Having been captured
when young by Pacific black-birders, he talked excellent English,
and from contact with the necessary restraints of civilization
was, on the whole, extremely well behaved. Occasionally, when
teased by the villagers and his fellow-servants, he would break
into childish rages, which bordered on the dangerous. But a word
from Braddock always quieted him, and when penitent he would
crawl like a whipped dog to the feet of his divinity. For the
most part he lived entirely in the museum, looking after the
collection and guarding it from harm. Lucy--who had a horror of
the creature's uncanny looks--objected to Cockatoo waiting at
the table, and it was only on rare occasions that he was
permitted to assist the harassed parlormaid. On this night the
Kanaka acted excellently as a butler, and crept softly round the
table, attending to the needs of the diners. He was an admirable
servant, deft and handy, but his blue-lined face and squat figure
together with the obtrusively golden halo, rather worried Mrs.
Jasher. And, indeed, in spite of custom, Lucy also felt
uncomfortable when this gnome hovered at her elbow. It looked as
though one of the fantastical idols from the museum below had
come to haunt the living.
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