Just as it ends, Miss Minchin learns of Captain Crewe's unfortunate demise due to jungle fever. When Sara acquires the epithet 'princess', she embraces its favorable elements in her natural kindheartedness.Īfter some time, Sara's eleventh birthday is celebrated at Miss Minchin's with a lavish party, attended by all her friends and classmates.

John, the school dunce to Lottie, a four-year-old pupil given to tantrums and to Becky, the lowly, stunted scullery maid. She extends her friendship to Ermengarde St. In spite of said wealth, Sara is not self-centered, rude, disobedient, or snobbish, but kind, generous, and compassionate. Miss Minchin openly fawns over Sara for her money, but is secretly bitter toward her for her wealth. The Captain enrolls his seven-year-old daughter at Miss Minchin's boarding school for girls in London and dotes on his daughter so much that he orders and pays the headmistress for special treatment and exceptional luxuries for Sara, such as a private room for her with a personal maid and a separate sitting room (see Parlour boarder), along with Sara's own private carriage and a pony. Because the Indian climate is considered too harsh for their children, British families living there traditionally send their children to boarding school back home in England. 'She slowly advanced into the parlor, clutching her doll': Illustration from Sara Crewe or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's (1888)Ĭaptain Ralph Crewe, a wealthy English widower, has been raising his only child, Sara, in India where he is stationed with the British Army.

Burnett a little princess