Chapter 14: Chapter 14

About half past five Gabriel met Henry in the lobby of Menzies Hotel.

“We're going to a caff for dinner," volunteered Henry, as soon as he caught sight of his

friend. "And then we're going to the Theatre Royal. They rebuilt it last year after the

big fire, and it should be worth seeing. Pa said he was going to buy three bob seats in

the gallery but Ma said he had to get the best in the house or she'd want to know the

reason why?

Henry had thrown off much of his gloom. He had managed to escape a few times from

parental control and wandered round the city to see the things that interested him.

"Pa's thinking of paying the premium to have me apprenticed as an engineer. That

means I'd have to stay in Melbourne, but Ma says I'm to go into an office. Anyway, she

doesn't want to go back to Walhalla either."

The glass doors on to the street were opened by the doorman, and Mr Pryor came in

grandly as though he had swanned through luxury all his life. He was introduced to

Henry and, after hearing of Henry's ambitions, promised to get him introductions to

the best engineering firms in town.

They went upstairs and were greeted by the Flanagan women who had spent almost

the entire day preparing for this moment. Even Timothy had been ordered once again

into an expensive tailored suit. He and James Pryor were in evening dress and their

toppers glittered in the light of the hotel chandeliers.

Gabriel still had on his brown suit and hat; though this was forgivable. It was well

understood that the London tailor had been late in delivering his new clothes. His

ship could not have been delayed because a tailor had been derelict in his duty, but

the new suits would be following on the very next mail steamer. Meanwhile, though

the brown suit detracted slightly from the magnificence of the rest of the party, it was

acceptable to Mrs. Flanagan, particularly in view of her hopes for the young men.

Timothy thought it only a short distance to the restaurant in Swanston Street but an

ill judged proposal to walk there was instantly rejected by his wife and daughters.

They were not going to parade through the streets the way common people did when

there were any number of cabs and carriages waiting at the door of the hotel to take

them anywhere.

A page was rung for to make the necessary arrangements, and a boy came up and was

instructed to summon the very best looking, and cleanest cab in the rank, with the

best looking horse. The driver was to bring it to the door at once. He listened with

bored inattention to Mrs. Flanagan, said, "Yes Ma'am, right away Ma'am," winked at

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Henry when he thought no one was noticing and retired leaving an unfavourable

impression of him among the ladies.

Mrs Flanagan had another reason for not wanting to walk along the city streets. She

was not sure where Mr Fox had met the detestable Benno, but intended to find out.

However, in the meantime, it would be better to lessen the possibility of a chance

meeting and the type of coarse companionship that she thought had been left behind

forever in Walhalla.

At the restaurant, over the dinner table, the partners were in excellent form and kept

the conversation going brilliantly. Gabriel's reports on the high-lights of London

society and all the current gossip were eagerly received so that the ladies could have

sat for hours and listened.

Mr Pryor was equally entertaining. They learned more about the inner financial

workings of the colony that night than they had ever known. Timothy's attention was

liable to wander but when this happened the sharp application of his wife's foot

under the table brought him back to the matter in hand.

However, it was soon time to leave for the theatre and see what Mr Coppin, the actor

manager, had in store to amuse them.

It seemed everyone had come to town. Saturday night was always popular in

Melbourne. The Street was so crowded with theatre goers, shoppers, saunterers, and

road traffic that it took their cab a while to go even the short distance to the Theatre

Royal, about half way between Swanston and Russell Streets. "It's all light, and

glitter, and beauty," said Myrtle, with feeling, when they, at last, arrived in front of the

theatre which was brilliantly illuminated with flaring gaslights. The old oil lamps

which had burned it down last time were long gone to be replaced with the very latest

in weather-proof gasoliers. Timothy attended to the payment of the cabman while the

others descended to the crowded pavement. They could see into the lobby where

lights shed a myriad of colours on to the fashionable throng pressing into the theatre.

This crowd spilled on to the pavement and some were noisily greeting each other,

while others eagerly pushed their way inside. Others went in and came out again and

the crowd of pedestrians in Bourke Street bustled past in opposite directions.

Others whose business it was to stay there cluttered the path and forced some foot

passengers over the wide gutter and on to the road.

A man with a turban, and wearing what was understood to be a Turkish costume, was

exhorting the waverers in a powerful voice to hesitate no longer but to step in and

buy a ticket immediately before they all sold. His voice was almost, but not quite

drowned out by that of an old man who wore a woven cabbage tree hat and ragged

evening suit. He seemed not to notice anyone but played an unending, raucous tune

on an accordion and howled like a dog. A few people were bemused by this and threw

pennies into his instrument case.

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There were other buskers competing for attention, and trying to draw people to rival

theatres and shows. A few yards further up the hill a uniformed German band played

manfully by the light of a naphtha flare.

"I got reserved seats," Timothy shouted into Mr Pryor's ear, after he had settled with

the cabman. "Five bob each, and a bob reservation fee; it was daylight robbery but the

missus said I must have 'em."

Mrs. Flanagan winced and shook her hand at him, hoping no one saw. How common it

was and how like Mr Flanagan to discuss money in front of guests. "I came up this

afternoon to the ticket box and bought 'em," continued the wilful Timothy, not

noticing his wife's agitation.

"We won't discuss the matter of the tickets here on the footpath, Mr Flanagan," she

said, preserving her composure with an effort. "As long as you haven't left them

behind; that's the main thing. We had better go inside now or we'll miss the

overture."

Her irritation was heightened by the presence of an unknown young person of about

twenty who seemed intent on joining their group. She was a good looking, fair haired

young woman who was standing gazing at them wildly, particularly at Gabriel. He was

talking to Henry and had not yet noticed her staring at him.

"Gabriel!" she said, "Gabriel!" and appeared about to bar their way into the theatre.

''Please!'' said Mrs Flanagan. ''Please stand aside, you are blocking our path.''

The stranger, who was wearing a simple dress and hat that emphasised her pretty

features was not to be moved in spite of people jostling past. With her was a young

man two or three years older than herself who had been looking up at the coloured

lights spelling out the name of the theatre.

"Please, may we get past!" Mrs. Flanagan smiled savagely and tried to usher her girls

away so that they would not offended by the indecency of a young women openly

parading in Bourke Street.

"It's Gabriel," the young woman said to her companion. "We've found him, Thank

God!"

The young man looked sharply at Fox and stepped forward to bar his path into the

theatre.

Gabriel saw these two for the first time and smiled. "Amy!" he cried , "Harold! Where

did you two spring from?"

"We didn't spring from anywhere," retorted Harold in an unfriendly tone, ''Except.

our beds.''Mother and father think we're in bed because we were still tired from the

voyage. Amy made me come out to look for you. She said if I didn't come she'd go on

her own. I said you were not worth it, but she would come. She's that stubborn!!"

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Mrs. Flanagan recovered the power of speech. "Who is this young woman?" she

demanded. "There must be some mistake! Send her away.

"It's alright, I know her," mumbled Gabriel. He was grinning and couldn't take his eyes

off the girl. "I met her and her family on the ship, coming over. This is Miss Taylor and

her brother Harold."

No further introductions were possible. Mrs. Flanagan bridled the instant she realized

the young woman was a possible threat to her own plans. She glanced round at her

party with a look that would have galvanised a regiment into action.

"Mr Flanagan, take my arm; we are going into the theatre. Mr Pryor and Henry, please

escort the girls inside - now! Mr Flanagan will give you a ticket, Mr Fox. When you are

ready would you please follow us in. The show is about to start and we cannot

possibly stay out here on the street any longer."

Obedient to orders Timothy thumbed a ticket out of his waistcoat pocket and handed

it over. Without another word or glance at the two strangers the lady marched the

remaining members of the party into the vestibule of the theatre. The last Gabriel saw

of them was Myrtle's stricken face as she looked back over her shoulder in

astonishment and anger as she was borne away by Mr Pryor's arm, and her mother's

determination.

"We have to talk," said Harold. They were standing on the pavement looking at one

another as foot passengers pushed their way past, "and we can't do it here. Amy and I

didn't sneak out of the hotel just to say hello."

''Amy, I looked for you on the pier, but they let the first classers off the ship , second

class next, and we thirders were last.''

''Yes, I know. I tried, to make excuses, just to stay a little longer on the pier, in case we

saw you.''

"Well, it's alright now, I won't be separated from you again.'' Amy squeezed his hand.

Gabriel looked round and saw a restaurant over the road. "We can't stay here, let's go

and sit down in the quiet and talk things over."

"Yes," said Harold, "there is a lot to talk about. You had better take her other arm. You

would'nt want her run over now, not after she found you here."

The restaurant was a place for coffee and tea drinkers. A coloured scroll painted on

the window and repeated in the glass over the door stated that the shop was a coffee

house and no spirituous liquors of any kind were served.

They walked in and sat at a round marble topped table with a central cast iron leg; the

chairs were cast iron too, and not comfortable, though Amy and Gabriel did not

notice, they were too busy gazing at each other.

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When they had their coffee before them Harold took a small bottle from an inside

pocket of his coat and poured some of the contents into his cup. He put the bottle on

the table and Gabriel saw, by the label, that it was brandy.

Amy winced at the sight of the bottle, and looked troubled as Harold stirred and

drank the mixture.

He then turned on Gabriel. ''This has got to stop. You're filling Amy's head with

nonsense. Our father's a vicar, but socially we're far above you, and you're just a

pianist.

''Don't talk rubbish,'' said Amy. Father's just an underpaid clergyman. If the Bible

Society hadn't been so generous we would have travelled third class too.

Harold ignored her ''You might get a job with a band but you'll have to rely on people

putting sixpences and shillings into a plate on top of the piano. My sister can't live like

that.''

Gabriel nodded. "You're right about the first part, I am a pianist because my parents

made me practise for an hour every day and a tutor came every week. But they died in

an outbreak of cholera and I couldn’t I bear to stay any longer so I came out here.’

Amy put her hand over his and squeezed it.

I've only been here only since Monday," he said, "But I have a job as a partner in a

land agency. We've sold a draper's shop so far, and now we're borrowing money from

the public to build houses."

Amy was delighted at this unexpected news but her brother had reservations.

''Has Amy told you that we are out here because father is to deliver a series of

lectures, and we're going home after six months. Our return passage is booked and

once we leave you will never see Amy again.''

Gabriel had known all this but hadn't wanted to think about it. Harold's words were

like a blow to the heart. He learned about their short stay in Melbourne while they

had been together on the ship.

Quite unexpectedly Amy reached out and grasped him by the shoulders and pulled

him towards her. She laid her face against his and he could feel the warm, salty tears

on her cheek. ''I don't want to go,'' she whispered. I want to stay with you. When it's

time to leave I'll hide. They'll have to go without me.

''What, and feel guilty all your life. No! If it comes to that I'll give up a life here and go

back to England. I don't want to, but for your sake I'll go.'' He reached up and gripped

her shoulder reassuringly.

''You're mad, both of you. You can't stay here, you're not married to him.''

''We're not married yet, but we can soon take care of that.''

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Gabriel's eyes flashed wide and he looked from one to the other.

''Well, let me tell you this, Amy. You're not twenty one yet, and you'll have to get

father's permission before you marry anyone.''

''We could live together without marriage. That would bring them round, they

wouldn't want their daughter lving in sin.''

Gabriel stared at her. This gorgeous young woman had a will of iron. She intended to

marry him, and he hadn't even proposed to her. It was a daunting thought.

They were interrupted by a severe looking woman who came to their table. Her hair

was drawn smoothly back into a bun coiled tightly at the back of her head. she wore a

spotless white blouse, black skirt to her ankles, and button up black boots with

pointed toes.

She looked on disapprovingly and informed them that she was the manageress.

"I must ask you to quieten your voices," she said. "And my patrons have been

disturbed by the behaviour I have just observed, which cannot be condoned.''

She was further upset by the sight of the brandy bottle. ''You will have to leave. I

cannot tolerate liquor of any kind in this establishment. I am sure there are many

venues in Bourke Street where you would feel quite at home, but this place of

temperance is not one of them. And please put that bottle out of sight

"Well, thank you for your hospitality,'' said Gabriel. We will finish our coffee and go.

Please give me the bill.

Harold's drinking worried his family. They had brought him along in the hope he

might do better in the new world. It had not worked so far even though his father

refused to pay any more drink bills.

"Is your business far from here?" enquired Amy when they were safely off the

premises and back into the bustle of Bourke Street.

"Come along and I'll show you," offered Gabriel. I have a key if you want to come in

and inpect our records, which wouldn't take long, Amy hung on to his arm as they

walked to the premises of Pryor and Fox.

They didn't go in because Gabriel was not sure he knew how to turn on the gas lights.

So Amy peered into the dim interior with her face against the glass and hands up to

cut the glare of the street lights. ''I must come back and see it in daylight,'' she said.

Harold refused to look. He did not approve of any of this activity and did not believe

that Gabriel was good enough for his sister.

''I had better take Amy back to the hotel. Even with me she shouldn't be out on the

streets at this hour.''

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Gabriel had to agree. He didn't want the evening to end, but Amy's parents did not

know she was not safely in bed, it was best to take her home.

Harold did not invite him to come with them, but Amy insisted. If he came he would

know where she was staying, and perhaps he would call.