# Ermengarde St. John — A Little Princess character guide

> Ermengarde St. John in A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ermengarde

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-a-french-lesson

## Snapshot

A plodding, good-hearted pupil who dreads her lessons and her father alike, and finds in Sara's storytelling the one hour of her dull life that sparkles.

## Who they are

Ermengarde is the school's dunce, embarrassed by her own slowness and by a father who prefers his library to her company. Sara's tales of India and dolls who walk when humans leave the room open a door in her imagination she never knew existed. When Sara asks whether she loves her father more than anything, Ermengarde's stammered confession exposes the emotional distance in her own home — and makes her quiet loyalty to Sara feel earned rather than sentimental.

## In the story

### [The Whole of the Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/the-whole-of-the-story)

A student who is more entertaining than she first seemed.

### [A Little Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/a-little-princess)

A fellow student who becomes Sara's friend, struggling with her studies.

### [Ermengarde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/iii-ermengarde)

Ermengarde is a slow, good-natured girl who is awed by Sara's cleverness and imagination, and becomes her friend.

### [Lottie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/iv-lottie)

Ermengarde is Sara's friend and confidante, with whom Sara discusses her thoughts on character and trials.

### [The Diamond-Mines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/vi-the-diamond-mines)

Delights in Sara's stories about the diamond mines and is asked to be a princess but declines, saying she is too fat.

### [The Diamond-Mines Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/vii-the-diamond-mines-again)

Expresses dismay that Sara's birthday gift includes books, but joins in the excitement over the Last Doll.

### [In the Attic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/viii-in-the-attic)

Returns from a visit and awkwardly encounters Sara, failing to express sympathy properly, leading Sara to feel hurt and misunderstood.

### [Melchisedec](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/ix-melchisedec)

Ermengarde visits Sara in the attic, learns about Melchisedec, and participates in the secret knock communication with Becky.

### [The Other Side of the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/xii-the-other-side-of-the-wall)

Ermengarde discusses her relatives with Sara, expressing dislike for their constant questions.

### [The Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/xv-the-magic)

Visits Sara in the attic; learns of Sara's hunger; brings a box of food from her aunt to share.

### [I Tried Not to Be](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/xviii-i-tried-not-to-be)

Ermengarde appears at the end with a letter, showing excitement and shock about the events.

### [Anne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/xix-anne)

Mentioned among those who gather to rejoice with Sara.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters/ermengarde
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters