Chapter 9: Chapter 9

He should have read the advertisements with more attention, but it was difficult because the face of Amy, the first-class girl, was more real in his mind than the inky words and numbers he read in the paper. Memories came flooding back and once

again he was aboard the ship.

Having got as far as the first-class dining room he was not sure what he should do next. The girl had seen him, was astonished first, but then smiled. Her three companions turned to see who had caused these changes and looked puzzled when they spied Gabriel. He could see, after a moment, they were asking who he was.

If he had been a passenger first class he would have introduced himself by now, but travelling in such a lowly fashion, an interloper, he would be found out and sent back,

under guard to where he belonged.

In the saloon, a piano was fastened to the floor so it could not roll about in heavy weather. He thought if he played something she might come and talk to him. On an

impulse he pulled up the stool and instantly began a piece he knew well, it was an old

An English love song that he had rehearsed many times in his mind after seeing her, and

his fingers did not betray him. as he played The Lass of Richmond Hill. then

Greensleeves.'

The chatter in the room fell to silence as everyone looked at this strange young man

they had not seen before, now playing songs they all knew and loved

He felt the girl had got up and come close to listen, but he could sense the disapproval

of her companions, they had come too.

He tried to see her over his shoulder while still playing. ''What's your name?''

A sharp female voice answered. ''Amy, don't tell him your name. He's only a common piano player. He was supposed to have missed the boat, but he must have been hiding

for the past week.''

''Hello Amy, My name's Gabriel, but don't be fooled, I'm no angel.''

''You are not to speak to my daughter. Just remember your station in life!''

'' Mama, I think he is a gentleman, he plays so nicely, and such wonderful tunes.''

''Gabriel swivelled around on his stool to face them.'' His memory had not tricked him,

she was beautiful and still smiled. His heart throbbed uncertainly.

''A gentleman does not speak to a young lady without first being introduced. Of

course, you are no gentleman, being merely a piano player, and would not know the

rules.'' The guardian of society who uttered these words was Amy's mother

‘My dear, he has the air of a gentleman. Perhaps he has come down in the world and has to play the piano to earn his bread,'' said a white-haired man in a frock coat. He wore the collar of a clergyman.

''I am not going down in the world, sir.'' said Gabriel,'' I am going up, I intend to make

my fortune in the colonies.''

''Hmph!'' said, mother. ''He's a penniless emigrant. Come away, Amy, you're not too

speak to him.''

A tall man in a white, tropical suit that matched the hot weather they were experiencing now joined in. ''Whether or not he is a gentleman I couldn't say, but he's

a damn fine piano player.''

A frisson of disquiet ran through the passengers when they heard this terrible word

uttered in the presence of ladies.

The man ignored them and continued. ''The management promised us a piano player,

and then said you'd missed the boat. Where have you been hiding during the past

week?''

Gabriel knew he had to confess. He could not lie about where he came from. He would soon be found out. ''I'm a third-class passenger,'' he said. I jumped the gates and came

here.''

This time a shock ran through the listeners. If a third-class passenger could penetrate their private world of class and privilege then what could follow. Revolution?

Anarchy?''

The man in the white suit didn't care. ''Can you read music?'' A wicker basket without handles was fastened to the top of the piano it was full of sheet music. ''Pass me one of

those.''

The clergyman took a bundle of music manuscripts off the top of the pile and handed

it over.

''Ah! This is Gilbert and Sullivan, the comic opera HMS Pinafore. I saw it at the Opera

Comique when it opened last year. Can you play that?'' He offered the printed sheets

to Gabriel who spread them on the ledge above the keyboard.

''It's arranged for the piano. Yes, I can play it.''

''Well, play away. I'll look over your shoulder and read the words

The man had a pleasant baritone voice and sang the opening chorus as Gabriel played the accompaniment.

We sail the ocean blue,

And our saucy ship's a beauty

We're sober men and true,

And attentive to our duty........

At the finish everyone applauded and Gabriel noted that his girl had her arm around the clergyman's waist, obviously her father. They both beamed at him.

A ship's officer appeared. ''Excuse me, sir,'' he said, ''But this man is a third-class

passenger and I are here to escort him back where belongs. If he attempts to return

to first-class he will be locked up for the rest of the voyage.''

''No, he won't,'' said the man in white. ''You can lock up bad pianists, but not good ones. From now on he will have the run of the ship. Now we've found him we can

start a singing club and find out who has a decent voice and who hasn't''

''And who might you be, sir?'' The officer enquired frostily.

''I'm Sir Thomas Black owner of this ship'' said the man in white. ''That's who I am. If you don't believe me ask the captain. He should know. I was a captain myself once and he was my First Mate until he got his own Certificate of Competency. We graduated

together from sail to steam.''

''Young man,'' said Amy's father, we can have a Christian service every Sunday from

now on if you will consent to play our hymns.''

The voices faded away and died as Gabriel became conscious of a nose pressed against the front window, of the agency. Eyes peering in and a warm breath that made transient patches of mist on the glass. It was Benno, the wharf labourer.