Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/375

Rh “You're very kind—don’t mind if we do. But you must have a drink with us some other time.” “All right;” and so over the lemonades we became good friends, and I learnt they were the two principal actors in the Children’s Opera Company then performing in the town, and which was the rage, with good reason, as this Children’s Company in the Geisha and The Belle of New York were really wonderful — in fact, quite fascinating. They gave two perform- ances a day, both to huge audiences, the gallery being packed with enthusiastic bluejackets. The company, numbering somewhere about fifty, all lived in the hotel, and were soon informed “He’s all right,” and adopted me as one of themselves. They were extremely well cared for and looked after; and the larger and older girls were most important damsels. The golden youth of Hong- Kong vowed these bigger girls were not really only thirteen or fourteen years old, but much older, but they were all genuine children despite their coquettish grown-up airs, as I had plenty of opportunity of learning, for they took possession of me in a body and seemed to consider me to be there for their benefit.

It was very hot, and I had found a long cane chair in a cool corner of a balcony and appropriated it, and there they knew they could always find me.

But, however charming and clever were these children, what is one to say of that fairy little dot of a thing who played The Belle of New York —a tiny, charming, fascinating person? She was a lovely child, and a real child, and on the stage was too delightful for words. I lost my heart completely, and worshipped her.

They had two performances a day, and a rehearsal—in that heat—so she was always