Mr. Whang Lo was an elderly gentleman in American costume , with his pig-tail neatly wound round his head . He spoke English , and was talking busily with Uncle Mac in the most commonplace way so Rose considered him a failure . But Fun See was delightfully Chinese from his junk-like shoes to the button on his pagoda hat ; for he had got himself up in style , and was a mass of silk jackets and slouchy trousers . He was short and fat , and waddled comically ; his eyes were very `` slanting , '' as Rose said ; his queue was long , so were his nails ; his yellow face was plump and shiny , and he was altogether a highly satisfactory Chinaman . Uncle Alec told her that Fun See had come out to be educated and could only speak a little pigeon English ; so she must be kind to the poor fellow , for he was only a lad , though he looked nearly as old as Mr. Whang Lo . Rose said she would be kind ; but had not the least idea how to entertain the queer guest , who looked as if he had walked out of one of the rice-paper landscapes on the wall , and sat nodding at her so like a toy Mandarin that she could hardly keep sober . In the midst of her polite perplexity , Uncle Mac saw the two young people gazing wistfully at one another , and seemed to enjoy the joke of this making acquaintance under difficulties . Taking a box from his table , he gave it to Fun See , with an order that seemed to please him very much . Descending from his perch , he fell to unpacking it with great neatness and despatch , while Rose watched him , wondering what was going to happen . Presently , out from the wrappings came a teapot , which caused her to clasp her hands with delight , for it was made in the likeness of a plump little Chinaman . His hat was the cover , his queue the handle , and his pipe the nose . It stood upon feet in shoes turned up at the toes , and the smile on the fat , sleepy face was so like that on Fun 's when he displayed the teapot , that Rose could n't help laughing , which pleased him much . Two pretty cups with covers , and a fine scarlet tray completed the set , and made one long to have a `` dish of tea , '' even in Chinese style , without cream or sugar . When he had arranged them on a little table before her , Fun signified in pantomime that they were hers , from her uncle . She returned her thanks in the same way , whereupon he returned to his tea-chest , and , having no other means of communication , they sat smiling and nodding at one another in an absurd sort of way till a new idea seemed to strike Fun . Tumbling off his seat , he waddled away as fast as his petticoats permitted , leaving Rose hoping that he had not gone to get a roasted rat , a stewed puppy , or any other foreign mess which civility would oblige her to eat . While she waited for her funny new friend , she improved her mind in a way that would have charmed Aunt Jane . The gentlemen were talking over all sorts of things , and she listened attentively , storing up much of what she heard , for she had an excellent memory , and longed to distinguish herself by being able to produce some useful information when reproached with her ignorance . She was just trying to impress upon her mind that Amoy was two hundred and eighty miles from Hong Kong , when Fun came scuffling back , bearing what she thought was a small sword , till he unfurled an immense fan , and presented it with a string of Chinese compliments , the meaning of which would have amused her even more than the sound , if she could have understood it . She had never seen such an astonishing fan , and at once became absorbed in examining it .
Of course , there was no perspective whatever , which only gave it a peculiar charm to XXXXX , for in one place a lovely lady , with blue knitting-needles in her hair , sat directly upon the spire of a stately pagoda .
Alec English Kong Lo Rose See petticoats queue tea-chest teapot