My sister linked arms with me and with Tak-Wing also to give herself courage. We hurried toward the Supreme Court Building, passing right under King George v’s nose, and that of blindfolded Lady Justice also. I found the myriad statues so creepy, though Queen Victoria was decidedly the worst. I felt as though I were passing through a garden of ghosts.

Noticing my consternation, Tak-Wing said, “Just think of her as Tin Hau for English people.”

The idea was so silly that I chuckled, and he chuckled with me.

“My father works at the HKCC,” he said, waving his arm to indicate the cricket field behind the Supreme Court. “So I come here all the time. I remember that when I first saw her, I was terrified. But I’m used to her now. Let’s go give her a poke for good luck.” She was fenced in, but there was an entranceway so one could come inside the enclosure. We ascended the stone steps, and Tak-Wing gave me his umbrella to take a jab at her. I felt ridiculous, but I poked at the base of the statue as though with a rapier.

“En garde!” Tak-Wing shouted.

When the tip of the umbrella touched her foot, a giggle rippled through me—so undignified. This made both Tak-Wing and Emily laugh with delight. I saw the absurdity of both the queen and myself through their eyes and laughed along with them. I didn’t need to be so serious all the time!

“The old sow is dead now anyway,” Tak-Wing said. “She can’t hurt us.”

In high spirits, we skipped down the steps and across the walk to the big front doors of the courthouse.

The clerk at the marriage registry was a White Russian with a pointy face and little wire-rimmed glasses. He looked at us as though he could see right through us. My sister didn’t blush, but I did. I knew it was ridiculous, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit of second-hand shame because of the sacrilege of tradition broken. Emily knew that Father would be angry, but she wouldn’t be able to see the sorrow beneath the anger. Whereas I would feel that sorrow with him for weeks, if not years. For me, it would be layered with a simmering sense of guilt at my complicity in this ill-advised project. And yet I couldn’t deny Emily, partly for her own sake, and partly because I thought no one would ever love me as much as Tak-Wing loved Emily, and I wanted to be able to experience the thrill of that love, vicariously at least.

“Why are you scowling, Violet?” said Tak-Wing. “This is a happy day!” He turned and grabbed Emily and mussed her hair.

“Tak-Wing! Stop that!” she said, but she was laughing.

I imagined there would be more fanfare. The clerk gave them a yellow form and they filled it out, then signed.