Midsummer's Eve

I was most interested in Maud who, in spite of the fact that she was a woman, could keep them in order. I think they applied a special judgement to Maud. She cooked in the great kitchen where, regardless of the heat, there always seemed to be a fire going with pots on it, simmering away.

She was the widow of one of the men-a man for whom they had had the greatest respect-who had come out originally to have his own farm, and this he had done; but it had been destroyed by a forest fire and he had been left with nothing, and a wife and small daughter to keep. He had found work at Cadorsons and had proved, as Gregory said, a good right-hand man. Unfortunately he had suffered from a chest complaint which was the reason why he had come to Australia in the first place. But the climate could not save him and he had died. Maud was left with ten-year-old Rosa. That was five years ago. I thought she was a fine woman. She hated the coarseness of the men and often chided them for their habits. She guarded Rosa like a dragon and I soon began to understand why; Rosa was young and pretty and there was a scarcity of women on the property; men regarded Rosa with lustful longing.

Maud had taught Rosa to read fluently and write well. She wanted the best for Rosa.

My mother was very sympathetic and when we were all together she talked about the possibility of sending Rosa to school. My father said we should wait awhile before suggesting anything impulsively. What we needed first of all was a good midwife for Helena. That should be our primary consideration.

"There is another matter," he said. "I think Greg is after buying the property. He's the sort of man who wants to be in complete control.”

"He is that already it seems to me," said my mother.

"He wants to be known as the master. It's understandable.”

"What do you think? Will you sell?”

"I don't know. It's one of the things I want to decide while we are here.”

"Jacco is very interested in it.”

"My dear, Jacco's future is with Cador. Can you see him staying out here forever?

Bringing up our grandchildren in this wilderness?”

"Heaven forbid that he should stay out here," cried my mother.

"Of course he wouldn't want that. He'll be longing to get home after a while. It's the novelty with him. He's seen little of the world. I think I shall probably sell to Greg, although I've always liked the idea of having a foot in the country. To see how it has come along since I was last here ... well, it is just a miracle.

I think there's a future here. People work. They have to. There aren't the distractions we get at home. Perhaps that is why they have made such rapid progress.

"We've got plenty of time to decide.”

"Yes, Helena's affair will keep us here for a bit.”

"I'll ask Maud about a midwife," said my mother. "I'd like her to be here well before the baby's due. I wonder if there is a doctor.”

"I shouldn't think so ... not nearer than Sydney.”

"That's rather alarming.”

"We'll be prepared by the time the baby is due.”

"It's something of a responsibility. Poor girl, she seems so listless. What she would have done without Annora, I can't imagine.”

"I think she's looking forward to having the baby now," I said, "and when it comes that will make all the difference.”

"I'm sure you're right," agreed my mother.

The days slipped by quickly. I scarcely saw anything of Jacco. He was out all day.

Matthew was planning to go on a trip farther north. He had spent his days talking to the men and making notes. Several of them were convict labour and he wanted their stories. I often wondered whether the tales the men told him were true because I had seen them with an amused look on their faces when he made notes in his book.

They were the sort who would think it a great joke to, as they would say, "Lead him up the garden path.”

He was a man obsessed with one idea. I imagined he did not concern himself very much with Helena nowadays. At first it had pleased him to have done his knightly deed.

Now his thoughts were of a greater achievement.

He talked continually during meals when we were all gathered round the table.

"Imagine living on those ships going out!" he cried, hitting the table with his fist.

He could be really vehement on this subject which was strange because on all other matters he was such a mild man. "Murderers, footpads put together with those who had stolen a handkerchief or a loaf of bread. Do you know they were kept below for a week after sailing out ... shut down below, of course. They had to remove the hatches from time to time or they would have been suffocated. The women made the most of their sex ... selling themselves to the marines for a tot of gin. We've got to stop this. I'm going to do it. My book is going to be a revelation.”

I said: "I wonder what happened to Digory and if he survived.”

Then we talked of Digory and the terrible thing that had happened to his grandmother and how he had been left alone.