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screaming paroquets； the botanical station； and even the ice…machine were
all objects of delight。
On the other hand； the interior of the famous palace； which had been
sent out complete from London； and which was wont to fill the wives of
the colonials with awe or to reduce them to whispers； for some reason
failed of its effect。 But they said they 〃loved〃 the large gold V。 R。's on
the back of the Councillors' chairs； and they exclaimed aloud over the red
leather despatch…boxes and the great seal of the colony； and the mysterious
envelopes marked 〃On her Majesty's service。〃
〃Isn't it too exciting； Florence？〃 demanded Mrs。 Collier。 〃This is the
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table where Sir Charles sits and writes letters' on her Majesty's service；'
and presses these buttons； and war…ships spring up in perfect shoals。 Oh；
Robert；〃 she sighed； 〃I do wish you had been a Governor！〃
The young lady called Florence stood looking down into the great
arm…chair in front of the Governor's table。
〃May I？〃 she asked。 She slid fearlessly in between the oak arms of
the chair and smiled about her。 Afterwards Sir Charles remembered her
as she appeared at that moment with the red leather of the chair behind her；
with her gloved hands resting on the carved oak； and her head on one side；
smiling up at him。 She gazed with large eyes at the blue linen envelopes；
the stiff documents in red tape； the tray of black sand； and the goose… quill
pens。
〃I am now the Countess Zika；〃 she announced； 〃no； I am Diana of the
Crossways； and I mean to discover a state secret and sell it to the Daily
Telegraph。 Sir Charles；〃 she demanded； 〃if I press this electric button is
war declared anywhere； or what happens？〃
〃That second button；〃 said Sir Charles； after deliberate scrutiny； 〃is the
one which communicates with the pantry。〃
The Governor would not consider their returning to the yacht for
luncheon。
〃You might decide to steam away as suddenly as you came；〃 he said；
gallantly； 〃and I cannot take that chance。 This is Bachelor's Hall； so you
must pardon my people if things do not go very smoothly。〃 He himself
led them to the great guest…chamber； where there had not been a guest for
many years； and he noticed； as though for the first time； that the halls
through which they passed were bare； and that the floor was littered with
unpacked boxes and gun…cases。 He also observed for the first time that
maps of the colony； with the coffee…plantations and mahogany belt marked
in different inks； were not perhaps so decorative as pictures and mirrors
and family portraits。 And he could have wished that the native servants
had not stared so admiringly at the guests； nor directed each other in such
aggressive whispers。 On those other occasions； when the wives of the
Councillors came to the semi…annual dinners； the native servants had
seemed adequate to all that was required of them。 He recollected with a
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flush that in the town these semi…annual dinners were described as
banquets。 He wondered if to these visitors from the outside world it was
all equally provincial。
But their enjoyment was apparently unfeigned and generous。 It was
evident that they had known each other for many years； yet they received
every remark that any of them made as though it had been pronounced by
a new and interesting acquaintance。 Sir Charles found it rather difficult
to keep up with the talk across the table； they changed the subject so
rapidly； and they half spoke of so many things without waiting to explain。
He could not at once grasp the fact that people who had no other position
in the world save that of observers were speaking so authoritatively of
public men and public measures。 He found； to his delight； that for the
first time in several years he was not presiding at his own table； and that
his guests seemed to feel no awe of him。
〃What's the use of a yacht nowadays？〃 Collier was saying〃 what's
the use of a yacht； when you can go to sleep in a wagon… lit at the Gare du
Nord； and wake up at Vladivostok？ And look at the time it saves； eleven
days to Gib； six to Port Said； and fifteen to Colombothere you are； only
half…way around； and you're already sixteen days behind the man in the
wagon…lit。〃
〃But nobody wants to go to Vladivostok；〃 said Miss Cameron； 〃or
anywhere else in a wagon…lit。 But with a yacht you can explore out…of…
the…way places； and you meet new and interesting people。 We wouldn't
have met Sir Charles if we had waited for a wagon… lit。〃 She bowed her
head to the Governor； and he smiled with gratitude。 He had lost Mr。
Collier somewhere in the Indian Ocean； and he was glad she had brought
them back to the Windless Isles once more。
〃And again I repeat that the answer to that is； 'Why not？ said the
March Hare；'〃 remarked Mr。 Collier； determinedly。
The answer； as an answer； did not strike Sir Charles as a very good one。
But the ladies seemed to comprehend； for Miss Cameron said： 〃Did I tell
you about meeting him at Oxford just a few months before his deathat a
children's tea…party？ He was so sweet and understanding with them！
Two women tried to lionize him； and he ran away and played with the
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children。 I was more glad to meet him than any one I can think of。 Not
as a personage； you know； but because I felt grateful to him。〃
〃Yes； that way； distinctly；〃 said Mrs。 Collier。 〃I should have felt that
way towards Mrs。 Ewing more than any one else。〃
〃I know； 'Jackanapes；'〃 remarked Collier； shortly； 〃a brutal assault
upon the feelings； I say。〃
〃Some one else said it before you； Robert；〃 Mrs。 Collier commented；
calmly。 〃Perhaps Sir Charles met him at Apia。〃 They all turned and
looked at him。 He wished he could say he had met him at Apia。