“Well?” said he.
Ah Wing’s face was still red.
“I want the peacock lantern,” he declared.
The father of Ah Wing brought forth his string of cash and drew therefrom more than double the price of the lantern.
“Take this,” said he to the lantern man. “’Twill fill thy little sick boy’s bowl with rice for many a day to come.”
The lantern man returned humble thanks, but while unfastening the peacock lantern from the others, his face looked very sad.
Ah Wing shifted from one foot to another.
The lantern man placed the lantern in his hand. Ah Wing stood still holding it.
“Thou hast thy heart’s desire now,” said his father. “Laugh and be merry.”
But with the lantern man’s sad face before him, Ah Wing could not laugh and be merry.