A Little Princess / Маленькая принцесса. А1

tell (told, told) [tel] – v рассказывать; сообщать; говорить

warm [wɔ:m] – adj тёплый; v греть; согревать(ся)

wish [wɪʃ] – n желание; v желать

Chapter 3

Ermengarde

On that first morning, when Sara sat at Miss Minchin's side, she noticed a girl. She was sitting in amazement when Sara spoke to Monsieur Dufarge. It was very difficult for this girl to learn French. She stared at Sara so hard and bit the ribbon on her pigtail so bad that Miss Minchin noticed her.

“Miss St. John!” she exclaimed severely. “Get your elbows off the table! Take your ribbon out of your mouth! Sit up at once!”

Lavinia and Jessie giggled. Miss St. John looked as if she wanted to cry. Sara saw her and was so sorry for her that she began rather to like her and want to be her friend.

After the classes the pupils gathered together in groups to talk, Sara looked for Miss St. John. She found her sitting by the window all alone.

She walked over to her and spoke.

“What is your name?” she said friendly.

“My name's Ermengarde St. John,” she answered. She was surprised that the new pupil was talking to her.

“Mine is Sara Crewe,” said Sara. “Yours is very pretty. It sounds like a story book.”

“You can speak French, can't you?” Ermengarde said politely.

“I can speak it because I heard it all my life,” she answered. “You can speak it when you always hear it.”

“Oh, no, I couldn't,” said Ermengarde sadly.

“I never could speak it!”

She paused a moment.

“You are clever, aren't you?” she added with a touch of awe in her voice.

“I don't know,” Sara said. “I can't tell.”

She gave a little laugh and changed the subject.

“Do you want to go in my room to play?” she asked.

“Sure,” said Ermengarde.

They jumped down from the window-seat together, and went upstairs.

“Is it true,” Ermengarde whispered-“is it true that you have a playroom only for you?”

“Yes,” Sara answered.

“Papa asked Miss Minchin give me one. When I play I make up stories and tell them to myself, and I don't like people to hear me. The story becomes bad when people listen.”

“You make up stories!” she gasped. “Can you do that-as well as speak French? Can you?”

Sara looked at her in simple surprise.

“Why, anyone can make up things,” she said.

She put her hand warningly on Ermengarde's.