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young； comely as such creatures went； and whose body bore no signs of
skin…disease。
〃What name； you？〃 he demanded。 〃Sangui？〃
〃Me Mahua；〃 was the answer。
〃All right； you fella Mahua。 You finish cook along boys。 You stop
along white Mary。 All the time you stop along。 You savvee？〃
〃Me savvee；〃 she grunted； and obeyed his gesture to go to the grass
house immediately。
〃What name？〃 he asked Viaburi； who had just come out of the grass
house。
〃Big fella sick；〃 was the answer。 〃White fella Mary talk 'm too much
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allee time。 Allee time talk 'm big fella schooner。〃
Sheldon nodded。 He understood。 It was the loss of the Martha that
had brought on the fever。 The fever would have come sooner or later； he
knew； but her disappointment had precipitated it。 He lighted a cigarette；
and in the curling smoke of it caught visions of his English mother； and
wondered if she would understand how her son could love a woman who
cried because she could not be skipper of a schooner in the cannibal isles。
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CHAPTER XXA MAN…TALK
The most patient man in the world is prone to impatience in love and
Sheldon was in love。 He called himself an ass a score of times a day； and
strove to contain himself by directing his mind in other channels； but more
than a score of times each day his thoughts roved back and dwelt on Joan。
It was a pretty problem she presented； and he was continually debating
with himself as to what was the best way to approach her。
He was not an adept at love…making。 He had had but one experience
in the gentle art （in which he had been more wooed than wooing）； and the
affair had profited him little。 This was another affair； and he assured
himself continually that it was a uniquely different and difficult affair。
Not only was here a woman who was not bent on finding a husband； but it
was a woman who wasn't a woman at all； who was genuinely appalled by
the thought of a husband； who joyed in boys' games； and sentimentalized
over such things as adventure； who was healthy and normal and
wholesome； and who was so immature that a husband stood for nothing
more than an encumbrance in her cherished scheme of existence。
But how to approach her？ He divined the fanatical love of freedom
in her； the deep…seated antipathy for restraint of any sort。 No man could
ever put his arm around her and win her。 She would flutter away like a
frightened bird。 Approach by contactthat； he realized； was the one
thing he must never do。 His hand…clasp must be what it had always been；
the hand…clasp of hearty friendship and nothing more。 Never by action
must he advertise his feeling for her。 Remained speech。 But what
speech？ Appeal to her love？ But she did not love him。 Appeal to her
brain？ But it was apparently a boy's brain。 All the deliciousness and
fineness of a finely bred woman was hers； but； for all he could discern； her
mental processes were sexless and boyish。 And yet speech it must be； for
a beginning had to be made somewhere； some time； her mind must be
made accustomed to the idea； her thoughts turned upon the matter of
marriage。
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And so he rode overseeing about the plantation； with tightly drawn and
puckered brows； puzzling over the problem； and steeling himself to the
first attempt。 A dozen ways he planned an intricate leading up to the first
breaking of the ice； and each time some link in the chain snapped and the
talk went off on unexpected and irrelevant lines。 And then one morning；
quite fortuitously； the opportunity came。
〃My dearest wish is the success of Berande；〃 Joan had just said；
apropos of a discussion about the cheapening of freights on copra to
market。
〃Do you mind if I tell you the dearest wish of my heart？〃 he promptly
returned。 〃I long for it。 I dream about it。 It is my dearest desire。〃
He paused and looked at her with intent significance； but it was plain
to him that she thought there was nothing more at issue than mutual
confidences about things in general。
〃Yes； go ahead；〃 she said； a trifle impatient at his delay。
〃I love to think of the success of Berande；〃 he said； 〃but that is
secondary。 It is subordinate to the dearest wish； which is that some day
you will share Berande with me in a completer way than that of mere
business partnership。 It is for you； some day； when you are ready； to be
my wife。〃
She started back from him as if she had been stung。 Her face went
white on the instant； not from maidenly embarrassment； but from the
anger which he could see flaming in her eyes。
〃This taking for granted！this when I am ready！〃 she cried
passionately。 Then her voice swiftly became cold and steady； and she
talked in the way he imagined she must have talked business with Morgan
and Raff at Guvutu。 〃Listen to me； Mr。 Sheldon。 I like you very well；
though you are slow and a muddler； but I want you to understand； once
and for all； that I did not come to the Solomons to get married。 That is an
affliction I could have accumulated at home； without sailing ten thousand
miles after it。 I have my own way to make in the world； and I came to the
Solomons to do it。 Getting married is not making MY way in the world。
It may do for some women； but not for me； thank you。 When I sit down
to talk over the freight on copra； I don't care to have proposals of marriage
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sandwiched in。 Besidesbesides〃
Her voice broke for the moment； and when she went on there was a
note of appeal in it that well…nigh convicted him to himself of being a
brute。
〃Don't you see？it spoils everything； it makes the whole situation
impossible 。 。 。 and 。 。 。 and I so loved our partnership； and was