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e 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。 But this we cannot say to the Divine Emperor。〃
A sigh rustled through the Pepper Chamber。 The Celestial Sister looked angrily at the speaker。
〃This is the talk of children；〃 she said。 〃Does no one remember Kung…fu…tse's ＇Confucius＇ description of the Superior Man？〃
Unfortunately none did … not even the Celestial Sister herself。
〃Is it not probable；〃 said the Round…Faced Beauty； 〃that the Divine Emperor remembers it him… self and wishes…〃
But the Celestial Sister； yawning audibly； summoned the attendants to bring rose…leaves in honey； and would hear no more。
The Round…Faced Beauty therefore wandered forth among the mossy rocks and drooping willows of the Imperial Garden； deeply considering the matter。 She ascended the bow…curved bridge of marble which crossed the Pool of Clear Weather； and from the top idly observed the reflection of her rose…and…gold coat in the water while； with her taper fingers； she crumbled cake for the fortunate gold…fish that dwelt in it。 And； so doing； she remarked one fish； four…tailed among the six…tailed； and in no way distinguished by elegance； which secured by far the largest share of the crumbs dropped into the pool。 Bending lower； she observed this singular fish and its methods。
The others crowded about the spot where the crumbs fell； all herded together。 In their eagerness and stupidity they remained like a cloud of gold in one spot； slowly waving their tails。 But this fish； concealing itself behind a miniature rock； waited； looking upward； until the crumbs were falling； and then； rushing forth with the speed of an arrow； scattered the stupid mass of fish； and bore off the crumbs to its shelter； where it instantly devoured them。
〃This is notable；〃 said the Round…Faced Beauty。 〃Observation enlightens the mind。 To be apart … to be distinguished … secures notice！〃 And she plunged into thought again； wandering； herself a flower； among the gorgeous tree peonies。
On the following day the August Aunt commanded that a writer among the palace attendants should； with brush and ink； be summoned to transcribe the wisdom of the ladies。 She requested that each would give three days to thought； relating the following anecdote。 〃There was a man who； taking a piece of ivory； carved it into a mulberry leaf； spending three years on the task。 When finished it could not be told from the original； and was a gift suitable for the Brother of the Sun and Moon。 Do likewise！〃
〃But yet； 0 Augustness！〃 said the Celestial Sister； 〃if the Lord of Heaven took as long with each leaf； there would be few leaves on the trees； and if…〃
The August Aunt immediately commanded silence and retired。 On the third day she seated herself in her chair of carved ebony； while the attendant placed himself by her feet and prepared to record her words。
〃This insignificant person has decided；〃 began her Augustness； looking round and unscrewing the amber top of her snuff…bottle； 〃to take an unintelligent part in these proceedings。 An example should be set。 Attendant； write！〃
She then dictated as follows： 〃The Ideal Man is he who now decorates the Imperial Throne； or he who in all humility ventures to resemble the incomparable Emperor。 Though he may not hope to attain； his endeavor is his merit。 No further description it needed。〃
With complacence she inhaled the perfumed snuff； as the writer appended the elegant characters of her Imperial name。
If it is permissible to say that the faces of the beauties lengthened visibly； it should now be said。 For it had been the intention of every lady to make an illusion to the Celestial Emperor and depict him as the Ideal Man。 Nor had they expected that the August Aunt would take any part in the matter。
〃Oh； but it was the intention of this commonplace and undignified person to say this very thing！〃 cried the Lustrous Lady； with tears in the jewels of her eyes。 〃I thought no other high…minded and distinguished lady would for a moment think of it〃
〃And it was my intention also！〃 fluttered the little Lady Tortoise； wringing her hands！ 〃What now shall this most unlucky and unendurable person do？ For three nights has sleep forsaken my unattractive eyelids； and； tossing and turning on a couch deprived of all comfort； I could only repeat； ‘The Ideal Man is the Divine Dragon Emperor！'〃
〃May one of entirely contemptible attainments make a suggestion in this assemblage of scintillating wit and beauty？〃 inquired the Celestial Sister。 〃My superficial opinion is that it would be well to prepare a single paper to which all names should be appended； stating that His Majesty in his Dragon Divinity comprises all ideals in his sacred Person。〃
〃Let those words be recorded；〃 said the August Aunt。 〃What else should any lady of discretion and propriety say？ In this Palace of Virtuous Peace； where all is consecrated to the Son of Heaven； though he deigns not to enter it； what other thought dare be breathed？ Has any lady ventured to step outside such a limit？ If so； let her declare herself！〃
All shook their heads； and the August Aunt proceeded： 〃Let the writer record this as the opinion of every lady of the Imperial Household； and let each name be separately appended。〃
Had any desired to object； none dared to confront the August Aunt； but apparently no beauty so desired； for after