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knew； but her disappointment had precipitated it。 He lighted a cigarette；
and in the curling smoke of it caught visions of his English mother； and
wondered if she would understand how her son could love a woman who
cried because she could not be skipper of a schooner in the cannibal isles。
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CHAPTER XXA MAN…TALK
The most patient man in the world is prone to impatience in love and
Sheldon was in love。 He called himself an ass a score of times a day； and
strove to contain himself by directing his mind in other channels； but more
than a score of times each day his thoughts roved back and dwelt on Joan。
It was a pretty problem she presented； and he was continually debating
with himself as to what was the best way to approach her。
He was not an adept at love…making。 He had had but one experience
in the gentle art （in which he had been more wooed than wooing）； and the
affair had profited him little。 This was another affair； and he assured
himself continually that it was a uniquely different and difficult affair。
Not only was here a woman who was not bent on finding a husband； but it
was a woman who wasn't a woman at all； who was genuinely appalled by
the thought of a husband； who joyed in boys' games； and sentimentalized
over such things as adventure； who was healthy and normal and
wholesome； and who was so immature that a husband stood for nothing
more than an encumbrance in her cherished scheme of existence。
But how to approach her？ He divined the fanatical love of freedom
in her； the deep…seated antipathy for restraint of any sort。 No man could
ever put his arm around her and win her。 She would flutter away like a
frightened bird。 Approach by contactthat； he realized； was the one
thing he must never do。 His hand…clasp must be what it had always been；
the hand…clasp of hearty friendship and nothing more。 Never by action
must he advertise his feeling for her。 Remained speech。 But what
speech？ Appeal to her love？ But she did not love him。 Appeal to her
brain？ But it was apparently a boy's brain。 All the deliciousness and
fineness of a finely bred woman was hers； but； for all he could discern； her
mental processes were sexless and boyish。 And yet speech it must be； for
a beginning had to be made somewhere； some time； her mind must be
made accustomed to the idea； her thoughts turned upon the matter of
marriage。
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And so he rode overseeing about the plantation； with tightly drawn and
puckered brows； puzzling over the problem； and steeling himself to the
first attempt。 A dozen ways he planned an intricate leading up to the first
breaking of the ice； and each time some link in the chain snapped and the
talk went off on unexpected and irrelevant lines。 And then one morning；
quite fortuitously； the opportunity came。
〃My dearest wish is the success of Berande；〃 Joan had just said；
apropos of a discussion about the cheapening of freights on copra to
market。
〃Do you mind if I tell you the dearest wish of my heart？〃 he promptly
returned。 〃I long for it。 I dream about it。 It is my dearest desire。〃
He paused and looked at her with intent significance； but it was plain
to him that she thought there was nothing more at issue than mutual
confidences about things in general。
〃Yes； go ahead；〃 she said； a trifle impatient at his delay。
〃I love to think of the success of Berande；〃 he said； 〃but that is
secondary。 It is subordinate to the dearest wish； which is that some day
you will share Berande with me in a completer way than that of mere
business partnership。 It is for you； some day； when you are ready； to be
my wife。〃
She started back from him as if she had been stung。 Her face went
white on the instant； not from maidenly embarrassment； but from the
anger which he could see flaming in her eyes。
〃This taking for granted！this when I am ready！〃 she cried
passionately。 Then her voice swiftly became cold and steady； and she
talked in the way he imagined she must have talked business with Morgan
and Raff at Guvutu。 〃Listen to me； Mr。 Sheldon。 I like you very well；
though you are slow and a muddler； but I want you to understand； once
and for all； that I did not come to the Solomons to get married。 That is an
affliction I could have accumulated at home； without sailing ten thousand
miles after it。 I have my own way to make in the world； and I came to the
Solomons to do it。 Getting married is not making MY way in the world。
It may do for some women； but not for me； thank you。 When I sit down
to talk over the freight on copra； I don't care to have proposals of marriage
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sandwiched in。 Besidesbesides〃
Her voice broke for the moment； and when she went on there was a
note of appeal in it that well…nigh convicted him to himself of being a
brute。
〃Don't you see？it spoils everything； it makes the whole situation
impossible 。 。 。 and 。 。 。 and I so loved our partnership； and was proud of it。
Don't you see？I can't go on being your partner if you make love to me。
And I was so happy。〃
Tears of disappointment were in her eyes； and she caught a swift sob in
her throat。
〃I warned you；〃 he said gravely。 〃Such unusual situations between
men and women cannot endure。 I told you so at the beginning。〃
〃Oh； yes； it is quite clear to me what you did。〃 She was angry again；
and the feminine appeal had disappeared。 〃You were very discreet in
your warning。 You took good care to warn me against every other man in
the Solomons except yourself。〃
It was a blow in the face to Sheldon。 He smarted with the truth of it；
and at the same time he smarted with what he was convinced was the
injustice of it。 A gleam of triumph that flickered in her eye because of
the hit she had made decided him。
〃It is not so one…sided as you seem to think it is；〃 he began。 〃I was
doing very nicely on Berande before you came。 At least I was not
suffering indignities； such as being accused of cowardly conduct； as you
have just accused me。 Rememberplease remember； I did not invite you
to Berande。 Nor did I invite you to stay on at Berande。 It was by
staying that you brought about thisto you unpleasant situation。 By
staying you made yourself a temptation； and now you would blame me for
it。 I did not want you to stay。 I wasn't in love with you then。 I wanted
you to go to Sydney； to go back to Hawaii。 But you insisted on staying。
You virtually〃
He paused for a softer word than the one that had risen to his lips； and
she took it away from him。
〃Forced myself on youthat's what you meant to say；〃 she cried； the
flags of battle painting her cheeks。 〃Go ahead。 Don't mind my
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feelings。〃
〃All right； I won't；〃 he said decisively； realizing that the discussion
was in danger of becoming a vituperative； schoolboy argument。 〃You
have insisted on being considered as a man。 Consistency would demand
that you talk like a man； and like a man listen to man…talk。 And listen
you shall。 It is not your fault that this unpleasantness has arisen。 I do
not blame you for anything； remember that。 And for the same reason you
should not blame me for anything。〃
He noticed her bosom heaving as she sat with clenched hands； and it
was all he could do to conquer the desire to flash his arms out and around
her instead of going on with his coolly planned cam