6 The other side of the wall

Chapter 6 The other side of the wall At the end of each long day, Becky and Sara now climbed their attic stairs to find a fire blazing merrily and plates piled high with food.

Miss Minchin couldn't understand why Sara and Becky were so cheerful. "Perhaps Sara is a princess after all," suggested Miss Amelia. "How else could she cope so bravely?" "Don't be ridiculous," snapped Miss Minchin. But she hated seeing Sara so happy. She's looking almost well-fed.

A few months later, just before Sara went to work, she heard a scratching sound at the skylight. It had been snowing all night, and on the snow, crouched near the skylight, was a tiny, shivering figure. "Oh it's the monkey from next door!" cried Sara. "I'll coax him in. He can't stay out in the cold."

As Sara was letting in the monkey, Mr. Carrisford was greeting Mr. Phillips in the house next door. He had just returned from Paris. "It wasn't the child we're looking for," Mr. Phillips said sadly. "Her name was Emily, and she is much younger than Captain Crewe's little girl."

Mr. Carrisford sighed. "Well then," he said, "we must begin our search again at once."

Perhaps the Magic was at work again, for as he spoke Ram Dass came into the room. "Sahib," he said, "the girl from the attic has come. She brings back the monkey." "Your monkey ran away again," Sara explained. "Shall I give him to the Lascar?"