Five years ago, in 1825, Miss Arabella or "Missabella" and her ten orphans—the "Switherby Pilgrims"—had voyaged from England to New South Wales, in primitive Australia. By dint of tough pioneering work they had turned their coastal land grant into a true, if rustic, home. Missabella, now, is determined to provide for the future of her orphans according to each one's character. Not an easy task, with such a varied, ragtag, yet lovable set of personalities and backgrounds as they represent. Selina will train in Sydney to be a milliner; Paul may become a midshipman; Francis loves to farm. But what will satisfy clever, independent Cassie, who has ambitions to be a writer? The "Jamberoo Road" leads her inland, to the discomforts and enticements of being governess in a wealthy colonial family. There restless Luke, likewise employed by the family, as a stable boy, will create his own troubles. Cassie's story, interwoven with Luke's and that of all the other orphans' and their former farmhand Eben's, is both an account of personal growth and a vivid journey into early-day Australia.
The visitor found himself bowing to Miss Arabella Braithwaite. "I'm Edward Marlow, from the property called Fall Farm, at Jamberoo...My father is a widower. He heard that you had settled here with several—er—charges, and he thought that perhaps one of your girls might care to consider employment as a governess and companion to my sister."
"It needs careful consideration, of course," said Missabella, with dignity. "I am only too mindful of the fact that my wards must make their own way in this Colony. Such employment as your father suggests might prove high suitable for one of the girls. However I shall require to know—"
The well-bred gentlemanly Edward Marlow suddenly did the unforgivable thing—he actually interrupted his hostess, and in his loudest tones.
"Where the devil," he demanded, jumping up and almost upsetting the precious china, "is my horse?"
And at the same time a most untidy and inelegant figure appeared at the top of the beach path, brandishing a pair of discarded shoes.
"Can anyone tell me," asked Cassie breathlessly, "why Luke is racing up and down the beach on a real thoroughbred? Any minute he'll either kill himself or the horse!"
Did you find this review helpful?