travel books: none so small in your generation. My own were scarcely more tiny at your age. I only hope that the family of Li have paid heed to my messages and have bound as closely the feet of their daughter, the betrothed of your brother, my son. But I am fearful of it, because I hear she is learned in the Four Books, and learning has never accompanied beauty in women. I must send word to the go-between again regarding the matter. " As for you, my child, if my daughter-in-law equals you I shall not complain over-much. You have been taught to play that ancient harp whose strings have been swept by generations of our women for the delight of their lords. Your fingers are skilful, and your nails are long. You have even been taught the most famous verses of the old poets, and you can sing them sweetly to your harp. I cannot see how even your motherin-law will find anything lacking in my work. Unles books

Books > Old Books > East Wind: West Wind (1939)

Page 16

PART I - CHAPTER I

none so small in your generation. My own were scarcely more tiny at your age. I only hope that the family of Li have paid heed to my messages and have bound as closely the feet of their daughter, the betrothed of your brother, my son. But I am fearful of it, because I hear she is learned in the Four Books, and learning has never accompanied beauty in women. I must send word to the go-between again regarding the matter.
" As for you, my child, if my daughter-in-law equals you I shall not complain over-much. You have been taught to play that ancient harp whose strings have been swept by generations of our women for the delight of their lords. Your fingers are skilful, and your nails are long. You have even been taught the most famous verses of the old poets, and you can sing them sweetly to your harp. I cannot see how even your motherin-law will find anything lacking in my work. Unless you should bear no son ! But I will go to the temple and present the goddess with a gift, should you pass the first year without conception."
My blood rose to my face. I cannot remember when I did not know of birth and motherhood. The desire for sons in a household like ours, where my father had three concubines whose sole interest was in the conceiving and bearing of children, was

Page 17

PART I - CHAPTER I

too ordinary to contain any mystery. Yet the thought of this for myself-but my mother did not even see my hot cheeks. She sat absorbed in meditation and fell to toying again with the water-melon seeds.
" There is only one thing," she said finally, "he has been abroad to foreign lands. He has even studied foreign medicines. I do not know-but enough ! Time reveals all. You are dismissed."