VI
Coral Hicks was a young lady of compact if not graceful outline, with a downright manner, also a little black down right on her upper lip. She shanghaied unresisting Nick and the Ibis sailed away....
Sitting beside him on deck, she suddenly said:
“Your wife hasn’t written you for weeks.”
“No, thank the Lord!” he laughed.
“And you haven’t written her.”
“No.”
“Then you’re free. Will you take a new job? Will you be my—secretary?”
“My dear Coral,” he replied, “this is so sudden. No, I cannot. I do not love you in that way, dearest. It’s too much like work. But I will be a husband to you.”
From the next port he wired his wife:
“Hereby tender resignation my position your husband stop pearls beautiful but Coral more durable stop recommend Streff my successor go to it kid—don’t stop.”