Captain Ralph Crewe, a wealthy English widower, enrolls his young daughter Sara at Miss Minchin's boarding school for girls in London, to prepare her for a life in high society. Sara enjoys a special treatment and exceptional luxuries, and Miss Minchin openly fawns over Sara for her wealth. But all that changes when Captain Ralph suddenly dies after losing all his fortune, leaving Sara in poverty and in disfavor with Miss Minchin.