"We have those who are well trained to do such work for us. If you are quick to learn, Wang will teach you other things, and if you are stupid and bad,"—here she frowned and shook her head, "why, we will sell you again."
"Sell who again?" cried a shrill voice, and Tuen jumped and looked hastily behind her to see from whence it came.
The Viceroy's wife, with her maids supporting her, quickly rose to her feet, and with many low bows offered the vacant chair to an old, withered woman, most magnificently attired, who emerged from one of the corridors. This elderly female scorned the proffered seat, and glared irately around her.
"Who is this creature?" she screamed, pointing her long, bony finger at Tuen, who now became conscious of a wild desire to fly.
"It is a slave my husband has bought to-day, mother," the Viceroy's lady said in a humble, almost pleading voice.
"Your husband has bought!" exclaimed the old lady in a tone of withering scorn. "You mean my son has bought, do you not? And how dare you speak of selling her? You! Umh! I will box your ears if I hear any more such saucy talk."
"Indeed, indeed I did not mean to be disrespectful to your worshipful highness," the wife of the Viceroy murmured. But the mother-in-law was not so readily appeased.
"You, who must worship me while I am alive, and when I am dead do homage before my tablet, to sit and tell me what you will do with mine and my son's possessions! The impudence of it! You need a good beating right now," and she glared fiercely at the trembling wife. "As for that girl," nodding toward Tuen, "I like her looks, and if it pleases me I will take her for my maid."