Ah, madame, he said, there is not much I can teach her. She did not learn French; she is French. Her accent is perfect.
Miss Minchin felt mortified.
Why didn't you tell me? exclaimed Miss Minchin and turned to Sara.
II tried, said Sara.
Miss Minchin knew she tried, and that it was not her fault that she was not allowed to explain. She heard Lavinia and Jessie giggling.
Silence, young ladies! she said severely.
And she began from that minute to feel rather a grudge against her show pupil.
Glossary
awkwardly ['ɔ:kwǝdli] adv неуклюже, неловко
beɡin (beɡan, beɡun) [bɪ'ɡɪn] v начинать
believe [bɪ'li:v] v верить; думать, полагать
box [bɒks] n коробка, ящик
clothes [kləʊðz] n одежда
familiar [fǝ'mɪliǝ] adj обычный, привычный; знакомый
feet [fi:t] n pl ноги, стопы
fortune ['fɔ:ʧu:n] n удача, счастье; судьба; состояние, богатство; наследство
ɡreen [ɡri:n] adj зелёный
happen ['hhpǝn] v случаться; происходить
hear (heard, heard) [hɪǝ] v слышать
hope [hǝup] n надежда; v надеяться
immediate [ɪ'mi:diǝt] adj немедленный, незамедлительный; мгновенный; непосредственный
interest ['ɪntrǝst] n интерес; v интересовать
lanɡuaɡe ['llŋɡwɪʤ] n язык; речь
learn (learnt, learnt) (learned) [lɜ:n] v изучать; учить, учиться, узнавать
lesson ['les(ǝ)n] n урок, занятие
like [laɪk] v нравиться; любить; adj подобный, похожий
maid [meɪd] n служанка
make (made, made) [meɪk] v делать
nice [naɪs] adj приятный, милый; хороший
perfect ['pɜ:fɪkt] adj совершенный; идеальный; v совершенствовать
polite [pǝ'laɪt] adj вежливый, учтивый, воспитанный
pretty ['prɪti] adj красивый, хорошенький; красивый; adv довольно
quite [kwaɪt] adv совсем, вполне
rise (rose, risen) [raɪz] v поднимать(ся); в(о)сходить
see (saw, seen) [si:] v смотреть, видеть; посмотреть
shy [ʃaɪ] adj застенчивый; робкий, пугливый; v отпрянуть
smile [smaɪl] n улыбка; v улыбаться
take (took, taken) [teɪk] v брать, взять; занимать времени, требоваться; вести кого-л. куда-л.
tell (told, told) [tel] v рассказывать; сообщать; говорить
warm [wɔ:m] adj тёплый; v греть; согревать(ся)
wish [wɪʃ] n желание; v желать
Chapter 3
Ermengarde
On that first morning, when Sara sat at Miss Minchin's side, she noticed a girl. She was sitting in amazement when Sara spoke to Monsieur Dufarge. It was very difficult for this girl to learn French. She stared at Sara so hard and bit the ribbon on her pigtail so bad that Miss Minchin noticed her.
Miss St. John! she exclaimed severely. Get your elbows off the table! Take your ribbon out of your mouth! Sit up at once!
Lavinia and Jessie giggled. Miss St. John looked as if she wanted to cry. Sara saw her and was so sorry for her that she began rather to like her and want to be her friend.
After the classes the pupils gathered together in groups to talk, Sara looked for Miss St. John. She found her sitting by the window all alone. She walked over to her and spoke.
What is your name? she said friendly.
My name's Ermengarde St. John, she answered. She was surprised that the new pupil was talking to her.
Mine is Sara Crewe, said Sara. Yours is very pretty. It sounds like a story book.
You can speak French, can't you? Ermengarde said politely.
I can speak it because I heard it all my life, she answered. You can speak it when you always hear it.
Oh, no, I couldn't, said Ermengarde sadly. I never could speak it!
She paused a moment.
You are clever, aren't you? she added with a touch of awe in her voice.
I don't know, Sara said. I can't tell.
She gave a little laugh and changed the subject.
Do you want to go in my room to play? she asked.
Sure, said Ermengarde.
They jumped down from the window-seat together, and went upstairs.
Is it true, Ermengarde whispered-is it true that you have a playroom only for you?
Yes, Sara answered. Papa asked Miss Minchin give me one. When I play I make up stories and tell them to myself, and I don't like people to hear me. The story becomes bad when people listen.
You make up stories! she gasped. Can you do that-as well as speak French? Can you?
Sara looked at her in simple surprise.
Why, anyone can make up things, she said.
She put her hand warningly on Ermengarde's.
Let us go very quietly to the door, she whispered mysteriously, and then I will open it quite suddenly; perhaps we may catch her.
Ermengarde didn't know what Sara was talking about. Sara suddenly turned the handle, and opened the door wide. The room behind the door was quite neat and quiet. Ermengarde saw a gorgeous doll sitting in a chair before the fire. Captain Crewe bought that doll for Sara before he left to India. Sara named the doll Emily.
Oh, she sat down to her seat before we could see her! Sara explained.
Ermengarde looked from her to the doll and back again.
Can she-walk? she asked in a surprise.
Yes, answered Sara. At least I believe she can. At least I pretend I believe she can. Don't you ever pretend things?
No, said Ermengarde. Never. I-tell me about it.
Sara sat upon the hearth-rug and told her strange things. She told stories of the voyage, and stories of India; and about the doll, Emily, too. She told how her papa bought it for her and how she believed it comes to life when no one sees. Ermengarde saw Sara became sad in the face.
Have you a-a pain? Ermengarde asked.
I just miss my papa, Sara answered. I love him more than anything in the world. But I promised him I would bear it. And I will.
Ermengarde was in a surprise of her strength. Since that moment, they became best friends, just like Lavinia and Jessie.
Glossary
catch (cauɡht, cauɡht) [kæʧ] v ловить
cry [kraɪ] n крик; v кричать, воскликнуть; плакать
fire [faɪǝ] n огонь; пожар; камин
ɡasp [ɡɑ:sp] n перехват дыхания; затруднённое дыхание; сильный резкий вдох; v задыхаться; тяжело дышать
pretend [prɪ'tend] v притворяться
Chapter 4
Becky
Ermengarde was not the only friend Sara made in the school. Smaller children especially loved Sara for her mother-like behavior. She could calm any crying child by just talking to them. They loved her made up stories about fairies and knights, kings and queens. Children used to gather around her to listen to her. And when she told her stories, she looked very interested herself.
When I tell it, she would say, it doesn't seem as if it was only made up. It seems more real than you are-more real than the schoolroom. I feel I can become all the people in the story-one after the other. It is strange.
It was almost two years of Sara being in Miss Minchin's school. She was sitting in the midst of a group of listeners in a corner of the schoolroom telling one of her stories. It was a wonderful story about a princess who was loved by a Prince Merman, and went to live with him in shining caves under the sea. Sara noticed that the servant girl who swept the hearth did her job rather slowly. Sara was smart enough to see that the girl was deeply interested in her story. She raised her voice and continued. Suddenly the hearth brush fell from the work-roughened hand. Lavinia Herbert looked round.
That girl was listening, she said.
Sara felt rather angry.
I knew she was listening, she said. Why shouldn't she?
Well, Lavinia remarked, I do not know whether your mamma would like you to tell stories to servant girls, but I know my mamma wouldn't like me