Wu made the motion of salutation with his fan—it is so the Chinese “bow”—before he said reverentially, “This is indeed an honor—none the less felt because it was expected.”
Mrs. Gregory laughed a little nervously, but somewhat reassured by his voice, as he had intended her to be. “You startled me, Mr. Wu,” she said. “I hardly expected——”
“This dress?” he said pleasantly. “It is put on in your honor. To have received you in my Chinese home in other than Chinese garb would have been a rudeness—and so, impossible. Hong Kong is your Queen’s now, even its city’s legal name—though custom-ridden tongues still stubbornly say ‘Hong Kong’—and there, where I am but a business man among business men, I dress as Europeans do. I find it more convenient. And a long residence in Europe makes it easy. But this is China. You are indeed in China now, madame—as truly in China as if you were within the vermilion walls of the great imperial palace or in evil Hwangchukki. The Kowloon territory ceded to England in 1860 ends a yard beyond my gates. My kinswoman seems remiss to you, I fear,” he continued. “But pray dismiss the thought. She has gone to give an order for your entertainment and to assume her best robes in your honor—robes she may not wear to the gate.”
“Oh! but she was very splendid, and I thought how beautifully dressed.” The mandarin fluttered his fan in grateful acknowledgment. “And your daughter? I hope Miss Wu is well?”
Wu Li Chang bowed—his head as well as his fan this time.
“And now, Mr. Wu”—she could wait no longer, and as she spoke she moved a few steps towards him—“what news?”
“Good,” Wu said assuringly. “So that it does not need to travel fast,” he added suavely, moving to the table, motioning her deferentially to a seat beyond it.
“Ah! thank God!” She was tremulous with the intensity of her relief, for she had feared the worst. It’s a sorry trick that mother-hearts have. “And thank you, Mr. Wu,” she added earnestly, with a pretty, friendly gesture that was very womanly and very English. But she was too restless, and too anxious still for details, to take at once the seat Wu again indicated. And she moved about the room a little, hoping Wu would volunteer more, and a little at a loss what to say next if he did not of his own accord immediately slake in full the burning torment of her anxiety. “Ah Wong, take my scarf,” she said, unwinding it. It was light and lacy, but even it seemed to stifle her. Ah Wong came for the gauze, and backed away again, standing immovable, uninterested, by the door.
Mrs. Gregory waited, a little pantingly, but Wu said nothing. She looked round the room, not at its treasures, but looking for her own next words, piteously afraid of blundering, unable to be patient.
Wu Li Chang did not misunderstand, but he pretended to, and said in a pleased voice, “You find my modest treasures interesting?”