Ermengarde

           Onthatfirstmorning,whenSarasatatMissMinchin’sside,awarethatthewholeschoolroomwasdevotingitselftoobservingher,shehadnoticedverysoononelittlegirl,aboutherownage,wholookedatherveryhardwithapairoflight,ratherdull,blueeyes.Shewasafatchildwhodidnotlookasifshewereintheleastclever,butshehadagood-naturedlypoutingmouth.Herflaxenhairwasbraidedinatightpigtail,tiedwitharibbon,andshehadpulledthispigtailaroundherneck,andwasbitingtheendoftheribbon,restingherelbowsonthedesk,asshestaredwonderinglyatthenewpupil.WhenMonsieurDufargebegantospeaktoSara,shelookedalittlefrightened;andwhenSarasteppedforwardand,lookingathimwiththeinnocent,appealingeyes,answeredhim,withoutanywarning,inFrench,thefatlittlegirlgaveastartledjump,andgrewquiteredinherawedamazement.Havingwepthopelesstearsforweeksinhereffortstorememberthat"lamere"meant"themother,"and"lepere,""thefather,"—whenonespokesensibleEnglish—itwasalmosttoomuchforhersuddenlytofindherselflisteningtoachildherownagewhoseemednotonlyquitefamiliarwiththesewords,butapparentlyknewanynumberofothers,andcouldmixthemupwithverbsasiftheyweremeretrifles.

           ShestaredsohardandbittheribbononherpigtailsofastthatsheattractedtheattentionofMissMinchin,who,feelingextremelycrossatthemoment,immediatelypounceduponher.

           "MissSt.John!"sheexclaimedseverely."Whatdoyoumeanbysuchconduct?Removeyourelbows!Takeyourribbonoutofyourmouth!Situpatonce!"

           UponwhichMissSt.Johngaveanotherjump,andwhenLaviniaandJessietitteredshebecameredderthanever—sored,indeed,thatshealmostlookedasiftearswerecomingintoherpoor,dull,childisheyes;