Elizabeth

Her ornaments and luxuries had been removed, and a bed had been placed in a corner to transform it into a new pupil's bedroom.

When she went down to breakfast, she saw that her seat at Miss Minchin's side was occupied by Lavinia, and Miss Minchin spoke to her coldly.

You will begin your new duties, Sarah, she said, by taking your seat with the younger children at a smaller table.

That was the beginning.

And from day to day, the duties given to her were added to.

She taught the younger children French and heard their other lessons.

And these were the least of her labours.

It was found that she could be made use of in numberless directions.

She could be sent on errands at any time and in all weathers.

She could be told to do things other people neglected.

The cook and housemaids took their tone from Miss Minchin and rather enjoyed ordering about the young one who had been made so much fuss over for so long.

They were not servants of the best class, and had neither good manners nor good tempers, and it was frequently convenient to have at hand someone on whom blame could be laid.

During the first month or two, Sarah thought that her willingness to do things as well as she could and her silence under reproof might soften those who drove her so hard.

In her proud little heart, she wanted them to see that she was trying to earn her living and not accepting charity.

But the time came when she saw that no one was softened at all.

And the more willing she was to do as she was told, the more domineering and exacting careless housemaids became, and the more ready a scolding cook was to blame her.

If she had been older, Miss Minchin would have given her the bigger girls to teach and saved money by dismissing an instructress.

But while she remained and looked like a child, she could be made more useful as a sort of little superior errand girl and maid of all work.

An ordinary errand boy would not have been so clever and reliable.

Sarah could be trusted with difficult commissions and complicated messages.