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〃But I'm not going to be your wife； thank goodnessonly your
partner。〃
〃Besides； it's all ridiculous；〃 he held on steadily。 〃Think of the
situation。 A man and a woman； both young； partners on an isolated
plantation。 Why； the only practical way out would be that I'd have to
marry you〃
〃Mine was a business proposition； not a marriage proposal；〃 she
interrupted； coldly angry。 〃I wonder if somewhere in this world there is
one man who could accept me for a comrade。〃
〃But you are a woman just the same；〃 he began； 〃and there are certain
conventions； certain decencies〃
She sprang up and stamped her foot。
〃Do you know what I'd like to say？〃 she demanded。
〃Yes；〃 he smiled； 〃you'd like to say； 'Damn petticoats！'〃
She nodded her head ruefully。
〃That's what I wanted to say； but it sounds different on your lips。 It
sounds as though you meant it yourself； and that you meant it because of
me。〃
〃Well； I am going to bed。 But do； please； think over my proposition；
and let me know in the morning。 There's no use in my discussing it now。
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You make me so angry。 You are cowardly； you know； and very egotistic。
You are afraid of what other fools will say。 No matter how honest your
motives； if others criticized your actions your feelings would be hurt。
And you think more about your own wretched feelings than you do about
mine。 And then； being a cowardall men are at heart cowardsyou
disguise your cowardice by calling it chivalry。 I thank heaven that I was
not born a man。 Good…night。 Do think it over。 And don't be foolish。
What Berande needs is good American hustle。 You don't know what that
is。 You are a muddler。 Besides； you are enervated。 I'm fresh to the
climate。 Let me be your partner； and you'll see me rattle the dry bones of
the Solomons。 Confess； I've rattled yours already。〃
〃I should say so；〃 he answered。 〃Really； you know； you have。 I
never received such a dressing…down in my life。 If any one had ever told
me that I'd be a party even to the present situation。 。 。 。 Yes； I confess； you
have rattled my dry bones pretty considerably。〃
〃But that is nothing to the rattling they are going to get；〃 she assured
him； as he rose and took her hand。 〃Good…night。 And do； do give me a
rational decision in the morning。〃
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CHAPTER XIIITHE LOGIC OF
YOUTH
〃I wish I knew whether you are merely headstrong； or whether you
really intend to be a Solomon planter；〃 Sheldon said in the morning； at
breakfast。
〃I wish you were more adaptable；〃 Joan retorted。 〃You have more
preconceived notions than any man I ever met。 Why in the name of
common sense； in the name of 。 。 。 fair play； can't you get it into your head
that I am different from the women you have known； and treat me
accordingly？ You surely ought to know I am different。 I sailed my own
schooner hereskipper； if you please。 I came here to make my living。
You know that； I've told you often enough。 It was Dad's plan； and I'm
carrying it out； just as you are trying to carry out your Hughie's plan。
Dad started to sail and sail until he could find the proper islands for
planting。 He died； and I sailed and sailed until I arrived here。 Well；〃
she shrugged her shoulders〃the schooner is at the bottom of the sea。 I
can't sail any farther； therefore I remain here。 And a planter I shall
certainly be。〃
〃You see〃 he began。
〃I haven't got to the point；〃 she interrupted。 〃Looking back on my
conduct from the moment I first set foot on your beach； I can see no false
pretence that I have made about myself or my intentions。 I was my natural
self to you from the first。 I told you my plans； and yet you sit there and
calmly tell me that you don't know whether I really intend to become a
planter； or whether it is all obstinacy and pretence。 Now let me assure
you； for the last time； that I really and truly shall become a planter； thanks
to you； or in spite of you。 Do you want me for a partner？〃
〃But do you realize that I would be looked upon as the most foolish
jackanapes in the South Seas if I took a young girl like you in with me
here on Berande？〃 he asked。
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〃No； decidedly not。 But there you are again； worrying about what
idiots and the generally evil…minded will think of you。 I should have
thought you had learned self…reliance on Berande； instead of needing to
lean upon the moral support of every whisky…guzzling worthless South
Sea vagabond。〃
He smiled； and said； …
〃Yes； that is the worst of it。 You are unanswerable。 Yours is the
logic of youth； and no man can answer that。 The facts of life can； but
they have no place in the logic of youth。 Youth must try to live according
to its logic。 That is the only way to learn better。〃
〃There is no harm in trying？〃 she interjected。
〃But there is。 That is the very point。 The facts always smash
youth's logic； and they usually smash youth's heart； too。 It's like platonic
friendships and 。 。 。 and all such things； they are all right in theory； but they
won't work in practice。 I used to believe in such things once。 That is
why I am here in the Solomons at present。〃
Joan was impatient。 He saw that she could not understand。 Life
was too clearly simple to her。 It was only the youth who was arguing
with him； the youth with youth's pure…minded and invincible reasoning。
Hers was only the boy's soul in a woman's body。 He looked at her
flushed； eager face； at the great ropes of hair coiled on the small head； at
the rounded lines of the figure showing plainly through the home…made
gown； and at the eyesboy's eyes； under cool； level browsand he
wondered why a being that was so much beautiful woman should be no
woman at all。 Why in the deuce was she not carroty…haired； or cross…
eyed； or hare…lipped？
〃Suppose we do become partners on Berande；〃 he said； at the same
time experiencing a feeling of fright at the prospect that was tangled with
a contradictory feeling of charm； 〃either I'll fall in love with you； or you
with me。 Propinquity is dangerous； you know。 In fact； it is propinquity
that usually gives the facer to the logic of youth。〃
〃If you think I came to the Solomons to get married〃 she began
wrathfully。 〃Well； there are better men in Hawaii； that's all。 Really； you
know； the way you harp on that one string would lead an unprejudiced
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listener to conclude that you are prurient…minded〃
She stopped； appalled。 His face had gone red and white with such
abruptness as to startle her。 He was patently very angry。 She sipped the
last of her coffee； and arose； saying； …
〃I'll wait until you are in a better temper before taking up the
discussion again。 That is what's the matter with you。 You get angry too
easily。 Will you come swimming？ The tide is just right。〃
〃If she were a man I'd bundle her off the plantation root and crop；
whale…boat； Tahitian sailors； sovereigns； and all；〃 he muttered to himself
after she had left the room。
But that was the trouble。