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from following me；〃 Dr。 Kennedy snapped out。 〃It's all very well； for
the sake of society； tacitly to ignore some things； but you do more than
tacitly ignore。〃
〃What is it； pray； that I tacitly ignore！〃
Dr。 Kennedy was angry。 A deeper red than that of constitutional
Scotch and soda suffused his face； as he answered：
〃Your father's son。〃
〃Now just what do you mean？〃
〃Damn it； man； you can't ask me to be plainer spoken than that。 But
if you will； all rightIsaac Ford's sonJoe Garlandyour brother。〃
Percival Ford sat quietly； an annoyed and shocked expression on his
face。 Kennedy looked at him curiously； then； as the slow minutes
dragged by； became embarrassed and frightened。
〃My God！〃 he cried finally； 〃you don't mean to tell me that you
didn't know！〃
As in answer； Percival Ford's cheeks turned slowly grey。
〃It's a ghastly joke；〃 he said； 〃a ghastly joke。〃
The doctor had got himself in hand。
〃Everybody knows it；〃 he said。 〃I thought you knew it。 And since
you don't know it； it's time you did； and I'm glad of the chance of setting
you straight。 Joe Garland and you are brothershalf… brothers。〃
〃It's a lie；〃 Ford cried。 〃You don't mean it。 Joe Garland's mother
was Eliza Kunilio。〃 （Dr。 Kennedy nodded。） 〃I remember her well；
with her duck pond and taro patch。 His father was Joseph Garland； the
beach…comber。〃 （Dr。 Kennedy shook his head。） 〃He died only two or
three years ago。 He used to get drunk。 There's where Joe got his
dissoluteness。 There's the heredity for you。〃
〃And nobody told you；〃 Kennedy said wonderingly； after a pause。
〃Dr。 Kennedy； you have said something terrible； which I cannot allow
to pass。 You must either prove or； or 。 。 。 〃
〃Prove it yourself。 Turn around and look at him。 You've got him in
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profile。 Look at his nose。 That's Isaac Ford's。 Yours is a thin edition
of it。 That's right。 Look。 The lines are fuller； but they are all there。〃
Percival Ford looked at the Kanaka half…breed who played under the
hau tree； and it seemed； as by some illumination； that he was gazing on a
wraith of himself。 Feature after feature flashed up an unmistakable
resemblance。 Or； rather； it was he who was the wraith of that other
full…muscled and generously moulded man。 And his features； and that
other man's features； were all reminiscent of Isaac Ford。 And nobody
had told him。 Every line of Isaac Ford's face he knew。 Miniatures；
portraits； and photographs of his father were passing in review through
his mind； and here and there； over and again； in the face before him； he
caught resemblances and vague hints of likeness。 It was devil's work
that could reproduce the austere features of Isaac Ford in the loose and
sensuous features before him。 Once； the man turned； and for one
flashing instant it seemed to Percival Ford that he saw his father； dead
and gone； peering at him out of the face of Joe Garland。
〃It's nothing at all；〃 he could faintly hear Dr。 Kennedy saying； 〃They
were all mixed up in the old days。 You know that。 You've seen it all
your life。 Sailors married queens and begat princesses and all the rest
of it。 It was the usual thing in the Islands。〃
〃But not with my father；〃 Percival Ford interrupted。
〃There you are。〃 Kennedy shrugged his shoulders。 〃Cosmic sap
and smoke of life。 Old Isaac Ford was straitlaced and all the rest； and
I know there's no explaining it； least of all to himself。 He understood it
no more than you do。 Smoke of life； that's all。 And don't forget one
thing； Ford。 There was a dab of unruly blood in old Isaac Ford； and Joe
Garland inherited itall of it； smoke of life and cosmic sap； while you
inherited all of old Isaac's ascetic blood。 And just because your blood
is cold； well…ordered； and well… disciplined； is no reason that you should
frown upon Joe Garland。 When Joe Garland undoes the work you do；
remember that it is only old Isaac Ford on both sides； undoing with one
hand what he does with the other。 You are Isaac Ford's right hand； let
us say； Joe Garland is his left hand。〃
Percival Ford made no answer； and in the silence Dr。 Kennedy
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finished his forgotten Scotch and soda。 From across the grounds an
automobile hooted imperatively。
〃There's the machine；〃 Dr。 Kennedy said； rising。 〃I've got to run。
I'm sorry I've shaken you up； and at the same time I'm glad。 And know
one thing； Isaac Ford's dab of unruly blood was remarkably small； and
Joe Garland got it all。 And one other thing。 If your father's left hand
offend you； don't smite it off。 Besides； Joe is all right。 Frankly； if I
could choose between you and him to live with me on a desert isle； I'd
choose Joe。〃
Little bare…legged children ran about him； playing； on the grass； but
Percival Ford did not see them。 He was gazing steadily at the singer
under the hau tree。 He even changed his position once； to get closer。
The clerk of the Seaside went by； limping with age and dragging his
reluctant feet。 He had lived forty years on the Islands。 Percival Ford
beckoned to him； and the clerk came respectfully； and wondering that he
should be noticed by Percival Ford。
〃John；〃 Ford said； 〃I want you to give me some information。 Won't
you sit down？〃
The clerk sat down awkwardly； stunned by the unexpected honour。
He blinked at the other and mumbled； 〃Yes； sir； thank you。〃
〃John； who is Joe Garland？〃
The clerk stared at him； blinked； cleared his throat； and said nothing。
〃Go on；〃 Percival Ford commanded。
〃Who is he？〃
〃You're joking me； sir；〃 the other managed to articulat