"The answer lies in your mirror, Elsa. Your old nurse Martha is no real protection."
"Are men so bad, then?"
"They are less restrained. The heat, the tremendous distances, the lack of amusements, are perhaps responsible. The most difficult thing in the world to amuse is man. By the way, here's a packet of letters for you."
"Thanks." Elsa played with the packet, somberly eying the superscriptions. The old disorder came back into her mind. Three of the letters were from Arthur. She dreaded to open them.
"Now, I'll expect you to come to the apartments and have tea at five."
"Be glad to. Only, don't have any one else. I just want to visit and talk as I used to."
"I promise not to invite anybody."
"I must be going, then. I'm not sure of my tickets to Hongkong."
"Go straight to the German Lloyd office. The next P. & O. boat is booked full. Don't bother to go to Cook's. Everybody's on the way home now. Go right to the office. I'll have my boy show you the way. Chong!" he called. A bright-eyed young Chinese came in quickly and silently from the other room. "Show lady German Lloyd office. All same quick."
"All light. Lady come."