"I will tell that story, mistress," he said one day, "at the Feasts in my Country of the Crystal Sea."
"And to whom will you tell it, Sky-High?" asked Mrs. Van Buren.
"The Mandarin of the Crystal Sea is not deaf, mistress. Sky-High will tell it to him."
XV.
IN THE HOUSE-BOY'S CARE.
Lucy and Charles were full of joy when it was fully decided that they were to be taken on a voyage around the world. They spent whole evenings with Sky-High, tracing the route on the maps and globes. They would go by the way of San Francisco or Vancouver, and thence to Canton. They were to visit Sky-High's land first of all.
"They're all gone mad sure!" said Nora; "and that boy'll never send 'em back!"
Mr. Van Buren wished to learn something of the Chinese language as spoken, and was willing to study an hour every evening with the house-boy, and Lucy and Charles picked up the funny choking phrases as fast as their father.