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〃I dare say that's true。〃
〃It was just luck。 I suppose there was some kink in Abraham。 Poor
devil； he's gone to the dogs altogether。 He's got some twopenny…
halfpenny job in the medical at Alexandria sanitary officer or something
like that。 I'm told he lives with an ugly old Greek woman and has half a
dozen scrofulous kids。 The fact is； I suppose； that it's not enough to have
brains。 The thing that counts is character。 Abraham hadn't got character。〃
Character？ I should have thought it needed a good deal of character
to throw up a career after half an hour's meditation； because you saw in
another way of living a more intense significance。 And it required still
more character never to regret the sudden step。 But I said nothing； and
Alec Carmichael proceeded reflectively：
〃Of course it would be hypocritical for me to pretend that I regret what
Abraham did。 After all； I've scored by it。〃 He puffed luxuriously at the
long Corona he was smoking。 〃But if I weren't personally concerned I
should be sorry at the waste。 It seems a rotten thing that a man should
make such a hash of life。〃
I wondered if Abraham really had made a hash of life。 Is to do what
you most want； to live under the conditions that please you； in peace with
yourself； to make a hash of life； and is it success to be an eminent surgeon
with ten thousand a year and a beautiful wife？ I suppose it depends on
what meaning you attach to life； the claim which you acknowledge to
society； and the claim of the individual。 But again I held my tongue； for
who am I to argue with a knight？
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Chapter LI
Tiare； when I told her this story； praised my prudence； and for a few
minutes we worked in silence； for we were shelling peas。 Then her eyes；
always alert for the affairs of her kitchen； fell on some action of the
Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval。 She turned on him
with a torrent of abuse。 The Chink was not backward to defend himself；
and a very lively quarrel ensued。 They spoke in the native language； of
which I had learnt but half a dozen words； and it sounded as though the
world would shortly come to an end； but presently peace was restored and
Tiare gave the cook a cigarette。 They both smoked comfortably。
〃Do you know； it was I who found him his wife？〃 said Tiare suddenly；
with a smile that spread all over her immense face。
〃The cook？〃
〃No； Strickland。〃
〃But he had one already。〃
〃That is what he said； but I told him she was in England； and England
is at the other end of the world。〃
〃True；〃 I replied。
〃He would come to Papeete every two or three months； when he
wanted paints or tobacco or money； and then he would wander about like a
lost dog。 I was sorry for him。 I had a girl here then called Ata to do the
rooms； she was some sort of a relation of mine； and her father and mother
were dead； so I had her to live with me。 Strickland used to come here
now and then to have a square meal or to play chess with one of the boys。
I noticed that she looked at him when he came； and I asked her if she liked
him。 She said she liked him well enough。 You know what these girls are；
they're always pleased to go with a white man。〃
〃Was she a native？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； she hadn't a drop of white blood in her。 Well； after I'd talked to
her I sent for Strickland； and I said to him： ‘Strickland； it's time for you to
settle down。 A man of your age shouldn't go playing about with the girls
down at the front。 They're bad lots； and you'll come to no good with them。
You've got no money； and you can never keep a job for more than a month
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The Moon and Sixpence
or two。 No one will employ you now。 You say you can always live in the
bush with one or other of the natives； and they're glad to have you because
you're a white man； but it's not decent for a white man。 Now； listen to me；
Strickland。'〃
Tiare mingled French with English in her conversation； for she used
both languages with equal facility。 She spoke them with a singing accent
which was not unpleasing。 You felt that a bird would speak in these
tones if it could speak English。
〃'Now； what do you say to marrying Ata？ She's a good girl and she's
only seventeen。 She's never been promiscuous like some of these girls
a captain or a first mate； yes； but she's never been touched by a native。 。 The purser of the told me last journey
that he hadn't met a nicer girl in the islands。 It's time she settled down
too； and besides； the captains and the first mates like a change now and
then。 I don't keep my girls too long。 She has a bit of property down by
Taravao； just before you come to the peninsula； and with copra at the price
it is now you could live quite comfortably。 There's a house； and you'd
have all the time you wanted for your painting。 What do you say to it？〃
Tiare paused to take breath。
〃It was then he told me of his wife in England。 'My poor Strickland；'
I said to him； 'they've all got a wife somewhere； that is generally why they
come to the islands。 Ata is a sensible girl； and she doesn't expect any
ceremony before the Mayor。 She's a Protestant； and you know they don't
look upon these things like the Catholics。'
〃Then he said： ‘But what does Ata say to it？' ‘It appears that she has
a for you；' I said。 ‘She's willing if you are。 Shall I call her？'
He chuckled in a funny； dry way he had； and I called her。 She knew what
I was talking about； the hussy； and I saw her out of the corner of my eyes
listening with all her ears； while she pretended to iron a blouse that she
had been washing for me。 She came。 She was laughing； but I could see
that she was a little shy； and Strickland looked at her without speaking。〃
〃Was she pretty？〃 I asked。
〃Not bad。 But you must have seen pictures of her。 He painted her
over and over again； sometimes with a on and sometimes with
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nothing at all。 Yes； she was pretty enough。 And she knew how to cook。
I taught her myself。 I saw Strickland was thinking of it； so I said to him：
'I've given her good wages and she's saved them； and the captains and the
first mates she's known have given her a little something now and then。
She's saved several hundred francs。'
〃He pulled his great red beard and smiled。
〃‘Well； Ata；' he said； 'do you fancy me for a husband。'
〃She did not say anything； but just giggled。
〃‘But I tell you； my poor Strickland； the girl has a for you；'
I said。
〃I shall beat you；' he said； looking at her。
〃‘How else should I know you loved me；' she answered。〃
Tiare broke off her narrative and addressed herself to me reflectively。
〃My first husband； Captain Johnson； used to thrash me regularly。 He
was a man。 He was handsome； six foot three； and when he was drunk
there was no holding him。 I would be black and blue all over for days at
a time。 Oh； I cried when he died。 I thought I should never get over it。
But it wasn't till I married George Rainey that I knew what I'd lost。 You
can never tell what a man is like till you live with him。 I've never been so
deceived in a man as I was in George Rainey。 He was a fine； upstanding
fellow too。 He was nearly as tall as Captain Johnson； and he looked
strong enough。 But it was all on the surface。 He never drank。 He
never raised his hand to me。 He might have been a missionary。 I made
love with the officers of every ship that touched the island； and George
Rainey never saw anything。 At last I was disgusted with him； and I got a
divorce。 What was the good of a husband like that？ It's a terrible thing
the way