The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Devil's Hound Read Online Free PDF Page A

if he were offended. With a flick of the reins, they set off.
    Becky seemed shy and upset, so Lizzie sat beside her and chatted merrily about circus life. The country girl drank it all up, clearly fascinated. “It sounds quite wonderful,” she said. “But you’re always on the move? You don’t have homes anywhere in the world?”
    â€œIt’s the open road for us!” Nora said with a happy grin.
    â€œWhat happened to your face?” Erin asked.
    Nora jabbed her hard with her elbow and hissed, “Erin! You can’t just ask people that!”
    Becky hesitated. “I had smallpox.”
    â€œYou must have had it bad!” Lizzie said in horror.
    Becky shook her head. “I was lucky. I got better. But my pa didn’t.”
    Lizzie snuck a second look at Becky’s face. The scars were still quite fresh, and some of them were red. She put two and two together in her mind. “Is that why you were in the cemetery?” she asked.
    Becky looked at her, bit her lip, then gave a quick nod. “I wanted to put some flowers on his grave. The wild roses by the old well . . . they hadn’t bloomed when they buried him, but then today the rain brought them out . . .”
    â€œI’m sure he would have loved them,” Lizzie said. “Has it been a long time since . . . since he went?”
    â€œIt was only two days ago,” Becky said, her voice catching in her throat.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Lizzie said, meaning it.
    â€œThat’s awful,” Erin added. She looked guilty for having mentioned Becky’s scars in the first place.
    Nora gave Becky’s shoulders a quick squeeze. “You poor, poor thing.”
    Becky fell silent, keeping her downcast eyes on the road. Lizzie could tell she was crying, but she didn’t want to call attention to it.
    â€œIt’s not easy, losing someone you love,” Lizzie said gently. “I lost my mum not long ago. She was sick too.”
    â€œDid you have to look after her yourself?” Becky asked without looking up.
    â€œEvery hour of every day,” Lizzie said. “My pa . . . well, he wasn’t much use, to tell you the truth. I had to do everything. You feel so lonely, don’t you?”
    â€œI do,” Becky said, sniffing. “My mother’s long gone. Now my father’s gone too. It’s like everyone in my life just gets swept away.”
    Lizzie wished there was something she could do or say. Poor Becky was more miserable now than before she’d picked them up.
    But to her surprise, Becky turned to her with a smile. “I’m glad I met you, anyway. Dr. Gladwell’s a good man. I’m sure he can help your friend.”
    * * *
    â€œAre you sure this is the right place?” Erin whispered nervously.
    Lizzie stood at the end of the gravel driveway, looking up at the house. It reminded her of one of the Kensal Green tombs. Narrow peaked rooftops loomed against the stormy sky. An immense growth of ivy was gradually strangling the gray flint walls, and the door was dark with iron studs, like a medieval castle. It even had a ring instead of a door handle.
    â€œOf course,” Becky said. “It’s a big old house, but the doctor’s an important man.”
    â€œI don’t want to go in,” Erin declared. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
    â€œStop being such a baby!” Nora told her sister.
    â€œCome on, Erin.” Lizzie grabbed her friend by her good hand and dragged her, patiently but firmly, up to the door. Becky wrung her hands, looking this way and that, as if she was embarrassed.
    â€œHe probably isn’t in,” said Erin.
    â€œErin, for the last time, will you stop your whining?” Nora grabbed the metal ring and gave three hard knocks. “There. Now remember your manners and wipe your feet, or Ma will be furious with us.”
    From inside the house came the sound of shuffling. Something slid back. There