下载辰思小说免费APP
theimaginationreadilyacceptsthem。Itinstinctivelyrejects，onthecontrary，whatevershallcalluptheimageofourraceuponitslowestterms，asthepartnerofbeasts，beastlyitself，dwellingpell-mellandhugger-mugger，hairymanwithhairywoman，inthecavesofold。Andyettobejusttobarbarousislanderswemustnotforgettheslumsanddensofourcities；ImustnotforgetthatIhavepasseddinnerwardthroughSoho，andseenthatwhichcuredmeofmydinner。
CHAPTERV-ATALEOFATAPU-CONTINUED
TUESDAY，JULY16-Itrainedinthenight，suddenandloud，inGilbertIslandfashion。Beforetheday，thecrowingofacockarousedmeandIwanderedinthecompoundandalongthestreet。
Thesquallwasblownby，themoonshonewithincomparablelustre，theairlaydeadasinaroom，andyetalltheislesoundedasunderastrongshower，theeavesthicklypattering，theloftypalmsdrippingatlargerintervalsandwithaloudernote。Inthisboldnocturnallighttheinteriorofthehouseslayinscrutable，onelumpofblackness，savewhenthemoonglintedundertheroof，andmadeabeltofsilver，anddrewtheslantingshadowsofthepillarsonthefloor。Nowhereinallthetownwasanylamporember；notacreaturestirred；IthoughtIwasalonetobeawake；butthepolicewerefaithfultotheirduty；secretlyvigilant，keepingaccountoftime；andalittlelater，thewatchmanstruckslowlyandrepeatedlyonthecathedralbell；fouro’clock，thewarningsignal。Itseemedstrangethat，inatownresignedtodrunkennessandtumult，curfewandreveilleshouldstillbesoundedandstillobeyed。
Thedaycame，andbroughtlittlechange。Theplacestilllaysilent；thepeopleslept，thetownslept。Eventhefewwhowereawake，mostlywomenandchildren，heldtheirpeaceandkeptwithinunderthestrongshadowofthethatch，whereyoumuststopandpeertoseethem。Throughthedesertedstreets，andpastthesleepinghouses，adeputationtookitswayatanearlyhourtothepalace；
thekingwassuddenlyawakened，andmustlisten(probablywithaheadache)tounpalatabletruths。Mrs。Rick，beingasufficientmistressofthatdifficulttongue，wasspokeswoman；sheexplainedtothesickmonarchthatIwasanintimatepersonalfriendofQueenVictoria’s；thatimmediatelyonmyreturnIshouldmakeherareportuponButaritari；andthatifmyhouseshouldhavebeenagaininvadedbynatives，aman-of-warwouldbedespatchedtomakereprisals。Itwasscarcethefact-ratherajustandnecessaryparableofthefact，correctedforlatitude；anditcertainlytoldupontheking。Hewasmuchaffected；hehadconceivedthenotion(hesaid)thatIwasamanofsomeimportance，butnotdreameditwasasbadasthis；andthemissionaryhousewastapu’dunderafineoffiftydollars。
Somuchwasannouncedonthereturnofthedeputation；notanymore；andIgatheredsubsequentlythatmuchmorehadpassed。Theprotectiongainedwaswelcome。Ithadbeenthemostannoyingandnottheleastalarmingfeatureofthedaybefore，thatourhousewasperiodicallyfilledwithtipsynatives，twentyorthirtyatatime，beggingdrink，fingeringourgoods，hardtobedislodged，awkwardtoquarrelwith。QueenVictoria’sfriend(whowassoonpromotedtobeherson)wasfreefromtheseintrusions。Notonlymyhouse，butmyneighbourhoodaswell，wasleftinpeace；evenonourwalksabroadwewereguardedandpreparedfor；and，likegreatpersonsvisitingahospital，sawonlythefairside。Forthematterofaweekwewerethussufferedtogooutandinandliveinafool’sparadise，supposingthekingtohavekepthisword，thetaputoberevivedandtheislandoncemoresober。
TUESDAY，JULY23-WedinedunderabaretrelliserectedfortheFourthofJuly；andhereweusedtolingerbylamplightovercoffeeandtobacco。Inthatclimateeveningappro
