Every Man for Himself - Beryl Bainbridge [53]
‘Who brought me back here?’
‘The Jew with the curls. The one Mrs Morgan’s taken a shine to. He and I took you up on deck. You were frightfully sick. That’s probably why you look so well now.’
‘I feel brand new,’ I said, and meant it. ‘From now on I’m going to be as dull as ditch water and turn my life around. You’re talking to a serious man.’
‘You had cause,’ he said. ‘It must have been horrid for you, Wallis ticking you off and all.’ At this I started to think of the all and quickly summoned up the image of that giant foot.
‘If you really are going to be dull,’ he went on, ‘perhaps you’d spend the morning with me. They’re holding a church service in the saloon at ten.’ He stared at me so earnestly and so humbly I could have hugged him. ‘Dear, sweet Charlie,’ I replied, ‘I can think of nothing more exciting.’ At this, even his nose flushed pink.
Captain Smith conducted Divine Service. Passengers from all classes attended, those from the third fairly gawping to find themselves in such opulent surroundings. They were sent to stand at the front which was a mercy because some of the children smelled and many scratched their heads continuously. I couldn’t see Adele, but then, for her, a visit to the top decks hardly ranked as a novelty. Nor was Wallis present. I’d half hoped she would be, thinking she’d be less inclined to give me the cold shoulder in the middle of a religious service. Then again, it would ill suit her to adopt a holier than thou attitude when only a few hours before – here, I brought that foot down sharp.
Smith read the service from the company’s own prayer book. It didn’t seem all that different from the Book of Common Prayer except it appeared to go on longer. The orchestra accompanied the hymn singing. Charlie sang his head off. The cellist got an attack of hiccups; every time his chest jerked his bow bounced on the strings. My shoulders started to shake but Melchett shot me such a look of reproach that I checked myself. The only thing that kept me awake was the kerfuffle that broke out when a strapping woman from steerage belted a boy round the ear for fidgeting and he kicked her back. That and the singing of ‘Eternal Father Strong To Save’. Hearing those ragged voices begin the ascending plea, O hear us when we cry to Thee for those in peril on the sea, it was hard to remain unmoved. One or two ladies, overcome with emotion, audibly sniffed. I was idly studying the elaborate plasterwork of the ceiling when I became aware that someone at the front had turned round to look at me. It was Mrs Straus’s maid, who had once worked for Sissy. Instantly I remembered my disgraceful behaviour on the stairs.
As soon as the service was over I went in search of Mr and Mrs Straus, running them to earth in the Palm Court. They accepted my apology kindly enough. Mrs Straus said she couldn’t be cross with me this morning of all mornings, or anyone else for that matter, because she and Mr Straus anticipated communicating by wireless telegraphy with their son and his wife who were on their way to Europe on board the passing ship Amerika. She hadn’t the least notion of how such miracles were performed but was grateful they could be accomplished on her behalf. I asked Mr Straus if he’d been approached by a Mr Rosenfelder who was intending to visit Macy’s in the coming week. He said he hadn’t but if I would point him out the next time we were in the lounge he would willingly have a word with him.
Feeling virtuous I rejoined Melchett and spent a very dull half-hour indeed reading in the library. Or rather Charlie read. Every book I dipped into seemed to carry some sentence or other that reminded me of the night before. I had the steward scurrying up and down the library steps like a squirrel hastening to gather nuts before winter set in.
Finally I told Charlie I was in need of exercise and emerged on deck in time to hear the mighty hooting of the ship’s whistles, which,