Part 68 (1/2)
So they went, and were strictly to be home at dinner time; whereas not one of them came home for a week.
When they came to the door at Garoopna, there was Alice, most bewitchingly beautiful. Papa was away on the run, and Dr. Mulhaus with him; so the three came in. Alice was very glad to see Halbert--was glad also to see Sam; but not so glad, or, at all events, did not say so much about it.
”Alice, have you seen the newspaper?” said Jim.
”No; why?”
”There is a great steamer gone down at sea, and three hundred persons drowned!”
”What a horrible thing! I should never have courage to cross the sea.”
”You would soon get accustomed to it, I think,” said Halbert.
”I have never even seen it as yet,” she said, ”save at a distance.”
”Strange, neither have I,” said Sam. ”I have dim recollections of our voyage here, but I never stood upon the sh.o.r.e in my life.”
”I have beat you there,” said Jim. ”I have been down to Cape Chatham, and seen the great ocean itself: a very different thing from Sydney Harbour, I promise you. You see the great cape running out a mile into the sea, and the southern rollers tumbling in over the reefs like cascades.”
”Let us go and see it!--how far is it?” said Alice.
”About thirty miles. The Barkers' station is about half a mile from the Cape, and we could sleep there, you know.”
”It strikes me as being a most brilliant idea,” said Sam.
And so the arrangement was agreed to, and the afternoon went on pleasantly. Alice walked up and down with Sam among the flowers, while Jim and Halbert lay beneath a mulberry tree and smoked.
They talked on a subject which had engaged their attention a good deal lately: Jim's whim for going soldiering had grown and struck root, and become a determination. He would go back to India when Halbert did, supposing that his father could be tempted to buy him a commission.
Surely he might manage to join some regiment in India, he thought.
India was the only place worth living in just now.
”I hope, Halbert,” he said, ”that the Governor will consent. I wouldn't care when I went; the sooner the better. I am tired of being a cattle-dealer on a large scale; I want to get at some MAN'S work. If one thing were settled I would go to-morrow.”
”And what is that?” said Halbert.
Jim said nothing, but looked at the couple among the flower-beds.
”Is that all?” said Halbert. ”What will you bet me that that affair is not concluded to-night?”
”I'll bet you five pounds to one it ain't,” said Jim; ”nor any time this twelvemonth. They'll go on s.h.i.+llyshallying half their lives, I believe.”
”Nevertheless I'll bet with you. Five to one it comes off to-night!
Now! There goes your sister into the house; just go in after her.”
Jim sauntered off, and Sam came and laid his great length down by the side of Halbert.
They talked on indifferent matters for a few minutes, till the latter said,--
”You are a lucky fellow, Sam.”