That first morning at school, Sara noticed a plump, blond girl about the same age as Sara.
The girl was chewing on the ribbon of her pigtail and staring at Sara.
When Monsieur Dufarge spoke to Sara, the plump girl looked a little frightened.
When Sara replied in French, the girl gave a startled jump and turned red.
Miss Minchin was still in a bad mood about Sara's perfect French.
"Miss St. John, stop chewing on your ribbon!
And sit up at once!" she snapped.
The girl gave another startled jump.
Lavinia and Jessie giggled, and the girl turned redder than ever.
Sara's father often remarked on Sara's soft heart.
"Sara always wants to fight when she sees people in trouble," he liked to say.
And that was certainly true now.
"Those girls shouldn't laugh," thought Sara. "That's mean."
But Lavinia and Jessie continued to snicker when the girl spoke in French for Monsieur Dufarge.
Sara felt sorry for this girl, who had such trouble saying the French words correctly.
The French lessons were obviously quite difficult for her.
When the morning's lessons were finally finished, the plump girl sat on a window seat, looking miserable.
Sara went over to her.
"What's your name?" asked Sara.
The girl seemed amazed that Sara was talking to her.
"My name is Ermengarde St. John," she replied.
"Mine is Sara Crewe. What a pretty name you have!" exclaimed Sara.
"It sounds like a name from a story."
"I like your name too.
Where did you learn to speak French?" Ermengarde asked.
"Oh, I've done it all my life," Sara answered.
"If you'd always heard French at home, you could do it too."
"No, I don't think so," said Ermengarde sadly. "I'm not very smart."
Ermengarde explained that her father spoke seven or eight languages.
He had a huge library filled with thousands of books and couldn't understand why Ermengarde didn't do well in school.
He had told Miss Minchin that Ermengarde must be made to learn.
But at school Ermengarde was often in trouble or in tears.
"You're smart, aren't you?" Ermengarde said to Sara.
Sara looked out the window into the dirty square.
She could see some sparrows hopping along iron railings.
She thought for a minute. "Oh, I don't know."
Then suddenly she changed the subject. "Would you like to meet Emily?"
"Who's Emily?" asked Ermengarde.
"Come up to my room and see," replied Sara.
Ermengarde followed Sara upstairs.
"Is it true," she asked, "that you have a playroom all to yourself?"
"Yes," Sara answered. "Papa asked Miss Minchin to let me have one.
It's because I like to tell myself stories.
And the mood gets spoiled if I know people are listening."
Sara stopped outside the door to her room.
"If we're quiet, maybe we'll catch her," she said mysteriously.
Ermengarde blinked. She had no idea what Sara was talking about.
But Sara's eyes were full of fun.
Ermengarde couldn't wait to see what happened.
Sara threw open the door.
Ermengarde saw a beautiful doll sitting on a chair in front of the fire.
"Oh, Emily is back in her seat!" Sara sounded disappointed.
"Can she walk?" asked Ermengarde in surprise.
"I like to pretend she can," said Sara. "Don't you pretend such things?"
"No." Ermengarde was in awe of this strange girl. "Never. May I hold Emily?"
"Of course," said Sara. "And I'll tell you stories."
So they sat together.
Her green eyes shining, Sara told Ermengarde all about the secret life of dolls.
She also talked about life in India and the voyage to England.
When Sara got to the part about finding Emily in the toy shop, she suddenly looked upset.
Ermengarde had the feeling that Sara was bravely trying not to cry.
"What's wrong?" she asked in alarm.
"Do you love your father more than anything in the world?" Sara burst out.
Ermengarde thought this was a strange question.
"I hardly ever see him. He's always in his library reading things."
"Oh, I love my father and miss him so." Sara buried her head in her hands.
Ermengarde's mouth fell open a little.
Sara was so wonderful and different from anyone else.
Sara lifted her head.
"If I keep telling you stories, I won't miss him as much."
Tears came to Ermengarde's eyes, and she felt a lump in her throat.
"Lavinia and Jessie are best friends.
Do you think we could be best friends?
You're so smart, and I'm not smart at all. But I like you very much!"
"Of course we can be best friends," said Sara. Her face lit up.
"And do you know what, Ermengarde? I can help you with your French lessons!"