Page 45 of Lizzie’s Spirit

Over the next two days, Elizabeth and Darcy toured the surrounding neighbourhood.

Journeying on horseback, they left the camp under the care of Sgt.

Monogan, Harshita, and the two girls. On the first day, they rode towards Stone Quarry Creek, some ten miles from the camp.

In the course of the day's excursion, which was again through a beautiful, rich country consisting of open forest, hills, and dales, they met with numerous herds of wild cattle, amounting in all to about six hundred head.

On the second day, they made for the summit of Mount Hunter, from which the view was exceptionally fine, but were disappointed concerning the height of both it and nearby Mount Taurus, which hardly deserved to be called mountains and would only be classed as hills in most other countries.

For Elizabeth, they compared favourably to the hills near Meryton, and she took some delight in the familiarity of taking some refreshment on them—as she had as a child in her native Hertfordshire.

It rained a good deal during the night, which delayed their departure before setting out for St. Andrews at eleven o’clock. After a pleasant, easy ride, they arrived at Mr. Thompson's house, situated on the Bunbury Curran Creek, at about a quarter before four o'clock in the evening.

“What a lovely situation,” said Elizabeth. “The scenes in all directions are so pleasing to the eye. And the buildings are of such good order and regularity—it’s the best farm we’ve seen in the country!”

“And all completed in the past nine months,” concurred Darcy. “I’m highly impressed by Mr. Thompson’s industry. ”

The gentleman had built an excellent farmhouse with nearby offices, garden, and stockyards, and felled a great quantity of timber, clearing a field of ten acres for corn, a great part of which had already been sown.

Darcy turned to Mr. Joseph Ward, the steward who had been expecting their company. “Mr. Ward,” said Darcy, “your farm is exceptionally well-ordered and very neat. You’re to be commended for your hard work. How much stock does the property carry?”

“The horned cattle consist of about ninety head,” replied the man proudly, “and the sheep consist of about fourteen hundred—they’re in prime condition. The land hereabouts is very fertile and good for both pasturage and tillage.”

They were presented with an excellent dinner, and retired for the night well pleased with the exertions of the day; though, in truth, it had not been as arduous as the previous two days’ explorations.

They arose early the next morning, and following a hearty breakfast, they determined to visit Varro Ville and Mr. Robert Townson.

Since his farm was close by, they walked through open forest until they came to vineyard terracing near the house, which was built on the lower slopes of Bunbury Curran Hill .

A fine kitchen garden occupied sloping ground to the northwest. Mr. Townson had only recently completed his house, which was now occupied by himself, the steward Mr. Miles Byrne, and his wife, who acted as housekeeper-cook.

They were greeted at the porch by Mrs. Byrne. “Ye must be Mrs. Darcy and yer man. Welcome to Varro Ville, ma’am. Mr. Townson is with Mr. Byrne—I’ll send for him. But please, will ye come inside while I prepare some tea?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Byrne,” replied Elizabeth. “When you’re ready, I’ll introduce you to Maria Mitchell, of whom I wrote in our correspondence.”

Maria remained at the door until Elizabeth ushered her inside.

The girl stood nervously in the small vestibule, looking around her new home.

“Better to do so now,” said the housekeeper with a kindly smile.

“She looks a practical miss. How do ye do, me dear? As ye may have gathered, I’m Mrs. Byrne, the housekeeper and also cook.

Mrs. Darcy wrote highly of ye—I believe ye know your letters and numbers, and have been trained for a maid-of-all-work. ”

“Indeed,” said Elizabeth. “Maria is also excellent with a needle—she should be of great benefit to you.”

“I’m no great one for wasting time. Come on, lass; ye can help me prepare the tea. There are also some biscuits ye can carry from the kitchen.” With that, introductions were done, and Maria followed Mrs. Byrne out of the room. Elizabeth and Darcy, together with Mr. Garby, entered the small parlour.

“I would be obliged, Mr. Garby,” said Elizabeth. “Would it be possible to check on Maria now and then? Mrs. Byrne seems a goodly lady, but Maria is only young. And being displaced from her home of the past five years must be very unnerving.”

“Of course,” he replied, “my Sarah and I care much for children—we’ll ensure she’s well taken care of.”

At that moment, Mr. Townson entered the room, peering closely at Darcy and Elizabeth. He was already acquainted with Mr. Garby. “Mr. Darcy, welcome to Varro Ville. Have you brought the girl? Of course, Mrs. Byrne will have taken care of her.”

His abrupt manner surprised Elizabeth, but she recalled her father recounting that many men of science were focused on the corporeal and had little skill for dealing with people.

“Mr. Townson, before we continue, there are some conditions associated with Maria Mitchell’s employment,” said Elizabeth. “None are onerous, but I would prefer we have a common accord.”

He stared at her for a few moments, then directed his attention to Darcy. “My understanding, sir, is you are a Doctor of Laws from Trinity. My degree, the equivalent thereof, is from Gottingen. What say you to that?”

“I would say, Mr. Townson, that you should answer my wife’s concerns about young Maria. The purpose of our visit is to ensure she’s well cared for.” Darcy looked with surprise at the gentleman. Was he deaf, and did not hear Elizabeth?

“Mrs. Byrne is responsible for her—Mrs. Darcy can address such concerns to her.”

“But are you not her employer?” persisted Darcy. “There’s the matter of the ten pounds required to be paid to the orphanage, and conditions such as clothing, free days, wages, and the like.”

Townson became agitated, and both Darcy and Elizabeth saw he would be of no use to them over the matter.

As he said, Elizabeth should address such issues to Mrs. Byrne.

His disinterest was peculiar; that he would trust a servant to agree the terms. She felt it best to change the topic and speak to the housekeeper later.

“My father has a copy of your Philosophy of Mineralogy in his library. It’s a fascinating book.

Do you believe that mountains are more often those rocks left behind when the surrounding country has sunk down or eroded away, or are they raised up in some manner?

What do you believe, sir, is the origin of the Blue Mountains here in New South Wales? ”

Townson frowned; he pursed his lips, his features tightening. “My thought, Mr. Darcy, is that a man in your position, as judge-advocate, should have a more respectful wife.”

“Whatever do you mean, Mr. Townson?”

“Mrs. Darcy is too outspoken. I’m sure that femininity does not encompass pretence as to understanding the Science of Mineralogy.

To be sure, if her speech was intended to flatter me, it has fallen on deaf ears—to mix a metaphor, on most infertile ground.

To parrot what her father—clearly an esteemed scholar—has said in her presence is unseemly; a vanity of which none can approve. ”

Darcy looked at Elizabeth in amazement. He was about to utter a rebuke when Elizabeth subtly shook her head—clearly, Mr. Townson’s opinion of women in society had scarcely left the previous century.

“I shall retire and talk to Mrs. Byrne. Mr. Darcy, there are many issues that you wish to discuss with Mr. Townson. Good day to you, sir. I’ll take my refreshment elsewhere, as my presence may not be to your liking.

” She stood, gave Townson the barest of curtseys, and exited the room.

As she left, she heard him speak to Darcy.

“You need to take her in hand, Mr. Darcy, but I can see you’ve shown her the place she occupies in any respectable household.

It’s well that Mrs. Darcy seeks the female company of Mrs. Byrne, a woman who shows proper respect for the superior male.

But I am a Doctor , not Mister , as she addressed me.

” He paused. “You, sir, are the highest law officer in the land. You must take my side, for I’ve been grievously abused since I came to this country.

” He stood and walked to a cabinet set against a wall.

Taking a sheaf of papers, he handed one to Darcy.

“See, here’s a letter from Sir George Shee, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with the promise of a grant of two thousand acres. But did Bligh honour it? No! And neither did Paterson, Foveaux, nor Macquarie.”

“I believe, Doctor Townson,” replied Darcy, trying to maintain his equanimity after the insult paid to Elizabeth, “that your Varro Ville allotment satisfies the intent of Shee’s instruction.

Further, you received both cattle and servants from the government.

What would you have me do? And if we are equal, then you must also refer to me as Doctor . ”

Townson squinted at Darcy. He was accustomed to being the only man with a high degree in the colony.

Moreover, while he had studied at the University of Gottingen, he had not sat for his doctor-examen .

Townson possessed a fondness for amphibians of all kinds and animals in general—perhaps more so than his fellow humans, whom he constantly annoyed with his intemperate address.

Nevertheless, he recognised that Darcy would not be intimidated by his academic credentials: a Doctor of Laws from Trinity was, in fact, superior to his degree from Gottingen.

Further, he knew from the merchants in Sydney that Darcy had connections to the highest level of government in London, superior to those of a mere under-secretary such as Shee.

Reluctantly, he moved the conversation on to farming in the Minto district, the fertility of the soils, and the success he was having establishing his vineyard.

After some time had elapsed, Elizabeth rejoined them in the parlour.

Darcy stood, thanked Townson for his hospitality, and gratefully exited the house.

The interview had been exhausting. He now understood why Macquarie had placed Townson on his list of subversive persons who, he believed, wrote disparagingly of him to London.

“I’m determined to take the view from the top of Bunbury Curran Hill. And I believe, William, you need the exercise after your encounter with Mr.—no, Doctor—Townson!”

Mr. Garby returned to St. Andrews. Elizabeth and Darcy began the ascent unaccompanied. She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Was he so terrible? I hardly knew whether to cry or to laugh at his attitude to women.”

“And I to his feelings of grievance against the government.” Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand, and together they climbed the steep declivity towards the summit of the hill.

For Elizabeth, the experience reclaimed memories of Longbourn and Oakham Mount; for Darcy, the ascent of Masson Hill near Matlock, the seat of his uncle, the earl.

They were highly gratified by the extensive view from the top of the hill over the surrounding countryside; in the distance, they could see the smoke from the chimneys of Sydney and the campfires lining the shores of Port Jackson.

Afterwards, they descended to St. Andrews and partook of a simple nuncheon of cold meats, bread, and butter.

Elizabeth was disappointed that Townson was so prejudiced against women, for she had hoped for some discussion with him about the geology of the area—how the majesty of the cliffs of the Blue Mountains, which had resisted all attempts to pass them, had been formed.

She recognised Varro Ville was named after the Roman polymath, Marcus Terentius Varro—that Townson saw himself as a modern incarnation of the man was clear.

Certainly, he was a polymath proficient in the sciences and spoke five languages.

Perhaps, if he knew that I, a woman, was fluent in eight, she mused, he may have been overcome by a great despondency; though, I suspect, he would think my proficiency merely that of a parrot mimicking the speech of superior men.

That afternoon, they explored the tract of land lying to the southwest of St. Andrews; it was vacant and not yet surveyed.

The land was, as expected, well watered and fit for both tillage and pasturage.

Both Elizabeth and Darcy were impressed by the potential of the property and made the decision to request that they be allocated the block.

There was much to consider because the major part of their time would be spent in Sydney—Elizabeth as matron and midwife, and Darcy in the tribunals and courts.

But settling in the district, planting roots in the colony, had a siren call that could not be ignored.

They recognised the danger: to settle here would mean permanent separation from their families in England.

But otherwise, their residence in New South Wales would be meaningless, aimlessly letting time pass with no direction or purpose.