motioned him in and they sat down. ‘Well, son what is it you wish to discuss with me?’
‘Sir, I have been a fool. It seems I have made one of the girls in the village pregnant.’
‘Oh my God, do you love her?’
‘I hardly know her.’
‘What’s her name?’
‘Cathy.’
‘Does she have a last name?’
‘Sorry, yes, of course, Haines.’
‘Did you know her father’s one of my tenants? He’s one of my best.’
George sighed. ‘So, what do you think I should do?’
‘You don’t have too many options. You either marry the girl or pay her off.’
‘I don’t want to marry her. She’s below my station.’
Harold frowned. ‘You don’t have much of a station in life at this very moment, George.’
‘No sir, I suppose I don’t. Would you lend me the money to pay her off?’
‘How much were you thinking?’
‘I’m not sure.” He looked helpless. “Do you think £1,000 would be enough?’
‘Well, if I were her I’d refuse,’ Harold said dryly. ‘I would think a figure more like £2,000 would be appropriate.’
‘That’s a lot of money, Father. I’m not sure how I could pay it back.’
‘Don’t worry about that now. What you need to do immediately is contact the girl and make the offer.’
‘Thank you, sir, I appreciate your support.’
‘Don’t thank me, George, I’m doing it for your mother and myself more than anything.’
George rode into Yeovil next morning with the intention to make the offer to Cathy. She worked at the village bakery, and as George entered the shop, she was bringing a tray of pies out from the wood-fired oven. She saw George and indicated that he should meet her at the rear of the shop.
‘Hello, George. Have you decided to make an honest woman of me?’
‘Not exactly.’ Before she could respond, he stumbled on, ‘Cathy, I am willing to pay you £2,000 to assist you in raising the child. You will be able to buy a cottage and have money left over.’
‘When do I receive the money?’ she asked. Her face gave nothing away.
‘I will get an agreement drawn up by my solicitor. You will have the money as soon as you sign it.’
‘Let it be so.’
‘I’ll inform you when the document is ready to sign. It shouldn’t be more than a week.’
The two young people bade one another farewell. George returned to the bank and Cathy returned to the bakery.
Cathy couldn’t help thinking about the money all day. She was champing at the bit to finish work so she could see her true love and give him the news. The payoff would enable them to get married and have their baby in wedlock.
Cathy’s deception would alter George’s life forever.
The following week, George arranged to meet Cathy and she signed the agreement, ensuring she and her child would make no further claim.
The same day Harold summoned his son into his study. ‘George, I hope this has been a lesson to you.’
George nodded sheepishly, but his father hadn’t finished.
‘Your lack of judgment has concerned both your mother and me. We have decided that a reasonable course of action will be for you to immigrate to Australia.’
‘Australia? Why there?’
‘My business contacts inform me it is a land of opportunity. It doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Once you’ve made your fortune you can return home to England.’
‘I have no money, Father. How will I live?’
‘We have decided to gift you the sum of £5,000, which will be your inheritance. Don’t waste it.’
‘So when should I depart?’
‘Here is a first-class ticket on the SS Great Britain. It is reputed to be the most modern and fastest ship afloat.’
George boarded the ship September 1, 1856, bound for Melbourne, Australia, together with the other 120 first-class passengers. The majority of the passengers, 580 in all, were housed in less salubrious quarters.
In God We Trust
Chapter 3
Oxford University 1856
John Davies was the son of a Church of England Minister, the Reverent James Davies. His parish was King’s Walden in Hertfordshire.
(The author’s ancestors lived in King’s Walden from the 1600s)
James was very proud of his church, which had been constructed in the 13th century. He was also proud of his son John, who was studying theology at Christ College, Oxford. James’s father was the previous minister at St Mary’s; therefore, the minister had the expectation his son would follow the family tradition.
John was a tall, slim man with red hair and blue eyes. He enjoyed University life, and although theology wasn’t his first choice, he felt he owed it to his parents to continue the lineage at St Mary’s.
John was an active sportsman, playing in the college rugby team in winter and the first eleven in the cricket team in summer. Another interest John had was chess; he became a chess master in his second year; consequently, he was appointed team captain leading Oxford in the annual chess tournament against the traditional foe, Cambridge. Oxford won for the first time in ten years under John’s leadership.
The other extra curricula activity John enjoyed was being a member of the Oxford theatre group. He had roles in a number of Shakespearean plays, including The Merchant of Venice where he played the role of Shylock. He also played Lady Macbeth, due to a shortage of female actors at the time.
The aspiring minister also developed a love for playing cards, in particular; five-card poker. Every Friday night a poker game was held in one of the college’s student union halls. To allay suspicion, they called themselves The Oxford Bridge Club.
John won significantly more than he
