An exciting thing happened at the school. All the girls talked about it for weeks. Captain Crewe wrote a very interesting letter to Sara Crewe. A friend from school visited Captain Crewe in India.
This friend owned a lot of land. He found diamonds on his land. He started to build diamond mines (deep holes in the ground where people find expensive stones). He asked Captain Crewe to be his partner (a person who works with another person in a business).
If the business was successful, Captain Crewe would be very rich. This story was very exciting for the children. Sara Crewe told stories about the mines to Ermengarde St. John and Lottie. She described dark tunnels and walls of bright, sparkling stones.
Lavinia Herbert was very mean about the story. She told her friend Jessie that diamond mines were not real. "My mother has an expensive diamond ring," Lavinia Herbert said. "If there were many diamonds, everyone would be rich."
"Maybe Sara Crewe will be so rich it will be silly," Jessie said. Lavinia Herbert sniffed. "She is already silly," Lavinia Herbert said. Jessie asked if Lavinia Herbert hated Sara Crewe.
Lavinia Herbert said she did not hate her. Then Jessie told Lavinia Herbert a secret. Sara Crewe pretended that she was a princess. Sara Crewe said this helped her learn her lessons better.
"She thinks she can be a princess even if she is a beggar," Lavinia Herbert said. "Let's call her Your Royal Highness." Lavinia Herbert and Jessie laughed at Sara Crewe.
The lessons for the day were over. The girls sat near the fire in the schoolroom. Miss Minchin and Miss Amelia were drinking tea in their own room. This was a time for the girls to talk and share secrets.
Sara Crewe entered the room with Lottie. Lottie followed Sara Crewe everywhere like a little dog. Lavinia Herbert whispered that she did not like Lottie. She thought Lottie was a loud child.
Lottie went to play with the younger children. Sara Crewe sat in the window to read a book. The book was about the French Revolution (a famous time in history when people fought against the king).
Sara Crewe read about the Bastille (a famous old prison in Paris). The book described prisoners in dark rooms. They stayed there for many years. When they left the prison, they had long gray hair.
Suddenly, Lottie made a loud noise. Lottie fell down and hurt her knee. She began to cry very loudly. Lavinia Herbert told Lottie to stop crying.
"I am not a cry-baby!" Lottie shouted. Sara Crewe put her book down. She ran to Lottie and put her arms around her. Sara Crewe was Lottie's "mamma" at the school.
"You promised to be brave, Lottie," Sara Crewe said in a quiet voice. Lottie cried because she had no real mother. "I am your mamma now," Sara Crewe said. "Come and hear a story about the diamond mines."
Lavinia Herbert was very angry. "I want to slap that spoiled child!" Lavinia Herbert said. Sara Crewe stood up. She did not like Lavinia Herbert.
"I want to slap you, too," Sara Crewe said to Lavinia Herbert. "But I will not do it. We are not gutter children (poor children who live on the street). we are old enough to be good."
"Oh, yes, your royal highness," Lavinia Herbert said. "You are a princess. The school is very special because you are here." Lavinia Herbert laughed at Sara Crewe.
Sara Crewe felt very angry. She wanted to hit Lavinia Herbert. But a princess must be calm. Sara Crewe stood very still. Then she spoke in a quiet, steady voice.
"It is true," Sara Crewe said. "I do pretend I am a princess. I pretend so that I can behave like a good person." Lavinia Herbert did not know what to say.
The other girls listened with interest. They liked the idea of a princess. Some girls called her "Princess Sara" because they liked her. Miss Minchin liked the name too. She thought it made her school sound important.
Becky also thought Sara Crewe was a princess. Becky and Sara Crewe were now secret friends. Sometimes, Becky came to Sara Crewe’s room. She put coal in the fire and Sara Crewe told her stories.
Sara Crewe gave Becky good things to eat. She bought meat pies and sandwiches. "These stay in my stomach," Becky said happily. Becky was not as hungry as before.
Becky told Sara Crewe about her room. Becky lived in an attic (a room at the very top of a house under the roof). There were many rats (large animals like mice with long tails) there.
"Ugh!" Sara Crewe said. She was afraid of rats. But Becky said she was used to them. Becky was just happy to have a friend like Sara Crewe.
Sara Crewe was a natural giver. She had a full heart. She gave Becky help, comfort, and laughter. Laughter was as good for Becky as the meat pies.
A few weeks before Sara Crewe’s eleventh birthday, a letter arrived. Captain Crewe was not feeling well. He was worried about the diamond mines. He did not understand the business papers.
"I am not a businessman," Captain Crewe wrote. "I cannot sleep. I wish my 'little missus' was here to help me." He called Sara Crewe his "little missus" as a joke.
Captain Crewe bought a new doll for Sara Crewe’s birthday. The doll came from Paris. Sara Crewe wrote a letter back. She said this would be her "Last Doll."
Captain Crewe had a bad headache in India. He read Sara Crewe’s letter and laughed. He loved her very much. He wanted to go home and hug her.
The school prepared for a big party. The girls put green leaves on the walls. Sara Crewe went to her room on her birthday morning. She found a small package on the table.
The package was a red pincushion (a small, soft object used to hold sewing pins). It had the words "Menny hapy returns" on it. The spelling was not correct. There was a card with Miss Amelia’s name on it.
Then Becky came into the room. She was smiling. "Do you like it, Miss Sara?" Becky asked. Sara Crewe realized Becky made the gift herself.
Becky used old cloth to make the pincushion. She found the card in the trash. She wanted the gift to look proper. Becky worked at night to finish it.
Sara Crewe hugged Becky tightly. "I love you, Becky!" Sara Crewe said. She had a happy feeling in her heart. Becky was very happy because the "princess" loved her gift.