The Promise: A Novel of China and Burma (Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck) by Pearl S. Buck

looked at him frankly. He was made shy by that frank gaze and yet he enjoyed it. “These new women,” he thought, “though perhaps troublesome to a man, yet have their charm.” He had no wish to marry one of them. A man did not want so much charm in a wife. But still it was pleasant to look at one like this so long as he had no responsibility for what she did or said.
    “I come always to ask you to help me,” Mayli said coaxingly. She never coaxed Sheng. With Sheng she was ruthless and teasing and she spoke out her mind, but her instinct taught her that she must not let this General think she knew herself his equal.
    “I am always glad to help you,” the General said smiling.
    “Have you seen the lists of those nurses who are to accompany the three divisions to Burma?” she asked.
    “I have not,” the General replied. “I have been too busy with other parts of the campaign.”
    “Then I am in time,” she said. She leaned forward a little more closely. “You know that I went to see the Ones Above,” she said in a low voice. “Did they speak of me to you?”
    “I did not see the lady,” he said, “and with the Chairman I spoke only of military affairs.”
    “The lady has appointed me to go as the one in charge of the young nurses,” Mayli said.
    The General smiled. “The lady does what she likes,” he said. “But are you not young to be put in such a place?”
    Mayli smiled a most mischievous smile. “I am young, but very strong,” she said. “I can walk for miles, I can endure heat and I can eat whatever there is to eat.”
    “A good soldier,” he said. “Well, what else? Your work is not under my direct command, you know. You must report to another.”
    He began to search through the papers and he found one and read out the name, “Pao Chen is your superior.”
    She put the name into her mind securely. “Pao Chen,” she repeated. “But that is not why I come to you.”
    He leaned back and looked at her, still smiling. “When will you tell me why you have come?” he asked. “Look at these papers on my desk. Each one must be made into an act. And how few days we have left! There has already been too much delay.”
    “I will speak quickly,” she said. “It is a thing short and yet difficult for me to say. It is this—please tell no one that I am going.”
    Now that she came to her request she found it impossible to speak Sheng’s name. She blushed brightly and winked her long lashed eyes as he looked at her.
    “Why should your name be kept so secret?” he asked astonished.
    She saw he had no knowledge of the reason, so she said bravely, “The young commander—the one you have newly promoted—of whom I spoke—”
    “Ling Sheng,” he said.
    “Yes,” she said, “it is he—I do not wish him to know that I go.”
    “Ah,” he said.
    “He has some silly thoughts of me,” she went on, her cheeks burning again, “and—and—it is better if we do not meet—that is, we have a grave duty to do and I do not wish to—to—”
    “You have no silly thoughts of him?” The General’s smile was teasing.
    “None, none,” Mayli said quickly. “I must do my work well, and I do not want him thinking his thoughts. He has his work and I have mine and I do not want to know what he thinks. Moreover, if he finds I am going he will come and try to prevent me.”
    “He can scarcely do that if the lady has told you to go,” the General said.
    “You do not know him,” Mayli said with earnestness. “He thinks he is the one who can say what I shall do and what I shall not do.”
    “In other words he loves you,” the General said with mild laughter.
    “But I do not wish to be loved,” Mayli said hotly. “This is not the time for such things.”
    The General shook with silent laughter for a moment. Then he wiped his eyes. “You shall have your own way,” he said. “I have a campaign to undertake and I agree with you that it is better for him to know nothing about you. If he is