"Merely ignored me in
your ordinary, every-day, man-god, superior fashion. Naturally it
counted for nothing, my telling you that I had no idea of going to
Sydney. Go to Sydney I must, because you, in your superior wisdom, have
so decreed."
She paused and looked at him curiously, as though he were some strange
breed of animal.
"Of course I am grateful for your offer of assistance; but even that is
no salve to wounded pride. For that matter, it is no more than one white
man should expect from another. Shipwrecked mariners are always helped
along their way. Only this particular mariner doesn't need any help.
Furthermore, this mariner is not going to Sydney, thank you."
"But what do you intend to do?"
"Find some spot where I shall escape the indignity of being patronized
and bossed by the superior sex."
"Come now, that is putting it a bit too strongly." Sheldon laughed, but
the strain in his voice destroyed the effect of spontaneity. "You know
yourself how impossible the situation is."
"I know nothing of the sort, sir. And if it is impossible, well, haven't
I achieved it?"
"But it cannot continue. Really--"
"Oh, yes, it can. Having achieved it, I can go on achieving it. I
intend to remain in the Solomons, but not on Berande.
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