The Foot of Time: A Novel of Australia and the South Seas: (1933)

176 THE FOOT OF TIME
is made up. I won't have you cheapen yourself. Besides,
have you thought out what your father would
say to your gallivanting off to the South Seas?
Why, he'd turn down the idea every time, darling
—particularly if you proposed going with me."
Edith's expression conveyed all too clearly her
agreement with the truth of her aunt's view. "Of
course father would turn it down, Auntie, as you
say," she said. "I never entertained any such idea
until you suggested going, but
"I shall go, child, and I'll bring your Bruce back
to you if I have to drag him by the scruff of his
neck. Now, all you have to do is to do all you
possibly can not to worry your dear self. Let me
know if anything transpires and I will do the
same for you."
But it was many months before Florence was
able to carry out her project. Visiting some poor
people in Manly, bent upon administering advice,
reprimands and largess with her invariable and
bountiful generosity, she contracted illness which
laid her low for many a month. She was only
actually ill for a few weeks, but her fiery temperamentalism
chafing at being ordered about by others,
she proved one of the worst patients imaginable.
Her convalescence was a drawn-out affair, but the
day came when, thoroughly fit again, and with no
satisfactory reply to her letter to the French
authorities in the Society Group, and no tidings
whatsoever of Bruce, she made ready to "fetch
him home."
Her preliminary shopping in Sydney was of an
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THE FOOT OF TIME 177
unusual order, or, to be more exact, she included in
it purchases which would have opened the eyes of
her friends with amazement had they witnessed her
outfit. The old lady evidently thought that Bruce
might be badly off for clothes, for her shopping included
visits to men's as well as lady's departments.
She also visited a large toy department, where her
purchases (which ran into many pounds) included
flags of several nations and mixed imaginary
heraldry, wigs, beard, face masks, balls, bats, fishing
gear, butterfly nets, etc. Altogether, a curious
assortment for an elderly spinster to take upon a
few months' cruise by herself in the South Seas.
But, judging by the business-like manner in which
she set about it, Florence evidently knew her own
mind, had carefully planned out in advance what
she was likely to need, and obtained it in the shortest
possible time.
And then, and not until then, it being another
University vacation period and Edith at home with
her family at Orange, Florence, with the briefest
of notes to Edith, disappeared—unheralded and unsung.
Her vessel steamed through the Heads of
Sydney and headed up north-east with never the
flutter of a handkerchief to bid her god-speed. But
she had that in the heart of her beloved niece, Edith
Burne, away there at Orange. Her niece followed
every report of the boat which appeared in the
shipping intelligence, and pleased her father not a
little by her rather exceptional interest in attendance
at his chapel.
The lassie's heart's in the right place, Ma,"