"Aue!" I said, which in Kanaka is being sympathetic.
"Dat is not all," said Silver Tongue. "Listen, gabtain!"
"I'm listening," I said.
"The warrior that killed O was To'oto'o, the matai," continued Papalangi Mativa with the air of one announcing the end of the world.
"To'oto'o!" I said in all innocence.
"To'oto'o," cried Silver Tongue; "why, Rosalie's uncle, the faipule, in whose house this very minute the head of my murdered relation lies!"
"'Pon my soul," I exclaimed, "this is really unfortunate!"
"Unfordunate!" cried Silver Tongue; "is it with such a word you describe two hearts broken, two lives plasted, the fairest prospect with suddenly crash the curdain led down!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said. "It's disagreeable, I admit, but I can't see what difference it can make to you and Rosalie."
"An Oppenstedt," said Silver Tongue, "could never indermarry with the family of a murderer, and least of all with a family that had the head of my dead wife's relation cut off and carried with gapers and cries of joy down the main street of Apia and past my place of peeziness!"