6. The Diamond Mines
Not very long after this a very exg thing happened. Not only Sara, but the entire school, found it exg, and made it the chief subject of versation for weeks after it occurred. In one of his letters Captaiold a most iing story. A friend who had been at school with him when he was a boy had uedly e to see him in India. He was the owner of a large tract of land upon which diamonds had been found, and he was engaged in developing the mines. If all went as was fidently expected, he would bee possessed of such wealth as it made one dizzy to think of; and because he was fond of the friend of his school days, he had given him an opportunity to share in this enormous fortune by being a partner in his scheme. This, at least, was what Sara gathered from his letters. It is true that any other business scheme, however magnifit, would have had but small attra for her or for the schoolroom; but "diamond mines" sounded so like the Arabian Nights that no one could be indifferent. Sara thought them enting, and painted pictures, farde and Lottie, of labyrinthine passages in the bowels of the earth, where sparkling stoudded the walls and roofs and ceilings, and strange, dark men dug them out with heavy picks. Ermengarde delighted iory, and Lottie insisted on its beiold to her every evening. Lavinia was very spiteful about it, and told Jessie that she didnt believe such things as diamond mied.
"My mamma has a diam which cost forty pounds," she said. "And it is not a big oher. If there were mines full of diamonds, people would be so rich it would be ridiculous."
"Perhaps Sara will be so rich that she will be ridiculous," giggled Jessie.
"Shes ridiculous without being rich," Lavinia sniffed.
"I believe you hate her," said Jessie.
"No, I dont," snapped Lavinia. "But I dont believe in mines full of diamonds."
"Well, people have to get them from somewhere," said Jessie. "Lavinia," with a new giggle, "what do you thirude says?"
"I dont know, Im sure; and I dont care if its something more about that everlasting Sara."
"Well, it is. One of her `pretends is that she is a princess. She plays it all the time--even in school. She says it makes her learn her lessoer. She wants Ermengarde to be ooo, but Ermengarde says she is too fat."
"She is too fat," said Lavinia. "And Sara is too thin."
Naturally, Jessie giggled again.
"She says it has nothing to do with what you look like, or what you have. It has only to do with what you think of, and what you do." "I suppose she thinks she could be a princess if she was a beggar," said Lavinia. "Let us begin to call her Your Royal Highness."
Lessons for the day were over, and they were sitting before the schoolroom fire, enjoying the time they liked best. It was the time when Miss Min and Miss Amelia were taking their tea iting room sacred to themselves. At this hreat deal of talking was done, and a great mas ged hands, particularly if the younger pupils behaved themselves well, and did not squabble or run about noisily, which it must be fessed they usually did. When they made an uproar the irls usually interfered with scolding and shakes. They were expected to keep order, and there was dahat if they did not, Miss Min or Miss Amelia would appear and put ao festivities. Even as Lavinia spoke the door opened and Sara entered with Lottie, whose habit was to trot everywhere after her like a little dog.
"There she is, with that