Of course, I don't think Nicola's actions are reasonable or sensible, even for a twelve year old (I remember being, at that age, very concerned about things like return tickets). But what I think is interesting is that, even from Nicola's adoring point of view, we can see that Giles is in a flap: his anger stems from the social embarrassment of having expectedly met a family member and self-reproach at knowing that he's partially responsible for the situation: i.e. it's all about Giles Marlow, Lieutenant RN. He deals with it OK, but, then, it's not that big a crisis: it's a matter of a small social embarrassment, two shillings and threepence, and a half-hour delay in whatever he was getting up to with his pal, and maybe some worry that she'd got home OK, but given that we next hear from him when he sends her a conciliatory picture of his ship, we can assume he was reasonably sanguine about that: I mean, if I'd seen a 12 year old onto a train alone and knew I couldn't phone to make sure she was OK without getting her into trouble, though in all likelihood she'd be fine, the first thing I would do is write a note to her and send it by next post, however goddamn angry I was. If you can't cope with that little bit of fuss, I would suggest that the Navy isn't really for you.
I think Forest means a very pointed contrast with Rowan's behaviour after the communication cord incident: she actually is reacting to a situation that could have ended in her sister's death or serious injury, she deals suavely with something that Giles doesn't have to face at all--hostility from a 'superior officer' in the form of Cromwell--she takes Nicola somewhere to calm down and clean up, she makes sure that Nicola is ready to face Keith (i.e. the Captain) and though she's brisk and sardonic, and lets Nick know she's been a fool, she doesn't make her feel crappy or hate herself (and while Nicola idolises Giles above all, she also really, really, looks up to Rowan--Rowan could have torn strips, but she didn't). Rowan is Natural Officer Material. Giles has a lot to learn.
no subject
send it by next post, however goddamn angry I was. If you can't cope with that little bit of fuss, I would suggest that the Navy isn't really for you.
I think Forest means a very pointed contrast with Rowan's behaviour after the communication cord incident: she actually is reacting to a situation that could have ended in her sister's death or serious injury, she deals suavely with something that Giles doesn't have to face at all--hostility from a 'superior officer' in the form of Cromwell--she takes Nicola somewhere to calm down and clean up, she makes sure that Nicola is ready to face Keith (i.e. the Captain) and though she's brisk and sardonic, and lets Nick know she's been a fool, she doesn't make her feel crappy or hate herself (and while Nicola idolises Giles above all, she also really, really, looks up to Rowan--Rowan could have torn strips, but she didn't). Rowan is Natural Officer Material. Giles has a lot to learn.