"The Viceroy sent her to you," the servant who was with Tuen said to the older woman, pointing with one finger to the shrinking girl behind him.
At his words the women looked up from their work with evident curiosity, for there was but little break in the monotony of their lives, and this newcomer was therefore interesting. The one to whom he spoke came forward that she might better examine her charge.
"Where did he get her?" she inquired, regarding Tuen with something like disfavor in her keen eyes.
"Bought her," was the man's laconic answer. "From the ragman it appears," he also volunteered; and then with a shrug of his shoulders he went away.
"He was cheated if he paid much. Don't you say so, Wang?" one of the women said with a laugh that was not unkind.
A feeling of such utter, overpowering loneliness swept over Tuen as she stood undergoing their scrutiny that all at once she slipped down on the muddy ground and fell to weeping violently.
"A cry-baby," one of them muttered contemptuously, returning to her work.