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the natural occupation for men and women； and was ever ready with
precept and example from her own wide experience。
〃I was not fifteen when my father found that I had a lover；〃 she said。
〃He was third mate on the 。 A good…looking boy。〃
She sighed a little。 They say a woman always remembers her first
lover with affection； but perhaps she does not always remember him。
〃My father was a sensible man。〃
〃What did he do？〃 I asked。
〃He thrashed me within an inch of my life； and then he made me
marry Captain Johnson。 I did not mind。 He was older； of course； but he
was good…looking too。〃
Tiare her father had called her by the name of the white； scented
flower which； they tell you； if you have once smelt； will always draw you
back to Tahiti in the end； however far you may have roamed Tiare
remembered Strickland very well。
〃He used to come here sometimes； and I used to see him walking
about Papeete。 I was sorry for him； he was so thin； and he never had any
money。 When I heard he was in town； I used to send a boy to find him
and make him come to dinner with me。 I got him a job once or twice； but
he couldn't stick to anything。 After a little while he wanted to get back to
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the bush； and one morning he would be gone。〃
Strickland reached Tahiti about six months after he left Marseilles。
He worked his passage on a sailing vessel that was making the trip from
Auckland to San Francisco； and he arrived with a box of paints； an easel；
and a dozen canvases。 He had a few pounds in his pocket； for he had
found work in Sydney； and he took a small room in a native house outside
the town。 I think the moment he reached Tahiti he felt himself at home。
Tiare told me that he said to her once：
〃I'd been scrubbing the deck； and all at once a chap said to me： ‘Why；
there it is。' And I looked up and I saw the outline of the island。 I knew
right away that there was the place I'd been looking for all my life。 Then
we came near； and I seemed to recognise it。 Sometimes when I walk
about it all seems familiar。 I could swear I've lived here before。〃
〃Sometimes it takes them like that；〃 said Tiare。 〃I've known men
come on shore for a few hours while their ship was taking in cargo； and
never go back。 And I've known men who came here to be in an office for
a year； and they cursed the place； and when they went away they took their
dying oath they'd hang themselves before they came back again； and in six
months you'd see them land once more； and they'd tell you they couldn't
live anywhere else。〃
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Chapter L
I have an idea that some men are born out of their due place。
Accident has cast them amid certain surroundings； but they have always a
nostalgia for a home they know not。 They are strangers in their
birthplace； and the leafy lanes they have known from childhood or the
populous streets in which they have played； remain but a place of passage。
They may spend their whole lives aliens among their kindred and remain
aloof among the only scenes they have ever known。 Perhaps it is this
sense of strangeness that sends men far and wide in the search for
something permanent； to which they may attach themselves。 Perhaps
some deeprooted atavism urges the wanderer back to lands which his
ancestors left in the dim beginnings of history。 Sometimes a man hits
upon a place to which he mysteriously feels that he belongs。 Here is the
home he sought； and he will settle amid scenes that he has never seen
before； among men he has never known； as though they were familiar to
him from his birth。 Here at last he finds rest。
I told Tiare the story of a man I had known at St。 Thomas's Hospital。
He was a Jew named Abraham； a blond； rather stout young man； shy and
very unassuming； but he had remarkable gifts。 He entered the hospital
with a scholarship； and during the five years of the curriculum gained
every prize that was open to him。 He was made house…physician and
house…surgeon。 His brilliance was allowed by all。 Finally he was elected
to a position on the staff； and his career was assured。 So far as human
things can be predicted； it was certain that he would rise to the greatest
heights of his profession。 Honours and wealth awaited him。 Before he
entered upon his new duties he wished to take a holiday； and； having no
private means； he went as surgeon on a tramp steamer to the Levant。 It did
not generally carry a doctor； but one of the senior surgeons at the hospital
knew a director of the line； and Abraham was taken as a favour。
In a few weeks the authorities received his resignation of the coveted
position on the staff。 It created profound astonishment； and wild rumours
were current。 Whenever a man does anything unexpected； his fellows
ascribe it to the most discreditable motives。 But there was a man ready
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to step into Abraham's shoes； and Abraham was forgotten。 Nothing more
was heard of him。 He vanished。
It was perhaps ten years later that one morning on board ship； about to
land at Alexandria； I was bidden to line up with the other passengers for
the doctor's examination。 The doctor was a stout man in shabby clothes；
and when he took off his hat I noticed that he was very bald。 I had an
idea that I had seen him before。 Suddenly I remembered。
〃Abraham；〃 I said。
He turned to me with a puzzled look； and then； recognizing me； seized
my hand。 After expressions of surprise on either side； hearing that I
meant to spend the night in Alexandria； he asked me to dine with him at
the English Club。 When we met again I declared my astonishment at
finding him there。 It was