Sophie's Misfortunes

At the Castle of Rean, Sophie is thrilled to receive the beautiful doll her father has sent her from Paris. While bickering with her beloved cousin, Paul, she decides to leave her doll in the sun to let her get some colour. When Camille and Madeleine arrive for afternoon tea, the wax doll has melted. Luckily, Mrs de Fleurville and Mrs de Rean manage to mend it. Sophie escapes to greedily steal the candied fruits brought by Mrs de Fleurville. She tries to hide the fact that she stole but her mother punishes her for what she has done.

It is Sophies's seventh birthday. She has always dreamt of becoming as beautiful as her mother, so she decides to trim her eyebrows. Everybody makes fun of her. Things start to look up again when Mrs de Fleurville and her daughters invite Sophie to a lovely doll tea party. Sophie decides to make her own tea but everybody chokes on the horrible concoction. Mrs de Rean wrongly blames the maid, Lucie. Sophie manages to convince her mother not to let Lucie go.

Mr de Rean sends his wife a beautiful sewing box. He asks that it be given to Sophie only if she is well behaved. Sophie is dying to get her hands on the box, and cannot resist the temptation to stal its contents. Very soon, the theft is discovered and Sophie learns that the present was actually meant for her all along. She understands that in future, she will have to be more patient.