Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/39

 would move aside. Demurely she stepped into the chair, striving to appear cool. No one must guess how excited she was.

The bellman struck his gong, and shattered the peace of the morning into a thousand fragments. The Amah waved good-bye. Not even precedent could prevent her from doing that. Porters would follow with Yuhan's possessions. The old Amah had insisted on remaining behind to accompany them in order that she could be sure nothing would happen to her mistress's cherished belongings, even though she was taking but little with her. It was the province of the young Prince to provide for all her needs.

To Yuhan it was as inspiring as the beginning of a new Moon Year. That day she was entering the portals of a lavish new world. The reflection came to her somewhat bitterly that it would also be complete obscurity. The world would hear of her no more. This thought she cast from her as unworthy. What if Prince Shou should be named by Ming Huang, the Brilliant Emperor, as his successor? The thought caught her breath. Perhaps the Prince would adore her so completely that he would have little time for other women. She smiled. She had no doubt of her power over men. She remembered the antics of the old jade merchant who had implored her uncle to give her unto him in marriage. He had offered gifts of fabulous value. And there was the Mandarin of Loyang who had invaded so many lovely women that he was surfeited, yet he had desired to make her his Number Two wife. No, she had no worries