Jane Orcutt - All the Tea in China

I thought it wise to be agreeable, so I smiled. Her eyes connected with mine as though we shared a secret, and my memory was restored. Though previously she had worn a nondescript brown dress with a faded gray pelisse, there was no disguising her plainness of face nor sharpness of eyes. She was the missionary in Phineas Snowe’s group who had accompanied us to feed the poor.

“You are Julia Whipple,” I said.

She nodded. “I look a bit different now, I suppose.”

“Why, yes.” It would be impolite to inquire, but I wondered if there were some missionary rule about saving one’s finest clothes for travel.

She gestured at the clothing she wore. “Fortunately for you, I brought those horrid things with me on the trip. Along with that nightgown you’re wearing.”

It was not the height of fashion to be sure, but it seemed a perfectly decent nightgown. “What happened to my dress?”

She shrugged. “I tried to wash it as best as I could, but I don’t know as you’ll want to wear it again.” She paused. “You’ve a lot of gumption in you, I’ll say that. I pegged you as a lady, but I wouldn’t have dreamed you’d be able to hide for so long in a cow stall.”

“How long was I there?”

“Three days since we left England before you were discovered.”

“I thought it was angels who attended me.”

Julia laughed. “It was a sailor sent to muck the stalls. Fortunately for you, one of those young officers was with him, and he connected you with Phineas right away. Snowe accepted the blame for your presence and had you brought to his cabin.”

Despite my previous anger at him, I felt a flush of gratitude. “I hope he was not chastised unduly for my behavior.”

“Another time the captain might have been angered, but your weakened state made your welfare everyone’s primary concern. But the ship’s doctor pronounced that a decent rest and some food should revive you. Are you hungry?”

“Famished,” I said.

“Then I’ll bring you some broth and let Phineas and the captain know that you’re awake.”

While I awaited her return, I pondered over the fact that she constantly called Snowe by his first name, a behavior that was most unseemly in polite society. Even if they worked the same mission field in the Far East, she should certainly follow conventional address.

I greedily ate the broth that Miss Whipple brought and felt quite revived. I felt even more so after she brought a bowl of water and a cloth so that I could clean myself. When I grew faint, she whisked the bowl from my hands and set about wiping my face and arms herself. At last she smiled at me, giving the tip of my nose a little swipe as though I were a child. “That’s enough for today, Miss Goodrich. We’ve a long voyage ahead of us and plenty of time for cleaning away the grime.”

She set the bowl on a small table, her movements steady and sure as she wrung water from the cloth. She was obviously accustomed to service work, for none of my Oxford friends-except Flora, of course-would have managed with such efficiency. Cathy would have giggled and avowed that she knew nothing of cleaning or bathing an invalid.

“Your service must be needed greatly in China,” I said.

Miss Whipple set the cloth in the bowl and turned toward me. “I hope so.”

“Have you ever been there before?”

She shook her head.

“But you have done charitable work in England? London, perhaps? I do not believe I have seen you in Oxford before that day I joined you and Mr. Snowe.”

“Yes, I have been in London. If I lived in your hometown, I daresay you would not have ever made my acquaintance, though.”

My conscience pricked. I had not always been a doer of charitable deeds, but surely she did not believe I would ever turn up my nose at more faithful servants. “I should have been glad to meet you,” I said. “I have a notion that we would have gotten along splendidly.”

She looked at me curiously for a moment, then burst into a smile. “You truly don’t know, do you?”

I cocked my head, puzzled.

A knock sounded at the door, then who should enter but Phineas Snowe. “There you are,” Miss Whipple said. “You can see that our patient is much improved. Her complexion seems to have more of a pinkish hue.”

Snowe looked at me solemnly, then approached. Wood creaking, the ship listed a trifle, and the bowl of water nearly slid to the floor but for Snowe’s quick catch. His movement reminded me of a cat, but he replaced the bowl on the table without a moment’s hesitation. When he turned back to me, his eyes were unfathomable. “As you can see, Miss Goodrich, life onboard a ship is not for the faint of heart.”

Miss Whipple laughed. “I think she did fine by herself these past days, Phineas. No need to give the girl a lecture.”

He frowned at her. “She could have spoilt everything and caused our delay. We will be fortunate not to incur the captain’s wrath as it is.”

“I’m sure you can explain it satisfactorily… if you haven’t already.”

“I’ve done my best. The rest is dependent on fortune. And Miss Goodrich’s cooperation, of course.”

“I am sorry for the trouble I have caused,” I said, eager to put their minds at rest. “If I had not been so convinced of the rightness of my actions, I would not have undertaken to come aboard.”

“You are a stowaway, Miss Goodrich. There can be no rightness in that.”

I lowered my eyes. “I understand, Mr. Snowe. It is not a good way for a missionary to begin her life’s calling.”

He stared at me a moment as though seeing me for the first time. “Then you truly believe that you are to be a missionary? That is why you followed me to the Dignity?”

I nodded. He was abominably full of himself-believing that I followed him because he had courted me, indeed!- but he was still a man of the cloth. “Serving alongside you and Miss Whipple among the poor in Oxford convinced me of my calling. I do not seek a husband, as you supposed, but a life of service.”

Snowe looked to Miss Whipple as though for help. She crossed her arms and smiled. “She wants to join us in China,” she said.

“You know very well that is not possible,” he said to her.

“But why?” I asked, bewildered that I was summarily dismissed from the conversation. “Surely you have seen that I am resourceful. Despite my upbringing, I am not afraid of hard work. I am also most learned. I can read the Bible in Greek and Hebrew, I speak several languages, and I even brought the Gospel According to St. Luke in Chinese that you gave me, Mr. Snowe. I am certain that if Miss Whipple is willing to serve, that I can accomplish the same.”

“I believe she means it, Phineas,” she said.

He glared at her. “Julia, why don’t you remove the bowl of water from this cabin. I will speak to Miss Goodrich alone.”

Still grinning, she retrieved the bowl and held it against her hip, water splashing her green satin dress. “What are you going to tell her?”

He glared at her again, and she retreated for the door, laughing. When she was gone, he turned to me. “Miss Goodrich, your decision to follow me was most ill-advised. I am certain that your uncle must be heartsick.”

At the mention of Uncle Toby, my own heart felt ill. “I left him a note explaining my intentions. He will know that I am in your good care since he approved of your work. You have already shown me great kindness by bringing me to restored health.”

“Nevertheless-”

“Though why you wanted me to agree to your ruse that we are brother and sister is yet unclear. As I seem to have more of my wits about me than the last time we spoke of the matter, please explain.”

“You are aware that this is an East Indiaman-a ship belonging to the East India Company?”