Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/343

RV 338 (VICTORY) She gazed at him in amazement. In the face of devotion so supreme, she made a valiant effort to keep dread from showing in her voice. Nevertheless she was afraid, bitterly afraid. She was so young to die.

Resolutely she placed her hand on his arm. "No, no," she implored. "Don't speak such words. My life is not worth so great a sacrifice."

"There must be some other way?" said Ming Huang helplessly.

Yang Kuei-fei clenched her small fists until her knuckles were as white as pearls.

"You have given me happiness such as few people ever procure under heaven. And I have given you so little."

Ming Huang sat with bowed head. Tears dropped slowly from his eyes.

"Be brave, my Emperor."

"No, no," he moaned.

"At last there is something—" She hesitated. Her voice faltered. She could not go on. She wanted to rush from the tea-house, to throw herself at the feet of the leaders of the mob and implore mercy. But she knew she would find no mercy in the mob. She must go on speaking, words that spelled doom, words that would save her Emperor. "At last there is something I can do for China."

She waited but still the Emperor sat as though carved of ivory.

Finally she turned to Kao. "Tell the troops, our Emperor accepts, since there is no other honorable way." RV 338 (338)