April 12th
Oh, Diary. Such a story is that the one I have to tell you!
Erik woke me up this morning, knocking briskly on my door. I quickly got out of bed, slipped into me night coat and answered the door.
"I just wanted to see if you wanted anything this morning," He said, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"No, no. That's quite alright." I told him. "But...I think I should get dressed and head to breakfast." I said, turning around to look at the stateroom behind me.
"Mr. Smythe was looking for you a short time ago," Erik said, still bouncing.
I looked up at his smiling face. "Really?"
"Oh, yes. I think he is has been stabbed with cupids arrow!"
I giggled. "Alright than, if you see him, would you mind tell him to meet me on the promenade?"
"Oh course not, Misses Dugan," He agreed before he turned to answer a calling bell. I quickly got dressed and went up to the promenade. To my relief Daniel was standing by a window.
"Good-morning," I said, walking up, standing next to him. He turned to me and smiled.
"Erik said you were looking for me this morning..." I said, my smile broadening.
He raised his eye brows. "Ah, yes."
"And why would you be looking for me?" I asked, smiling, if possible, even brighter.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright." He said, smiling now, too. He walked over to a deck chair and sat down.
"What is America like?" I asked him, sitting down, too.
"Well," he told me, "where I'm from, New York, It's amazing, Quite different from England, I'm afraid."
"Oh," I said. "I've always wanted to go to America, but haven't the money. And, well, my grandparents were quite attached to me."
He giggled.
"You know," I told him, "I'm really supposed to be in steerage, given any other circumstances."
"Really?" He asked.
"Yes. By grandparents weren't exactly rich."
He smiled. "If this voyage had taken place a couple years back, I would indeed be in steerage, too."
We sat there in silence for a couple of moments. The warm wind blew the sweet smell of ocean water aboard.
At that moment a girl, no older than 13, came up and promptly greeted Daniel and I good-morning.
"Erm, Hello," I said, shaking her hand gingerly.
Daniel, noticing the look of confusion on my face introduced the young girl as his cousin, Gracie.
"So you're the girl that Daniel was talking about just the other day?" She asked, smiling at Daniel. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Daniel adjust nervously in his seat.
From what I heard of Gracie's talking, she is quite a risk taker. And, according to Daniel, she always has been. I spent the afternoon listening to Daniel and Gracie's stories from when they were children. I must admit, it was quite enjoyable.
We talked until the bugle brightly announced the sound of luncheon. The three of us walked back to the dining saloon, and parted to out separate tables.