[For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke]@TWC D-Link book
For the Term of His Natural Life

CHAPTER I
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Vickers found his wife extravagant, vain, and snappish, and she found him harsh, disenchanted, and commonplace.

A daughter, born two years after their marriage, was the only link that bound the ill-assorted pair.

Vickers idolized little Sylvia, and when the recommendation of a long sea-voyage for his failing health induced him to exchange into the -- th, he insisted upon bringing the child with him, despite Mrs.Vickers's reiterated objections on the score of educational difficulties.

"He could educate her himself, if need be," he said; "and she should not stay at home." So Mrs.Vickers, after a hard struggle, gave up the point and her dreams of Bath together, and followed her husband with the best grace she could muster.

When fairly out to sea she seemed reconciled to her fate, and employed the intervals between scolding her daughter and her maid, in fascinating the boorish young Lieutenant, Maurice Frere.
Fascination was an integral portion of Julia Vickers's nature; admiration was all she lived for: and even in a convict ship, with her husband at her elbow, she must flirt, or perish of mental inanition.
There was no harm in the creature.


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