Summary

Sara went to her first class the morning after her father dropped her off at the school. As she entered the French class, all the other girls looked at her, and she at them. They knew Miss Minchin considered her to be a credit to the school and they knew she had her own maid. Lavinia, a 13-year-old student, and Jessie, another girl near Lavinia's age, whispered back and forth about Sara before class began. Lavinia made spiteful comments to Jessie about Sara's shoes and eyes and even said she was ugly. Jessie remarked that the little girl looked peculiar, but had features that made people look twice at her, including her long eyelashes and her eyes.

Sara was seated at the front of the class near Miss Minchin. She wondered what the other students were thinking about her. She wondered...