A Little Princess

Book Excerpt:

As she sat down in one of the stiff mahogany chairs, Sara cast one of her

quick looks about her.

"I don't like it, papa," she said. "But then I dare say soldiers—even brave

ones—don't really LIKE going into battle."

Captain Crewe laughed outright at this. He was young and full of fun, and he

never tired of hearing Sara's queer speeches.

"Oh, little Sara," he said. "What shall I do when I have no one to say solemn

things to me? No one else is as solemn as you are."

"But why do solemn things make you laugh so?" inquired Sara.

"Because you are such fun when you say them," he answered, laughing still

more. And then suddenly he swept her into his arms and kissed her very hard,

stopping laughing all at once and looking almost as if tears had come into his

eyes.

It was just then that Miss Minchin entered the room. She was very like her

house, Sara felt: tall and dull, and respectable and ugly. She had large, cold, fishy

eyes, and a large, cold, fishy smile. It spread itself into a very large smile when

she saw Sara and Captain Crewe. She had heard a great many desirable things of

the young soldier from the lady who had recommended her school to him.

Among other things, she had heard that he was a rich father who was willing to

spend a great deal of money on his little daughter.

"It will be a great privilege to have charge of such a beautiful and promising

child, Captain Crewe," she said, taking Sara's hand and stroking it. "Lady

Meredith has told me of her unusual cleverness. A clever child is a great treasure

in an establishment like mine."

Sara stood quietly, with her eyes fixed upon Miss Minchin's face. She was

thinking something odd, as usual.

"Why does she say I am a beautiful child?" she was thinking. "I am not

beautiful at all. Colonel Grange's little girl, Isobel, is beautiful. She has dimples

and rose-colored cheeks, and long hair the color of gold. I have short black hair

and green eyes; besides which, I am a thin child and not fair in the least. I am

one of the ugliest children I ever saw. She is beginning by telling a story."