like that! Of course Mrs. Mountjoy keeps after us all the time about our grammar, and the way we speak in general, and it actually helps, keeping me, at least, aware of my speech. Maybe, Robbie, doing so well myself, I’ll be able to hire on with some family as a teacher of small children. Trouble is, both Mrs. Mountjoy and the governess say it’s my pronunciation that is so bad that at times I’m hard to understand. I canna seem to shake all my accent, probably never shall. I’ll say “dinna” and “canna” all my life, I expect. Ah, well, there could be worse habits .
Back to the account of our landing. There was much milling and stewing around the dock when we reached it, some girls taking a seat on their baggage, others with nothing on their mind but ogling the surroundings, seeing how they are a great deal different than the “old country.” There was some righting of hats that had been tipped by the crush and straightening of skirts that had suffered this first day’s test. Even the weather cooperates with Mrs. Mountjoy, not daring to disobey, and each girl had put on her serge skirt and white blouse, with her cloak flung over her arm lest the clouds spill their contents before we could get under cover and we all got off together, as planned. Anne and I stayed close to each other, careful not to be separated . . . .
“We look like penguins,” Anne whispered to Tierney, aware of the stares of the great host of people either leaving the shipor gathered on the dock. For truly the sight of so many women dressed alike did arouse considerable curiosity.
But it was a sight that was recognized for what it was, by certain people. Male people.
As the girls stood, en masse, on the dock, and Ishbel distractedly saw to the conveyances that would transport them to the waiting hostels, one could see—like bees hovering around a bouquet of flowers—a circle of masculine beings. To a man their eyes were fixed on the girls, looking them over much as they might examine a herd of dairy cows about to go on the auction block.
“Look at those men,” someone said in a low voice, and all eyes turned to the circle of males. Some, perhaps, were there because of curiosity; others, it seemed, were there to do serious business.
“What are they lookin’ at?” someone asked uncomfortably.
“Us, silly. We are goods on display, dressed in these ‘costumes’ of ours.”
“Us? Whatever for?” was the innocent question.
“Because,” an impatient voice murmured, “we’re single, and they know it.”
“Oh my goodness! You mean these are bachelors?”
“Probably. I know the world is in terrible condition, sinful and all that, but I hope married men have better sense than to hang around a dock lookin’ over a bunch of females!”
Most of the girls drew together into a close-knit group, casting glances over their shoulders, unsure whether to seem pleased or angry or unconcerned. Anne and Tierney stayed close together, one with her back turned to the circling men, the other peeping over her shoulder and giving a report of what was happening. Pearly hovered nearby.
“You’ll never believe this,” Anne said, looking beyond Tierney’s shoulder. “Or maybe you weel.”
“What? Tell me!”
“Winky, Blinky, and Lucretia are sorta steppin’ awa’ from the rest o’ us and are talkin’ amongst themselves as if no oneelse was around. Wait a minute! One man is makin’ a move in their direction!”
“What else! What else!”
“He’s taken off his cap and is holdin’ it in front of him. He’s a sma’ man, with a big moustache . . . has on a suit—sort of a dandy type, I’d say.”
“And?”
“And they’re talkin’. That is, he’s talkin’ with Lucretia. Winky and Blinky are walkin’ up the dock a bit, turnin’, comin’ back—”
Tierney and Anne weren’t the only ones watching the little scene unfold. Mrs. Mountjoy, hurrying back from her distant responsibilities, saw the interchange between
Back to the account of our landing. There was much milling and stewing around the dock when we reached it, some girls taking a seat on their baggage, others with nothing on their mind but ogling the surroundings, seeing how they are a great deal different than the “old country.” There was some righting of hats that had been tipped by the crush and straightening of skirts that had suffered this first day’s test. Even the weather cooperates with Mrs. Mountjoy, not daring to disobey, and each girl had put on her serge skirt and white blouse, with her cloak flung over her arm lest the clouds spill their contents before we could get under cover and we all got off together, as planned. Anne and I stayed close to each other, careful not to be separated . . . .
“We look like penguins,” Anne whispered to Tierney, aware of the stares of the great host of people either leaving the shipor gathered on the dock. For truly the sight of so many women dressed alike did arouse considerable curiosity.
But it was a sight that was recognized for what it was, by certain people. Male people.
As the girls stood, en masse, on the dock, and Ishbel distractedly saw to the conveyances that would transport them to the waiting hostels, one could see—like bees hovering around a bouquet of flowers—a circle of masculine beings. To a man their eyes were fixed on the girls, looking them over much as they might examine a herd of dairy cows about to go on the auction block.
“Look at those men,” someone said in a low voice, and all eyes turned to the circle of males. Some, perhaps, were there because of curiosity; others, it seemed, were there to do serious business.
“What are they lookin’ at?” someone asked uncomfortably.
“Us, silly. We are goods on display, dressed in these ‘costumes’ of ours.”
“Us? Whatever for?” was the innocent question.
“Because,” an impatient voice murmured, “we’re single, and they know it.”
“Oh my goodness! You mean these are bachelors?”
“Probably. I know the world is in terrible condition, sinful and all that, but I hope married men have better sense than to hang around a dock lookin’ over a bunch of females!”
Most of the girls drew together into a close-knit group, casting glances over their shoulders, unsure whether to seem pleased or angry or unconcerned. Anne and Tierney stayed close together, one with her back turned to the circling men, the other peeping over her shoulder and giving a report of what was happening. Pearly hovered nearby.
“You’ll never believe this,” Anne said, looking beyond Tierney’s shoulder. “Or maybe you weel.”
“What? Tell me!”
“Winky, Blinky, and Lucretia are sorta steppin’ awa’ from the rest o’ us and are talkin’ amongst themselves as if no oneelse was around. Wait a minute! One man is makin’ a move in their direction!”
“What else! What else!”
“He’s taken off his cap and is holdin’ it in front of him. He’s a sma’ man, with a big moustache . . . has on a suit—sort of a dandy type, I’d say.”
“And?”
“And they’re talkin’. That is, he’s talkin’ with Lucretia. Winky and Blinky are walkin’ up the dock a bit, turnin’, comin’ back—”
Tierney and Anne weren’t the only ones watching the little scene unfold. Mrs. Mountjoy, hurrying back from her distant responsibilities, saw the interchange between
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