He held in his hands many threads.

From time to time the man below would shout, and the boy would let the threads go with the snap of a harpist, only to recover them instantly.

There was a strip of old rose brocade in the making that set an ache in the girl's heart for the want of it.
The girl wondered what effect the information would have upon Ah Cum if she told him that until a month ago she had never seen a city, she had never seen a telephone, a railway train, an automobile, a lift, a paved street.

She was almost tempted to tell him, if only to see the cracks of surprise and incredulity break the immobility of his yellow countenance.
But no; she must step warily.

Curiosity held her by one hand, urging her to recklessness, and caution held her by the other.