Mrs. Tracey sighed, and then smiled again. "Never."

"Ah, that was because of some witchcraft, for thy husband who is dead
was a strong, thick man, and thou art one who should bear many
children. Some evil person hath practised witchcraft on thee. But
thou wilt be wife to this man Parri and bear him children. Old
Tuna--she who was mother to Gurden's wife--hath told us that this Parri
will be thy man."

A vivid flush dyed Alice Tracey's cheeks. "Tuna talks foolishly. I
tell thee both that there is a girl fair to look upon to whom this man
is bound, and that he careth nought for me but as a friend."

Pani shook her head gravely. "Tuna is a wise old woman, she can do
many things. She can foretell when death cometh, and can see many
things in the night; she can make the barren woman fruitful and can
bring the rain. And she hath said that this man Parri will be thy
husband, and----"

Mrs. Tracey rose quickly. "Tell me not such foolish things! Come, let
us walk upon the beach a little time ere we sleep."

* * * * * *

Barry received an answer from her the following evening.

"I am so glad to know," she wrote, "that all is going well, for at
times I cannot help a feeling of dread taking possession of me,
especially if I am alone for any length of time, and sometimes I am
afraid to sleep, for I have such dreadful dreams about these men,
Chase, the Greek, and Rawlings. The two girls, Pani and Toea, are,
however, a great comfort to me, and if all goes well I shall ask you a
favour. I want to take one of them away with me in the _Mahina_. . . .
Do you know how I spend my time, or most of it? Very much as you do
during the day, watching the natives bringing in the shell and trying
to imagine how many go to a ton. Then at night-time I am the grand
dame of Tebuan. I light up my mansion of thatch, and all the women of
the village come in and gossip for an hour or two with me, the men
sitting outside in a circle. Last night I divided two hundred sticks
of the tobacco you sent me among them, and in return they honoured me
with a dance. Am I not very childish? I am sure you will think so,
but then I feel so much happier every day now in spite of the horrible
dreams which sometimes torment and make me miserable.

"We have, I should say, quite forty tons of beautiful shell here now,
either cleaned, or rotting out at various places on the beach. Last
week the people told me th