seven thousand heads of lettuce, Flo!” Father carries on as if he were supplying the food personally.
When Kathleen comes home, the story has to be told all over again. After supper, Father suggests that Kathleen walk part of the way back with me.
“Good-bye, my girl, mind you keep safe and sound,” he says, and Mother kisses my cheek. She smiles so lovingly that I almost change my mind about going! As Kathleen and I walk away from the house, I look back and Mother is standing outside the door, watching us. She waves for a long time.
“I know what you are thinking, Lou,” Kathleen says, “but it is not going to be like those nightmares you used to have. The little girls will not fall into the water, and no one will drown, least of all you! Patrick says this ship is unsinkable. He’d not be down in the boiler room shoveling coal into the furnaces if there was any danger. He wants to come home safely, back to me!”
She unbuttons her coat, takes it off, and holds it out. “This will keep you warm. April evenings can get cold. Go on, Lou, take it.”
“No, thanks, Kath, this is your new spring coat. You saved up so long for it!”
“It’s a loan–you’ll bring it back looking as good as new, I am sure. I want to think of my little sister strolling on the deck in the moonlight…sailing on the same ship as Patrick and wearing my new spring coat.”
“And suppose there is no moon?”
“No moon? There is always a moon. I wish I wasgoing with you!”
“So do I. And thanks, Kath, I’ll be proud to borrow your coat.” I hang it carefully over my arm. My sister shivers and squeezes my arm before she hurries home, away from me.
I’m worn out from running up and down stairs, summoned by Nanny, to listen to endless instructions, reproofs, and warnings! With every word, she makes clear how much she disapproves of my youth, my inexperience, and the imprudence of letting me take her place on the voyage.
If Nanny does not permit me to finish all I’ve yet to do, I have a mind to suggest that she let Phipps carry her back upstairs, so that she may personally fold each garment with her one good hand. And if I’m becoming waspish, it is her fault! Nanny means well, believing it her duty to instruct me, so I try to hide my impatience. Lady Milton has taken the children out, accompanied by Hart, to purchase new shoes for Miss Portia and Miss Alexandra. I had hoped to finish the ironing while they were absent.
Nanny goes on and on: “Routine, Gardener, establish your routine the moment you get on board ship, to the best of your ability.” Her lips tighten. “When you reach New York, discipline must be maintained. I have it on good authority that Americans are far more lax with their children than we are. We mustuphold our standards as best we can, trying circumstances or not.
“Lady Milton has arranged for you and the children to partake of your meals in your stateroom on board ship–a most appropriate decision. Let us hope the chef will see the children are not given rich food. I do not wish to have to deal with overindulged and spoiled girls on your return.”
Nanny lowers her voice as though fearing to be overheard. “I shall have my hands full as it is, what with another baby due later this year.”
I know better than to comment, but I had suspected from one or two remarks that I’d overheard Mrs. Porter smilingly make to Hart about untouched breakfast trays! I remember how Mother could never face anything more than a biscuit and a cup of tea before noon, when George was on the way.
“Yes, Nanny,” I say and turn to leave, hoping she’s finished. I’ve a dozen tasks waiting for me to do.
“One more thing, Gardener–remember your place!”
Now why does she think she has to tell me that? Does she think I am going to run off with a sailor?
“Passengers on board ship are inclined to be rather too friendly and sometimes do not make sufficient distinctions between…what I am endeavoring to say is,
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