramadeherlaugh,andlaughedwithher;and,thoughneitherofthemquiteknewit,thelaughterwasas“fillin’”asthemeatpies.
AfewweeksbeforeSara’seleventhbirthdayalettercametoherfromherfather,whichdidnotseemtobewritteninsuchboyishhighspiritsasusual.
Hewasnotverywell,andwasevidentlyoverweightedbythebusinessconnectedwiththediamondmines.
“Yousee,littleSara,”hewrote,“yourdaddyisnotabusinessmanatall,andfiguresanddocumentsbotherhim.
Hedoesnotreallyunderstandthem,andallthisseemssoenormous.
Perhaps,ifIwasnotfeverishIshouldnotbeawake,tossingabout,onehalfofthenightandspendtheotherhalfintroublesomedreams.
Ifmylittlemissuswerehere,Idaresayshewouldgivemesomesolemn,goodadvice.
Youwould,wouldn’tyou,LittleMissus?”
Oneofhismanyjokeshadbeentocallherhis“littlemissus”becauseshehadsuchanold-fashionedair.
Hehadmadewonderfulpreparationsforherbirthday.
Amongotherthings,anewdollhadbeenorderedinParis,andherwardrobewastobe,indeed,amarvelofsplendidperfection.
Whenshehadrepliedtotheletteraskingherifthedollwouldbeanacceptablepresent,Sarahadbeenveryquaint.
“Iamgettingveryold,”shewrote;“yousee,Ishallneverlivetohaveanotherdollgivenme.Thiswillbemylastdoll.Thereissomethingsolemnaboutit.
IfIcouldwritepoetry,Iamsureapoemabout`ALastDoll’wouldbeverynice.ButIcannotwritepoetry.Ihavetried,anditmademelaugh.
ItdidnotsoundlikeWattsorColeridgeorShakespeareatall.
NoonecouldevertakeEmily’splace,butIshouldrespecttheLastDollverymuch;andIamsuretheschoolwouldloveit.
Theyalllikedolls,thoughsomeofthebigones—thealmostfifteenones—pretendtheyaretoogrownup.”
CaptainCrewehadasplittingheadachewhenhereadthisletterinhisbungalowinIndia.
Thetablebeforehimwasheapedwithpapersandletterswhichwerealarminghimandfillinghimwithanxiousdread,buthelaughedashehadnotlaughedforweeks.
“Oh,”hesaid,“she’sbetterfuneveryyearshelives.
Godgrantthisbusinessmayrightitselfandleavemefreetorunhomeandseeher.
Whatwouldn’tIgivetohaveherlittlearmsroundmyneckthisminute!Whatwouldn’tIgive!”
Thebirthdaywastobecelebratedbygreatfestivities.
Theschoolroomwastobedecorated,andtherewastobeaparty.
Theboxescontainingthepresentsweretobeopenedwithgreatceremony,andtherewastobeaglitteringfeastspreadinMissMinchin’ssacredroom.
Whenthedayarrivedthewholehousewasinawhirlofexcitement.
Howthemorningpassednobodyquiteknew,becausethereseemedsuchpreparationstobemade.
Theschoolroomwasbeingdeckedwithgarlandsofholly;thedeskshadbeenmovedaway,andredcovershadbeenputontheformswhichwerearrayedroundtheroomagainstthewall.
WhenSarawentintohersittingroominthemorning,shefoundonthetableasmall,dumpypackage,tiedupinapieceofbrownpaper.
Sheknewitwasapresent,andshethoughtshecouldguesswhomitcamefrom.Sheopeneditquitetenderly.
Itwasasquarepincushion,madeofnotquitecleanredflannel,andblackpinshadbeenstuckcarefullyintoittoformthewords,“Mennyhapyreturns.”
“Oh!”criedSara,withawarmfeelinginherheart.“Whatpainsshehastaken!Ilikeitso,it—itmakesmefeelsorrowful.”
Butthenextmomentshewasmystified.Ontheundersideofthepincushionwassecuredacard,bearinginneatlettersthename“MissAmeliaMinchin.”
Saraturneditoverandover.
“MissAmelia!”shesaidtoherself“Howcanitbe!”
AndjustatthatverymomentsheheardthedoorbeingcautiouslypushedopenandsawBeckypeepingroundit.
Therewasanaffectionate,happygrinonherface,andsheshuffledforwardandstoodnervouslypullingatherfingers.
“Doyerlikeit,MissSara?”shesaid.“Doyer?”
“Likeit?”criedSara.“YoudarlingBecky,youmadeitallyourself.”
Beckygaveahystericbutjoyfulsniff,andhereyeslookedquitemoistwithdelight.
“Itain’tnothin’butflannin,an’theflanninain’tnew;butIwantedtogiveyersomethin’an’Imadeitofnights.
Iknewyercouldpretenditwassatinwithdiamondpinsin.ItriedtowhenIwasmakin’it.
Thecard,miss,”ratherdoubtfully;”’twarn’twrongofmetopickitupouto’thedust-bin,wasit?Miss‘Meliarhadthroweditaway.
Ihadn’tnocardo’myown,an’Iknoweditwouldn’tbeaproperpresinkifIdidn’tpinacardon—soIpinnedMiss‘Meliar’s.”
Saraflewatherandhuggedher.Shecouldnothavetoldherselforanyoneelsewhytherewasalumpinherthroat.
“Oh,Becky!”shecriedout,withaqueerlittlelaugh,“Iloveyou,Becky—Ido,Ido!”
“Oh,miss!”breathedBecky.“Thankyer,miss,kindly;itain’tgoodenoughforthat.The—theflanninwasn’tnew.”
Share this article to
FINISH