"How could we have company when we have just come and know scarcely any one?" said Nan in an aggrieved voice.
"I'm afraid Ming's pride in his cookery overbalanced his consideration for you," said Mrs. Butler. "I never dreamed I was robbing you of a capable man."
"Oh, but we're all right now," said Nan. "We wouldn't give up our man for any one; we just love him," she added feeling afraid she had made Mrs. Butler uncomfortable. But she went home wiser than before in her knowledge of "ways that are dark and tricks that are vain."
It was quite as she said; they would not give up Li Hung for any other, for he improved daily and they became greatly attached to the good honest fellow. They discovered that he made frequent visits to the capable Ming and in exchange for lending a helping hand was given lessons in cookery. As he did not neglect his own work to do this, and they were the gainers by his adding new recipes to his list, nothing was said. Except for these absences he rarely wanted to go out and gave himself up heart and soul to the interests of the family. He never forgot the wild laughter which greeted the appearance of the first pair of chickens he served. These he set on the table with an air of great pride, for they were done to a turn and looked delicious, but their trussed legs were pinned together with two large safety-pins which shone out in distinct contrast to the browned skin. Li Hung was mortified, but he lived and learned, for the next time the legs were neatly slipped in place, so had he benefited by a visit to Ming.
"He is so beautifully clean," said Mrs. Corner with a satisfied sigh as he left the room one day. "Where shall we find his like when we get back? Look at that spotless white jacket and that apron so smoothly starched and ironed."
"He's tied the apron so tight that the back of his jacket sticks out like a fan-tailed pigeon," said Nan, "but he is clean, and so good-natured."
"I never tasted such delicious strawberry short-cake," said Miss Helen delicately nibbling at the last morsel in her plate. "We must learn how he makes it, Mary."
So Li Hung became established as a member of the household and when the time came that they must leave their pleasant quarters one of their chief regrets was giving up Li Hung who had been such a source of comfort.
Into the new home they soon settled down with a feeling of perfect content. They were near enough to the centre of the city to be able to enjoy its privileges, yet they were surrounded by country sights and sounds. The mountains rose up behind them reminding them of their own beloved Virginia, and they were not so far from the sea but that they could easily spend a day there when they willed.
Jack and Jean made a fascinating playhouse, tepee style, in the garden, sewing old gunny sacks together for a covering. Long poles, stuck in the ground, held this queer roof, and they devised all sorts of furnishings. They even set up a second one that they might visit one another, and, because this building of a village was so delightful an occupation, they began a third but Mrs. Corner put a stop to this.