Elizabeth reads Chapter 7 of "A Little Princess" by Francis Hodgson Burnett published in 1905.Try The Sleepy Bookshelf Premium free for 7 days: https://sleepybookshelf.supercast.com/.Are you loving The Sleepy Bookshelf? Show your support by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts.Follow the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Vote on upcoming books via the Survey on our website: https://sleepybookshelf.com.Listen to the music from The Sleepy Bookshelf in a relaxing soundscape on Deep Sleep Sounds:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxRt2AI7f80Having an issue with The Sleepy Bookshelf or have a question for us? Check out our FAQs.Connect: Twitter - Instagram - FacebookThank you so much for joining us here at The Sleepy Bookshelf. Now, let’s open our book for this evening. Sweet dreams 🥱 😴 Browse all seasons of The Sleepy Bookshelf: https://slumbergroup.notion.site/sleepybookshelf Our SponsorsCheck out BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/BOOKSHELF Our AppsRedeem exclusive, unlimited access to premium content for 1 month FREE in our mobile apps built by the Slumber Studios team:Deep Sleep Sounds App: deepsleepsounds.com/bookshelfSlumber App: slumber.fm/bookshelf Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Good evening, and welcome to this sleepy bookshelf, where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book. I'm your host, Elizabeth. Thank you for being here this evening. Tonight we are continuing with A Little Princess, so lie down comfortably. And close your eyes, taking your first deep breath in, filling your lungs, and then slowly release your breath, letting go of any stress.
Feel your feet relax, sinking deeper into the surface beneath you. And let this relaxation rise through your legs and hips, allowing your lower body to soften. Now let your belly, your chest and shoulders also become calm. And as you breathe, feel the warmth of relaxation spreading down through your arms and hands. Now gently relax your face, your eyes, your jaw and your brow.
And with every breath, drift deeper into relaxation, preparing for a restorative sleep. On her 11th birthday, Sarah was led into the schoolroom by Miss Minchin, who stood before the students and spoke about her show pupil before leaving them to the festivities, even allowing Becky to stay at the back of the room on Sarah's request.
The star gift was a doll ordered from Paris and nearly as big as Lottie, so-called the Last Doll, as Sarah deemed that she would be too old for dolls soon. Then Miss Amelia came to announce that Sarah's father's solicitor had arrived to speak with Miss Minchin and that the party would need to remove to the sitting room to allow them to meet.
The girls laughed, but Becky lingered to look closer at the last doll, slipping under the table when Miss Minchin opened the door, and so overhearing the entire conversation. The solicitor explained that Captain Crewe was dead. His friend who owned the diamond mine had taken all his money and run. He then caught jungle fever and passed away, leaving Sarah penniless and alone.
Miss Minchin was furious. Sarah's lavish expenses and fees were well overdue, and she was now left with the care of the child. Amelia was ordered to stop the party and break the news. Sarah came as requested hours later in a black frock that was too small, clutching her doll, Emily.
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Chapter 2: What happens during Sarah's 11th birthday celebration?
She used to sit in the window seat, huddled in a heap, and stare out of the window without speaking. Once, Jessie, who was passing, stopped to look at her curiously. What are you crying for, Ermengarde? she asked. I'm not crying, answered Ermengarde in a muffled, unsteady voice.
You are, said Jessie. Great big tear just rolled down the bridge of your nose and dropped off the end of it. and there goes another. Well, said Ermengarde, I'm miserable, and no one needed to fear.
And she turned her plump back and took out her handkerchief and boldly hid her face in it. That night, when Sarah went to her attic, she was later than usual. She had been kept at work until after the hour at which the pupils went to bed, and after that, she had gone to her lessons in the lonely schoolroom.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she was surprised to see a glimmer of light coming from under the attic door. Nobody goes there but myself, she thought quickly. Someone has lighted a candle. Someone had indeed lighted a candle, and it was not burning in the kitchen candlestick she was expected to use, but in one of those belonging to the pupils' bedrooms.
The someone was sitting upon the battered footstool and was dressed in her nightgown and wrapped up in a red shawl. It was Ermengarde. Ermengarde! cried Sarah. She was so startled that she was almost frightened.
You will get into trouble.
Ermengarde stumbled up from her footstool. She shuffled across the attic in her bedroom slippers, which were too large for her. Her eyes and nose were pink with crying.
I know I shall, if I'm found out, she said. But I don't care. I don't care a bit. Oh, Sarah, please tell me. What is the matter? Why don't you like me anymore?
Something in her voice made the familiar lump rise in Sarah's throat. It was so affectionate and simple, so like the old ermengarde who had asked her to be best friends. It sounded as if she had not meant what she had seemed to mean during these past weeks. I do like you, Sarah answered.
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Chapter 3: How does Sarah's life change after her father's death?
Amengard looked around the attic with a rather fearsome curiosity. Sarah, she said, Do you think you can bear living here? Sarah looked round also.
If I pretend it is quite different, I can.
She answered. Or if I pretend it is a place in a story. She spoke slowly. Her imagination was beginning to work for her. It had not worked for her at all since her troubles had come upon her. She had felt as if it had been stunned. Other people have lived in worse places. Think of the Count of Monte Cristo in the dungeons of the Chateau d'Ilf. And think of the people in the Bastille.
The Bastille. Half whispered Ermengarde, watching her and beginning to be fascinated. She remembered stories of the French Revolution, which Sarah had been able to fix in her mind by her dramatic relation of them. No one but Sarah could have done it. A well-known glow came into Sarah's eyes. Yes, she said, hugging her knees.
That will be a good place to pretend about. I'm a prisoner in the Bastille. I've been here for years and years and years, and everybody has forgotten about me. Miss Minchin is the jailer. And Becky...
a sudden light adding itself to the glow in her eyes. Becky is the prisoner in the next cell. She turned to Ermengarde, looking quite like the old Sarah. I shall pretend that, she said, and it will be a great comfort. Ermengarde was at once enraptured and awed.
And will you tell me all about it?
She said.
May I creep up here at night, whenever it is safe, and hear the things you have made up in the day? It will seem as if we were more best friends than ever.
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