Ralph Stock

“ Strode did want was hard to determine, so Parks retired gracefully. For some time she leant over the rail, looking down into an upturned, elfin face, and noting the perfect teeth, the velvety skin, the brown wistful eyes, and, above all, the wealth of blue-black hair; assimilating, in short, all those qualities in Felisi of Luana that helped so materially in the sale of imitation pink coral or mangoes. ”

“ If you had moved in civilised circles for a space—if, that is, you had dispensed imitation pink coral on the wharves of Suva to every passenger with a heart between San Francisco and Sydney, and observed the ways of the white man as had Felisi of Luana, you would know that the display of vulgar curiosity is detrimental to dignity. ”

“ An hour later Strode was pacing the deck with ill-concealed impatience. He was not used to being baulked of anything, and in the present instance he was aware of an inordinate and unaccountable desire to set eyes on his wife.
Afternoon tea, served by the implacable Parks, proved a dreary affair, and by five o'clock impatience had given way to a senseless but none the less acute anxiety. He might go and meet her. It would be a pleasant surprise. He called for the sailing dinghy, and set out for the reef. After all, it was only about half a mile long, and Stella must be somewhere on it. ”

“ It was the native girl—alone. The fact smote Strode with the force of a physical blow. For a moment he crouched there, stunned into impotence, then, without word or look, plunged into the pool.
As a dive it was a poor performance, Felisi decided, and it soon became evident that Bunny could not swim, either. For this reason it took them an unconscionable time to get him out; and it seemed still longer before his eyes opened. But the most amazing thing to Felisi was the attitude of the lonely lady. ”

“ This complete, almost fanatical subjugation to an idea was a disease, she had decided during her long self-communings, as much a disease as any other, but less susceptible to treatment in that the patient was unaware of its presence. ”