Oh! I know you and therefore guessed."

"Well, what of it, Yva?"

"Nothing, except that you must find your wife before you love again, and
before I love again I must find him whom I wish to be my husband."

"How can that happen," I asked, "when both are dead?"

"How did all that you have seen to-day in Nyo happen?" she replied,
laughing softly. "Perhaps you are very blind, Humphrey, or perhaps we
both are blind. If so, mayhap light will come to us. Meanwhile do not
be sad. Tomorrow I will meet you and you shall teach me--your English
tongue, Humphrey, and other things."

"Then let it be in the sunlight, Yva. I do not love those darksome halls
of Nyo that glow like something dead."

"It is fitting, for are they not dead?" she answered, with a little
laugh. "So be it. Bastin shall teach my father down below, since sun and
shade are the same to him who only thinks of his religion, and you shall
teach me up above."

"I am not so certain about Bastin and of what he thinks," I said
doubtfully. "Also will the Lord Oro permit you to come?"

"Yes, for in such matters I rule myself. Also," she added meaningly,
"he remembers my oath that I will wed no man--save one who is dead.
Now farewell a while and bid Bastin be here when the sun is three hours
high, not before or after."

Then I left her.

Chapter XVII. Yva Explains

When I reached the rock I was pleased to find Marama and about twenty
of his people engaged in erecting the house that we had ordered them
to build for our accommodation. Indeed, it was nearly finished, since
house-building in Orofena is a simple business. The framework of poles
let into palm trunks, since they could not be driven into the rock, had
been put together on the further shore and towed over bodily by canoes.
The overhanging rock formed one side of the house; the ends were of palm
leaves tied to the poles, and the roof was of the same material. The
other side was left open for the present, which in that equable and
balmy clime was no disadvantage. The whole edifice was about thirty feet
long by fifteen deep and divided into two portions, one for sleeping
and one for living, by a palm leaf partition. Really, it was quite a
comfortable abode, cool and rainproof, especially after Bastin had built
his hut in which to cook.

Marama and his people were very humble in their demeanour and implored
us to visit them on the main island. I answered that perhaps we would
later on, as we wished