OF THE SOUTH SEAS 73 



hitting the ceiling, glasses clinking, and Spanish, French, 

 English, and Tahitian confused in the chatter and the 

 shouts of To Sen, Hon Son, the maids, and a dozen 

 friends of the hostess who always came at such times to 

 share the glory of the service. 



Lovaina was at the serving-table with volunteers cut- 

 ting cakes and taking the money. The parlor, with its 

 red and blue plush chairs, was filled with Argentineans 

 playing the piano and singing songs of their country. 

 Suddenly Lovaina discovered that some one had stolen 

 the album of portraits from the piano-top. These 

 were of her family, and of notable visitors who had 

 written grateful notes after their return home, and sent 

 their pictures to her. Professor Hart, teacher of Eng- 

 lish aboard the SarmientOy was asked to find the thief, 

 and he promised that he would have the ship searched. 



Lovaina lamented her loss, but counted her sovereigns. 

 The Argentineans had -English gold, and Lovaina 

 passed the shining, new pieces from one hand to the 

 other, enjoying their glitter and sound. She liked to 

 play with coins, and often amused herself as did the 

 king in the blackbird-pie melody. 



"My God!" said Lovaina, as she pulled me down to 

 her bench and rubbed my back, "that Argentina is good 

 country! Forty dollars lime squash by himself." She 

 opened her purse, and poured out more gold. With it 

 fell a cloth medallion, red letters on white flannel, "The 

 Apostleship of Prayer in League with the Sacred 

 Heart of Jesus." 



"I find that on the floor two day' 'go," said Lovaina, 

 "and I put it in purse to see if good luck. What you 

 think? Argentinas come in nex' day. I don' know, 



