Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen "I Don't Even Plan to Do This"

It turned out that the pretty and cozy Mrs. Carmichael explained everything.Send someone to call her immediately.She crossed the yard, took Sarah in her warm arms, and explained to her what had happened.It's exciting, totally Mr. Carrisford, in his enfeebled state, was momentarily overwhelmed by this unexpected discovery. "Honestly," he said feebly to Mr. Carmichael, when it was suggested that the little girl should go into another room, "I don't think I would want to miss her for a moment." "I'll take care of her," Janet said. "Mom will be here in a few minutes." Finally, Janet took Sarah away.

"We're so glad we found you," Janet said. "You have no idea how happy we are to have found you." Donald stood with his hands in his pockets and stared at Sarah with a pensive look of remorse. "If I had asked you for your name when I gave you the sixpence," said he, "you would have told me your name was Sarah Crewe, and you would have been discovered at once." At that moment Mrs. Carmichael entered.She looked moved and suddenly put her arms around Sarah and kissed her. "You look puzzled, poor child," she said, "but that's not surprising."

Sarah could only think of one thing. "Is that he," said she, glancing toward the closed study door—"is that that damned friend? Ah, please tell me!" Mrs. Carmichael wept as she kissed her again.She felt as if she should kiss Sarah again and again, because she hadn't been kissed for so long. "He's not abominable, my dear," she answered. 'He didn't really lose your dad's money.It's just that he thinks he's lost it, and because he loves your father so much, his grief makes him so sick and out of his mind for a while.He nearly died of encephalitis, long before recovery began for your poor dad. "

"And he doesn't know where to find me," murmured Sarah. "And I'm so close." For some reason, she couldn't get over the fact that she was so close. "He believed you were studying in France," Mrs. Carmichael explained. "And he's been led astray by wrong lead after wrong lead. He's been looking for you everywhere. You looked so sad and neglected when he saw you pass, but he never dreamed that you were his friend's poor child. But just because you were a little girl, he was sorry for you, and wanted to make you happier. So he ordered Ram Dass to climb into your garret window, and try to make you as comfortable as possible."

Surprised and delighted, Sarah's whole expression changed. "Did Ram Dass bring those things?" she cried. "Did he tell Ram Dass to do it? He made that dream come true!" "Yes, dear—yes! He is kind, and he is sorry for you for the sake of little Sarah Crewe, who has disappeared." The study door opened, and Mr. Carmichael appeared in the doorway, beckoning to Sarah. "Mr. Carrisford is better," he said. "He wants you to come to him." Sarah walked in without waiting.The Indian gentleman looked at her as she entered, and saw the beaming look on her face.

She went and stood in front of his chair, her hands clasped together in front of her chest. "You sent me those things," she said, in a thin voice of joy and excitement—"those very, very beautiful things? You sent them!" "Yes, poor dear, I sent it," he answered her.He was weak, and his long illness and troubles had broken him down, but the way he looked at her reminded her of her father's eyes—the kind of eyes that loved her and wanted to hug her.That look made her kneel beside him, as she had often knelt beside Papa, when father and daughter were the dearest friends and kin in the world.

"Then you're my friend," she said, "you're my friend!" She dropped her face on his thin hand and kissed it over and over. "The man will be his normal self again in three weeks," Mr. Carmichael said secretly to his wife. "See his face." In fact he did look different.The "little housewife" was right in front of him, and he had new things to consider and plan.First up is Ms. Minchin.It was necessary to meet her and tell her about the change in her student's fortunes. Sara should never have gone back to that foster home.Indian gentlemen are very firm on this point.She must stay here, and Mr. Carmichael should go and see Ms. Minchin himself.

"I'm glad I don't have to go back," Sara said. "She'll be very angry. She doesn't like me, though it may be my fault, because I don't like her." But it was very strange that Ms. Minchin should come to her pupil herself, so that Mr. Carmichael would not have to go to her again.She wanted to find Sarah about something, but upon questioning she heard a startling thing.One of the maids had seen Sara sneak out of the little patio with something hidden under her coat, and had seen her go up the steps of the next door into the house. "What does she mean!" exclaimed Miss Minchin to Miss Amelia.

"I don't know, indeed, sister," replied Miss Amelia. "Unless she has made friends with him because he lived in India." "Going automatically to him and trying to gain his sympathy in such an inappropriate way is exactly what she did," Ms Minchin said. "She must have been in that house for two hours. I won't allow such self-indulgent audacity. I'm going to follow up on it and apologize for her insolent intrusion." Sarah was sitting on the footstool at Mr. Callisford's lap, listening to a number of things he thought he needed to explain to her as best he could, when Ram Dass announced the visitor.

Sarah rose involuntarily, and grew very pale, but Mr Callisford bade her stand still, without showing the slightest sign of fear which children usually show. Miss Minchin entered the room with a dignified and stiff manner.She was well dressed and well behaved. "I'm sorry to disturb Mr. Carrisford," she said, "but I must explain. I am Ms. Minchin, the mistress of the Girls' Institute next door." The Indian gentleman looked at her and examined her for a moment in silence.He was a man who was born with a bit of a fiery temper, but he didn't want it to get too much of him.

"So, you are Ms. Minchin?" he said. "It's me, sir." "If so," replied the Indian gentleman, "you are in good time. My lawyer, Mr. Carmichael, is going to see you." Mr. Carmichael bowed slightly, and Miss Minchin looked from him to Mr. Callisford in surprise. "Your lawyer!" she said. "I don't get it. I'm here to do my duty. I just found out that one of my students broke into your place out of recklessness - a dole student. I'm here to explain that her break-in was not rewarded. My permission." She turned to Sara. "Go right back," she ordered angrily. "You will be severely punished. Go back immediately." The Indian gentleman drew Sara to him and patted her hand lightly. "She's not going back." Ms. Minchin felt as if she was going to lose her mind. "Not going back!" she repeated. "Not going back," said Mr Carrisford. "She's not coming home—even if you call that house of yours home. Her future home will be with me." Miss Minchin backed away in startled anger. "With you! With you, sir! What does that mean?" "Please explain this, Carmichael," said the Indian gentleman, "and end this as soon as you can." So he sat Sarah down again, and took her hands in his own—it was Sarah's father again. habitual action. Then Mr. Carmichael explained—in a calm, steady tone, with a firm demeanor, and he understood his subject and all its legal significance, which Ms. Minchin, as a proprietress, understood, but did not like. accept. "Mr. Carlisford was a close friend of the late Captain Crewe, ma'am," said Mr. Carmichael, "and was Captain Crewe's partner in certain large investments. Captain Crewe thought he was lost." That property, recovered, is now in the hands of Mr. Carrisford." "That fortune!" cried Miss Minchin, and when she did so she turned pale indeed. "Sara's property!" "That will become Sarah's property," Mr. Carmichael replied dryly. "It's actually Sarah's property now. Something has happened that has greatly increased it. Those diamond mines have been recovered." "Diamond mines!" gasped Miss Minchin.If this was true, she could not help realizing that she had never seen anything so dreadful in her life. "Diamond Mine," repeated Mr. Carmichael, adding, with a sly smile unworthy of a lawyer, "Ms Minchin, there aren't many princesses better than your handout schoolboy Sarah Crewe." Rich. Mr. Callisford has been looking for her for nearly two years, and finally found her, and wants to keep her with him." Then he sat down Miss Minchin and explained to her fully, going into detail if necessary, so that she could fully understand that Sarah's future was secure, and that what seemed to be lost was going to Give She made it tenfold, and had Mr. Carrisford as her friend and guardian. Miss Minchin was not a wise woman, and in the heat of emotion she was so foolish as to attempt a death-struggle to recoup the loss of her self-interest, which she could not ignore. "She was in my care when he found her," she protested. "I did everything for her. If it wasn't for me, she would be starving and living on the streets." This can make the Indian gentleman angry. "As for starving in the street," he said, "it's much more comfortable than starving in your garret." "Captain Crewe left her in my care," argued Miss Minchin. "She has to come back and stay until she reaches adulthood. She can become a boarder with special treatment again. She has to finish her studies. The law will intervene on my behalf." "Come, come, Ms. Minchin," put in Mr. Carmichael, "the law doesn't do that kind of thing. If Sarah herself would go back to you, I dare say Mr. Callisford couldn't possibly refuse. But That's up to Sarah." "Well," said Miss Minchin, "I'll ask Sarah. I haven't spoiled you, maybe," she said to the little girl awkwardly, "but you know, your papa treated you Progress is satisfying. And—well—I've always liked you." Sarah's green-gray eyes rested on her quietly, with the clarity that Miss Minchin loathed. "Is that true of you, Miss Minchin?" she said. "I don't know." Miss Minchin blushed and straightened herself up. "You ought to know," she said, "but it's a pity that children never know what's best for them. Amelia and I used to say you were the smartest kid in school. Wouldn't you Will the poor father do his filial piety and go back with me?" Sarah took a step toward her and stood still.She thinks back to the day she was told she was homeless and at risk of being driven out into the streets, and she thinks back to being alone in the attic with Emily the doll and Meki Sedec the mouse Those hungry and cold moments we spent together.She stared blankly at Mingqin Lady's face. "You know why I don't want to go back with you, Miss Minchin," she said, "you know that very well." Miss Minchin's stiff, angry face flushed hotly. "You'll never see your mates," she began. "I want to take good care of Ermengarde and Lottie, and prevent them from coming to see—" Mr. Carmichael checked her firmly and politely. "Excuse me," said he, "she will be able to see whomever she wishes. The parents of Miss Crewe's classmates will probably not refuse an invitation to see her at her guardian's house. Mr. Callisford will be interested in that." of." It must be admitted that even the likes of Ms. Minchin cringed.It was a worse situation than her student having an eccentric single uncle, though that uncle could be hot-tempered and easily offended when his niece was treated unfairly.A mean-spirited woman can easily believe that most people would not refuse to have their children befriend a diamond heiress.Besides, should Mr. Carrisford decide to tell some of her patrons how miserable Sarah Crewe had been made by her, much unpleasant things might happen. "You have a heavy responsibility," said Miss Minchin to the Indian gentleman, as she turned from the room, "and you will soon find that out. The boy is dishonest and ungrateful. I thought"—to Sarah Ra said—"Now you can think of yourself as a princess again." Sarah's eyes were downcast, and her cheeks flushed a little because she felt that her favorite desires might not be easy for outsiders—even good ones—to understand at first. "I—I don't intend to be anything else," she whispered back—"not even when I'm coldest and hungry—I don't intend to be." "Don't think about it now," said Miss Minchin bitterly, as Ram Dass saluted her out of the house. She went into the living room and sent for Miss Amelia at once.The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon shut up in the house talking, and it must be confessed that poor Miss Amelia had a bad experience. More than a quarter of an hour.She shed many tears and wiped her eyes many times.One ill-advised remark on her part caused her sister to nearly turn her head off, but it had uncommon results. "I'm not as bright as you, sister," she said, "and I'm always afraid to talk to you about things lest I offend you. Perhaps it would be better for the school and us both if I wasn't so timid. I I must say I've often thought it would be better if you were less hard on Sarah Crewe and made her dress well and live comfortably. I know that's a lot of work for a kid her age. It's worked so hard, and I know she's only going to eat half--" "How dare you say such a thing!" cried Miss Minchin. "I don't know how I dare," replied Miss Amelia, with a dash of dauntless courage, "but now that I've begun it, I'd better finish it, whatever may happen. The child was a clever child, a good child—if you showed her any kindness, she would repay you. But you gave her none. In fact she was too clever for you, and for that You always hated her. She used to see through both of us—" "Amelia!" gasped her irritated sister, looking as though about to slap her and snap her hat off, as she had often done to Becky. But Amelia's disappointment made her hysterically reckless. "She sees it! She sees it!" she cried. "She sees us both. She sees that you are a hard-hearted, worldly woman, and I am a weak fool, and we are both vulgar and vulgar. She groveled before her money and abused her because it was taken from her - though she acted like a little princess when she was a beggar. She was - she was - like a little princess! ’ The fit of hysteria drove the poor woman out of her senses, crying and laughing at the same time, and rocking her body backwards and forwards, leaving Miss Minchin to stare at her in horror. "And now you've lost her," she screamed, "and other schools would have her and her money; if she was like any other kid, she'd tell how she was abused, and all of us would All the students will be taken away, and we are finished. We brought it on ourselves, and you deserve it more than I do, for you are a hard-hearted woman, Maria Minchin—you are a hard-hearted, selfish, mercenary woman!" She was so hysterical that her throat was hardened, she was gurgling, and she was about to make a fuss so badly that her sister had to go and get her smelling salts and iron carbonate to calm her down, and she didn't dare to offend her audacity. Outpouring of anger. It is worth mentioning that since then, the elder sister, Ms. Mingqin, has actually started to be a little afraid of her younger sister. Although her younger sister is stupid, she is obviously not as stupid as she seems, and she may eventually be a little bit more afraid of her younger sister. In anger, he speaks the truth that people don't want to hear. That evening, as the pupils had assembled before the fire in the classroom, as was their habit before going to bed, Ermengarde entered with a letter in his hand, and a curious expression on his round face. .The reason is strange This is because she looked happy and excited on the one hand, but on the other hand she was mixed with surprise, as if she had just been frightened. "What's the matter?" cried two or three voices simultaneously. "Is it related to the quarrel just now?" Lavinia asked impatiently. "There was a row in Miss Minchin's room, so violent that Miss Amelia seemed hysterical, and was obliged to go to bed." Ermengarde answered them slowly, as if she had been half-frightened. "I just got this letter from Sarah," she said, holding out her hand to show them how long it was. "A letter from Sarah!" cried all in unison. "Where is she?" Jessie almost screamed. "Next door," said Ermengarde still slowly, "with the Indian gentleman." "Where? Where? Has she been sent away? Does Miss Minchin know? Is that all the quarrel is about? Why is she writing? Tell us! Tell us!" There was a great uproar, and Lottie began to cry. Ermengarde answered them slowly, as if she were half-involved in what at the time seemed most important and self-evident. "There have been diamond mines," she said firmly, "there have been!" Facing her is a wide mouth and a pair of wide eyes eye. "Those mines are real," she continued hastily. "It was all misinformation before. There was a time when something happened and Mr. Callisford thought they were ruined—" "Who's Mr. Carrisford?" Jessie called. "That Indian gentleman. Captain Crewe thought so too—he died, and Mr Callisford got encephalitis and ran away, and he almost died too. He didn't know where Sara was then. Then it turned out that There are thousands of diamonds in these mines, half of which belong to Sarah.Those diamonds were hers when she lived in the garret with only Melchizedek as her friend, and was called to and fro by the cook.Mr Callisford has found her this afternoon and has left her with him--she will never come back--and she will be a princess more than ever--more than a hundred and fifty thousand times.I'm going to see her tomorrow afternoon.go there! " Even Miss Minchin herself could not control the ensuing uproar, and though she heard it, she did not want to stop it.miss amelia is still crying in bed so she has no mood to mind outside the room Affection.She knew that the message had penetrated the walls in some mysterious way, so that every servant and child would go to bed talking of it. And so, almost at midnight, the whole school of children, somehow realizing that all rules were being brushed aside, surrounded Ermengarde in the classroom, and listened to her read the letter again and again. Read, the contents of this letter are as fantastic as any story Sarah herself has ever made up, and astonishingly fascinating as it happened to Sarah herself and to the mysterious Indian gentleman who lived in the house next door . Becky also heard of the letter, and managed to sneak upstairs earlier than usual.She wanted to avoid people and go see that magical little room again.She had no idea what was going on in that room.Those things probably wouldn't be left to Ms. Minchin.They would be taken away, and the attic would be empty again.Though she was happy for Sara's sake, she had a lump in her throat as she climbed the last flight of stairs, and her vision was clouded by tears.There would be no fires and rose lights to-night, no supper, no princesses sitting in the light reading and telling stories--no princesses! She swallowed a sob, pushed open the attic door, and let out a low cry. The lamp was shining brightly in the room, the fire was blazing, supper was being set, and Ram Dass was standing there, smiling into her frightened face. "Our lady has not forgotten you," he said. "She told lord it all. She wanted you to know of the good fortune that befell her. Look at the letter on that plate. It was written by her. She didn't want you to go to bed morose. Our lord wants you to go to him to-morrow. There. You will be our lady's squire. I will take these things back from the roof tonight." He said this with a smile on his face, gave a little salute, and slipped away through the skylight with such quickness and noiselessness that Becky understood how easily he had come and gone before.