m of the plum was
the purity of her complexion, upon which the darkness of her eyebrows
resembled two silk-moths alighted to flutter above the brilliance of her
eyes--eyes which even the August Aunt had commended after a banquet of
unsurpassed variety. Her hair had been compared to the crow's plumage;
her waist was like a roll of silk, and her discretion in habiting
herself was such that even the Lustrous Lady and the Lady Tortoise drew
instruction from the splendours of her robes. It created, however, a
general astonishment when she spoke.

"Paragons of beauty, what is this dull and opaque-witted person that
she should speak?"

"What, indeed!" said the Celestial Sister. "This entirely
undistinguished person cannot even imagine."

A distressing pause followed, during which many whispered anxiously. The
Lustrous Lady broke it.

"It is true that the highly ornamental Round-Faced Beauty is but lately
come, yet even the intelligent Ant may assist the Dragon; and in the
presence of alarm, what is decorum? With a tiger behind one, who can
recall the Book of Rites and act with befitting elegance?"

"The high-born will at all times remember the Rites!" retorted the
Celestial Sister. "Have we not heard the August Aunt observe: 'Those who
understand do not speak. Those who speak do not understand'?"

The Round-Faced Beauty collected her courage.

"Doubtless this is wisdom; yet if the wise do not speak, who should
instruct us? The August Aunt herself would be silent."

All were confounded by this dilemma, and the little Lady Summer-Dress,
still weeping, entreated that the Round-Faced Beauty might be heard.
The Heavenly Blossoms then prepared to listen and assumed attitudes of
attention, which so disconcerted the Round-Faced Beauty that she blushed
like a spring tulip in speaking.

"Beautiful ladies, our Lord, who is unknown to us all, has issued an
august command. It cannot be disputed, for the whisper of disobedience
is heard as thunder in the Imperial Presence. Should we not aid each
other? If any lady has formed a dream in her soul of the Ideal
Man, might not such a picture aid us all? Let us not be
'say-nothing-do-nothing,' but act!"

They hung their heads and smiled, but none would allow that she had
formed such an image. The little Lady Tortoise, laughing behind her
fan of sandalwood, said roguishly: "The Ideal Man should be handsome,
liberal in giving, and assuredly he should appreciate the beauty of his
wives.