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
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
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