Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/118

RV 113 (THE PEAR GARDEN) of Li Lin-fu's voice was imbued with an intoxicating quality.

"Can you imagine the clear, smooth texture of her body in the glow of the yellow-green lanterns and the soft glaze of the night's blue splendor?"

On and on, Li Lin-fu spoke, until Ming Huang became completely captivated by this slender girl, a girl of flower-fragrance and breath-taking ambition. Had Li Lin-fu known that day of the awesome forces with which he was trifling, he might have preferred to tear out his tongue rather than speak. But, alas, he knew none of it, and so he said, "With her it would be Spring always."

Ming Huang was drunk with beauty. At last he had gathered the threads of existence into a firm grip, until they were strong enough for him to face the future.

"It is my will that she dance for me," he said thickly, "dance for me to the music of the Pear Garden."

Li Lin-fu bowed gratefully. "It shall be arranged," he said.

After all it would not be hard to reach the ears of Yuhan through her old Amah.

"It was the time of spring. The lute-player struck a chord, sounding the second note in the scale, harmonizing with the lower fifth, when suddenly the wind blew chill and the plants and trees bore fruit. It was autumn! Then he struck the third note, setting in motion the second lower accord; and gradually a warm wind RV 113 (113)