"Oh, I'm only doing that for the present, and I'm gaining a great deal of valuable experience. I have another plan in my head. Arnold Jackson has a small island in the Paumotas, about a thousand miles from here, a ring of land round a lagoon. He's planted coconut there. He's offered to give it me." "Why should he do that?" asked Bateman. "Because if Isabel releases me I shall marry his daughter." "You?" Bateman was thunderstruck. "You can't marry a half-caste. You wouldn't be so crazy as that." "She's a good girl, and she has a sweet and gentle nature. I think she would make me very happy." "Are you in love with her?" "I don't know," answered Edward reflectively. "I'm not in love with her as I was in love with Isabel. I worshipped Isabel. I thought she was the most wonderful creature I had ever seen. I was not half good enough for her. I don't feel like that with Eva. She's like a beautiful exotic flower that must be sheltered from bitter winds. I want to protect her. No one ever thought of protecting Isabel. I think she loves me for myself and not for what I may become. Whatever happens to me I shall never disappoint her. She suits me." Bateman was silent. "We must turn out early in the morning," said Edward at last. "It's really about time we went to bed." Then Bateman spoke and his voice had in it a genuine distress. "I'm so bewildered, I don't know what to say. I came here because I thought something was wrong. I thought you hadn't succeeded in what you set out to do and were ashamed to come back when you'd failed. I never guessed I should be faced with this. I'm so desperately sorry, Edward. I'm so disappointed. I hoped you would do great things. It's almost more than I can bear to think of you wasting your talents and your youth and your chance in this lamentable way."