Conway never exactly remembered how he and the others arrived at the monastery, or how they were greeted and led into the grounds. He just about remembered being surprised at finding inside of the monastery spacious, well warmed, and quite clean. There was no time to do more than notice these qualities and the Chinese had left his hooded chair and was already leading the way through different rooms. He apologized and said that he had needed to take care of himself too when Conway just smiled tightly. The Chinese offered Conway to go with him to show him Conway's room and baths, saying that Conway has to like their accommodation. At this point Barnard, who was still affected by shortness of breath, chuckled at the Chinese's words. The Chinese replied that mr Barnard would find everything very satisfactory. Miss Brinklow nodded and the Chinese invited them all to be at his dinner. Conway replied politely and only Mallinson had given no sign. Barnard found breath to say that they all had to leave - the sooner, the better.
"So you see," Chang said, "we are less barbarian than you expected." Conway was not willing to argue. So far, Shangri-La had been all that he could ever have expected. The bath, in which he had recently bathed, had been of a light green pottery from America. Conway had lived for nearly ten years in China, not wholly in the bigger cities; and he counted it, all things considered, the happiest part of his life. He liked the Chinese and felt at home with Chinese ways.
"So you see," Chang said, "we are less barbarian than you expected." Conway was not willing to argue. So far, Shangri-La had been all that he could ever have expected. The bath, in which he had recently bathed, had been of a light green pottery from America. Conway had lived for nearly ten years in China, not wholly in the bigger cities; and he counted it, all things considered, the happiest part of his life. He liked the Chinese and felt at home with Chinese ways.