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finishing blow。 And nothing would have happened anyway； if it hadn't
been for that big money panic in Wall Street。 Dear good Dad！ He never
let me know。 But I read about the crash in a newspaper； and hurried
home。 It was before that； though； that people had been dinging into my
ears that marriage was all any woman could get out of life； and good…bye
to romance。 Instead of which； with Dad's failure； I fell right into
romance。〃
〃How long ago was that？〃 Sheldon asked。
〃Last yearthe year of the panic。〃
〃Let me see；〃 Sheldon pondered with an air of gravity。 〃Sixteen plus
five； plus one； equals twenty…two。 You were born in 1887？〃
〃Yes； but it is not nice of you。〃
〃I am really sorry；〃 he said； 〃but the problem was so obvious。〃
〃Can't you ever say nice things？ Or is it the way you English have？〃
There was a snap in her gray eyes； and her lips quivered suspiciously for a
moment。 〃I should recommend； Mr。 Sheldon； that you read Gertrude
Atherton's 'American Wives and English Husbands。'〃
〃Thank you； I have。 It's over there。〃 He pointed at the generously
filled bookshelves。 〃But I am afraid it is rather partisan。〃
〃Anything un…English is bound to be；〃 she retorted。 〃I never have
liked the English anyway。 The last one I knew was an overseer。 Dad was
compelled to discharge him。〃
〃One swallow doesn't make a summer。〃
〃But that Englishman made lots of troublethere！ And now please
don't make me any more absurd than I already am。〃
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〃I'm trying not to。〃
〃Oh； for that matter〃 She tossed her head； opened her mouth to
complete the retort； then changed her mind。 〃I shall go on with my
history。 Dad had practically nothing left； and he decided to return to the
sea。 He'd always loved it； and I half believe that he was glad things had
happened as they did。 He was like a boy again； busy with plans and
preparations from morning till night。 He used to sit up half the night
talking things over with me。 That was after I had shown him that I was
really resolved to go along。
〃He had made his start； you know； in the South Seaspearls and pearl
shelland he was sure that more fortunes； in trove of one sort and another；
were to be picked up。 Cocoanut…planting was his particular idea； with
trading； and maybe pearling； along with other things； until the plantation
should come into bearing。 He traded off his yacht for a schooner； the
Miele； and away we went。 I took care of him and studied navigation。
He was his own skipper。 We had a Danish mate； Mr。 Ericson； and a
mixed crew of Japanese and Hawaiians。 We went up and down the Line
Islands； first； until Dad was heartsick。 Everything was changed。 They
had been annexed and divided by one power or another； while big
companies had stepped in and gobbled land； trading rights； fishing rights；
everything。
〃Next we sailed for the Marquesas。 They were beautiful； but the
natives were nearly extinct。 Dad was cut up when he learned that the
French charged an export duty on coprahe called it medieval but he
liked the land。 There was a valley of fifteen thousand acres on Nuka…
hiva； half inclosing a perfect anchorage； which he fell in love with and
bought for twelve hundred Chili dollars。 But the French taxation was
outrageous （that was why the land was so cheap）； and； worst of all； we
could obtain no labour。 What kanakas there were wouldn't work； and the
officials seemed to sit up nights thinking out new obstacles to put in our
way。
〃Six months was enough for Dad。 The situation was hopeless。 'We'll
go to the Solomons；' he said； 'and get a whiff of English rule。 And if
there are no openings there we'll go on to the Bismarck Archipelago。 I'll
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wager the Admiraltys are not yet civilized。' All preparations were made；
things packed on board； and a new crew of Marquesans and Tahitians
shipped。 We were just ready to start to Tahiti； where a lot of repairs and
refitting for the Miele were necessary； when poor Dad came down sick
and died。〃
〃And you were left all alone？〃
Joan nodded。
〃Very much alone。 I had no brothers nor sisters； and all Dad's people
were drowned in a Kansas cloud…burst。 That happened when he was a
little boy。 Of course； I could go back to Von。 There's always a home
there waiting for me。 But why should I go？ Besides； there were Dad's
plans； and I felt that it devolved upon me to carry them out。 It seemed a
fine thing to do。 Also； I wanted to carry them out。 And 。 。 。 here I am。
〃Take my advice and never go to Tahiti。 It is a lovely place； and so
are the natives。 But the white people！ Now Barabbas lived in Tahiti。
Thieves； robbers； and lairsthat is what they are。 The honest men
wouldn't require the fingers of one hand to count。 The fact that I was a
woman only simplified matters with them。 They robbed me on every
pretext； and they lied without pretext or need。 Poor Mr。 Ericson was
corrupted。 He joined the robbers； and O。K。'd all their demands even up
to a thousand per cent。 If they robbed me of ten francs； his share was
three。 One bill of fifteen hundred francs I paid； netted him five hundred
francs。 All this； of course； I learned afterward。 But the Miele was old；
the repairs had to be made； and I was charged； not three prices； but seven
prices。
〃I never shall know how much Ericson got out of it。 He lived ashore
in a nicely furnished house。 The shipwrights were giving it to him rent…
free。 Fruit； vegetables； fish； meat； and ice came to this house every day；
and he paid for none of it。 It was part of his graft from