Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 15
TheLadyOmwasaveryflowerofwoman.Womensuchasshearebornrarely,scarcetwiceacenturythewholeworldover.Shewasunhamperedbyruleorconvention.Religion,withher,wasaseriesofabstractions,partlylearnedfromYunsan,partlyworkedoutforherself.Vulgarreligion,thepublicreligion,sheheld,wasadevicetokeepthetoilingmillionstotheirtoil.Shehadawillofherown,andshehadaheartallwomanly.Shewasabeauty—yes,abeautybyanysetruleoftheworld.HerlargeblackeyeswereneitherslittednorslantedintheAsiaticway.Theywerelong,true,butsetsquarely,andwithjusttheslightesthintofobliquenessthatwasallforpiquancy.
Ihavesaidshewasnofool.Behold!AsIpalpitatedtothesituation,princessandsea-cunyandlovenotalittlethatthreatenedbig,Irackedmycuny’sbrainsforwittocarrythethingoffwithmanhoodcredit.Itchanced,earlyinthisfirstmeeting,thatImentionedwhatIhadtoldalltheCourt,thatIwasintruthaKoreanofthebloodoftheancienthouseofKoryu.
“Letbe,”shesaid,tappingmylipswithherpeacockfan.“Nochild’staleshere.KnowthatwithmeyouarebetterandgreaterthanofanyhouseofKoryu.Youare...”
Shepaused,andIwaited,watchingthedaringgrowinhereyes.
“Youareaman,”shecompleted.
