Our work went on merrily, nevertheless, and the Christopher Columbus, hauled up, lay helpless on her side like a great fish out of water.  While she was in that state, there was a feast, or a ball, or an entertainment, or more properly all three together, given us in honour of the ship, and the ship’s company, and the other visitors.  At that assembly, I believe, I saw all the inhabitants then upon the Island, without any exception.  I took no particular notice of more than a few, but I found it very agreeable in that little corner of the world to see the children, who were of all ages, and mostly very pretty—­as they mostly are.  There was one handsome elderly lady, with very dark eyes and gray hair, that I inquired about.  I was told that her name was Mrs. Venning; and her married daughter, a fair slight thing, was pointed out to me by the name of Fanny Fisher.  Quite a child she looked, with a little copy of herself holding to her dress; and her husband, just come back from the mine, exceeding proud of her.  They were a good-looking set of people on the whole, but I didn’t like them.  I was out of sorts; in conversation with Charker, I found fault with all of them.  I said of Mrs. Venning, she was proud; of Mrs. Fisher, she was a delicate little baby-fool.  What did I think of this one?  Why, he was a fine gentleman.  What did I say to that one?  Why, she was a fine lady.  What could you expect them to be (I asked Charker), nursed in that climate, with the tropical night shining for them, musical instruments playing to them, great trees bending over them, soft lamps lighting them, fire-flies sparkling in among them, bright flowers and birds brought into existence to please their eyes, delicious drinks to be had for the pouring out, delicious fruits to be got for the picking, and every one dancing and murmuring happily in the scented air, with the sea breaking low on the reef for a pleasant chorus.

“Fine gentlemen and fine ladies, Harry?” I says to Charker.  “Yes, I think so!  Dolls!  Dolls!  Not the sort of stuff for wear, that comes of poor private soldiering in the Royal Marines!”

However, I could not gainsay that they were very hospitable people, and that they treated us uncommonly well.  Every man of us was at the entertainment, and Mrs. Belltott had more partners than she could dance with:  though she danced all night, too.  As to Jack (whether of the Christopher Columbus, or of the Pirate pursuit party, it made no difference), he danced with his brother Jack, danced with himself, danced with the moon, the stars, the trees, the prospect, anything.  I didn’t greatly take to the chief-officer of that party, with his bright eyes, brown face, and easy figure.  I didn’t much like his way when he first happened to come where we were, with Miss Maryon on his arm.  “O, Captain Carton,” she says, “here are two friends of mine!” He says, “Indeed?  These two Marines?”—­meaning Charker and self.  “Yes,” says she,