Australian Hospital Read Online Free

elderly and middle-aged people. Only that sort of people can afford the high fare. The younger group go Tourist. I wish I could have gone Tourist by myself, but Mummy and Daddy would take pink fits.”
    She had jumped up from the bed, and was shaking out some dresses from a wardrobe trunk. They followed the trend of the deceptively simple style she was wearing. Candace could not resist crying out in genuine admiration.
    “Yes, they’re all right. I like a good line. Isn’t it funny, though, Candace? I go to Montague’s and pay him a fortune for something to look like the suit you are wearing, and which probably you ran up yourself for thirty shillings.”
    “Two pounds,” said Candace. She laughed. There was something warm and irresistible about Rosemary. You could not be offended at anything she said.
    “We’ve pots of money,” chattered Rosemary uninhibitedly. “Wool, you know. A few years ago Daddy was struggling—yes, literally struggling. Then bang! Up goes the price of the clip, and we’re rolling in dough.” She used the slang with obvious enjoyment, probably, suspected Candace, because her mother was not there to object.
    The girl shook out more dresses.
    “Money’s all right, I suppose, but sometimes I think it’s rather like first-class on Red Plimsoll—a bit dull.”
    “I can’t imagine you would ever be dull,” said Candace frankly.
    “Oh, I have lots of fun, I admit. Life is a round of pleasure back home. But—” Rosemary hung up a pink ballerina dress in the space that Candace had offered, and sighed a little as she did so.
    “Tell me about you, Candace,” she invited.
    “There’s very little. I’m a nurse.”
    “Oh, I say, what fun. What are you doing here then? And aren’t you rather a goose? I mean, if it were me, I would be going on some line where there would be hosts and hosts of young things, not near-millionaires napping on deck, or playing bridge.”
    Candace explained her position briefly. Rosemary nodded as she hung more frocks.
    “And where are you bound, Candace?”
    “Sydney.”
    “That’s my stamping-ground. At least, when we are not stopping at Bibaringa.”
    Candace was interested. The smooth cadences of the aboriginal names intrigued her. She asked its meaning.
    “Mountain, though there’s not one in sight, really. Our station is on the plains. There is a sort of rise, about as big as a glorified pudding basin, and after so much flat I suppose it achieves height. Where will you be in Sydney?”
    “I shall be out of it, really. I believe about fifteen miles. A home called Manathunka.”
    “Oh, yes, I know. It’s for arthritic, and established polio, and spinal and muscular cases, isn’t it? All rather hopeless.”
    Candace nodded. “Have you been there?”
    Rosemary looked ashamed. “I’m on the Younger Set Committee. I am one of the hostesses at the Annual Ball. I sell buttons to susceptible gentlemen on Manathunka Friday, but I’ve never set foot in the place. That’s what I mean, Candace. What good am I except to buy things from Montague?” She paused in her unpacking for a while, her pretty little face clouded with doubt.
    “Your parents are on board?”
    “Yes. Mummy will be thrilled when she sees what a good influence you are.” Candace laughed. “Oh, I mean it. You only have to look. They wanted me to have a single, but I said I’d go blue-mouldy by myself. As it is, I’m beginning to brighten somewhat. That was a nice number you were with. What’s his name?”
    “Stephen Halliday.”
    “Mmm.” Rosemary tasted it reflectively.
    A gong sounded, and she put away the frock she was holding, and turned and entwined her arm in Candace’s.
    “Tea. Let’s go. It might be my last snack for a while. I’m a rotten sailor.”
    The two girls went out of the cabin along to the saloon, where dishes of cakes and muffins were being distributed to the sound of much talk and laughter.
    It seemed that Rosemary’s words were to be true.
    That night