NOVEMBER 8

Sophy and I like to walk around the skylight on the house deck, or run around in her case. I could wish the rail were less appealing to those with climbing instincts. I have to watch her every second. If she could, she’d be up in the rigging with the Germans. The wind is brisk and B. says we’re running along nicely at eight knots. I know nothing about the daily business of sailing, though there are some captain’s wives who make quite a point of fiddling with the sextant, taking positions, or offering their views on the trimming of sails. In Havre we met a lady whose husband encouraged her to plot the course, and at Messina we encountered a portly British dame who insisted on pulling lines. My interests do not that way lie, and B. allows that he finds such carrying on repugnant. I can keep pretty busy with looking after Sophy, supervising the pantry, sewing, and playing songs.

Mr. Head is an excellent young man, and I discovered yesterday, when the main cabin and hatches were all open, that he has a fine voice. He sings as he crosses the deck with our dinner. His song was one of Olie’s favorites, “Beware,” and so it made me think of him and wonder where he is – perhaps just behind that last wave aft of us for all we know. We had planned to meet in New York, but his ship was delayed. We kept a lookout for him when we were stuck near Staten Island, but to no avail. We are to meet in Messina, God willing, and have a fine meal at one of the restaurants in that sunny port. It’s a lovely town. We had Arthur with us when last we put in there, and I recall his hooting with joy at a lady carrying a basket of fish on her head. He thought it was a hat!

In the afternoon I played on the melodeon and Sophy sat next to me on the bench, trying to make her doll pick out a tune. She understands a great many more words than she can say and has started to put two or three together, to her own delight. At supper she reached out for the potato bowl as it was going the rounds and announced “pass ’tatoes.”

Here is B., coming in from his watch, looking mischievous, I must say.

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 599