Ralph Stock

Name: South of the Line — The Peep Show
Author: Ralph Stock

South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

Summary

“South of the Line — The Peep Show”, published in 1922, is a work by Ralph Stock. It explores elements such as Felisi, Luana and Morgan.

Quotes from South of the Line — The Peep Show (Ralph Stock)

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ At the pile of mats it paused, kneeling, peering, outstretching an arm. It was a hesitant shadow even now, and not without cause, for in its gropings under the mats its arm became suddenly transfixed, and in a moment the guest house was a chaos of struggling men.
But it did not last long. Morgan was infinitely the stronger. With a wrench he was free and away, the bundle under his arm, his partner, a gaunt, dishevelled figure, stumbling impotently in his wake. Felisi watched them go—down through the moon-mottled fringes of the palm grove and out on to the beach. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ The other said nothing, but carefully lowered a round, compact bundle from his shoulder to the ground, and sat upon it.
At this juncture Felisi, who had watched their advent from the doorway of her father's house, saw fit to make her presence known; and a very engaging presence it was, consisting of five feet two inches and fifteen years of bronze femininity, lithe and upstanding like a boy, clad in her best sulu, a red hibiscus blossom, and a dazzling smile. But what would you? It is not for nothing that one is the eldest daughter of the chief of a village like Luana. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ The curtain was rung down on the first act of Felisi's peep show. But there was still the bundle.
Within five minutes she knew what it contained, and like a dutiful daughter, made a report to her father.
"They have come far and are very tired," she told him, squatting in her proper place at the doorway.
The Chief of Luana looked up from a litter of meaningless papers, and fixed Felisi with his official frown. He was a quaint little man, who, under pretence of being eternally busy, did nothing whatever. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ They came from the world that she knew and loved so well, throbbing centre of civilization such as Levuka and Suva, where governors and their ladies drove in glittering carriages, where immense ships unloaded impossible freights of passengers and cargo on to the groaning wharves, and where, incidentally, it was possible to amass a fortune by merely looking as charming as one happened to be, and selling imitation pink coral to credulous tourists. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ Felisi nodded and retired, whereupon the tall man drew a battered pouch from his pocket and thoughtfully filled his pipe.
"Look here, Morgan," he said, "it's about time you and I understood one another."
"I'm on," agreed Morgan.
"We're partners," the other continued slowly, "until we sell and divide the proceeds; there's no avoiding that. But there's no need to hide the fact that we dislike each other pretty thoroughly, is there?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ Felisi wriggled in delicious self-consciousness on the mats.
"Oh, cut it out, Slade," interposed Morgan. "They don't want thanks. Don't understand 'em. They look after us for the honour of the thing. Pleases the chief, and all that. As long as we are looked after, what does it matter who does it, or why? You make me tired. Hi, Mary, some more taro, lively!"
"Will you go to the Chief of Luana," continued the tall man, as though the other had not spoken, "and convey to him our thanks?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ He turned slowly and looked full into the venomous eyes of his partner. "I found you out—that's why you hate me so, Morgan. I suppose you've forgotten all that happened back there in the mangroves. I haven't. Why, man, you wouldn't be here now if I hadn't dragged and carried and kicked you here! Yet ever since I ran across this stuff your one thought has been how to rob me of my share of it. Twice I caught you, Morgan, slinking off. The first time I believed the yarn you put up, instead of leaving you to rot. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ Her father's eyes goggled at her over the typewriter.
"Ambergris!" he repeated in an awed undertone.
"Yes. It is one hundred pounds for a piece no bigger than a pigeon's egg in Suva. I have seen."
And the Chief of Luana knew this to be so. For a while his brow was creased by a myriad wrinkles, which signified that he was trying to think; then he waved Felisi from the presence. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ Morgan had returned to the chief's house, and was beguiling him with titbits of officialdom when Felisi found time to shift her sphere of activities.
"... and I don't mind telling you, chief, I am favourably impressed with the conduct of affairs in Luana," he was saying in glib dialect, "very favourably impressed. It seems to me you are wasted here. What you want is influence, commonly called 'boost.'"
"Boost," repeated the chief, who was rapidly becoming impressed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ As a newly elected member of the local native district council, he had been inordinately impressed at the first assembly by the importance of anything in the nature of a printed form. Whatever its shape or colour or size, it was apparent to him that all things had their inception, their proper conduct, and ultimate fruition in "forms," so he had brought away a kerosene tin full of them for his own use. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ Unfortunately, the more telling phase of the climax was perforce enacted "off," when somewhere and at some time an exactly similar bundle was exultantly unwrapped, exposing to view a congealed mass of Luana's good red clay. But you cannot have it both ways, even in a peep show. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, South of the Line — The Peep Show (1922)

“ They have not spoken. They are asleep."
"Have they many cigars and much wisiky?"
"They have nothing," said Felisi, "except——"
The Chief of Luana had intended to smite the wicker table after the fashion of the Native Commissioner when exasperated, but, instead, his wrist caught the typewriter keys, causing several bars to rear on end and unite in a tangled mass. ”

Ralph Stock

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