ABSTRACT
Not far from the palace, behind the queen's gardens, in one of the quietest and greenest avenues of Papeete, was a fresh little bower standing by itself. It was built at the foot of a clump of such immensely tall coco-palms that it might have been taken for the microscopic dwelling of Lilliputians. On the side facing the road it had a verandah over-grown with the vanilla plant. Behind it was an enclosure, a perfect thicket of acacias, oleanders and hibiscus. Pink periwinkle grew everywhere in thick clumps, blossomed round the windows, and trailed into the rooms. There was shade all day in the little nook, and its peace was never disturbed. 88There, a week after her adoptive father's death, Rarahu came to live with me. Her dream was crowned with fulfilment.
