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house. This time she was prepared for Fong’s coldness, but was instead welcomed by Ah Woo, buttoning the last frog of her white-and-blue-striped tunic.
    â€œAh, good, good, you’ve arrived early enough to sit down and eat with us. It will give you chance to meet everyone.” Ah Woo pulled Pei into the kitchen. “Let’s get you settled first. You remember Leen.”
    â€œYes,” Pei said, swallowing. “I’m happy to see you again.”
    Leen nodded, then returned to her pot of boiling
jook
. Steam rising from the porridge filled the kitchen with the sweet smell of Pei’s childhood.
    â€œThis way,” Ah Woo said. She led Pei out of the kitchen through a narrow corridor that divided into a number of small rooms. “These are the servants’ quarters. My room is here.” Ah Woo swung open the door nearest to the kitchen. In it were a narrow cot, a small dresser, and a chair. “Leen’s room is across from mine.” She pointed to a closed door, then continued down the hall to the last door, at the end of the corridor. “And this will be your room, across from Fong’s.” Ah Woo pushed the door open and they were greeted by the sharp, scent of mothballs. Ah Woo waved her hand through the stale air and hurried to open the window.
    â€œThank you,” Pei said, entering. The space was modest; still, it was larger than the cubicle she shared with Ji Shen, and would afford her some privacy.
    â€œWhy don’t you get settled? Then you can join us for breakfast. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll fit right in.” Ah Woo closed the door behind her.
    In the short time Pei had taken to unpack her few belongings and lay out Lin’s silver brush and combs on the chipped surface of the dresser, all the other household servants had gathered around the kitchen table. Pei stopped in the doorway and listened to the quick, sociable voices. She took a deep breath and entered to meet them.
    Ah Woo jumped up from her chair and, taking Pei gently by the arm, guided her to the others. “Quiet, quiet. This is Pei. She’s our new saitong, and will be staying here with us.”
    There were soft murmurs of greeting. “You’ve already met Fong,” Ah Woo began, though Fong’s sweet smile never gave a hint to her cold greeting the other day. “And this is Wing, who takes care of the garden.” He stood up and bowed with a smile, the same old man who had greeted Pei when she arrived looking for Ah Woo. Pei smiled back. “And lastly, this is Lu, our daytime chauffeur.” The thin, middle-aged man in a white shirt and dark trousers barely glanced up from his bowl of jook.
    â€œPlease sit down.” Wing offered Pei a chair.
    Throughout breakfast, Ah Woo kept up the conversation and put Pei at ease as she explained the household schedule. “Each day begins right after our breakfast at six-thirty—sometimes before, if the Tai tai rings for one of us. Chen seen-san usually leaves for the office at eight o’clock, and drops Ying-ying off at school, while Chen tai lingers to plan her day. She is often out to lunch and mah-jongg until dinner. After they’ve had their breakfast, I will introduce you to them.”
    Pei looked up from her jook with a nervous smile. From the corner of her eye, she saw a faint sneer on Fong’s face.
    After breakfast, the servants scattered to their respective duties. Ah Woo went upstairs to awaken the Chens, and Fong went to tend to Ying-ying, while the two men hurried out the back door. Pei, left dangling, rose to help Leen collect the bowls and clear the table. Only then, when they were alone in the kitchen, did Leen utter her first words.
    â€œI’ve been here a long time,” she whispered, taking the bowls from Pei. “It’s always safest to remain silent.”
    Pei watched Leen’s fluid movements; faint remnants of cooking stained her white tunic. “What