say, ” You’ll be all right, Poll, when I’ve gone. You’ve got this house. There’s a living in it. ” And so there has been. I’d stop him talking like that. It upset me. Well, he was right. I let this place off to my sailors. They remind me of my Charley. Your Uncle Toby has been with me for a number of years. He’s a real gentle man. I don’t mind telling you, dear, I’ve got a special soft spot for him.
You’re a lucky girl, you are. He’s taking you off to sea with him.
Well, I reckon that’s something, I do. I wish I’d been with my Charley when . Well, it’s no good, is it? I always felt I’d have found some way of looking after him. But that’s me. Charley always used to say, “You think you can do everything better than everyone else.” It’s true. That’s why I’d have found some way of getting him out of that sea. Well, dear, we’re going to do some shopping tomorrow. To tell you the truth, there’s nothing I like better than spending a bit of money.
”
She was laughing, her temporary sadness gone.
We shopped together. We bought the garments which Uncle Toby said I should need for shipboard life sturdy shoes with soles that would not slip on wet decks; some summer dresses for a hot climate. Mrs. Quinton thoroughly enjoyed these expeditions, and so did I. Uncle Toby was away for long periods during the day, for he had business to attend to. The ship was in port and certain repairs were being done. He took me over her. And what a thrill that was! I was to have a cabin on the deck just below the bridge where Uncle Toby’s own cabin was situated.
“You’ll be a passenger,” he told me.
“A very special person. I have to look after the passengers, but for the most part the cargo looks after itself. So 1 shall be able to keep my eye on you.”
He showed me the dining-room with its long tables. There was a
smoking-room, a music room, as well as public rooms where people could indulge in all sorts of activities, and stretches of deck where one could sit and contemplate the sea. I felt I had skipped into a fantastic new world.
And then we were sailing and this was like the realization of a long-cherished dream. My pride in Uncle Toby was excessive. He looked splendid in his Captain’s uniform and everyone deferred to him. He was the Master of the Lady of the Seas and all who sailed in her.
He had changed subtly. He was god-like and alert for the safety of all who depended on him. He was usually very occupied, but we did have moments together, and I was gratified and honoured because I believe he enjoyed them as much as I did.
He would say: “I’ll be on the bridge for some time, so I shan’t be able to be with you-but just as soon as it is possible …”
I would nod, delighted that he should explain to me, which was something grown-ups rarely did. I often thought how lucky I was to have him, for he was not really my uncle, though he always spoke and acted as though he were. I would never forget that I was the one he had taken to sea with him-not Henry, Estella or Adeline. One would have thought he would have taken Henry, because boys were usually chosen for adventures like this. Secretly I thought Uncle Toby did not like Henry or even Estella or Adeline as well as me. And that was where the miracle came in.
Occasionally, I would think of the old life, though I did not want to, but it would force itself into my mind. How were they getting on with Aunt Florence, I wondered? Perhaps they would be home by now. They would have the inquest and the house would settle down to its old routine. Lessons and walks with Miss Carson; and Mrs. Marline safely buried and unable to spoil anything again. Adeline would be pleased.
She might miss me a little, but Miss Carson would make up for that.
So it would be a happy ending for them as well as for me. Now and then the thought came to me of what would happen when this voyage was over.
I should go back to Commonwood, I supposed, and
You’re a lucky girl, you are. He’s taking you off to sea with him.
Well, I reckon that’s something, I do. I wish I’d been with my Charley when . Well, it’s no good, is it? I always felt I’d have found some way of looking after him. But that’s me. Charley always used to say, “You think you can do everything better than everyone else.” It’s true. That’s why I’d have found some way of getting him out of that sea. Well, dear, we’re going to do some shopping tomorrow. To tell you the truth, there’s nothing I like better than spending a bit of money.
”
She was laughing, her temporary sadness gone.
We shopped together. We bought the garments which Uncle Toby said I should need for shipboard life sturdy shoes with soles that would not slip on wet decks; some summer dresses for a hot climate. Mrs. Quinton thoroughly enjoyed these expeditions, and so did I. Uncle Toby was away for long periods during the day, for he had business to attend to. The ship was in port and certain repairs were being done. He took me over her. And what a thrill that was! I was to have a cabin on the deck just below the bridge where Uncle Toby’s own cabin was situated.
“You’ll be a passenger,” he told me.
“A very special person. I have to look after the passengers, but for the most part the cargo looks after itself. So 1 shall be able to keep my eye on you.”
He showed me the dining-room with its long tables. There was a
smoking-room, a music room, as well as public rooms where people could indulge in all sorts of activities, and stretches of deck where one could sit and contemplate the sea. I felt I had skipped into a fantastic new world.
And then we were sailing and this was like the realization of a long-cherished dream. My pride in Uncle Toby was excessive. He looked splendid in his Captain’s uniform and everyone deferred to him. He was the Master of the Lady of the Seas and all who sailed in her.
He had changed subtly. He was god-like and alert for the safety of all who depended on him. He was usually very occupied, but we did have moments together, and I was gratified and honoured because I believe he enjoyed them as much as I did.
He would say: “I’ll be on the bridge for some time, so I shan’t be able to be with you-but just as soon as it is possible …”
I would nod, delighted that he should explain to me, which was something grown-ups rarely did. I often thought how lucky I was to have him, for he was not really my uncle, though he always spoke and acted as though he were. I would never forget that I was the one he had taken to sea with him-not Henry, Estella or Adeline. One would have thought he would have taken Henry, because boys were usually chosen for adventures like this. Secretly I thought Uncle Toby did not like Henry or even Estella or Adeline as well as me. And that was where the miracle came in.
Occasionally, I would think of the old life, though I did not want to, but it would force itself into my mind. How were they getting on with Aunt Florence, I wondered? Perhaps they would be home by now. They would have the inquest and the house would settle down to its old routine. Lessons and walks with Miss Carson; and Mrs. Marline safely buried and unable to spoil anything again. Adeline would be pleased.
She might miss me a little, but Miss Carson would make up for that.
So it would be a happy ending for them as well as for me. Now and then the thought came to me of what would happen when this voyage was over.
I should go back to Commonwood, I supposed, and
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