A Moment to Remember Read Online Free PDF Page B

girl. She must come from a good home, but why was she in a wheelchair?
    ‘That’s all right,’ she mumbled.
    ‘You look very cold. You can come home with us. Cook will give you some breakfast.’
    ‘I can’t do that.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I’m looking for me aunt.’
    ‘Where does she live?’
    ‘I don’t know. Round Southwark somewhere.’
    ‘We live in Southwark Park Road and my cook knows everyone. What’s her name?’
    ‘Auntie Doris.’
    ‘What’s her surname?’
    Suddenly Milly felt very silly. She didn’t know her mother’s maiden name, or if Aunt Doris had married. ‘I don’t know,’ she said softly.
    ‘How can you expect to find someone if you don’t know their name or where they live?’
    Milly hung her head.
    ‘That settles it. You must come with us.’
    ‘I can’t.’
    ‘So where else can you go?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Right, Walton, let’s go home. And you, Milly, will come with us.’
    As they walked along, Jane was talking and laughing. She seemed to be a very happy girl.
    ‘How old are you, Milly?’ she asked.
    ‘Fourteen,’ Milly replied.
    ‘How exciting. Did you have a big party on your birthday? I shall be fourteen on the twenty-third of February and I shall have a party and you must come to that. I always have a party but I don’t have any friends; they are all Mama’s friends’ daughters. What school do you go to?’
    ‘I don’t go to school.’
    ‘Your family haven’t sent you out to work, have they?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Miss Jane, I insist that you stop questioning this poor girl. You’re embarrassing her.’
    ‘I’m so sorry. It’s just that I don’t have any friends my own age and I’m very excited at meeting you and I want to know all about you. I like you, Milly. Will you be my friend?’
    ‘I can’t’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I must find me aunt.’
    ‘Oh.’ Jane sat back in her chair.
    Milly felt sorry for this girl, who seemed to have everything but no friends. ‘I really shouldn’t be here.’
    ‘Why not?’ said Jane.
    ‘Your mother will be cross with you for picking up someone like me.’
    ‘Mama’s not like that. She does a lot of charity work and often looks after strays. Sorry. I didn’t mean . . . ’
    ‘That’s all right.’ For the first time Milly smiled. She liked this girl, and why shouldn’t she go home with her and have some breakfast? After all, she was starving, and perhaps the cook would be able to help her find Auntie Doris.
     
    Milly was shocked when Walton turned and walked up a long path leading to a large house that stood alone. It had windows on both sides of pillars that held a porch, and there were steps up to a thick-looking wooden door. Walton pushed the wheelchair round the back of the house and Milly followed
    ‘Miss Jane, you’re back,’ said a jolly-looking woman. ‘All right, Walton, I’ll take her.’ She grabbed the chair’s handles and pushed Jane up a slope and into a bright, warm kitchen. ‘What on earth made you go out so early?’ she asked.
    ‘We went to feed the swans.’
    ‘You could have gone later.’
    ‘I know, but Mama wants me here to meet my new tutor.’
    ‘Oh yes. Miss Dance.’
    Milly stood back.
    ‘Betty, I want you to meet my new friend. Betty, this is Milly.’
    ‘And where did Miss Jane find you, young lady?’
    ‘Betty,’ said Jane excitedly, ‘she was sleeping in the park, all on her own.’
    ‘Were you now?’
    Milly nodded.
    ‘She’s looking for her aunt and we thought you might be able to help. Perhaps some of the traders might know of her. But first could you find her something to eat?’
    Betty’s hair was hidden under her mob cap, which wobbled every time she spoke. Milly stared at it, fascinated.
    ‘Miss Jane. You know you should stop bringing waifs and strays into the house.’
    ‘But Milly’s nice. She’s not like that boy Philip.’ Jane turned to Milly. ‘I found him in the park and brought him back, and do you know, I thought he would be my