The Black Swan

My mother died last week. It has been terrible. I miss her so much. You know she had been ill for a long time and it had to come. I feel lost and lonely. She has always been there for me, and I don’t know what I shall do without her. It’s a great shock, though I have seen it coming for months now. She made me promise that I would come back to England. I said I would and she was so happy and relieved when she had letters from you and Celeste saying that I could come.

Well, the time is here. There are some people from England who were out here visiting their relations in Melbourne. We knew the Melbourne family and, before she died, my mother asked them that if it were possible-by which she meant that if she died before the visitors left-she would be grateful to them if they would let me go back to England with them. She had all the instructions written out and I believe she wanted to die in good time, so that I should be able to go with them. Well, it did work out that way, and I am leaving next month so ... unless I hear news from you and Celeste to say you won’t have me ... I shall be coming with them. I heard what happened to your father. It was in the papers here... not much about it ... just that he had been shot by a terrorist because he had obstructed some Bill. It must have been a shock for you as you saw it happen.

Lucie, I do so much want to see you. I have often thought of you and wondered about you. In all this terrible time there is one thing I look forward to and that is seeing you.

I’ll let you know dates and arrangements when I am more certain.

In the meantime, I send my love and the hope that I shall be with you before long.

Belinda

I showed the letter to Celeste who gave me hers to read. It was more brief.

Dear Aunt Celeste,

My mother is dead now and her last wish was that I should come to England. She said you had very kindly promised that I could come to you. I will try not to be a burden, but if I can stay until I know what I have to do, I shall be very grateful.

I have written to Lucie and told her about Mr. and Mrs. Wilberforce who have been visiting relations in Melbourne and are going back to England next month. They have promised to let me travel with them, which will be easier for me. I will let you know details of our sailing soon.

Your affectionate and grateful niece,

Belinda

My spirits lifted a little at the prospect of seeing Belinda. The thought kept me from wondering all the time what was happening to Joel. Celeste was uneasy. I could understand that. She could not help thinking that Belinda had been a source of trouble in the past; but I think she too felt that the prospect of her arrival did stop us brooding all the time as to Joel’s fate. We showed the letters to Rebecca.