The young lads, as she passed, would stand aside from the path, with downcast eyes, and let her go by with all the politeness of chivalrous English gentlemen.

The old men would raise their eyes, but cross their hands on their breasts, and stand motionless for a few minutes till she got almost out of sight.

The women would bring their pretty brown babies for the fair English lady to admire or to pat on the head; and when Muriel now and again stooped down to caress some fat little naked child, lolling in the dust outside the hut, with true tropical laziness, the mothers would run up at the sight with delight and joy, and throw themselves down in ecstacies of gratitude for the notice she had taken of their favored little ones.

"The gods of Heaven," they would say, with every sign of pleasure, "have looked graciously upon our Unaloa." At first Felix and Muriel were mainly struck with the politeness and deference which the natives displayed toward them.

But after a time Felix at least began to observe, behind it all, that a certain amount of affection, and even of something like commiseration as well, seemed to be mingled with the respect and reverence showered upon them by their hosts.
The women, especially, were often evidently touched by Muriel's innocence and beauty.