Ricky

by Sheila Hunter

  "No, sir, nothing like that."

  CHAPTER 9 Ricky’s Three Houses

  On Thursday morning Ricky was anxiously waiting for 10 o'clock to come. He arrived at the office just as the office clock struck ten. He was motioned to a seat and John Landon lay back in his chair and said, "I am consumed with curiosity, Ricky. How can I help you?"

  "Well, sir," he said, " I suppose I should say straight out that I am making a great deal of money."

  The man laughed. "And here was I wondering what the problem was. Don't you know what to do with it, Ricky? Do you want me to help you spend it?"

  Ricky joined in the laughter and said, "Well not quite, sir, but I do need your advice. Or rather I think I want your approval. I hope I am not intruding on your time over this."

  "Go ahead. I am most interested, as you know. I rather feel as though you are a sort of foster son. " Landon looked at the young man, "Do you know, Ricky, I am very proud of knowing you."

  Ricky flushed. "You are, sir? I don't know why."

  "Yes, I am and I do. I've admired your way of doing things. Not always right, of course, but you have learned by your mistakes. You have always been able to accept advice, and I take it that you are reaping the benefit of this."

  Ricky smiled. "Well, the benefits are rolling in, Mr Landon. It seems as though I am a successful storekeeper."

  "How can I help, you? I think you know more about storekeeping, as you call it, than me."

  "Well, it isn't really about the store that I want your opinion, but it all fits in. You know how I have always wanted to help the young street boys. Those who are like we were."

  "Yes. I knew you had some scheme in mind. Have you reached a decision about it?"

  "I want to begin training some boys so that they become useful citizens and I have some thoughts in mind."

  "You must bear in mind that they are not all Tads and Wills, you know Ricky."

  "I know. But I want to be able to give a chance to those who would benefit by it. I thought that I would set a scheme going whereby they will be able to use the skills they learn. I will be needing a continual stream of boys to work in the shops, the office and the other places that will appear as we grow. My biggest problem to begin with is to house them. I might say, at this juncture, that we have thoroughly outgrown our residence here, Mr Landon, and we must move out. I want the space for offices in any case."

  "What are your long term plans, Ricky?"

  "You mean for the store?"

  "Yes, I am sure you know where you want to go."

  "Yes, I know where I want to go, and I hope to get there one day. Do you know that land at Durham Street, where the old inn was?"

  "Yes, a good piece. I would say about the best part of an acre. Do you want to buy that, Ricky? A bit ambitious isn't it?"

  "I have bought it, Mr Landon, and paid for it too."

  "You amaze me. Business must be doing well, Ricky." the man said.

  "But that's not all. I have another scheme, too. I do want to build a store on the Durham land, but not for a while yet. It is a good site, isn't it? Right near the heart of the town and fairly flat."

  "I hope you haven't gone too deep with spending, Ricky."

  "No, sir. If I can't pay cash I won't buy. I will stick to my father's principle of not borrowing. I have plenty left over, enough for my boys' scheme. Do you know the new terrace houses in Pelton Street, Mr Landon?"

  "Yes, I pass them on my way home and have been interested to watch their progress. Is that what you have your eye on?"

  "Yes. I would like to buy three of them."

  "Three! Good heavens boy, are you going to start a hotel or something?"

  "No, I wouldn't do that." Ricky said chuckling. "But I would like you to come and look at them and see what you think."

  "But why three, Ricky?"

  "I thought I would have one as a sort of hostel for the boys, with a housekeeper to feed them well and for staff to teach and encourage the boys. As well as give decent accommodation for some of my store staff like George Parker, who lives in a room. Then I want another for Tad, Will and me. I could turn the top floor into a studio for Will. It faces south and Will assures me that a studio should. Then Tad and I could share the rest. The boys are too old, now, to live in the small rooms we do. No reflection on you, sir. We thank you for the opportunity you gave us. Do you know it took me a while to realise that you let us in at a ridiculous rent? I am glad we pay better now. We have been very happy there, they have been marvellous years but we all seem to be too big for them, now. The third house would be for the girls."

  "Girls, Ricky? You aren't going to take on girls are you?"

  "I had no intention of doing it, Mr Landon, but I can see the necessity. I want to be able to train girls to sew, sell, dress well and have the opportunity of making something of themselves."

  "I can see what you mean with boys, but how are you going to manage a girls' hostel?"

  "I wouldn't do it myself, of course. Mrs Yates, who runs my lady's department seems to have a natural gift for training girls and I am sure she would jump at the chance of living in a new house. She seems to be a loyal and good woman and I could trust her. I would like to find someone like Mrs Fishbon, but I would not ask her to do it. She is not well and I don't really think it would be suitable for her. I was thinking of someone who could take an interest in the project. There are apparently lots of girls who come here to the colony and cannot find anywhere decent to work or live and they are in great danger of being caught up in wrongdoing. You know what I mean.. So I would need someone to teach them to learn the skills that a lady knows. Am I too ambitious, Mr Landon?"

  "I don't know. I'll have to think that over, lad. I don't think it is really proper for you to have a household of women."

  'That's one of the things that worries me. I would like to hand the whole thing over to some kind, understanding, competent lady. I would appreciate it if you could think it over, in the meantime I would like it if you could come and look at the terraces."

  By this time Tom was waiting in the street with the buggy and Spic and Span. Tom in his best suit for he knew that this was an important occasion. Ricky nodded to him as he and John Landon were seated in the buggy and Tom sent the horses off.

  The terraces were being built on a side street that promised some quiet for the residents. They were three stories, with large windows looking out to the north, which gave glimpses of the harbour. The small front yards were apparently to be fenced but they were at that time filled with rubbish. Ricky led the way into the first one, which appeared to be the most closely finished. The plasterers were working just inside the front door and they threaded their way past them to walk along a passage from which several rooms opened. The passage as usual, opened out into a living room with a large kitchen in the rear. There was a verandah at the back and quite a large yard. As yet there were no fences dividing the yards, they were to come. Back in the house Ricky led John upstairs. Wooden stairs that were being polished by an industrious looking man. The next floor had several nice rooms and further stairs leading to spacious living and bedroom areas on the top floor.

  They found that each house was the same except that Ricky had asked that the top floor of the next house be left until he decided whether to buy or not. This was to be Will's studio. They walked all over the three places and at the end Ricky enquired anxiously of his friend whether he thought them worth buying. Landon said that he thought they were very sound and that if Ricky was determined on his project they could probably not be better for his purpose. However he shook his head over the thought of the whole thing and stated that Ricky was about to take on more than he could cope with.

  "That is what worries me, Mr Landon. Somehow I have the urge to get on and do it, but I don't want to make a fool of myself."

  "Ricky, I suppose you are going into this with your eyes open, so if it doesn't work, you will still have some good real estate and with that I don't think you could lose. But, I do fe
el you are taking on a lot. And you must be careful how you handle that Mrs Yates. You could get into complications that you haven't thought of."

  Ricky smiled wryly at his friend. "You mean my reputation could be damaged, sir?"

  "Yes, I do. Be careful. You have to think of Tad and Will, too. It could get you into a situation that you would find it hard to get out of. People talk, you know."

  "This is why I want a sensible female to live here with Mrs Yates and anyone else we can find. I am not attached to her in any way, please be assured."

  "I didn't think you would be, but be careful. I might talk this over with my wife. She is always interested in what you are up to. I rather think she will be a bit startled at this one though. By the way, she is always asking when you are coming to have that tea with us. Better make it soon."

  "I will, Mr Landon. Thank you for coming."

  "Now I must get back to work."

  That night John Landon told his family about Ricky's latest ideas. As they sat around the dining table they asked questions of him, about the training plans, the houses, what Mrs Yates was like and other things that was of great interest to them.

  Amabel sat quietly thinking about what her father had told them, and then said, "Father, I have met Mrs Yates. I've spoken to her at the shop and she seems to be a very pleasant person. I think she would do well in that scheme."

  "Is she the person who served us when we bought the muslin, Amabel?" asked her mother.

  "Yes, I think so. That's who it would be, isn't it father?" she asked.

  "Ricky only has the one woman in that department, Amabel, so I should imagine it is. I have not really spoken to her, but Ricky seem to think she is very reliable. He does find the most amazing people on the streets, doesn't he?" John said.

  This brought a great clamber of questions from his three daughters. "Do you mean she is a street woman?" asked Betsy.

  "Betsy, you don't know what you are talking about," said her mother.

  "What do you mean, Father?" asked Amabel.

  "She apparently lost her husband on the ship coming out and had to find a job. As she has a small boy this was difficult. The only thing she could find was as a maid at an inn, not a very savoury one, either. When her boy became ill she was told to go, without her money or belongings and where should she end up but on Ricky's doorstep." He chuckled. "He seems to attract them, doesn't he?"

  "Is she decent John?" asked his wife anxiously.

  "Ricky assures me she is. She looked after them until he found that she could run the department better than the woman he had there, and so she went into the shop and it hasn't looked back. Apparently it is very profitable. There's a young man with very big ideas."

  "Your very fond of him aren't you, Father?" asked Harriet.

  "Yes, I am, dear. He has proved to be very stable. Never will I forget what a sad looking boy he was when Hinds carried him in that night. I have a lot to thank him for," he said looking fondly at his oldest daughter.

  "I am sure I have, too, Father," said Amabel.

  The three Landon daughters knew the story of when Amabel was taken away, but they had had little to do with Ricky. Their father kept them informed of Ricky progress in life and that, too, of Tad and Will. They all knew him by sight, for they often, nowadays, went into his shop. There was little intercourse except that of customer and storekeeper. Ricky felt he could not intrude into their private lives and so remained distant. This was probably why he had not accepted Mrs Landon's invitation to take Tad and Will to tea. He always felt that perhaps the boys would be made to feel their start in life and he would never put them in a position which might hurt them. He was very protective of his 'brothers'. He felt that perhaps he was of a lineage that would match the Landon's, but was not really sure of that as he knew little of his background, but he would not take the risk of a snubbing. But he did know that he would not get that from the Landon's for they had always been a friendly family, and this colony was a funny place. With some colonists there was no barrier between classes, but with others there was just as much as he knew existed in England.

  "Father," said Amabel, as she finished her breakfast the next morning. "May I speak to you and Mother before you leave for the office?"

  "Certainly, my dear," said her father, "come into the drawing room." Turning to his wife he added, "Sadie, my dear, I see thoughts dashing round in Amabel's head. We must attend." He put an arm round each and escorted them to the large front room. "Now," he said, sitting Amabel on a sofa.

  She looked up at her father, and using the name for him she used when little, "Daddy, I have an idea. What about Binksie?' Wouldn't it be a good thing for her, Daddy? Mama what do you think?"

  "Binksie, Amabel? What? To go to this hostel of Ricky's you mean? What made you think of her?" asked her father.

  "Binksie?" asked her mother. "Whatever would Binksie think, Amabel?"

  "I think she would like it, Mama. Now that Betsy is out of the school room and Charles is at the Kings School, you know she hasn't any reason for stopping here. You know it was worrying you. I think she would like it. She loves teaching and she always said she would hate to go to another family," said Amabel.

  " I wouldn't want Binksie to leave us, Amabel, but really I think it is not really what I would suggest," said Mrs Landon.

  "Don't you think she would be good at it, Daddy?"

  "Oh, yes, she would be good at it. None better, girl, but I don't think Binksie would dream of doing it," said her father.

  "Well, I am sure she would. I think she'd love it. Why don't you ask her, Mama?"

  "I don't think I could, Amabel. She would probably be insulted, don't you think?" replied her mother.

  Amabel smiled, thinking of all the hours she had spent with her governess, and knowing that she and Harriet and Betsy knew her better that anyone, except, probably, her young brother Charles. They all loved Miss Binks very much and it was very sad for them to think that she would have to leave them and find another post. Miss Binks was not looking forward to it either for she had been with the family ever since Amabel was a tiny girl.

  "Well, if you think she would be interested I daresay we could ask her," said John Landon. "I'll send Tonkin for her."

  "John, you wouldn't suggest it, would you?" asked Sadie Landon anxiously.

  "Yes, my dear. I daresay Amabel has mentioned it to her already and knows what Binksie will say. Is that right, minx?" he smiled at Amabel.

  "Yes, I did mention it a little. Daddy, I will go and get her, don't bother Tonkin."

  With that Amabel ran from the room without waiting for her parents to say anything further. She was very soon back with her old governess who wasn't old at all. Miss Binks was in her late thirties. She was not very tall but carried herself well. Her hair was light brown and her countenance very pleasant. All the family adored her, she was such a jolly person, she loved teaching, and she had that wonderful gift of making learning a joy. Amabel knew that she had been concerned about her future and had been quite interested in this different venture about which Amabel had told her.

  She came into the drawing room, taking a seat on a sofa, as Mr Landon indicated, saying, "Has Amabel told you what she has already told us, Binksie?" he asked.

  "Do you mean about this new girls hostel, Mr Landon?" she asked calmly. "If you mean that, yes, she told me of it, and what Mr English was planning. It sounds a good idea, doesn't it, sir?"

  "Yes, a good idea. But what about you? Would you be interested in being part of this?" he asked.

  "I would like to know more about it, Mr Landon. But I am rather reluctant to look for another post as governess. I have been very happy here and I cannot say that I know of another place in Sydney that I would like to go to," she answered simply.

  "I am glad you have been happy here, Binksie," said Mrs Landon, "we just love having you and can't really think what we will do without you."

  "But would you go to a girls hostel, Miss Binks?" Mr Landon asked more formally.r />
  "It would be a challenge, Mr Landon, and I like a challenge. I know Mrs Yates already, a little, and she seems to be a pleasant person." She smiled at them. "Don't worry, sir, it is just the sort of thing I have been thinking of but didn't know how it would ever come to pass. The girls wandering around Sydney town are a worry to a lot of people, and this is a chance that I may be able to take to help them a little."

  "Well, I wouldn't have believed it," said Mrs Landon. Turning to her husband she said, "John, before we let Binksie go there, you must find out all about it and whether it is a suitable place for her to go."

  "Don't worry, dear, I will keep watch and see that she is well looked after, he assured her.

  "Father, do you think Harriet and I can help with the girls, too? We would love it and Binksie will look after us. We could teach them all sorts of things. Couldn't we, Binks?" asked Amabel.

  "My goodness, what next. You'll be wanting to join the force soon, my dear," he said to his wife.

  "And why not, John. That might be a good idea." His family roared with laughter.

  "See what you started, Daddy." Amabel laughed.

  ************

  Mrs Yates heard a small noise in the shop. She did not think anyone was in that department then and so continued her sewing quietly, listening intently. There it was again! A small shuffle. She stood up and quietly moved round a table that had upright rolls of pretty velvets on it. On the other side she found a girl who was just about to finger the pure white of the nearest velvet. "Don't touch that with your dirty fingers," she said, kindly.

  "They ain't thet dirty," came the reply. The girl, about 12 years old, looked down at her fingers. Then looking at Mrs Yates she said, "I weren't gunna 'urt 'em. I jes' wanted ter see what they felt like. Honest I did. I jest come in ter see 'em up close." Holding out her hands she said again, "See they ain't reel dirty."

  "They are," said Mrs Yates, "they are quite filthy."

  "Well, Ah'll go aht an' wash 'em in the 'orse trough. Thet'll do won't it?" The girl asked.