The servants had decorated the schoolroom for Sara’s birthday party. Miss Minchin and Sara led all the girls inside. Three servants, including Becky, followed the procession. The servants all carried boxes of presents, which they placed on a table.
Becky had forgotten herself in the midst of the excitement of the party.
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Now she was grinning at Lottie, who was wriggling happily as she waited for Sara to open her presents.
Miss Minchin frowned. "You may leave now," she told Becky and the other servants.
"Please, Miss Minchin," Sara said suddenly, "may Becky stay? I know she'd like to see the presents."
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Miss Minchin put on her glasses and looked Sara up and down. "Becky?"
"She's just a child too, you know," Sara added boldly.
For a moment Miss Minchin didn't speak. "My dear Sara," she managed to say at last. "Kitchen maids are not children."
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"Well, Becky is a child," Sara repeated. "Please let her stay because it's my birthday."
Becky had been backing away, nervously twisting the bottom of her apron.
The headmistress sighed. "Very well. As a birthday favor, she may stay. Becky, you must thank Miss Sara for her great kindness."
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At Miss Minchin's reply, her face lit up. "I'm very grateful, miss!" she said, grinning at Sara.
Miss Minchin waved her hand. It was in the direction of the corner near the door. "Stand over there, Becky," she commanded. "Away from the other girls!"
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Soon Miss Minchin left the room, and all the girls rushed toward the boxes. Sara opened the biggest one first. Inside was the Last Doll.
"Oh!" groaned the children in delight. The new doll was truly magnificent.
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Lottie gasped. "She's almost as big as I am!"
"She's dressed for the theater!" Ermengarde said. "Her cloak is lined with fur, and she has an opera glass."
"Here's her trunk," said Sara. "Let's open it and look at her things."
Sara sat on the floor and turned the key.
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The girls crowded around her. Never had the schoolroom been so noisy. Sara held up each item as she removed it from the trunk. There were dresses, ballgowns, jewelry, hats, lace collars, and fans. Even Lavinia and Jessie were impressed by the contents of the trunk.
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Sara put a black velvet hat on the doll. "Let's pretend she understands that we're admiring her," she said.
"You're always pretending things," Lavinia said in a superior tone.
Sara looked up. "Yes, I am," she said. "It's fun."
"Well, it's easy to pretend if you're rich," said Lavinia. "Could you do it if you were a beggar and lived in an attic?"
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"I think I could, but it wouldn't be easy," Sara answered.
Just then Miss Amelia came into the room. "Sara, your papa's lawyer, Mr. Barrow, has come to see Miss Minchin. Your birthday feast is ready in her sitting room. Lead the other girls there. Miss Minchin needs to meet with Mr. Barrow in here."
Sara did as she was told.
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"Go back to your work, Becky," said Miss Amelia. Then she left the room.
Becky stayed behind in the room for a minute. Miss Amelia had told her to go back to work, but Becky couldn't help taking another look at the doll. She picked up the doll's hat and then a coat.
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Suddenly she heard Miss Minchin coming! Becky darted under the table. She hoped the tablecloth was long enough to hide her.
The headmistress came into the room, followed by a small gentleman who looked rather disturbed.
"Please have a seat, Mr. Barrow," Miss Minchin said as she sat down.
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But Mr. Barrow was too fascinated by the large doll and her wardrobe to sit. "Such a fancy gift for a child!"
"Captain Crewe is a wealthy man," said Miss Minchin. "His diamond mines alone—"
"Diamonds!" Mr. Barrow interrupted.
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"There were no diamonds in those mines. Never were."
"What?" Miss Minchin stood up. "What do you mean?"
"It was a bad investment," Mr. Barrow went on. "The late Captain Crewe—"
Miss Minchin gasped. "'The late Captain Crewe'?
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"You mean he's dead?"
"Yes, that's what I've come to tell you," explained the lawyer coldly. "He died from jungle fever and stress caused by his business troubles. An old friend invested all Captain Crewe's money in the mines and then ran away. Captain Crewe lost everything he owned."
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Miss Minchin dropped back into her chair. "Does this mean Sara is a pauper instead of a princess?" she cried. "Who will take care of her?"
"You're responsible for her now," said Mr. Barrow. "She doesn't have a relative left in the world."