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pretty South Sea Island girl clad in a few flowers and nothing
else； which he held towards Bastin； saying：
〃Is it to this child of Nature。 that you object？ I call her
distinctly attractive； though perhaps she does wear her hibiscus
blooms with a difference to our womena little lower down。〃
〃The devil is always attractive；〃 replied Bastin gloomily。
〃Child of Nature indeed！ I call her Child of Sin。 That photograph
is enough to make my poor Sarah turn in her grave。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Bickley； 〃seeing that wide seas roll between you
and this dusky Venus。 Also I thought that according to your
Hebrew legend sin came in with bark garments。〃
〃You should search the Scriptures； Bickley；〃 I broke in； 〃and
cultivate accuracy。 It was fig…leaves that symbolised its
arrival。 The garments； which I think were of skin； developed
later。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 went on Bickley； who had turned the page； 〃she〃 （he
referred to the late Mrs。 Bastin） 〃would have preferred her
thus；〃 and he held up another illustration of the same woman。
In this the native belle appeared after conversion； clad in
broken…down staysI suppose they were staysout of which she
seemed to bulge and flow in every direction； a dirty white dress
several sizes too small； a kind of Salvation Army bonnet without
a crown and a prayer…book which she held pressed to her middle；
the general effect being hideous； and in some curious way；
improper。
〃Certainly；〃 said Bastin； 〃though I admit her clothes do not
seem to fit and she has not buttoned them up as she ought。 But it
is not of the pictures so much as of the letterpress with its
false and scandalous accusations； that I complain。〃
〃Why do you complain？〃 asked Bickley。 〃Probably it is quite
true； though that we could never ascertain without visiting the
lady's home。〃
〃If I could afford it；〃 exclaimed Bastin with rising anger； 〃I
should like to go there and expose this vile traducer of my
cloth。〃
〃So should I；〃 answered Bickley； 〃and expose these introducers
of consumption； measles and other European diseases； to say
nothing of gin； among an innocent and Arcadian people。〃
〃How can you call them innocent； Bickley； when they murder and
eat missionaries？〃
〃I dare say we should all eat a missionary； Bastin； if we were
hungry enough；〃 was the answer； after which something occurred to
change the conversation。
But I kept the book and read it as a neutral observer； and came
to the conclusion that these South Sea Islands； a land where it
was always afternoon； must be a charming place； in which perhaps
the stars of the Tropics and the scent of the flowers might
enable one to forget a little； or at least take the edge off
memory。 Why should I not visit them and escape another long and
dreary English winter？ No； I could not do so alone。 If Bastin and
Bickley were there； their eternal arguments might amuse me。 Well；
why should they not come also？ When one has money things can
always be arranged。
The idea； which had its root in this absurd conversation； took
a curious hold on me。 I thought of it all the evening； being
alone； and that night it re…arose m my dreams。 I dreamed that my
lost Natalie appeared to me and showed me a picture。 It was of a
long； low land； a curving shore of which the ends were out of the
picture； whereon grew tall palms； and where great combers broke
upon gleaming sand。
Then the picture seemed to become a reality and I saw Natalie
herself； strangely changeful in her aspect； strangely varying in
face and figure； strangely bright； standing in the mouth of a
pass whereof the little bordering cliffs were covered with bushes
and low trees； whose green was almost hid in lovely flowers。
There in my dream she stood； smiling mysteriously； and stretched
out her arms towards me。
As I awoke I seemed to hear her voice； repeating her dying
words： 〃Go where you seem called to go； far away。 Oh！ the
wonderful place in which you will find me； not knowing that you
have found me。〃
With some variations this dream visited me twice that night。 In
the morning I woke up quite determined that I would go to the
South Sea Islands； even if I must do so alone。 On that same
evening Bastin and Bickley dined with me。 I said nothing to them
about my dream； for Bastin never dreamed and Bickley would have
set it down to indigestion。 But when the cloth had been cleared
away and we were drinking our glass of portboth Bastin and
Bickley only took one； the former because he considered port a
sinful indulgence of the flesh； the latter because he feared it
would give him goutI remarked casually that they both looked
very run down and as though they wanted a rest。 They agreed； at
least each of them said he had noticed it in the other。 Indeed
Bastin added that the damp and the cold in the church； in which
he held daily services to no congregation except the old woman
who cleaned it； had given him rheumatism； which prevented him
from sleeping。
〃Do call things by their proper names；〃 interrupted Bickley。 〃I
told you yesterday that what you are suffering from is neuritis
in your right arm； which will become chronic if you neglect it
much longer。 I have the same thing myself； so I ought to know；
and unless I can stop operating for a while I believe my fingers
will become useless。 Also something is affecting my sight；
overstrain； I suppose； so that I am obliged to wear stronger and
stronger glasses。 I think I shall have to leave Ogden〃 （his
partner） 〃in charge for a while； and get away into the sun。 There
is none here before June。〃
〃I would if I could pay a locum tenens and were quite sure it
isn't wrong；〃 said Bastin。
〃I am glad you both think like that；〃 I remarked； 〃as I have a
suggestion to make to you。 I want to go to the South Seas about
which we were talking yesterday； to get the thorough change that
Bickley has been advising for me； and I should be very grateful
if you would both come as my guests。 You； Bickley； make so much
money out of cutting people about； that you can arrange your own
affairs during your absence。 But as for you； Bastin； I will see
to the wherewithal for the locum tenens； and everything else。〃
〃You are very kind；〃 said Bastin； 〃and certainly I should like
to expose that misguided author； who probably published his
offensive work without thinking that what he wrote might affect
the subscriptions to the missionary societies； also to show
Bickley that he is not always right； as he seems to think。 But I
could never dream of accepting without the full approval of the
Bishop。
〃You might get that of your nurse also； if she happens to be
still alive；〃 mocked Bickley。 〃As for his Lordship； I don't think
he will raise any objection when he sees the certificate I will
give you about the state of your health。 He is a great believer
in me ever since I took that carbuncle out of his neck which he
got because he will not eat enough。 As for me； I