he turned to the lady and
indicated a low easy-chair, and said in Samoan,--

'Sit thou there, O lady;' and then in English, 'I can't speak Englis'
very good sometimes. But my man will soon come.' Then she remembered
something. 'Please will you come into dis room here, which is been made
all ready for you, an' take off your hat;' and then she darted over to
a side table, brought a glass and a bottle of whisky over to the lady's
husband; then, with a winning smile, timidly held out her brown hand to
her guest, and led her into the bedroom.

The new supercargo helped himself to a nip of whisky and then sat down,
his keen business eye taking in the order and cleanliness of the room.
In a few minutes his wife came out.

'Hang these traders, Nell! Why isn't this fellow here to meet me? He had
no business to go away from his station when the ship was due. However,
he has jolly nice quarters, and so we'll make ourselves comfortable
until he turns up. I think you'll like this place, Nell, and won't find
it tedious whilst I'm away at the Solomons. Eh, pet?'

The White Lady nodded and smiled. 'Yes, Harry, but I'll miss you
terribly to-morrow. Six weeks is a long time, dear.... Oh, Harry,
do look--isn't she a lovely child?' And, bending down, she swept up
Melanie's little girl in her arms and kissed her softly, and her eyes
suddenly filled with tears.

'Yes,' said the supercargo, shortly, as, without looking at the child,
he took some papers from his pocket and began to read. His and her
hearts' desire had never been granted, and so he hated to look at the
child of another man.

'I wish this fellow would come,' he said presently, in an irritable
tone, as he rose and walked to and fro.... Don't let that child paw you
about like that, Nell.... Hallo, here he is at last.'

Fanning his heated brow with his broad hat of pandanus leaf, the trader
stood in the doorway.

'Good morning. I'm sorry I was away when you came--'

A cry, half scream and half sob, came from the supercargo's wife, as,
still holding the child in her arms, she swayed to and fro, and Melanie
sprang to her side.

'Oh, Harry, it is Tom!' she said.

Then she sank back and lay upon the matted floor, with her head pillowed
upon Melanie's bosom; and the child wailed in terror.

'What the hell is the matter?' said the big supercargo, striding forward
to the trader and seizing him by the arm. Then he looked into Masters's
face. 'By God, Masters, is it _you_? As