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knew such things had no right to know how to rig tackles； heave up
anchors； and sail schooners around the South Seas。 Such things in her
brain were like so many oaths on her lips。 While for such a girl to insist
that she was going on a recruiting cruise around Malaita was positive self…
sacrilege。
He always perturbedly harked back to her feminineness。 She could
play the piano far better than his sisters at home； and with far finer
appreciationthe piano that poor Hughie had so heroically laboured over
to keep in condition。 And when she strummed the guitar and sang liquid；
velvety Hawaiian hulas； he sat entranced。 Then she was all woman； and
the magic of sex kidnapped the irritations of the day and made him forget
the big revolver； the Baden…Powell； and all the rest。 But what right； the
next thought in his brain would whisper； had such a girl to swagger around
like a man and exult that adventure was not dead？ Woman that
adventured were adventuresses； and the connotation was not nice。
Besides； he was not enamoured of adventure。 Not since he was a boy
had it appealed to himthough it would have driven him hard to explain
what had brought him from England to the Solomons if it had not been
adventure。
Sheldon certainly was not happy。 The unconventional state of affairs
was too much for his conservative disposition and training。 Berande；
inhabited by one lone white man； was no place for Joan Lackland。 Yet he
racked his brain for a way out； and even talked it over with her。 In the
first place； the steamer from Australia was not due for three weeks。
〃One thing is evident： you don't want me here；〃 she said。 〃I'll man
the whale…boat to…morrow and go over to Tulagi。〃
〃But as I told you before； that is impossible；〃 he cried。 〃There is no
one there。 The Resident Commissioner is away in Australia。 Them is
only one white man； a third assistant understrapper and ex… sailora
common sailor。 He is in charge of the government of the Solomons； to
say nothing of a hundred or so niggersprisoners。 Besides； he is such a
fool that he would fine you five pounds for not having entered at Tulagi；
which is the port of entry； you know。 He is not a nice man； and； I repeat； it
is impossible。〃
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〃There is Guvutu；〃 she suggested。
He shook his head。
〃There's nothing there but fever and five white men who are drinking
themselves to death。 I couldn't permit it。〃
〃Oh thank you；〃 she said quietly。 〃I guess I'll start to…day。 Viaburi！
You go along Noa Noah； speak 'm come along me。〃
Noa Noah was her head sailor； who had been boatswain of the Miele。
〃Where are you going？〃 Sheldon asked in surprise。〃Vlaburi！ You
stop。〃
〃To Guvutuimmediately；〃 was her reply。
〃But I won't permit it。〃
〃That is why I am going。 You said it once before； and it is something
I cannot brook。〃
〃What？〃 He was bewildered by her sudden anger。 〃If I have
offended in any way〃
〃Viaburi； you fetch 'm one fella Noa Noah along me；〃 she
commanded。
The black boy started to obey。
〃Viaburi！ You no stop I break 'm head belong you。 And now； Miss
Lackland； I insistyou must explain。 What have I said or done to merit
this？〃
〃You have presumed； you have dared〃
She choked and swallowed； and could not go on。
Sheldon looked the picture of despair。
〃I confess my head is going around with it all；〃 he said。 〃If you could
only be explicit。〃
〃As explicit as you were when you told me that you would not permit
me to go to Guvutu？〃
〃But what's wrong with that？〃
〃But you have no rightno man has the rightto tell me what he will
permit or not permit。 I'm too old to have a guardian； nor did I sail all the
way to the Solomons to find one。〃
〃A gentleman is every woman's guardian。〃
〃Well； I'm not every womanthat's all。 Will you kindly allow me to
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send your boy for Noa Noah？ I wish him to launch the whale… boat。 Or
shall I go myself for him？〃
Both were now on their feet； she with flushed cheeks and angry eyes；
he； puzzled； vexed； and alarmed。 The black boy stood like a statuea
plum…black statuetaking no interest in the transactions of these
incomprehensible whites； but dreaming with calm eyes of a certain bush
village high on the jungle slopes of Malaita； with blue smoke curling up
from the grass houses against the gray background of an oncoming
mountain…squall。
〃But you won't do anything so foolish〃 he began。
〃There you go again；〃 she cried。
〃I didn't mean it that way； and you know I didn't。〃 He was speaking
slowly and gravely。 〃And that other thing； that not permittingit is only
a manner of speaking。 Of course I am not your guardian。 You know
you can go to Guvutu if you want to〃〃or to the devil；〃 he was almost
tempted to add。 〃Only； I should deeply regret it； that is all。 And I am
very sorry that I should have said anything that hurt you。 Remember； I
am an Englishman。〃
Joan smiled and sat down again。
〃Perhaps I have been hasty；〃 she admitted。 〃You see； I am intolerant
of restraint。 If you only knew how I have been compelled to fight for my
freedom。 It is a sore point with me； this being told what I am to do or not
do by you self…constituted lords of creation。…Viaburi I You stop along
kitchen。 No bring 'm Noa Noah。And now； Mr。 Sheldon； what am I to
do？ You don't want me here； and there doesn't seem to be any place for
me to go。〃
〃That is unfair。 Your being wrecked here has been a godsend to me。 I
was very lonely and very sick。 I really am not certain whether or not I
should have pulled through had you not happened along。 But that is not
the point。 Personally； purely selfishly personally； I should be sorry to see
you go。 But I am not considering myself。 I am considering you。 Itit
is