Lim Yang Bing had offered his arm to fair Laurentia, and the pair walked leisurely up and down that stately saloon, which, under ordinary circumstances, might be called magnificent, but had now been specially decorated with the utmost skill and taste. The woodwork, the pillars, the beams and architraves of the apartment were all curiously carved and heavily gilt, and represented either hideous dragon-forms, or else scenes of domestic life in China. The walls were tinted a delicate rose-colour, and the floor, of pure Carrara marble, was covered with matting woven of the finest split rottan. At the end of this splendid saloon stood the altar of Tao Peng Kong gorgeously decorated, while wide strips of red silk, bearing black Chinese letters, hung on either side of the sanctuary.
“Tell me, babah,” asked the Resident’s wife, “what may be the meaning of that scribble on those red rags?”
“They are proverbs, njonja, taken from Kong Foe Hi,” gallantly replied the Chinaman.
“Yes, but what do they mean?”
“That one, njonja, signifies: ‘May the five blessings abide in this house.’ ”
“And the others?”
“They are the names of the five blessings.”
“Ah indeed!” continued Laurentia, “and what are those blessings?”
“A long life, peace and rest, love of virtue, wealth and a happy end as the crown of life.”
“And what do the letters on those lanterns signify? I say, babah, they are very fine!” said Laurentia pointing upward at the lanterns, depending from the ceiling and from the beams.