My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

ear

ities that afflict the

lousy, and silliness. Th

four, is silliness. "Doe

serious here in thine

a daughter-in-law. The

ne rooftree, and I gre

ng had knowledge that

ad a daugh

is such a child. Ah, I s

less in age than I; ye

year by the side of thy

knowledge from the

ti also will become a

tors before her allot

ody and mind which the

of this old palace. S

the happy laugh, the

ce with thine Honoura

that both she and Ma

sage Confucius each da

ard, studying the six s

them saying over and o

the will to learn ca

laugh-- then again

he will to learn ca

d much talking. I am afr

ove of truth, and after

m, that they may n

es now most seriousl

for the day. In the m

two maids attend her,

other to hand her the i

she covers it with ho

der until her face is as

ged, the touch of red i

haped like the true wil

nderful (but I say with

and she adorn it with

clothing of fine lin

lk and satin. Then her

iny mirror in the embro

astened to her side by

, she rises a being glo

the toe of her tiny em

, because when thou wa

away, it is not meet

The rouge brush and t

ve searched my clothin

a woman wh

-ti is o'ervain, and re

an is a virtuous heart

utterfly, she brings t

kerchief to hold tear

peh, thy brother, is i

ssom. He follows her

ce with thine August

sent to her apartment

til the Honourable One

s to his beloved. Soo

know the st

d we cannot pass long

hrouded in grey mists

The path down the mo

h the great umbrella h

s to the monastery bel

t trouble. Some men

ires on them. It is fea

, the good spirits of t

ugly poles instead of

wailed and gone to the

men have many tens of

y will work

I write thee! They are f

women's courtyard. It i

by these walls, a

y lovin