Her wicked laws. Her cruelty! And she sent them here ingloriously, to fend for themselves ... eleven ships, and five packed full with sick and starving men and women. England did that... and not yet forty years ago! And already here we have our own Sydney. It is young, but it will be great. We have crossed the Blue Mountains! New country is opened up. These men have had a hand in that... these felons, as you call them! And I would have you know that we are not all felons.”
"Gad!" he said, amused and liking her fervour.
"What a patriotic little soul it is! And, Dammed, it becomes you, Katharine. I'd like well to hear you make that speech in your own drawing-room.”
"I mean it," she said, 'and am I not making it here in my own drawing-room?”
"In your father's, my dear. Listen, Katharine. I'll go and tell your father now that you've promised to marry me. You need not look so frightened. I tell you, I have already spoken to him.”
"You have spoken to my father?" He came nearer, his lips close to her ear, his eyes burning.
"He is delighted to receive me as his son-in-law, my dear.”
"But... I...”
"Hal Ha! A spirited young lady, as I saw at once when I first made your acquaintance! Remember, Katharine? You were on horseback, and Dammed if I ever saw a woman cut a better figure. And you are sweet as honey, and lovely as a garden of English spring flowers! Dammed. I can scarce wait to take you back!”
"I am not coming.”
He rocked back on his heels. A very self-opinionated young man. He did not believe that any Sydney-born young woman, with parents who, though among the wealthiest in the town, were for some reason not so well received even in Sydney society as they might have been, could really say No to him. She was a coquette then, for all her frank looks. She wanted wooing, did she! Dammed, he was ready enough to do the wooing. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"You are coming, my love," he said. I'm in love with you. You shall be my wife, I mean it!”
"No!" she said.
Margery was standing in the doorway, open-mouthed.
"Pray excuse me." said Katharine coldly, and went over to Margery. He stood, staring after her, fumbling for his eyeglass and his dignity.
Margery said: "Lor'!" and drew her into the passage, on the other side of which was the open door through which came the sound of music and laughter.
"Come... quickly," said Margery in a hoarse whisper.
"If your Ma was to know...”
Henry was in the kitchen. Katharine ran to him, and they dung together, kissing.
"How beautiful you are!" said Henry. She laughed almost hysterically; Henry in lamplight was such a contrast to Sir Anthony, satin-coated in candlelight. She took his hand and kissed it. She found it difficult to stop kissing it.
Henry touched her white shoulder wonderingly; then the lace and the soft material of her gown.
"You are so beautiful." he repeated.
"You are so beautiful!”
She said: "It is the dress. I would rather be in my riding kit, on the veranda with you.”
He kissed her and they looked at each other incredulously as though they could not wholly believe in the existence of each other "Why did you come?" she asked breathlessly.
"I thought of you in there ... dancing ... being so beautiful that every man must love you.”
"Stupid!" she said, and they kissed again, and his hands caressed her bare shoulders.
Margery was crying in the corner. The beauty of it! The beauty! Oh, to be young ... seventeen and eighteen, and to believe love went on for ever! The lovely children ... and me lord in there making love to her and wanting to marry her, and her wanting the other! Poor little soul!
Funny listening to their lovers' talk. It didn't mean anything but "I want you! I want you." They thought it did though, poor little innocents. You can't go on wanting for ever though, and what's a station beyond the Blue Mountains compared with a grand house in London Town! Muck and squalor, gaudy lights, and the poor and the beggars, and the lords and ladies. London! I hate you. London, I love you!
Why is it, when you think of London, you get a pain inside you that nothing could ease but a sight of the wicked old city? If you was wise, me lady, you'd choose London Town. But love and wisdom never was two to go hand in hand. Your lady mother's right, and so is the master, and what are they going to do about it, eh? And who's going to win ... you, me darling, and your rampaging lover, or wise Mamma who knows more than she'd like you to think she knows and your Papa who was born wise? And here's old Margery, watching and taking a hand. Who let him into her kitchen, eh? Who gives him bits of gossip, eh? It's nice to know you've got a hand in things ... when you're old and there's nothing much left to you but a glass of grog at the kitchen table.
He stroked Katharine's shoulders and stooped and kissed them; he murmured again and again that she was beautiful and that he had forgotten how beautiful; and neither of them gave a thought to old Margery standing there, watching them with glistening eyes.
The door opened and Carolan came in. her eyes flashing fire, but behind the fire was fear for this daughter whom she loved better than anything in the world.
"Katharine!" she said, and Katharine swung round, all defiance, ready for the fight.
"It is time you and Henry met. Mamma.”
"Henry?" said Carolan coldly.
Henry bowed.
Ah I thought Margery. He's not got the manners of the gentleman in the blue satin coat, but he's got some sort of charm, and you can see with half an eye where he gets that!
"Henry Jedborough," said Katharine, in a dignified manner.
"We are going to be married.”
Carolan turned pale.
She said: This is rather sudden, is it not?" And her eyes, as they rested on the young man, were like cold green emeralds.
"No," said Henry, jauntily.
"Katharine and I arranged it some time ago. We are tired of waiting.”
"Yes, Mamma," said Katharine, 'that is right.”
"I do not recollect your having asked my permission to propose marriage to my daughter, sir. But perhaps you have spoken to her father?”
"No!" he said, hating her because he knew she meant "Who is this crude unmannerly creature who ignores all the rules laid down by decent society?”
"We thought." he added, 'that it was a matter for us to decide.”
I know why she hates him so, thought Margery. In this light, where you can't notice the difference so much, he's the living image of his father.
"Katharine," said Carolan, ignoring him. 'it was very ill-mannered of you to leave your guests. Go back at once)' "Mamma!”
"Go back at once!”
"Mamma, please understand ...”
"My dear child, this is not the time to conduct a ridiculous scene. Mr.
... Mr. ... your friend can call upon your father tomorrow. I must really ask him to go now." Henry bowed. He had his dignity. He said: "Goodbye, my darling." And then, defiantly: "I shall see you tomorrow." And there in front of Carolan and Margery he took her into his arms and kissed her several times right on the mouth. She was quivering with desire for him in spite of the scene that had just taken place, in spite of the spectators. That was how it was when you were young, thought Margery. Love swamped everything; when young lovers kissed, they forgot everyone else. Ah! That was how it was when you were young.
He said: "Darling, promise me. Don't let them...”
"No, no, no!" she cried.
They will try ...”
They will not succeed.”
"Remember... the station ... the two of us ... beyond the Blue Mountains.”
The two of us," she said, 'darling, beyond the Blue Mountains.”
He kissed her hands he could not tear himself away.
Carolan was stamping her foot in fury.
When he had gone she looked coldly at her daughter.