Two Strangers Read Online Free Page B

that she was warm, had a small amount of food inside her and a purpose for tomorrow, she felt better. She banked up the fire for the night and settled down to sleep.

    The next day the bitter wind had dropped, and there was only a light covering of snow on the ground. When the sun came out, Vicki lifted her face to the brightness. It was too early in the year for there to be any warmth in it, but it was welcome, just the same. She was terribly weak and had to walk slowly, but she did feel a bit stronger after a night resting by the fire, which was a relief because she had to get some money, even if it took all day.
    The station was already busy when she settled by the door. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself to beg from everyone who came on to the platform, pleading desperately. There was a small tea room close by, and she could smell the food cooking. It was agony, and the tears she was shedding were genuine. She had to succeed today, or it would be the end for her. Soon she wouldn’t even be able to stand.
    A smartly dressed man stopped and studied her, shaking his head. ‘How long is it since you’ve had a decent meal?’
    ‘I … I had a bun yesterday, sir,’ she said.
    ‘I said a meal !’ His tone was sharp.
    ‘Not for a long time, sir.’
    ‘No, it doesn’t look like it. Come with me.’
    He ushered her inside the cafe, made her sit at a table and then went to the counter. Vicki swiped the tears from her face. She cried too easily these days, but she didn’t seem to have enough strength to stop the flow. It disgusted her because she had never indulged in self-pity. But she had never been in such a dreadful state before. She quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand and watched the man walking back to the table. He had a slight limp and was leaning on a silver-topped cane for support.
    ‘What is your name?’ he asked as he sat down, leaning the cane against the table.
    ‘Vicki, sir.’ She noticed the cane had a dog’s head on it.
    He sighed again. ‘And where is your family, Vicki?’
    ‘They live in Poplar, sir.’

    ‘And why aren’t you with them?’
    ‘My dad threw me out when I wouldn’t go and work for a nasty man. Girls weren’t safe around him, and I wouldn’t do that.’ She didn’t even consider lying.
    ‘So you ended up begging.’
    Vicki nodded, the tears trickling down her face again.
    He handed her a pristine handkerchief, sighing deeply once more. ‘Can’t you find work in a decent household, or even a shop? You speak well and sound educated.’
    That remark surprised her. She hadn’t realized that the hours she had spent on the lessons in Bill’s book had actually improved her speech. She wiped her face and managed a rare smile. ‘Thank you, sir. I’ve been trying to get work, but I’m such a mess now they won’t even give me a chance.’
    ‘How long have you been fending for yourself?’
    ‘Nearly a year. I don’t like begging, but I’m desperate now, sir.’ She held out the handkerchief to him, but he refused to take it back.
    ‘Ah, here is your food. I want to see you eat every scrap.’
    When Vicki saw two slices of toast piled high with scrambled egg, she nearly burst into tears again. She managed to fight the feeling off. This man had kindly brought her in here so she mustn’t embarrass him.
    He never said a word as she worked her way through the food and two cups of steaming tea.
    ‘Would you like another helping?’ he asked when she had finished.
    ‘Oh, no, sir. I’m full right up. That was very generous of you, and I’m grateful.’
    He gestured to the man at the counter who immediately came and put a large brown paper bag on the table and then went back to work.
    ‘There’s enough food in there to see you through the day, and this is to buy yourself some decent clothes.’
    Vicki stared at the money on the table, mesmerized. Ten shillings! ‘No, no, sir. The food I’ll take because I’m starving, but that’s all.’ Her eyes showed