“It was awfully good of you,” Phil acknowledged miserably, “but really I don’t believe I need any kava this morning.”
Avao was now working a strainer[18] to and fro in the liquid. The grace of her motions was delightful to see and elicited much admiration from the midshipmen. Finally, with a last fleck of the strainer, she dropped it into the bowl and clapped her shapely hands.
All present took up the clapping. It was the sign that the kava was ready to be served.
The midshipmen dreaded the ordeal. “I feel like a kid about to be given a dose of bad medicine,” Sydney whispered.
One of the attendant girls then arose with “hipu”[19] in hand. She held the cocoanut shell cup over the bowl, while Avao squeezed the liquid into it from the strainer. The midshipmen were amazed at the charm and grace in every movement. Each time the strainer was squeezed the cup bearer swung the cup in a circle. She then faced about and, with the cup held at the level of her dainty chin, directed her dark eyes toward Phil.
“I’m it,” he groaned.
Alice, bubbling over with mischief, exclaimed: “A cup of kava for Mr. Perry.”
The next second the cup of greenish liquid, after a graceful underhand curve, as the girl bent her knees, was held before the disconsolate lad.
“Cheer up,” Sydney exclaimed. “Hold your nose and shut your eyes and she’ll give you something to make you wise.”
Phil took the cup gingerly. To his horror it was nearly full to the brim.