"I know—I know. But, by action, they accepted the belief of the simple folk. They conformed, outwardly, for the sake of those 'little ones'..."
He passed his hand over the back of his head, accentuating the tuft of hair, like a drake's tail.
"I am so sorry for the W-wise; they have such heavy responsibilities."
CHAPTER XX
The day came, at last, when she was able to approach the subject with Cyprian, lying in a hammock beside her under the trees.
He had, up to now, avoided all reference to his unsatisfactory departure, armed with fishing tackle, into hostile territory.
As she sat making tea, late in the whispering afternoon, preparatory to hailing the padre from his drudging attempts in the Mission school to explain the evil of coveting your neighbour's pig, likewise his pandanus grove and his coco-nuts and anything that is his, including his wife, she looked up to catch Cyprian's whimsical expression.
"Which of us apologizes this time, Ferlie? Me?"
"I'll let you off," she replied shakily, "If you'll make adequate restitution by getting well."