“Of course, the Columbia Mission Society, under the influence of our dear Miss Angela Burdett Coutts, insisted that Miss Rye also make an effort to rescue young women from the workhouses and orphanages. And she was quite right to insist such a thing, if I may say so. Quite right as usual. Such souls deserve saving, don’t you agree?”

Joseph started to respond, but Mr. Scott was like a ship with full sail and couldn’t be stopped.

“Needless to say, Miss Rye made her selections of such lost souls very rigorously, so that only the most deserving among the lower class were chosen. After all, there is a need for domestics in Victoria. The poor, friendless girls will be glad to have the work—that is, until they’re able to enter into matrimony, which I’m assured will be soon after landing, as the laborers in the colony are most eagerly awaiting the arrival of this first ship.”

“So there are to be other bride ships?”

“If we have any hope of keeping the colony civilized, then we must send more women.” Mr. Scott glanced over his shoulder as if gauging who might be listening to their conversation. He then leaned in closer to Joseph and lowered his voice. “My fellow missionaries who reside on Vancouver Island and in British Columbia report that the miners are positively heathen and that it is the fault of the native women who entice them into cohabitation. They need rescuing from their vices, and the influence of virtuous, servile, and good Christian women will be just what the men need to save them for God and country alike.”

Joseph had seen enough in his voyages to dispute Mr. Scott’s assumption that the native women were at fault for their enticing. From what Joseph had seen in other British colonies, the immigrant men were largely to blame for seeking out and often taking advantage of foreign women. Joseph had always been appalled at the arrogant view so many took regarding the natives and the abuses they piled upon them—as if they were inferior, somehow less human.

As Joseph had long ago thrown away convention, he’d since allowed himself the freedom to speak his mind, even when his ideas and opinions were less than popular.

“If the miners are full of vice,” Joseph said, “then perhaps they are the ones enticing the natives and not the other way around.”

For the first time since making his introduction, the reverend opened his mouth and nothing came out.

“Now, please excuse me, Mr. Scott.” Joseph began closing the door, leaving Mr. Scott no choice but to stumble backward out of the way. “I really must resume my unpacking. I bid you good day.”

eight