书虫之小公主

Chapterone：SchoolinEnglandOnecoldwinterday，alittlegirlandherfatherarrivedinLondon.SaraCrewelwassevenyearsold，andshehadlongblackhairandgreeneyes.Shesatinthecabnexttoherfatherandlookedoutofthewindowatthetallhousesandthedarksky.“Whatareyouthinkingabout,Sara?”Mr.Creweasked.“Youareveryquiet.”Heputhisarmroundhisdaughter.“IamthinkingaboutourhousesinIndia，”saidSara.“Andthehotsunandthebluesky.Idon’tthinkIlikeEnglandverymuch,father.”“Yes，it’sverydifferentfromIndia,”herfathersaid.“ButyoumustgotoschoolinLondon，andImustgobacktoIndiaandwork.”“Yes，father，Iknow，”saidSara.“ButIwanttobewithyou.Pleasecometoschoolwithme！Icanhelpyouwithyourlessons.”Mr.Crewesmiled，buthewasnothappy.HelovedhislittleSaraverymuch，andhedidnotwanttobewithouther.Sara’smotherwasdead，andSarawashisonlychild.Fatheranddaughterwereverygoodfriends.SoontheyarrivedatMissMinchin’sSchoolforgirlsandwentintothebighouse.MissMinchinwasatallwomaninablackdress.ShelookedatSara，andthengaveaverybigsmile.“Whatabeautifulchild！”ShesaidtoMr.Crewel.SarastoodquietlyandwatchedMissMinchin.“Whatdoesshesaythat？”shethought.“Iamnotbeautiful，sowhydoesshesayit？”Sarawasnotbeautiful，butherfatherwasrich.AndMissMinchinlikedgirlswithrichfathers，becauseitwasgoodfortheschool（andgoodforMissMinchin，too）.“Saraisagoodgirl，”Mr.CrewesaidtoMissMinchin.“HermotherwasFrench，soshespeaksFrenchwell.Shelovesbooks，andshereadsallthetime.Butshemustplaywiththeothergirlsandmakenewfriends，too.“ofcourse，”saidMissMinchin.Shesmiledagain.“SaraisgoingtoBeveryhappyhere，Mr.Crewe.”Mr.CrewestayedinLondonforaweek.HeandSarawenttotheshops，andboughtmanybeautiful，expensivedressesforhisdaughter.Heboughtbooks，andflowersforherroom，andbigdollwithbeautifuldresser，too.MissMinchinsmiled，butshesaidtohersisterAmelia.“Allthatmoneyondressesforachildofseven！Shelookslikealittleprincess，notaschoolgirl！”WhenMr.CreweleftLondon，hewasverysad.Sarawasverysad，too.Butshedidnotcry.ShesatinherroomandthoughtaboutherfatherontheshipbacktoIndia.“Fatherwantsmetobehappy，”shesaidtohernewdoll.“IlovehimverymuchandIwanttobeagooddaughter，soImustbehappy.Itwasabig，andverybeautifuldoll，butofcourseitcouldnotanswer.Sarasoonmadenewfriendsintheschool.Somelittlerichgirlsarenotverynicechildren.Theythinktheyareimportantbecausetheyhavemoneyandlotsofexpensivethings.ButSarawasdifferent.Shelikedbeautifuldressesanddolls，butshewasmoreinterestedinpeople，andbooks，andtellingstories.Shewasverygoodattellingstories.Shewasacleverchild，andtheothergirlslovedtolistentoher.Thestorieswereallaboutkingsandqueensandprincessesandwonderfulcountriesacrossthesea.“Howdoyouthinkofallthosethings？”askedherbestfriend，Ermengarde.“Ihaveallthesepicturesinmyhead，”saidSara.“Soitiseasytotellstoriesaboutthem.”PoorEemengardewasnotclever.Shecouldneverrememberanyofherschoollessons，andMissMinchinwasalwaysangrywithher.SaraoftenhelpedErrnengardewithherlessons.“Listen，Ermie.”shesaid.“YourememberthatFrenchking，Louisthesixteenth.Well，thisisastoryabouthim.Onedayin1972…”AndsoErmengardelearntherlessonsthroughSara’sstories，andshelovedherfriendsverymuch.ButnoteverybodywasSara’friend.Laviniawasanoldergirl.BeforeSaracome，Laviniawastherichestandthemostimportantgirlintheschool.ButSara’sfatherwasricherthanLavinia’sfather.SonowSarawasmoreimportantthanLavinia，andLaviniadidnotlikethat.“On，Saraissoclever！”Laviniaoftensaid.“SaraissogoodatFrench！Herdressesaresobeautiful，andshecansingsowell！Andsheissorich！OfcourseMissMinchinlikesherbest！”SaradidnotanswerwhenLaviniasaidthesethings.Sometimes，itwasnoteasy，butSarawasakind，friendlygirl，andshedidnotliketobeangrywithanyone.ChapterTow：ThediamondminesAndsothreeyearswentby.Sara’sfatherwrotetoheroften，andSarawrotelovinglittlelettersbacktohim.Onedayaveryexcitingletterarrived.Everybodyintheschooltalkedaboutitfordays.“Myfriend，”wroteMr.Crewe，“hassomeminesinnorthernIndia，andamonthago，hisworkersfounddiamondsthere.Therearethousandsofdiamondsinthesemines，butitisexpensiveworktogetthemout.Myfriendneedsmyhelp.So，littleMissus（thiswasMr.Crewe’sspecialnameforSara），Iamputtingallmymoneyintomyfriend’sdiamondmines，andonedayyouandIaregoingtobeveryrich.”Sarawasnotinterestedinmoney，butastoryaboutdiamondminesinIndiawasexciting.NearlyeverybodywasverypleasedforSara，butnotLavinia，ofcourse.“Huh！”shesaid.“Mymotherhasadiamond.Lotsofpeoplehavediamonds.Whatissointerestingaboutdiamondmines？”“Buttherearethousandsofdiamondsinthesemines.”saidErmengarde.“Perhapsmillionofthem!”Lavinialaughed，“IsSaragoingtoweardiamondinherhairatbreakfast，then？Orisit‘PrincessSara’now？”Sara’sfacewentred.ShelookedatLaviniaangrily，butsaidquietly，“Somepeoplecallme‘princess’.Iknowthat.Butprincessdonotgetangryorsayunkindthings，soI’mnotgoingtosayanythingtoyou，Lavinia.”“Tome，youareaprincess，”ErmengardesaidtoSaralater.“Andyoualwayslooklikeaprincess，inyourbeautifuldresses.”Sarawasaprincesstoanothergirl，too.ThiswasBecky.ShewasaservantinMissMinchin’sschool，andshewasonlyfourteenyearsold，butsheworkedalldayandsometimeshalfthenight.Shecarriedthingsupstairsanddownstairs，shecleanedthefloors，shemadethefires，andshewasalwaystiredandhungryanddirty.SheandSarahadverydifferentlives.ButonedaySaracameintoherbedroom，andtherewasBecky，sleepinginachair.“Oh，youpoorthings！”Sarasaid.ThenBeckyopenedhereyesandsawSara.Shegotupatonce.“Oh，Miss！”shesaid.“Iamverysorry，Miss！Ijustsatdownforaminuteand…”“Don’tbeafraid！”SaidSara.ShegaveBeckyafriendsmile.“Youweretired.Thatisall.”“Areyou，areyougoingtotellMissMinchin”askedBecky.Shebegantomovetothedoor.“Ofcoursenot，”saidSara.“Pleasedonotrunaway.Sitdownagainforaminute.Youlooksotired.”“Oh，Miss，Icannot！”Beckysaid.“Youareverykind，Miss，butMissMinchin.”“Please，”saidSara.ShetookBecky’shand.“Youareonlyalittlegirl，likeme.Letusbefriends.”AndsoBeckysatdownagain，andsoonsheandSarawerefriends.Nobodyknewaboutthis，ofcourse.RichlittlegirlsatMissMinchin’sschooldidnotmakefriendswithservant-girls，anditwasawonderfulthingforBecky.NearlyeverydaysheandSarametinSara’bedroom，justforfiveortenminutes.Beckywasalwayshungry，andSaraoftenboughtnicethingsforhertoeat.Theysatandtalked，andsometimesSaratoldBeckysomeofherstories.Beckylovedthat.“Oh，Miss，”shesaid.“Youtellthemsobeautifully！SometimesIlikeyourstoriesbetterthanthingstoeat.”AndafterthosevisitstoSara’sroom，Beckyalwaysfeltbetternotsotired，andnotsohungry.SomemonthslaterSarahadhereleventhbirthday.Lessonsstoppedfortheafternoonandtherewasabigpartyforallthegirlsintheschool.“Thispartyisexpensiveforus，”MissMinchinsaidtohersisterAmelia.“Butitlooksgoodfortheschool.”Thatafternoontherewasavisitortotheschool，MissMinchin’slawyer.HewentwithMissMinchinintoherofficeandtheyclosedthedoor.IntheschoolroomnextdoortherewasalotofnoisefromSara’sparty.Everybodyintherewasveryhappy.ButintheofficeMissMinchinwasnothappy.Shelookedatthelawyerangrily.“Whatareyousaying？Mr.Crewehasnomoney？Whataboutthediamondmines？”“Therearenodiamondmines.”Saidthelawyer.“Well，therearemines，buttherearenodiamondinthem.”“ButMr.Crewe’sgoodfriend.”BeganMissMinchin.“Mr.Crewe’sgoodfriend，”saidthelawyer，“ranawaywithallMr.Crewe’smoney.RalphCrewewasillwithafever，andwhenheheardaboutthis，hegotworse.Aweeklater，hewasdead.“Dead！”criedMissMinchin.“ButwhatabouthisdaughterSara？Andthisexpensivebirthdayparty？”“SaraCrewehasnomoney，”saidthelawyer.“Notapennyintheworld，MissMinchin.Notapenny.”“Shemustleavemyschoolatonce，”MissMinchinsaidangrily.“Shemustgothisafternoon！”“Where？”saidthelawyer.“Outintothestreets？Aneleven-year-oldgirl？thatisnotgoingtolookverygoodforyourschool，MissMinchin.”MissMinchin’sfacewentred.“Youcannotputheroutinthestreets，”saidthelawyer.Hestoodup.“Butperhapsshecanworkforyou.”Thelawyerleft，andMissMinchincalledhersisterAmelia.“BringSaraCrewehereatonce.”shesaid.Twominuteslater，Sarainherbeautifulbluepartydress，stoodinfrontofMissMinchin.“Haveyouablackdress，Sara？”MissMinchinsaidcoldly.“Yes，MissMinchin，”saidSara.“Butitisverysmall.”“Goandputitonatonce，”saidMissMinchin.“Yourfatherisdead.Therewerenodiamondmines，andyourfather’sfriendranawaywithallhismoney.Youhavenothing.Notaparty.ButIamgoingtobeverykindtoyou.Youcanstayinmyhouse，butnowyoumustbeaservantandworkforyourbread.Youcansleepinaservant’sroomupstairs，nexttoBecky’sroom.ChapterThree：Thenewservant-girlThatevening，intheatticroom，Sarasatonthebedintheoldblackdress.Shedidnotcry，butherfacewaswhiteandshedidnotmoveorspeakforhours.Lateatnightthedooropenedquietly，andBeckylookedin.Hereyeswereredfromcrying.“Oh，Miss，”shesaid.“Alltheservantaretalkingaboutit.Iamsosorry！”ShelookedatSara’swhiteface，andbegantocryagain.ThensherantoSara，andtookherhand.AtlastSaramoved.Slowly，sheturnedherheadandlookedatBecky.“Oh，Becky.”shesaid.Andthatwasall.Thatfirstnightintheatticwasverylong.Saradidnotsleep.“Fatherisdead.”shewhispered，againandagain.“Fatherisdead.Iamnevergoingtoseehimagain.”Thenextmorning，Sara’snewlifebegan.Shelearnttocleanflowersandtomakefires.Sheranupstairsanddown-stairsandsheworkedinthekitchen.Thecookwasabigwomanwithared，angryface.“So，”shesaid，“thelittlerichgirlwiththediamondminesisnowaservant，eh？”ShelookedatSara.“Now，Iammakingapplepiesthismorning.Rundowntotheshopsandgetmesomeapple，Andbequick！”SoSararantotheshops，andcarriedabigbagofapplesbacktothehouse.Thenshecleanedthekitchenfloor，andcarriedhotwateruptoallthebedrooms.Sheworkedeveryday，fromearlyinthemorningtolateatnight.Shehelpedintheschool，too.“YouspeakFrenchwell，”MissMinchinsaidtohercoldly.“SoyoucanteachFrenchtotheyoungerchildren.Butyouareonlyaservant.Dotnotforgetthat.”ThefirstmonthsofSara’snewlifewereveryhard.Shewasalwaystiredandhungry，butshenevercried.Atnight，inherlittleattic，shethoughtaboutherfather，deadinIndiaallthosemilesaway.“Imustbebrave，”shesaid.“Fatheralwayswantedmetobebrave.AndIhaveabedtosleepin，andsomethingtoeateveryday.Lotsofpeopledonothavethat.”AtfirstSara’sonlyfriendwasBecky.EverydayBeckycameintoSara’sroom.Theydidnottalkmuch，butithelpedSaraalottoseeBecky’sfriendly，smilingface.ThegirlsintheschoolweresorryforSara，butSarawasaservantnow，andtheycouldnotbefriendlywithaservant.Lavinia，ofcourse，waspleased.“IneverlikedSaraCrewe，”shetoldherfriends.“AndIwasrightaboutthediamondstherewerenotany.”Ermengardewasveryunhappy.WhenshesawSaraintheschool，Sarawalkedpastheranddidnotspeak.PoorErmengardelovedSaraandwantedtobefriendly，butshewasnotclever，andshedidnotunderstand.Onemorning，veryearly，shegotquietlyoutofbed，wentupstairstotheattic，andopenedSara’sdoor.“Ermengarde！”Sarasaid.“Whatareyoudoinghere？”Ermengardebegantocry.“Oh，Sara，pleasetellme.Whatisthematter？”“Whydon’tyoulikemenow？”“Idolikeyou，”Sarasaid.“OfcourseIdo.Butyousee，everythingisdifferentnow.MissMinchindoesn’twantmetotalktothegirls.Mostofthemdon’twanttotalktome.AndIthought，perhaps，youdidnotwantto…”“ButI’myourfriend！”criedErmengarde.“Iamalwaysgoingtobeyourfriendandnobodycanstopme！”SaratookErmengarde’hands.Shesuddenlyfeltveryhappy.Perhapsshecriedalittle，too.Whocansay？Therewasonlyonechair，sothetwofriendssatonthebed.Ermengardelookedroundtheattic.“Oh，Sara，howcanyouliveinthisroom？Itissocoldand…anddirty.”“It’snotsobad，”saidSara，“AndIhavegotlotsoffriends.ThereisBeckyinthenextroom，andcomeandsee.”Shemovedthetableunderthewindow，andthensheandErmengardestoodonitandlookedoutofthewindow，overtheroofsofhouses.InherpocketSarahadsomesmallpiecesofbread.Sheputherhandoutofthewindow，withthebreadonit.“Watch.”shesaid.AfteraminutealittlebrownbirdflewdowntoSara’shandandbegantoeatthebread.Thenasecondbirdcame，andthethird，andafourth.“Oh，Sara.Howwonderful！”saidErmengarde.“TheyknowIamtheirfriend，”saidSara.“Sotheyarenotafraid.Sometimestheycomeinto，too.”Ermengardelookedacrosstherooftothenextatticwindow.“Wholivesinthathouse？”sheasked.“Nobody，”saidSarasadly.“SoIneverseeanybodyatthewindow，andIcanonlytalktothebirds.”Butonenight，twoorthreeweekslater，BeckycameintoSara’sroom.Shewasveryexcited.“Oh，Miss！”shesaid.“AnIndiangentlemanismovingintothehousenextdoor.Well，heisEnglish，buthelivedinIndiaforyearsandyears.Andnowheisgoingtolivenextdoor.Heisveryrich，andheisill.Somethingbadhappenedtohim，butIdon’tknowwhat.”Saralaughed.“Howdoyouknowallthis？”shesaid.“well，Miss，youknowtheCarmichaelfamilyacrossthestreet？”Beckysaid.“Iamfriendlywiththeirkitchen-girl，andshetoldme.Mr.CarmichaelistheIndiangentleman’slawyer，sotheyknowallabouthim.”ChapterFour：RamDassandthemoneyEverymorning，whenSaragavethebirdstheirbread，shelookedacrosstotheatticwindownextdoor.Butnobodyopenedit.Nobodycalledout“Goodmorning！”acrosstheroof，orgaveSaraafriendlysmile.“PerhapstheIndiangentleman’servantsallsleepdown-stairs.”shethoughtsadly.Herlifewereverylonelynow.ShesawBeckyeveryday，ofcourse，buttheydidnothavemuchtimefortalking.Thecookandtheotherservantswerenotfriendly.Sometimes，atnight，ErmengardecameuptoSara’sroom，butitwasnoteasyforhertocomeoften.Thenoneevening，Sarawasinheratticwhensheheardanoiseontheroof.Shelookedupandthereattheopenwindowwasasmallmonkey.“Oh，youdearlittlething！”criedSara.Atonce，themonkeyjumpeddownandbegantorunroundtheroom.Saralaughed.Shegotuponthetableandlookedoutofherwindow，andatthenextwindowshesawafacethesmilingfaceofanIndianlascar.“Oh，”criedSara，“haveyougotamonkey？Heisinmyroom.”Thelascar’snamewasRamDass，andyes，itwashismonkey.HegaveSaraabigsmile.“Iamsosorry，”hesaid.“CanIcomeandgethim？”“Ohyes，please，”saidSara.“Ithinkheisafraidofme.Andherunssofast.Butcanyougetacrosstheroof？”Yes，RamDasscould，andaminutelaterhewasinSara’sroom.Soonthemonkeyjumpedintohisarms，andRamDassthankedSaraagainandagain.Thenhewentaway，acrosstheroof，backintothehousenextdoor.Sarawenttotheshopsfiveorsixtimesaday，andwhenshewalkedpassthehousenextdoor，sheoftenthoughtabouttheIndiangentleman.Shefeltsorryforhim.Hehadnowifeorfamily，andthedoctorvisitedthehouseeveryday.Mr.Carmichael，thelawyeroftenvisited，too，andsometimestheCarmichaelchildrenwentwithhim.Sarawaspleasedaboutthat.“Itisnicetoseefriendlyfaceswhenyouareill.”shethought.TheIndiangentlemanthoughtthat，too.Helikedchildrenverymuch，buthewasaveryunhappyman.Mr.Carmichaelwashisfriend，andhetalkedtohimalot.Buttheytalkedaboutonlyonething.“Imustfindthechild，”saidtheIndiangentleman（hisnamewasMr.Carrrisford）.“Imustfindherandtakecareofher.Butwhereisshe？HereIam，withallthismoneyfromthediamondmines，andhalfofitisRalphCrewe’smoney.Oh，Carmichael，whydidIleavemyfriendandrunawaywhenthingslookedbadWhy“Youranawaybecauseyouwereillwithafever，”saidMr.Carmichael.“Itnearlykilledyou，remember？”“AnditdidkillpoorRalph，”saidMr.Carrisford.“HeputallhismoneyintotheminesbecauseIwashisfriend.Butatfirstwedidnotfindanydiamonds，andallRalph’smoneywasgone.Iwasafraidtotellhim，soIranaway.Andlater，whenwedidfinddiamonds，Ralphwasdead.”Helaughed，angrily.“WhatabravefriendIwas！”“Itisnoteasytobebrave，”Mr.Carmichaelsaidquietly，“whenyouareillwithafever.”Mr.Carrisfordlookedintothefire.“RamDasstellsme，”hesaid，“aboutalittleservant-girlnextdoor.Themonkeyranaway，andRamDasswentacrosstherooftogethimbackfromherroom.Thepoorchildsleepinacold，dirtyattic，andworksaboutsixteenhoursaday.IsRalph’sdaughterlivinglikethat？Ican’tstopthinkingaboutit.”“Wearegoingtofindheroneday.”saidMr.Carmichael.“Buthow？”saidMr.Carrisford.Heputhisheadinhishands.“Ineversawher.Idon’tknowhername！Ralphalwayscalledherhis‘LittleMissus’.Wetalkedallthetimeaboutthemines.Henevertoldmethenameofherschool.HermotherwasFrench，sodidhetakehertoaschoolinFrance？OrwasinEnglish？”“Well，weknowtherewasachildataschoolinParis，”saidMr.Carmichael，“withthenameofCareworCrewe.Herfatherdiedsuddenly，andaRussianfamilytookherawaywiththem，becauseshewasafriendoftheirdaughter.PerhapsthegirlisRalphCrewe’schild.NextweekIamgoingtoMoscowtolookforher.”“Iwanttogowithyou，butIamnotwell，”saidMr.Carrisford.“Imustfindher，Carmichael.Imust.Everynight，inmydreams，IseeRalphCrewe’sface，andhesays‘Tom，Tom，whereismylittleMissus？’AndIhavenoanswerforhim.”Mr.Carrisfordtookhisfriend’shand.“Helpmetofindher.Helpme.”Wintercame，withitsshort，darkdays，andtheatticroomswereverycold.Therewerenofiresforservantgirls，andoftenSaraandBeckycouldnotsleepbecauseofthecold.Sarawastallernow，andheroldblackdresswasveryshort.Hershoeswereold，andshehadnowarmcoatforthewinterweather.Shewasthin，too.Shedidnotgetverymuchtoeat，andshewasalwayshungry.Shecarriedbigbasketsofshoppingthroughtherainandthesnow.Onedayshefoundasixpenceinthesnow，andsheboughtsomehotnewbreadwithit.Thenshesawachildbythedooroftheshop.Thechildhadno-shoesandnocoat，andherfacewasbluewithcold.“SheishungrierthanIam.”thoughtSara.Andshegaveherhotnewbreadtothechild.Whenshegotbacktotheschool，MissMinchinwasangry.“Cookiswaitingforyou，Sara.Whyareyoulate？”“Ican’twalkquicklythroughthesnow，”saidSara.“Myshoesareold，MissMinchin，andmyfeetgetverycold.”MissMinchindidnotliketohearthis.“Don’tspeaktomelikethat！”shesaid.“Iamkindtoyou.Iamgivingyouahome，butyouneversay‘thankyou’tome.Saralookedather.“Youarenotkind，”shesaidquietly.“Andthisisnotahome.”OnthestairsSarametLavinia.Lavinialookedatherandgavealittlelaugh.“Oh，hereisPrincessSara，”shesaid，“inherolddressandherdirtyshoes！”Intheattic，Sarasatsownonthechairbyhertable.“Imustbebrave，”shewhispered.“Aprincessisalwaysbrave，soImustbe，too.Butitisnoteasy.”Sheputherheaddownonherarms.“Oh，father，doyourememberyourLittleMissus？Canyouseemenow？”Andinthehousenextdoor，Mr.Carrisfordsatbyawarmfire.MoscowisalongwayfromLondon，andhecouldonlywait，buthethoughtaboutRalphCrewe’schildeveryday.Hethoughtaboutotherchildren，too.“RamDass，”hesaid.“Howisthatpoorlittleservant-girlnextdoor？Canwedosomethingforher？“Iseeherinthestreeteveryday，”saidRamDass.“Intherain，inthesnow.Shelooksthinandhungry.Butwecanhelpher.Icaneasilygetinthroughheratticwindow.Listen…”Andhetalkedforsomeminutes.Mr.Carrisfordsmiled.“Yes，”hesaidtoRamDass.“Yes，Ilikeit.Letusdoit.”ChapterFive：ThemagicOnenight，aweeklater，Ermengardegotquietlyoutofbedandwentupstairstotheattic.Sarawasnotthere，soErmengardesatonthebedandwaited.Atteno’clockSaracameslowlyupthestairsandintotheroom.Ermengardelookedather.“Oh，Sara！”shecried.“Areyouill？yourfaceiswhite，andyoulooksotired！”“Itwasahardday，Ermie，”saidSara.Shesatdown.“MissMinchinwasangrywithcook.Thencookwasangrywithus.BeckyandIhadnodinnerandnotea.”“Doesthathappenoften？”saidErmengardeunhappily.“Younevertoldme.Areyou…areyouhungrynow？”Saralookedather.“Yes，”shewhispered.“Yes，Iam.Iwouldliketoeatthattable.Iwouldliketoeatyou.”Ermengardejumpedup.“Sara，”shecried.“Ihadaboxofthingsfromhometoday.Thereisabigcakeinit.Iamgoingtogetitnow！YouandBeckycaneatitall！”Soon，Ermengardewasback.ThethreegirlssatonSara’sbed，andthereweresomehappysmileswhenErmengardeopenedherboxandtookoutthecake.“Oh，miss，lookatthat！”saidBecky.“Youarekind，Ermie，”saidSara.Shelaughed.“Itismagic，youknow？Whenthingsareverybad，somethingnicealwayshappens.Haveweare，havingaparty！ErmengardegaveSaraandBeckysomecake，andtheybegantoeat.Suddenly，theystopped.Therewasanoiseoffeetonthestairs.Theylistened.“Ohno！”whisperedBecky.“Itis…itisMissMinchin！““Yes，”saidSara.Herfacewaswhiteagain.Thenthedooropened，andMissMinchincamein.“SoLaviniawasright，”shesaidangrily，“TeawithPrincessSara！Becky，getbacktoyouratticatonce！”“Oh，please，MissMinchin！”criedErmengarde，“Itwasmycake，fromhome.Weareonlyhavingaparty.”“Gobacktoyourroom，Ermengarde，”MissMinchinsaidcoldly，“andtakethesethingswithyou.Andtomorrow”shelookedatSara，“thereisnobreakfast，nodinner，andnoteaforyou.Rememberthat！”Soontheatticwerequietagain.Tiredandhungry，thetwoservant-girlswenttosleep.ButafteranhourortwoSaraopenedhereyes.Wasitanoisefromthewindowperhaps？“Somethingisdifferent，”Sarawhispered.“Whatisit？”Shesatupinbedandlookedroundtheroom.Shelookedagainandagain，andhereyeswereverybig.Theroomwasdifferentverydifferent.Therewaswonderfulhotfire.Therewerenew，warmblanketsonherbed，andbeautifulpicturesonthewalls.Saraslowlygotoutofbed.“Isthisadream？”shesaid.“Wheredidallthesethingscomefrom？”Sheputoutherhandtothefire.“No，itisnotadream.ThefireishotIcanfeelit.Andoh！Lookatthetable！”Therewasaredclothonthetable，andcupsandplates.Therewashottea，andwonderfulthingstoeat，hotmeatpiesandsandwichesandcake，orangesandapples.SararantoBecky’sroom.“Becky，”shewhispered.“comequickly.Themagicishereagain.Comeandlook.”WhenBeckysawtheroom，shecouldnotspeakatfirst.Thenshesaid，“Oh，Miss！Whatisit？Howdidallthesethingsgethere？”“Idon’tknow.”saidSara.“It’smagic.AtfirstIthoughtitwasadream，butitisn’t.Look，thesepiesarehot.Letuseatthem.Hotmeatpiesaren’tdream！”Theysatdownbythefire，andateanddrank.“Oh，thesepiesweregood，Miss！”Beckysaid.“Andtheteaandthecake.Idon’tunderstandmagic，butIlikeit！”Saralookedroundtheroom.“Oh，Becky，look！Therearesomebooks，