Back To Billabong, page 79 by Mary Grant Bruce
<< Return to Title Details & Download80
ttle later was delightful, in a big sunny room, with interesting people coming and going all the time. Bob and Cecilia smiled at each other like two happy children. It was almost unbelievable that they were free; away from tryanny and coldness, with no more plotting and planning, and no more prying eyes.
Bob went off to interview the transport officer after breakfast, and Cecilia found the officer's wife with the two little boys struggling to attend to her luggage, while the children ran away and lost themselves in the corridors or endeavoured to commit suicide by means of the lift. So Cecilia took command of them and played with them until the harassed mother had finished, and came to reclaim her offspring--this time with the worry lines smoothed out of her face. She sat down by Cecilia and talked, and presently it appeared that she also was sailing in the Nauru.
"Indeed, I thought it was only wives who were going," she said. "I didn't know sisters were permitted."
"I believe General Harran managed our passages," Cecilia said. "He has been very kind to my brother."
"Well, you should have a merry voyage, for there will be scarcely any young girls on board," said Mrs. Burton, her new friend. "Most of the women on the transports are brides, of course. Ever so many of our men have married over here."
"You are an Australian?" Cecilia asked.
"Oh, yes. My husband isn't. He was an old regular officer, and returned to his regiment as soon as war broke out. I don't think there will be many women on board: the Nauru isn't a family ship, you know."
"What is that?" Cecilia queried.
"Oh, a ship with hundreds of women and children--privates' wives and families, as well as officers'. I believe they are rather awful to travel on--they must be terrible in rough weather. The non-family ships carry only a few officers' wives, as a rule: a much more comfortable arrangement for the lucky few."
"And we are among the lucky few?"
"Yes. I only hope my small boys won't