Summary

Violet details the atmosphere as the Ching dynasty is taken over by the New Republic of China. Fairweather makes Violet angry with a comment about the Chinese and for a moment she feels pride in being half-Chinese. With the revolution, foreigners are treated badly. Violet’s mother calls her to stay near her. Violet asks if the changes will cause their house to close down. Her mother tries to comfort her, telling her the Chinese will calm down soon.

On the day that she and her mother are supposed to have a belated birthday lunch, Violet’s mother gets another letter. Violet manages to find this letter and learns it is from a man named Lu Shing, who writes he will visit on the twenty-third. Violet eavesdrops on the two. She is shocked to learn her mother also has a son...