Midsummer's Eve

She began by asking how I was feeling and I said that I seemed a little better. She was wondering about my plans.

"You wouldn't want to stay here, I know," she said. "You wouldn't want to make a home here.”

"No, indeed not.”

"I was, er ... wondering about you ... and Greg.”

I felt again those waves of indignation which drew me out of my lethargy.

"What could you be wondering about Mr. Donnelly and myself?" I asked.

"Well, it was just that he gave me the impression that something was fixed up between you." She looked round the room rather furtively as though expecting eavesdroppers. "If you don't mind my saying so, I don't think it would work out very satisfactorily.”

I was on the point of saying that she should have no qualms about that for I had no intention of marrying Gregory Donnelly; but I was interested in her plans for Rosa and I thought she might be more communicative if she thought I was considering him as my husband. I wanted to hear about him; it was so long since I had been interested in anything at all-so I remained silent.

"It isn't the life for a lady who has been brought up as you have. Of course, he has a way with him.”

Has he? I thought. He has a way of antagonizing me.

"He's a man who would always dominate a woman and I don't think you are the sort to stand for that.”

"Yes," I said, "you wanted him for Rosa.”

She flushed. "Who told you that?”

"Rosa. She seemed to think it was more or less settled.”

She was clearly embarrassed.

I said: "Don't worry. It came out quite naturally. She seems to think he is wonderful.

I am sure he would like that.”

"He is very fond of Rosa," she said almost defiantly.

"I am sure he is. She is a charming girl.”

"It was a sort of understood thing ...”

"You mean an arranged betrothal?”

"We hadn't said much about it. It was understood. Rosa is a cut above the rest of the women here. You've seen her; you've seen them. I've given her a bit of education and she is very pretty. He wants a wife who's not just anybody ...”

"Well," I said, "if Rosa admires him and he likes to bask in her admiration, I think it would work out very well.”

"So did I ... but now ...”

"You mean when I came along?”

She was silent.

"I had more to offer, of course. I was my father's daughter ..." My voice broke a little, but I went on: "I now own property in England. You see I am a very good catch for an ambitious man." She cast down her eyes and I went on: "Don't worry.

He's Rosa's if she wants him. I have no intention of marrying him.”

She looked up swiftly.

"He's determined," she said. "He's a man who gets his way.”

"I daresay he has succeeded very well in that. But when he meets someone who is equally determined to have her own way there is nothing he can do.”

She shook her head disbelievingly.

"It is so, Maud," I said. "What I don't understand is why you should want him for Rosa. She is a gentle, innocent girl. Could you let her go to a man like that?”

"He'd be good to her ... if she were a good wife to him. And she would be. I'd see to that.”

"You should know this man to whom you propose to marry your daughter. He has asked me to marry him. This was some time ago before ..."I paused and could not go on for a few moments. Then: "He asked me and I refused. That night he spent with the midwife.”

"He is a man," she said.

"You have a very poor opinion of his sex.”

"If he had a wife he would be different.”

"I doubt it. He is promiscuous naturally. That sort doesn't change.”

"My Rosa is a lovely girl. I want the best for her. I don't want her to have just one of the cowboys, the sheepshearers, the hired hands. Greg is a big man out here.

In a few years he'll be right at the top. That's what I want for Rosa.”

"You are being very frank with me, Maud," I said. "I will be with you. Soon I shall be going home. I doubt I shall ever come here again. I have no intention of marrying Gregory Donnelly. In fact the idea is quite repulsive to me. Please set your mind at rest. If you are prepared to take such a man as your son-in-law, you are welcome as far as I am concerned. I understand that life might be hard for Rosa and that you want to make it as comfortable for her as you can, but I cannot imagine a woman having a comfortable life with that man.”

"I know men," she said. "And I know Greg. He's ambitious. Perhaps that's first with him-but it is what I want. I want Rosa to have her own home and a carriage to ride in. I want her to be the lady of the property. I've suffered hardship with her father and I don't want any of that for Rosa.”

"I understand, Maud. So put your mind at rest. Soon I shall be gone. Don't have any fear that I might spoil Rosa's chances.”

"You are so vehement about him.”

"I feel vehement. I don't happen to admire men who are so besotted by property that they would do anything to get it. I don't accept this promiscuity as you do.”

"You haven't lived in a place like this where women are scarce.

are men all the world over ..." I shall keep to my view. I am going to start making plans now.”

"He won't accept it.”