Hetty Feather Read online

  'There, dearie,' she said, and went on her way.

  She thought I was a beggar child! My face flamed red – but my hand grasped the penny.

  'Thank you so much, ma'am,' I called after her.

  Perhaps her gesture inspired the other passers- by. Maybe they hadn't even noticed me before. But now my tear-stained face attracted attention, and another penny soon landed in my lap, a farthing, and then a halfpenny, soon a whole jingle of copper coins.

  Oh my Lord, this was easy! I could sit here at my leisure and look mournful and folk would pay me! But then I saw a dark-uniformed man in the distance, a helmet on his head. I was pretty sure he was a policeman. I was also pretty sure that begging was against the law.

  I gathered my coins into my fist, scrambled up and ran off as fast as I could. I careered down long, long roads of houses, my throat aching, my heart jumping in my chest, not even daring to look round in case he caught me. I feared the police had prisons and I did not want to end up in a cell.

  Then I came to a parade of shops and dared to pause at last. The policeman was nowhere in sight. I loitered in front of every shop window, and then came to a stop outside a baker's shop. The smell of freshly baked bread brought a flood of water to my mouth and I felt faint.

  I stared at the cakes and buns on display in the window. There were slabs of the pink and yellow cake, Madame Adeline's favourite, and white-iced fancy cakes, and red and green and yellow jam tarts, and all manner of golden latticed pies and glazed buns, shiny and soft and curranty.

  I had no idea how much such wonders would cost. They could be sixpence each, even a sovereign for all I knew. Perhaps the woman in the white apron inside the shop would scoff at my impertinence if I proffered my small handful of coins. But I was so hungry I decided to risk it.

  I opened the door and stepped inside. 'If you please, ma'am . . .' I started shyly.

  'Yes?'

  'I – I'd like to purchase a little cake – or maybe a bun?'

  'Well, make your mind up, dear,' she said, but she didn't sound too impatient.

  'Perhaps a cake, the pink and yellow one – and a bun?' I suggested, and then I anxiously showed her my coins. 'Do I have enough money?'

  'More than enough, dear.'

  She put my cake and bun into a white paper bag, twirled it round so that the corners were twisted fast, took twopence halfpenny from my hand, and gave the bag to me.

  'Thank you kindly, ma'am,' I said.

  She laughed a little then. 'You've got the best manners of any street child I've ever come across before!' she said. 'Goodbye, dear. Take care of yourself.'

  I could take care of myself! I had found a place to sleep, a place to wash, I had earned lots of money, and now I could breakfast like a queen! I ate my cake and bun, and when I came to a tea stall I bought myself a large mugful for another penny. Then I went marching on, refreshed and renewed, peering all about me.

  I found myself wandering in more huge parkland. For a moment I thought I was back in Hyde Park because I heard an elephant trumpeting – but I discovered I was near the Zoological Gardens. I peered through the railings and saw an elephant even larger than Elijah with a curved seat on his back. Ten or twelve children were strapped onto the seat, while another boy rode bareback on his neck, his boots nudging the beast's great ears.

  I had a desperate desire to ride an elephant too! I paid sixpence to get into the zoo, and another twopence for a ride. This was the last of my money so I very much hoped the ride would be worth it. I queued impatiently at the landing stage amongst a great crowd of girls and boys, waiting until at last it was my turn to be hoisted onto the great grey creature.

  'I am very good at riding. Please may I sit on the elephant's neck?' I begged the keeper.

  'Don't be silly, missy – you're a young lady,' said the keeper, and he put one of the boys on the elephant's neck.

  The boy nodded at me triumphantly, pulling a silly face. Other boys shrieked and squirmed beside me, jostling for the best position on the seat – but I was adept at elbowing my way when I wanted. One of the other girls was hopelessly squashed, however, with two rude boys practically sitting on top of her.

  'Move next to me,' I said.

  She smiled at me timidly. She was beautiful, just like a fairy-tale princess, with big blue eyes, rosy cheeks and long golden curls. She wore a cream silk hat and a matching silk dress, with white stockings and white kid boots with tiny blue buttons.

  'Come on, wriggle past those silly boys,' I said, reaching out and grabbing her.

  She squeezed past them and I pulled her safely down next to me. I could feel her trembling violently.

  'What's the matter?' I asked in astonishment.

  'I'm frightened!' she said.

  I didn't know if she was frightened of the elephant, frightened of heights, frightened of the rude boys, or simply frightened of getting her pretty pale clothes dirty. I reached out and held her hand.

  'There now, no need to be frightened. I will look after you,' I said. 'My name's Hetty. What's yours?'

  'I'm Rosabel,' she said.

  I sighed. Trust her to have a beautiful name too!

  The elephant was fully loaded now, so the keeper gave him a little tap and we set off, plodding down the path. The boys shrieked loudly and Rosabel clutched me as if she would never let me go.

  'Oh dear, it's so scary! I wish the beast wouldn't roll so,' she gasped. She peered down desperately. 'I've lost sight of my mama and papa. Can you see yours?'

  I would have a hard job seeing either!

  'I am here on my own,' I said proudly.

  'Without even your nurse?' said Rosabel.

  'I don't have a nurse any more,' I said. 'I am too big.'

  'No you're not, you're little, much smaller than me,' said Rosabel. 'Oh, there is Mama. I see her lilac parasol!' She risked letting go for a second, attempting a little wave.

  I stared at her mother. 'She is very young and beautiful,' I said wistfully.

  Her papa was waving too. He looked a kindly, jolly man, with a pink face.

  'Papa is pleased with me for taking the elephant ride. He feels I am too timid,' said Rosabel. 'But Mama says all girls are naturally timid.'

  'I'm a girl and I'm not the slightest bit timid,' I said.

  'Perhaps we could be friends and then you could teach me how to be bold and independent,' said Rosabel.

  My heart leaped. Maybe Rosabel's family would take me under their wing? I could be a devoted companion to their little daughter! They might even adopt me like Polly. I wasn't sure I should be happy wearing cream silk dresses and fancy hats and white boots. I knew how dirty they would be by the end of the day. Maybe they would let me choose a darker colour for my clothes, red or blue or purple – any colour so long as it wasn't sludge-brown. I didn't hunger after dolls and toys but I was sure a cosseted child like Rosabel would have a whole shelf of storybooks – and I could share them.

  I was still eagerly picturing my future with Rosabel as the elephant plodded back up the path to the landing stage. I kept hold of Rosabel's hand and helped her down carefully.

  'Rosabel! Over here, my dear!' both parents called.

  I trotted over with her, but the mama suddenly looked horrified and even the papa appeared grave.

  'Say goodbye to the little girl, dearest,' said the mama, very firmly.

  'She is my new friend Hetty,' said Rosabel.

  'Don't be ridiculous, Rosabel. She is just a dirty street child. Leave go of her hand. You should never have let her get so near to you!' said the mama.

  The papa turned on me. 'Be off with you,' he said, swotting at me.

  If they thought I was a street child, I would act like one. I stuck out my tongue and waggled it hard before running away. My feelings were hurt nevertheless, but I diverted myself by inspecting all the creatures in their cages: the scampering monkeys, the pacing lions, the savage bear in his pit. I felt sorry for all these poor caged animals. I wanted to set them free so that the monkeys cou