Ralph Stock

“ Marsden had conscientiously worn a complete change of clothing every day of his three years at Valina, "to keep civilised," as he had told himself, but, if this were civilisation, he saw now that he had failed. He was as far removed from these people as—as a black-beetle from a butterfly. That was it, he announced savagely, while contemplating his unlovely reflection in the looking-glass—a black-beetle! Malaria and drainage schemes certainly do play the mischief with a man. ”

“ Moseley looked out over Valina, an oasis of young palms in a desert of mangroves, and was constrained to admit that it was—to the tune of five thousand five hundred, not a penny more.
But Marsden smiled grimly and shook his skull-like head. Valina had cost more than money to create, and it was going to take more than money to buy. There were a few trifles, such as health and happiness, still owing, and Marsden was resolved that they should be paid before the property left his hands. ”

“ Slowly it was borne in on him that actual distance had nothing to do with it, for here, only two days from Sydney, things seemed just as far off as they had been at Valina. This troubled Marsden. He took to self-communings in his cabin.
There were people on deck—white women in flimsy dresses, sitting about in cane chairs or playing deck billiards with immaculate, care-free men. And there was an immensely popular youth, who wore white serge and a lavender tie and check socks, and ordered strange and frequent refreshment from the bar. ”