Місяць і гріш

Chapter XLIX

           Shelookeduponveneryasthenaturaloccupationformenandwomen,andwaseverreadywithpreceptandexamplefromherownwideexperience.

           "IwasnotfifteenwhenmyfatherfoundthatIhadalover,"shesaid."HewasthirdmateontheTropicBird.Agood-lookingboy."

           Shesighedalittle.Theysayawomanalwaysremembersherfirstloverwithaffection;butperhapsshedoesnotalwaysrememberhim.

           "Myfatherwasasensibleman."

           "Whatdidhedo?"Iasked.

           "Hethrashedmewithinaninchofmylife,andthenhemadememarryCaptainJohnson.Ididnotmind.Hewasolder,ofcourse,buthewasgood-lookingtoo."

           Tiare—herfatherhadcalledherbythenameofthewhite,scentedflowerwhich,theytellyou,ifyouhaveoncesmelt,willalwaysdrawyoubacktoTahitiintheend,howeverfaryoumayhaveroamed—TiarerememberedStricklandverywell.

           "Heusedtocomeheresometimes,andIusedtoseehimwalkingaboutPapeete.Iwassorryforhim,hewassothin,andheneverhadanymoney.WhenIheardhewasintown,Iusedtosendaboytofindhimandmakehimcometodinnerwithme.Igothimajobonceortwice,buthecouldn’tsticktoanything.Afteralittlewhilehewantedtogetbacktothebush,andonemorninghewouldbegone."

           StricklandreachedTahitiaboutsixmonthsafterheleftMarseilles.HeworkedhispassageonasailingvesselthatwasmakingthetripfromAucklandtoSanFrancisco,andhearrivedwithaboxofpaints,aneasel,andadozencanvases.Hehadafewpoundsinhispocket,forhehadfoundworkinSydney,andhetookasmallroominanativehouseoutsidethetown

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