"Well, the Pegasus is a fast, new steamer." "You'll be sure of your cargo arriving on time, Mr Norsworthy." "I'm looking for the best price." "27 shillings a ton?" "I fear you may look in vain." "You'd rather sail a half-empty ship, eh?" "Oh, she doesn't go on the berth till Monday." "There are other customers." "Indeed." "And other ships." "Right, lower her away." "Hand to below." "Easy, easy, easy." "Mr Norsworthy." "Is the Beech Navigation Company to be favoured with your order, sir?" "There is still room on the Kingfisher for another 400 tons." "I am aware of it, Mr Beech." "She sails next week and at twenty six and nine pence I'll not be short of custom." " Twenty six and nine, you say?" " That's what I quoted, wasn't it?" " Aye." " So you'll come to our desk?" "Aye." "All trading will now cease for the remainder of this day in respectful memory of the late Mr Jack Frazer, our former president." "A true gentlemen if ever there was, men." "A man of integrity." "His death is a loss for the whole shipping world." "A hard man, you can't deny that." "But he was always true to his word." "Spare us the eulogies, Joe." "We had the funeral oration in church." "Your sister's inherited the Frazer Line, but who's going to run it?" "Well, when me sister gets back from South America she will appoint a manager." "You'll need a good man to step into Mr Frazer's shoes." "What'll you do in the meantime?" "It's barely a concern of mine but" "Mr Dunwoody can be relied upon, he's served the company many years." "A clerk is hardly empowered to speak for his masters." "Not in a matter like this." "Matter?" "What matter's that?" "Well..." "Your wife is waiting outside in the carriage, Mr Crampton." " I..." "I'm just coming." " Mr Crampton's coat please, Alice." "It's much to be regretted that Jack Frazer didn't make better provision for the future." " Good day to you both." " Good day, Joe," " and thanks very much for coming." " Bye-bye." "Sanctimonious hypocrite." "He drove the Brazil rate down to 27 shillings this morning." "Well, when a man's pushed he can't afford to sail an empty ship." "Nor can anyone, but what happened?" "Beech comes in next with an offer of twenty six shillings and nine pence." "We're just cutting each other's throats." "Too many steamers, not enough freight." "Now, if we all get together," "Crampton's line, my own, the Beech Navigation Company," "Frazer's and form a conference." "Fix a rate amongst yourselves." "And all undertake not to go below it." "It has already been agreed in principle by every line except one." "One's enough." "One company undercutting your conference rate..." "No, the only company standing out is Frazer's." "Because Frazer was never approached on the matter." "How's that?" "We all thought to wait till he was over his illness." "So, who do we approach now, Onedin?" "Mr Dunwoody?" "There is only your carriage left outside now, Mr Bell." "I'll not overstay my welcome." "Goodbye, Mrs Onedin, and ta ever so much." "I'll see you out, Sam." "If we form this conference, we stay afloat." "If not, we sink." "But some will sink faster than others." "Aye." "Well, it's to be thought on." "Good day, Sam." "Thanks very much for all your help." "Conference." "What's that?" "Well, it's an association of the shipping lines in the South American trade." "I think it's a..." "It's a splendid notion." "Well, if it's such a good idea why not just agree to it?" "Because, Sarah, I am not in charge of the Frazer Line." " I don't know who is, then." " Hmm?" "Clear away, Alice." "With Elizabeth away, there's no one else." "And we do have an interest in the company." "15% of the shares does not qualify..." "More than any other shareholder in Liverpool at present." "It gives you the right." "But I've a perfectly satisfactory business of me own." "Chandlery is not to be compared with biggest dockyard on Merseyside, and a shipping line to match." "But it's Elizabeth's, not mine." "Is Elizabeth going to know what's best?" "As if she'll want to run the company herself anyway." "With Frazer's income to enjoy, Elizabeth will settle for a liveried coachman and a row of new bonnets, if she's got someone she can rely upon to make all that possible." " Oh, that girl." " Oh, Alice." "Oh, get out." " Do stop snivelling, Alice." "And what about my political duties?" "Mr Gladstone can manage the affairs of the nation without you, Robert." "There is no call for sarcasm, Sarah, and I do have me constituents to think on." "You have your family to think on." " Fraze rs are not family." " They could be." "You make yourself indispensable here and within a year or two at most" "Elizabeth will make you her partner." "She's got to have someone, who better than her own brother." "No, Sarah, I will do whatever I can until the House resumes." " But after that..." " You owe it to your son." "Goodbye, Mrs Frazer." "I am sorry that your voyage didn't prove more fruitful." "It was an education, Mr Harvey." "If you would care to call on me tomorrow," "I may have something that might interest you." "What might that be, ma'am?" "At four of the clock, Mr Harvey." "Please be punctual." "Elizabeth." " Welcome home." " I had no idea you were going to be here to greet me." " Welcome home, Elizabeth." " Thank you, Sarah." "The sea suits you." "And why not." "The new owner of the Frazer Line." "Home, Harris." "Goodbye, Mr Onedin." "Hello, sir." "Oh, I am glad to see you back, madam." "Hello, Alice." "Looking so well, too." "After all that time at sea, too." "It's lovely to be home again." "The cook's been worrying herself silly about what to give you for lunch first day back." "She kept changing her mind." "And then sending to Mr Dunwoody to find out when the ship was due." "Stop chattering, Alice, and take Mrs Frazer's things upstairs." "Yes, Mrs Onedin." "I have had a fire going in the bedroom, too." "And it's been properly aired every week." "I expect you'll be glad to sleep in your bed again tonight." "Come along, Alice." " Excuse me, madam." " Thank you very much, Alice." "Well, she seems pleased to see me." "Yes, I was in two minds about keeping her on." "Well, I've been paying out good money to servants and there's none to serve." "How's William?" "I wrote to him from Tenerife." " Yes, he told me." " Oh?" "He spent the last few days of his holidays here with us." "No." "Did he attend the funeral?" "No." "Under the circumstances we thought it best, you not being there and all." "It all went off very smoothly." "Good." "Most of the owners turned out." "And they closed the exchange early that day as a token." "Yes." "I thought it was a fine gesture." "Well, I suppose now Mr Hickson will want to see me about the will." "Oh, yes, and there are some matters of business to discuss with you, too." "It's been a very, very difficult time, Elizabeth." "But I think I can safely say that we're weathering the storm." " We?" " We've joined a conference of the South American trade." "All the shipping lines are working at the same fixed rate." "It comes into being officially..." "Well, it came into being officially yesterday, as a matter of fact." "Not that you have anything to do about it, except sign some papers." "No, the real point of what I want to make is that we must find you a good manager." "Conference?" "Steamer Alliance of South America." "32 shillings a ton they fixed, the shippers won't like that." "Sounds low enough to me." "You'd be surprised how the rates have been falling." "Steamers down to twenty six and nine at one time." "And our rates, how are they holding?" "Oh, not too badly, sir." "There's plenty of bulk cargo for sailing vessels." "You did right to stick to sails." " Good grief." " Sir?" " Me daughter's coming." " Miss Charlotte?" ""If I may presume on your paternal affection for your daughter," ""I propose bringing her to see you on the 18th of this month." ""We shall will come by railway." ""I am, sir, your obedient servant and governess to your daughter."" "Governess?" ""Leticia Gaunt."" "Miss." "Well, Miss Moffett will soon put the house to right, sir." "You don't think I kept on the housekeeper while I was away?" "I can send a telegraph, eh?" "No need for them to come all the way up here." "I can go down to Derby and see them." " Is that where they are, sir, Derby?" " Aye." "She's looked after by a Miss Mullen, one of Sarah's aunts." "Be nice to see Miss Charlotte again, sir." "How old is she now?" "Nine?" "Must be all of that since her mother died." "It'll be good enough to see me daughter, but it's this governess I don't like the sound of." "Leticia Gaunt." " When is the 18th?" " That's tomorrow, sir." "Hmm." "Oh!" " Oh, good morning, Elizabeth." " Good morning, Robert." " Were you looking for something?" " Not particularly." "Just trying to find out what's been happening in my absence." "What did you want?" "Well, I do have some work to do here, you know." "Oh, yes." "I mustn't keep you from that, must I?" "Well, while you are here, Elizabeth, you could sign these papers relating to the South American Conference." "It's not valid until you have." "I was thinking about what you said about getting a manager." "Well, of course I can't stay here forever, you know." "I should be on my way to Westminster now." "Ah, here it is." "What do you think about Mr Dunwoody?" "Well, of course he's got the experience, but it would mean finding you a new chief clerk." " Come in." "Oh, good morning, Mr Onedin." "You ought to be getting down to the exchange." "Well, I'm just coming, Dunwoody." "Oh, good morning, Mrs Frazer." " Mr Dunwoody." " Elizabeth?" "I'll not detain you." " Would you just sign this paper?" " Oh, not now, Robert." " It won't take a minute." " Alice is waiting to do my hair." "And she was wondering if she ought to get a manager." "Well, she does have a way with the merchants, and not a bad head for business." "When it's not full of good-looking young men." "Now, about these demurrage charges." "Well, Mr Onedin, I do think we ought to make our way to the exchange." "Ever since they started this Conference, business has been slack." "Very slack." "The shippers are biding their time, it's the same for everyone." "Oh, it's not, sir." "Just for Frazer's." "Yep." "May I come in, sir?" "The front door is open." "Yeah, come in." " What time is it?" " Getting on for 3:00, sir." "Oh, the train's due at quarter to." "Anything I can do, sir?" "Aye, uh, close those windows, will you?" "We finished discharging the Charlotte Rhodes." "There's no cargo to take on till tomorrow." "Is there anything I can do while you are with your daughter, sir?" "Well, I thought I'd take her down to the quayside." "Show her some of the ships." "Eh?" "Hey, maybe even take her sailing." "She'd like that, eh?" "Perhaps, but I can't rightly see a governess taking to it, sir." "I mean, she might hate the sea." "Yes, I expect she would be a little fatigued after the journey." "I'm sure she'd be very pleased to stay here, with you." "With me, sir?" "It would be very ill-mannered to leave an old maid on her own." " Oh, now, Mr Onedin..." " Oh, now, come on, you did offer." "Ah, but I was thinking of business," "I mean, one us ought to be on the exchange." "Well, business can wait, eh?" "Well, I'd be no company for a young lady's governess, sir." "What do I do?" "Keep her company." "Make conversation." "Who?" "Me, sir?" "With a governess?" "Papa?" "Here." "Quick!" "Give us a hand." " Papa?" " Charlotte." "Well, you have grown a bit." "Charlotte?" "Oh, I am sorry, sir." "I was paying the cabman." "Well, you should have knocked, even if the door was open." "You shouldn't just walk in like that." "I have no influence over her at all, sir." "I am supposed to be her governess." "Isn't it awful?" "Oh, I'm pleased to meet you." "My name's Letty Gaunt." "Well, we've always given you good service." "Oh, aye." "And our ship sails next week." "I've 500 tons of textiles in the warehouse." "I can start loading now, if you make a fair price." "If not, the Crampton ship sails in a fortnight." "I shall just have to wait till then." "Well, Crampton's price is the same as ours, we're all in the conference." "I don't see how Frazer's can be." "Mrs Frazer only returned from South America yesterday." "Ah, yes, but even so, Mr Norsworthy." "I am acting on my sister's behalf, Mr Norsworthy, and we're all fully committed to the Conference." "Now, do I have the pleasure of doing business with you?" "At 32 shillings a ton?" "Well, that is the Conference rate, sir." "Not any..." "Not any small discount?" "When Frazer's give their word, sir, they keep it." "Oh, aye." "Excuse me." "Joe?" " When does your ship sail?" " Fortnight tomorrow." "Have you room for 500 tons of textile?" "I'll have to see, it's very tight." "We might be able to accommodate some of it." "When is our next sailing?" "In six weeks time, when the Pegasus gets back." "And so far no orders for her at all." "So the porter says, "All aboard" and we still don't know where we're going." "So what does Miss Onedin do then, if you please?" "She goes up and asks the driver." "He should know." " London, says he." " London?" "So you see, we would have taken the wrong train." "What with her remembering I'd left the luncheon basket in Miss Mullen's carriage, and picking up the tickets when I dropped them on the platform, goodness only knows how I'd have managed without her." "Well, how long have you been a governess then, eh?" "Well, that's a good question." "I was taken on by Miss Mullen's housekeeper to do some needlework." "You know, mending sheets and curtains, like." "Charlotte here used to help me." "And then, one day Miss Mullen asks me how were her Latin and Greek were advancing." "Latin and Greek?" "Yes, it seems that she thought the child should have a governess, and seeing me about the house thought she'd engaged one." "Hmm." "Yes, I am afraid Miss Mullen is a bit like that." "Well, naturally I packed my bags at once." "And then madam here goes into one of her tantrums." "And to keep her quiet, I'm told to be her governess." "And does madam often go into tantrums, eh?" " Sometimes I do." " Not for long, 'cause I'd give her a good slap." "But then she slaps me back, and the next thing you know we're rolling on the floor in fits of laughter." "I'm afraid we laugh quite immoderately at times." "Miss Mullen's often complaining of the fact." " Poor Miss Mullen." " Aye." "Poor Miss Mullen." "Well, Miss Onedin, how would you like to go down to the quay and explore one of your father's ships, eh?" " Oh, may I?" " Aye." "Did anyone ever tell you that you were named after one of them?" "And, as it happens, she is in the harbour right this moment." " Captain Baines." " Sir." "Introduce Charlotte to her elder sister." "Aye-aye, sir." " Come on, young lady." " Can I go down into the hold?" "Miss Gaunt and I'll follow you soon, eh?" "I tell you, you shall go below deck..." "I confess you're not at all what I expected." " More's the pity." " I'm not sorry." "Well, you should be." "I'm no more suited to educate your daughter than Miss Mullen is to bring her up." "You're going to have to make some new arrangements, Mr Onedin." "Charlotte can't possibly stay where she is any longer." "Is something wrong, Robert?" "No, no, no." "It's just a few business worries, that's all." "Frazer business worries?" "Oh, nothing that need alarm you, Elizabeth." "Well, I think I will just get along down to the shipping club." "You've got to keep your ear to the ground these days." "Excuse me, madam." "There's a Mr Harvey here." "He says he's expected." "Oh, ask him to come in, and bring some tea, will you?" " Harvey?" " Matt Harvey." "Mate on the Alexandra." "Elizabeth, is this quite proper?" "I'll be mistress in my own house, Robert, if nowhere else." "Mr Harvey, madam." "Thank you." "Yes, well, I'll just get down to the shipping club." " Good afternoon." " You wanted to see me, ma'am." "You don't have to stand there like a footman waiting for orders and you don't have to call me ma'am." "Sit down." "Would you like some tea?" " Not particularly." " Oh, what a shame." " Don't let me stop you, though." " No, you won't, Mr Harvey." "My daughter'll have no need of Latin and Greek." "You taught her to sew, read, write." "There's more to education than that, Mr Onedin." "Well, then let her go to school." "There is no school within 10 miles." "Miss Mullen seems to think that you are fit enough to have charge of her schooling." "Miss Mullen is totally indifferent to Charlotte's schooling." "Indeed, Miss Mullen is totally indifferent to Charlotte." "I see." "I'm sure you make up in affection anything denied to her" " by this Miss Mullen." " Well, I hope so." "And she returns it." "Now, that's plain to see." "Yes." "She is beginning to regard me as her mother." "That's why I feel compelled to start looking for another situation." "Well, why?" "Because I'm growing altogether too fond of her, you silly man." "Oh, I'm so sorry." "Well, we better go on and join them, eh?" "We can talk about it later." "I never lack employment because I can work both types of ships." "Once I'd got my mate certificate, I put it in my pocket and spent two years as an engine hand on steamers." ""Floating kettles", Captain Baines calls them." "Who wants to end up like Captain Baines?" "You told me coming back from South America you spent six months as a shipping clerk." "That was just to get the introductions I needed to work on the steamers." " Perhaps you should have stayed there." " As a clerk?" "Well, sure you would have done if they'd paid you enough." " But I'm seaman, Mrs Frazer." " Then more fool you." "Because there is much more money to be made on land." " I dare say there is, but I'm seaman." " Captain Baines is a seaman." "But a man who pockets his mate's certificate for sailing ships to sweat it out in an engine room isn't a seaman." "He's just ambitious." "No, thank you." "What did you ask me here for, Mrs Frazer?" "To offer you a job in the shipping office, till you're ready to take over from Mr Dunwoody as chief clerk." "Mr Dunwoody is going to be my manager for a time." "Until you are ready to take over that job, too." "I think perhaps I will have a cup of tea now." "Oh, it's stone cold now." "But there is some whisky over there on that table." "It's evident I'll have to have someone to run the business for me one day." " Well, you've made an odd choice." " At least you are my choice." "I've had quite enough of wise, old men and patronising elder brothers." "Besides, I saw enough of you for three months on the Alexandra, to know what you're made of." "And?" "You are clever, ambitious, prepared to take risks, nobody's servant and arrogant to the point of insolence." "Well, you could at least consider it." " Very well, ma'am." " And don't call me ma'am." "Well, I would have to as a clerk in your shipping office." "Only in public." "And we'd meet at other times?" "I hope so, if we are going to build this company together." "I don't quite know how to put this, Mrs Frazer." "But?" "You are sure that it's just as an asset to the business that you want me." " How dare you, Mr Harvey." " I need to know, Mrs Frazer." "I take it after that the offer's withdrawn?" "Only if you choose to misinterpret it." "Very well, I will think about it then." "This was my first ship, the Charlotte Rhodes." "So this is the ship you called Charlotte's elder sister." " Yes." " Mr Onedin, have you considered where Charlotte and I will be sleeping tonight?" " At my house." " Oh?" "I'll be sleeping aboard the ship." " What's down there?" " Oh, that's the seamen's quarters." "Sling your hammock down there over your sea chest and look out for cockroaches." "Ugh." "Cockroaches." "And they'll chew your toenails right off." "Ooh, can I go up there?" "Oh, you better not or we'll both be for it." "Come on." "Here's your father." " Hello, Charlotte." " Now, what tales has Captain Baines been telling you?" "Jack Frazer left everything in trust for young William." "But I'm afraid, Elizabeth, in the eyes of the shipping world, that just does not inspire confidence." "What makes you say that?" "Robert was down at the shipping club yesterday." " So?" " I dined with Joe Crampton." "Now, nothing was said directly, but he very kindly dropped me a hint." "And the truth of the matter is, Elizabeth, that shippers like Norsworthy prefer to do business with people they know." "He knows me." "Socially, perhaps, but that's not how business is done." " Much of it is." " Of course it is." "Over the port after the ladies have retired." "Or down at the shipping club where ladies aren't even permitted." "Why, you can't even go on the floor of the exchange." " I will, if I choose." " Look, Elizabeth, unless someone is appointed manager, and very soon, a man of sound business sense." "A man of some weight and influence." "A man who is well known in commercial circles..." "What a pity you're not available yourself, Robert." "You sound just the man." "Ah, as to that." "Sarah and I have had a serious talk." "Of course, the chandlery business makes demands on me time." "As does being a Member of Parliament." "But, as Sarah quite rightly points out, that need not be a hindrance, why, it could be a positive advantage." " Are you saying..." " It's the best thing by far, Elizabeth." "It would not be without some sacrifice on my part, believe me, Elizabeth." "But I would be lacking in filial affection if I were to stand by and watch me own sister..." "Oh, stop being so pompous, Robert!" "Elizabeth, Robert is offering to give up all his political hopes in order to save you from certain disaster." "What disaster?" "What reason do you have for supposing these hints picked up at the shipping club mean anything?" "There was something on your mind when you went down there yesterday." "Now, what?" "What is it?" " Mr Harvey is here again, madam." " Harvey?" "He says he needs to see you most particular." " Again?" " Show him in." "If and when I do appoint somebody as manager, Robert, it'll not be somebody who is frightened to discuss business in front of ladies." "Nor will it be somebody of weight and influence at the shipping club." "It'll be somebody who doesn't mind what they say to anyone, and someone who treats me as an equal and not as a child." " Have you decided?" " Not yet, madam." "No." "Then what have you come for?" "To tell you something I think you ought to know." "This Conference you've joined on the South America trade appears to be a fraud." "Fraud?" "What do you know about it?" "I was drinking with Captain Corcoran last night." "He says there's 500 tons of textiles waiting to be shipped, and it's been given to everyone but Frazer's." "That doesn't mean to say that the Conference is a fraud, but it does underline what I was saying, Elizabeth, that Norsworthy no longer has confidence in the company." " Oh, he's to let you have100 tons." " Oh?" "But that's only because the Crampton ship's full up." "I don't believe it." "Now do you see why it's so important for a man to take charge?" "Norsworthy is our oldest customer." "He's not to be blamed, Mrs Frazer." "It's the shipping lines." "They've taken advantage of this Conference to try and squeeze out Frazer's altogether." "You're slandering some of the most respectable men in Liverpool, sir." "How would they squeeze us out?" " By offering discounts." " Offering discounts?" "Privately, of course, very privately." "What kind of discounts?" "Captain Corcoran reckons about 15% now." "That's absurd." "Is it?" "Alice, I want the carriage." "Frazer's used to carry one-third of the total exports to South America." "Soon we'll carry none at all." "They fixed that rate so high, knowing only you'll be fool enough to stick to it." "Will you come with me, Mr Harvey?" " Where to, ma'am?" " The exchange." " Elizabeth, you can't!" " You can't go in there." "We'll see about that." "They won't let you in." "Mr Norsworthy." "Good afternoon, Mrs Frazer." "I understand you very kindly favoured us with 100 tons of textiles" " to ship for you." " Aye." "I hope you'll offer us more next time." " That depends on the price." " I'm sure we can agree on that." "Well, there is the Conference to consider, Mrs Frazer." "I don't recall joining any Conference." "Well, Mr Onedin did give an undertaking." "Anything my brother committed us to was done without my knowledge or consent." " Yes, but even so, I don't think..." " I will deal with this, Mr Dunwoody." "If we did ever join the Conference, we are actually withdrawing now." "I consider that far more honest than to offer any discounts." "Discounts..." "Shall we say 25 shillings in the future, Mr Norsworthy?" "Twenty five shillings?" " Is that too much?" " It's much too little." "Oh, do forgive my inexperience." "I am, after all, just a woman." "You can't carry freight at 25 shillings a ton." "Twenty four and nine pence, then." " Still too high?" " No, it's much too low." "Yes." "What does Mr Norsworthy say?" "Twenty four and six." "What's thruppence?" "Very well, Mr Norsworthy." "Twenty four and six at a fixed rate for six months." "Mrs Frazer, I beg you to leave all business to us." "No matter what the state of the market?" " Yes" " It'll ruin you." "It'll not ruin me, Mr Beech." "You can't take a loss of that proportion for six months and hope to survive." "Oh, and I think I should tell you that from May 1st" "I'm going to put two more steamers into the line." "Two more..." "So we'll have twice as many sailings, won't we?" "There are too many steamers in the trade already." "I'll not lack for cargo at twenty four and six a ton." " Do you not agree, Mr Norsworthy?" " Oh, you'll certainly have my freight." "And plenty of room left over for any other shippers who care to be interested." "Just a moment." "Gentlemen!" "Please!" "Quiet." "One moment, please." "Mrs Frazer, do you really mean this?" "Is only a man's word as good as his bond?" "Very well." "Have your clerk write it out in his best copperplate and I'll sign it, on oath in front of any witness you care to designate." "Mr Harvey?" "It's suicide!" "Extra ships, twenty four and six a ton, and for six months." "It's just as I predicted, the end of Frazer's." "Well, that's just what you gentlemen wanted, wasn't it?" " They'll be finished." " We'll all be finished." " You made quite a stir in there." " Yes." "That offer you made me yesterday?" "You're prepared to accept it?" "I'm sorry for misinterpreting it." "Apologies don't suit you, Mr Harvey." "And the jolly old sailor says, "Heave away upon that rope."" "Oh, it's lovely, Papa." "Do it again." "Oh, no, no." "Come on, off to bed with you." " Goodnight, Papa." " Goodnight." " Goodnight, Aunt Letty." " Goodnight, love." "She's very devoted to you, Mr Onedin." " Doesn't even know me." " Perhaps that's why." "I'm told that those who do, know you as an ogre." "So you think I'm an ogre, do you?" "I don't know you, do I?" "What time are you thinking of leaving tomorrow?" "The afternoon train." "I hope by then you'll have given some thought to what we spoke about yesterday." "Bring her round to the Charlotte Rhodes in the morning, will you?" "You know the way." "Mr Baines tells me that that was your first ship." " Yes." " First child, in a way." "Perhaps." "And, to some fathers, the elder always come first, is that it?" "I always put business first, if that's what you mean." "Now I am seeing the ogre, aren't I?" "Hmm." "Trouble is the ogre's getting long in the tooth." " Now, the question is, shall I let him?" " What do you mean?" "Well, I can afford to take things a bit easy now, not put business first." "Something inside of me says no." "That doesn't alter your responsibility to Charlotte." "But isn't it better she's brought up by somebody who can always be with her, than a father who can't be?" "Yes, as long as that someone truly loves her and is always with her." "As you could be." "Listen, there's this house I know, it's up for sale." "I take it you wouldn't mind Charlotte treating you like a mother, if legally you were." "What?" "Mr Onedin," " if you're suggesting what I think..." " Now look." "I can have a solicitor draw proper legal papers." "I'd leave you money so you wouldn't have to worry about that and Charlotte could go to school." "And you wouldn't have to worry about being a governess." "Just about being a mother." "She's never had a proper home before." "So far I've never found anybody high enough in my esteem that I could entrust her to." "She's not a parcel, Mr Onedin." "Do you think you know me well enough?" "Aye, I do." "We'll have to see what Charlotte has to say." "Oh, she'll love it." "Look, talk to her, by all means, and then tomorrow we can go and see that house, eh?" "I know you'll both be very happy." " Well, goodnight then, eh?" " Goodnight." "But, Mrs Frazer, at twenty four and six we won't survive." "But we still have the shipyard to fall back on." "The banks will call in the loans." "Very well, I shall visit the banks." "In my best gown." "Mrs Frazer, I beg you to reconsider." "Go back on my word?" "But I thought that just wasn't done." "Well, I can tell them you've had further thoughts on the matter." " Being new to the business and being..." " A woman?" " They'll understand." " No." "Twenty four and six a ton, a fixed rate for six months." "But why did you have to go so low?" "The others were only asking twenty seven shillings." "To have offered the same would've been enough." "Not nearly enough." "I had to make sure our price was so low, none of the others would even dare to compete." "Who wants to at that price?" "It's disaster." "Besides, two more ships?" "We haven't got two more ships." "No, but we shall have." "Yes?" " May I come in, Mrs Frazer?" " Yes." "Come in, Mr Bell." "Dunwoody will talk her out of it." "You know they can't afford to carry freight at that price." "If Frazer's goes bankrupt, it will be no consolation to you." "With the two extra ships she's promised, she'll be carrying two-thirds" " of the entire trade from Liverpool." " She hasn't even got them." "That still leaves one-third to be divided amongst the rest of you." "Oh, thank you, very much." " At your Conference rates." " We can't charge those now." "Not with Crampton and I, and Bell, all running to grab what's left." "I don't think Bell's grabbing from what I've heard." "What you mean?" "He's grabbed already." "Have you?" "And at what rate?" "The same as yours, twenty four and six a ton." "So, between us we've cleared the South American market for the next six months." " If we last that long." " Oh, we shall, Mr Bell." " Yes?" "You know Mr Harvey." " Harvey." " Mr Bell." "I asked him to make some enquiries for me." "Beech and Crampton are putting their ships up for charter." " What's that?" " They have no choice, sir." "They'll get no takers." "Too many steamers laid up as it is." "I could find employment for two of them." "Get them, Mr Harvey." "One from each." "You'll find they won't be expensive." "Excuse me." "Are you saying you never even had that extra tonnage?" "You were counting on Beech and Crampton going down." "They can't afford to run empty ships for the next six months, can they?" "I only hope we can afford to run full ones." "If it's put two of our competitors out of the South American trade altogether, it's worth hanging on by our teeth." "Because in six months time, with only Bell's and Frazer's left..." "We'll have the shippers running after us, for a change." "Right." "Shall we make a conference then, Mr Bell?" "Just you and I, say thirty two shillings a ton at least." "Anyone can see you're James Onedin's sister." "I am Elizabeth Frazer." " Papa." " Charlotte, wait a minute." "Letty says we're going to live in Liverpool." "Perhaps." "But your father won't be living with us, Charlotte." "Why not?" "I never thought you had it in you the other day, to beat the whole shipping world at their own game." "Neither did I, then." "Would you like a drink?" "Yes, please." "That's why I wanted somebody like you I could rely on." "Good." "Thank you." "Only I'm not sure that I can afford you now, Matt." "What do you mean?" " You weren't altogether wrong about me." " I know and I'm glad." "Well, I can't afford that, can I?" " Why not?" " If I am to run Frazer's," "I've got to work 10 times harder than any man." "So?" "Well, If one's going to win, one has to be single-minded." "My brother James taught me that." "Is winning as important as all that?" "If you don't think so, you're no use to Frazer's." "Frazer's?" "I just want to be of use to you, Elizabeth." "Yes, I know." "But after what happened yesterday," "I can't help questioning your motives." "My motives?" "As one of your employees, ma'am," "I shall, of course, undertake to keep my feelings to myself in future," " if that's what you want." " It's not what I want, Matt, but it's how it would have to be on both sides." "You are like your brother James, business before everything." "If I don't put business before everything, I might lose it altogether." "I'm a woman in a man's world." " But with me to help you." " Yes." "You'd be doing business at the shipping club and I'd be relegated to the drawing room." " No." " Yes." "Even you would come to humour me in the end." " Never, Elizabeth." " Oh, please don't go on, Matt." "I've signed on under Captain Corcoran on the Prince Edward." " We sail on the tide." " What?" "She's your ship." "You can appoint another mate in my place." "Well, I'll be home again in four months." "You see, Charlotte, it's not considered right for the man and the woman to live together in the same house, unless they're married." "But I shan't be far away, eh?" "If that house we saw this morning doesn't prove suitable, we can always find another one." "I may not be in Liverpool but I'll come and see you as often as I can." "Come along, Charlotte." "We'll miss that train." "We promised Miss Mullen we'd be back before nightfall." "Papa, you could live with us if you did marry Letty." "Charlotte!" "Run outside and see if the cab's there." "Go on, quick." "Goodbye, Papa." "You see, I'm not ready to settle for the chimney corner yet." "It was the child who asked, not me." "Goodbye, Mr Onedin." "Letty, you will stay with her though, won't you?" "Well, we can't let her down on that as well, can we?" "Have you finished, madam?" "Yes." "Alice, get the carriage, I'm going out." "Get up, go on." "Get out of it." "Turn around, Harris." "Going back to Derby, are they, sir?" "Oh, yes." "Aye, well." "If you want me, I'll be in the exchange." " Get some business." " Aye-aye, sir."