Free The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd Page B

servants for the kind of life we must live here, but no doubt I will be able to arrange for more when I have taken charge. We will go straight to the house after the wedding for there is to be no honeymoon. With the state of the country there is no place we could go to except Tientsin, which would be rather foolish for I didn’t think it was an attractive city in spite of the European shops.
    As you can imagine I am most anxious to see my new home and find it a little trying that Mrs Harding hasn’t been able to make the time to come with me. Still, I must not complain for they have been most kind to me during this waiting period. I have tried not to get in the way but I remember what you said when I came back after being with the Blairs in Aviemore for ten days, that any guest for more than a week becomes a nuisance. Alas, I fear I am being that, but though I suggested going to the hotel in the Quarter they would not hear of it.
    I have met a French lady in their Legation who will, I think, be a good friend to me. When I called to leave cards for Richard and me after dining there she had me in and we had tea and talked for two hours. She is most entertaining about diplomatic life, a sharp tongue but a kind heart, like many Scotchwomen.
    There is one thing that is troubling me a little and on which I suppose it might be said I have made a stand, perhaps foolish. The delay in our wedding is because the Bishop of Shanghai is due to come to Peking and Richard arranged that he should conduct the ceremony. Apparently this Bishop is very High Church Episcopal, what they call Anglo-Catholic, and even uses incense . When he heard that I was a Presbyterian he let it be known that he does not perform mixed marriages himself, but his Curate would do it, since I am a Christian . It may have been wrong of me but when I first heard this from Richard I was angry, though I couldn’t really believe it. Then it was confirmed by Mrs Harding. What is expected of me is that I make a statement rejecting the Church of Scotland and accepting the Church of England as my faith. It is almost as if I was being asked to go over to Rome . If our union is to be consecrated by this Bishop I cannot remain a Presbyterian. What I said was: ‘Very well, I will take the Curate.’ Now Richard is angry with me, and of course I can see why, this being the first wedding in the Quarter since the Troubles, and Sir Claude has offered his home for the reception, an honour we never expected. Richard clearly thinks I am mad not to be willing to make a statement that I will adhere to my husband’s religion, but it is not just that, I do not want to become an English Episcopalian. Why should I? I have been baptised. I told Richard that when King Edward comes to Scotland to shoot grouse he automatically becomes a Presbyterian and Richard couldn’t believe this until he found out from someone in the Legation that it is true, but even then he will scarcely accept it.
    I am not asking for your advice because long before I could receive it I will be a wife, one way or the other, so the decision will be mine alone. Last night I was awake for hours trying to make it, but could not. You must not trouble yourself about this, in a way it is a storm in a teacup. Though it is also a question of principle. Or will you think your daughter is just being silly, or worse, refusing to obey her future husband?
    I have bought the black Manchurian wildcat coat. Mrs Harding has five fur coats but I think she likes mine better than any of hers except her sables, which are beautiful. From little hints that come from time to time I think she is quite a rich woman in her own right. Also, she has that air ofnot having to listen to her husband unless she wishes to. The dinner gong has just gone, so must close.
    Your loving daughter,
    Mary
     
    PS (after dinner) Mrs Harding, who is a skilled bargainer, got the fur coat reduced to just over nine pounds in British money which means I have not been