The mountain that went to the sea (21 page)

Children raced here and there, dodging grown-ups and helping themselves unrestrained to nuts, sweets, and sun-

dew melon. By the time the sizzling roasted meat was carved up, they had no room left for it.

Jeckie felt it was diplomatic to avoid Jason in all this kaleidoscope of firelight and shadow. She did have to think about Aunt Isobel's feelings. In a day or two she would go sky-flying with Jason and see the Mountain again. If the mile-long train was going by, she would see chunks of the Mountain rattling off to the sea. Tonight it would be wiser and kinder to Aunt Isobel, and probably Jane too, not to be seen too obviously in Jason's company. Some strange little quirk in her made her feel she didn't want to make Andrew angry either. In fact, that same quirk made her want to avoid him altogether. The one thought that troubled her most was how to manage a sky-flying trip with Jason without offending them all at Mallibee. Though she wanted to do exciting things, she was a little afraid of Andrew's disapproval. Maybe he had been so busy arranging which stockmen were to go from what station for the cattle cut-out when the week-end came to an end — and perhaps paying court to Sheila — he wouldn't notice anything she did at all. He'd be much more concerned as to why Sheila was paying so much flirtatious attention to Barton. Would Andrew know how Sheila liked to play one admirer off against the other?

When the feasting was over it was time for the wool-shed doors to be flung open and the dancing to begin.

First came the children's turn. They slid up and down the wool-greased floor. They linked hands and made a fantasy of wizzy-turns. Eventually they allowed themselves to be regimented into a more formal barn dance. An hour later they were all served with sliced melon and ice-cream, and mustered off the floor so the grown-ups could have their turn.

There were enough stockmen adept with traditional bush instruments — mouth organs, concertinas and guitars — to

make an orchestra. When the first bars of 'Click go the Shears' struck up, the teenagers and adults took over the floor. The 'silver heads' sat on bentwood chairs ranged along the sides of the wool-shed.

Sheila was the first to be asked to dance. For quite some minutes she and Frank Carson from Nana Bindi Station held the floor alone. The orchestra changed the time of the old folk song to the modern beat, and Sheila and Frank gave quite an exhibition dance. Delighted onlookers beat time with their hands.

`How's that for a free show?' Barton asked over Jeckie's shoulder.

'It's good.' Jeckie sighed with real admiration. 'Look at Sheila's hair streaming behind her. And how quick she is on her feet. She's a lovely dancer. Frank is good too.'

`Well — those are fine words from one cousin about another. Let you and me break it up, hey? Just for the heck of it! You can have Frank and I'll snatch Sheila.'

Jeckie looked at Barton with pretended scorn. 'Why do you want to take up so much of Sheila's time, Bart? It's been quite noticeable, you know. She might want to finish the dance with Frank. Besides — are you trying to make Andrew angry or something?'

'Take a look at brother Andrew over there by the palms,' Barton said. 'Does he look angry?'

'He's much too dignified to show his feelings. All the same, I thought Sheila was his . .. well, his special girl. You sort-of told me that, Bart. Certainly Jane and Aunt Isobel think Sheila has top priority with Andrew.'

'Let's go and ask him, shall we?' Barton said with a sudden challenge. He looked sideways at her, his old mischievous grin hard at work.

Jeckie caught his arm. She was quite shocked. 'Oh no, Bart! Don't be so silly. That would be .' She stopped.

'Would be what?' His grin was more wicked than ever.

'I don't know.' She glanced towards the palms again. Others had joined in the dance and Andrew was no longer watching the dancers. He was looking straight across the floor at herself and Barton. He wore the sort-of inscrutable expression that Jeckie — in her mind — called the 'closed book' look. It couldn't be read. Yet it touched

something in her. It was almost as if he wanted to say something. Yet perhaps never would. He looked lonely —which he couldn't possibly be, of course. He was the most important man there. Everyone shook hands and spoke to Andrew. The men monopolized him with their talk of wool sales, and changing times, and the coming of a new breed of cattle. He was a man's man except that his eyes sometimes watched Sheila dancing with this one, and flirting with that one. Just now he'd been looking in that half-reserved, half-challenging way at her — Jeckie. What had he been thinking? That she was the one who was flirting now — with Barton?

She dropped Barton's arm, and turning away from Andrew's disturbing eyes, she watched the dancers again. Then she saw something that made her open her eyes with surprise.

`Look, Barton. Look!' she said joyfully. 'Jane's dancing. Actually dancing.'

`Why not? You wait till they get back to the old-fashioned beat, and start up the Lancers. Or maybe a waltz. These oldies knew how to dance in their day. Besides, Jane's danced with Neil Cameron before tonight —I can tell you that. He's no chicken but he's pretty hot on the swing in square dances. Just wait, Jeckie, till the youngies give over and go for the cigarettes and beer kegs. The floor'll be clear then for the stockmen and the Neil Camerons in the crowd. You'l see real dancing — the wool-shed way. Fast and furious!'

'Goody! But don't call Jane an "oldie", Bart. She's nervous and a little bit old-fashioned, but she hasn't a grey hair in her head yet.'

`Neither she has. My, oh my! We'll have to get Neil a bottle of dye, won't we? He'll have to keep with-it. He's positively grey at the temples.'

`What has that to do with Jane?' Jeckie began. Her eyes had wandered to the ladies seated along the walls and had suddenly caught sight of Aunt Isobel. 'Why look at Aunt Isobel!' she exclaimed. 'Doesn't she look beautiful in that lovely, ruffly, blue dress? And look at her face! She's really smiling too. In a big way. She's watching Jane. She's glad Jane is dancing

She happens to be very fond of Jane,' Barton said

gruffly. His whole manner had suddenly changed. 'And aren't we all? She's one of us. Mallibee family. Hurt Jane and you hurt the lot of us.'

'But, Bart, I didn't mean anything hurtful.' Jeckie said, bewildered. 'I'm just glad. Glad glad, I mean. Oh dear! I've been weeks at Mallibee now and I'm still puzzled by you all. You are such a mystifying lot.'

'For goodness' sake, Bart! I've just seen something over your shoulder and it's about the most mystifying of all.'

'I'm not looking. So you tell me.'

'Get ready to hear then! Andrew is talking to Jason! Actually talking to him!'

"Scuse me while I turn round. I'd need to see that for myself — '

'To believe? Well, I'm glad they're talking to one another. Perhaps they've made it up. The family quarrel I mean.'

'You never can tell, can you?' Barton remarked, almost too carelessly. might have depended on you, sweet Jeckie, to keep a weather eye on your favourite, Jason. And know what he's doing at any given time too '

'Why shouldn't I take an interest in Jason? Everyone talks to him. Somebody is asking for him, or talking to him, all the time. Why not me, too?'

'Vote-catching. That's his line. Talk to everyone, smile at everyone. Give the young matrons the glad eye, and kiss every baby in sight — which could mean you too, honey. He's great on catching votes — is our cousin the Shire President.' Barton sounded very succinct as he swirled Jeckie round and round. 'Come outside under the gum trees,' he commanded. 'Talking of kissing, it's about kissing time, honey. If we don't hurry we'll find the gum trees bagged by all the other love-makers.'

T come outside because I want some cool air. I'll allow one kiss provided it is purely cousinly.'

'Good.' He led her off the floor. 'We'll see just what sort of a kiss that is when we try it, hey?'

I wonder what a cousinly kiss from Jason would be

like? Jeckie thought. Or . . . a kiss from Andrew ...?

Well — with Andrew she did not want a cousinly kiss. It

would be formal. Very dignified. Would it be better than no kiss at all?

The night wore on and Jeckie began to find herself in great demand as a partner. Sheila, however, outshone all the girls. She was not only pretty, and light on her feet, but she was so very bright. The air all round her as she danced or stood talking in a group between dances — was full of laughter. While she danced she threw her head back and her hair floated away in a glorious stream. Everyone, including the young, the 'middles' and the `silver heads', watched her. They smiled and nodded and did a little whispering behind hands.

All except Barton. For some strange reason he glowered. How mystifying they all really were!

Sheila was indeed, Jeckie thought, the star of the ball. Bart ought to be proud of her. Sheila was a dazzling feather in the Ashenden cap, surely!

If Jeckie had a twinge in her heart it was when she saw Andrew dancing with Sheila. The gaiety was still there in Sheila's face, but her manner was more restrained. She was listening to him intently — almost as if they both had forgotten they were dancing at all.

A little later Jason danced with Jeckie, and while this enchanting state of affairs was going on, she could not help peeking over his shoulder to see how the rest of the Ashendens were taking it. They weren't smiling, but they were all watching and — except Barton — wore very polite expressions on their faces. Barton was looking superior now, but only to tease her, she thought. She caught sight of Andrew once, and he was looking at her. Then he turned on his heel and went out through the main door.

So now I know, Jeckie thought sadly. In spite of his being on talking terms with Jason, Andrew really minds! He thinks I'm letting them down.

But what of the others? Are they merely hiding their Ashenden wounds from the public gaze?

Privately she prayed that they didn't really mind. Then she could ask Aunt Isobel if she could go sky-flying with Jason. How to go about it? She was having such a heavenl
y time — except for Andrew's di
sapproval
— she couldn't bear

to think of it being spoilt by any aftermath.

Andrew danced with Jane and later with his hostess from Morilla homestead. Then he went outside with Sheila to eat sun-dew melon and ice-cream along with Frank Carson and another girl. Once, just once, Jeckie thought he was coming across the floor to ask her to dance, but the stranger—Neil Cameron—came up to speak to him. Meantime the overseer from Mallibee asked her to dance. So that, she thought regretfully, was that!

And so the day and night came to an end.

'Did you enjoy it, Jeckie, my dear?' Aunt Isobel asked as they said good night on the homestead veranda.

'Oh yes, Aunt Isobel. Thank you so much for letting me come to Mallibee. And for bringing me over here for the week-end. I've had the loveliest time ever.'

'Ever?' Aunt Isobel looked faintly surprised. Privately she was concluding from Jeckie's happy manner that her great-niece must indeed have got over the affair with that unsuitable young man in the Navy. For that she was greatly relieved. Meantime, where had Barton taken himself off? He should be here saying 'good night' to Jeckie. She would mention it to Jane later. Jane could discreetly speak to Barton about it in the morning. Barton had rather overplayed all that nonsense with Sheila later in the evening! It was ungallant to try to make Jeckie jealous. Bad manners too, of course. Barton never really did have a proper sense of occasion. Such a pity!

Meantime — where was Jane?

'Everybody seems to be behaving in a very unusual way tonight,' she said aloud, turning to go to her room.

'But it's an unusual night, isn't it?' Jeckie said. 'I mean, you only have a community barbecue once a year, don't you?'

'Yes, of course.'

'And didn't Jane look lovely? Quite pretty.'

'Jane, my dear, was a very pretty girl in her time,' Aunt Isobel said primly. 'I'm surprised you have not noticed that possibility before, Juliet.' She turned and looked at the girl thoughtfully. 'Sometimes I do wish you would use your proper name. Juliet is so much more dignified —'

'Than Jeckie? I'm sorry, Aunt Isobel. Juliet is a nice name, I know. But I've always been teased about it. All those jokes about Romeo! Ever since I was a mere child and didn't know who Romeo was. Then my mother only calls me "Juliet" when she is cross with me. It has subtle undertones - if you know what I mean. You aren't cross with me, are you, Aunt Isobel?'

The older lady had turned to her door again, but now looked back at Jeckie. 'Why on earth should I be cross with you, my child?'

'Well, I sort-of . . . well . . . danced with Jason Bassett. I know he's very unpopular with you and I thought you might mind.'

Aunt Isobel considered Jeckie through the half light from the hall. 'I think the time has come,' she said slowly, 'when we should forget all animosities. I'm getting far too old to be troubled with quarrels. Jeckie, if you see Jane as you go out, will you tell her I would like to speak to her. Not after my bedroom light is off, of course.'