Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host.

Every week, I will read you an old story to help you relax of the stressful day behind you and drift off to sleep.

Occasionally, we will run ads in order to cover the costs of the production of the podcast.

Rest assured, there will be no ads during or after the story.

If you prefer an ad-free and intro-free show, you can join Just Sleep Premium.

Visit JustSleeppodcast.com slash support for more information.

Tonight, I will be continuing the story,

A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett.

So lie down, close your eyes,

and let me read you a story.

Chapter 4. Lottie

If Sarah had been a different kind of child, the life she led Miss Minchin's select seminary for the next few years,

but not have been at all good for her. She was treated more as if she were a distinguished guest

at the establishment than as if she were a mere little girl. If she had been a self-opinionated,

domineering child, she might have become disagreeable enough

to be unbearable through being so much indulged and flattered.

If she had been an indolent child, she would have learned nothing.

Privately, Miss Minchin disliked her, but she was far too worldly a woman to do or say anything

which might make such a desirable pupil wish to leave her school. She knew quite well that

if Sarah wrote to her papa to tell him she was uncomfortable or unhappy, Captain Crewe would

remove her at once. Ms Mention's opinion was that,

if a child were continually praised and never forbidden to do what she liked,

...