Ralph Stock

“ You may show him the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Bridge of Sighs, or even the Sydney town hall, and he will probably yawn, and make inquiries about the next meal, but show him something he doesn't know about cricket, and he's your friend for life.
“Ratu Kadavu was no exception. In fact it was the one ambition of his life to take the Fijian cricketers to England: so that in rather less than a month Pritchard found himself the owner of a native house and two hundred acres of jungle, on the one condition that he impart that leg break to the bowlers of the team. ”

“ Exactly what went on inside that flimsy building the next day is known only to Aunt Deborah and Tassy O'Connor, for the apparition tired of the reclamation inside of an hour, pleaded a headache, and went pigeon shooting with Pritchard, returning late for dinner, with hair considerably mussed, and eyes shining.
“'One of the most interesting afternoons I have ever spent,' said Aunt Deborah. 'The man is full of humorous anecdote and useful information. ”

“ Do you think we might call?'
“Pritchard was feverishly tugging at his absurd mustache.
“'Well, hardly a beach comber,' he stammered. 'Too far from the sea, you know—a sort of river comber—you know the kind of thing.'
“'Mayn't we just peep in?' insisted the apparition. 'I'm just dying to see a beach—I mean river comber.'
“I flung myself bodily into the breach.
“'I'm afraid not,' I advised in an undertone, 'He might not like it. Well-educated man—excellent family, I believe, but a waster. Drinks, too, and he's sensitive about it. The islands are full of such cases. “Mat fever,” we call it. ”

“ They're a surprise packet; a mere nephew never really knows what they think or what they are going to do. A really successful maiden aunt combines in her personality the few sterling qualities of man together with all the unexpectness of woman. She knows, she—— Even other people's aunts interest me,” he ended thoughtfully, and we waited, mutely expectant, while he lit his pipe.
“I was thinking of Pritchard's,” he continued presently; “Pritchard, of Taviuni. ”