Chapter 9 · A Classic Novel Extract

A Little Princess

A birthday party — and a fortune that vanishes overnight

👑

Tec — The Education Consultancy | Grade 7 English Lesson & Worksheet

On her eleventh birthday, Sara Crewe — the wealthiest and best-loved pupil at Miss Minchin's seminary — surprised her strict headmistress by asking that Becky, the young scullery-maid, be allowed to join the party. Miss Minchin was scandalized at first, protesting that scullery-maids were not "little girls" in the way her pupils were, but softened when Sara pressed the point, and let Becky stay as a birthday favour, delighted and grateful to be included among the young ladies.

Before the presents could be opened, Miss Minchin delivered a stiff little speech reminding the schoolroom of Sara's good fortune: how her father, Captain Crewe, had entrusted her to the seminary from India, how her manners and accomplishments had earned her the nickname "Princess Sara," and how one day she would inherit a large fortune from her father's diamond mines, which it would be her duty to spend wisely. The girls dutifully thanked Sara together for her generosity, and Sara, uncomfortable with all the talk of money, made a small curtsy and let the party begin.

The presents themselves caused a joyful uproar — lace collars, silk stockings, a jewel-case, dresses, hats, and fans — but nothing thrilled the children more than the magnificent "Last Doll," dressed as if for the theatre, complete with her own trunk of clothes and a tiny opera glass. As she arranged the doll's finery, Sara shared her private philosophy of "supposing" — imagining things so hard that they almost felt real, "like being a fairy." When the scornful Lavinia challenged her to say whether she could still "suppose" if she were a beggar with nothing at all, Sara paused thoughtfully and answered that she believed she could.

The celebration was cut short when Miss Amelia announced that Sara's father's solicitor, Mr Barrow, had arrived to see Miss Minchin on business, and the children were hurried off to have their feast elsewhere. Curious and unwilling to miss a glimpse of the treasures, Becky lingered a moment too long and, hearing Miss Minchin's footsteps, darted under the table in a fright, hiding beneath its cloth rather than be caught taking liberties.

Mr Barrow, a sharp, disapproving little man, eyed the costly gifts with open displeasure, calling such extravagance for an eleven-year-old close to foolishness. When Miss Minchin proudly mentioned Captain Crewe's diamond mines as proof of his fortune, Mr Barrow stopped her cold: there were no diamond mines — there never had been. Miss Minchin, feeling her comfortable certainties crumble, could only stare at him in disbelief as her splendid picture of Sara's future began to fade away.

Worse news followed. Mr Barrow revealed that Captain Crewe had died of jungle fever, worn down by business troubles over the failed mines — and had left nothing behind. Sara, it turned out, was no heiress at all: she had, in an instant, become a penniless "pauper," without a single relation left in the world to turn to.

Vocabulary

scandalized — shocked by outrageous behaviour

scullery — a small room for washing dishes and utensils, and storing other kitchen items

dignity — pride and self-respect

meritorious — deserving honour and recognition

seminary — (long ago) a private residential school for girls

solicitor — a lawyer who gives legal advice

indiscretion — lack of good judgement or tact

pauper — a very poor person

Worksheet — A Little Princess

Comprehension · Vocabulary · Sequencing — Grade 7

Name:

Class:

Date:

Score:

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1.Whose birthday is being celebrated in the story?

Lavinia's

Becky's

Sara's✓

Miss Minchin's

2.Who did Sara ask to be allowed to join her birthday party?

Miss Amelia

Becky, the scullery-maid✓

Mr Barrow

Jessie

3.How did Miss Minchin first react to Sara's request?

She agreed at once, happily

She was scandalized, saying scullery-maids weren't "little girls"✓

She sent Sara out of the room

She ignored the request

4.What nickname had the other girls given Sara because of her perfect manners?

Lady Sara

Princess Sara✓

Queen Sara

Duchess Sara

5.According to Miss Minchin's speech, what would Sara one day inherit?

A castle in France

A large fortune from her father's diamond mines✓

The seminary itself

A collection of dolls

6.What made the "Last Doll" so special?

It could talk

It came with its own trunk of clothes and an opera glass✓

It was made of gold

It belonged to Miss Minchin

7.What did Sara mean by "supposing"?

Guessing exam answers

Imagining something so hard it feels almost real✓

Telling lies

Making predictions about the future

8.Why did the party come to an abrupt pause?

The doll broke

Becky was caught misbehaving

Sara's father's solicitor, Mr Barrow, arrived to see Miss Minchin✓

It began to rain

9.What shocking news did Mr Barrow reveal about the diamond mines?

They had been sold

They never existed✓

They belonged to someone else

They had run out of diamonds

10.What had happened to Sara's father, Captain Crewe?

He had gone missing

He had returned to India

He had died of jungle fever and business troubles✓

He had remarried

B. True or False

1. Sara asked Miss Minchin to let Becky join her birthday party.
TrueFalse
2. Miss Minchin happily agreed to Sara's request without any hesitation.
TrueFalse
3. The other girls thanked Sara together for her generosity.
TrueFalse
4. The Last Doll was small and plain, with no extra clothes.
TrueFalse
5. Sara believed that imagining things hard enough could make them feel real.
TrueFalse
6. Lavinia was warmly supportive of Sara's idea of "supposing."
TrueFalse
7. Mr Barrow was pleased to see such expensive birthday gifts.
TrueFalse
8. Mr Barrow revealed that Captain Crewe had died.
TrueFalse

C. Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. scandalized → (d)

2. dignity → (c)

3. meritorious → (a)

4. solicitor → (b)

5. pauper → (e)

a. deserving honour and recognition

b. a lawyer who gives legal advice

c. pride and self-respect

d. shocked by outrageous behaviour

e. a very poor person

D. Put the Events in Correct Order (1–6)

The girls open the Last Doll's trunk full of presents.
Sara asks Miss Minchin to let Becky join the birthday party.
Mr Barrow reveals that there are no diamond mines.
Miss Minchin makes a speech about Sara's future fortune.
Mr Barrow tells Miss Minchin that Captain Crewe has died.
Sara and Lavinia argue about the idea of "supposing" things.

E. Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Sara want Becky to be included in her birthday party?

Sara believed Becky, though a scullery-maid, was a little girl too who would enjoy seeing the presents, and wanted to share her happiness with her.

2. What does Miss Minchin's speech reveal about how she views Sara?

It shows Miss Minchin values Sara mainly for her wealth and the credit her accomplishments bring to the seminary, rather than for herself alone.

3. In your own words, explain Sara's idea of "supposing."

Sara believed that imagining something hard enough — pretending it was true with all her heart — could make it feel almost real, like a kind of magic.

4. Why was Miss Minchin so shaken by Mr Barrow's news?

She had counted on Captain Crewe's diamond-mine fortune and Sara's status as an heiress to bring credit to her school, so learning the mines never existed shattered her expectations.

5. In your own words, what change is about to happen in Sara's life, and how do you think she will be affected?

Open-ended — accept answers that reflect: Sara has lost her father and her fortune overnight, going from a wealthy "princess" to a penniless orphan with no relatives, which will likely change how she is treated at the seminary. (Teacher's discretion for wording.)