English
Itwaspretty,comfortableMrs.Carmichaelwhoexplainedeverything.
Shewassentforatonce,andcameacrossthesquaretotakeSaraintoherwarmarmsandmakecleartoherallthathadhappened.
TheexcitementofthetotallyunexpecteddiscoveryhadbeentemporarilyalmostoverpoweringtoMr.Carrisfordinhisweakcondition.
“Uponmyword,”hesaidfaintlytoMr.Carmichael,whenitwassuggestedthatthelittlegirlshouldgointoanotherroom.“IfeelasifIdonotwanttolosesightofher.”
“Iwilltakecareofher,”Janetsaid,“andmammawillcomeinafewminutes.”AnditwasJanetwholedheraway.
“We’resogladyouarefound,”shesaid.“Youdon’tknowhowgladwearethatyouarefound.”
Donaldstoodwithhishandsinhispockets,andgazedatSarawithreflectingandself-reproachfuleyes.
“IfI’djustaskedwhatyournamewaswhenIgaveyoumysixpence,”hesaid,“youwouldhavetoldmeitwasSaraCrewe,andthenyouwouldhavebeenfoundinaminute.”ThenMrs.Carmichaelcamein.
Shelookedverymuchmoved,andsuddenlytookSarainherarmsandkissedher.
“Youlookbewildered,poorchild,”shesaid.“Anditisnottobewonderedat.”
Saracouldonlythinkofonething.
“Washe,”shesaid,withaglancetowardthecloseddoorofthelibrary—”washethewickedfriend?Oh,dotellme!”
Mrs.Carmichaelwascryingasshekissedheragain.Shefeltasifsheoughttobekissedveryoftenbecauseshehadnotbeenkissedforsolong.
“Hewasnotwicked,mydear,”sheanswered.
“Hedidnotreallyloseyourpapa’smoney.
Heonlythoughthehadlostit;andbecausehelovedhimsomuchhisgriefmadehimsoillthatforatimehewasnotinhisrightmind.
Healmostdiedofbrainfever,andlongbeforehebegantorecoveryourpoorpapawasdead.”
“Andhedidnotknowwheretofindme,”murmuredSara.“AndIwassonear.”Somehow,shecouldnotforgetthatshehadbeensonear.
“HebelievedyouwereinschoolinFrance,”Mrs.Carmichaelexplained.
“Andhewascontinuallymisledbyfalseclues.Hehaslookedforyoueverywhere.
Whenhesawyoupassby,lookingsosadandneglected,hedidnotdreamthatyouwerehisfriend’spoorchild;butbecauseyouwerealittlegirl,too,hewassorryforyou,andwantedtomakeyouhappier.
AndhetoldRamDasstoclimbintoyouratticwindowandtrytomakeyoucomfortable.”
Saragaveastartofjoy;herwholelookchanged.
“DidRamDassbringthethings?”shecriedout.“DidhetellRamDasstodoit?Didhemakethedreamthatcametrue?”
“Yes,mydear—yes!Heiskindandgood,andhewassorryforyou,forlittlelostSaraCrewe’ssake.”
ThelibrarydooropenedandMr.Carmichaelappeared,callingSaratohimwithagesture.
“Mr.Carrisfordisbetteralready,”hesaid.“Hewantsyoutocometohim.”
Saradidnotwait.WhentheIndiangentlemanlookedatherassheentered,hesawthatherfacewasallalight.
Shewentandstoodbeforehischair,withherhandsclaspedtogetheragainstherbreast.
“Yousentthethingstome,”shesaid,inajoyfulemotionallittlevoice,“thebeautiful,beautifulthings?Yousentthem!”
“Yes,poor,dearchild,Idid,”heansweredher.
Hewasweakandbrokenwithlongillnessandtrouble,buthelookedatherwiththelooksherememberedinherfather’seyes—thatlookoflovingherandwantingtotakeherinhisarms.
Itmadeherkneeldownbyhim,justassheusedtokneelbyherfatherwhentheywerethedearestfriendsandloversintheworld.
“Thenitisyouwhoaremyfriend,”shesaid;“itisyouwhoaremyfriend!”Andshedroppedherfaceonhisthinhandandkisseditagainandagain.
“Themanwillbehimselfagaininthreeweeks,”Mr.Carmichaelsaidasidetohiswife.“Lookathisfacealready.”
Infact,hedidlookchanged.Herewasthe“LittleMissus,”andhehadnewthingstothinkofandplanforalready.
Inthefirstplace,therewasMissMinchin.
Shemustbeinterviewedandtoldofthechangewhichhadtakenplaceinthefortunesofherpupil.
Sarawasnottoreturntotheseminaryatall.TheIndiangentlemanwasverydetermineduponthatpoint.Shemustremainwhereshewas,andMr.CarmichaelshouldgoandseeMissMinchinhimself.
“IamgladIneednotgoback,”saidSara.“Shewillbeveryangry.Shedoesnotlikeme;thoughperhapsitismyfault,becauseIdonotlikeher.”
But,oddlyenough,MissMinchinmadeitunnecessaryforMr.Carmichaeltogotoher,byactuallycominginsearchofherpupilherself.
ShehadwantedSaraforsomething,andoninquiryhadheardanastonishingthing.
Oneofthehousemaidshadseenherstealoutoftheareawithsomethinghiddenunderhercloak,andhadalsoseenhergoupthestepsofthenextdoorandenterthehouse.
“Whatdoesshemean!”criedMissMinchintoMissAmelia.
“Idon’tknow,I’msure,sister,”answeredMissAmelia.“UnlessshehasmadefriendswithhimbecausehehaslivedinIndia.”
“Itwouldbejustlikehertothrustherselfuponhimandtrytogainhissympathiesinsomesuchimpertinentfashion,”saidMissMinchin.
“Shemusthavebeeninthehousefortwohours.Iwillnotallowsuchpresumption.
Ishallgoandinquireintothematter,andapologizeforherintrusion.”
SarawassittingonafootstoolclosetoMr.Carrisford’sknee,andlisteningtosomeofthemanythingshefeltitnecessarytotrytoexplaintoher,whenRamDassannouncedthevisitor’sarrival.
Sararoseinvoluntarily,andbecameratherpale;butMr.Carrisfordsawthatshestoodquietly,andshowednoneoftheordinarysignsofchildterror.
MissMinchinenteredtheroomwithasternlydignifiedmanner.Shewascorrectlyandwelldressed,andrigidlypolite.
“IamsorrytodisturbMr.Carrisford,”shesaid;“butIhaveexplanationstomake.IamMissMinchin,theproprietressoftheYoungLadies’Seminarynextdoor.”
TheIndiangentlemanlookedatherforamomentinsilentscrutiny.Hewasamanwhohadnaturallyaratherhottemper,andhedidnotwishittogettoomuchthebetterofhim.
“SoyouareMissMinchin?”hesaid.
“Iam,sir.”
“Inthatcase,”theIndiangentlemanreplied,“youhavearrivedattherighttime.Mysolicitor,Mr.Carmichael,wasjustonthepointofgoingtoseeyou.”
Mr.Carmichaelbowedslightly,andMiissMinchinlookedfromhimtoMr.Carrisfordinamazement.
“Yoursolicitor!”shesaid.“Idonotunderstand.Ihavecomehereasamatterofduty.
Ihavejustdiscoveredthatyouhavebeenintrudeduponthroughtheforwardnessofoneofmypupils—acharitypupil.
Icametoexplainthatsheintrudedwithoutmyknowledge.”SheturneduponSara.
“Gohomeatonce,”shecommandedindignantly.“Youshallbeseverelypunished.Gohomeatonce.”
TheIndiangentlemandrewSaratohissideandpattedherhand.
“Sheisnotgoing.”
MissMinchinfeltratherasifshemustbelosinghersenses.
“Notgoing!”sherepeated.
“No,”saidMr.Carrisford.“Sheisnotgoinghome—ifyougiveyourhousethatname.Herhomeforthefuturewillbewithme.”
MissMinchinfellbackinamazedindignation.
“Withyou!Withyousir!Whatdoesthismean?”
“Kindlyexplainthematter,Carmichael,”saidtheIndiangentleman;“andgetitoverasquicklyaspossible.”
AndhemadeSarasitdownagain,andheldherhandsinhis—whichwasanothertrickofherpapa’s.
ThenMr.Carmichaelexplained—inthequiet,level-toned,steadymannerofamanwhoknewhissubject,andallitslegalsignificance,whichwasathingMissMinchinunderstoodasabusinesswoman,anddidnotenjoy.
“Mr.Carrisford,madam,”hesaid,“wasanintimatefriendofthelateCaptainCrewe.
Hewashispartnerincertainlargeinvestments.
ThefortunewhichCaptainCrewesupposedhehadlosthasbeenrecovered,andisnowinMr.Carrisford’shands.”
“Thefortune!”criedMissMinchin;andshereallylostcolorassheutteredtheexclamation.“Sara’sfortune!”
“ItwillbeSara’sfortune,”repliedMr.Carmichael,rathercoldly.“ItisSara’sfortunenow,infact.Certaineventshaveincreaseditenormously.Thediamondmineshaveretrievedthemselves.”
“Thediamondmines!”MissMinchingaspedout.Ifthiswastrue,nothingsohorrible,shefelt,hadeverhappenedtohersinceshewasborn.
“Thediamondmines,”Mr.Carmichaelrepeated,andhecouldnothelpadding,witharathersly,unlawyer-likesmile,“Therearenotmanyprincesses,MissMinchin,whoarericherthanyourlittlecharitypupil,SaraCrewe,willbe.
Mr.Carrisfordhasbeensearchingforherfornearlytwoyears;hehasfoundheratlast,andhewillkeepher.”
AfterwhichheaskedMissMinchintositdownwhileheexplainedmatterstoherfully,andwentintosuchdetailaswasnecessarytomakeitquitecleartoherthatSara’sfuturewasanassuredone,andthatwhathadseemedtobelostwastoberestoredtohertenfold;also,thatshehadinMr.Carrisfordaguardianaswellasafriend.
MissMinchinwasnotacleverwoman,andinherexcitementshewassillyenoughtomakeonedesperateefforttoregainwhatshecouldnothelpseeingshehadlostthroughherworldlyfolly.
“Hefoundherundermycare,”sheprotested.“Ihavedoneeverythingforher.Butformesheshouldhavestarvedinthestreets.”
HeretheIndiangentlemanlosthistemper.
“Astostarvinginthestreets,”hesaid,“shemighthavestarvedmorecomfortablytherethaninyourattic.”
“CaptainCreweleftherinmycharge,”MissMinchinargued.
“Shemustreturntoituntilsheisofage.Shecanbeaparlorboarderagain.Shemustfinishhereducation.Thelawwillinterfereinmybehalf”
“Come,come,MissMinchin,”Mr.Carmichaelinterposed,“thelawwilldonothingofthesort.
IfSaraherselfwishestoreturntoyou,IdaresayMr.Carrisfordmightnotrefusetoallowit.ButthatrestswithSara.”
“Then,”saidMissMinchin,“IappealtoSara.
Ihavenotspoiledyou,perhaps,”shesaidawkwardlytothelittlegirl;“butyouknowthatyourpapawaspleasedwithyourprogress.
And—ahem—Ihavealwaysbeenfondofyou.”
Sara’sgreen-grayeyesfixedthemselvesonherwiththequiet,clearlookMissMinchinparticularlydisliked.
“Haveyou,MissMinchin?”shesaid.“Ididnotknowthat.”
MissMinchinreddenedanddrewherselfup.
“Yououghttohaveknownit,”saidshe;“butchildren,unfortunately,neverknowwhatisbestforthem.
AmeliaandIalwayssaidyouwerethecleverestchildintheschool.
Willyounotdoyourdutytoyourpoorpapaandcomehomewithme?”
Saratookasteptowardherandstoodstill.
Shewasthinkingofthedaywhenshehadbeentoldthatshebelongedtonobody,andwasindangerofbeingturnedintothestreet;shewasthinkingofthecold,hungryhoursshehadspentalonewithEmilyandMelchisedecintheattic.
ShelookedMissMinchinsteadilyintheface.
“YouknowwhyIwillnotgohomewithyou,MissMinchin,”shesaid;“youknowquitewell.”
AhotflushshoweditselfonMissMinchin’shard,angryface.
“Youwillneverseeyourcompanionsagain,”shebegan.“IwillseethatErmengardeandLottiearekeptaway—”
Mr.Carmichaelstoppedherwithpolitefirmness.
“Excuseme,”hesaid;“shewillseeanyoneshewishestosee.
TheparentsofMissCrewe’sfellow-pupilsarenotlikelytorefuseherinvitationstovisitheratherguardian’shouse.Mr.Carrisfordwillattendtothat.”
ItmustbeconfessedthatevenMissMinchinflinched.
Thiswasworsethantheeccentricbachelorunclewhomighthaveapepperytemperandbeeasilyoffendedatthetreatmentofhisniece.
Awomanofsordidmindcouldeasilybelievethatmostpeoplewouldnotrefusetoallowtheirchildrentoremainfriendswithalittleheiressofdiamondmines.
AndifMr.CarrisfordchosetotellcertainofherpatronshowunhappySaraCrewehadbeenmade,manyunpleasantthingsmighthappen.
“Youhavenotundertakenaneasycharge,”shesaidtotheIndiangentleman,assheturnedtoleavetheroom;“youwilldiscoverthatverysoon.
Thechildisneithertruthfulnorgrateful.
Isuppose”—toSara—”thatyoufeelnowthatyouareaprincessagain.”
Saralookeddownandflushedalittle,becauseshethoughtherpetfancymightnotbeeasyforstrangers—evenniceones—tounderstandatfirst.
“I—triednottobeanythingelse,”sheansweredinalowvoice—“evenwhenIwascoldestandhungriest—Itriednottobe.”
“Nowitwillnotbenecessarytotry,”saidMissMinchin,acidly,asRamDasssalaamedheroutoftheroom.
Shereturnedhomeand,goingtohersittingroom,sentatonceforMissAmelia.
Shesatclosetedwithheralltherestoftheafternoon,anditmustbeadmittedthatpoorMissAmeliapassedthroughmorethanonebadquarterofanhour.
Sheshedagoodmanytears,andmoppedhereyesagooddeal.
Oneofherunfortunateremarksalmostcausedhersistertosnapherheadentirelyoff,butitresultedinanunusualmanner.
“I’mnotascleverasyou,sister,”shesaid,“andIamalwaysafraidtosaythingstoyouforfearofmakingyouangry.
PerhapsifIwerenotsotimiditwouldbebetterfortheschoolandforbothofus.
ImustsayI’veoftenthoughtitwouldhavebeenbetterifyouhadbeenlesssevereonSaraCrewe,andhadseenthatshewasdecentlydressedandmorecomfortable.
Iknowshewasworkedtoohardforachildofherage,andIknowshewasonlyhalffed—”
“Howdareyousaysuchathing!”exclaimedMissMinchin.
“Idon’tknowhowIdare,”MissAmeliaanswered,withakindofrecklesscourage;“butnowI’vebegunImayaswellfinish,whateverhappenstome.
Thechildwasacleverchildandagoodchild—andshewouldhavepaidyouforanykindnessyouhadshownher.Butyoudidn’tshowherany.
Thefactwas,shewastoocleverforyou,andyoualwaysdislikedherforthatreason.Sheusedtoseethroughusboth—”
“Amelia!”gaspedherinfuriatedelder,lookingasifshewouldboxherearsandknockhercapoff,asshehadoftendonetoBecky.
ButMissAmelia’sdisappointmenthadmadeherhystericalenoughnottocarewhatoccurrednext.
“Shedid!Shedid!”shecried.“Shesawthroughusboth.
Shesawthatyouwereahard-hearted,worldlywoman,andthatIwasaweakfool,andthatwewerebothofusvulgarandmeanenoughtogrovelonourkneesforhermoney,andbehaveilltoherbecauseitwastakenfromher—thoughshebehavedherselflikealittleprincessevenwhenshewasabeggar.
Shedid—shedid—likealittleprincess!”
Andherhystericsgotthebetterofthepoorwoman,andshebegantolaughandcrybothatonce,androckherselfbackwardandforward.
“Andnowyou’velosther,”shecriedwildly;“andsomeotherschoolwillgetherandhermoney;andifshewerelikeanyotherchildshe’dtellhowshe’sbeentreated,andallourpupilswouldbetakenawayandweshouldberuined.
Anditservesusright;butitservesyourightmorethanitdoesme,foryouareahardwoman,MariaMinchin,you’reahard,selfish,worldlywoman!”
Andshewasindangerofmakingsomuchnoisewithherhystericalchokesandgurglesthathersisterwasobligedtogotoherandapplysaltsandsalvolatiletoquiether,insteadofpouringforthherindignationatheraudacity.
Andfromthattimeforward,itmaybementioned,theelderMissMinchinactuallybegantostandalittleinaweofasisterwho,whileshelookedsofoolish,wasevidentlynotquitesofoolishasshelooked,andmight,consequently,breakoutandspeaktruthspeopledidnotwanttohear.
Thatevening,whenthepupilsweregatheredtogetherbeforethefireintheschoolroom,aswastheircustombeforegoingtobed,Ermengardecameinwithaletterinherhandandaqueerexpressiononherroundface.
Itwasqueerbecause,whileitwasanexpressionofdelightedexcitement,itwascombinedwithsuchamazementasseemedtobelongtoakindofshockjustreceived.
“Whatisthematter?”criedtwoorthreevoicesatonce.
“Isitanythingtodowiththerowthathasbeengoingon?”saidLavinia,eagerly.
“TherehasbeensucharowinMissMinchin’sroom,MissAmeliahashadsomethinglikehystericsandhashadtogotobed.”
Ermengardeansweredthemslowlyasifshewerehalfstunned.
“IhavejusthadthisletterfromSara,”shesaid,holdingitouttoletthemseewhatalongletteritwas.
“FromSara!”Everyvoicejoinedinthatexclamation.
“Whereisshe?”almostshriekedJessie.
“Nextdoor,”saidErmengarde,“withtheIndiangentleman.”
“Where?Where?Hasshebeensentaway?DoesMissMinchinknow?Wastherowaboutthat?Whydidshewrite?Tellus!Tellus!”
Therewasaperfectbabel,andLottiebegantocryplaintively.
Ermengardeansweredthemslowlyasifshewerehalfplungedoutintowhat,atthemoment,seemedthemostimportantandself-explainingthing.
“Therewerediamondmines,”shesaidstoutly;“therewere!”Openmouthsandopeneyesconfrontedher.
“Theywerereal,”shehurriedon.“Itwasallamistakeaboutthem.Somethinghappenedforatime,andMr.Carrisfordthoughttheywereruined—”
“WhoisMr.Carrisford?”shoutedJessie.
“TheIndiangentleman.AndCaptainCrewethoughtso,too—andhedied;andMr.Carrisfordhadbrainfeverandranaway,andhealmostdied.AndhedidnotknowwhereSarawas.
Anditturnedoutthatthereweremillionsandmillionsofdiamondsinthemines;andhalfofthembelongtoSara;andtheybelongedtoherwhenshewaslivingintheatticwithnoonebutMelchisedecforafriend,andthecookorderingherabout.
AndMr.Carrisfordfoundherthisafternoon,andhehasgotherinhishome—andshewillnevercomeback—andshewillbemoreaprincessthansheeverwas—ahundredandfiftythousandtimesmore.
AndIamgoingtoseehertomorrowafternoon.There!”
EvenMissMinchinherselfcouldscarcelyhavecontrolledtheuproarafterthis;andthoughsheheardthenoise,shedidnottry.
Shewasnotinthemoodtofaceanythingmorethanshewasfacinginherroom,whileMissAmeliawasweepinginbed.
Sheknewthatthenewshadpenetratedthewallsinsomemysteriousmanner,andthateveryservantandeverychildwouldgotobedtalkingaboutit.
Sountilalmostmidnighttheentireseminary,realizingsomehowthatallruleswerelaidaside,crowdedroundErmengardeintheschoolroomandheardreadandre-readthelettercontainingastorywhichwasquiteaswonderfulasanySaraherselfhadeverinvented,andwhichhadtheamazingcharmofhavinghappenedtoSaraherselfandthemysticIndiangentlemanintheverynexthouse.
Becky,whohadhearditalso,managedtocreepupstairsearlierthanusual.
Shewantedtogetawayfrompeopleandgoandlookatthelittlemagicroomoncemore.
Shedidnotknowwhatwouldhappentoit.
ItwasnotlikelythatitwouldbelefttoMissMinchin.
Itwouldbetakenaway,andtheatticwouldbebareandemptyagain.
GladasshewasforSara’ssake,shewentupthelastflightofstairswithalumpinherthroatandtearsblurringhersight.
Therewouldbenofiretonight,andnorosylamp;nosupper,andnoprincesssittingintheglowreadingortellingstories—noprincess!
Shechokeddownasobasshepushedtheatticdooropen,andthenshebrokeintoalowcry.
Thelampwasflushingtheroom,thefirewasblazing,thesupperwaswaiting;andRamDasswasstandingsmilingintoherstartledface.
“Misseesahibremembered,”hesaid.“Shetoldthesahiball.
Shewishedyoutoknowthegoodfortunewhichhasbefallenher.Beholdaletteronthetray.Shehaswritten.
Shedidnotwishthatyoushouldgotosleepunhappy.
Thesahibcommandsyoutocometohimtomorrow.
Youaretobetheattendantofmisseesahib.
TonightItakethesethingsbackovertheroof.”
Andhavingsaidthiswithabeamingface,hemadealittlesalaamandslippedthroughtheskylightwithanagilesilentnessofmovementwhichshowedBeckyhoweasilyhehaddoneitbefore.
Share this article to
FINISH