The girls who didn't like Sara began to secretly call her "Princess Sara."
They used the name to mock her.
Those who did like Sara also thought it was the perfect name for her.
They used the name kindly, but never in front of her.
Even Miss Minchin began to think of Sara as royalty.
The headmistress told some parents that a real princess was attending the school.
She thought it made the school sound like a sort of royal boarding school!
To Becky, Sara truly did seem like a real princess.
Every day the servant girl finished her chores quickly so that she could visit her friend.
Sara told Becky long and wonderful stories and gave her food.
"I have to be careful about eating in my room," said Becky.
"If I leave any crumbs, the rats and mice will eat them."
"Rats and mice!" Sara was horrified.
"There are always rats and mice in attics," said Becky.
"But you get used to them, miss.
I don't mind them as long as they don't run over my pillow!"
Sara shuddered. "I don't think I could get used to them," she said.
Whenever Sara went out, she searched for special treats for Becky.
One day she brought back some meat pies.
Becky's eyes sparkled when she saw them. "Oh, miss!" she said.
"Those meat pies will fill me up.
I mean, cake is nice, but it's not filling."
So Sara brought Becky more meat pies, beef sandwiches, and sausages.
Becky began to gain weight. She grew stronger too.
Sara had no idea how much she meant to Becky.
And it wasn't just because of the food.
Sara always had a kind word for Becky and made her laugh every day.
Becky's life had always been hard, and she had only rarely laughed or known joy.
Now laughing with Sara made her feel as full as those meat pies did.
She had something nice to think about every night when she went to bed.
A few weeks before her eleventh birthday, Sara received a letter.
It was from her father, who didn't seem as cheerful as usual.
He said that he was sick and also worried about the diamond mines.
But he'd still managed to make wonderful preparations for her birthday.
He had ordered her an expensive gift from Paris.
It was another doll with beautiful, handmade clothes.
Then he'd wanted to know if a doll was still an acceptable gift for his daughter.
I'm getting very old, Sara wrote back.
This will probably be my last doll, Papa.
No doll can ever take Emily's place, but I will respect the Last Doll very much.
And I am sure that the school will love her too.
In his bungalow in India, Captain Crewe burned with fever.
When he received Sara's letter, he laughed as he had not for weeks.
"How I'd love to have her arms around my neck right now!"
When Sara's birthday arrived, the whole school was excited.
After the morning lessons, the desks were all pushed aside.
The plan was for Sara to open her presents in the schoolroom.
Then everyone would go to Miss Minchin's sitting room for lunch.
Sara returned to her sitting room for a few minutes before the party.
There, on a table, she found a small package wrapped in brown paper.
She opened it and found a square pincushion made of old red flannel.
The pins had been arranged to spell "Happy Birthday."
"I bet Becky made this!" cried Sara.
Sara turned over her present.
Pinned to the bottom of the pincushion was a card addressed to Miss Amelia Minchin.
"Miss Amelia?" Sara was puzzled.
Just then the door opened and Becky peeked into the room.
She had a sweet grin on her face.
"Do you like it, Miss Sara?"
"Like it?" Sara cried. "Of course I do! You made this all by yourself!"
Becky nodded happily, and her eyes looked damp.
"The flannel isn't new, but I wanted to give you something.
I knew you could pretend the flannel was satin.
I tried to pretend the heads of the pins were diamonds."
"It's wonderful, Becky. But I'm puzzled by the card."
"Miss Amelia had thrown it away," Becky explained.
"I hope it wasn't wrong to pick it out of the trash.
It wouldn't be a proper present without a card."
Sara ran to Becky and hugged her. "Oh, Becky!" she cried.
"I love you! I really do."
"Oh, miss," said Becky. "Thank you kindly."
Sara didn't know why, but a large lump had filled her throat.