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to say he's been recommended for the Military Cross。〃
She went to the door and called them。 There entered a tall man in
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khaki； with the parson's collar； handsome in a somewhat heavy fashion；
but with the frank eyes that I remembered in him as a boy。 He was
followed by his sister。 She must have been the same age as was her
mother when first I knew her； and she was very like her。 She too gave
one the impression that as a girl she must have been prettier than indeed
she was。
〃I suppose you don't remember them in the least；〃 said Mrs。 Strickland；
proud and smiling。 〃My daughter is now Mrs。 Ronaldson。 Her husband's
a Major in the Gunners。〃
〃He's by way of being a pukka soldier； you know；〃 said Mrs。
Ronaldson gaily。 〃That's why he's only a Major。〃
I remembered my anticipation long ago that she would marry a soldier。
It was inevitable。 She had all the graces of the soldier's wife。 She was
civil and affable； but she could hardly conceal her intimate conviction that
she was not quite as others were。 Robert was breezy。
〃It's a bit of luck that I should be in London when you turned up；〃 he
said。 〃I've only got three days' leave。〃
〃He's dying to get back；〃 said his mother。
〃Well； I don't mind confessing it； I have a rattling good time at the
front。 I've made a lot of good pals。 It's a first…rate life。 Of course war's
terrible； and all that sort of thing； but it does bring out the best qualities in
a man； there's no denying that。〃
Then I told them what I had learned about Charles Strickland in Tahiti。
I thought it unnecessary to say anything of Ata and her boy； but for the rest
I was as accurate as I could be。 When I had narrated his lamentable death I
ceased。 For a minute or two we were all silent。 Then Robert Strickland
struck a match and lit a cigarette。
〃The mills of God grind slowly； but they grind exceeding small；〃 he
said； somewhat impressively。
Mrs。 Strickland and Mrs。 Ronaldson looked down with a slightly pious
expression which indicated； I felt sure； that they thought the quotation was
from Holy Writ。 Indeed； I was unconvinced that Robert Strickland did
not share their illusion。 I do not know why I suddenly thought of
Strickland's son by Ata。 They had told me he was a merry； light…hearted
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The Moon and Sixpence
youth。 I saw him； with my mind's eye； on the schooner on which he
worked； wearing nothing but a pair of dungarees； and at night； when the
boat sailed along easily before a light breeze； and the sailors were gathered
on the upper deck； while the captain and the supercargo lolled in deck…
chairs； smoking their pipes； I saw him dance with another lad； dance
wildly； to the wheezy music of the concertina。 Above was the blue sky；
and the stars； and all about the desert of the Pacific Ocean。
A quotation from the Bible came to my lips； but I held my tongue； for I
know that clergymen think it a little blasphemous when the laity poach
upon their preserves。 My Uncle Henry； for twenty…seven years Vicar of
Whitstable； was on these occasions in the habit of saying that the devil
could always quote scripture to his purpose。 He remembered the days
when you could get thirteen Royal Natives for a shilling。
The end of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Moon and Sixpence by
Somerset Maugham
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