A Little Princess Learn English through story Level 2

chapter one

school in england

one cold winter day

a little girl

and her father

arrived in london

sarah crew was seven years old

and she had long black hair

and green eyes

she sat in the cab next to her father

and looked out of the window

at the tall houses

in the dark sky

what are you thinking about zara

mr crew asked

you are very quiet

he put his arm around his water

i’m thinking about our house

in india

said sarah

and the hot sun

and the blue sky

don’t think very much i like england

very much father

yes

it’s very different from india

her father said

but you must go to school in london

and i must go back to india and work

yes father

i know

said sarah

but

i want to be with you

please come to school with me

i can help you with your lessons

mr crew smiled

but he was not happy

he loved his little sarah very much

and he did not want to be without her

sarah’s mother was dead

and sarah was his only child

father and daughter were very good

friends

soon they arrived at mission school for

girls

and went into the big house

miss minchin was a tall woman in a black

dress

she looked at sarah

and then gave a very big smile

what a beautiful child

she said to mr crew

sarah stood quietly

and watched miss minchin

why does she say that

she thought

i am not beautiful so why does she say

sarah 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

sarah is a good girl

mr crew 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

[Music]

sarah is going to be very happy here

with the crew

mr crew stayed in london for a week

he and sarah went to the shops

and he bought many beautiful expensive

dresses for his daughter

he bought books

and flowers for her room

and a big doll with beautiful dresses

blue

miss minchin smiled

but she said her sister emilia

all that money on dresses for a child of

seven

she looks like a little princess

not a school girl

when mr crew left london he was very sad

sarah 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

father wants me to be happy

she said to her new doll

i love him very much

and i want to be a good daughter

so i must be happy

it was a very big

and very beautiful doll

but of course it could not answer

sarah soon made new friend in the school

some little rich girls are not very nice

children

they think they are important because

they have money and lots of expensive

things

but sarah was different

she liked beautiful dresses

and dolls

but she was more interested in people

and books

and telling stories

she was very good at telling stories

she was a clever child

and the other girls loved to listen to

her the stories were all about kings and

queens and princesses

and wonderful countries across the sea

how do you think of all those things

asked her best friend herman god

i have

all these pictures in my head

said sarah

so it’s easy to tell stories about them

poor hermann god was not clever

she could never remember any of her

school lessons

and miss minchin was always angry with

her

sarah often helped ermengard with her

lessons

listen ermey

she said

you remember that french king

louis xvi

well

this is a story about him

one day

in 1792

and so herman god learnt her lessons

through sarah’s stories

and she loved her friend very much

but not everybody was sarah’s friend

lavinia was an older girl

before sarah came

lavinia

the richest and the most important girl

in the school

but sarah’s father was richer than

lavinia’s father

so now sarah was more important than

lavinia

and lavinia did not like that

sarah is so clever

lavinia often said

sarah is so good at french

her dresses are so beautiful

and she can sing so well

and she is so rich

of course miss minchin likes her best

sarah did not answer

when lavinia said these things

sometimes it was not easy

but sarah was a kind

friendly girl

and she did not like to be angry with

anyone

chapter 2

the diamond mines

and so three years went by

sarah’s father

wrote to her often

and sarah wrote loving little letters

back to him

one day

a very exciting letter arrived

everybody in the school talked about it

for days

my friend

wrote mr crew

has some minds in northern india

and a month ago

his workers found diamond

there there are thousands of diamonds in

these mines

but it is expensive work to get them out

my friend needs my help

little misses

this was mr crew’s special name for

sarah

i am putting all my money

into my friend’s diamond mines

and one day

you and i

are going to be very rich

sarah was not interested in money

but a story about diamond mines in india

was exciting

nearly everybody was very pleased for

sarah

but not lavinia

of course

she said

my mother has a diamond

lots of people have diamonds

what’s so interesting about diamond mine

but

there are thousands of diamonds in these

mines

said urmangard

perhaps millions of them

lavinia laughed

is sarah going to wear diamonds in her

hair at breakfast then

is it

princess sarah now

sarah’s face

went red

she looked at lavinia angrily

but said

quietly

some people call me princess

i know that

but princesses don’t get angry

or say unkind things

so i’m not going to say anything to you

lavinia

to me

you are a princess

herman god said to sarah later

and you always look like a princess

in your beautiful dresses

sarah was a princess to another girl who

this was becky

she was a servant in miss mentioned

school

and she was only 14 years old

but she worked all day

and sometimes half the night

she carried things upstairs

and downstairs

she cleaned the floors

she made the fires

and she was always tired

and hungry

and dirty

she and sarah

had very different lives

but one day

sarah came into her bedroom

and there was nekki

sleeping

in a chair

you poor thing

sarah said

then becky opened her eyes and saw

sarah she got up at once

oh miss

she said

i’m very sorry miss i just sat down for

a minute and

don’t be afraid

said sarah

she gave becky a friendly smile

you were tired

that’s all

are you

are you gonna tell miss minchin

asked becky

she began to move to the door

of course not

said zara

please don’t run away

sit down again for a minute

you look so tired

missed i can’t

becky said

you’re very kind miss

miss minchin

please

said sarah

she took becky’s hand

you’re only a little girl

like me

let’s be friends

and so becky sat down again

and soon

she and sarah were friends

nobody knew about this of course

rich little girls at miss minchin school

did not make friends with servant girls

and it was a wonderful thing for becky

nearly every day

she and sarah

met in sarah’s bedroom

just for five or ten minutes

becky was always hungry

and sarah often bought nice things for

her to eat

they sat

and talked

and sometimes

zara told becky some of her stories

becky loved that

oh miss

she said

you tell them so beautifully

sometimes i like your stories better

than things to eat

and after those visits to sarah’s room

becky always felt better

not so tired

and not so hungry

some months later

sarah had her 11th birthday

lessons stopped for the afternoon

and there was a big party for all the

girls in the school

this party is expensive for us

miss minchin said to her sister

amelia

but it looks good for the school

that afternoon

there was a visitor to the school

miss minchin’s lawyer

he went with miss minchin into her

office

and they closed the door

in the school room next door

there was a lot of noise from zara’s

party

everybody in there was very happy

but

in the office

miss minchin was not happy

she looked at the lawyer angrily

what are you saying

mr crew has no money

what about the diamond mine

there are no diamond mines

said the lawyer

well

there are mines

but there are no diamonds in

them

but mr cruz good friend

began miss mention

mr cruz good friend

said the lawyer

ran away

all mr crew’s money

ralph crew was ill with a fever

and when he heard about this he got

worse

a week later

he was dead

dead

cried miss minchin but

what about his daughter zara

and this expensive birthday party

sarah crew has no money

said the lawyer

not a penny in the world miss minchin

not a penny

she must leave my school at once

miss minchin said angrily

she must go

this afternoon

where

said the lawyer

out into the streets

an 11 year old girl

that’s not going to look very good for

your school miss minchin

miss minchin’s face

went red

you can’t put her out in the streets

said the lawyer

he stood up

but perhaps she can work for you

the lawyer left

and miss mention called her sister

amelia

bring sarah crew here at once

she said

two minutes later

sarah in her beautiful blue party dress

stood in front of miss minchin

have you a black dress sarah

miss minchin said coldly

yes miss minchin

said sarah

but it’s very small

go and put it on at once

said miss minchin

your father

is dead

there were no diamond mines

and your father’s friend ran away with

all his money

you have nothing

not a penny

but i am going to be very kind to you

you can stay in my house

but now you must be a servant

and work for your bread

you can sleep in a servant’s room

upstairs

next to becky’s room

chapter 3

the new servant now

that evening

in the little attic room

sarah sat on the bed

in her old

black dress

she did not cry

but her face was white

and she did not move

or speak

for hours

late at night

the door opened quietly

and becky looked in

her eyes were red from crying

oh miss

she said

all the servants are talking about it

i’m so sorry

so sorry

she looked at sarah’s white face

and began to cry again

then she ran to sarah

and took her hand

at last

sarah moo

slowly

she turned her head

and looked at becky

becky

she said

and that was all

that first night in the attic

was very long

sarah did not sleep

father

is dead

she whispered

again

and again

father

is dead

i’m never going to see him again

the next morning

sarah’s new life began

she learnt to clean floors and to make

fires

she ran upstairs and downstairs

and she worked in the kitchen

the cook was a big woman with a red

angry face

she said

the little rich girl with the diamond

mines is now a servant eh

she looked at sarah

now

i’m making apple pies this morning

run down to the shop and get me some

apples

and very quick

so sarah ran to the shop

and carried a big bag of apples back to

the house

then

she cleaned the kitchen floor

and carried hot water up to all the

bedrooms

she worked every day

from early in the morning to late at

night

she helped in the school too

you speak french well

miss minchin said to her coldly

so you can teach french to the younger

children

but you’re only a servant

don’t forget that

the first months of zara’s new life

very hard

she was always tired and hungry

but she never cried

at night

in her little attic

she thought about her father

dead

in india all those miles away

i must be brave

she said

father always wanted me to be brave

and i have a bed to sleep in

and something to eat every day

lots of people don’t have that

at first

sarah’s only friend

was becky

every day

becky came into sarah’s room

they did not talk much

but it helped sarah a lot

to see becky’s friendly smiling face

the girls in the school were sorry for

zara

but sarah was a servant now

and they could not be friendly with a

servant

lavinia of course

was pleased

i never liked zara crew

she told her friends

and i was right about the diamonds

there weren’t any

was very unhappy

when she saw sarah in the school

sarah walked past her

and did not speak

poor herman god loved sarah

and wanted to be friendly

but she was not clever

and she did not understand

one morning

very early

she got quietly out of bed

went upstairs to the attic

and opened sarah’s door

oh my god

sarah said

what are you doing here

herman god began to cry

zara

please tell me

what is the matter

why don’t you like me now

i do like you

sarah said

of course i do

but you see

everything is different now

miss minchin doesn’t want me to talk to

the girls

most of them don’t want to talk to me

and i thought perhaps

you didn’t want to

but i’m your friend

cried herman god

i’m always going to be your friend

and nobody can stop me

sarah took herman god’s hand

she suddenly felt very happy

perhaps she cried a little too

who can say

there was only one chair

so the two friends sat on the bed

hermann god

looked round the attic

oh sarah

how can you live in this room

it’s so cold

and

dirty

it’s not so bad

said sarah

and i’ve got lots of friends

there’s becky in the next room and

come and see

she moved the table under the window

and then she

and herman god stood on it

and looked out of the window

over the roofs of the houses

in her pocket

sarah had some small pieces of bread

she put her hand out of the window with

the bread on it

watch

she said

after a minute

a little brown bird flew down to sarah’s

hand

and began to eat the bread

then a second bird came

and a third

and a four

oh sarah

how wonderful

said urban god

they know i’m their friend

said sarah

so they’re not afraid

sometimes

they come into the room too

hermanngaard

looked across the roof to the next attic

window

who lives in that house

she asked

nobody

said sarah sadly

so i never see anybody at that window

and i can only talk to the birds

but one night two or three weeks later

becky came into sarah’s room

she was very excited

oh miss

she said

an indian gentleman is moving into the

house next door

well he’s english

but he lived in india for years and

years

and now he’s going to live next door

he’s very rich

and he’s ill

something bad happened to him

but i don’t know what

sarah laughed

how do you know all this

she said

well miss

you know the carmichael family across

the street

becky said

i’m friendly with their kitchen girl

and she told me

mr carmichael is the indian gentleman’s

lawyer

so they know all about him

chapter 4

randas and the monkey

every morning

when sarah gave the birds their bread

she looked across to the attic window

next door

but nobody opened it

nobody called out

morning

across the roof

or gave sarah a friendly smile

the indian gentleman’s servants will

sleep downstairs

she thought sadly

her life was very lonely now

she saw becky every day of course

but they did not have much time for

talking

the cook

and the other servants

were not friendly

sometimes

at night

herman god came up to sarah’s room

but it was not easy for her to come

often

then

one evening

sarah was in her attic

when she heard a noise on the roof

she looked up

and there

at the open window was a small monkey

you dear little thing

cried zara

at once

the monkey jumped down and began to run

round the room

sarah laughed

she got up on the table

and looked out of her window

and at the next window

she saw a face

the smiling face

of an indian laska

cried sarah

have you got a monkey

he’s in my room

the last guy’s name

was

and yes

it was his monkey

he gave sarah a big smile

i’m so sorry

he said

can i come and get him

oh yes me

said sarah

i think he’s afraid of me

and he runs so

fast but

can you get across the roof

yes

ram das could

and a minute later

he was in tsara’s room

soon

the monkey jumped into his arm

and ramdas thanked sarah again and again

then he went away

across the roof

back into the house next door

sarah went to the shop

five or six times a day

and when she walked past the house next

door

she often thought about the indian

gentleman

she felt sorry for him

he had no wife or family

and the doctor visited the house every

day

mr carmichael the lawyer

often visited two

and sometimes the carmichael children

went with him

sarah was pleased about that

it’s nice to see friendly faces when you

were at children ill

she thought

the indian gentleman thought back too

he liked children very much

but he was a very unhappy man

mr carmichael was his friend

and he talked to him a lot

but they talked about only one thing

i must find the child

said the indian gentleman

his name was mr charisma

i must find her

and take care of her

but where is she

here i am with all this money from the

diamond mines

and half of it is ralph cruz money

oh carmichael

why did i my friend and run away when

things looked bad

why

you ran away

because you were ill with a

fever said mr carmichael

it nearly killed you

remember

and it did kill poor ralph

said mr carrisburg

he put all his money into the mines

because i was his friend

but at first

we didn’t find any diamonds

and all ralph’s money was gone

i was afraid to tell him

so i ran away

and later

when we did find diamonds

ralph was dead

he laughed angrily

what a brave friend i was

it’s not easy to be brave

mr carmichael said quietly

when you’re ill with the fever

mr charisma

looked into the fire

ram

he said

about a little servant they’ll mix more

the monkey ran away

and ram das went across the roof to get

him back from her room

the poor child

sleeps in a cold

dirty attic

and works about 16 hours a day

is ralph’s daughter living like that

i can’t stop thinking about it

we’re going to find her one day

said mr carmichael

but how

said mr charisma

he put his head

in his hands

i never saw her

i don’t know her

name ralph always called her

his little misses

we talked all the time about the minds

he never told me the name of her school

her mother was french

so did he take her to a school in france

or was it in england

well

we know there was a child at a school in

paris

said mr carmichael

with the name of peru or crew

her father died suddenly

and a russian family took her away with

them

because she was a friend of their

daughter

perhaps this girl is ralph cruz child

next week i’m going to moscow to look

for her

i want to go with you

but i’m not well

said mr carris said

i must find her carmichael

i must

every night in my dreams

i see ralph cruz face

and he says

tom

where is my little mrs

and i have no answer for him

mr charisman

took his friend’s hand

help me to find her

help me

winter came

with its short

dark days

and the attic rooms were very cold

there were no fires for servant girls

and often sarah and becky

could not sleep because of the cold

sorrow was taller now

and her old black dress was very short

her shoes were old

and she had no warm coat for the winter

weather

she was thin too

she did not get very much to eat

and she was always hungry

she carried big baskets of shopping

through the rain and the snow

one day

she found a sixth in the snow

and she bought some hot new bread with

then she saw a child

by the door of the shop

the child had no shoes

and no coke

and her thin face was blue with cold

she is hungrier than i am

thought sarah

and she gave her hot new bread to the

child

when she got back to the school

miss minchin was angry

cook is waiting for you sarah

why are you late

i can’t walk quickly through the snow

said sarah

my shoes are old miss minchin

and my feet get very cold

miss minchin did not like to hear this

don’t speak to me like that

she said

i am kind to you

i’m giving you a home

but you never say thank you to me

sarah looked at her

you are not kind

she said quietly

and this is not a home

go to your room at once

said miss minchin

on the stairs

sarah met lavinia

lavinia looked at her and gave a little

laugh

here’s princess sarah she said

in her old dress and her dirty shoe

in the attic

sarah sat down on the chair by her table

i must be brave

she whispered

a princess is always brave

so i must be too

but it’s not easy

she put her head down on her arms

oh father

do you remember your little misses

can you see me now

and in the house next door mr clarisford

sat by a warm fire

moscow is a long way from london

and he could only wait

but he thought about ralph cruz child

every day

he thought about other children too

ram death

said how is that poor little servant now

next door

can we do something for her

i see her in the street every day

said ramdas in the rain

in the snow

she looks thin and hungry

but we can help her

i can easily get in through her attic

window

listen

and he talked for some minutes

mr tarasford smiled

yes

he said to ramdas

yes

i like it

let’s do it

chapter 5

the magic

one night

a week later

hermann guard got quietly out of bed

and went upstairs to the attic

sarah was not there

so herman god sat on the bed

and waited

at ten o’clock

sarah came slowly up the stairs

and into the room

hermanngaard looked at her

oh sarah

she cried

are you ill

your face is white

and you look so tired

it was a hard day mummy

said sarah

she sat down

miss minchin was angry with cook

then cook was and you never agree with

becky and i had no dinner

and no tea

does that happen often

said urban god

unhappily

you never told me

are you

are you hungry now

sarah looked at her

yes

she whispered

yes

i am

i would like to eat my table

i would like to eat you

hermangaard jumped up

sarah

she cried

i had a box of things from home today

there’s a big cake in it

i’m going to get it

now

you and becky can eat it all

soon

airmen god was black

the three girls sat on sarah’s bed

and there were some happy smiles when

herman god opened her box

and took out the cake

oh miss

look at that

said becky

you are kind mommy

said sarah

she laughed

it’s magic you know

when things are very bad

something nice always happens

here we are

having a party

earned god gave sarah and becky some

cake

and they began to eat

suddenly

they stopped

there was a noise a feet on the stairs

they listened

oh no

whispered becky

it’s miss ming chain

yes

said sarah

her face was white again

then

the door opened

and miss minchin came in

lavinia was right

she said angrily

tea with princess sarah

becky

get back to your attic at once

oh please miss mention

cried amen god

it was my take from home

we’re only having a party

go back to your room avenger

miss minchin said coldly

and take these things with you

and tomorrow

she looked at sarah

there’s no breakfast

no dinner and no tea for you

remember that

soon

the attics were quiet again

tired

and hungry

the two servant worlds went to

sleep but after an hour or two

sarah

opened her eyes

was it a noise from the window perhaps

something

is different

sarah whispered

what is it

she sat up in bed

and looked round the room

she looked again

and again

and her eyes were very big

the room

was different

very different

there was a wonderful hot fire

there were new

warm blankets on her bed

and beautiful pictures on the walls

sarah slowly got out of bed

is this a dream

she said

where did all these things come from

she put out her hand to the fire

it’s not a dream

the fire is hot

i can feel it

look at the table

there was a red cloth on the table

and cups

and plates

there was hot tea

and wonderful things to eat

hot meat pies

and sandwiches

and cake

oranges and apples

sarah ran to becky’s room

becky

she whispered

come quickly

the magic is here again

come and look

when becky saw the room

she could not speak at first

then she said

oh miss.

what is it

how did all these things get here

i don’t know

said zara

it’s magic

at first

i thought it was a dream

but it isn’t

look

these pies are hot

let’s eat them

hot meat pies aren’t a dream

they sat down by the fire

and ate

and drank

those pies would were

miss

becky said

and the tea

and the cake

i don’t understand magic

but i like it

sarah looked round the room

oh becky look

there are some books too

i didn’t see them before

she ran to look at them

and opened the top book

there’s some writing here

listen

it says

to the little girl

miatic

from a friend

oh becky

sarah closed the book

and looked up

i have a friend becky

she said slowly

someone

is my friend

the next morning

becky met sarah in the kitchen

i’ll miss

she whispered

was the magic near this morning

or did it go away in the

night no

it’s still there

sarah whispered back

i ate some cold meat pie for breakfast

and the fire was still warm

becky laughed happily

oh my

she said

miss minchin

could not understand it

when sarah came into the school room

she looked happy

and well

miss minchin wanted to see a white

unhappy face

and eyes read from crying

how come that child smile

she thought angrily

but of course

she did not know about the magic

and the magic did not go away

every evening

when sarah went up to bed

she found new things in the attic

there were more warm blankets for her

and for becky

there were pictures on the walls

there were books

new shoes

and a winter poke

and best of all

there was always a fire

and a wonderful hot dinner on the table

but where does it all come from

they began to look at one of the new

books

and then becky looked up

oh miss

she whispered

there’s something at the window

what is it

sarah got up to look

it’s the monkey

she said

the monkey from next door

she opened the window

and the monkey jumped down into her arms

oh you poor little thing

zara said

you’re so cold

becky was very interested

i never saw a monkey before

she said

he’s not very beautiful miss

what are you going to do with him

it’s very late now

said sarah

he can stay in my room tonight

and i can take him home in the morning

chapter 6

lost and found

the next morning

the first visitor the house next door

was mr carmichael

back from russia

but when he came into the house

his face was sad

mr carrisford

knew the answer at once

you didn’t find her

he said

i found her

mr carmichael said

but it was the wrong girl

her name is emily peru

and she’s much younger than ralph cruz

daughter

i’m very sorry

we must begin again

said mr karisford

unhappily

but where

it’s two years now

two

years

well she isn’t at a school in paris

we know that

mr carmichael said

let’s look at the schools in england now

yes

said mr carrisford

yes

we can begin in london

there’s a school next door carmichael

perhaps it was the magic again

but at that moment

ram das

came quietly into the room

the little servant from the attic is

here

he said to mr carrisford

with the monkey

he ran away again last night to her room

would you like to see her

yes

said mr carrisford

yes i would

bring her in

and so sarah came into the room

and stood in front of the indian

gentleman

she smiled at him

your monkey came to my room last night

she said

and i took him in because it was so cold

mr charisma

watched her face with interest

that was kind of you

he said

sarah looked at ramdas by the door

shall i give him to the last car

she asked

how do you know he is alaska

said mr carrisford

i know laskas

sarah said

i was born in india

mr karasford sat up suddenly

in india

he said

but you’re a servant at the school next

door

yes

i am now

said sarah

but i wasn’t at first

the indian gentleman looked at mr

carmichael

and then mr carmichael looked at sarah

what do you mean by

at first

child

he asked

when father first took me to the school

where is your father

said mr carmichael

died

said sarah

very quietly

his friend

ran away with all his money

and there was no money for me

there was nobody take care of me

so ms minchin put me in the attic

and said i must work for my bread

the indian gentleman

moved in his chair

what

what was your father’s name

he said

tell me

sarah

looked at him sadly

ralph crew

she said

he died in india

from a fever

two years ago

charisman’s face

went very white

carmichael

he whispered

it is the child

the child

that was an exciting day for many people

at first

poor sarah did not understand

mr carmichael

talked to her quietly

and told her everything

the true story about her father’s friend

and the diamond minds

and the two years of looking for ralph

cruz daughter

and all the time

she said later

mr carrisford

when they sat by his fire

i was in the house next door

tom carrisford

took her hand

yes

he said

and you’re never going back there

your home is with me now

i’m going to take care

of ralph’s little

missing sarah laughed happily

and you were the friend too

all those beautiful things in my attic

came from you

you and ramdas

becky and i thought it was magic

the indian gentleman

smiled at her

we were sorry for you

he said

ran dusk and moved very quietly

and he carried the things across the

roof when you were out

i couldn’t find ralph’s daughter

but i wanted to help somebody

and then randall told me about this sad

lonely little servant girl

in the attic next door

and so the story ended happily for

everybody

but not for miss minchin

sarah was very rich now and miss minchin

wanted her to come back to the school

[Music]

she came to see mr carrick

but he said some very angry things to

her

and she went away

with a red face

becky came to live in mr carricksford’s

house too

she was sarah’s servant

and she was very happy

she had a warm room

nice dresses

and good things to eat every day

and she loved sarah very much

hermanngod often came to visit zara

and sarah helped her with her school

lessons again

hermanngaard was not clever

but she was a true friend

on that first day

in the indian gentleman’s house

sarah wrote a letter to her

and herman god carried the letter into

the school room

there were diamonds mine

she told lavinia and the other girl

there were

there were millions

and millions of diamonds in the mines

and half of them

are sarah

and they were her diamonds all the time

when she was cold and hungry in the

attic

and she was a princess then

and she’s a princess now

you