Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Gabriel did not have to wait long for his next meeting with Amy. She and her family

came to his office that morning, about ten o'clock.

Mr Taylor, unlike his wife and son, approved of Gabriel. They had talked often during

the voyage and he had grown fond of the young man. There were hymns amongst the

sheet music found on the piano and Gabriel played them for the congreation to sing to

when the reverend gentleman conducted Sunday services.

Mrs Taylor was not in a good mood when she arrived at the office. She had discovered

that her son and daughter had wandered the streets of Melbourne at night when she

thought them safe in bed. A further irritation was that they met Gabriel as he was

about to enter a theatre. She did not like theatres either, thought they were the abode

of the devil.

Gabriel was studying the newspapers when they arrived. He was trying to work out a

connection between the classified advertisements and the value of the real estate they

offered.

"It was a good idea, but he had the same trouble as before. A certain face would

appear and distract him from his studies. But then the owner of the face walked into

the office as Harold held the door open for the family to enter. She wore a floral dress

with a bustle, carried a parasol, and he had never seen her looking more desirable.

The classifed advertisements disappeared from memory as though they had never

been.

''My boy,'' said Mr Taylor, after looking about the. office,'This very impressive, and are

you really a partner in this establishment.

''So he says,''said Harold. ''Third class on the ship, and three days later he's got an

office in the city and a partner.'' Sounds pretty fishy to me.

'Harold, you're horrible,'' cried his sister. ''I'm sure Gabriel would never do anything

mean or dishonest

''Well spoken,'' said a voice behind them. ''It was Mr Pryor. He had entered after

Harold, and no one noticed. He put his hat and walking stick on the hat stand and

turned to face the company. ''Mr Fox, would you do me the honour of introducing me

to your friends.''

Gabriel did so and felt a twinge of jealousy when When Amy smiled at Pryor and he

held her hand slightly longer than necessary.

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When the introductions were completed Mr Pryor addressed the family. "When I

came in I heard Mr Harold Taylor doubting Mr Fox's claim to be a partner in this

business. I must tell you that what Mr Fox said is perfectly true. Not only is Mr Fox a

partner in this thriving business but also a board member of that great institution the

Melbourne and London Amicable Building Society.

''As you know he arrived here on Monday, wandered the streets until he saw a music

shop, went in, and got an excellent job with good pay. Then. on Wednesday, he paid

money into the bank and, while returning to the shop, he called in here to enquire

about purchasing land as an asset.

I am a man of quick decision. I saw at once his sterling qualities and invited him to

join the business. Since then we have sold a drapers shop in Bourke Street. We are

negotiating the sale of a hotel in Hotham, and one of the biggest building firms in this

city is contracted to build hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cheap houses for buyers

who cannot buy a house under the present conditions.

Mr Pryor was an orator who could impress anyone. Amy and her father were

delighted to hear this good report of Gabriel's ability and prospects. Mrs Taylor and

Harold were impressed but not quite won over, they lay in wait to see what

developed.

''I see by your collar, Mr Taylor, that you are a clergyman,'' said Pryor. ''Are you

here to stay, or just passing through?''

''You could say, sir, that we are just passing through. I am a Minister of the

Church of England and have been commissioned by our Bible Society to deliver

lectures and sermons on the errors committed by Mr Darwin in his book, and his false

theory of evolution. The bible itself testifies that God created a man and a woman, and

they are the mother and father of all mankind.’

‘So I have heard,’said Mr Pryor

Mr Darwin tells us we are descended from apes and time turned these apes to

people. He does not tell us where the original parents came from. Every birth requires

two parents, male and female. Two beings much alike but with different reproductive

organs. appeared at the same time, in the distant past, and mate to set off the process

described by Mr Darwin. That would be a miracle. Yet Mr Darwin cannot claim that

we are related to other animals including reptiles and beasts so the miracle is

repeated thousands perhaps millions of times

''That's most interesting,'' said Mr Pryor. ''I shall certainly come to one of your

lectures.''

''Yes, do! We shall be pleased to see you

''What a peach!'' exclaimed Mr Pryor, after the party left. The most beautiful girl, I've

seen in a long time, and I'm sure we met somewhere before, and her brother too.''

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'' She was the girl who broke up the Flanagans' visit to the theatre, Harold was with

her.''

"Ah! Now I remember. That was a shock for Mrs F. I think she wanted you for Lydia.

''Well, she can't have me, and Lydia's quite willing if you want to marry an heiress..

''No thanks, I pass. Not all of Timothy's money would tempt me. You met this

gorgeous girl, Amy, on the boat coming over?''

''Yes, I sneaked into first class one day to see her, and they let me stay because I

played the piano for them.

''Good for you, Gabby. That's how you get on in life, plenty of cheek and putting

yourself forward. Which reminds me, a fellow named Pringle spoke to me yesterday.

He wants a clerk's job in the office. I told him to come about eleven o'clock today.

You'll have to talk to him. Mrs Chitttering, the boarding house woman, should be here

any minute. I'm going to sell her the hotel in Hotham that I was talking about.''

'' What!! Mrs Chittering!!! Henrietta!! You're going to try and sell her a hotel. Better

you than me. You should stuff paper in your hat in case she belts you over the head

with that umbrella. Kimpton was nearly bashed with it, why not you?''

''No, she'll come round, and after I've sold Mrs Chittering the hotel I'll see about

taking that girl away from you.''

''You try that and I'll borrow Mrs Chittering's umbrella. I'll fix you right up. Anyway

you wouldn't be interested, she's not a wealthy heiress. If the Reverend hadn't been

backed by the Bible Society they would have had to travel third class with me.''