as a mat, of native
workmanship; substantial and neat, and very foreign looking. And here
were aunt Caxton's cups; and if she lifted her eyes--Eleanor felt most
strange then, although most at home.

The taro and yam and sweet potatoe were only an introduction to the
fruit, which was beautiful as a shew. A native servant came in and
removed the dishes, and then set on the table a large basket, in which
the whole dessert was very simply served. Cocoanuts and bananas,
oranges and wild plums, bread-fruit and Malay apples, came piled
together in beautiful mingling. Mr. Rhys went himself to a sort of
beaufet in the room and brought plates.

"Servants cannot be said to be in complete training," he said with a
humourous look as he seated himself. "It would be strange if they were,
when there has been no one to train them. And in Fiji."

"I do not understand," said Eleanor. "Have you been keeping house he
all by yourself? I thought not, from what Mrs. Balliol said."

"You may trust sister Balliol for being always correct. No, for the
last few months, until lately, I have been building this house. Since
it was finished I have lived in it, partly; but I have taken my
principal meals at the other house."

"_You_ have been building it?"

"Or else you would not be in it at this moment. There is no carpenter
to be depended on in Fiji but yourself. You have got to go over the
house presently and see how you like it. Are you ready for a banana? or
an orange? I think you must try one of these cocoanuts."

"But you had people to help you?"

"Yes. At the rate of two boards a day."

"But, Mr. Rhys, if you cannot get carpenters, where can you get
cooks?--or do the people have _this_ by nature?"

"When you ask me properly, I will tell you," he said, with a little
pucker in the corners of his mouth that made Eleanor take warning and
draw off. She gave her attention to the cocoanut, which she found she
must learn how to eat. Mr. Rhys played with an orange in the mean time,
but she knew was really busy with nothing but her and her cocoanut.
When she would be tempted by no more fruit, he went off and brought a
little wooden bowl of water and a napkin, which he presented for her
fingers, standing before her to hold it. Eleanor dipped in her fingers,
and then looked up.

"You should not do this for me, Mr. Rhys!" she said half earnestly.

But he stooped down and took his own payment; and on the whole Eleanor
did not feel that she had