A Moment to Remember Read Online Free PDF

happen when she arrived? Where would she go?
     
    It was very dark as Milly got close to Southwark Park. The hissing from the gas lamps was the only sound, and the park looked very dark and frightening. She carefully pushed open the gate. The noise from the hinges seemed very loud, and she stood very still with her heart pounding, expecting someone to shout at her. Looking all around her, she made her way towards the bandstand. Every little noise startled her, and the bending, creaking trees took on weird shapes in the wind. It was very cold. On the way here she had passed some lovely houses, but which one did her aunt work in? She was on her own now. She could never go back home; her father would kill her.
    She went up the steps to the bandstand. At least this bit was under cover if it rained in the night. She curled up on a seat, putting her cloth bag holding her worldly goods, her other pair of drawers and a pair of stockings, under her head. She was so cold and all alone. She would miss Billy and Dan and she would never see Jack again. And what about her mother?
    ‘Please, Mum, forgive me,’ she said out loud. ‘I do love you.’
    Tears began to fall. She felt so unhappy. She pulled her thin coat round her. What had she done?
     
    ‘Stop, Walton.’
    Milly sat up. It was light. Had she been asleep all this time in a park bandstand? She looked up. A young girl who appeared to be about the same age as her was looking at her from a wheelchair. She was dressed in the most beautiful blue velvet coat Milly had ever seen and was wearing a large tartan tam-o’-shanter hat. Her brown ringlets hung down to her shoulders and a thick warm blanket covered her legs. Milly would have loved that blanket round her. A tall, thin-faced woman was pushing the wheelchair and they had stopped in front of Milly.
    ‘Hello,’ said the girl. ‘Are you all right?’
    ‘Yes thank you.’ Milly hurriedly dabbed her eyes.
    ‘Well you don’t look it, does she, Walton?’
    Walton fussed with the blanket. A pair of well-polished brown boots stuck out from underneath. ‘Come on, Miss Jane, we must get you home. It’s very cold this morning.’
    ‘Have you been sleeping here all night?’ asked the girl.
    Milly nodded.
    ‘All alone?’
    Milly looked down at her own shabby clothes and nodded again. She wished this girl would go away.
    ‘What’s your name?’ asked Jane, ignoring the woman, who was holding the handles of the wheelchair.
    ‘What d’you want to know for?’
    ‘I’m curious.’
    ‘Well it ain’t none of your business, so go away and leave me alone.’ Milly gathered up her bag and began to walk away.
    ‘Please. Just a moment.’
    Milly stopped. ‘What d’yer want?’
    ‘I might be able to help you.’
    ‘How? You don’t know nothing about me.’
    ‘I know you must be on your own and could have run away from home.’
    Milly stood and looked at her.
    ‘I’m right, aren’t I?’
    Milly nodded and her tears began to fall. She was cold and so alone and unhappy. ‘Leave me be.’
    ‘Please, Miss Jane, don’t be so inquisitive.’ The woman turned to Milly. ‘I’m so very sorry. Sometimes she forgets her manners.’
    Milly dabbed at her eyes with a grubby piece of rag.
    ‘Please. Let me help you. What’s your name?’
    ‘Milly.’
    ‘Milly,’ repeated Jane. ‘That’s a very pretty name.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Where do you live?’
    ‘Not round here.’
    ‘So what are you doing sleeping in the park?’
    ‘Please, Miss Jane.’
    ‘Have you run away?’
    ‘Miss Jane, we are going home.’ Walton tried to turn the wheelchair.
    ‘No,’ the girl said defiantly. She held on to the wheels of her chair and Walton had to stop.
    ‘You have run away, haven’t you? How exciting.’
    Milly began to cry again. She was cold and hungry.
    ‘Now look what you’ve done. You are a very wicked girl.’
    Jane looked distressed. ‘I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to upset you.’
    Milly looked at this