Місяць і гріш

Chapter LI

           Well,afterI’dtalkedtoherIsentforStrickland,andIsaidtohim:’Strickland,it’stimeforyoutosettledown.Amanofyourageshouldn’tgoplayingaboutwiththegirlsdownatthefront.They’rebadlots,andyou’llcometonogoodwiththem.You’vegotnomoney,andyoucanneverkeepajobformorethanamonthortwo.Noonewillemployyounow.Yousayyoucanalwaysliveinthebushwithoneorotherofthenatives,andthey’regladtohaveyoubecauseyou’reawhiteman,butit’snotdecentforawhiteman.Now,listentome,Strickland.’"

           TiaremingledFrenchwithEnglishinherconversation,forsheusedbothlanguageswithequalfacility.Shespokethemwithasingingaccentwhichwasnotunpleasing.YoufeltthatabirdwouldspeakinthesetonesifitcouldspeakEnglish.

           "’Now,whatdoyousaytomarryingAta?She’sagoodgirlandshe’sonlyseventeen.She’sneverbeenpromiscuouslikesomeofthesegirls—acaptainorafirstmate,yes,butshe’sneverbeentouchedbyanative.Elleserespecte,vois-tu.ThepurseroftheOahutoldmelastjourneythathehadn’tmetanicergirlintheislands.It’stimeshesettleddowntoo,andbesides,thecaptainsandthefirstmateslikeachangenowandthen.Idon’tkeepmygirlstoolong.ShehasabitofpropertydownbyTaravao,justbeforeyoucometothepeninsula,andwithcopraatthepriceitisnowyoucouldlivequitecomfortably.There’sahouse,andyou’dhaveallthetimeyouwantedforyourpainting.Whatdoyousaytoit?"

           Tiarepausedtotakebreath.

           "ItwasthenhetoldmeofhiswifeinEngland.

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