The Hills of Singapore Read Free

were secluded and convenient. A few steps led from them all to the cuddy. There was no need to go out upon deck, or to go up or downstairs to meals.
    â€œThus, my dear, you will avoid many of the inconveniences of shipboard life,” the agent explained solicitously.
    He had seen that her youth and beauty would likely cause some havoc aboard a ship full of men at sea for months at a time. She was, perhaps, somewhat too slim but with skin like ivory, blue-black hair to her waist and long-lashed, violet eyes. He liked women’s hands, his wife had lovely hands, and he saw that Charlotte too had slim fingered, graceful hands, the nails small and oval, perfectly shaped and delicate. He felt, suddenly, as protective of her as of his own daughters. He took out a large handkerchief and wiped his nose.
    â€œI myself care not for such travel. No, assuredly I do not. I therefore have no personal knowledge of such matters, but may I urge your attention to the words of my friend, Mr Wilkins?” The agent took a paper from his drawer and began to read.
    â€œThe roundhouse rooms may be somewhat noisy from the boom and the sailors working on the poop deck, but the rolling of the vessel is circumvented by the shortness of the distance required to travel from cabin to table, a not inconsiderable advantage. More importantly, you may avoid, as far as may be possible, all the disagreeables attendant upon encountering persons engaged in the duties of a ship. It may seem fastidious to object to meeting sailors employed in getting up different stores from the hold, or to pass and repass other cabins, or the neighbourhood of the steward’s pantry; nevertheless, if ladies have the opportunity of avoiding these things, they will do well to embrace it; for, however trivial they may be in a well-regulated ship, very offensive circumstances may arise from them.”
    He had put the letter on the table and looked up at Charlotte.
    â€œYou will forgive me for forwardness, my dear young lady, but your brother’s letter was most insistent that I act somewhat in loco parentis . I feel constrained then to offer some advice.”
    Charlotte hid a smile. He was a little long-winded, but she could see he meant well. She had composed her face into a study of attentive and charming womanhood.
    Yes, most lovely, the agent thought, and barely eighteen. The men will be sniffing around her from morning to night.
    â€œWell, my dear child, there are several things I must urge you to treat most seriously. The first concerns items of your personal washing. Some women passengers have been known to hang washing out to dry from the roundhouse windows. This,” the agent said, waggling his eyebrows and frowning fiercely, “is entirely unacceptable.”
    Charlotte was somewhat mystified but nodded solemnly.
    â€œNothing is so indelicate, indeed so indecent, as to see hanging from the windows of the ladies’ cabins items of a delicate nature likely to inflame the ungentlemanly feelings of the common sailor.”
    Charlotte had lowered her eyes decorously, and the agent saw he had struck the mark. She was a good girl.
    â€œSocial decorum is of paramount importance, as I am certain you understand, in such a constrained environment. I have taken the liberty of proposing a fellow passenger, a respectable matron, Mrs Fortescue, as your chaperone. You are advised to drink no more than two glasses of wine at dinner and to vigorously decline invitations to play cards or backgammon. When walking on deck you may take the arm of a gentleman to steady yourself against the motion of the ship, naturally, but,” the agent’s eyebrows waggled again, “the conversation must be restricted to the weather and general matters.”
    The kindly agent had arranged to deliver to her cabin the furnishings she would need, for the price of the berth included nothing more than the space. The most important item was a swinging cot, suspended from the