13 A Little Princess
This is chapter 13 of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic Cinderella story. A young girl who maintains kindness above all as she goes from riches to rags and back again. Sara Crewe is the privileged daughter of a wealthy merchant and is treated like the princess of Miss Minchin's boarding school. Until tragedy strikes, that is. In this episode, Sara has an unexpected encounter at the baker's.
Transcript
A LITTLE PRINCESS by Frances Hodgson Burnett At thirteen,
The winter was a wretched one.
There were days on which Sarah trampled through snow when she went on her errands.
There were worse days when the snow melted and combined itself with mud to form slush.
There were others when the fog was so thick,
The lamps in the streets were lighted all day,
And London looked as if it had looked the afternoon.
Several years ago,
When the cab had driven through the thoroughfares,
With Sarah tucked up on its seat,
Leaning against her father's shoulder.
On such days the windows of the house of the large family always looked delightfully cosy and alluring,
And the study in which the Indian gentlemen sat glowed with warmth and rich colour.
But the attic was dismal beyond words.
There were no longer sunsets or sunrises to look at,
And scarcely ever any stars.
The clouds hung low over the skylight and were either grey or mud-colour,
Or dropping heavy rain.
At four o'clock in the afternoon,
Even when there was no special fog,
The daylight was at an end.
If it was necessary to go to her attic for anything,
Sarah was obliged to light a candle.
The women in the kitchen were depressed,
And that made them more ill-tempered than ever.
Becky was driven like a little slave.
"'Twant for you,
Miss,
" she said hoarsely to Sarah one night,
When she had crept into the attic.
"'Twant for you and the Bastille and being the prisoner in the next cell.
I should die.
That there does seem real now,
Doesn't it?
The missus is more like the head jailer every day she lives.
I can just see them big keys,
The way she carries them.
The cook,
She's like one of the under-jailers.
"'Tell me some more,
Miss,
Please.
Tell me some about the subterranean passage we've dug under the walls.
' "'I'll tell you something warmer,
' shivered Sarah.
"'Get your coverlet and wrap it round you,
And I'll get mine,
And we'll huddle it together on the bed,
And I'll tell you about the tropical forest where the Indian gentleman's monkey used to live.
' When I see him sitting on the table near the window and looking out into the street,
I always feel he's thinking about the tropical forest where he used to swing by his tail from the coconut trees.
I wonder who caught him,
And if he left a family behind who depended on him for coconuts.
' "'That is warmer,
Miss,
' said Becky gratefully.
"'In some ways even the Bastille's sort of heating up when you get to telling about it.
' "'That's because it makes you think of something else,
' said Sarah,
Wrapping the coverlet around her until only her small dark face was to be seen.
"'I've noticed this.
What you have to do with your mind when your body's miserable is to make it think of something else.
' "'Can you do it,
Miss?
' faltered Becky,
Regarding her with admiring eyes.
Sarah knitted her brows a moment.
"'Sometimes I can and sometimes I can't,
' she said stoutly.
"'But when I can I'm all right,
And what I believe is we always could if we practised enough.
"'I've been practising a good deal lately and it's beginning to be easier than it used to be.
"'When things are horrible,
Just horrible,
I think as hard as ever I can of being a princess.
"'I say to myself,
I am a princess,
And I am a fairy one,
"'and because I'm a fairy nothing can hurt me or make me uncomfortable.
"'You don't know how it makes me forget.
' "'Sarah had many opportunities of making her mind think of something else,
"'and many opportunities of proving to herself whether or not she was a princess.
"'But one of the strongest tests she was ever put to came on a certain dreadful day,
"'which she often thought afterward she would never quite fade out of her memory,
Even in the years to come.
"'For several days it had rained continuously.
"'The streets were chilly and sloppy and full of dreary cold mist.
"'There was mud everywhere.
"'Of course there were several long and tiresome errands to be done.
"'There always were on days like this.
"'And Sarah was sent out again and again until her shabby clothes were damp through.
"'The absurd old feathers on her forlorn hat were more draggled and absurd than ever.
"'And her downtrodden shoes were so wet they couldn't hold any more water.
"'Added to this,
She'd been deprived of her dinner because Miss Minchin had chosen to punish her.
"'She was so cold and hungry and tired,
Her face began to have a pinched look,
"'and now and then some kind-hearted person passing her in the street glanced at her with sudden sympathy.
"'But Sarah did not know that.
"'She hurried on trying to make her mind think of something else.
"'It was really very necessary.
"'Her way of doing it was to pretend and suppose,
With all the strength that was left in her.
"'But really this time it was harder than she'd ever found it,
"'and once or twice she thought it almost made her more cold and hungry instead of less so.
"'But she persevered obstinately,
And as the muddy water squelched through her broken shoes "'and the wind seemed trying to drag her thin jacket from her,
"'she talked to herself as she walked.
"'Suppose I had dry clothes on,
' she thought.
"'Suppose I had good shoes and a long thick coat and merino stockings and a whole umbrella,
"'and suppose when I was near a baker's when they sold hot buns,
"'I should find sixpence,
Which belonged to nobody.
"'Suppose if I did,
I should go into the shop and buy six of the hottest buns and eat them all without stopping.
"'Some very odd things happen in this world sometimes.
"'It certainly was an odd thing that happened to Sarah.
"'She had to cross the street just when she was saying this to herself.
"'The mud was so dreadful she almost had to wade.
"'She picked her way as carefully as she could,
But she could not save herself only in picking her way "'because she had to look down at her feet in the mud.
"'And just as she reached the pavement,
She saw something shining in the gutter.
"'It was actually a piece of silver.
"'Not quite a sixpence,
But the next thing to it,
A four-penny piece.
"'In one second it was in her cold little red and blue hand.
"'Oh!
' she gasped.
"'It's true!
It's true!
' "'And then she looked straight at the shop facing her.
"'It was a baker's shop and a cheerful,
Stout,
Motherly woman with rosy cheeks "'was putting into the window a tray of delicious,
Newly-baked hot buns,
Fresh from the oven.
"'Large,
Plump,
Shiny buns with currants in them.
"'It almost made Sarah feel faint for a few seconds.
"'The shock and the size of the buns and the delicious odours of warm bread "'floating up through the baker's cellar window.
"'She knew she need not hesitate to use the little piece of money.
"'It had evidently been lying in the mud for some time,
"'and its owner was completely lost in the stream of passing people "'who crowded and jostled each other all day long.
"'But I'll go and ask the baker woman if she's lost anything,
' "'she said to herself rather faintly.
"'So she crossed the pavement and put her wet foot on the step.
"'As she did so,
She saw something that made her stop.
"'It was a little figure,
More forlorn than even herself.
"'A little figure which was not much more than a bundle of rags,
"'from which small,
Bare,
Red,
Muddy feet peeped out.
"'Above the rags appeared a shock head of tangled hair "'and a dirty face with big,
Hollow,
Hungry eyes.
"'Sarah knew they were hungry the moment she saw them,
"'and she felt a sudden sympathy.
"'This,
' she said to herself,
"'is one of the populace,
And she's hungrier than I am.
' "'The child stared up at Sarah and shuffled herself aside a little "'so as to give her room to pass.
"'She was used to being made to give room to everybody.
"'She knew that if a policeman chanced to see her,
"'he would tell her to move on.
"'Sarah clutched her little fourpenny piece and hesitated.
"'Then she spoke to her.
"'Are you hungry?
' she asked.
"'The child shuffled herself and her rags a little more.
"'Ain't I just?
' she said in a hoarse voice.
"'Just ain't I.
"'Haven't you had any dinner?
' said Sarah.
"'No dinner.
"'Nor yet no breakfast,
Nor yet no supper.
"'No nothing.
' "'Since when?
' "'Dunno.
Never got nothing today.
Nowhere.
"'I've arks and arks.
' "'Just a look at her made Sarah more hungry and faint,
"'but those queer little thoughts were at work in her brain "'and she was talking to herself.
"'If I'm a princess,
' she was saying,
"'if I'm a princess when they were poor and driven from their thrones,
"'they always shared with the populace "'if they met one poorer and hungrier than themselves.
"'They always shared.
"'Buns are a penny each.
"'If it had been sixpence,
I could have eaten six.
"'It won't be enough for either of us,
"'but it'll be better than nothing.
"'Wait a minute,
' she said to the beggar child.
"'She went into the shop.
"'It was warm and smelled delicious.
"'The woman was just going to put some more hot buns into the window.
"'If you please,
' said Sarah.
"'Have you lost fourpence?
A silver fourpence?
' "'And she held the forlorn little piece of money out.
"'The woman looked at it and then at her.
"'Bless us,
No,
' she answered.
"'Did you find it?
' "'Yes,
' said Sarah,
In the gutter.
"'Keep it then,
' said the woman.
"'It may have been there for a week and goodness knows who lost it.
"'You could never find out.
' "'I know that,
' said Sarah.
"'But I thought I would ask you.
' "'Not many would,
' said the woman,
"'looking puzzled and interested and good-natured all at once.
"'Do you want to buy something?
' she added,
"'as she saw Sarah glance at the buns.
"'Four buns,
If you please,
' said Sarah.
"'Those are a penny each.
' "'The woman went to the window and put some in a paper bag.
"'Sarah saw that she put in six.
"'I said four,
If you please,
' she explained.
"'I have only fourpence.
' "'I'll throw in two for make-weight,
' said the woman,
"'with her good-natured look.
"'I dare say you can eat them sometime.
"'Are you hungry?
' "'A mist rose before Sarah's eyes.
"'Yes,
' she answered.
"'I'm very hungry,
"'and I am much obliged to you for your kindness and.
.
.
"'She was going to add,
"'there is a child outside who's hungrier than I am.
"'But just at that moment,
"'two or three customers came in at once,
"'and each one seemed in a hurry,
"'so she could only thank the woman again and go out.
"'The beggar girl was still huddled up in the corner of the step.
"'She looked frightful in her wet and dirty rags.
"'She was staring straight before her "'with a stupid look of suffering,
"'and Sarah saw her suddenly draw back,
"'with a roughened black hand across her eyes,
"'to rub away the tears,
"'which seemed to have surprised her "'by forcing their way from under the lids.
"'She was muttering to herself.
"'Sarah opened the paper bag "'and took out one of the hot buns "'which had already warmed her own cold hands a little.
"'See,
' she said,
Putting the bun in the ragged lap.
"'This is nice and hot.
"'Eat it,
And you'll not feel so hungry.
' "'The child started and stared up at her "'as if such sudden,
Amazing good luck "'almost frightened her.
"'Then she snatched up the bun "'and began to cram it into her mouth "'with great,
Wolfish bites.
"'Oh,
My!
Oh,
My!
' "'Sarah heard her say hoarsely in wild delight.
"'Sarah took out three more buns and put them down.
"'She's hungrier than I am,
' she said to herself.
"'She's starving.
' "'But her hand trembled when she put down the fourth bun.
"'I'm not starving,
' she said,
"'and she put down the fifth.
"'The little ravening London savage "'was still gnashing and devouring "'when she turned away.
"'She was too ravenous to give thanks "'even if she had been taught politeness.
"'She was only a poor little wild animal.
"'Goodbye,
' said Sarah.
"'When she reached the other side of the street,
"'she looked back.
"'The child had a bun in each hand "'and stopped in the middle of a bite to watch her.
"'Sarah gave her a little nod,
"'and the child,
A curious,
Lingering stare.
"'Then she jerked her shaggy head in response.
"'Until Sarah was out of sight,
"'she didn't take another bite "'or even finish the one she'd begun.
"'At that moment,
"'a baker woman looked out of her shop window.
"''Well,
I never!
' she exclaimed,
"'if that young'un hasn't given her buns "'to a beggar child.
"'It wasn't because she didn't want them either.
"'Well,
She looked hungry enough herself.
"'I'd give something to know what she did it for.
' "'She stood behind her window for a few moments.
"'Then her curiosity got the better of her,
"'and she went to the door and spoke to the beggar child.
"''Who gave you those buns?
' she asked.
"'The child nodded her head "'towards Sarah's vanishing figure.
"'What did she say?
' "'She asked me if I was hungry,
' "'replied the hoarse little voice.
"'What did you say?
' "'I said I was just.
' "'Then she came in and got the buns "'and gave them to you,
Did she?
' "'The child nodded.
"'How many?
' "'Five.
' "'The woman thought it over.
"'She left just one for herself,
' "'she said in a low voice,
"'and she could have eaten the whole six.
"'I saw it in her eyes.
' "'She looked after the little draggled faraway figure "'and felt more disturbed "'than she had felt for many a day.
"'I wish she hadn't gone so quick,
' "'she said.
"'I'm blessed if she shouldn't have had a dozen.
' "'Then she turned back to the little child.
"'Are you hungry yet?
' "'I'm always hungry,
' "'was the answer,
But it ain't as bad as it was.
' "'Come in here,
' said the woman,
"'and she held open the shop door.
"'Get yourself warm.
' "'She pointed to a fire in the tiny back room.
"'And look here,
When you're hard up for a bit of bread "'you can come in here and ask for it.
"'I'm blessed if I won't give it to you "'for that young one's sake.
' "'Sarah found some comfort in her remaining bun.
"'At all events it was very hot and better than nothing.
"'It was dark when she reached the square "'where the select seminary was situated.
"'The lights in the houses were all lighted.
"'The blinds were not yet drawn,
"'and she could catch glimpses of the members of the large family.
"'Mr Montmorency sat in a big chair "'with a small swarm around him,
"'talking,
Laughing,
And perching on the arms of his seat.
"'But this evening he was not seated.
"'On the contrary,
There was a good deal of excitement going on.
"'It was evident a journey was to be taken,
"'and it was Mr Montmorency who was to take it.
"'A browman stood before the door "'and a big portmanteau had been strapped upon it.
"'The children were dancing around and hanging on to their father,
"'and the pretty rosy mother was standing next to him.
"'Sarah paused a moment to see the little ones lifted up and kissed,
"'and the bigger ones bent over and kissed as well.
"'I wonder if he'll stay away long,
' she said to herself.
"'When the door opened,
She moved away,
"'remembering the sixpence.
"'But she saw the traveller come out "'and stand against the background of the warmly lit hall.
"'Will Moscow be covered with snow?
' said the little girl,
Janet.
"'Will there be ice everywhere?
' "'Shall we drive in a drosky?
' asked another.
"'Shall we see the Tsar?
' "'I'll write and tell you all about it,
' Mr Montmorency answered,
"'and I'll send you pictures of all sorts of things.
"'Now run into the house.
It's a hideous damp night.
"'I'd rather stay with you than go to Moscow.
"'Good night.
God bless you.
' "'And he ran down the steps and jumped into the Brougham.
"'If you find the little girl,
Give her our love,
' shouted Guy,
"'jumping up and down on the doormat.
"'Then they went in and shut the door.
"'Sarah crossed the square to Miss Minchin's area steps,
"'feeling faint and shaky.
"'I wonder who the girl is,
' she thought.
"'The little girl he's going to ask for.
' "'And she went down the area steps,
Hugging her basket,
"'and finding it very heavy indeed,
"'as the father of the large family "'drove quickly on his way to the station "'to take the train to Moscow,
"'where he was to make his best efforts "'to search for the lost little daughter "'of Captain Crewe.
'"
