"Do you think I want to stay on in this poor imitation of a burg? I don't look no busher, do I?"
"In that case I don't see what cause of complaint you have," he answered.
She gave an inarticulate cry of rage and flung out of the room. There was a short silence.
"It's a relief to know that the governor has acted at last," said Davidson finally. "He's a weak man and he shilly-shallied. He said she was only here for a fortnight anyway, and if she went on to Apia that was under British jurisdiction and had nothing to do with him."
The missionary sprang to his feet and strode across the room.
"It's terrible the way the men who are in authority seek to evade their responsibility. They speak as though evil that was out of sight ceased to be evil. The very existence of that woman is a scandal and it does not help matters to shift it to another of the islands. In the end I had to speak straight from the shoulder."
Davidson's brow lowered, and he protruded his firm chin. He looked fierce and determined.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Our mission is not entirely without influence at Washington. I pointed out to the governor that it wouldn't do him any good if there was a complaint about the way he managed things here."
"When has she got to go?" asked the doctor, after a pause.