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cries and lamentation。 They lifted up their voices and they wept。
Strickland did not speak。 After looking at them for a moment； he came
back into the room。
〃How long do you think I can last？〃
〃Who knows？ Sometimes the disease continues for twenty years。 It is
a mercy when it runs its course quickly。〃
Strickland went to his easel and looked reflectively at the picture that
stood on it。
〃You have had a long journey。 It is fitting that the bearer of
important tidings should be rewarded。 Take this picture。 It means
nothing to you now； but it may be that one day you will be glad to have it。〃
Dr。 Coutras protested that he needed no payment for his journey； he
had already given back to Ata the hundred…franc note； but Strickland
insisted that he should take the picture。 Then together they went out on the
verandah。 The natives were sobbing violently。 〃Be quiet； woman。
Dry thy tears；〃 said Strickland； addressing Ata。 〃There is no great harm。
I shall leave thee very soon。〃
〃They are not going to take thee away？〃 she cried。
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At that time there was no rigid sequestration on the islands； and lepers；
if they chose； were allowed to go free。
〃I shall go up into the mountain；〃 said Strickland。
Then Ata stood up and faced him。
〃Let the others go if they choose； but I will not leave thee。 Thou art my
man and I am thy woman。 If thou leavest me I shall hang myself on the
tree that is behind the house。 I swear it by God。〃
There was something immensely forcible in the way she spoke。 She
was no longer the meek； soft native girl； but a determined woman。 She
was extraordinarily transformed。
〃Why shouldst thou stay with me？ Thou canst go back to Papeete； and
thou wilt soon find another white man。 The old woman can take care of
thy children； and Tiare will be glad to have thee back。〃
〃Thou art my man and I am thy woman。 Whither thou goest I will go；
too。〃 For a moment Strickland's fortitude was shaken； and a tear filled
each of his eyes and trickled slowly down his cheeks。 Then he gave the
sardonic smile which was usual with him。
〃Women are strange little beasts；〃 he said to Dr。 Coutras。 〃You can
treat them like dogs； you can beat them till your arm aches； and still they
love you。〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Of course； it is one of the most
absurd illusions of Christianity that they have souls。〃
〃What is it that thou art saying to the doctor？〃 asked Ata suspiciously。
〃Thou wilt not go？〃
〃If it please thee I will stay； poor child。〃
Ata flung herself on her knees before him； and clasped his legs with
her arms and kissed them。 Strickland looked at Dr。 Coutras with a faint
smile。
〃In the end they get you； and you are helpless in their hands。 White or
brown； they are all the same。〃
Dr。 Coutras felt that it was absurd to offer expressions of regret in so
terrible a disaster； and he took his leave。 Strickland told Tane； the boy； to
lead him to the village。 Dr。 Coutras paused for a moment； and then he
addressed himself to me。
〃I did not like him； I have told you he was not sympathetic to me； but
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as I walked slowly down to Taravao I could not prevent an unwilling
admiration for the stoical courage which enabled him to bear perhaps the
most dreadful of human afflictions。 When Tane left me I told him I would
send some medicine that might be of service； but my hope was small that
Strickland would consent to take it； and even smaller that； if he did； it
would do him good。 I gave the boy a message for Ata that I would come
whenever she sent for me。 Life is hard； and Nature takes sometimes a
terrible delight in torturing her children。 It was with a heavy heart that I
drove back to my comfortable home in Papeete。〃
For a long time none of us spoke。
〃But Ata did not send for me；〃 the doctor went on； at last； 〃and it
chanced that I did not go to that part of the island for a long time。 I had
no news of Strickland。 Once or twice I heard that Ata had been to
Papeete to buy painting materials； but I did not happen to see her。 More
than two years passed before I went to Taravao again； and then it was once
more to see the old chiefess。 I asked them whether they had heard
anything of Strickland。 By now it was known everywhere that he had
leprosy。 First Tane； the boy； had left the house； and then； a little time
afterwards； the old woman and her grandchild。 Strickland and Ata were
left alone with their babies。 No one went near the plantation； for； as you
know； the natives have a very lively horror of the disease； and in the old
days when it was discovered the sufferer was killed； but sometimes； when
the village boys were scrambling about the hills； they would catch sight of
the white man； with his great red beard； wandering about。 They fled in
terror。 Sometimes Ata would come down to the village at night and arouse
the trader； so that he might sell her various things of which she stood in
need。 She knew that the natives looked upon her with the same horrified
aversion as they looked upon Strickland； and she kept out of their way。
Once some women； venturing nearer than usual to the plantation； saw her
washing clothes in the brook； and they threw stones at her。 After that the
trader was told to give her the message that if she used the brook again
men would come and burn down her house。〃
〃Brutes；〃 I said。
〃； men are always the same。 Fear
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makes them cruel。。。。 I decided to see Strickland； and when I had finished
with the chiefess asked for a boy to show me the way。 But none would
accompany me； and I was forced to find it alone。〃
When Dr。 Coutras arrived at the plantation he was seized with a
feeling of uneasiness。 Though he was hot from walking； he shivered。
There was something hostile in the air which made him hesitate； and he
felt that invisible forces barred his way。 Unseen hands seemed to draw him
back。 No one would go near now to gather the cocoa…nuts； and they lay
rotting on the ground。 Everywhere was desolation。 The bush was
encroaching； and it looked as though very soon the primeval forest would
regain possession of that strip of land which had been snatched from it at
the cost of so much labour。 He had the sensation that here was the abode
of pain。 As he approached the house he was struck by the unearthly
silence； and at first he thought it was deserted。 Then he saw Ata。 She
was sitting on her haunches in the lean…to that served her as kitchen；
watching some mess cooking in a pot。 Near her a small boy was playing
silently in the dirt。 She did not smile when she saw him。
〃I have come to see Strickland；〃 he said。
〃I will go and tell him。〃
She went to the house； ascended the few steps that led to the verandah；
and entered。 Dr。 Coutras followed her； but waited outside in obedience to
her gesture。 As she opened the door he smelt the sickly sweet smell
which makes the neighbourhood of the leper nauseous。 He heard her
speak； and then he heard Strickland's answer； but he did not recognise the
voice。 It had become hoarse and indistinct。 Dr。 Coutras raised his
eyebrows。 He judged that the disease had already attacked the vocal
chords。 Then Ata came out again。
〃He will not see you。 You must go away。〃
Dr。 Coutras insisted； but she would not let him pass。 Dr。 Coutras
shrugged his shoulders； and after a moment's rejection turned away。 She
walked with