But the Captain never meddled with them . Probably he understood that his master would not have tolerated it for a moment . So there was always a song or a chirp somewhere . Overhead flew the gulls and the cranes . The wind in the pines always made a glad salutation . Abel and I paced the walks , in high converse on matters beyond the ken of cat or king . `` I liked to ponder on all problems , though I can never solve them , '' Abel used to say . `` My father held that we should never talk of things we could n't understand . But , lord , master , if we did n't the subjects for conversation would be mighty few . I reckon the gods laugh many a time to hear us , but what matter ? So long as we remember that we 're only men , and do n't take to fancying ourselves gods , really knowing good and evil , I reckon our discussions wo n't do us or anyone much harm . So we 'll have another whack at the origin of evil this evening , master . '' Tamzine forgot to be shy with me at last , and gave me a broad smile of welcome every time I came . But she rarely spoke to me . She spent all her spare time weeding the garden , which she loved as well as Abel did . She was addicted to bright colours and always wore wrappers of very gorgeous print . She worshipped Abel and his word was a law unto her . `` I am very thankful Tamzine is so well , '' said Abel one evening as we watched the sunset . The day had begun sombrely in gray cloud and mist , but it ended in a pomp of scarlet and gold . `` There was a time when she was n't , master -- you 've heard ?
But XXXXX years now she has been quite able to look after herself .
So as at for if in of that to with