He is going to Mukden.  Of course I told him all about Jack’s work.  The old fellow, he must be all of seventy, was thrilled.  I am going to give him a letter to Jack.  Also to some friends in Peking; they will be good to him.  If anybody deserves a merry-go-round sort of a holiday, he does.  Think of sewing on saddles and bridles all these years, when his heart was withering for beauty!

I am glad of your eager interest in Sada.  How like you!  Never too absorbed in your own life to share other people’s joys and sorrows and festivities.

If your wise head evolves a plan of action, send by wireless, for if I read aright her message received to-day, the time is fast coming when the red lights of danger will be flashing.  I will quote:  “Last night Uncle asked me to sing to some people who were giving a dinner at the tea-house.  I put on my loveliest kimono and a hair-dresser did my hair in the old Japanese style and stuck a red rose at the side.  For the first time I went into that beautiful, beautiful place my Uncle calls “the Flower Blooming” tea-house.  It was more like a fairy palace.  How the girls, who live there, laughed at my guitar.  They had never seen one before.  How they whispered over the color of my eyes.  Said they matched my kimono, and they tittered over my clumsiness in sitting on the floor.  But I forgot everything when the door slid open and I looked into the most wonderful dream-garden that ever was, and people everywhere.  I finished singing, there was clapping and loud banzais.  I looked up and realized there were only men at this dinner and I never saw so many bottles in all my life.  I felt very strange and so far away from dear Susan West.  After I had sung once more I started back to my home.  Uncle met me.  I told him I was going to bed.  For the first time he was cross and ordered me back to the play place, where I was to stay until he came for me.  There never was anything so lovely as the green and pink garden and the lily-shaped lights, and the flowers; and such pretty girls who knew just what to do.  But I cannot understand the men who come here.  When dear old Billy”—­thank heaven she says dear Billy!—­“talks I know just what he means.  But these men use so many words Susan never taught me, and laugh so loud when they say them.

“There was one man named Hara whose clothes were simply gorgeous.  The girls say he is very rich, and a great friend of Uncle’s!  He may have money, but he is not over-burdened with manners.  He can out-stare an owl.”

There was more.  But that is enough to show me Uncle’s hand as plainly as if I were a palmist.  If nothing happens to prevent, the man promises to do what thousands of his kind have done before:  regardless of obstacles and consequences marry the girl off to the highest bidder; rid himself of all responsibility and make a profit at the same time.  From his point of view it is the only thing to do.  He would be the most astonished uncle in Mikado-land if anybody suggested to him that Sada had any rights or feelings in the matter.  He would tell you that as Sada’s only male relative, custom gave him the right to dispose of her as he saw fit, and custom is law and there is nothing back of that!