Page:Mrs. Spring Fragrance - Far - 1912.djvu/335

 were slipping from his tunic. His mother picked up some of them, observing silently that they were particularly fine.

"They are the most beautiful pebbles that ever were seen," said Lee Chu sorrowfully. He felt sure that his mother would cast them away.

"The sea will never give up as fine again," declared Lee Yen despairingly.

"Then why did you not each keep what you found?" asked the mother.

"Because—" said Lee Chu, then looked at the Little Fat One.

"Because—" echoed Lee Yen, and also looked at the Little Fat One.

The mother's eyes softened.

"Well," said she, "for this one time we will forget the cane."

"Good! Good!" cried the Little Fat One.  

HE warmth was deep and all-pervading. The dust lay on the leaves of the palms and the other tropical plants that tried to flourish in the Plaza. The persons of mixed nationalities lounging on the benches within and without the square 