rather horrid actually.” She shuddered at the memory of sly, wicked little boys intent on causing her harm.
“Were you with them long?”
“About four months. I could stand it no longer. After that family I obtained work in a house of a mill owner, but the child, a little girl, was ill and weak a great deal of the time. She died... Then, I saw an article in the newspaper about Miss Maria Rye’s scheme of sending educated women and high class servants out to the colonies. I remembered my father speaking about her. He’d read all her letters she’d sent to The Times. He thought she was doing a grand thing, helping others.”
“Oh yes, that Society. Miss Rye was touring here not so long ago.”
“Yes, she returned to England last year. I saw her give a speech on her return. It prompted me to come out here. She does very good work, bringing the plights of the unfortunates to the public’s awareness.”
“I once heard my mother denouncing the fact that the FMCE Scheme was meant to send out governesses, when in actual fact we didn’t need them. What is needed here are good lower servants, or so mother says.”
Nicola went to the fire and prodded a log with the iron poker. “There is more than one scheme, too. Miss Rye herself assists housemaids to emigrate, for in England we were told the colonies were crying out for good servants and then, there is the governess scheme.”
Meg shrugged. “All I know is that many educated women are landing in Sydney and have no positions to go to. Australian born women, who are educated should be allowed the first choice of any situation before ‘new comers.”
“Like you, you mean.” Nicola frowned. “Do you really believe that?”
“Of course. Mother is on some church committee and she has told me herself about the dire circumstances that have reduced women to living on credit and appealing for help to ease their debt. I have heard many tales of women thinking they can walk straight into employment when they land, but find there is no one to meet them. Do women in England honestly think there is such an abundance of positions here that they can pick and choose?”
“Some do, yes. I did. You’ve no idea how desperate the situation is for women back home.” Deeply interested, Nicola placed the poker back in its stand. “Where do they go, these women with no contacts?”
“Lodging houses or hotels, like you did. The last resort is the Governess’ and Servants’ Home, though many look down their nose at it, believing they are a much better person than to stay in such a place. However, I have stayed there and find it very suitable.” Meg wandered around the room. “Soon enough, their money runs out and they have to pick up whatever work is available. Teaching, nursing, and if they are lucky perhaps become a companion. But mostly they suffer such tragedies like Miss Downing and have to rely on bar work, being a kitchen maid and even…prostitution.”
Nicola shivered. Her own experience of aloneness on arriving not so long ago still haunted her. What if Mr Belfroy had not helped her? She had some money, but not enough to last for months of unemployment. She looked at her new friend, amazed at her knowledge and concern. For the first time Meg had shown a completely different side of herself. “What will you do, Meg, if another position doesn’t come along?”
Meg shrugged. “I could go home, although mother would make my life a misery.” She grimaced dramatically.
“If you come from a wealthy family why is it you live here and work as a governess?”
“I would do anything to displease my mother. Besides, our wealth has diminished somewhat since my father’s death and I refuse to go back to Melbourne and be paraded before suitable gentlemen with marriage on their minds. Mother believes that is all I’m good for. I will never marry a man because he has money and position. I’ve seen what it can do a person. The tedious boredom would drive me quite insane.”
“All women desire marriage, a family, a home of their own.”
“I’ve yet to see a happy married woman. My mother was completely miserable with my father and took out her frustrations on me.” Meg came and held her hands out to the fire, a cheeky smile playing on her lips. “What about you? Did you land here thinking you could obtain a position within the