"
"Not even when they were loved in life?" said the Empress,
caressing the bird in the cage with one jewelled finger, but
attentively observing her son from the corner of her august eye.
"They were; they are not," he remarked sententiously and stifling
a yawn; it was a drowsy afternoon. "But who is it that has
abandoned us? Surely not the Lady Ma - your Majesty's faithful
foster-mother?"
"A younger, a lovelier spirit has sought the Yellow Springs"
replied the trembling Empress. "I regret to inform your Majesty
that a sudden convulsion last night deprived the Lady A-Kuei of
life. I would not permit the news to reach you lest it should
break your august night's rest."
There was a silence, then the Emperor turned his eyes serenely
upon his Imperial Mother. "That the statement of my august Parent
is merely - let us say - allegoric - does not detract from its
interest. But had the Lady A-Kuei in truth departed to the Yellow
Springs I should none the less have received the news without
uneasiness. What though the sun set - is not the memory of his
light all surpassing?"
No longer could the Pearl Empress endure the excess of her
curiosity.
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