CHAPTER III
MR. TU FANG WU
Bab knew that at the rear of this floor of Mr. Hamlin's house there was asmall room that was seldom used. She hoped to find refuge in it for a fewminutes, and then to return to her friends.
The room was empty. Bab sank down into a great arm chair andclosed her eyes.
A few moments later she opened them though she heard no sound. A fatlittle Chinese gentleman stood regarding her with an expression ofamusement on his face.
Barbara jumped hastily to her feet. Where was she? She felt frightened.Although the man before her was yellow and foreign, and wore strangeChinese clothes, he was evidently a person of importance. Had Barbaraawakened at the Court of Pekin? Her companion wore a loose, black satincoat, heavily embroidered in flowers and dragons and a round, closefitting silk cap with a button on top of it.
"I beg your pardon," Bab exclaimed in confusion. "Whom did you wish tosee? There is no one in here."
The Chinese gentleman made Bab a stately bow. "No one," he protested."This is the first time, since my residence in America, that I have heardan American girl speak of herself as no one. Miss United States is alwayssome one in her own country. But may I therefore present myself to little'Miss No One'? I am Dr. Tu Fang Wu, His Imperial Chinese Majesty's EnvoyExtraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States."
"I am very proud to meet you, Mr. Minister," Barbara returned, wonderingif "Mr. Minister" was the proper way to address a foreign ambassador.She thought Mr. Hamlin had told her so, only the night before.
Bab did not know in the least what she should do or say to such adistinguished Oriental. She might make a mistake at any minute. For Babhad been learning, every hour since her arrival in Washington, that in noplace is social etiquette more important than in the Capital City.
"May I find Mr. Hamlin for you?" Bab suggested, hoping to make herescape.
The Chinese Minister shook his head slowly. "Mr. Hamlin is engaged withhis other guests."
"Then won't you be seated?" Bab asked in desperation. Really she and thisstrange yellow gentleman could not stand staring at each other the wholeafternoon. It made Bab feel creepy to have a Chinaman regard her sosteadfastly and without the slightest change of expression, even if hewere a foreign minister.
Bab felt this meeting to be one of the strangest experiences of her wholelife. She had never seen a Chinaman before, except on the street carryinga basket of laundry. But here she was forced into a tete-a-tete with onein the highest social position.
"Have you any daughters?" Barbara asked in her effort to break theawful silence.
Mr. Tu Fang Wu again bowed gravely. "I have one daughter and one smallson. My daughter is not here with me this afternoon. Chinese girls donot go to entertainments where there are young men. My daughter has beenbrought up according to the customs of our country. But she has been inWashington for several years. I fear she, too, would like to beemancipated, like the American girl. It is not possible, although sheenjoys many privileges she will not have when she returns to China. Mydaughter is betrothed to a nobleman in her own country. Perhaps you wouldlike to meet my daughter, Wee Tu? She is fifteen years old. I shall askMiss Hamlin to bring you to luncheon at the Embassy."
To Barbara's relief Mr. William Hamlin now appeared at the door.
The Chinese minister again bowed profoundly to Barbara. "I waslooking for your smoking-room," he laughed, "but I found this youngwoman instead."
As the two men went out of the room, Bab had difficulty in making surethat she had not been dreaming of this fat, yellow gentleman.
"Barbara Thurston, what do you mean by running away by yourself?"exclaimed Grace Carter, a moment later. "We have been looking for you forten minutes."
Hugh Post, Mollie and a strange young man were close behind Grace.
"I want to present my friend, Lieutenant Elmer Wilson," Hugh announced."He is a very important person in Washington."
"Not a bit of it," laughed the young man. "I am one of the President'saides. I try to make myself generally useful."
"Your work must be very interesting," Barbara said quickly. "Do you--"
Just then a soft contralto voice interrupted her. "Are you ready to gowith me, Elmer?" it said.
Barbara recognized the voice as belonging to the Mrs. Wilson whom she hadmet in the drawing room not an hour before. Could it be that this youngand lovely looking woman was the mother of Elmer Wilson? Surely the youngman was at least twenty-two years old.
"Coming in a moment, Mother," Elmer replied. "Have you said good-byeto Harriet?"
"Harriet is not in the reception room now. Nearly all her guests havegone," Mrs. Wilson murmured softly. "Mr. Hamlin is angry. But poorHarriet ought to have a chance to talk for a few minutes to the richestyoung man in Washington. I will leave you, Elmer. If you see Harriet, youmay tell her I did not think it fair to disturb her."
Barbara went back to the drawing-room to search for Ruth. She found Ruthstanding next her uncle, Mr. Hamlin, saying the adieux in Harriet'splace. A few moments later the last visitor had withdrawn and Mr. Hamlinquickly left Ruth and Bab alone.
Mr. Hamlin was a small man, with iron gray hair, a square jaw and thin,tightly closed lips. He seldom talked, and the "Automobile Girls" feltsecretly afraid of him.
"Uncle is dreadfully angry with Harriet," Ruth explained to Bab, afterMr. Hamlin was out of hearing. "But he is awfully strict and I do notthink he is exactly fair. He does not give Harriet credit for what shedoes, but he gets awfully cross if she makes any mistakes. Harriet isupstairs, in her own sitting-room, talking to a great friend of hers. Heis a man Uncle hates, although he has known Charlie Meyers sincechildhood. He is immensely rich, but he is very ill-bred, and that is whyUncle dislikes him. I don't think Harriet cares a bit more for this youngman than she does for half a dozen others. But if Uncle doesn't look outHarriet will marry him for spite. Harriet hates being poor. She is notpoor, really. But I am afraid she is terribly extravagant. Promise not tolaugh when you see Charlie Meyers. He looks a little like a pig, he is sopink and fat."
"Girls!" called Harriet's voice. "Are you still in here? Mr. Meyers hasjust gone, and I wanted you to meet him. He is going to have a motorparty and take you to see Mount Vernon. We can drive along the Potomacand have our supper somewhere in the country."
"I'm going to drive Mr. A. Bubble, Harriet," Ruth replied. "As long as Ibrought my car to Washington I must use it. But I suppose we can get upguests enough to fill two automobiles, can't we?"
"Where's Father?" Harriet inquired, trying to conceal a tremor in hervoice. "Did he know I was upstairs?"
"I am afraid he did, Harriet," Ruth replied.
"Well, I don't care," declared Harriet defiantly. "I will select my ownfriends. Charlie Meyers is stupid and ill-bred, but he is good natured,and I am tired of position and poverty."
"You are no such thing, Harriet," protested Ruth, taking her cousin bythe hand and leading her to a long mirror. "There, look at yourself inyour yellow gown. You look like a queen. Please don't be silly."
"It's clothes that make the woman, Ruth," Harriet replied, kissing Ruthunexpectedly. "And this yellow gown is just one of the things thattroubles me. Dear me, I am glad the reception is over!"