“I’m determined to go sometime,” he said.
“I know most people think nothing will come of it. I know a lot of people are disappointed. But I know I’m not going to be, Carmel. Do you think I’m a fool?”
“Of course not. I think that, as you feel as you do, you must certainly give it a try.”
“I have a theory that, if you are determined to succeed in life, you will.”
“I think that’s a very good one.”
“I knew you would agree with me. Gertie, of course, thinks I’m a fool.
So do the rest of the family, but I know. “
“Well, then, James, you have to try it and prove they are wrong.”
“It’s good talking to you, Carmel. How would you like to go to the opal fields?”
The? I’ve never thought of it. “
“It’s the greatest fun.”
“Oh, I can imagine how exciting it could be.”
“Suppose we went together?”
“What?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. Why not? Suppose we got married?”
I was aghast.
He went on quickly: “Well, we are not children any more. And here we are together. We get on very well. I’ve always been fond of you. Oh, don’t remind me of Suez.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Do you know, I have never forgiven myself for that.”
“Please don’t go over all that again. We were children then.”
“It was a dreadful thing to do. You should have heard the lecture I got from the Captain. I have never forgotten it.”
I laughed.
“It doesn’t mean you have to offer me marriage as compensation. I think you are rushing things, James. Just because I understand how you feel about those opals and we happen to be here, where there aren’t many people for you to choose from. We get on well together and most people marry sometime. Well, perhaps all that is not a good enough reason for forming a life partnership.”
“But I am very fond of you, Carmel, and it is true we get on very well together.”
“And you think it would be very convenient. You’ve had all this upset over the property and you are not really thinking clearly about all this. Let’s leave it for a while.”
He brightened a little.
“You always understand, Carmel,” he said.
“Perhaps you’re right. All that did hit me pretty hard. I had it all planned. In a few weeks’ time I should have been on my way. Now I shall not be there for months and months.”
“It will all pass, James.”
“So. We stay good friends?”
“Of course,” I said.
We sat on in the dim light, listening to the sound of the piano and violins coming from the house.
It was a wonderful party and when it was over Elsie was glowing with triumph. Then Toby left and I could think of little else but the coming trip, though now and then I was reminded of that conversation with James.
It had been unexpected and I believed he must have spoken on the spur of the moment. I go to the opal fields with him! Marry him! Poor James. He had had such a bitter disappointment when his journey was postponed and I had been sympathetic-more so than his sister.
Hardly a foundation on which to build a marriage! When he had recovered from his disappointment and was working in the opal fields, he would be grateful to me for not being as impulsive as he was.
In any case, we said no more of the matter and I guessed he was beginning to realize that he had been a little rash.
With what joy, in due course, I boarded the Lady of the Seas.
Toby said: “She should be called the Old Lady of the Seas. Do you know, she is thirty-five years old? Most would have been thinking of retiring. But there is life in the old lady yet. She is the finest ship I ever sailed in. I love her dearly. I have my sentimental moments, as you know.”
I determined to make the most of the trip and enjoy every moment.
Elsie came to see us off and stood on the dock waving to us as we sailed out or rather to me. Toby was always on the bridge during arrivals and departures and never visible to any but the officers who were involved with him in the ship’s business.
And then, there I was in the familiar cabin, and Toby was showing me the map and explaining what course we should take-and I was completely happy.
The days slipped past quickly. Every morning I awoke to the joyous realization of where I was. I would lie in my berth and contemplate the pleasures of the day to come.
I particularly remember that evening in fact, I know I shall throughout my life. It was perfect. The heat of the day was over and the air was soft and balmy. I sat on deck with Toby and I looked up at the Southern Cross in utter contentment.
Toby said suddenly: “The time will come when I shall leave the sea.”
“That will be wonderful because you won’t be going away any more.”
“What shall we do? Have a little house together? Will you look after me in my old age?”
“Of course I shall look after you.”
“I dare say you will spoil me. I shall want to be spoiled. So please do that, Carmel.”
“I am not sure. Everything I do will be for your own good.”
“Oh dear, I am always afraid when people act for one’s own good. It usually means something unpleasant. I want six grandchildren, by the way.”
“That’s rather a lot.”
“I can be very greedy. You see, we’re not young any more. Even you are no longer a little girl. One looks to the future. I suppose one day you will marry.”
I immediately thought of James’s suggestion.
I said: “Well, oddly enough, it was recently suggested to me.”
He was alert at once.
“You mean someone asked you? Who?”
“James Forman.”
He sat back and smiled.
“Well,” he said, “I’m not altogether surprised. Elsie was saying she thought there was something brewing there.”
“Really? I was taken completely by surprise.”
That is because you are unaware of your seductive charms. “
“I think it just occurred to him on the spur of the moment. It seemed to fit in with his plans.”
“Well, he is determined to find opals. He’s quite obsessive about it.”
“I think he wanted someone to go off with him.”
“I can understand that. Half the men in Australia are dreaming of making a fortune from something dug out of the ground. It’s a quick way of making a fortune … if it works, and it does sometimes. And how do you feel about James?”
“I find it difficult to take the idea of marriage seriously.”
“I see. Poor James is going to be a disappointed lover. This party of Elsie’s set me thinking. At home they would be considering your ” coming out”. We should be doing something like that.”
“But there isn’t anywhere to come out to here,” I said.
“There can’t be balls and that sort of thing … except Elsie’s parties.”
“Well, we shall have to see. You ought to meet people. I want you to have the best, Carmel.”
“I know. You have always done so much for me, you and Elsie.”
“I like to think that I wasn’t such a bad father.”
“And I have told you often that you are the best anyone could ever have.”
“First of all, I want you to be happy.”
“I’d like always to be as happy as I am now.”
We were silent for a while. Then he said: “We’ll do some thing. You and I must always be together.”
“That is just what I want,” I told him.
Then he started to plan in the way I knew so well. When ever it was possible, I must sail with him. Now I had left school there would be opportunities. When he returned, we would live together. Sydney was a beautiful place. Did I not think so? Elsie would like to have us close, so that she could keep an eye on us. We could get a place of our own.
He was frowning. Then he said suddenly: “What do you think about going home? You were dragged away rather suddenly.”