Free Poor Little Rich Girl by Katie Flynn

can’t possibly escape unless someone leaves the street door open,’ Lonnie pointed out, picking her pet up and giving her an exuberant hug. ‘She’s far too little to climb that huge wall and anyway she’ll have heaps of exploring to do in the garden. She won’t be interested in the outside world for a while yet. Call me when you want me to come in, because Aunt Emmeline still hasn’t written to my father to ask if I may have a watch.’
    ‘I’ll come down when I’ve cleared up the tea things and see how you and Kitty are getting on,’ Hester promised. ‘Does Kitty’s dirt tray need changing? If so, you might as well kill two birds with one stone and take it down with you when you go.’
    ‘Oh – oh, pooh! I’ll be carrying Kitty though, so couldn’t you …?’ Lonnie was beginning, when she belatedly remembered that she was supposed to do everything for Kitty, and to do it willingly. Heaving a sigh, she went over and picked up the seed box, then headed for the door.
    Hester went ahead of her to open the door, then took the seed box from her. ‘Just this once, I’ll bring it downstairs for you because you were a good girl and remembered the rules,’ she said approvingly. ‘Youare beginning to learn some nice English manners, Lonnie, so I’m happy to help you out on occasion.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Lonnie said humbly, and together the two descended the stairs and presently emerged into the garden. How odd it was, Lonnie thought, as she set the kitten on the ground, took the box from Hester and watched her governess disappear into the house once more, that the sun which had seemed so oppressive in the streets should seem merely warming in the garden. But then she remembered that it was later in the day and that a pleasant breeze was stirring the branches of the tall trees.
    ‘Well, missie? Have you come to do a bit of digging in your little plot? I said I’d find you a small spade and I’ve done just that – tek a hold on it and let’s see whether it’s right for you.’ Mr Mimms stood before her, a miniature spade in one hand and a miniature fork in the other. Lonnie beamed at him, delighted that he had remembered how futile her efforts had been when wielding his enormous garden tools.
    ‘Where did you get them?’ she asked delightedly. ‘Oh, thank you, Mr Mimms, how very kind you are! I’ll try them at once but I’m sure they’re both exactly right.’
    The old man walked down the garden beside Lonnie, telling her that the tools had once belonged to his small son. ‘All I had to do was clean ’em up a bit,’ he assured her. ‘My Ron were happy for you to have ’em since he’s no young ’uns of his own.’ They had reached the end of the garden and Lonnie seized the fork and began to dig, exclaiming with pleasure at how the brightly shining metal tines penetrated the hard-packed earth, for her little garden was close up against the wall and the soil had not been worked for many years.
    ‘Don’t try to do too much at once; pace yourself,’ Mr Mimms advised, watching with approval as Lonnie began to turn the soil, breaking up the pieces with repeated blows of the fork. ‘When you’ve dug the whole patch, I’ll barrow over some compost, ’cos you have to feed soil if you want your plants to thrive, same as you do that plaguey kitten.’
    Kitty, who had been cautiously investigating the newly turned earth, sprang back as a worm came wriggling to the surface. Lonnie laughed breathlessly. ‘Right, Mr Mimms,’ she said, wiping drops of perspiration from her hot face. ‘Oh, Kitty, get out from under my fork or I’ll spear you by mistake and that would be terrible. Go and play on the lawn or under the trees, where it’s cool. I’m far too busy to amuse you now.’
    Mr Mimms pulled a large gunmetal watch from his waistcoat pocket and examined it, then put it back. ‘Time I were off,’ he said gruffly. ‘Sure you’ll be all right, Miss Lonnie? Only Mrs Mimms gets that aerated if