Wild Colonial Girl by P.D.R. Lindsay

Author:P.D.R. Lindsay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: friendship, womens fiction, victorian, gentle romance, women in history, clean wholesome romance, australia new zealand 18981900, cheerful uplit, historical fiction 19th century, womens fiction family life
Publisher: P.D.R. Lindsay

Chapter Thirteen

That first day everyone tried to find their sea legs and a comfortable space on deck. Melisande wrapped herself in her papa’s made-over tweed overcoat, still smelling faintly and comfortingly of him, a heavy woollen shawl over her shoulders, and an old fashioned poke bonnet with side wings and broad ribbon ties. She found a place halfway down the top deck. By leaning sideways against the railings she managed to be comfortable and observe the passing coastline.

The Waikari sailed near to the shore, close enough to give her a frisson, a whisper along her spine, of fear. She allowed herself a mental shiver and then common sense reared its practical head. This captain had sailed his ship down here many times. She gave herself up to astonishment. The coast, so rugged and wild, rocky and yet green with trees, a real wilderness, astounding in its beauty. It wasn’t a savage, terrifying wildness. It was as though the bones of the country, its true nature, were exposed but lightly covered over. Rocks with seaweeds, the trees with lichens and ferns, made a mild, softening effect feathering the wild harshness, which allowed an observer to feel awe yet enjoy the natural world without being overwhelmed.

So this was New Zealand in its pure, untouched state, a kind country in comparison with Australia. She liked it. A brisk wind chopped the waves upon the rocks with a splash of white foam and spumy spray. She might sketch the patterns the spray made through the air; perhaps a design for a brooch could come of it. The wind tugged at her and she retied the ribbons of her old-fashioned bonnet. Charlotte might laugh, but her ears were warm and the bonnet could not be snatched away by a sudden gust as the fashionable little hats or young men’s caps or homburgs were.

Aware of someone hovering unobtrusively at her elbow, she turned her head and found Alexander. With a diffident smile he offered a pair of binoculars.

“I brought my father’s as well as my own, but my brothers and mother are not interested in using them now. Would you care to use them?”

Melisande gave him her friendliest smile, treating him as if he were a younger brother. “Thank you, Alexander, that was thoughtful of you. Please do point out things of interest to me. I know so little of the flora and fauna of New Zealand.”

“Best adjust the binoculars first, then we can try and see the seals on the rocks. We passed some in that other bay. There might be a penguin or two and we should see terns and shags. There are three types of terns we might see.”

The enthusiast took off, so. Melisande propped her elbows on the rail, steadied her binoculars and listened to his ready stream of comments. The white-fronted terns skimmed the water, but most of the other birds were on the shore and easier to pinpoint and focus on. It took several attempts before she could find the seals on the rocks.

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