Our Australian Girl (5 page)

D
AISY
kicked her feet against the legs of the hard bench and yawned loudly.

‘Daisy Sanderson!' a voice called. ‘Do sit up straight and stop fidgeting, will you?'

Daisy looked up to see Miss McCracken from the Toddler's Cottage pointing at her. She pulled herself up straight on the bench and tried to invent a story to keep herself amused while Visiting Day dragged on.

I'll pretend I'm a princess locked high in a castle tower, just waiting to be rescued, Daisy thought. But somehow the idea of waiting for someone to save her seemed far too dull. I'd rather save myself, she thought. She hadn't had a chance to talk to Harry again, but she hoped to find him this afternoon. It was nine days now till the Cup and they needed to make plans. That's if this dreadful morning ever ends, she thought. I wonder what Mabel and Elsie are doing right now? The twins hadn't been back to visit, and Daisy was desperate for news.

A knock at the front door made the children turn their heads to watch as a well-dressed young couple was ushered in to the Superintendent's office. Daisy had only seen Mr Geoffery, the Superintendent, at church when he handed out threepences for the children to put on the collection plate. He seemed a cross old man who had little time for the children whose lives he controlled.

Daisy raised her eyebrows at Edith. This looks interesting, she thought.

After ten minutes, the couple came out of the office again, smiling and shaking hands with Mr Geoffery.

‘Adoption,' Edith whispered.

Before Daisy could answer, Miss Dunham appeared with one of the Day Girls, who was carrying a small child. She handed the young boy to the woman. Daisy felt Edith go stiff beside her. Suddenly her friend shot up and raced down the hall.

‘No,' she screamed. ‘You can't! Not Freddy!'

Daisy felt sick to her stomach. The couple was here to take Edith's little brother away.

Miss McCracken ran after Edith and grabbed her around the waist as Mr Geoffery ushered the couple out the front door.

‘Edie, Edie,' Freddy called plaintively.

‘Don't take him –
please
!' Edith screamed.

But Mr Geoffery just slammed the door, and Freddy was gone. The rest of the children broke into startled whispers. Edith collapsed on the floor and Daisy ran to comfort her.

‘Freddy,' Edith sobbed. ‘Freddy.'

‘How ridiculous!' Miss McCracken said, pulling Edith to her feet.

‘Leave her alone,' Daisy cried, and got a stinging slap on the face that almost knocked her over.

‘Take her to the dormitory and both of you get changed into your day clothes,' Miss Dunham ordered. ‘The best thing you can do is forget that you had a brother,' she said to Edith.

Daisy looked at the women in disgust. That's
it
, she thought to herself. I'm getting out of this place as soon as I can.

That afternoon, Daisy and Edith sat beneath a big tree in the back garden.

‘I'm coming with you, Daisy,' said Edith. ‘I have to find Freddy. I can't just let them take him away like that. I can't bear it.'

‘But where will you look? How will you find him?' Daisy asked. ‘The city's so big.'

‘I don't know,' Edith admitted, silent tears dripping off the end of her nose and into her lap. ‘I just know I have to try.'

‘Right then.' Daisy stood up to wipe the grass from her dress. ‘We need to find Harry and work out a grand plan.' She turned to give Edith an encouraging smile. ‘Then we can both be back with the people we love.'

Daisy linked her arm in Edith's as they walked towards Hero's paddock, where Harry was leaning over the fence feeding him a handful of grass.

He looked up as the girls approached. ‘Sorry about Freddy,' he said quietly to Edith, who just nodded in response.

‘We're here about the escape. Edith's coming, too, now,' Daisy said, stepping forward to pat Hero's nose. ‘So tell us the plan.'

‘Both?' Harry looked confused for a second. ‘Well, righto. Old Mac the cobbler will be here next Tuesday at eight. He leaves at exactly twelve 'cos his wife likes him to be home for lunch.' He leant to tear out another clump of grass. ‘That gives us plenty of time to get into his cart, hide under some old sacks, and get to the city in time for the Cup.'

‘But isn't it a long way from the city to the race track?' Edith said, wrinkling her forehead. ‘How will you get all the way there in time?'

‘Don't you worry about that. I know a way,' Daisy said, and gave Harry a thumbs-up.

‘But you don't need to come to the race, Daisy. Don't you want to go straight to your aunt's?' he said.

‘That's okay,' Daisy said with a shrug. ‘The least I can do is help you get to the racecourse.'

‘Thanks,' Harry mumbled, dipping his head.

‘And you should stick with me, too, Edith,' Daisy said, putting an arm around her friend. ‘We'll be better off together. If Dad's back, he can help you find Freddy. And Mabel and Elsie will know where to start.'

Edith nodded, and bit her lip as fresh tears rolled down her face.

‘But how will we be able to sneak away from school to get to the cart?' Daisy asked, turning to Harry in dismay. ‘I hadn't thought of that.'

Harry pulled Hero's head closer to him and muttered to the horse. ‘Good thing us boys know what's goin' on, eh mate?'

‘
Fine
,' Daisy snapped, waving a bunch of fresh grass over the fence, ‘I guess I won't help you get to the racetrack, then.' Hero obediently trotted away from Harry to chomp at the grass Daisy offered.

‘Fine, fine,' Harry laughed. ‘You win.' He looked around to make sure they were alone. ‘What I thought we should do is all pretend to be sick at school. Miss Winston will send us to the Infirmary. But instead we can sneak into the driveway and get into Mac's cart.'

Edith groaned. ‘Miss Winston isn't stupid. She's not going to believe we all suddenly got sick at the same time.'

Harry gave her a long look, but decided to ignore her angry tone. ‘That's the second half of my plan,' he said. ‘I managed to sneak a bottle of red ink from Miss Winston's desk yesterday. I reckon if we put red spots on our faces and then go to her one by one complaining of a headache, she'll be so worried about measles that she'll send us out of there in no time.'

Daisy clapped her hands with delight. ‘I couldn't have come up with a better story myself,' she cried, slapping Harry on the back.

‘What will happen if we're caught?' Edith asked, frowning.

‘The cane, I guess,' said Daisy. ‘And scrubbing the washroom for the rest of our lives. But imagine if we make it!'

‘Well, I still think it's crazy,' said Edith, ‘but I'm desperate enough to try.'

‘All right.' Harry nodded. ‘We're on.'

T
ODAY'S
the day, Daisy thought just over a week later as her stomach flip-flopped with excitement. Today I'll see Flora again, and maybe even Dad, and leave this prison forever.

She couldn't help but give a little skip of joy as the rows of children snaked around the orphanage grounds to the schoolyard.

‘Oh Edith,' Daisy gasped, taking Edith's hands and swinging her around. ‘Isn't it the most thrilling adventure ever?'

‘Shhh,' Edith said and pulled away. ‘We're supposed to be sick, remember?'

Daisy frowned. ‘Sorry. I got carried away.'

‘It's all right,' Edith said. ‘Now, here.' She dragged Daisy away from the rest of the children to a quiet corner of the garden. ‘I have the jar of ink from Harry, and we'll use a twig to put the spots on so we don't mess up our fingers.' She picked up a small stick from the ground and wiped it clean. ‘I'll do you first.'

Daisy leaned in close as Edith dipped the end of the twig into the ink, shook it slightly, then pressed it gently onto Daisy's face.

‘Ooh, it looks a treat,' Edith said. She dotted the ink across Daisy's face and onto her neck.

‘It tickles,' Daisy said, and tried not to laugh.

‘Right, now do me.' Edith handed Daisy the bottle and stick.

Daisy quickly repeated Edith's actions and soon her friend had a bad case of the measles.

‘We'll have to keep our faces down until we're ready to go,' Edith said. ‘And it will be best if we go one at a time. Harry said he'll watch the clock and go first, then I'll wait ten minutes and go after him,' said Edith. ‘Then you come ten minutes after that.'

Daisy was too excited to speak, so she just nodded with delight.

‘Let's go,' Edith said. ‘I'll leave the ink here under the tree for Harry. Ooh look – he's over there glaring at us to hurry up already.'

In class, Daisy was careful to keep her head bent over her books. She didn't have to wait long before Harry got up from his seat and walked slowly to the front of the room. He's not a very good actor, Daisy thought. I should have given him some tips.

Harry stood before Miss Winston's desk and Daisy could see the teacher's look of alarm as she saw the spots on his face. Daisy grinned as Miss Winston handed Harry a note and he staggered from the room holding his head.

Terrible performance. Daisy sighed again, shaking her head. I can't wait for my turn. She tapped her pencil on the edge of the desk impatiently. Edith frowned, and Daisy immediately turned back to her work.

A few minutes later, Edith put down her pen. She gave Daisy a quick wink and walked slowly up to Miss Winston's desk.

The teacher gave a jolt of alarm as she looked up at yet another spotty face. She scanned the class and noticed Daisy watching intently.

‘Come to the front please, Daisy,' she said.

Oh no! I was supposed to be hiding my face, not gawking like a busy-body. Have I ruined everything? Daisy wondered.

‘Yes, Miss Winston?'

‘Daisy, dear, do you feel quite well?' the teacher asked kindly.

Daisy swapped worried glances with Edith.

‘We-ell,' she said, ‘I do have a terrible headache and my throat hurts, Miss.' Daisy folder her arms across her body and swayed slightly on the spot.

‘Oh dear, that's what I was worried about,' Miss Winston said. ‘You're covered in spots just like poor Edith here, and Harry Waller too.' She scanned the class once more. ‘But it looks like it's just the three of you for now. You'd better get to the Infirmary quick sticks.' She scribbled a note and held it out, but just as Edith was about to take it, she pulled back.

‘Goodness, what am I thinking?' she said. ‘Of course I should walk you both over to the Infirmary myself. Why, Daisy, you look as if you might faint any minute,' she said.

Oh darn my acting skills, Daisy thought, her head a swirl of panic. If Miss Winston came with them they would be found out for sure.

‘But Miss Winston,' Edith said, ‘there will be no one to watch the class. I'm not feeling as poorly as Daisy. I can help her.'

‘Oh yes,' Daisy added. ‘I'll be as right as rain with Edith.' She smiled bravely.

‘Well . . .' Miss Winston tapped her fingers on her teeth thoughtfully. ‘I suppose if you're sure. Take this note to Matron. I do hope you will be better soon, girls.'

‘Thank you,' they murmured, and left the classroom with Daisy leaning theatrically on Edith's arm. They walked quietly through the yard, too stunned to speak.

Finally Edith broke the silence. ‘I can't believe it worked,' she said.

‘And she was so lovely,' Daisy added. ‘I feel dreadful for lying to her.'

‘Me too,' Edith agreed. ‘But it's for a good cause, remember.'

‘It sure is,' Daisy agreed. ‘I'll write to Miss Winston to apologise once I'm back home.'

Harry was waiting for them, kneeling down behind Old Mac's cart in the driveway. He was talking softly to the grey horse at the front. ‘It's all right, girl,' Daisy heard him saying as they drew nearer. ‘We're friends, we mean you no harm.' The horse whinnied happily as Harry stroked her flank.

He really is a natural, Daisy thought. No wonder he wants to see Phar Lap so badly.

‘Did you take the long way here?' Harry asked, and gave them an annoyed look. ‘I thought you must have chickened out.'

‘Miss Winston almost decided to take us to the Infirmary herself,' Daisy whispered, and bobbed down behind the cart with Harry.

‘You better get down too, Edith,' he ordered. ‘Anyone could see you standing there.'

Edith hastily knelt beside Daisy.

‘Okay, Edith, you go first. Just stay down until you're at the end of the cart, and for pity's sake make a fast job of climbing up and getting the sack on top of you,' Harry instructed.

‘Oh, don't go getting all in a tizzy.' Edith made a face at Harry. ‘I'm sure I can manage it.'

She quickly jumped up on to the cart and lay down, covering herself with a sack.

‘Your go, Daisy,' Harry said.

Daisy took a deep breath to try to stop herself shaking. She snuck along the side of the cart, bent low. And then, with a quick scan of the grounds, she leapt onto the tray and threw herself down beside Edith. The sack was thick and hot and stank of boot polish, but Daisy covered herself and lay perfectly still.

In seconds, Harry was beside them. He pushed himself up and wriggled to the end of the cart closest to the horse. ‘You okay there, girls?' he whispered.

‘I would be if you'd only get your mucky boots out of my face,' Edith hissed back.

There was a crunch on the gravel and all three froze.

‘Ah, there's me girl, sat waitin' for me like the angel she is.'

It's Old Mac, Daisy thought. We're free!