However, there we were, and in a few days we did learn a little about the people on board.
There were two girls—of different families—going out to get married. It was a fairly frequent happening, I understood. There was Fiona Macre, a Scottish girl who was going to marry a soldier, and Jane Egmont, whose husband would be one of the officials of what was referred to as the Company.
I kept thinking of Lady Geraldine, who would be coming out on some future voyage to join Fabian. I fell to wondering whether I should see him and what his attitude towards me would be. I wondered whether he would approve of my coming out to be with his sister.
Alice and I were naturally very much together and I learned a little about her. Once she had been engaged to be married. She had not then decided that she would become a nanny. She had lived with her married sister and brother-in-law in Hastings. She had not been very happy; not that her family had not been kind to her, but she had felt an intruder. And then she had met Philip. Philip was an artist. He had come down to Hastings for his health. He had a weak chest and the sea air was said to be good for him.
She met him when he was seated on the shore painting a rough sea. Some of his drawings had blown away and landed right at her feet; she had rescued them and returned them to him.
"There was this howling wind, I remember," she said. "It tore at you. I thought he was crazy to be working in such weather. They were sketches he was making. He was pleased that I'd caught them and we talked and got on well. Then we used to meet every day." Her eyes grew tender and she was like a different woman, soft, gentle and feminine. "We were to have been married. He told me that he was not strong. He had consumption. I planned to nurse him. I was sure I could bring him back to health. He died ... a month before we were to have been married. Ah, well, that's life. Then I decided I wanted to look after people ... little ones ... and I became a nanny. It didn't seem as if I were going to get any children of my own, so I had to make do with other people's."
We did share confidences very quickly. I told her about Colin's proposal and Lady Harriet's conviction that it was the best solution for me and that I was stubborn and foolish not to take it.
She grimaced. "You have to be careful of the Lady Harriets of this world. They are all manipulators. I'd never be manipulated. Good for you that you weren't either."
"I never shall be."
"You were right to refuse him. Marriage lasts a long time and it's got to be the right one. Perhaps you meet that one ... once in a lifetime. Perhaps he doesn't even notice you. But if he's the one no one else will do."
I did not tell her about Dougal, who had failed me before I had time to fall in love, nor did I mention Fabian, whom I never seemed to be able to get out of my thoughts.
Our first stop was Gibraltar.
It was wonderful to be on dry land. A certain Mr. and Mrs. Carling invited us to go ashore with them. I think they were sorry for two women travelling alone.
We had a very pleasant day inspecting the Rock and the monkeys, and it was exciting to be in a foreign place; but the British flag flew over it, so we still felt we were part of home.
Sailing along the Mediterranean was peaceful. We sat on deck basking in a mild sunshine. It was on one of those occasions that we made the acquaintance of Monsieur Lasseur.
I had noticed him once or twice about the ship. He was of medium height, verging on middle age, with black hair and dark eyes, which seemed to dart everywhere as though he were afraid of missing something.
He had always given me a pleasant smile and bow, with a cheerful "good morning" or whatever time of the day it was. I gathered that he was French.
As we were coming into port at Naples, I was leaning over the rail watching our approach. I was alone. I was not quite sure where Alice was. I became aware of him standing beside me.
"An exciting moment, is it not, Mademoiselle, coming into port?"
"Yes, indeed it is," I answered. "I suppose one feels the excitement because it is all so new."
"I feel it ... and it is not new to me."
"Do you travel this way frequently?"
"Now and then ... yes."
"You are going to India?"
"No. I go as far as Suez."
"I believe we have to travel by land from Alexandria."
"That is so. A little ... lacking in comfort. How will you like that?"
"Everything is so new and exciting to me that I don't think I shall notice the discomfort."
"You are very philosophical, I see. And the ... older lady ... your sister perhaps?"
"Oh no."
"Not so? Then ..."
"We are travelling together. We are both taking up posts in India."
"That is interesting. May I ask ... ? But I am curious. It is just that on board ... well, the conventions do not apply in the same way. We are here together ... we are one family ... So I can be like the uncle ... the elder brother peut-etre."
"That is a pleasant suggestion."
"You have not made many friends yet."
"So many people seem to know each other already, and married couples drift together. I suppose it is unusual to find two women like us travelling alone."
"Refreshing, shall we say? Refreshing. Now I am going to ask you. Are you going ashore at Naples?"
"Well, I am not sure ... You see ..."
"I know. Two ladies alone. Now I am going to be very bold."
I raised my eyebrows.
"I am going to say this. Why do I not conduct you two ladies ashore? Two ladies to go ashore by themselves ..." He lifted his hands and gravely shook his head. "No ... no ... that is not good. These people, they say, 'Here come two ladies ... we will charge them more.' And perhaps there are other bad things they practise. No, no, ladies should not go ashore without protection. My dear young lady, I offer you that protection."
"That is good of you. I will speak to my friend."
"I shall be at your service," he replied.
At that moment I saw Alice. I called, "Alice, Monsieur Lasseur is kindly offering to escort us ashore."
Alice's eyes widened with pleasure. "What an excellent idea! I was wondering what we were going to do."
"Mademoiselle, the pleasure is mine." He looked at his watch. "Let us meet say ... in fifteen minutes. I think we shall be allowed to leave the ship then."
So that day in Naples was spent in the company of the gallant Frenchman. He talked to us a great deal. He was a widower and childless. He had interests in Egypt and would stay in Suez for some time on business.
He contrived to find out a certain amount about us. He had an intent way of listening that made us feel that what we had to say was of the utmost interest to him.
There was about him an air of authority. He shepherded us through the hordes of chattering people, among whom were countless small boys begging or trying to sell us articles. He waved them all aside.
"No, Miss Delany," he said, "I see you are feeling sorry for these piteous waifs, but believe me, they are professional beggars. I have heard that they do very well from gullible visitors."
"There is always a possibility that they may be as poor as they look."
He shook a finger at me. "Trust me," he said. "If you gave to one you would have them all round you like vultures, and you may be sure that while you were concerned with your almsgiving some little fingers would find their way into your pockets."
He hired a little carriage drawn by two small horses and we were driven through the town. Monsieur Lasseur obviously knew the place well, and as we drove under the shadow of the great mountain Vesuvius, he talked interestingly of its menace. We said we wondered why people continued to live so close to it.