Midsummer's Eve

"That is not necessary. But don't you see, Joe, you tried to ruin him just as surely as he tried to ruin your father. But he wouldn't have it. He's fighting his way back.”

"I can't bear to hear you talk of him as though he is some sort of glorious warrior.

Attila the Hun possibly.”

I smiled. "Try to rid yourself of your bitterness. Frances has.”

"Frances has taken advantage of the situation.”

"Frances knows what she wants and she is not going to let anything stand in her way.”

"Frances is doing good to the community. Your uncle is doing good to himself.”

"The method is the same.”

"We shall never agree on that.”

"But, Joe, do get up and fight. You will never be content if you don't try to get into Parliament. All your life you will bear a grudge against fate which robbed you of your chance, and when you are very old and have become mellow you will ask the question: Was it fate which robbed me of my chance, or was it myself?”

"You make it sound easy.”

"It certainly isn't that. I know how you feel. But you ought to try. You ought to face up to it. Forgive me, Joe. I'm preaching. It's the last thing I want to do.

I know you hate me to mention it but I can't help thinking of Uncle Peter and the way he is overcoming all that scandal. I think there was just as much about him as about your father in the papers. He planned your father's fall and carried it out.

You planned his. You were both equally successful. You've had an eye for an eye.

Your father gave up. Uncle Peter didn't. So ... fight on, Joe.”

He looked at me steadily. "I don't think I could do it.”

"Be bold and see. Oh dear, I'm upsetting you. It was to have been a pleasant trip up the river.”

He said: "It has been good to see you again, to talk to you frankly.”

"I'm afraid I've said too much. It is not for me to advise you. You have to make up your own mind. I am the last person who should try to tell you what to do.”

"You are very unhappy, Annora.”

I did not answer.

"The shock must have been terrible and then that dreadful woman from Australia.”

"That's over, Joe. I'm trying not to think of it. But there is so much to remind me of them.”

"It makes my affairs seem almost trivial. They do to you, don't they?”

"You have your family, Joe.”

"I know. I'm going to think about what you've said. Don't let's lose touch again.”

I nodded. Then I said: "Frances was right. This is a very pleasant spot.”

Helena's baby was due in a few weeks.

Aunt Amaryllis came down to the Mission and her purpose was to persuade me to come back to be with Helena until her baby was born.

She said: "You were with her at Jonnie's birth and she says what a comfort you were to her. Moreover, Jonnie does miss you. Do come back and be with her, Annora.”

So I went.

How different this was from Jonnie's birth. Helena had come a long way since then.

This was her husband's child and an astonishing relationship had grown up between them. Helena was proud of Matthew. He had scored a hit with his maiden speech; it was clear that he was going to do well in politics. He was going to be one of those who would be responsible for the abolition of transportation in due course. He was working for it with such enthusiasm and it was inconceivable that he could fail.

Uncle Peter was satisfied with his son-in-law and nothing was going to be spared in sending him forward. I wondered how long it would be before Uncle Peter himself was back in Parliament.

Helena hovered between bliss and apprehension. She was longing for the baby. With great pride she showed me its layette and I wondered whether, like myself, she was comparing this with Jonnie's birth.

Jonnie himself was now at a delightful age. I drew for him with coloured crayons and he showed me what he could do. He was interested in the new arrival and confided to me that he wanted a brother.

Every morning he would come to my room and ask: "Has he come vet? He's very lazy.

He ought to be here by now.”

There was great rejoicing when the baby was born, and Jonnie's wishes were granted.

It was a boy.

Helena was very proud to see the notices in the paper. "Son for Matthew Hume.”

Uncle Peter was delighted. "There is nothing people like better than babies," he said.

The baby flourished. The christening was to be a grand affair and was to be celebrated in Uncle Peter's house-the baby's home was not large enough to accommodate all the guests. Uncle Peter had seen that several important people were invited-many of them politicians.

It was during this celebration that I learned something which made me feel I had touched the very nadir of despair.

It came out quite naturally. The drawing room was crowded. I stood there with a glass of champagne in my hands when a middle-aged man came up and spoke to me.

I had not heard his name, nor had he heard mine.

He just said: "What a crowd. Well, Matthew's baby would attract attention, wouldn't he? Amazing what Matthew has done ... such a short time he's been in the House.”

"You are a Member of Parliament, are you?”