But always are there more coconut palms. This is not all my own
smart talk. Much of it my father told me. Proceed, honourable
Mrs. Tai Fu, and beat your son who is my Third Husband To Be. But
I shall laugh. I warn you I shall laugh."
Ah Kim dropped down on his knees so as to give his mother every
advantage. And while she rained blows upon him with the bamboo
stick, Li Faa smiled and giggled, and finally burst into laughter.
"Harder, O honourable Mrs. Tai Fu!" Li Faa urged between paroxysms
of mirth.
Mrs. Tai Fu did her best, which was notably weak, until she
observed what made her drop the stick by her side in amazement. Ah
Kim was crying. Down both cheeks great round tears were coursing.
Li Faa was amazed. So were the gaping clerks. Most amazed of all
was Ah Kim, yet he could not help himself; and, although no further
blows fell, he cried steadily on.
"But why did you cry?" Li Faa demanded often of Ah Kim. "It was so
perfectly foolish a thing to do. She was not even hurting you."
"Wait until we are married," was Ah Kim's invariable reply, "and
then, O Moon Lily, will I tell you.
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