The Mutual Look

by Dingwell, Joyce

  'Robert! Roberta!' The sunmons came from a deck above, the deck of the more exclusive section of the ship. It was a man's authoritative voice. Jane had no time to see the caller, but she did see the reaction of the children. They might be individuals or incorrigibles, but, as far as that voice was concerned, they were disciplined.

  `Blimey,' they said together, and turned and obeyed their summons without another word.

  The episode had cheered Jane. Giggling over the Abominable Snowman, she went down to look at her girl and

  boys again, much more suitably clad this time, she thought, wondering if she would encounter that man again. She supposed she would have to thank him. That would be hard. It could never be easy apologizing to someone who had seen you being most unglamorously ill. However, there was no one about, the stable occupants looked fit and settled, so Jane came out again. As she crossed to her deck to relax in the sun, she saw the twins on the deck above her. They caught sight of her and waved enthusiastically, and Jane waved back. If she encountered them again, she thought, she must ask why they said Father William of their parent, that parent who had the care of them while their mother did some course in Paris, and who was not very happy over it, or so they had said. Jane found a chair, turned over the pages of a magazine ... Slept.

  She saw the twins fairly frequently in the shipboard days that followed. Whenever they could escape to Tourist, they did so, and after a charity concert in the First Saloon open to all who cared to donate, Jane did not blame the small people. Luxury to children could never take the place of companionship, contemporary companionship, and the only people she saw in First were distinctly mature. Across the room she glimpsed the man who had trespassed into the stable berth during her primary check there. She was not surprised to find him here, not someone with an autocratic look like he wore. If he noticed her, he made no sign. Jane gave her attention to the music ... yet not entirely as before. Oddly uncomfortable, she was glad when it was time to return to the stern.

  Whenever they could the twins would sneak down and look longingly at the pool.

  `You have a pool of your own,' Jane reminded them. 'A much better pool.'

  `Inside, in case the poor old dears get sunburned,' sneered Roberta.

  `Anyway, no one goes in, except Father William, so

  where's the fun?' Robert looked jealously at a boy ducking a girl.

  `Why do you call him that? Father William?' Jane asked curiously.

  `William's his name, and once he said he'd kick Robert downstairs.' It was Roberta, and she reported it in a suitably scandalized voice, but Jane gave a tolerant smile and asked : 'What had Robert done?'

  `Nothing at all. Only put a bucket of water where Father William would tread into it, but he didn't,' said Robert.

  `Then no wonder he was angry. I would have been, too. Why do you do such things?'

  `Childish exuberance,' they both proffered together, and when Jane refused to accept that, they defended, 'Our mother says so, anyway.'

  `It's plain naughtiness,' Jane scolded. To change the subject she said : 'Lewis Carroll wrote Father W illiam. Did you know he wrote Alice in W onderland as well?'

  `Oh, I like Alice. Remember the part where she finds the little cake with EAT ME in currants?' It was Roberta.

  `Yes, and that part ' took up Robert.

  Jane knew, and participated. When they had to leave they said wistfully, 'You're fun, Jane.'

  She did not see the twins for several days, in fact they had left Malaysia behind and when sailing down the west coast of Australia to Fremantle before the pair descended on her again.

  `We've been in bad trouble,' they sighed.

  `What did you do?'

  `You saw it.'

  `Not the photo?'

  `Yes. Father William had to take it when he went ashore at Djakarta. We were to go with him in the afternoon for a tour.' A sigh. 'We never went:

  Jane tried hard to keep a straight face. She could imagine the effect of the Abominable Snowman looking up through his dripping whiskers to the officer at Passport Control.

  `You awful children !' she said ... then broke down.

  The Australian Bight, several days later, lived up to its reputation and proved quite rough. Jane spent most of her time with Gretel, San Marco and Ruthven. They plainly did not care for the motion, but they weathered it fairly well. Jane did not care for it, either, not down there, but she weathered it, too.

  Then Adelaide was taking them into its calmer waters, and after Adelaide, Port Phillip Bay, fortunately in a benevolent mood, and soon they were steaming up the New South Wales coast. They came into Sydney on a bright blue and gold day, journey's end for Jane's girl and boys, but not yet for Jane herself.

  She looked to the upper First-Class deck in the hope of seeing the twins, saying goodbye to them, for she had become very fond of the naughty little pair. They were not in sight, but the autocrat was. He returned Jane's look with an equal look, and that, shrugged Jane, was putting it in precisely the right words.

  She did not encounter the children again, even if she had she would not have found the time to talk with them. Until she left Kingsford Smith Terminal for the U.K. once more, she had not a minute to spare. She settled the horses in quarantine, stopped with them as long as she was permitted, then spent the rest of her hours to her departure wondering whether she should ring up Rusty's nephew ... she had looked at a map and seen that the place was too far away for a casual visit ... then gave the thought away and took in a few city highlights instead. In no rime she was aboard a Jumbo and speeding home. Home, she mused. I must get out of saying that. I don't know how long it will take once all the boys and girls get to Bowers for them to settle, but I should think it would be a fair part of a year.

  This time it was hard to part from Rusty, they both made light of it, but there were sudden breaks in the laughter, and Rusty's hand holding hers was tight.

  `Keep me posted, Jane.'

  'Everything, Rusty ... including Dotsy's colt or filly if we mate her out there, for I feel she should begin, don't you?'

  Rusty mumbled something indecipherable, and Jane put the mumble down to distress. He was distressed, the poor old dear. 'They tell me there's no grass like Kentucky blue,' she cheered him as they left.

  Again she went over the previous programme ... checked the three D's, Dotsy, Devil May Care and Dandy at Singapore ... saw to their embarkation this time to the Ariathw.

  The second sea trip began. Right from the start it was much more pleasant, the company was more her own age and outlook, and, though she still missed the twins, there was John.

  She liked John Rivers at once. In the way people pair up in ships, she found herself pairing instinctively with the young man. They took shore excursions together, John altered his table in the dining saloon to be with her.

  After a strenuous deck tennis bout one day, John said : 'I know all about you now, but nothing about you yesterday, and what's more important, nothing about you tomorrow.'

  'That's easy,' she laughed. was a strapper ... the same as I am now, and incidentally, John, Devil May Care is looking quite devilish again.' The horse had been slightly off colour.

  'And tomorrow?' John smiled; he had a pleasant boyish smile.

  'Strapper, or stablehand, once more. Place called Plateau in New South Wales. Would you ' She had started to ask 'Would you know it?' but saw at once that he did. He was beaming at her, crinkling his nice bramble-brown eyes in pleasure.

  'Of course I know it. In fact I'm only some_ twenty miles away in the valley. We'll be neighbours, Jane.'

  Jane crinkled her own eyes back. She felt as pleased as he obviously did. 'It's going to make it much easier,' she appreciated, 'knowing you're there.'

  `For me, it's going to make it ' But John reddened

  and did not finish.

  A little embarrassed, Jane said, 'Tell me about this place.'

  `You mean you don't know anything about where you're going?'

  `I don't.'


  `Then,' he smiled, 'I'll tell you. You're going to perhaps the loveliest corner in the world.'

  `That's local pride.'

  `I expect so, but it's still a glorious spot. It's in the south ... can get quite cool in winter ... beautiful timber as well as good pickings for hops.'

  `Which are you, John, trees or hops?'

  `Some of both, and doing nicely, thank you, though never, of course, as well as the Baron of Bowers.'

  `Why do you call him that?'

  `He looks a proud devil, though I'm assured he's quite a decent guy. Severe, perhaps, but then you have to be when your commodity is livestock—I mean, Jane, I love trees, but they're still not flesh and blood.'

  `And hops, do you love hops?'

  They both laughed at that, then John went on to tell her more about the place.

  `The district is called Urara, which is aboriginal for Far Away. I suppose it was far away once, but these days of air travel—'

  `There's facility for landing, then?'

  `At Plateau, private only. That's where Bowers is situated. I'm down the valley, so I take the official coastal route if I fly. But I won't be flying this time, I'll be trucking it, and I hope you'll come with me.'

  `By truck?'

  `Yes, Jane. Too lowly?'

  `It's just wonderful,' Jane enthused. 'In that way I'll see the country.'

  `Then that's fine,' John smiled.

  The days sped fast, the weather was kind, the horses never looked back, and in no time the red roofs of Sydney were looming up again.

  `You'll have to give me a day to settle Dotsy, Devil May Care and Dandy,' Jane stipulated to John Rivers.

  I'll wait a year if you say so,' John said deliberately.

  She did not answer that, but she was not unpleased.

  But Jane spent no day settling her trio. The moment the Ariadne berthed, a figure she would have recalled, had she been on deck to watch, joined the ship, joined it in that confident manner confident men always do. But Jane was not there.

  She was putting last things into her case when the message came over the loudspeaker.

  `Wanted at once at the Purser's Office : Miss Sidney. Wanted at once by Mr. Bower : Miss Sidney.'

  Jane was halfway there before that 'at once' struck her, and then she fumed. She had barely arrived, she was not in anyone's employment yet, how dared he ...

  She came to the office, then stopped short. It could be only coincidence, but there appeared to be no one else here, apart from the uniformed purser, than-

  `Miss Sidney, I presume.'

  He wore country corduroys this time, a rather wide brimmed hat, but there was no mistaking the identity of that man who had tossed her an overall in the Southern Princess, who had impelled her outside to be sick.

  `Mr. Bower?' Jane asked faintly.

  He said : 'Yes.'

  `Are you packed?' William Bower inquired briskly. Jane nodded.

  `Good, then. I'm hoping I can get you a quick passage through Customs.' But his tone did not evince mere hope, it evinced haughty confidence. 'Then we can make a prompt start.'

  `Start to where?'

  `To Bowers, of course.'

  `Urara.'

  `I see you know the name.

  `John told me.' Jane added, 'John Rivers.' As there was no comment, she added again : 'He knows you.'

  `A lot of people in the game do.'

  `He's not in the game, if you mean the stud game. He grows hops and raises timber in Urara.'

  `Interesting.' He said it in an uninterested voice. 'He'd be in the valley, then Bowers is on the plateau, which very originally' ... he did not accompany it with a smile ... 'is called Plateau.'

  `And the stud is called after you, of course.'

  `A mere coincidence. I really named it after the bower-birds that are there.'

  `Still there? Hasn't the activity of stables moved them on?'

  `Bower-birds don't move on, they simply make a bower and then commute there from their nest. Sometimes it goes on for their lifetime. You said you were ready?'

  `No. That is ... I mean there's John.'

  `Yes, you mentioned him.' William Bower waited. `I'd said I would travel down with him.'

  Urara?'

  `Yes.'

  `Why the devil would you say that?' He glared at her. `Why shouldn't I?' She glared back.

  `Because during my employment of you—'

  `You're forgetting that I'm in a slightly different category from the usual employee.'

  `Ah, I'd expected this.' William Bower pushed the wider-brimmed hat than usual, a hat he had not taken off yet, to the back of his head. 'My uncle couldn't have made a more idiotic arrangement if he'd tried.'

  `I have no doubt that he did try,' she said coldly. `On your persuasion?'

  `If you're referring to that one-fifth —'

  'What else?'

  had nothing to do with it.'

  'But plenty to do with it now,' he suggested.

  `No. I mean ' She stopped. How could she say to this

  unapproachable man that the final and telling point of Rusty's 'idiotic arrangement', as William Bower expressed it, had been the loving fact of Rusty himself?

  think you might be under some misapprehension, Miss Sidney.' The man was packing a pipe and lighting it. 'You have that one-fifth all right, for what it's worth, but it's more bonus than status. I really mean to say that it comes because of your employment under a new boss, not with it. In short, employment and not a directive capacity.'

  'Bonus.' Jane repeated his word.

  'That's what I said.'

  `But' ... a pause from Jane now ... `still—a telling bonus?'

  'You have one-fifth of the stock that have come from U.K. Note that, please, the U.K. fellows only. Taking in their consignment costs, their quarantine costs, a million and one other costs, at present that one-fifth means nothing at all—indeed, you're well in debt. But my uncle must have considered all this, for he added the stipulation of your employment. Under me. You are employed right now, and the steep way charges soar in this country you should be glad of this. So' ... a shrug ... 'start earning your money.'

  Jane had flushed vividly. didn't intend not to. I meant to settle the new lot, check up on the old, then

  'And then jaunt down with Rivers? No need for any of that. I've seen to the first three fellows, made arrangements for the next three, so we can get away at once.' He added, 'By air.'

  'John is going by road.'

  'Unless he flies to Ribberton on the coast, the only other way, there's no rail there.'

  She was disappointed, she had looked forward to seeing the country down to Urara. She knew John would be dis-

  appointed, too.

  `Have you booked for me?' she asked hopefully, hopeful that he might not have done so, might try now and be unsuccessful.

  `I fly my own craft,' he said shortly.

  `Then' ... inadequately ... 'at least I must tell John.'

  `Oh yes, certainly tell him.' Before she could move, he moved to the desk, and the next moment Jane heard: `Wanted at the Purser's Office, Mr. Rivers.'

  What an autocrat this man was! Yet ... seeing John already down the passage ... what a successful one !

  But when the valley man joined them, Bowers treated him amiably. They talked together for a while on Urara. William Bowers asked him if he would like an air lift down.

  `There's room,' he assured him, 'it's a specially constructed craft in case I ever have to fly up a patient, and I don't think' ... a grin ... 'you're bulkier than a horse.'

  That's kind of you, but I have my own transport.' For a moment John looked wistfully at Jane. 'I brought the lorry up to Sydney, then left it here because I knew I would need it on my return. I made quite a few machinery purchases in Singapore.'

  `Then we'll leave you. Please call in to Bowers should you feel like it. I know we have rather different interests' ... the slightest of pauses and the slightest of glances at Jane ... 'but you may find it a d
iversion.'

  `Thank you, I will come. Goodbye, Jane.'

  `Goodbye, John.' Jane did not put out her hand, she just smiled ... though she felt more like pulling a wry face.

  As William Bowers had said, customs was soon dealt with, so evidently the 'Baron' had influence. They emerged from the wharf and Bowers hailed a taxi. 'Stock quarantine,' he directed the driver.

  Jane looked at him in surprise. 'I thought we were leaving for Bowers immediately.'

  `Immediately after you check your bunch.'

  `I thought you checked them.'

  `Only my four-fifths of them.' He said it coolly, but the fact that he was giving her the opportunity to see Gretel, San Marco and Ruthven before she went south impelled Jane to thank him.

  For a moment he looked at her without the lift of one sardonic eyebrow, a habit, she had noticed, of his whenever he had something pertinent to say, which seemed most often. 'Like them, don't you?'

  `Oh yes.'

  `Is that—good?'

  `How do you mean, Mr. Bower?'

  mean' ... he said deliberately as he repacked his pipe `Rodden Gair.'

  `Oh ' Jane exdaimed. 'He's still with you?' she

  asked presently.

  `No.'

  `Then can—can we not talk about it?'

  `It would bore me if you did,' he replied, and made no further exchange. After a while he indicated : 'Here is Sydney quarantine, sea view and all. I think you'll find your boys and girls are quite happy in their temporary quarters. Why are you looking at me like that?'

  `Boys and girls. Rusty and I always said that.'

  He did not reply, but she saw that he reddened.

  `How long will Gretel, San Marco and Ruthven be?' she inquired.

  `They've nearly finished their term. This next lot

  `Why, they're here already!' Jane explaimed in surprise and delight. Now she would be able to say 'Goodbye, it won't be long' to Dandy. 'You certainly get things done, Mr. Bower.'

  need to, when they get done to me.' He opened the door for her and she stepped out. She felt like answering him in his own coin, but at least he had availed her Dandy. She went across to where a float was discharging a load of three, touched two satin heads in turn ... and nuzzled a grey one. Dandy's.