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went on alone through the dining…room； and bade him stop。 He
did so； shouldered the axe； and began to walk away； but I
called him back； walked up to him； and took the axe out of
his unresisting hands。 The boy is in all things so good；
that I can scarce say I was afraid； only I felt it had to be
stopped ere he could work himself up by dancing to some
craziness。 Our house boys protested they were not afraid；
all I know is they were all watching him round the back door
and did not follow me till I had the axe。 As for the out
boys； who were working with Fanny in the native house； they
thought it a very bad business； and made no secret of their
fears。
WEDNESDAY； 6TH。
I have no account to give of my stewardship these days； and
there's a day more to account for than mere arithmetic would
tell you。 For we have had two Monday Fourths； to bring us at
last on the right side of the meridian； having hitherto been
an exception in the world and kept our private date。
Business has filled my hours sans intermission。
TUESDAY； 12TH
I am doing no work and my mind is in abeyance。 Fanny and
Belle are sewing…machining in the next room； I have been
pulling down their hair； and Fanny has been kicking me； and
now I am driven out。 Austin I have been chasing about the
verandah； now he has gone to his lessons； and I make believe
to write to you in despair。 But there is nothing in my mind；
I swim in mere vacancy； my head is like a rotten nut； I shall
soon have to begin to work again or I shall carry away some
part of the machinery。 I have got your insufficient letter；
for which I scorn to thank you。 I have had no review by
Gosse； none by Birrell； another time if I have a letter in
the TIMES； you might send me the text as well； also please
send me a cricket bat and a cake； and when I come home for
the holidays； I should like to have a pony。
I am； sir； your obedient servant；
JACOB TONSON。
P。S。 I am quite well； I hope you are quite well。 The world
is too much with us； and my mother bids me bind my hair and
lace my bodice blue。
CHAPTER XXI
MY DEAR COLVIN； … This is Friday night； the （I believe） 18th
or 20th August or September。 I shall probably regret to…
morrow having written you with my own hand like the Apostle
Paul。 But I am alone over here in the workman's house； where
I and Belle and Lloyd and Austin are pigging； the rest are at
cards in the main residence。 I have not joined them because
'belly belong me' has been kicking up； and I have just taken
15 drops of laudanum。
On Tuesday； the party set out … self in white cap； velvet
coat； cords and yellow half boots； Belle in a white kind of
suit and white cap to match mine； Lloyd in white clothes and
long yellow boots and a straw hat； Graham in khakis and
gaiters； Henry （my old overseer） in blue coat and black kilt；
and the great Lafaele with a big ship…bag on his saddle…bow。
We left the mail at the P。 O。； had lunch at the hotel； and
about 1。50 set out westward to the place of tryst。 This was
by a little shrunken brook in a deep channel of mud on the
far side of which； in a thicket of low trees； all full of
moths of shadow and butterflies of sun； we lay down to await
her ladyship。 Whiskey and water； then a sketch of the
encampment for which we all posed to Belle； passed off the
time until 3。30。 Then I could hold on no longer。 30 minutes
late。 Had the secret oozed out？ Were they arrested？ I got
my horse； crossed the brook again； and rode hard back to the
Vaea cross roads； whence I was aware of white clothes
glancing in the other long straight radius of the quadrant。
I turned at once to return to the place of tryst； but D。
overtook me； and almost bore me down； shouting 'Ride； ride！'
like a hero in a ballad。 Lady Margaret and he were only come
to shew the place； they returned； and the rest of our party；
reinforced by Captain Leigh and Lady Jersey； set on for
Malie。 The delay was due to D。's infinite precautions；
leading them up lanes； by back ways； and then down again to
the beach road a hundred yards further on。
It was agreed that Lady Jersey existed no more； she was now
my cousin Amelia Balfour。 That relative and I headed the
march； she is a charming woman； all of us like her extremely
after trial on this somewhat rude and absurd excursion。 And
we Amelia'd or Miss Balfour'd her with great but intermittent
fidelity。 When we came to the last village； I sent Henry on
ahead to warn the King of our approach and amend his
discretion； if that might be。 As he left I heard the
villagers asking WHICH WAS THE GREAT LADY？ And a little
further； at the borders of Malie itself； we found the guard
making a music of bugles and conches。 Then I knew the game
was up and the secret out。 A considerable guard of honour；
mostly children； accompanied us； but； for our good fortune；
we had been looked for earlier； and the crowd was gone。
Dinner at the King's； he asked me to say grace； I could think
of none … never could； Graham suggested BENEDICTUS BENEDICAT；
at which I leaped。 We were nearly done； when old Popo
inflicted the Atua howl （of which you have heard already）
right at Lady Jersey's shoulder。 She started in fine style。
… 'There；' I said； 'we have been giving you a chapter of
Scott； but this goes beyond the Waverley Novels。' After
dinner； kava。 Lady J。 was served before me； and the King
DRANK LAST； it was the least formal kava I ever saw in that
house； … no names called； no show of ceremony。 All my ladies
are well trained； and when Belle drained her bowl； the King
was pleased to clap his hands。 Then he and I must retire for
our private interview； to another house。 He gave me his own
staff and made me pass before him； and in the interview；
which was long and delicate； he twice called me AFIOGA。 Ah；
that leaves you cold； but I am Samoan enough to have been
moved。 SUSUGA is my accepted rank； to be called AFIOGA …
Heavens！ what an advance … and it leaves Europe cold。 But it
staggered my Henry。 The first time it was complicated 'lana
susuga MA lana afioga … his excellency AND his majesty' … the
next time plain Majesty。 Henry then begged to interrupt the
interview and tell who he was … he is a small family chief in
Sawaii； not very small … 'I do not wish the King；' says he；
'to think me a boy from Apia。' On our return to the palace；
we separated。 I had asked for the ladies to sleep alone …
that was understood； but that Tusitala … his afioga Tusitala
… should go out with the other young men； and not sleep with
the highborn females of his family … was a doctrine received
with difficulty。 Lloyd and I had one screen； Graham and
Leigh another； and we slept well。
In the morning I was first abroad before dawn； not very long；
already there was a stir of birds。 A little after； I heard
singing from the King's chapel … exceeding good … and went
across in the hour when the east is yellow and the morning
bank is breaking up； to hear it nearer。 All about the
chapel； the guards were posted； and all saluted Tusitala。 I
could not refrain from smiling： 'So there is a place too；' I
thought； 'where sentinels salute me。' Mine has been a queer
life。
＇Drawing in book reproduced here in characters。。。＇
y2
X X X
H X
G X
F X
E The X
D i Kava X
A X
B X
C X
T X
X X
W
Breakfast was rather a protracted business。 And that was
scarce over when we were called to the great house （now
finished … recall your earlier letters） to see a royal kava。
This function is of rare use； I know grown Samoans who have
never witnessed it。 It is； besides； as you are to hear； a
piece of prehistoric history； crystallised in figures； and
the facts largely forgotten； an acted hieroglyph。 The house
is really splendid； in the rafters in the midst； two carved
and coloured model birds are posted； the only thing of the
sort I have ever remarked in Samoa； the Samoans being literal
observers of the second commandment。 At one side of the egg
our party sat。 a=Mataafa； b=Lady J。； c=Belle； d=Tusitala；
e=Graham； f=Lloyd； g=Captain Leigh； h=Henry； i=Popo。 The x's
round are the high chiefs； each man in his historical
position。 One side of the house is set apart for the King
alone； we were allowed there as his guests and Henry as our
interpreter。 It was a huge trial to the lad； when a speech
was made to me which he must translate； and I made a speech
in answer which he had to orate； full…breathed； to that big
cir