a very important item has appeared in the newspaper to-day—poor lee yet has fallen into trouble; rather, other people are trying to get him into trouble, and his wife, the little oval-faced mrs. yet, has been subp?naed to appear as a witness in his behalf.
that dear little sad woman to have to go to court before all those americans! "she shall not be studied and laughed at as a curiosity. she shall be dressed up like an american woman!" i declared as soon as i read the item.
in pursuance of my idea this afternoon, i a second time donned grandmother's garments—lucky that grandmother and i are the same height—and a second time left the house unnoticed by any one except yick.
how very much at home i feel in the garments of an elderly gentlewoman! perhaps i am walking around the world the eighteen-year-old reincarnation of some dear, silken-clad old granny who inhabited this sphere hundreds of years ago.
i quickly found my way down to the home of mrs. yet, and rapped at the door.
it was opened by the little woman herself, who looked even sadder than when i first saw her. i addressed her in chinese and lifting my veil, told her that i had come to make her a visit. she smiled in a pleased way, opened wide the door, and invited me into the house. she had never noticed the discrepancy between my antiquated dress and young face, and was blissfully unconscious that my garments were fifty years (more or less) out of date.
on my entrance something small and pink moved behind a wire screen in the corner of the room, and mrs. yet clipclapped across the floor in her chinese sandals, and picked up a little bundle of chinese life, saying:
"this my baby. he eighteen month. he sick—get tooth—got one tooth."
we talked about the baby, she sometimes speaking in chinese, and sometimes in broken english, until we felt acquainted. then i said:
"mrs. yet, i see by the newspaper that you will have to appear in court to give evidence in behalf of your husband. you do not want to go there in chinese dress to be the subject of curiosity, and newspaper remark?"
the trouble which had left her face while she was talking about the baby, reappeared, and tears gathered in her almond eyes.
it was more than i could stand, and i cried, "don't! don't! mrs. yet—i have come to make things all right—i, your country-woman—speaking your own language. i am going to give myself the pleasure of dressing you like an american woman."
she remonstrated politely but i urged so strongly that at last she yielded; and it seemed when she did so as if a great burden had rolled from off her pale little face.
immediately i went out to one of the great stores and ordered several costumes for her to "fit on"—i wasn't a child any longer. grandmother's rich old skirt and shawl carried weight a second time (they could not see my face distinctly through the veil), for without hesitation a woman was despatched with the costumes.
this woman expert worked over the little mrs. yet, pinching, and pulling, and puckering, after the manner of american dressmakers, until she had her resplendent in a rich maroon-coloured wool costume, which exactly suited her olive skin, and made her almost a beauty.
at last the costume was satisfactorily settled and paid for. oh, it is nice to have plenty of money to pay for all one wants. father left me plenty (and although i do not control it until i come of a certain age, i get a liberal monthly instalment). i then went to a milliner's and bought a hat of a shade to harmonise with the costume. it was trimmed with ribbon, and deep, rich, maroon roses, and just looked too sweet for anything. "youthful and stylish," as the milliner said. why not? mrs. yet is young, and[pg 104] she has just as good a right to look stylish as any american woman!
happy? i should say i am! i never was happier in my life than i am to-night; even if i did steal out in grandmother's old clothes, and am a "sly, subtle oriental."
