Sara Crewe never forgot her first night in the attic (a small, uncomfortable room at the very top of a house). She was very sad and lonely. She lay awake in the dark room. Her mind was full of pain. She whispered to herself, "My father is dead."
The bed was very hard. Sara Crewe moved many times to find a comfortable place. The wind made a loud, scary noise on the roof. Then she heard another sound. There were scratchings and squeakings in the walls.
These noises came from rats (large animals like mice with long tails) and mice. Becky told Sara Crewe about them before. Sometimes Sara Crewe heard their feet on the floor. She sat up in bed and shook with fear. She covered her head with her blankets.
Sara Crewe’s life changed very quickly. Miss Minchin wanted Sara Crewe to learn her new place. Mariette left the house the next morning. Sara Crewe’s old room was now for a new student. All her beautiful things were gone.
At breakfast, Sara Crewe had a new seat. Lavinia Herbert sat in Sara Crewe's old chair next to Miss Minchin. Sara Crewe sat at a small table with the little children. Miss Minchin spoke to her in a very cold way.
"You must keep the children quiet," Miss Minchin said. "You must see that they behave well. You are late today. Lottie already spilled her tea." This was the start of Sara Crewe's new life.
Sara Crewe had many jobs now. She taught French to the younger children. She helped them with all their lessons. But these were her easiest jobs. She did many other things too.
The cook and the housemaids gave Sara Crewe many orders. They were often mean to her. They liked to tell the "special girl" what to do. They blamed Sara Crewe when things went wrong. Sara Crewe was often tired and hungry.
Sara Crewe went on errands in all types of weather. She walked through the rain and the cold. She was very reliable and clever. Miss Minchin used Sara Crewe to pay bills and clean rooms. Sara Crewe did everything she was told.
Sara Crewe did not have her own lessons anymore. She worked all day for other people. At night, she went to the empty schoolroom. she studied her old books alone. She did not want to forget her education.
"I am almost a servant now," Sara Crewe thought. "But I must remember my history. I do not want to speak like a person with no education. I want to keep my mind sharp."
Sara Crewe was no longer a leader among the students. Miss Minchin did not want Sara Crewe to talk to the girls. Miss Minchin wanted Sara Crewe to live a separate life. She told the girls that Sara Crewe was a "charity student."
The other girls felt awkward around Sara Crewe. Her clothes were old and too small. Her shoes had holes in them. She carried a heavy basket of groceries through the streets. To the other girls, Sara Crewe looked like a servant.
Lavinia Herbert was very mean. She said Sara Crewe looked strange. She did not like the way Sara Crewe looked at people. Sara Crewe heard these words. She knew Lavinia Herbert wanted to make trouble.
Sara Crewe worked very hard every day. She felt very lonely and sad. But she never complained to anyone. "I must be brave," Sara Crewe said to herself. "I will pretend I am a soldier in a war."
Three people helped Sara Crewe feel less alone. The first person was Becky. During the night, Sara Crewe felt better because Becky was in the next room. They could not talk during the day. If they talked, they would get in trouble.
"Do not think I am rude, miss," Becky whispered one morning. "I want to say please and thank you. But I am afraid to take the time." Becky helped Sara Crewe dress every morning before the fire was lit.
At night, Becky knocked softly on Sara Crewe’s door. She wanted to help her friend. For the first few weeks, Sara Crewe was too sad to talk. Becky understood this. She let her friend be quiet.
The second friend was Ermengarde St. John. Ermengarde St. John was not very clever, but she was kind. She went home for a few weeks when Sara Crewe's father died. When she came back, she saw Sara Crewe in the hall.
Sara Crewe carried many clothes to fix. She looked very pale and poor. Ermengarde St. John did not know what to say. She felt very uncomfortable. She gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, Sara Crewe, is that you?" she asked.
Sara Crewe felt angry. She thought Ermengarde St. John was being mean. "Do you think I am happy?" Sara Crewe asked. Then she walked past her friend. Sara Crewe thought Ermengarde St. John did not want to talk to a poor girl.
For many weeks, they did not speak. Ermengarde St. John was very miserable. She sat by the window and looked sad. One day, Jessie saw Ermengarde St. John crying. Ermengarde St. John told Jessie to leave her alone.
One night, Sara Crewe went up to her attic. She saw a light under her door. She opened the door and found Ermengarde St. John. Ermengarde St. John sat on a footstool in her nightgown. She had a red shawl around her.
"Ermengarde St. John!" Sara Crewe cried. "You will get in trouble!" Ermengarde St. John stood up. Her eyes were red from crying. She asked why Sara Crewe did not like her anymore.
Sara Crewe realized she made a mistake. She told Ermengarde St. John about Miss Minchin’s rules. She thought Ermengarde St. John wanted to stay away from her. The two girls hugged each other. They were "best friends" again.
They sat on the floor together. Ermengarde St. John said she could not live without Sara Crewe. Sara Crewe felt happy to have her friend back. She began to use her imagination again.
"I can live here if I pretend," Sara Crewe said. "I will pretend this attic is the Bastille (a famous old prison in Paris). I am a prisoner who has been here for many years."
Sara Crewe’s eyes became bright. "Miss Minchin is the jailer (a person who guards prisoners)," she said. "Becky is the prisoner in the next room. This thought makes me feel better."
Ermengarde St. John loved the story. She asked to visit Sara Crewe every night. She wanted to hear the things Sara Crewe imagined. Sara Crewe nodded. She knew Ermengarde St. John was a true friend.