When she was young, Sara Crewe had many dreams and pretends. She'd never expected one of her favorite pretends to have come true; she had almost fainted when she'd learned that the diamond mines really had diamonds after all, and that she really was a princess after all!
But just because one is suddenly swept up from the lowest level of poverty to just below royalty in an instant, doesn't mean one forgets about what it's like to be cold and hungry.
No, Sara was going to the kind of princess that scatters largesse to the poor and needy. She'd already made the arrangement with Mrs. Brown, the baker woman. She'd helped Becky's family but the land so the Morris's could be self-reliant, helped the children of Peter's neighborhood, and helped Peter himself pay for a new house and paid for Peter's schooling, barely making even a pinpoint dent in her fortune.
Still, in her head, Sara nursed multiple pet fancies, always telling Becky first. Even on the boat to India, she'd told Becky one of her most favorite pet fancies: when Sara was old enough, perhaps after she finished her own education, she would open a school.
In her new marine suit, Miss Sara Crewe stood outside the door of her old school, remembering both the good and bad times she'd shared under this roof. Still, it was quite humbling, though she'd lived next door for ten years now. Now, she was grown, a college graduate. A recent college graduate.
She knocked on the brass knocker, remembering the last time she had, she could barely reach it on her tiptoes. Only now it was quite warm. A young girl of about fifteen answered the door, "can I help you, mum?"
"Yes, I'd like to speak to the headmistress, please."
"Right this way, mum." The girl led Sara into the parlor. After several minutes of waiting, Miss Minchin came in, looking quite a good deal older, yet still distinguished, tall, and respectable.
"Sara? What a nice surprise. What brings you here?" Her pleasant tone surprised Sara quite a bit. Miss Minchin also had a softer, kinder look to her face Ever since the night she'd crashed Sara's twelfth birthday party, Maria Minchin has taken a good hard look at herself, realizing how hard-hearted and foolish she'd been, and took steps to correct her faults. The last straw was, of course, her sister's elopement with a bookseller.
"I was thinking something, Miss Minchin. Now that I've graduated college, I want to do more than be a debutante that waits around to marry."
Having made peace with remaining an old maid, Sara's former headmistress nodded, "Yes, it is important to find what you'd like to do with your life."
"Perhaps this will be taken as an insult, but, I noticed you are getting on in years, and I would like to buy you out."
"Buy me out?" Miss Minchin looked quite shocked a Sara was pulling a check out of her purse. "I hope this is enough..."
She read the check: £50,000! Miss Minchin nearly fainted at that amount.
"I can pay more if you feel it's not enough-"
"No, no... This... This is plenty, Sara." The old woman smiled softly, "Yes, this is plenty."
After a few minutes of silence, Sara asked, "Miss Minchin?"
"Yes?"
"Um... May I ask you something?"
"Yes, go ahead..."
"Do you forgive me... for everything?" Sara blushed as she'd looked away, remembering how her old teacher declared she wouldn't forget being accidentally humiliated in front of the class, catching the attic party, discovering the magic, and the night the stable caught fire.
Miss Minchin herself remembered her hardness and cruelties, and was regretful and remorseful, "Sara... I forgave you a long time ago. I was too stubborn to realize it. Still, it doesn't excuse all I've done to you... And, I understand if you have no desire to forgive me. After all I've done, I'd be surprised if you did. But my apology is meant in earnest. I realize my behavior has robbed me so many years of happiness."
For her part, Sara was quite shocked. She did not expect an apology back. Still, Sara took the old woman's hand in hers, nodding, "Of course I forgive you. You were hurting for such a long time, and had no one." Sara's kindness knew no bounds, as she continued, "You're more than welcome to stay here if you wish to. I could keep you on as a teacher."
"Oh, I couldn't. I want to move closer to Amelia, anyway. Her husband is sick, and there's two little ones, Amelia had twins, you see. And well, this would certainly help them out a lot. At least a little bit would. I can live on what's left just fine." Miss Minchin smiled a smile that was perhaps much less fishy than Sara would have thought ten years ago. In fact, it was almost kind.
"But, thank you for your offer. I'll have to write letters to all the parents, and pack my things, of course. Would a month be alright?"
Sara nodded, "Yes, it should be just fine. Ask Mr. Carmichael, my solicitor, if you need help with moving, and he'd be more than willing to help with moving arrangements."
"Alright. Thank you, Sara. I shall let you know if there's anything else."
The same maid that answered the door had brought in tea.
"Would you care for a cup, Sara?"
"Oh, I'll take one cup, to be polite." And the two spoke about things, catching up as if they'd been school acquaintances. Including about Caesar, the cat that had wandered into the school one day and decided to make the school his home.
"Caesar was actually a girl, you know. She had a litter of kittens right before the summer holidays two years ago. We gave two to the Carmichaels, and a few of the girls took a kitten home each. We kept just one. Her name is Julia, after Julius Caesar's daughter."
"Ah. I haven't seen Caesar in so long. He... she surely must be quite old by now," Sara giggled, unable to think of Caesar as a dainty female cat.
"Oh, yes... But Julia is quite spry. She is only two years old or so. Poor Caesar can barely keep up with her."
At last, the clock chimed three, Sara realized the time, "I must go. I am going to the theater tonight, and I want everything to be in order before I leave."
"Oh, of course, Sara. I won't keep you," Miss Minchin had led Sara to the front door, "Let me know if anything changes, alright?"
Sara nodded, "Yes, I will. Thank you. Good day."
The next few weeks were quite busy for Sara, taking into account various needs, including ink and paper, textbooks, chalk and slates... Who knew running a school would be so difficult?
Of course, now of age, Sara could buy whatever she wanted and hardly make a dent in her immense fortune. She discussed matters with Becky, Ermengarde, Lottie, Lorelei, and Peter, the latter having been taken on as an apprentice of sorts to Mr. Carrisford, and was often not too far from Sara. She often talked about all her plans with Becky, and Peter as of late. It was only fair. They are courting, after all. But now, Sara was taking a variety of opinions from her friends.
Over tea, the six of them discussed whether Sara should implement a uniform. Peter's school, Rugby, had one. And that school molded Peter into a respectable gentleman.
"I've seen plenty of other schools do just that. And I believe it will make sure that girls shall not resent each other for having prettier clothes."
"Yes, but what if the girls cannot afford a uniform?" Ermengarde's question was a legitimate one. Perhaps a girl who could afford the school fees could not afford a uniform.
"I've thought of that, and I shall cover the cost of uniforms. Though I'm not entirely sure how it should look. Perhaps something simple..."
"Maybe something with a pinafore, Sara. I've seen plenty of French school girls wearing them," Becky recalled her time spend studying music at the Paris Conservatoire, the little girls all lined up in their hats and pinafores, or bright coats if the weather was cold.
Lorelei took a sip of tea, adding her own two pence, "Perhaps it could constrict them too much if you did implement a uniform."
"I've thought about that, Lorelei" And Sara sighed, still conflicted about the issue of a uniform, "perhaps we'll discuss that part later... Now, what do you think should be taught at this school, besides History, Geography, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic? I don't believe I will focus too heavily on ladies accomplishments, as Miss Minchin did."
"Science, Algebra, and the Classic languages." was Peter's suggestion. In his words, "plenty of girls would benefit from the mental stimulation."
Ermengarde thought a moment before making her suggestion, "Perhaps some botany, there is enough room in the backyard for a few girls to have their own plots of land if they wish it. I can even come twice a week and help the girls out." Sara started to write down all the suggestions. Lorelei suggested Exercise and Gymnastics, along with Ancient History, Lottie suggested Sara should teach French, Drawing and Painting, and Becky suggested some more practical classes, such as sewing and cooking. As Becky spoke, Sara got an idea, "Becky, perhaps you could teach piano to a few of the girls."
"M-me?" The compliment made Becky blush, but Sara was quick to reassure her, "of course. I wouldn't have asked anyone else to teach piano. After all, it is an honor to have someone who graduated from the Paris Conservatory to teach piano to my girls."
The compliment made Becky blush hard. While quite talented, Becky was still very modest. Still, she'd agreed to teach piano.
"Wait a minute, Sara," Lottie began, "You haven't even told us the name of the school yet. Don't most schools have a name?"
"Oh, that's right, I never told you all yet," Sara took a sip of her tea before speaking again, "I've thought about it a long time, perhaps longer than I ought to have. The reason I'm able to open this school is because of the partnership between my father and my guardian. So, I've decided to call it the 'Carrisford-Crewe School for Girls' What do you think?" All of Sara's guests approved of the name.
"Wonderful, then that shall be the name of the school."