Free Cat Among the Pigeons by Julia Golding Page B

the streets. And you’re far more likely to get picked up by the runners if you’re out there. The worse that would happen to you here is that you’d be expelled.’
    â€˜And you two as well!’
    Charlie shrugged. ‘I don’t mind. I don’t like it here that much, to tell you the truth. All they seem to teach is how to bully and be bullied.’
    â€˜And you know I never wanted to come in the first place,’ added Frank. ‘Mama won’t mind if I’m chucked out. Father would shout, but not fortoo long – not when he knows that I did it to help you. So you see, you’d be doing us a favour.’
    â€˜You are both mad,’ I repeated, shaking my head. ‘Cracked. Addled. Raving. And, anyway, what happens when the real boy arrives?’
    â€˜That’s weeks off yet. It seems to me that the most immediate problem is saving you from the runners.’ Frank whisked the cap off my head, letting my hair tumble out. ‘Sadly, I think we’ll have to sacrifice this to the cause.’
    â€˜Yes, Tom Cats don’t sport ringlets,’ agreed Charlie.
    â€˜Shall you be the barber or shall I?’
    â€˜I’ll do it,’ said Charlie, taking out a pair of scissors from his desk drawer. ‘She doesn’t know me so well yet and is not likely to curse me so loudly when she sees what I’ve done.’
    â€˜You’re not . . .’ I stammered.
    â€˜We are.’ Frank suddenly looked serious. ‘Unless you have a better idea?’ I thought for a moment then shook my head. ‘Please, Cat, for my sake – and for Lizzie. I don’t want to visit younext at Newgate. I don’t make a very good prison visitor – I’m terrible at small talk.’
    I bit my lip. What could I do, Reader? On the one hand, I could take my chances on the streets and probably end up in a cell by the evening. On the other, I could try this madcap idea which might, just might, succeed. What did I have to lose?
    â€˜All right,’ I sighed. ‘You can cut it off.’
    â€˜To be safe, I think we’d better cut it pretty hard,’ said Frank, taking a strand in his fingers. ‘You see, you don’t look much like a boy, Cat, even with a cap on. What’s your brother like, Charlie?’
    â€˜Big – makings of a prizefighter.’
    â€˜Hmm. Well, the measles have taken it out of him, that’s all I can say. Your new brother Tom will be more in the angelic chorister mould.’
    I closed my eyes and tried not to think about how long it would take to grow back as the hair dropped into my lap. When Charlie finally told me to look in the mirror, I saw a tousle-haired waif staring back. Cat Royal seemed to havevanished. There wasn’t much of me at the best of times – but without my curls I was almost invisible – reduced to a pair of large, tear-filled green eyes in a pale, freckled face.
    The boys looked at each other nervously. ‘What do you think?’ Charlie asked, turning to Frank.
    â€˜Not sure. Still too damned pretty.’ They were both watching me, worried how I was going to react.
    Now my hair was gone, it was too late to back out. I mentally shook myself. There I was, wallowing in self-pity again when they were trying their best to help me. I had to make more of an effort.
    â€˜Look!’ I said, throwing off the blanket and displaying my scraped elbows and hands. ‘My knees are the same. Is that more boyish for you?’ I turned back to the mirror, ruffled my hair so that it stuck up at the front and stuck out my tongue at the reflection. ‘Thomas Hengrave, pleased to meet you.’
    Charlie laughed, his relief palpable. Hestrode over and shook my hand. ‘Pleased to meet you too, little brother. Now, let’s get you some decent clothes and set this charade rolling.’
    â€˜So, you have just recovered from the measles, Hengrave, is that so?’ said Dr