In the Land of the Long White Cloud

say.
    Helen nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, sir, God willing. I’m trusting the Lord to show me the way to a happy marriage…perhaps you even know my fiancé? Howard O’Keefe out of Haldon, Canterbury. He’s a gentleman farmer.”
    Gwyneira held her breath. Maybe she should have told Helen about Gerald’s outburst, after all. Yet her concern proved unfounded. Gerald remained perfectly composed.
    “I hope you retain that faith,” he remarked with a lopsided smirk. “The man plays the strangest jokes on those innocent sheep of his. But as for your question…no. I do not know of any ‘gentleman’ by the name of Howard O’Keefe.”

    The
Dublin
was now sailing across the Indian Ocean, the penultimate, longest, and most dangerous leg of the journey. Though the waters were rarely rough, the route led them far across the deep sea. The passengers had not seen land for weeks, and according to Gerald Warden, the next shores were hundreds of miles away.
    Life on board had settled down once again, and thanks to the tropical weather, everyone spent more time on deck instead of in their claustrophobic cabins. This led to a further unraveling of the strict division between first class and steerage. In addition to Sunday service, communal concerts and dances now took place as well. The men in steerage improved their fishing skills and became more successful. They harpooned sharks and barracudas and caught albatrosses by dragging a fishhook baited with fish from the aft of the ship. The scent of fish and fowl being grilled wafted over the whole deck, and the mouths of the families not participating watered. Helen received some of the bounty as a gift. As a teacher, she was highly regarded among the passengers, and now that she had taken charge of lessons, almost all the children in steerage could read and write better than their parents. Daphne could almost always sweet-talk her way into a bit of fish or bird meat as well. If Helen did not watch her like a hawk, she would sneak over to the men while they were fishing, marvel at their artistry, and attract their attention by fluttering her eyelashes and pouting. The young men especially courted her favor and let themselves get carried away with sometimes dangerous tests of courage. Daphne applauded, apparently captivated when they would lay their shirts, shoes, and socks aside and let themselves be lowered into the water by the hollering crew. However, neither Helen nor Gwyneira got the impression that Daphne cared much for the boys.
    “She’s hoping that a shark gets him,” Gwyneira remarked as a young Scot bravely sprang headfirst into the water and let himself be pulled along by the
Dublin
like bait on a hook. “What would you bet that she wouldn’t have any reservations about gobbling up the beast even if?”
    “It’s about time for this journey to end,” Helen sighed. “Otherwise, I’m going to go from teacher to prison guard. These sunsets, for example…yes, they’re beautiful and romantic, but the boys and girls find them so as well. Elizabeth is swooning over Jamie O’Hara, whom Daphne turned down long ago when all the sausage had been eaten up. And Dorothy is pressed by three lads a day to come view the phosphorescent sea with them at night.”
    Gwyneira laughed and played with her sun hat. “Daphne, on the other hand, isn’t looking for her Prince Charming in steerage. Yesterday she asked me whether she couldn’t watch the sunset from the upper deck, since the view would be so much better. During which she eyed the young Viscount Barrington like a shark does fish.”
    Helen rolled her eyes. “We should marry her off soon. Oh, Gwyn, I’m scared to death when I think that in just two or three weeks I have to hand the girls over to total strangers, maybe never to see them again!”
    “You just said you wanted to get rid of them!” Gwyneira cried, laughing. “And anyway, they can read and write. You can all exchange letters. And we can too. If I only knew how far apart Haldon and Kiward Station were from each other. Both are in the Canterbury Plains, but where are those? I just don’t want to lose you, Helen. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could visit one another?”
    “We can most certainly do that,” Helen said confidently. “Howard must live close to Christchurch; otherwise, he wouldn’t belong to that parish. And Mr. Warden must have a lot to do in the city. We’ll definitely see each other, Gwyn!”

7
    T he journey was finally drawing