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the point。 Personally； purely selfishly personally； I should be sorry to see
you go。 But I am not considering myself。 I am considering you。 Itit
is hardly the proper thing； you know。 If I were marriedif there were
some woman of your own race herebut as it is〃
She threw up her hands in mock despair。
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〃I cannot follow you；〃 she said。 〃In one breath you tell me I must go；
and in the next breath you tell me there is no place to go and that you will
not permit me to go。 What is a poor girl to do？〃
〃That's the trouble；〃 he said helplessly。
〃And the situation annoys you。〃
〃Only for your sake。〃
〃Then let me save your feelings by telling you that it does not annoy
me at allexcept for the row you are making about it。 I never allow what
can't be changed to annoy me。 There is no use in fighting the inevitable。
Here is the situation。 You are here。 I am here。 I can't go elsewhere；
by your own account。 You certainly can't go elsewhere and leave me
here alone with a whole plantation and two hundred woolly cannibals on
my hands。 Therefore you stay； and I stay。 It is very simple。 Also； it is
adventure。 And furthermore； you needn't worry for yourself。 I am not
matrimonially inclined。 I came to the Solomons for a plantation； not a
husband。〃
Sheldon flushed； but remained silent。
〃I know what you are thinking；〃 she laughed gaily。 〃That if I were a
man you'd wring my neck for me。 And I deserve it； too。 I'm so sorry。
I ought not to keep on hurting your feelings。〃
〃I'm afraid I rather invite it；〃 he said； relieved by the signs of the
tempest subsiding。
〃I have it；〃 she announced。 〃Lend me a gang of your boys for to… day。
I'll build a grass house for myself over in the far corner of the compound
on piles； of course。 I can move in to…night。 I'll be comfortable and safe。
The Tahitians can keep an anchor watch just as aboard ship。 And then I'll
study cocoanut planting。 In return； I'll run the kitchen end of your
household and give you some decent food to eat。 And finally； I won't
listen to any of your protests。 I know all that you are going to say and
offer your giving the bungalow up to me and building a grass house for
yourself。 And I won't have it。 You may as well consider everything
settled。 On the other hand； if you don't agree； I will go across the river；
beyond your jurisdiction； and build a village for myself and my sailors；
whom I shall send in the whale…boat to Guvutu for provisions。 And now
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I want you to teach me billiards。〃
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CHAPTER VIIA HARD…BITTEN
GANG
Joan took hold of the household with no uncertain grip；
revolutionizing things till Sheldon hardly recognized the place。 For the
first time the bungalow was clean and orderly。 No longer the house…boys
loafed and did as little as they could； while the cook complained that
〃head belong him walk about too much；〃 from the strenuous course in
cookery which she put him through。 Nor did Sheldon escape being
roundly lectured for his laziness in eating nothing but tinned provisions。
She called him a muddler and a slouch； and other invidious names； for his
slackness and his disregard of healthful food。
She sent her whale…boat down the coast twenty miles for limes and
oranges； and wanted to know scathingly why said fruits had not long since
been planted at Berande； while he was beneath contempt because there
was no kitchen garden。 Mummy apples； which he had regarded as weeds；
under her guidance appeared as appetizing breakfast fruit； and； at dinner；
were metamorphosed into puddings that elicited his unqualified
admiration。 Bananas； foraged from the bush； were served； cooked and
raw； a dozen different ways； each one of which he declared was better than
any other。 She or her sailors dynamited fish daily； while the Balesuna
natives were paid tobacco for bringing in oysters from the mangrove
swamps。 Her achievements with cocoanuts were a revelation。 She
taught the cook how to make yeast from the milk； that； in turn； raised light
and airy bread。 From the tip…top heart of the tree she concocted a
delicious salad。 From the milk and the meat of the nut she made various
sauces and dressings； sweet and sour； that were served； according to
preparation； with dishes that ranged from fish to pudding。 She taught
Sheldon the superiority of cocoanut cream over condensed cream； for use
in coffee。 From the old and sprouting nuts she took the solid； spongy
centres and turned them into salads。 Her forte seemed to be salads； and
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she astonished him with the deliciousness of a salad made from young
bamboo shoots。 Wild tomatoes； which had gone to seed or been
remorselessly hoed out from the beginning of Berande； were foraged for
salads； soups； and sauces。 The chickens； which had always gone into the
bush and hidden their eggs； were given laying…bins； and Joan went out
herself to shoot wild duck and wild pigeons for the table。
〃Not that I like to do this sort of work；〃 she explained； in reference to
the cookery； 〃but because I can't get away from Dad's training。〃
Among other things； she burned the pestilential hospital； quarrelled
with Sheldon over the dead； and； in anger； set her own men to work
building a new； and what she called a decent； hospital。 She robbed the
windows of their lawn and muslin curtains； replacing them with gaudy
calico from the trade…store； and ma