the moon and sixpence(月球和六便士)-第39章
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begin； a low peal in her throat； and would grow louder and louder till her
whole vast body shook。 She loved three things a joke； a glass of wine；
and a handsome man。 To have known her is a privilege。
She was the best cook on the island； and she adored good food。 From
morning till night you saw her sitting on a low chair in the kitchen；
surrounded by a Chinese cook and two or three native girls； giving her
orders； chatting sociably with all and sundry； and tasting the savoury
messes she devised。 When she wished to do honour to a friend she
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cooked the dinner with her own hands。 Hospitality was a passion with
her； and there was no one on the island who need go without a dinner
when there was anything to eat at the Hotel de la Fleur。 She never turned
her customers out of her house because they did not pay their bills。 She
always hoped they would pay when they could。 There was one man there
who had fallen on adversity； and to him she had given board and lodging
for several months。 When the Chinese laundryman refused to wash for
him without payment she had sent his things to be washed with hers。 She
could not allow the poor fellow to go about in a dirty shirt； she said； and
since he was a man； and men must smoke； she gave him a franc a day for
cigarettes。 She used him with the same affability as those of her clients
who paid their bills once a week。
Age and obesity had made her inapt for love； but she took a keen
interest in the amatory affairs of the young。 She looked upon venery as
the natural occupation for men and women； and was ever ready with
precept and example from her own wide experience。
〃I was not fifteen when my father found that I had a lover；〃 she said。
〃He was third mate on the 。 A good…looking boy。〃
She sighed a little。 They say a woman always remembers her first
lover with affection； but perhaps she does not always remember him。
〃My father was a sensible man。〃
〃What did he do？〃 I asked。
〃He thrashed me within an inch of my life； and then he made me
marry Captain Johnson。 I did not mind。 He was older； of course； but he
was good…looking too。〃
Tiare her father had called her by the name of the white； scented
flower which； they tell you； if you have once smelt； will always draw you
back to Tahiti in the end； however far you may have roamed Tiare
remembered Strickland very well。
〃He used to come here sometimes； and I used to see him walking
about Papeete。 I was sorry for him； he was so thin； and he never had any
money。 When I heard he was in town； I used to send a boy to find him
and make him come to dinner with me。 I got him a job once or twice； but
he couldn't stick to anything。 After a little while he wanted to get back to
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the bush； and one morning he would be gone。〃
Strickland reached Tahiti about six months after he left Marseilles。
He worked his passage on a sailing vessel that was making the trip from
Auckland to San Francisco； and he arrived with a box of paints； an easel；
and a dozen canvases。 He had a few pounds in his pocket； for he had
found work in Sydney； and he took a small room in a native house outside
the town。 I think the moment he reached Tahiti he felt himself at home。
Tiare told me that he said to her once：
〃I'd been scrubbing the deck； and all at once a chap said to me： ‘Why；
there it is。' And I looked up and I saw the outline of the island。 I knew
right away that there was the place I'd been looking for all my life。 Then
we came near； and I seemed to recognise it。 Sometimes when I walk
about it all seems familiar。 I could swear I've lived here before。〃
〃Sometimes it takes them like that；〃 said Tiare。 〃I've known men
come on shore for a few hours while their ship was taking in cargo； and
never go back。 And I've known men who came here to be in an office for
a year； and they cursed the place； and when they went away they took their
dying oath they'd hang themselves before they came back again； and in six
months you'd see them land once more； and they'd tell you they couldn't
live anywhere else。〃
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Chapter L
I have an idea that some men are born out of their due place。
Accident has cast them amid certain surroundings； but they have always a
nostalgia for a home they know not。 They are strangers in their
birthplace； and the leafy lanes they have known from childhood or the
populous streets in which they have played； remain but a place of passage。
They may spend their whole lives aliens among their kindred and remain
aloof among the only scenes they have ever known。 Perhaps it is this
sense of strangeness that sends men far and wide in the search for
something permanent； to which they may attach themselves。 Perhaps
some deeprooted atavism urges the wanderer back to lands which his
ancestors left in the dim beginnings of history。 Sometimes a man hits
upon a place to which he mysteriously feels that he belongs。 Here is the
home he sought； and he will settle amid scenes that he has never seen
before； among men he has never known； as though they were familiar to
him from his birth。 Here at last he finds rest。
I told Tiare the story of a man I had known at St。 Thomas's Hospital。
He was a Jew named Abraham； a blond； rather stout young man； shy and
very unassuming； but he had remarkable gifts。 He entered the hospital
with a scholarship； and during the five years of the curriculum gained
every prize that was open to him。 He was made house…physician and
house…surgeon。 His brilliance was allowed by all。 Finally he was elected
to a position on the staff； and his career was assured。 So far as human
things can be predicted； it was certain that he would rise to the greatest
heights of his profession。 Honours and wealth awaited him。 Before he
entered upon his new duties he wished to take a holiday； and； having no
private means； he went as surgeon on a tramp steamer to the Levant。 It did
not generally carry a doctor； but one of the senior surgeons at the hospital
knew a director of the line； and Abraham was taken as a favour。
In a few weeks the authorities received his resignation of the coveted
position on the staff。 It created profound astonishment； and wild rumours
were current。 Whenever a man does anything unexpected； his fellows
ascribe it to the most discreditable motives。 But there was a man ready
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to step into Abraham's shoes； and Abraham was forgotten。 Nothing more
was heard of him。 He vanished。
It was perhaps ten years later that one morning on board ship； about to
land at Alexandria； I was bidden to line up with the other passengers for
the doctor's examination。 The doctor was a stout man in shabby clothes；
and when he took off his hat I noticed that he was very bald。 I had an
idea that I had seen him before。 Suddenly I remembered。
〃Abraham；〃 I said。
He turned to me with a puzzled look； and then； recognizing me； seized
my hand。 After expressions of surprise on either side； hearing that I
meant to spend the night in Alexandria； he asked me to dine with him at
the English Club。 When we met again I declared my astonishment at
finding him there。 It was a very modest position that he occupied； and
there was about him an air of straitened circumstance。 Then he told me
his story。 When he set out on his holiday in the Mediterranean he had
every intention of returning to London and his appointment at St。
Thomas's。 One morning the tramp docked at Alexandria； and from the
deck he looked at the city； white in the sunlight； and the crowd on the
wharf； he saw the natives in their shabby gabardines； the blacks from the
Soudan； the noisy throng of Greeks and Italians； the grave Turks in
tarbooshes； the sunshine and the blue sky； and something happened to him。
He could not describe it。 It was like a thunder…clap； he said； and then；
dissatisfied with this； he said it was like a revelation。 Something seemed
to twist his heart； and suddenly he felt an exultation； a sense of wonderful
freedom。 He felt himself at home； and he made up his mind there and
then； in a minute； that he would live the rest of his life in Alexandria。 He
had no great difficulty in leaving the ship； and in twenty…four hours； with
all his belongings； he was on shore。
〃The Captain must have thought you as mad as a hatter；〃 I smiled。
〃I didn't care what anybody thought。 It wasn't I that acted； but
something stronger within me。 I thought I would go to a little Greek
hotel； while I looked about； and I felt I knew where to find one。 And do
you know； I walked straight there； and when I saw it； I recognised it at
once。〃
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〃Had you been to Alexandria before？〃
〃No； I'd never been out of England i
