This was not the Celestial command. How was this?"
"Because, 0 versatile and auspicious Emperor, the blind cannot
behold the sunlight, and it is only the Ideal Woman who is worthy
to comprehend and worship the Ideal Man. For this alone is she
created."
A smile began to illuminate the Imperial Countenance. "And how, 0
Round-Faced Beauty, did you evade the vigilance of the August
Aunt?"
She hung her head lower, speaking almost in a whisper. "With her
one pearl did this person buy the secrecy of the writer; and when
the August Aunt slept, did I conceal the paper in her sleeve with
the rest, and her own Imperial hand gave it to the engraver of
ivory."
She veiled her face with two jade-white hands that trembled
excessively. On hearing this statement the Celestial Emperor
broke at once into a very great laughter, and he laughed loud and
long as a tiller of wheat. The Round-Faced Beauty heard it
demurely until, catching the Imperial eye, decorum was forgotten
and she too laughed uncontrollably. So they continued, and
finally the Emperor leaned back, drying the tears in his eyes
with his august sleeve, and the lady, resuming her gravity, hid
her face in her hands, yet regarded him through her fingers.
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