Chapters 10-12 Summary

Ella is shown to her room, which she will share with four other girls. Fortunately, one of them is Areida, who sneaks Ella a roll from dinner. Areida is unpopular because she is foreign, and because she is poor, the daughter of an innkeeper. When Ella defends Areida to their roommates, Ella also becomes an outcast. At first, finishing school is very difficult for Ella, because she is more like a small elephant than a graceful lady. However, since she has no choice but to obey the advice of her teachers, she surprises them all by quickly picking up all the subjects. This is nerve-wracking for her, since these accomplishments do not come easily. Instead, she must constantly remind herself of all the many orders she must follow. Even though she is obedient, the teachers soon get annoyed at her rebellious...