purious Utopia to dwell in a
country where the conditions of climate are like those of their own
sunny Italy. Perhaps, however, they think sometimes of those of their
former comrades who died out there in the savage 'colony' of Charles du
Breil. At Liki Liki there died nine; at Duke of York Island, thirteen;
at New Britain, twenty-one; and six were eaten by the cannibals of the
islands thereabouts. Of a score or so of others who remained in the
North-West Pacific there is no record. Probably they succumbed to
fever, or went down under the clubs and spears of the wild people of
New Britain, New Guinea and the Admiralty Group. Such was the end of the
vision of Charles du Breil and the Colony of New France.

THE WHITE WIFE AND THE BROWN 'WOMAN'

Masters, the trader at Fana 'alu, was walking up the beach to his
house, reading a letter which he had just received from the captain of a
passing vessel. It was from his employers in Sydney,--'We are confident
that Mrs Masters and yourself will do all you can to render the lady's
stay at Fana 'alu agreeable to her. You will find her husband, our new
supercargo, a very fine fellow, easy to get on with, and a thoroughly
honourable and conscientious business man.'

'Here, Melanie, old woman, where are you?' he called, as he flung
himself lazily into a cane lounge on the verandah.

Melanie, who, native-like, was combing her hair in the sitting-room,
rose from the mat upon which she was sitting and came to the door.

'What is it, Tom?' she asked, leaning against the wall and drawing the
comb slowly through her long, black locks.

'Why, the barque will be here in another week or so, so this letter
says, and there's a _tamaitai papalagi_ (white lady) on board, and she
will very likely stay here with us while her husband, who is the new
supercargo, goes away in the ship to the Solomon Islands. He will come
for her again in about six weeks.'

* * * * *

Melanie's dark eyes glistened with pleasure. White women were rare
visitors at lonely Fana 'alu. Every year, it was true, when the American
missionary barque touched at the island, one, or sometimes two, white
ladies would come ashore; but they were missionaries' wives, and never
passed inside the door of the trader's house to speak to his wife.
That, in the eyes of the converted natives, would have been scandalous.
Melanie might, if she so wished it, have called upon _them_ at the
native teach