Bab felt this meeting to be one of the strangest experiences of her whole life. She had never seen a Chinaman before, except on the street carrying a basket of laundry. But here she was forced into a tête-à-tête with one in the highest social position.
"Have you any daughters?" Barbara asked in her effort to break the awful silence.
Mr. Tu Fang Wu again bowed gravely. "I have one daughter and one small son. My daughter is not here with me this afternoon. Chinese girls do not go to entertainments where there are young men. My daughter has been brought up according to the customs of our country. But she has been in Washington for several years. I fear she, too, would like to be emancipated, like the American girl. It is not possible, although she enjoys many privileges she will not have when she returns to China. My daughter is betrothed to a nobleman in her own country. Perhaps you would like to meet my daughter, Wee Tu? She is fifteen years old. I shall ask Miss Hamlin to bring you to luncheon at the Embassy."
To Barbara's relief Mr. William Hamlin now appeared at the door.
The Chinese minister again bowed profoundly to Barbara. "I was looking for your smoking-room," he laughed, "but I found this young woman instead."
As the two men went out of the room, Bab had difficulty in making sure that she had not been dreaming of this fat, yellow gentleman.
"Barbara Thurston, what do you mean by running away by yourself?" exclaimed Grace Carter, a moment later. "We have been looking for you for ten minutes."
Hugh Post, Mollie and a strange young man were close behind Grace.
"I want to present my friend, Lieutenant Elmer Wilson," Hugh announced.
"He is a very important person in Washington."
"Not a bit of it," laughed the young man. "I am one of the President's aides. I try to make myself generally useful."