Sara Crewe lived at the school for several years. She was a very important student. Miss Minchin treated Sara Crewe like a guest. Sara Crewe was never in trouble. This was because Captain Crewe was very rich. Miss Minchin wanted Captain Crewe to be happy.
If Sara Crewe was unhappy, she might leave the school. Miss Minchin did not want that. So, she always praised Sara Crewe. She said Sara Crewe was clever and kind. Sara Crewe was smart. She knew why Miss Minchin was nice to her.
Sara Crewe talked to Ermengarde St. John about her life. "Everything is an accident," Sara Crewe said. "It is an accident that I like books. It is an accident that my father is rich. I am good because everyone is kind to me. I do not know if I am really a nice child."
"Lavinia Herbert is not nice," Ermengarde St. John said. "And she is rich too."
Lavinia Herbert was very jealous (feeling angry because someone else has something you want) of Sara Crewe. Before Sara Crewe came, Lavinia Herbert was the leader of the school. Now, everyone liked Sara Crewe more. Lavinia Herbert hated Sara Crewe’s beautiful velvet coats.
"Sara Crewe is never mean," Jessie said to Lavinia Herbert. "She does not act like she is better than us." This made Lavinia Herbert more angry. She said Sara Crewe was silly. She did not like how Sara Crewe pretended things were real.
Sara Crewe was very kind to the small children. If a child fell down, Sara Crewe helped them. She gave them sweets from her pocket. She never pushed them. She once had a tea party in her room for the youngest students. They used Emily’s small tea cups.
Lottie Legh was a very small girl. She was only four years old. Her mother was dead. Lottie Legh was very spoiled (a child who behaves badly because they always get what they want). When she was unhappy, she screamed very loudly. She often cried because she did not have a mother.
One morning, Sara Crewe heard a loud noise. Lottie Legh was screaming in a room. Miss Minchin and Miss Amelia were there. They tried to make Lottie Legh be quiet. But Lottie Legh screamed louder. "I do not have a mother!" Lottie Legh yelled.
Miss Minchin was very angry. She wanted to punish Lottie Legh. She walked out of the room and saw Sara Crewe.
"Can I try to help?" Sara Crewe asked.
"You are a clever child," Miss Minchin said. "Go in and try."
Sara Crewe went into the room. Lottie Legh was on the floor. She was kicking her fat legs. Miss Amelia was very tired and red. Sara Crewe told Miss Amelia to leave. Then, Sara Crewe sat on the floor. She did not say anything.
Lottie Legh stopped screaming to look at Sara Crewe. "I do not have a mother!" Lottie Legh said again.
"I do not have a mother either," Sara Crewe said.
Lottie Legh was surprised. She stopped kicking. She looked at Sara Crewe. "Where is she?" Lottie Legh asked.
"She went to heaven," Sara Crewe said. Sara Crewe told Lottie Legh a story. She said heaven was a beautiful place. There were many fields of flowers. She said the streets were bright and golden.
"Our mothers can see us from heaven," Sara Crewe said. Lottie Legh listened to every word. She liked the story very much. She moved closer to Sara Crewe.
"I want to go there," Lottie Legh said. "I have no mother at this school."
"I will be your mother," Sara Crewe said. "We can play a game. You are my little girl. Emily is your sister."
Lottie Legh smiled. She was very happy now. She went with Sara Crewe to wash her face and brush her hair. From that day, Sara Crewe was Lottie Legh’s "mother."