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
i
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
it
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
oh
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
so
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
or
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
oh
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
oh
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
oh
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
so
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
oh
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
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
oh
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
oh
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
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
it
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
he
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
us
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
so
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
no
it’s not a dream
the fire is hot
i can feel it
oh
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
oh
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
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
oh
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
he
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