The Inverted House
He was very courteous and affable. He walked up the beach smiling and in the best of spirits. There was no suggestion of anger in his voice.
"The flowers," he explained, "told me where you were. It was the first time that I was able to understand their language though my little flower-girl has always been able to interpret their voices. They told me that Liane was on this island, that she was in grave danger, that she was dying. So I have come to take her home again. She cannot live without her beloved flower-friends, the flowers with whom she has always romped and played. She is homesick, wilting, plunging toward death. I do not blame you for stealing her. Had you not done so you would have been a fool. But I know you do not wish to sacrifice her life to your happiness."
Ras Orla bowed his head. He was crushed. The light of his life had burned out. He was in darkness, the most wretched man in the universe but he could not protest. He knew Yuan Shi Kai was speaking the truth.
Half an hour later he bade good-bye to Liane and stood on the beach as the tiny boat of Yuan Shi Kai drifted slowly off toward the sun. Then he returned to the little house of Mee Num. He crouched down at the doorway. Life was futile. It was the end. There was now no use for further effort. Hours passed and still he crouched by the door. Old Mee Num came and summoned him to the evening meal but he made no response. His thoughts were far away, in Canton with
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