The Best of Sisters Read Online Free PDF

her brother has done.’ He turned to Davy. ‘You know where I live, boy?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Then I’m trusting you to take Eliza to my house. Tell my wife that she’ll be staying with us for a while. Mrs Peck will take care of her.’
    ‘Come on, Liza,’ Davy said, ignoring Enoch’sprotests and taking her by the hand. ‘It ain’t too far to walk.’
    She cast an anxious glance at her uncle, waiting for him to say something, but he turned his head away and opened the ledger. Too stunned to speak, Eliza allowed Davy to lead her out of the shop into the sunshine.
    The Pecks lived in a terraced, red-brick cottage in Hemp Yard, a small court off Green Bank, built in the shadow of the huge warehouses that surrounded the London Dock and its basin. Davy hammered on the door until Mrs Peck opened it, peering out from beneath a starched, white cotton mobcap and blinking like a dormouse awakened from its long winter sleep. ‘Who’s there?’
    ‘It’s me, Davy Little, and I’ve brought Eliza Bragg with me. The boss says she’s to stay with you awhile and you’ll know what to do for her. Old bugger Bragg has beaten her something cruel.’
    ‘Watch your language, my boy.’ Dolly Peck squinted short-sightedly at Eliza. ‘Are you Tom Bragg’s daughter?’
    Eliza nodded. The sun was beating down on her sore back and she was beginning to feel sick. Her knees were trembling so that she could hardly stand, and she clutched at the doorpost for support.
    ‘Bring her in, boy. Don’t keep her standing on the pavement.’
    ‘I’d best get back, missis,’ Davy said, helping Eliza into the living room. ‘You’ll be all right here, Liza. I’ll come and see you when I’ve finished work.’
    For a moment, Eliza clung to his hand, but she knew he would get into trouble if he took too long. She managed a wobbly smile. ‘Ta, Davy. I’m all right, I am really.’
    ‘That’s the ticket.’ He gave her a cheery wink as he went out into the street, closing the door behind him.
    ‘Well then, Miss Eliza, let’s have a look at you.’ Dolly picked up a pair of steel-rimmed spectacles and put them on. Her eyes looked enormous through the thick lenses and her jaw dropped as she peered at Eliza. ‘That man ought to be horsewhipped. Take off your blouse while I go out and get some water and clean linen.’
    Eliza had to bite her lip so that she did not cry out as Dolly bathed her back with warm water from the kettle. ‘Wicked, wicked man,’ she said, tut-tutting and shaking her head. ‘You poor little thing. You must stay here with us for as long as you like.’
    ‘I don’t want to be no trouble, missis.’
    Taking off her specs, Dolly blinked and wiped her eyes. ‘If my Ted says you’re to stay here, then stay you shall.’ She put the bowl aside andpicked up Eliza’s torn, bloodstained blouse. ‘This is past repair. I’ll find you something to wear and Ted can send Davy round with the rest of your things later.’
    ‘That’s all I have,’ Eliza whispered. ‘I ain’t got nothing but what I stand up in. Uncle Enoch says no one needs more than one set of clothes; anything else is greed and vanity.’
    ‘Well, I’d like to say a few choice words to Mr Enoch Bragg, the old skinflint. Never you mind that, dearie. I was feeling quite poorly this morning; could hardly drag meself from me bed, but now I’m so downright cross with your uncle that all me aches and pains has quite disappeared. Come upstairs to the bedroom, my dear. I’m sure I can find something that will fit you.’ Getting to her feet, Dolly went towards the staircase, bumping into a chair on the way. ‘Drat, who moved that chair?’
    ‘Why don’t you keep your spectacles on, Mrs Peck?’ Eliza stared curiously at Dolly, momentarily forgetting her pain and discomfort.
    ‘I don’t need them, dear. Just for close work. My Ted always said I had a fine pair of eyes, the colour of the sky in summer,’ Dolly said, tripping over the bottom step. ‘I