Yes, Father, I know, ' said Sara. ' But I want to be with you. Please come to school with me! I can help you with your lessons.
Mr Crewe smiled, but he was not happy. He loved his little Sara very much, and he did not want to be without her. sara' s mother was dead, and Sara was his only child. Father and daughter were very good friends.
Soon they arrived at Miss Minchin' s School for Girls and went into the big house.
Miss Minchin was atall woman in a black dress. She looked at Sara, and then gave a very big smile.
' What a beautiful child! ' she said to Mr Crewe.
Sara stood quietly and watched Miss Minchin. Why does she say that? ' she thought. ' I am not beautiful, so why does she say it? '
Sara was not beautiful, but her father was rich. And Miss Minchin liked girls with rich fathers, because it was good for the school ( and good for Miss Minchin, too) .
' Sara is a good girl, ' Mr Crewe said to Miss Minchin. ' Her mother was French, so she speaks French well. She loves books, and she reads all the time. But she must play with the other girls and make new friends, too.
' Of course, ' said Miss Minchin. She smiled again. ' Sara is going to be very happy here, Mr Crewe.
Mr Crewe stayed in London for a week. He and Sara went to the shops, and he bought many beautiful, expensive dresses for his daughter. He bought books, and flowers for her room, and abig doll with beautiful dresses, too.
Miss Minchin smiled, but she said to her sister Amelia: ' All that money on dresses for a child of seven! She looks like a little princess, not a schoolgirl! '
When Mr Crewe left London, he was very sad. Sara was very sad too, but she did not cry. She sat in her room and thought about her father on the ship back to India.