“That wasmyadventure, Crispin, and you lobbed yourself into it uninvited,“ Penny pointed out.
“So it was,” said Crispin mildly, putting his glasses back in his pocket.“But I’ll be ever so polite this time, Penny.Just watch me.It’ll be likeold times.”
She stared at him.There had been no such old times, only Penny beating him at every physical game or challenge over and over, and feeling a horrid mixture of glee and guilt every time.But just now, for a moment, she almostwantedCrispin’s company.Of course it wouldn’t do to let the old chap know it.Brothers must be kept firmly in their place, or they would walk all over you.
Penny took the umbrella from his hand.
“All right,” she said.“Just this once.”
Mrs Wu appeared relieved to see Penny come into the shop unscathed.
“Mae is working today,” she explained.She seemed to expect Penny to know what her daughter’s job was, so Penny did not inquire.“But of course I’ll tell her you called.She’ll be happy to know you are safe.”
For the first time, Penny noticed a black-haired man in an English suit, polishing the teapots in the window.
“Then perhaps I might interview you?Or Mr Wu himself?It’s about the Brotherhood I asked you about yesterday.You seemed to think he might be willing to talk to me.”
Mrs Wu glanced at the man.“My dear, this is the young lady I told you about.Mae’s friend.”
He turned to look Penny and Crispin over.He was Chinese.
“Oh!How do you do, Mr Wu!This is my brother, Crispin,” said Penny.
Mr Wu looked at Penny gravely.“I am relieved to see you have learned your lesson and no longer walk the streets of London alone.We never let our daughter do such a thing.She rides the omnibus with my sister’s son when she goes to her work.”
Crispin jumped in before Penny could correct him.
“Exactly right, sir,” said Crispin, extending a hand.“You can’t be too careful these days, can you?”
Mr Wu put down his duster to shake Crispin’s hand.
“The wicked sprout like grass,” he said darkly, shaking his head.
Penny looked back and forth.Mr Wu and Crispin seemed pleased with each other.It irritated her, but she could use it to her advantage.
“It’s precisely that I’ve come to talk with you about,” Penny slipped in confidentially.“The wicked.Sprouting.”
Mr Wu looked at them silently for a moment.
“Mrs Wu,” he said courteously.“Would you be so good as to put on the kettle, and I will make our guests some of our finest tea.”
Penny inhaled the delightfully pungent smell wafting from the teapot.
“Is this lapsang souchong?”she exclaimed in delight.
Mr Wu looked at her blankly.She repeated the question.
“It’s quite a famous Chinese tea,” she said a little defensively.
Mrs Wu bent and murmured something to her husband.Mr Wu’s face lit.
“Ah, yes!I see you are discerning drinker of good tea.Mei-Ling did not mention this.”
Penny looked sideways at Crispin, pleased she had now scored a point of her own with Mr Wu.
They were in the family’s cramped quarters above the shop.It was a very winsome blend of East and West, just like Mae’s parents, Penny thought.How sweet that Mrs Wu wore Chinese garb while Mr Wu wore an English suit.
Mrs Wu moved a Chinese newspaper aside and placed a tray of little round cakes sprinkled with sesame seeds in front of them, then went back downstairs to mind the shop.
