“I can see you are a stickler for the niceties of the English language. You must help me compile my speech.”
“Haven’t you done it yet? My father has been working on his for ages.”
“He’s a professional. Mine will be very different. I shall go on about the mysticism of the East. A sort of Arabian Nights flavour.”
“Don’t forget you will be talking to experts.”
“Oh, I-hope to appeal to a wider audience the imaginative, romantic sort.”
“I am sure you will.”
“I’m so glad we’re sailing together,” he said.
“And now you are no longer a schoolgirl … that is exciting in itself, is it not?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“On the threshold of life … and adventure.”
The sound of a hooter rent the air.
“I think that means we are about to sail. Yes, it does. Adieu, England. Welcome new lands … new sights … new adventures.”
He was laughing. I felt exhilarated and glad because he was with us.
I continued to be so. My parents were made much of by the Captain and certain other travellers. The information that they were going to lecture in Cape Town and Northern America quickly spread and they were regarded with some awe. Lucas was very popular and in great demand. I knew why. He was one of those people who are without inhibitions; when he arrived at a gathering there was immediate laughter and general animation. He had the ability to make everything seem amusing.
He was charming to me, but then he was to everybody. He went through life smoothly and easily, and I imagine getting his own way because of this rare gift of his.
My cabin mate was greatly impressed.
“What a charming man!” she said.
“And you knew him before you came on board. Lucky you!”
“Well, I met him briefly at a dinner party, and then he called to tell us he would be on board.”
“It’s because of your father, I suppose.”
“What do you mean?”
“That he is so friendly.”
“He’s friendly with everyone.”
“He’s very attractive … too attractive,” she added ominously and regarding me speculatively. She was inclined to regard me as a simpleton because I had foolishly told her that I had cut school short to come on this trip. She had left the previous year, so must have been a year or so older than I. I had an idea she was warning me against Lucas. There was no need, I wanted to tell her fiercely; and then I feared I might be too fierce.
She was right in one thing; I was ignorant of the ways of the world.
But the time I spent with Lucas was certainly enjoyable.
During the first days we found a sheltered spot on the deck, for at that time the sea was a little rough and the wind strong. My parents spent a good deal of time in their cabin and I was left free to explore.
This I did with great interest and soon learned my way about the ship.
I found the small cabin restricting, especially as it had to be shared with the rather loquacious and faintly patronizing Mary. I was glad to get out of it as much as possible. I found my top bunk a little stifling. I would wake early and lie there waiting for it to be time to get up.
Then I discovered that I could descend the ladder without waking Mary.
I could slip on a few things and go out on deck. The early morning was exhilarating. I would sit in our sheltered spot and look out over the sea, watching the sunrise. I loved to see the morning sky, sometimes delicately pearl, at others blood red. I would picture figures in the formation of the clouds as they drifted across the sky and listen to the waves swishing against the sides of the ship. It was never quite the same at any other time as it was in the morning.
There was a man in blue overalls who used to swab that part of the deck where I sat each morning. I had struck up an acquaintance with him . if it could be called that. He would come along with his mop and pail, tip out the water and swab away.
At such an hour the deck was almost deserted.
As he approached I said: “Good morning. I came out for a breath of fresh air. It was stifling in the cabin.”
“Oh yes,” he said, and went on swabbing.
“Am I in your way? I’d better move.”
“Oh no. It’s all right. I’ll go round and do that bit later.”
It was a cultured voice devoid of accent. I studied him fairly tall, light brown hair and rather sad eyes.
“You don’t get many people sitting out at this hour,” I said.
“No.”
“I expect you think I’m crazy.”
“No … no. I understand you want to get the air. And this is the best time of the day.”
“Oh, I do agree.”
I insisted on getting up and he moved my chair and went on swabbing.
That was the first morning I saw him and on the next one I met him again. By the third morning I imagined he looked for me. It was not exactly an assignation, but it seemed to have become part of the day’s ritual. We exchanged a few words.
“Good morning … it’s a nice day .” and so on. He always kept his head down when he was swabbing, as though completely absorbed by what he was doing.
“You like the sea, don’t you?” he said on the fourth morning.
I said I believed I did. I was not sure yet as it was the first time I’d been on it.
“It takes a grip on you. It’s fascinating. It can change so quickly.”
“Like life,” I said, thinking of the changes in mine.
He did not answer and I went on: “I suppose you’ve had great experience of the sea?”
He shook his head and moved away.
Mealtimes on board were interesting. Lucas Lorimer, as a friend, sat at our table and Captain Graysom had made a pleasant custom of taking his seat at each table in turn during the voyage so that he could get to know most of his passengers. He had many stories to tell of his adventures at sea and that happy custom made it possible for all to hear of them.
“It is easy for him,” said Lucas.
“He has his repertoire and all he has to do is give a repeat performance at each table. You notice he knows just where to pause for the laugh and get the best dramatic effects.”
“You are a little like that,” I told him.
“Oh, I wasn’t suggesting repetition, but you know where the pauses should come, too.”
“I see that you know me too well for my comfort.”
“Well then, let me comfort you. I think one of the greatest gifts one can have is the ability to make people laugh.”
He took my hand and kissed it.
My parents, who were at the table when this dialogue took place, were a little startled. I think it might have brought home to them that I was growing up.
Lucas and I were taking a walk round the deck when we encountered Captain Graysom. He used to walk round the ship every day to assure himself, I supposed, that everything was in order.
“All well?” he asked as he approached.
“Very well indeed,” answered Lucas.
“Getting your sea legs now? They don’t always come at once. But we’ve been moderately lucky in the weather … so far.”
“Isn’t it going to continue?” I asked.
“You need a wiser man than I am to tell you that, Miss Cranleigh. We can only forecast… and never with
