The Ebb-tide

"Throughout the island world of the Pacific, scattered men of many European races and from almost every grade of society carry activity and disseminate disease. Some prosper, some vege-tate. Some have mounted the steps of thrones and owned islands and navies. Others again must marry for a livelihood; a strapping, merry, choco-late-coloured dame supports them in sheer idle-ness; and, dressed like natives, but still retaining some foreign element of gait or attitude, still per-haps with some relic (such as a single eye-glass) of the officer and gentleman, they sprawl in palm-leaf verandahs and entertain an island audience with memoirs of the music-hall. And there are still others, less pliable, less capable, less fortu-nate, perhaps less base, who continue, even in these isles of plenty, to lack bread."