Brocade Screen

Among the Chromafaces, temperaments varied. The diligent rose early and slept late, tireless in practice; the idle found detours, stealing moments of leisure within the opera house. At the third strike of the drum, they slipped behind embroidered curtains, eyes following the swirl of water sleeves, ears tracing the clapper's quick and slow beats, watching sheng, dan, jing, and mo take turns upon the stage.