Alley Urchin Read Online Free

cuffs and neck. Her thick chestnut hair was well brushed and drawn into a shining, most fetching coil at the nape of her neck. Her face was bright and lovely and her strong grey eyes brimmed with the steadfast confidence that set her apart from others.
    Nelly, however, did not present such a striking picture. Oh, it was true that her thin brown hair had also been brushed with vigour. But, being under closer scrutiny of the prison authorities, and on more than one occasion having earned the punishment that dictated her locks be shorn, her hair did not enjoy the length that might cause it to lie smoothly against her head. Instead, it stood up and out in little wispy bunches which gave her the odd appearance of having just received a fright. Not being one for dainty things and ‘feminine fripperies’, Nelly was therefore proud of her heavy buttoned boots which came up to her calf. At one time, when Emma had pointed out that there was no need to wear such clumsy, uncomfortable things in the heat of the summer sun, Nelly had been adamant that she would wear nothing else. ‘I’d wear an even longer pair if I could get me hands on ’em,’ she retorted; ‘I ain’t having no bloody snakes nor spiders running up my legs!’ However, she did gratefully accept a brown calico dress which had, until recently, been Emma’s best one. It was of the very same style that Emma was wearing now, except the frills at the cuffs and neck were black instead of white. Also, Nelly was some inches taller than Emma, therefore the ankles of her boots were visible to the world, even though Emma had twice let the dress hem down for her. But, all in all, she was presentable and, as she put her arm through the crook of Nelly’s elbow, Emma cared not who might look down on her friend. The prospect never worried Nelly either!
    ‘Mind you’re not on the streets after the curfew bell!’ the duty officer warned, simultaneously noting down their intention to stroll along to Arthur’s Head. As they hurried away, he took his eyes from the book and fixed his suspicious gaze at Nelly’s retreating figure. ‘I wouldn’t mind betting a week’s grog that you’ ll be in trouble before long, girlie . . . it’s about that time,’ he chuckled, shaking his head and leaning back in his chair to take a long choking draw from his clay pipe; he was soon engulfed in great billowing clouds of smoke.
    Following the old tramway route, Nelly and Emma sauntered along at a leisurely pace . . . down Henderson Street, along Essex Street and down towards the bay. ‘This is the time of day I love best,’ said Emma, shielding her eyes with the back of her hand as she looked upwards to where the seagulls soared above them. In spite of the fact that she was imprisoned in this vast, sparsely-inhabited island of Australia, Emma could not help but be deeply drawn towards its primitive beauty. There was an awesome savagery about it that struck at the heart and inspired the mind. It was a land of turquoise seas and vivid blue skies which merged together on the horizon, creating a sense of greatness and eternity. No mere human eye could ever hope fully to comprehend the vastness of it all, for in every direction the sky stretched, never ending and seeming to engulf those insignificant specks below, who both feared and marvelled at its majesty. Immediately inland from Fremantle to Perth, the landscape was sandy and gently undulating, relieved here and there by weird and wonderful trees, patches of shrub and rapidly growing signs of denser civilisation, with a number of the original timber and bark-roofed buildings being constantly replaced by the more permanent brick and stone buildings. There were also a number of splendid examples of architecture, such as the round-house and other buildings constructed by the convicts. The lunatic asylum, the road-traffic bridge and their own prison were such landmarks.
    There were creatures here such as Emma had never seen before – kangaroos,