Farewell to Lancashire (14 page)

One of the few things on which members of every denomination were agreed was that it was better not to leave young people idle, far better to make them earn their relief money by attendance at classes than just have it handed out.

Able-bodied men were breaking stones or helping make better roads between Outham and its neighbouring towns. Men who were less capable physically were required to attend reading classes, and did so willingly, even though the Vicar’s patronising attitude was greatly resented.

‘He treats us like childer,’ some grumbled. ‘Naughty childer at that. We’re grown men, skilled in our trades, whether we can read those damned spider tracks in books or not.’

‘Ah, never mind him. It helps pass the time,’ others said. ‘I just laugh at that pompous fool.’

Cassandra agreed with the latter viewpoint. She saw older men wandering the streets like lost souls, trying to fill the empty hours, and when she came out of the free library, where she sometimes went to read the newspapers, men who couldn’t read would ask her what the news was and if the war looked like ending soon.

She went along to the sewing class at her chapel the first day feeling almost light-hearted that she would not have to face a constant barrage of criticism. And indeed, the morning passed very pleasantly for everyone. More work was got through in a happier atmosphere and the food they were given at lunch time was better too.

Pandora volunteered to help with the cooking, which got her out of sewing, an activity she still detested. But Cassandra enjoyed sewing and here, her neat stitches were praised. She didn’t have to pull her work back once.

When a real dressmaker came to give the more skilled girls lessons, they were all delighted to learn about cutting out and putting clothes together.

But nothing filled the gap left in Cassandra’s life by Reece, nothing ever could, she was sure. She missed him even more than she’d expected. The two of them had talked and talked. Just being with him had made her quietly happy. The mere sight of him had lifted her spirits.

Now she had no one to talk to in the same way, because her father grew breathless so quickly and slept a good deal of the time.

Reece would be well on his way to Australia now, because it took about three months to get there, she’d read. She hoped he wasn’t seasick, hoped he would make a success of his new life. And the Southerhams too, of course.

Hoped he wouldn’t forget her ... couldn’t help praying for that.

On board the
Eena
, Reece often thought about Cassandra too, missing her dreadfully, far more than he’d expected. He’d been wrong to come on this journey, he knew that now, but it was too late to do anything about it. With her, it’d have been an adventure. Without her, it was a bleak exile from the one he loved.

He had been so stupid!
But he’d been desperate for work, had hated accepting charity, even from his family.

Cabin passengers were kept separate from emigrants like him and he had to share the crowded quarters below deck with other men. These had poor access to fresh air and the hatch leaked when it rained. He felt very alone because he couldn’t go and visit the Southerhams, who lived and slept separately from him.

However Francis came across to chat to him when they were all on deck, sometimes bringing his wife with him. It was strange how Reece felt about his employer. As he got to know him better – because like many others they filled in the long hours by chatting – he realised Francis needed practical guidance if his dreams were to become reality. His employer seemed to have little common sense, however kind he was. After a while Reece even thought of him by his first name, though he didn’t
say
it, of course.

Perhaps it was just an effect of the voyage. Or perhaps it was one of the first signs of his new life, of the independence he was hoping for.

Francis asked one day, ‘Is something wrong? You look sad sometimes.’

Reece hesitated, then the unexpected sympathy brought it pouring out. ‘I’m missing Cassandra, shouldn’t have left her without at least getting engaged to show her I won’t forget her. How could I have been so
stupid
?’

‘My wife has spoken about your young lady. She thinks well of her.’

‘So does everyone who knows her. I used to visit her and her family every Sunday, wanted her to come with me to Australia. Only her father is dying and she has three younger sisters, all out of work like her. She can’t leave them at a time like this. She’s very devoted to her father. He has a fine mind, was learning Greek till he could no longer afford the lessons.’

Francis looked at him in surprise. ‘An operative learning Greek?’

‘Working people aren’t necessarily stupid.’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound patronising. I just wondered why he’d do that.’

‘He said it was one of the world’s great civilisations and we could learn a lot from studying its people and ways.’ Reece found it a comfort to share his thoughts. ‘I could have stayed and tried for a job in the south, I suppose. But what sort of job would I have got? They’ve no cotton mills there, so probably work as a labourer. You can’t build a decent future on the wages you get from that. I need something to offer Cassandra. She’s a wonderful woman, with a fine mind like her father’s.’

Francis laughed. ‘I’ve never before heard of a man admiring a fine mind in a young woman.’

‘I was married to a stupid woman once, and though I was fond of poor Nan, who was the kindest soul on earth, it was tedious at times living with her. With Cassandra, there’s never a dull moment. Once I’m sure I can earn a living in Australia, I’m sending for her. And her sisters too, if she won’t leave them. I’ll do whatever it takes to make a life with her.’

When Francis left him, Reece went to chat to some of the men who were in his mess. They had all been assigned to groups for their daily life. He was in charge of provisioning his own mess of eight single men. He had to draw the weekly food rations for them all, after which they ate together. And he had to cook the extra food allowances each group got as best he could under the watchful eye of the cook, who did the main meals only. Some of the men grumbled about having to do that, but Reece quite enjoyed the novelty of what was usually a woman’s job.

Those not assigned to cooking had to clean their bunks and the space around them, airing bedding regularly. There were strict rules about cleanliness on board ship.

He was lucky in his group. They were all young and friendly, and none was a trouble-maker.

To pass the rest of the time, there were reading groups set up, a class in astronomy, which taught them to recognise the different stars in the southern hemisphere, and lessons on agriculture in Western Australia, offered by a farmer returning after a visit to his relatives in England.

The latter was one of the rare classes which both emigrants and cabin passengers were allowed to attend, because the farmer, James Havercock, wasn’t in the least snobbish about a man’s background. Francis was the only cabin passenger who continued to attend, however. The others dropped out when they found that James wanted them to work with his animals to learn the practicalities. Some of the poor beasts were penned below and were very unhappy about that, while the smaller ones were in crates on deck.

What sort of farmer didn’t want to get his hands dirty? Reece wondered. Did these gentlemen think the work did itself? Didn’t they realise that skilled labour was in short supply in the colony? He’d learned that now, knew his own worth and realised that Francis was lucky to have him for two years.

Like him, several of the emigrants from steerage went to every talk on farming. And some of the ways they learned to do things were different from in England. But when Reece asked the farmer about cheese making, the man laughed, said he didn’t bother with that, hadn’t the time or the skill. Folk didn’t eat a lot of cheese when there was meat to be had so easily.

That made Reece thoughtful. He’d helped his cousin make cheese and it wasn’t all that difficult. Maybe that was something he could do later to make money.

As people got to know one another better, he found out that most of the passengers had relatives or acquaintances who had sponsored them, because you had to have permission to settle in the colony of Western Australia. They thought he’d be allowed to sponsor Cassandra if she was coming out to marry him.

Some men were relatives of expirees who had been transported for various crimes, had served their time and either gained a ticket of leave or a conditional pardon. As long as they didn’t re-offend, they could work for wages or set themselves up in business, according to their backgrounds. And if they could afford the fares, could send for their families.

To add to the complications of life in Australia, it seemed respectable people didn’t associate with ticket of leave men and their families socially, but then the gentry wouldn’t associate with Reece socially, either. As one young Irishman said, as long as he, his mother and two sisters were able to be with his father again, they wouldn’t care about what anyone else thought of them.

One moonlit night, Reece talked about Cassandra to this man, because Patrick knew what it was like to be separated from someone you loved, even though a father wasn’t the same as the woman you wanted to marry.

‘You should definitely send for her,’ his new friend advised. ‘Don’t wait. Do it as soon as you can afford to pay her fare. If she loves you as you love her, she’ll not mind facing hardships at your side.’

As the voyage progressed, the cool weather of the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay gave way to the heat of the Tropics and then to cooler weather again. As they drew closer to their destination, Reece waited impatiently to arrive and get on with things.

In June the sisters could all tell that their father was failing fast and wept together about this, but not where he could overhear them.

One evening Edwin lay back on his bed and gestured to Cassandra to take away the bowl, from which he’d had only a few spoonfuls.

She blinked away the tears she couldn’t hold back as she put it down, hoping he’d not noticed. But he had, of course.

‘Don’t cry, lass.’

‘How can I help it, Dad? I don’t want you to leave us.’

‘We all die, love. No one can avoid that.’

She didn’t trust her voice and tried in vain to hold back the sobs.

‘How many times have I told you not to worrit about things you can’t alter?’ he chided in a fond tone.

That made her smile fleetingly. ‘More times than I can remember.’

‘It’s my time to die – I feel that. And if it wasn’t for leaving you girls – well, I’d be glad to go. This is no sort of life for anyone, lying in bed day after day, useless to myself and to you. I’ve missed your mother, shall be glad to see her again. I’ve done my best, my very best, to live a good life – and to look after those I love, so I doubt I’ll be going to hell.’

He stared into the distance as if he saw things Cassie didn’t. He’d been doing this often during the last few days and he looked so peaceful she sat quietly, not wanting to disturb his dreams. Gradually the tears dried on her cheeks and when he reached out for her, she placed her hand in his.

‘I’ve spoken to my brother and Joseph has promised he’ll not let you girls want, my dear one.’

‘That’s kind of him.’ She looked down at their clasped hands, both thin, the long, elegant bones showing clearly.

‘Cassandra ...’

‘Yes, Dad.’

‘Remember how happy you were when they started fighting to free the slaves in America? How hopeful for those poor souls?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, this war’s achieved that, so it’s not all been bad. Now you must wait just a little longer for the fighting to end. You’ve been so brave ... haven’t complained. I’m proud of you ... proud of the others in Lancashire, too.’

Another silence, then, ‘And I want to thank you for all you’ve done to help me since your mother died. You looked after your sisters better than anyone could have expected, young as you were – though at the expense of your own happiness, I fear.’

‘I love them. I don’t regret the choices I made.’

‘I’m glad to see such love between my children. But now – go and find your own happiness if you get the chance. You’ve earned it. Reece is a good man. I trust him to be a fitting helpmeet for you.’

‘If he sends for me, I’ll go.’ She didn’t dare let herself hope for too much, though she doubted her feelings for Reece would ever change. Life had a way of turning your plans upside down.

Joseph continued to worry about his wife and to be wary of her. She’d begun muttering to herself when she thought she was on her own, often stared at him blankly when he spoke to her, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. Then she’d jerk to attention and ask him to repeat what he’d said.

When others were around, Isabel was much more careful, though, speaking softly and flattering the women she called her friends. She still visited them regularly and picked up all the gossip. She must have eavesdropped on what was said in the shop as well, because she seemed aware of everything that was going on in the town.

‘It won’t be long before your stupid brother dies,’ she said one evening, beaming at him as if this was good news.

Joseph clamped his lips together and ignored the remark, determined not to let her provoke him. He turned the page of his newspaper, though he hadn’t taken in a word.