“You’ve seen the real thing, of course.”
“Yes, as I told you, I saw it once as the sun was setting.”
“You would succeed where others failed.”
I enjoyed those days in Sydney. In the evenings I met some of Joss’s business associates, and with one of them was his wife so she and I did some shopping excursions together.
In bustling George Street I bought material to be made into practical garments for my new life, and we roamed through Pitt and Elizabeth Streets marvelling at the merchandise. I acquired two large straw hats which my companion advised me to buy, for I should need them against the fierce Australian sun which was far more brilliant than that which was experienced in England. I was pleased with them because they were quite becoming and served two purposes-use and decoration. In King Street I bought ribbons and hairpins.
In due course the time came for us to leave. Joss spent a long time choosing the horses we should hire. Most of our baggage would come by coach to Fancy Town where we should pick it up. We took one pack horse with a few belongings and provisions. Our journey from England had taken a little over se weeks and we were at the end of November, which was the equivalent of our May. The wild flowers were so colourful that I kept exclaiming at then-beauty, which I saw was very gratifying to Joss; but most impressive of all. were the tall eucalypts -aloof, indifferent, towering over the tree ferns and native beech and ash as they reached for the sky. Joss was as knowledgeable about the countryside as he had been about Sydney and I found a new excitement in having such a good mentor beside me.
“Look at those eucalypts,” he said.
“We call them stringy-barks.
That’s because of then-tough fibrous barks. The term is bush slang for bad whisky too. You’ll find the language colourful and you’ll have to learn some of it’ “I shall be interested to,” I told him.
Glad to hear it. It’ll help you along a bit. Look over there. That’s what we call a spotted gum. See the markings on the bark? “
Pounds the country was flat, and the dryness of the land was particularly noticeable after -the green fields at home. Having no other as contrast, I had never before realized how green they were. The roads were rough and full of holes, and our horses raised a cloud of dust.
We climbed small hills and crossed more flat country; we went over dried-up creeks and at length came to a homestead -a one-storeyed building surrounded by grazing land. Joss said he thought we should stay the night here, for the pull from where we were to Fancy Town would be too long to do in one day. The next night he planned to stay at Trant’s Homestead and reach the Fancy the day after that.
He rode into the yard and dismounted, by which time a woman in a voluminous black dress over which she wore a white apron had come out.
Joss talked to her and then he came back to me.
They’ve only one room,” he said. This is not a London hotel, you know.
What about it? Shall we take it or spend the night out of doors? The woman had come forward.
“You’re welcome, my dear,” she said.
“It’s a nice room. Are you man and wife?”
“Yes, we are,” answered Joss.
Then I’ll bustle to and get the bed made up. It’s a very good bed . lovely soft feathers brought out from England. Jack here will see to the horses. Jack. Set to, lad. And Mary. Where’s Mary? “
Joss helped me to alight. I could see that he was enjoying the situation.
“Cheer up,” he whispered. The unnatural embargo is bound to put us into some awkward situations, but I’m very resourceful.
The room was pleasant-very clean-and dominated by the big double bed.
Joss regarded it ruefully. That’s a comfortable chair,” he said.
“It would serve me well or I might lie at the foot of the bed like a knight of old.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked at me earnestly. There is one thing you must never forget,” he said.
“I have never yet forced my attentions on a woman who didn’t want me, and I feel no temptation to do so now. I’m proud, you know …”
“I do know it. I believe the Peacock is a nickname of yours.”
“I believe it is, but no one dare call me by it to my face. Remember what I said. It might save you considerable uneasiness. ” I We washed the grime of the road from ourselves in tepid water and went downstairs. Steaks were cooking on a gridiron on a fire out of doors and close by was a long table with benches. We were told to sit down and were given kangaroo soup in thick earthenware mugs while the steaks sizzled over the grid. Our hostess made dampers-pieces of unleavened bread-which were ready at the same time as the steaks.
Afterwards cheese was served with Johnny cakes-dampers the size of scones-and there was a beverage which tasted like ale to accompany the food.
It was not dark when we had finished and we strolled round and watched the sheep being rounded up by kelpie dogs who answered the farmer’s whistle and got the bewildered animals into their pens, keeping them dose together by running nimbly right over their backs.
For all Joss’s protestations, I was disturbed at the thought of sharing a room with him. He said he would take the chair, which seemed to offer greater comfort than the floor, and I removed only my skirt and bodice. I slept fitfully, which perhaps was to be expected in the circumstances; and I supposed the same applied to joss.
We set off on our journey in the pure morning air and it was about eleven o’clock when we came to a river which Joss thought would be a good place to stop. The horses were in need of a rest and they could drink. He told me to gather some sticks of bracken, which I did, and with an expert touch, which I could not but admire, he quickly made a fire and brewed what he called quart pot tea. We found a tree under which we could sit comfortably. Our landlady of the previous night had supplied us with sandwiches and we had some cheese. Strangely enough, I felt I had never drunk tea or tasted sandwiches so good.
The sun grew hotter and both of us were feeling drowsy, for neither of us had had a good night’s sleep. I quickly dozed and dreamed that I was on the ship. There was a storm and I was walking on deck being buffeted from one side to the other. I was caught suddenly in a vicclike grip and there was Joss.
“Are you trying to commit suicide?” he asked and I was stung into saying: “It would be a good way out for you, wouldn’t it? Everything would be yours then. You wouldn’t have the encumberance of a wife who doesn’t want you any more than you want her. Everything would be yours … the houses, the shares, the Green Flash at Sunset…” As I mentioned the opal his expression changed and his grip on me tightened. That’s a good idea,” he said, and there were murderous lights in his eyes.
“I’d be better off without you. Suicide … well, it could look like that, couldn’t it?” I cried out: “No … No!
You’re not going to murder me. “
I awoke with a start and my heart leaped in terror, for there he was, his face close to mine, watching me intently. For a moment I thought the dream was real.
“What was that about?” he asked.
I was dreaming. “
“It seemed like a nightmare.” , “It must have been.”
“A nightmare in broad daylight! You must have something on your mind… something that frightens you.”
“I think I’m able to take care of myself so I’m not afraid"
"What was the dream ? “
“Oh, nothing. It was all confused as dreams are.”
“It’s a big undertaking to leave your native land and come out to a strange one. Are you disturbed about that?”