“Are there more people than in Boston?” asked Charlie.

“I do not know how many there are in Boston—­there are fifteen million in the province of Manchuria.”

“Did the mandarin live in great, wonderful, gorgeous splendor?” asked Lucy.

Sky-High’s eyes opened with a gleam.  “His gifts are gold,” he said.  “His dragons have teeth of gold.  The monoliths in his garden are one thousand, it may be two thousand years old.  At the Feast of Lanterns he covers the sky over his palace with fire.  You should see his gardens and the gables of his houses!  It takes some minutes to speak his whole name.”

“I wish I could look upon a man like that!” said Charlie.  “I hope we shall see that mandarin when we go to China.”

“That will be easy,” said Sky-High.

* * * * *

The family sailed away from the Pacific coast in the spring.  Mr. and Mrs. Van Buren really felt very glad to have such an intelligent servant as Sky-High for their visit to the Chinese provinces, even though they were to leave him behind at his home.

When they arrived at Hong Kong there was a surprise.  Some officials at the port appeared to recognize Sky-High, and brought to him an important-looking mail which he received with a sudden dignity.  He also was paid attentions from notable Chinese people, such as servants would not seem likely to meet.

Mr. Van Buren finally explained it to himself.  He carried letters to many consuls and commercial houses.  Sky-High was noticed because he was in his service.  “In such countries,” said Mr. Van Buren, “customs are different from ours.”

Certain high Chinamen in the hongs—­the trade-houses—­bowed low in a most respectful way to Sky-High, their manner very noticeable.  Whenever Lucy and Charles accompanied him they were offered Chinese sweetmeats or novel toys of ivory and jade.

“The people are very kind and polite to you,” said Mr. Van Buren to Sky-High, one day.  “You are fortunate to come back in our service.  Our family has traded with China for three generations; I suppose we are known nearly everywhere.”

“I am fortunate, master,” said the little Chinaman.

They prepared to go on to Canton.  Sky-High arranged the journey, and explained the details to Mr. Van Buren.  He had an air of taking the family under his protection, and seemed to be wholly familiar with the way along the boat-lined waters.

“We are to stop just before we reach the city,” he said to Mr. Van Buren, “to meet a mandarin of Manchuria of the Crystal Sea.  He is visiting at the summer palace of a grand mandarin of Canton.  A barge will come out to meet us.  There will be fireworks.  I have arranged it all.  Besides these two there will be also a mandarin from the Yellow River.”

“‘Meet us!  I have arranged it all!’ What does our little house-boy mean?” thought Mr. Van Buren.  He called Sky-High, and asked him to explain his strange words.