that with fair weather, the voyage should last only five months.”
“I should like to know the stops we are intended to make,” I said, thinking of Snowe’s vow to put me ashore. “I can’t say that I know of them, except for Cape Town, of course.”
I stopped with the spoon halfway to my mouth. “Cape Town,” I whispered. “It sounds so exotic.”
“I have heard of it but do not know where it is.”
“Why, everyone knows that it is at the southernmost tip of Africa on the Cape of Good Hope,” I said, then blushed with shame. Miss Whipple probably had not been given the education I had received. “I am sorry for speaking so knowingly. Mr. Snowe has called me a bluestocking, and I suppose he is right.”
She leaned back, smiling. “I have heard of Cape Town for many years, but no one bothered to tell me its location. It has always sounded a bit exotic. What do you know of it?”
“Only what I have read. It has been in existence for some two hundred years. It is a business town where ships stock up on provisions. There is also lodging, I believe, and families who live there year round. It is located between two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian. Oh, and some call it the Tavern of Two Seas because there is apparently no lack of strong liquor.”
“Really?” Miss Whipple seemed amused by my last statement, her eyes taking on a calculated expression that worried me.
“I hope that you will tour the town with me,” I said hastily. “As we seem to be the only two unmarried women aboard ship, I would enjoy your company.”
She stared at me, and I felt that my impulsiveness had gotten the better of my speech. I should not have forced her to give me a cut. “Forgive me, Miss Whipple,” I said. “I did not mean to presume an acquaintance that you may not desire.”
“That I may not desire?” She continued to stare at me, and I felt quite unnerved.
I slurped the last of the broth in my anxiety then handed her the empty bowl. “Thank you so much. It was delicious. I appreciate your bringing my food.”
“It is Phineas who secured it for you.”
I made a face. “Then I thank you doubly for your service when he has thought himself either too busy or too important to bring it to me himself.”
Miss Whipple broke into a smile. “You don’t care much for him, do you, Miss Goodrich?”
“I care for his charitable work, but I cannot say that our personalities are well suited for each other. We seem to rub each other like flint and steel.”
“I have noticed the sparks,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
I flushed. “I should learn to curb my tongue. He has been kind to me of late, but I must convince him of the necessity of my staying aboard ship. He did promise to put me off at the first possible convenience.”
“Most likely Cape Town, then.” Miss Whipple rose. “I would like to hear more about your plans, Miss Goodrich. Especially what you hope to accomplish once we arrive in China.” She turned when she reached the door. “I feel certain that if we chat a bit, we can arrive at a plan to convince Phineas to keep you aboard ship. For I am quite certain that you could be a valuable asset to him in the future.”
“Since you have known him longer than I, I would appreciate any insight,” I said. “You have been kindness itself, Miss Whipple. I am certain that God led us both to this ship for a reason.”
“Let us hope that we both still agree to that thought by the time we have reached the end of our respective voyages—no matter where that might be,” she said, then left the cabin and me to my own reflection.
Well fed and refreshed, I fell into a dreamless sleep that night. The ship no longer seemed to rock beneath me but rather soothed me like a babe in a cradle. It is a wonder that someone does not invent a device whereby people may fall asleep in the safety of their own homes, yet lulled to dreamland on gentle water’s wave. I slept so deeply that I heard nothing save perhaps
“I should like to know the stops we are intended to make,” I said, thinking of Snowe’s vow to put me ashore. “I can’t say that I know of them, except for Cape Town, of course.”
I stopped with the spoon halfway to my mouth. “Cape Town,” I whispered. “It sounds so exotic.”
“I have heard of it but do not know where it is.”
“Why, everyone knows that it is at the southernmost tip of Africa on the Cape of Good Hope,” I said, then blushed with shame. Miss Whipple probably had not been given the education I had received. “I am sorry for speaking so knowingly. Mr. Snowe has called me a bluestocking, and I suppose he is right.”
She leaned back, smiling. “I have heard of Cape Town for many years, but no one bothered to tell me its location. It has always sounded a bit exotic. What do you know of it?”
“Only what I have read. It has been in existence for some two hundred years. It is a business town where ships stock up on provisions. There is also lodging, I believe, and families who live there year round. It is located between two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian. Oh, and some call it the Tavern of Two Seas because there is apparently no lack of strong liquor.”
“Really?” Miss Whipple seemed amused by my last statement, her eyes taking on a calculated expression that worried me.
“I hope that you will tour the town with me,” I said hastily. “As we seem to be the only two unmarried women aboard ship, I would enjoy your company.”
She stared at me, and I felt that my impulsiveness had gotten the better of my speech. I should not have forced her to give me a cut. “Forgive me, Miss Whipple,” I said. “I did not mean to presume an acquaintance that you may not desire.”
“That I may not desire?” She continued to stare at me, and I felt quite unnerved.
I slurped the last of the broth in my anxiety then handed her the empty bowl. “Thank you so much. It was delicious. I appreciate your bringing my food.”
“It is Phineas who secured it for you.”
I made a face. “Then I thank you doubly for your service when he has thought himself either too busy or too important to bring it to me himself.”
Miss Whipple broke into a smile. “You don’t care much for him, do you, Miss Goodrich?”
“I care for his charitable work, but I cannot say that our personalities are well suited for each other. We seem to rub each other like flint and steel.”
“I have noticed the sparks,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
I flushed. “I should learn to curb my tongue. He has been kind to me of late, but I must convince him of the necessity of my staying aboard ship. He did promise to put me off at the first possible convenience.”
“Most likely Cape Town, then.” Miss Whipple rose. “I would like to hear more about your plans, Miss Goodrich. Especially what you hope to accomplish once we arrive in China.” She turned when she reached the door. “I feel certain that if we chat a bit, we can arrive at a plan to convince Phineas to keep you aboard ship. For I am quite certain that you could be a valuable asset to him in the future.”
“Since you have known him longer than I, I would appreciate any insight,” I said. “You have been kindness itself, Miss Whipple. I am certain that God led us both to this ship for a reason.”
“Let us hope that we both still agree to that thought by the time we have reached the end of our respective voyages—no matter where that might be,” she said, then left the cabin and me to my own reflection.
Well fed and refreshed, I fell into a dreamless sleep that night. The ship no longer seemed to rock beneath me but rather soothed me like a babe in a cradle. It is a wonder that someone does not invent a device whereby people may fall asleep in the safety of their own homes, yet lulled to dreamland on gentle water’s wave. I slept so deeply that I heard nothing save perhaps
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