"I thought no other
high-minded and distinguished lady would for a moment think of
it"
"And it was my intention also!" fluttered the little Lady
Tortoise, wringing her hands! "What now shall this most unlucky
and unendurable person do? For three nights has sleep forsaken my
unattractive eyelids, and, tossing and turning on a couch
deprived of all comfort, I could only repeat, `The Ideal Man is
the Divine Dragon Emperor!'"
"May one of entirely contemptible attainments make a suggestion
in this assemblage of scintillating wit and beauty?" inquired the
Celestial Sister. "My superficial opinion is that it would be
well to prepare a single paper to which all names should be
appended, stating that His Majesty in his Dragon Divinity
comprises all ideals in his sacred Person."
"Let those words be recorded," said the August Aunt. "What else
should any lady of discretion and propriety say? In this Palace
of Virtuous Peace, where all is consecrated to the Son of Heaven,
though he deigns not to enter it, what other thought dare be
breathed? Has any lady ventured to step outside such a limit? If
so, let her declare herself!"
All shook their heads, and the August Aunt proceeded: "Let the
writer record this as the opinion of every lady of the Imperial
Household, and let each name be separately appended.
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