Published: Sunday Supplement, New Zealand Herald, 30 January 1892.

Attribution: Signed by RK.

Text: One Lady at Wairakei, ed. Harry Ricketts, [Wellington, NZ, 1983].

Notes: The story develops a favourite theme of RK's, how the different peoples of the Empire will produce distinctive literatures drawn from their new surroundings and conditions. The story after its original publication was reprinted in various New Zealand papers at the time. Reprinted, Pall Mall Budget, 24 March 1892; New Zealand Herald, 20 January 1936. Separate publication, edited by Harry Ricketts, Wellington, NZ, 1983.

The extraordinary thing about this story is its absolute truth.

All tourists who scamper through New Zealand have in their tours visited the geysers at Wairakei, but none of them have seen there what I have seen. It came about with perfect naturalness. I had wondered from one pool to another, from geyser to mud spout, mud spout to goblin bath, and goblin bath to fairy terrace, till I came to a still pool, where a wild duck sat bobbing on the warm green water, undisturbed by all the noises of the wonderful gorge. A steam jet hidden in the brushwood sighed and was silent, a tiny geyser gobbled, and a big one answered it with snorts. I thrust my stick into the soft ground, and something below hissed, thrusting out a tongue of white steam. A wind moved through the scrub, and all the noises were hushed for an instant. So far there had been nothing uncommon – except geysers and blow-holes – to catch the eye. Therefore I was the more astonished when from the depths of the pool, and so quietly that even the wild duck was not scared there rose up the head and shoulders of a woman. At first I imagined that I had better get away. But, since I had seen the face, I did not move. The woman flung back her long hair, and said, laughing:

“Well?”

“I beg your pardon,” I stammered. “But I didn't know – I didn't – I mean – “

“Do you mean to say that you don't know me?” she said. “To be sure in your profession I'm more talked about than seen.”