I was wonderful in it . . and he had known all the great dances in
Europe. It was the last thing I heard him play, before he went out in
the boat, and I saw him perish before my eyes." Don't you think that
she writes beautifully, Freddy?

FREDDY. Yes; it's surprising.

ETHEL, Oh, yes. Her father was an extraordinary man, Henry says . . .
a musician and a poet. They had books and everything, apparently.
You'd think she's been living in Europe.

FREDDY. I see.

ETHEL. Listen to this: [Reads.] "About my name . . . I forgot to
explain. You see, Anna sounds like England . . . or New England . . .
and I am not the least like those places. Father used to see me, as a
little tot, diving through the breakers, and floating out in the sea,
with the snow-white frigate- birds flashing by overhead; and he said I
was the very spirit of the island and the wild, lonely ocean. So he
called me Oceana, and that's the name I've always borne."

FREDDY. It just fits my idea of her.

ETHEL. She goes on: "You mustn't be surprised at what I am. You may
think it's dreadful . . . even wicked. But at least don't expect
anything like you've ever known before. Fifteen years with only cocoa-
palms and naked savages . . . the Boston varnish rubs off one. But I'm
going to try to behave. I expect to feel quite at home . . . I have
pictures of all of you, and a picture of the house . . . I even have
father's keys, to let myself in with!"