Wife and Tiki.

“Laura,” he said, “you remember Harata, down at the beach, the old girl who knows all about bush medicines and things, and leads the ceremonies at the tangis. Well, she sends her aroha page 20 to you and she has lent me her heitiki of wonderful mana, that brings luck and safety to mother and child. Her mother and her mother's foremothers for generations have worn it when they were with child; it strengthens them both. Now, let me hang it round your neck; and later on, you know, you should fasten it on your waist, or thereabouts, that's the Maori way.”

“How good of Harata,” said Mrs. Compton. “It was thoughtful of her. I must send her a little present when you return the tiki.”

“Oh, not yet, not just yet,” said Compton hurriedly. “Plenty of time. Must let its influence become gradually felt, you know—the greenstone image of the unborn child resting on the human one.”

“How curious,” said Laura, meditatively. She took the heavy amulet in her hands and looked at it intently. “What an ugly little thing it is! I hope my baby won't look like that, with its head all on one side and its tongue out.”

“Oh, no, that's before it sees the light. The Maoris knew all about the human anatomy. Trust the old cannibals for that.”

Laura shuddered. “I'll wear it if you like, but I don't want to look at it long. It feels so cold and uncanny on my breast. Is it true that they place these things with the dead when they are buried, and then dig them out again for the bone-scraping?”

Compton replied that they did. It was the custom to bury the greenstone with its wearer and disinter it after about a year, when the next of kin took possession and wore it. That was what gave it its rich old tone and its smooth surface as if it had long been polished with fine oil.

“Oh, no more of it! I think you had better return it to Harata tomorrow, or I'll be going about with my head on one side. But you have any number of greenstones in your safe. Surely you don't want any more?”

“Ah, but none like this one, Laura. You must wear it a while for luck.”