With which Chi Fu rose slowly and majestically, and glided into the next room.
CHAPTER IX
CHI FU'S SCHEME
Chang and his wife saw no more of their son that day until it was time to eat rice in the evening. Chi Fu had been at the mission compound. Naturally the Changs were both full of excitement over the morning's adventure; so little happens to disturb the tranquillity of home life in China. They had talked of nothing else, and were quite ready to begin again when Chi Fu arrived.
'Well, have you thought of a plan to get hold of those children?' his mother asked, as soon as he had swallowed one bowl of rice.
The family oracle replied slowly that he had thought a good deal about it, and that he had inquired at the mission when the courier was going to Peking.
'You surely did not tell about those children?' screamed Chang Nai-nai.
'No, I only asked about the courier,' quietly replied Chi Fu, 'and as he has only just left, my letter could not go until next month. It would not be prudent to send a letter written in foreign characters otherwise than by the mission courier, and were I to use Chinese writing it might be read on the way.'