Part 35 (1/2)

Davidson's brow lowered, and he protruded his firm chin. He looked fierce and determined.

”What do you mean by that?”

”Our mission is not entirely without influence at Was.h.i.+ngton. I pointed out to the governor that it wouldn't do him any good if there was a complaint about the way he managed things here.”

”When has she got to go?” asked the doctor, after a pause.

”The San Francis...o...b..at is due here from Sydney next Tuesday. She's to sail on that.”

That was in five days' time. It was next day, when he was coming back from the hospital where for want of something better to do Macphail spent most of his mornings, that the half-caste stopped him as he was going upstairs.

”Excuse me, Dr Macphail, Miss Thompson's sick. Will you have a look at her.”

”Certainly.”

Horn led him to her room. She was sitting in a chair idly, neither reading nor sewing, staring in front of her. She wore her white dress and the large hat with the flowers on it. Macphail noticed that her skin was yellow and muddy under her powder, and her eyes were heavy.

”I'm sorry to hear you're not well,” he said.

”Oh, I ain't sick really. I just said that, because I just had to see you. I've got to clear on a boat that's going to 'Frisco.”

She looked at him and he saw that her eyes were suddenly startled. She opened and clenched her hands spasmodically. The trader stood at the door, listening.

”So I understand,” said the doctor.

She gave a little gulp.

”I guess it ain't very convenient for me to go to 'Frisco just now. I went to see the governor yesterday afternoon, but I couldn't get to him.

I saw the secretary, and he told me I'd got to take that boat and that was all there was to it. I just had to see the governor, so I waited outside his house this morning, and when he come out I spoke to him. He didn't want to speak to me, I'll say, but I wouldn't let him shake me off, and at last he said he hadn't no objection to my staying here till the next boat to Sydney if the Rev. Davidson will stand for it.”

She stopped and looked at Dr Macphail anxiously.

”I don't know exactly what I can do,” he said.

”Well, I thought maybe you wouldn't mind asking him. I swear to G.o.d I won't start anything here if he'll just only let me stay. I won't go out of the house if that'll suit him. It's no more'n a fortnight.”

”I'll ask him.”

”He won't stand for it,” said Horn. ”He'll have you out on Tuesday, so you may as well make up your mind to it.”

”Tell him I can get work in Sydney, straight stuff, I mean. 'Tain't asking very much.”

”I'll do what I can.”

”And come and tell me right away, will you? I can't set down to a thing till I get the dope one way or the other.”

It was not an errand that much pleased the doctor, and, characteristically perhaps, he went about it indirectly. He told his wife what Miss Thompson had said to him and asked her to speak to Mrs Davidson. The missionary's att.i.tude seemed rather arbitrary and it could do no harm if the girl were allowed to stay in Pago-Pago another fortnight. But he was not prepared for the result of his diplomacy. The missionary came to him straightway.

”Mrs Davidson tells me that Thompson has been speaking to you.”