I stared at her in shock. Where had she found the nerve to speak to me like that? And she’d said it all without the hint of a stutter. I was going to say more, but I was already sick of fighting with her. I opened the cabin door and looked out. Young people with accents from all over Ireland were milling in the corridor, talking and laughing. There might be some good craic to be had down here after all. I smoothed out one of my new dresses, a lovely blue one with a low-cut neckline. I put it on, along with a matching hat, and stepped out, closing the door behind me.

Delia

Delia

When Nora had gone, I heaved a sigh of relief. How was I going to put up with her for the entire journey? I could understand why she was upset—she’d been used to having her own way—but I didn’t want to keep fighting with her. I liked peace and quiet. I decided to ignore her as best I could.

The little cabin was quite cozy. The walls smelled of fresh paint and the linoleum floor was bright and clean. The washbasin gleamed. I supposed the newness wouldn’t last long after a string of passengers came and went in this cabin. It was thrilling to be the first people to sail on the Titanic.

I must have been asleep when Nora returned. I had heard some traditional music coming from the other end of the ship. Many of the lads would have brought along fiddles and accordions. I’d no doubt my sister was out dancing in the middle of the floor. She was a big, curvy girl, but she was light on her feet, and the boys were drawn to her like bees to honey. She’d never be short of a partner at a dance. It was always that way. I hated going to dances in the village. If a boy I didn’t know approached me, I’d stutter, and he would back away, muttering excuses. After a while I refused to go. And while it made me a little sad that I wasn’t out enjoying the music in steerage, I believed my experience would be no different than at the dances in Kilcross. So, as usual, I took refuge in a book before I fell asleep.

In the morning we were awakened by a bell announcing breakfast. Nora and I walked in silence down the corridor to the large room that had been set aside for dining. We sat down at a table, but Nora got up immediately when she spied some of her new friends from the night before. She ran over to them, full of smiles and greetings, and they made room for her to sit down among them. I was left to myself.