which he would never prepare for himself now that there was a woman in the house. He called out: 'I am too old to wait for But Wang Lung, passing him into the room, said: * She is going to have a child.' He tried to say it easily, as one might say 'I have sown the seed in. the western field today,' but he could not. Although he spoke in a low voice it was as if he had shouted the words. The old man laughed, 'Heh-heh-heh! So the harvest is in sight!' He could not see her face in the darkness, but she answered: 'I shall prepare food now.' "Yes - food like this !' my food!' said the old man eagerly, following her yes into the kitchen like a child. his But Wang Lung sat by the table in the darkness and put his folded arms. Out of this body of his - life! head upon When the hour for the birth drew near he said to the woman: 'We must have someone to help at the time - some woman. Is there none in the great house no old slaves with whom were friends who could come? It was the first time that he had mentioned the house from which she came. She turned on him as he had never seen her, her narrow eyes widened, her face stirred with dull anger. "No one in that house!' she cried out at him. you He dropped his pipe, which he was filling, and stared at her. But her face was suddenly as usual as if she had not spoken. 'Well, that is a strange thing! ' he said in astonishment. She looked at him, and after a moment she said: 'When I return to that house it will be with my son in my arms. He shall have a red coat on him and red flowered clothes. On his head will be a hat with a small gold god sewn o the front, and on his feet shoes with the heads of animals on them.