Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

Big Uncle sends for Ailin in late summer. He tells Ailin they cannot keep a female who does not contribute anything, and a second son of the Feng family has offered to take her as a concubine. She resists, saying that he will disgrace the Tao family by sending her to them. He replies that she has some nerve talking about disgracing the family. Ailin tells him she can be an amah, but Big Uncle says she has three options: a nun, a farmer’s wife, or a Feng concubine.

Ailin considers her options, including suicide. She tells her mother she wants to be an amah, but her mother says one must be well-bred to do that: “‘If people hear you talk about running away from your amah,’ said Mother, ‘they certainly will not want you to look after their children’” (84).

Miss Gilbertson must end her tutoring sessions once school starts. When Ailin tells her of her troubles, though, the teacher has an idea. She says her friend Imogene Warner is looking for an amah who speaks English. The next day, Ailin goes with her to meet the Warners, including Mr. Timothy Warner and the two children, six-year-old Grace and five-year-old Billy.