The carriers put down their burden to rest for a time
before descending into the streets of the city.
"The barbarians of the West are a capable people after their fashion,"
said Lohe. "See what a great city they have built here where a few
years ago there were only a half dozen or more bamboo huts. And, too,
each day their power increases. Over there another great building with
towers reaching to the very sky is going up. What can it be?"
"One of their pagodas," answered Lihoa, "and down there is the school
in which one of my nephews is being instructed in the learning of the
West. The white-faced women with the long veils brought him up because
my sister exposed him when a baby. They found and cared for him in the
great white house where a light burns in the window; there they bring
up the children which our women are not able to care for. Let us go
down and see what is going on at this time of the night."
Lohe and Lihoa went down to the long low orphanage in which the Sisters
of Mercy care for a hundred or more foundlings. The shutters were
drawn, but they found a tiny hole through which they could peep.
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