by Xueqin Cao
CHAPTER XXXVII.
In the Study of Autumnal Cheerfulness is accidentally formed the Cydonia Japonica Society. In the Heng Wu Court, the chrysanthemum is, on a certain night, proposed as a subject for verses.
But to continue. After Shih Hsiang-yuen's return home, Pao-yue and theother inmates spent their time, as of old, in rambling about in thegarden in search of pleasure, and in humming poetical compositions. Butwithout further reference to their doings, let us take up our narrativewith Chia Cheng.
Ever since the visit paid to her home by the imperial consort, hefulfilled his official duties with additional zeal, for the purpose ofreverently making requital for the grace shown him by the Emperor. Hiscorrect bearing and his spotless reputation did not escape His Majesty'snotice, and he conferred upon him the special appointment of LiteraryChancellor, with the sole object of singling out his true merit; forthough he had not commenced his career through the arena of publicexaminations, he belonged nevertheless to a family addicted to lettersduring successive generations. Chia Cheng had, therefore, on the receiptof the imperial decree, to select the twentieth day of the eighth moonto set out on his journey. When the appointed day came, he worshipped atthe shrines of his ancestors, took leave of them and of dowager ladyChia, and started for his post. It would be a needless task, however, torecount with any full particulars how Pao-yue and all the inmates saw himoff, how Chia Cheng went to take up his official duties, and whatoccurred abroad, suffice it for us to notice that Pao-yue, ever sinceChia Cheng's departure, indulged his caprices, allowed his feelings torun riot, and gadded wildly about. In fact, he wasted his time, andadded fruitless days and months to his age.
On this special occasion, he experienced more than ever a sense of hislack of resources, and came to look up his grandmother Chia and MadameWang. With them, he whiled away some of his time, after which hereturned into the garden. As soon as he changed his costume, heperceived Ts'ui Mo enter, with a couple of sheets of fancy notepaper, inher hand, which she delivered to him.
"It quite slipped from my mind," Pao-yue remarked. "I meant to have goneand seen my cousin Tertia; is she better that you come?"
"Miss is all right," Ts'ui Mo answered. "She hasn't even had anymedicine to-day. It's only a slight chill."
When Pao-yue heard this reply, he unfolded the fancy notepaper. Onperusal, he found the contents to be: "Your cousin, T'an Ch'un,respectfully lays this on her cousin Secundus' study-table. When theother night the blue sky newly opened out to view, the moon shone as ifit had been washed clean! Such admiration did this pure and rarepanorama evoke in me that I could not reconcile myself to the idea ofgoing to bed. The clepsydra had already accomplished three turns, andyet I roamed by the railing under the dryandra trees. But such poortreatment did I receive from wind and dew (that I caught a chill), whichbrought about an ailment as severe (as that which prevented the man ofold from) picking up sticks. You took the trouble yesterday to come inperson and cheer me up. Time after time also did you send yourattendants round to make affectionate inquiries about me. You likewisepresented me with fresh lichees and relics of writings of Chen Ch'ing.How deep is really your gracious love! As I leant to-day on my tableplunged in silence, I suddenly remembered that the ancients ofsuccessive ages were placed in circumstances, in which they had tostruggle for reputation and to fight for gain, but that theynevertheless acquired spots with hills and dripping streams, and,inviting people to come from far and near, they did all they could todetain them, by throwing the linch-pins of their chariots into wells orby holding on to their shafts; and that they invariably joinedfriendship with two or three of the same mind as themselves, with whomthey strolled about in these grounds, either erecting altars for song,or establishing societies for scanning poetical works. Their meetingswere, it is true, prompted, on the spur of the moment, by a sudden fitof good cheer, but these have again and again proved, during many years,a pleasant topic of conversation. I, your cousin, may, I admit, bedevoid of talent, yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy your companyamidst streams and rockeries, and to furthermore admire the elegantverses composed by Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and Lin Tai-yue. When we were in thebreezy hall and the moonlit pavilion, what a pity we never talked aboutpoets! But near the almond tree with the sign and the peach tree by thestream, we may perhaps, when under the fumes of wine, be able to flinground the cups, used for humming verses! Who is it who opines thatsocieties with any claim to excellent abilities can only be formed bymen? May it not be that the pleasant meetings on the Tung Shan mightyield in merit to those, such as ourselves, of the weaker sex? Shouldyou not think it too much to walk on the snow, I shall make bold to askyou round, and sweep the way clean of flowers and wait for you.Respectfully written."
The perusal of this note filled Pao-yue unawares with exultation.Clapping his hands; "My third cousin," he laughed, "is the one eminentlypolished; I'll go at once to-day and talk matters over with her."
As he spoke, he started immediately, followed by Ts'ui Mo. As soon asthey reached the Hsin Fang pavilion, they espied the matron, on dutythat day at the back door of the garden, advancing towards them with anote in her hand. The moment she perceived Pao-yue she forthwith came upto meet him. "Mr. Yuen," she said, "presents his compliments to you. Heis waiting for you at the back gate. This is a note he bade me bringyou."
Upon opening the note, Pao-yue found it to read as follows: "An unfilialson, Yuen, reverently inquires about his worthy father's boundlesshappiness and precious health. Remembering the honour conferred upon meby your recognising me, in your heavenly bounty, as your son, I triedboth day as well as night to do something in evidence of my piousobedience, but no opportunity could I find to perform anything filial.When I had, some time back, to purchase flowers and plants, I succeeded,thanks to your vast influence, venerable senior, in finally makingfriends with several gardeners and in seeing a good number of gardens.As the other day I unexpectedly came across a white begonia, of a rarespecies, I exhausted every possible means to get some and managed toobtain just two pots. If you, worthy senior, regard your son as your ownvery son, do keep them to feast your eyes upon! But with this hotweather to-day, the young ladies in the garden will, I fear, not be attheir ease. I do not consequently presume to come and see you in person,so I present you this letter, written with due respect, while knockingmy head before your table. Your son, Yuen, on his knees, lays thisepistle at your feet. A joke!"
After reading this note, Pao-yue laughed. "Has he come alone?" he asked."Or has he any one else with him?"
"He's got two flower pots as well," rejoined the matron.
"You go and tell him," Pao-yue urged, "that I've informed myself of thecontents of his note, and that there are few who think of me as he does!If you also take the flowers and, put them in my room, it will be allright."
So saying, he came with Ts'ui Mo into the Ch'iu Shuang study, where hediscovered Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yue, Ying Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un alreadyassembled. When they saw him drop in upon them, they all burst outlaughing. "Here comes still another!" they exclaimed.
"I'm not a boor," smiled T'an Ch'un, "so when the idea casually crossedmy mind, I wrote a few notes to try and see who would come. But who'dhave thought that, as soon as I asked you, you would all come."
"It's unfortunately late," Pao-yue smilingly observed. "We should havestarted this society long ago."
"You can't call this late!" Tai-yue interposed, "so why give way toregret! The only thing is, you must form your society, without includingme in the number; for I daren't be one of you."
"If you daren't," Ying Ch'un smiled, "who can presume to do so?"
"This is," suggested Pao-yue, "a legitimate and great purpose; and weshould all exert our energies. You shouldn't be modest, and I yielding;but every one of us, who thinks of anything, should freely express itfor general discussion. So senior cousin Pao-ch'ai do make somesuggestion; and you junior cousin Lin Tai-yue say something."
"What are you in this hurry for?" Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. "We are not allhere y
et."
This remark was barely concluded, when Li Wan also arrived. As soon asshe crossed the threshold, "It's an excellent proposal," she laughinglycried, "this of starting a poetical society. I recommend myself ascontroller. Some time ago in spring, I thought of this, 'but,' I mused,'I am unable to compose verses, so what's the use of making a mess ofthings?' This is why I dispelled the idea from my mind, and made nomention about it. But since it's your good pleasure, cousin Tertia, tostart it, I'll help you to set it on foot."
"As you've made up your minds," Tai-yue put in, "to initiate a poeticalsociety, every one of us will be poets, so we should, as a first step,do away with those various appellations of cousin and uncle and aunt,and thus avoid everything that bears a semblance of vulgarity."
"First rate," exclaimed Li Wan, "and why should we not fix upon some newdesignations by which to address ourselves? This will be a far morerefined way! As for my own, I've selected that of the 'Old farmer of TaoHsiang;' so let none of you encroach on it."
"I'll then call myself the 'resident-scholar of the Ch'iu Shuang,' andhave done," T'an Ch'un observed with a smile.
"'Resident-scholar or master' is, in fact, not to the point. It'sclumsy, besides," Pao-yue interposed. "The place here is full of dryandraand banana trees, and if one could possibly hit upon some name bearingupon the dryandra and banana, it would be preferable."
"I've got one," shouted T'an Ch'un smilingly. "I'll style myself 'theguest under the banana trees.'"
"How uncommon!" they unanimously cried. "It's a nice one!"
"You had better," laughed Tai-yue, "be quick and drag her away and stewsome slices of her flesh, for people to eat with their wine."
No one grasped her meaning, "Ch'uang-tzu," Tai-yue proceeded to explain,smiling, "says: 'The banana leaves shelter the deer,' and as she stylesherself the guest under the banana tree, is she not a deer? So be quickand make pieces of dried venison of her."
At these words, the whole company laughed.
"Don't be in a hurry!" T'an Ch'un remarked, as she laughed. "You makeuse of specious language to abuse people; but I've thought of a fine andmost apposite name for you!" Whereupon addressing herself to the party,"In days gone by," she added, "an imperial concubine, Nue Ying, sprinkledher tears on the bamboo, and they became spots, so from olden times tothe present spotted bamboos have been known as the 'Hsiang imperialconcubine bamboo.' Now she lives in the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, and has aweakness too for tears, so the bamboos over there will by and bye, Ipresume, likewise become transformed into speckled bamboos; every onetherefore must henceforward call her the 'Hsiao Hsiang imperialconcubine' and finish with it."
After listening to her, they one and all clapped their hands, and criedout: "Capital!" Lin Tai-yue however drooped her head and did not so muchas utter a single word.
"I've also," Li Wan smiled, "devised a suitable name for senior cousin,Hsueeh Pao-chai. It too is one of three characters."
"What's it?" eagerly inquired the party.
"I'll raise her to the rank of 'Princess of Heng Wu,'" Li Wan rejoined."I wonder what you all think about this."
"This title of honour," T'an Ch'un observed, "is most apposite."
"What about mine?" Pao-yue asked. "You should try and think of one for mealso!"
"Your style has long ago been decided upon," Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Itconsists of three words: 'fussing for nothing!' It's most pat!"
"You should, after all, retain your old name of 'master of the flowersin the purple cave,'" Li Wan suggested. "That will do very well."
"Those were some of the doings of my youth; why rake them up again?"Pao-yue laughed.
"Your styles are very many," T'an Ch'un observed, "and what do you wantto choose another for? All you've got to do is to make suitable replywhen we call you whatever takes our fancy."
"I must however give you a name," Pao-ch'ai remarked. "There's a veryvulgar name, but it's just the very thing for you. What is difficult toobtain in the world are riches and honours; what is not easy to combinewith them is leisure. These two blessings cannot be enjoyed together,but, as it happens, you hold one along with the other, so that we mightas well dub you the 'rich and honourable idler.'"
"It won't do; it isn't suitable," Pao-yue laughed. "It's better that youshould call me, at random, whatever you like."
"What names are to be chosen for Miss Secunda and Miss Quarta?" Li Waninquired.
"We also don't excel in versifying; what's the use consequently ofgiving us names, all for no avail?" Ying Ch'un said.
"In spite of this," argued T'an Ch'un, "it would be well to likewisefind something for you!"
"She lives in the Tzu Ling Chou, (purple caltrop Isle), so let us callher 'Ling Chou,'" Pao-ch'ai suggested. "As for that girl Quarta, shelives in the On Hsiang Hsieh, (lotus fragrance pavilion); she shouldthus be called On Hsieh and have done!"
"These will do very well!" Li Wan cried. "But as far as age goes, I amthe senior, and you should all defer to my wishes; but I feel certainthat when I've told you what they are, you will unanimously agree tothem. We are seven here to form the society, but neither I, nor MissSecunda, nor Miss Quarta can write verses; so if you will exclude usthree, we'll each share some special duties."
"Their names have already been chosen," T'an Ch'un smilingly demurred;"and do you still keep on addressing them like this? Well, in that case,won't it be as well for them to have no names? But we must also decideupon some scale of fines, for future guidance, in the event of anymistakes."
"There will be ample time to fix upon a scale of fines after the societyhas been definitely established." Li Wan replied. "There's plenty ofroom over in my place so let's hold our meetings there. I'm not, it istrue, a good hand at verses, but if you poets won't treat medisdainfully as a rustic boor, and if you will allow me to play thehostess, I may certainly also gradually become more and more refined. Asfor conceding to me the presidentship of the society, it won't beenough, of course, for me alone to preside; it will be necessary toinvite two others to serve as vice-presidents; you might then enlistLing Chou and Ou Hsieh, both of whom are cultured persons. The one tochoose the themes and assign the metre, the other to act as copyist andsupervisor. We three cannot, however, definitely say that we won't writeverses, for, if we come across any comparatively easy subject and metre,we too will indite a stanza if we feel so disposed. But you four willpositively have to do so. If you agree to this, well, we can proceedwith the society; but, if you don't fall in with my wishes, I can'tpresume to join you."
Ying Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un had a natural aversion for verses. What ismore, Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and Lin Tai-yue were present. As soon therefore asthey heard these proposals, which harmonised so thoroughly with theirown views, they both, with one voice, approved them as excellent. T'anCh'un and the others were likewise well aware of their object, but theycould not, when they saw with what willingness they accepted the chargeinsist, with any propriety, upon their writing verses, and they feltobliged to say yes.
"Your proposals," she consequently said, "may be right enough; but in myviews they are ridiculous. For here I've had the trouble of initiatingthis idea of a society, and, instead of my having anything to say in thematter, I've been the means of making you three come and exercisecontrol over me."
"Well then," Pao-yue suggested, "let's go to the Tao Hsiang village."
"You're always in a hurry!" Li Wan remarked. "We're here to-day tosimply deliberate. So wait until I've sent for you again."
"It would be well," Pao-ch'ai interposed, "that we should also decideevery how many days we are to meet."
"If we meet too often," argued T'an Ch'un, "there won't be fun in it. Weshould simply come together two or three times in a month."
"It will be ample if we meet twice or thrice a month," Pao-ch'ai added."But when the dates have been settled neither wind nor rain shouldprevent us. Exclusive, however, of these two days, any one in highspirits and disposed to have an extra meeting can either ask us to goover to her place, or you can all come to us; eit
her will do wellenough! But won't it be more pleasant if no hard-and-fast dates werelaid down?"
"This suggestion is excellent," they all exclaimed.
"This idea was primarily originated by me," T'an Ch'un observed, "and Ishould be the first to play the hostess, so that these good spirits ofmine shouldn't all go for nothing."
"Well, after this remark," Li Wan proceeded, "what do you say to yourbeing the first to convene a meeting to-morrow?"
"To-morrow," T'an Ch'un demurred, "is not as good as to-day; the bestthing is to have it at once! You'd better therefore choose the subjects,while Ling Chou can fix the metre, and Ou Hsieh act as supervisor."
"According to my ideas," Ying Ch'un chimed in, "we shouldn't yield tothe wishes of any single person in the choice of themes and thesettlement of the rhythm. What would really be fair and right would beto draw lots."
"When I came just now," Li Wan pursued, "I noticed them bring in twopots of white begonias, which were simply beautiful; and why should younot write some verses on them?"
"Can we write verses," Ying Ch'un retorted, "before we have as yet seenanything of the flowers?"
"They're purely and simply white begonias," Pao-chai answered, "and isthere again any need to see them before you put together your verses?Men of old merely indited poetical compositions to express their goodcheer and conceal their sentiments; had they waited to write on thingsthey had seen, why, the whole number of their works would not be inexistence at present!"
"In that case," Ying Ch'un said, "let me fix the metre."
With these words, she walked up to the book-case, and, extracting avolume, she opened it, at random, at some verses which turned out to bea heptameter stanza. Then handing it round for general perusal,everybody had to compose lines with seven words in each. Ying Ch'un nextclosed the book of verses and addressed herself to a young waiting-maid."Just utter," she bade her, "the first character that comes to yourmouth."
The waiting-maid was standing, leaning against the door, so readily shesuggested the word "door."
"The rhyme then will be the word 'door,'" Ying Ch'un smiled, "under thethirteenth character 'Yuan.' The final word of the first line istherefore 'door'."
Saying this, she asked for the box with the rhyme slips, and, pullingout the thirteenth drawer with the character "Yuan," she directed ayoung waiting-maid to take four words as they came under her hand. Thewaiting-maid complied with her directions, and picked out four slips, onwhich were written "p'en, hun, hen and hun," pot, spirit, traces anddusk.
"The two characters pot and door," observed Pao-yue, "are not very easyto rhyme with."
But Shih Shu then got ready four lots of paper and pens, share and sharealike, and one and all quietly set to work, racking their brains toperform their task, with the exception of Tai-yue, who either kept onrubbing the dryandra flowers, or looking at the autumnal weather, orbandying jokes as well with the servant-girls; while Ying Ch'un ordereda waiting-maid to light a "dream-sweet" incense stick.
This "dream-sweet" stick was, it must be explained, made only aboutthree inches long and about the thickness of a lamp-wick, in order toeasily burn down. Setting therefore her choice upon one of these as alimit of time, any one who failed to accomplish the allotted task, bythe time the stick was consumed, had to pay a penalty.
Presently, T'an Ch'un was the first to think of some verses, and, takingup her pen, she wrote them down; and, after submitting them to severalalterations, she handed them up to Ying Ch'un.
"Princess of Heng Wu," she then inquired of Pao-ch'ai, "have youfinished?"
"As for finishing, I have finished," Pao-ch'ai rejoined; "but they'reworth nothing."
Pao-yue paced up and down the verandah with his hands behind his back."Have you heard?" he thereupon said to Tai-yue, "they've all done!"
"Don't concern yourself about me!" Tai-yue returned for answer.
Pao-yue also perceived that Pao-ch'ai had already copied hers out."Dreadful!" he exclaimed. "There only remains an inch of the stick andI've only just composed four lines. The incense stick is nearly burntout," he continued, speaking to Tai-yue, "and what do you keep squattingon that damp ground like that for?"
But Tai-yue did not again worry her mind about what he said.
"Well," Pao-yue added, "I can't be looking after you! Whether good orbad, I'll write mine out too and have done."
As he spoke, he likewise drew up to the table and began putting hislines down.
"We'll now peruse the verses," Li Wan interposed, "and if by the timewe've done, you haven't as yet handed up your papers, you'll have to befined."
"Old farmer of Tao Hsiang," Pao-yue remarked, "you're not, it is true, agood hand at writing verses, but you can read well, and, what's more,you're the fairest of the lot; so you'd better adjudge the good and bad,and we'll submit to your judgment."
"Of course!" responded the party with one voice.
In due course, therefore, she first read T'an Ch'un's draft. It ran asfollows:--
Verses on the Begonia.
What time the sun's rays slant, and the grass waxeth cold, close the double doors. After a shower of rain, green moss plenteously covers the whole pot. Beauteous is jade, but yet with thee in purity it cannot ever vie. Thy frame, spotless as snow, from admiration easy robs me of my wits Thy fragrant core is like unto a dot, so full of grace, so delicate! When the moon reacheth the third watch, thy comely shade begins to show itself. Do not tell me that a chaste fairy like thee can take wings and pass away. How lovely are thy charms, when in thy company at dusk I sing my lay!
After she had read them aloud, one and all sang their praise for a time.She then took up Pao-ch'ai's, which consisted of:
If thou would'st careful tend those fragrant lovely flowers, close of a day the doors, And with thine own hands take the can and sprinkle water o'er the mossy pots. Red, as if with cosmetic washed, are the shadows in autumn on the steps. Their crystal snowy bloom invites the dew on their spirits to heap itself. Their extreme whiteness mostly shows that they're more comely than all other flowers. When much they grieve, how can their jade-like form lack the traces of tears? Would'st thou the god of those white flowers repay? then purity need'st thou observe. In silence plunges their fine bloom, now that once more day yields to dusk.
"After all," observed Li Wan, "it's the Princess of Heng Wu, whoexpresses herself to the point."
Next they bestowed their attention on the following lines, composed byPao-yue:--
Thy form in autumn faint reflects against the double doors. So heaps the snow in the seventh feast that it filleth thy pots. Thy shade is spotless as Tai Chen, when from her bath she hails. Like Hsi Tzu's, whose hand ever pressed her heart, jade-like thy soul. When the morn-ushering breeze falls not, thy thousand blossoms grieve. To all thy tears the evening shower addeth another trace. Alone thou lean'st against the coloured rails as if with sense imbued. As heavy-hearted as the fond wife, beating clothes, or her that sadly listens to the flute, thou mark'st the fall of dusk.
When they had perused his verses, Pao-yue opined that T'an Ch'un'scarried the palm. Li Wan was, however, inclined to concede to thestanza, indited by Pao-ch'ai, the credit of possessing much merit. Butshe then went on to tell Tai-yue to look sharp.
"Have you all done?" Tai-yue asked.
So saying, she picked up a pen and completing her task, with a fewdashes, she threw it to them to look over. On perusal, Li Wan and hercompanions found her verses to run in this strain:--
Half rolled the speckled portiere hangs, half closed the door. Thy mould like broken ice it looks, jade-like thy pot.
This couplet over, Pao-yue took the initiative and shouted: "Capital."But he had just had time to inquire where she had recalled them to mindfrom, when they turned their mind to the succeeding lines:
Three points of whiteness from the pear petals thou steal'st; And from the plum bloom its spirit thou borrowest.
"Splend
id!" every one (who heard) them conned over, felt impelled tocry. "It is a positive fact," they said, "that her imagination is,compared with that of others, quite unique."
But the rest of the composition was next considered. Its text was:
The fairy in Selene's cavity donneth a plain attire. The maiden, plunged in autumn grief, dries in her room the prints of tears. Winsome she blushes, in silence she's plunged, with none a word she breathes; But wearily she leans against the eastern breeze, though dusk has long since fall'n.
"This stanza ranks above all!" they unanimously remarked, after it hadbeen read for their benefit.
"As regards beauty of thought and originality, this stanza certainlydeserves credit," Li Wan asserted; "but as regards pregnancy andsimplicity of language, it, after all, yields to that of Heng Wu."
"This criticism is right." T'an Ch'un put in. "That of the Hsiao Hsiangconsort must take second place."
"Yours, gentleman of I Hung," Li Wan pursued, "is the last of the lot.Do you agreeably submit to this verdict?"
"My stanza," Pao-yue ventured, "isn't really worth a straw. Yourcriticism is exceedingly fair. But," he smilingly added, "the two poems,written by Heng Wu and Hsiao Hsiang, have still to be discussed."
"You should," argued Li Wan, "fall in with my judgment; this is nobusiness of any of you, so whoever says anything more will have to pay apenalty."
Pao-yue at this reply found that he had no alternative but to drop thesubject.
"I decide that from henceforward," Li Wan proceeded, "we should holdmeetings twice every month, on the second and sixteenth. In theselection of themes and the settlement of the rhymes, you'll all havethen to do as I wish. But any person who may, during the intervals, feelso disposed, will be at perfect liberty to choose another day for anextra meeting. What will I care if there's a meeting every day of themoon? It will be no concern of mine, so long as when the second andsixteenth arrive, you do, as you're bound to, and come over to myplace."
"We should, as is but right," Pao-yue suggested, "choose some name orother for our society."
"Were an ordinary one chosen, it wouldn't be nice," T'an Ch'unexplained, "and anything too new-fangled, eccentric or strange won'talso be quite the thing! As luck would have it, we've just started withthe poems on the begonia, so let us call it the 'Begonia PoeticalSociety.' This title is, it's true, somewhat commonplace; but as it'spositively based on fact, it shouldn't matter."
After this proposal of hers, they held further consultation; andpartaking of some slight refreshments, each of them eventually retired.Some repaired to their quarters. Others went to dowager lady Chia's orMadame Wang's apartments. But we will leave them without furthercomment.
When Hsi Jen, for we will now come to her, perceived Pao-yue peruse thenote and walk off in a great flurry, along with Ts'ui Mo, she was quiteat a loss what to make of it. Subsequently, she also saw the matrons, onduty at the back gate, bring two pots of begonias. Hsi Jen inquired ofthem where they came from. The women explained to her all about them. Assoon as Hsi Jen heard their reply, she at once desired them to put theflowers in their proper places, and asked them to sit down in the lowerrooms. She then entered the house, and, weighing six mace of silver, shewrapped it up properly, and fetching besides three hundred cash, shecame over and handed both the amounts to the two matrons. "This silver,"she said, "is a present for the boys, who carried the flowers; and thesecash are for you to buy yourselves a cup of tea with."
The women rose to their feet in such high glee that their eyebrowsdilated and their eyes smiled; but, though they waxed eloquent in theexpression of their deep gratitude, they would not accept the money. Itwas only after they had perceived how obstinate Hsi Jen was in nottaking it back that they at last volunteered to keep it.
"Are there," Hsi Jen then inquired, "any servant-boys on duty outsidethe back gate?"
"There are four of them every day," answered one of the matrons."They're put there with the sole idea of attending to any orders thatmight be given them from inside. But, Miss, if you've anything to orderthem to do, we'll go and deliver your message."
"What orders can I have to give them?" Hsi Jen laughed. "Mr. Pao, ourmaster Secundus, was purposing to send some one to-day to the youngmarquis' house to take something over to Miss Shih. But you come at anopportune moment so you might, on your way out, tell the servant-boys atthe back gate to hire a carriage; and on its return you can come hereand get the money. But don't let them rush recklessly against people inthe front part of the compound!"
The matrons signified their obedience and took their leave. Hsi Jenretraced her steps into the house to fetch a tray in which to place thepresents intended for Shih Hsiang-yuen, but she discovered the shelf fortrays empty. Upon turning round, however, she caught sight of Ch'ingWen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yueeh and the other girls, seated together, busy withtheir needlework. "Where is the white cornelian tray with twistedthreads gone to?" Hsi Jen asked.
At this question, one looked at the one, and the other stared at theother, but none of them could remember anything about it. After aprotracted lapse of time, Ch'ing Wen smiled. "It was taken to MissTertia's with a present of lichees," she rejoined, "and it hasn't as yetbeen returned."
"There are plenty of articles," Hsi Jen remarked, "for sending overthings on ordinary occasions; and do you deliberately go and carry thisoff?"
"Didn't I maintain the same thing?" Ch'ing Wen retorted. "But so welldid this tray match with the fresh lichees it contained, that when Itook it over, Miss T'an Ch'un herself noticed the fact. 'How splendid,'she said, and lo, putting even the tray by, she never had it broughtover. But, look! hasn't the pair of beaded vases, which stood on thevery top of that shelf, been fetched as yet?"
"The mention of these vases," Ch'iu Wen laughed, "reminds me again of afunny incident. Whenever our Mr. Pao-yue's filial piety is aroused, heshows himself filial over and above the highest degree! The other day,he espied the olea flowers in the park, and he plucked two twigs. Hisoriginal idea was to place them in a vase for himself, but a suddenthought struck him. 'These are flowers,' he mused, 'which have newlyopened in our garden, so how can I presume to be the first to enjoythem?' And actually taking down that pair of vases, he filled them withwater with his own hands, put the flowers in, and, calling a servant tocarry them, he in person took one of the vases into dowager lady Chia's,and then took the other to Madame Wang's. But, as it happens, even hisattendants reap some benefit, when once his filial feelings are stirredup! As luck would have it, the one who carried the vases over on thatday was myself. The sight of these flowers so enchanted our venerablelady that there was nothing that she wouldn't do. 'Pao-yue,' she said toevery one she met, 'is the one, after all, who shows me much attention.So much so, that he has even thought of bringing me a twig of flowers!And yet, the others bear me a grudge on account of the love that Ilavish on him!' Our venerable mistress, you all know very well, hasnever had much to say to me. I have all along not been much of afavourite in the old lady's eyes. But on that occasion she verilydirected some one to give me several hundreds of cash. 'I was to bepitied,' she observed, 'for being born with a weak physique!' This was,indeed, an unforeseen piece of good luck! The several hundreds of cashare a mere trifle; but what's not easy to get is this sort of honour!After that, we went over into Madame Wang's. Madame Wang was, at thetime, with our lady Secunda, Mrs. Chao, and a whole lot of people;turning the boxes topsy-turvey, trying to find some coloured clothes herladyship had worn long ago in her youth, so as to give them to some oneor other. Who it was, I don't know. But the moment she saw us, she didnot even think of searching for any clothes, but got lost in admirationfor the flowers. Our lady Secunda was also standing by, and she madesport of the matter. She extolled our master Pao, for his filial pietyand for his knowledge of right and wrong; and what with what was trueand what wasn't, she came out with two cart-loads of compliments. Thesethings spoken in the presence of the whole company so added to MadameWang's lustre and sealed every one's mouth, that he
r ladyship was moreand more filled with gratification, and she gave me two ready-madeclothes as a present. These too are of no consequence; one way oranother, we get some every year; but nothing can come up to this sort oflucky chance!"
"Psha!" Ch'ing Wen ejaculated with a significant smile, "you are indeeda mean thing, who has seen nothing of the world! She gave the good onesto others and the refuse to you; and do you still pat on all this side?"
"No matter whether what she gave me was refuse or not," Ch'iu Wenprotested, "it's, after all, an act of bounty on the part of herladyship."
"Had it been myself," Ch'ing Wen pursued, "I would at once have refusedthem! It wouldn't have mattered if she had given me what had been leftby some one else; but we all stand on an equal footing in these rooms,and is there any one, forsooth, so much the more exalted or honorablethan the other as to justify her taking what is good and bestowing itupon her and giving me what is left? I had rather not take them! I mighthave had to give offence to Madame Wang, but I wouldn't have put up withsuch a slight!"
"To whom did she give any in these rooms?" Ch'iu Wen vehementlyinquired. "I was unwell and went home for several days, so that I am notaware to whom any were given. Dear sister, do tell me who it is so thatI may know."
"Were I to tell you," Ch'ing Wen rejoined, "is it likely that you wouldreturn them at this hour to Madame Wang?"
"What nonsense," Ch'iu Wen laughed. "Ever since I've heard about it,I've been delighted and happy. No matter if she even bestowed upon mewhat remained from anything given to a dog in these rooms, I would havebeen thankful for her ladyship's kindness. I wouldn't have worried mymind with anything else!"
After listening to her, everybody laughed. "Doesn't she know how to jeerin fine style!" they ejaculated unanimously; "for weren't they given tothat foreign spotted pug dog?"
"You lot of filthy-tongued creatures!" Hsi Jen laughed, "when you've gotnothing to do, you make me the scapegoat to crack your jokes, and pokeyour fun at! But what kind of death will, I wonder, each of you have!"
"Was it verily you, sister, who got them?" Ch'iu Wen asked with a smile."I assure you I had no idea about it! I tender you my apologies."
"You might be a little less domineering!" Hsi Jen remarked smilingly."The thing now is, who of you will go and fetch the tray."
"The vases too," Shih Yueeh suggested, "must be got back when there's anytime to spare; for there's nothing to say about our venerable mistress'quarters, but Madame Wang's apartments teem with people and many hands.The rest are all right; but Mrs. Chao and all that company will, whenthey see that the vase hails from these rooms, surely again foster evildesigns, and they won't feel happy until they've done all they can tospoil it! Besides, Madame Wang doesn't trouble herself about suchthings. So had we not as well bring it over a moment sooner?"
Hearing this, Ch'ing Wen threw down her needlework. "What you say isperfectly right," she assented, "so you'd better let me go and fetchit."
"I'll, after all, go for it." Ch'iu Wen cried. "You can go and get thattray of yours!"
"You should let me once go for something!" Ch'ing Wen pleaded. "Wheneverany lucky chance has turned up, you've invariably grabbed it; and can itbe that you won't let me have a single turn?"
"Altogether," She Yueeh said laughingly, "that girl Ch'iu Wen got a fewclothes just once; can such a lucky coincidence present itself againtoday that you too should find them engaged in searching for clothes?"
"Albeit I mayn't come across any clothes," Ch'ing Wen rejoined with asardonic smile, "our Madame Wang may notice how diligent I am, andapportion me a couple of taels out of her public expenses; there's nosaying." Continuing, "Don't you people," she laughed, "try and play yourpranks with me; for is there anything that I don't twig?"
As she spoke, she ran outside. Ch'iu Wen too left the room in hercompany; but she repaired to T'an Ch'un's quarters and fetched the tray.
Hsi Jen then got everything ready. Calling an old nurse attached to thesame place as herself, Sung by name, "Just go first and wash, comb yourhair and put on your out-of-door clothes," she said to her, "and thencome back as I want to send you at once with a present to Miss Shih."
"Miss," urged the nurse Sung, "just give me what you have; and, if youhave any message, tell it me; so that when I've tidied myself I may gostraightway."
Hsi Jen, at this proposal, brought two small twisted wire boxes; and,opening first the one in which were two kinds of fresh fruits,consisting of caltrops and "chicken head" fruit, and afterwardsuncovering the other, containing a tray with new cakes, made of chestnutpowder, and steamed in sugar, scented with the olea, "All these freshfruits are newly plucked this year from our own garden," she observed;"our Mr. Secundus sends them to Miss Shih to taste. The other day, too,she was quite taken with this cornelian tray so let her keep it for heruse. In this silk bag she'll find the work, which she asked me some timeago to do for her. (Tell her) that she mustn't despise it for itscoarseness, but make the best of it and turn it to some account. Presentrespects to her from our part and inquire after her health on behalf ofMr. Pao-yue; that will be all there's to say."
"Has Mr. Pao, I wonder, anything more for me to tell her?" the nurseSung added, "Miss, do go and inquire, so that on my return, he mayn'tagain say that I forgot."
"He was just now," Hsi Jen consequently asked Ch'iu Wen, "over there inMiss Tertia's rooms, wasn't he?"
"They were all assembled there, deliberating about starting somepoetical society or other," Ch'iu Wen explained, "and they all wroteverses too. But I fancy he's got no message to give you; so you might aswell start."
After this assurance, nurse Sung forthwith took the things, and quittedthe apartment. When she had changed her clothes and arranged her hair,Hsi Jen further enjoined them to go by the back door, where there was aservant-boy, waiting with a curricle. Nurse Sung thereupon set out onher errand. But we will leave her for the present.
In a little time Pao-yue came back. After first cursorily glancing at thebegonias for a time, he walked into his rooms, and explained to Hsi Jenall about the poetical society they had managed to establish, Hsi Jenthen told him that she had sent the nurse Sung along with some things,to Shih Hsiang-yuen. As soon as Pao-yue heard this, he clapped his hands."I forgot all about her!" he cried. "I knew very well that I hadsomething to attend to; but I couldn't remember what it was! Luckily,you've alluded to her! I was just meaning to ask her to come, for whatfun will there be in this poetical society without her?"
"Is this of any serious import?" Hsi Jen reasoned with him. "It's all,for the mere sake of recreation! She's not however able to go about ather own free will as you people do. Nor can she at home have her ownway. When you therefore let her know, it won't again rest with her,however willing she may be to avail herself of your invitation. And ifshe can't come, she will long and crave to be with you all, so isn't itbetter that you shouldn't be the means of making her unhappy?"
"Never mind!" responded Pao-yue. "I'll tell our venerable senior todespatch some one to bring her over."
But in the middle of their conversation, nurse Sung returned alreadyfrom her mission, and expressed to him, (Hsiang-yuen's) acknowledgment;and to Hsi Jen her thanks for the trouble. "She also inquired," thenurse proceeded, "what you, master Secundus, were up to, and I told herthat you had started some poetical club or other with the young ladiesand that you were engaged in writing verses. Miss Shih wondered why itwas, if you were writing verses, that you didn't even mention anythingto her; and she was extremely distressed about it."
Pao-yue, at these words, turned himself round and betook himselfimmediately into his grandmother's apartments, where he did all that layin his power to urge her to depute servants to go and fetch her.
"It's too late to-day," dowager lady Chia answered; "they'll gotomorrow, as soon as it's daylight."
Pao-yue had no other course but to accede to her wishes. He, however,retraced his steps back to his room with a heavy heart. On the morrow,at early dawn, he paid another visit to old lady Chia and broughtpr
essure to bear on her until she sent some one for her. Soon aftermidday, Shih Hsiang-yuen arrived. Pao-yue felt at length much relieved inhis mind. Upon meeting her, he recounted to her all that had taken placefrom beginning to end. His purpose was likewise to let her see thepoetical composition, but Li Wan and the others remonstrated. "Don't,"they said, "allow her to see them! First tell her the rhymes and numberof feet; and, as she comes late, she should, as a first step, pay apenalty by conforming to the task we had to do. Should what she writesbe good, then she can readily be admitted as a member of the society;but if not good, she should be further punished by being made to stand atreat; after which, we can decide what's to be done."
"You've forgotten to ask me round," Hsiang-yuen laughed, "and I should,after all, fine you people! But produce the metre; for though I don'texcel in versifying, I shall exert myself to do the best I can, so as toget rid of every slur. If you will admit me into the club, I shall beeven willing to sweep the floors and burn the incense."
When they all saw how full of fun she was, they felt more than everdelighted with her and they reproached themselves, for having somehow orother managed to forget her on the previous day. But they lost no timein telling her the metre of the verses.
Shih Hsiang-yuen was inwardly in ecstasies. So much so, that she couldnot wait to beat the tattoo and effect any alterations. But havingsucceeded, while conversing with her cousins, in devising a stanza inher mind, she promptly inscribed it on the first piece of paper thatcame to hand. "I have," she remarked, with a precursory smile, "stuck tothe metre and written two stanzas. Whether they be good or bad, I cannotsay; all I've kept in view was to simply comply with your wishes."
So speaking, she handed her paper to the company.
"We thought our four stanzas," they observed, "had so thoroughlyexhausted everything that could be imagined on the subject that anotherstanza was out of the question, and there you've devised a couple more!How could there be so much to say? These must be mere repetitions of ourown sentiments."
While bandying words, they perused her two stanzas. They found this tobe their burden:
No. 1.
The fairies yesterday came down within the city gates, And like those gems, sown in the grassy field, planted one pot. How clear it is that the goddess of frost is fond of cold! It is no question of a pretty girl bent upon death! Where does the snow, which comes in gloomy weather, issue from? The drops of rain increase the prints, left from the previous night. How the flowers rejoice that bards are not weary of song! But are they ever left to spend in peace a day or night?
No. 2.
The "heng chih" covered steps lead to the creeper-laden door. How fit to plant by the corner of walls; how fit for pots? The flowers so relish purity that they can't find a mate. Easy in autumn snaps the soul of sorrow-wasted man. The tears, which from the jade-like candle drip, dry in the wind. The crystal-like portiere asunder rends Selene's rays. Their private feelings to the moon goddess they longed to tell, But gone, alas! is the lustre she shed on the empty court!
Every line filled them with wonder and admiration. What they read, theypraised. "This," they exclaimed, with one consent, "is not writingverses on the begonia for no purpose! We must really start a BegoniaSociety!"
"To-morrow," Shih Hsiang-yuen proposed, "first fine me by making me standa treat, and letting me be the first to convene a meeting; may I?"
"This would be far better!" they all assented. So producing also theverses, composed the previous day, they submitted them to her forcriticism.
In the evening, Hsiang-yuen came at the invitation of Pao-ch'ai, to theHeng Wu Yuean to put up with her for the night. By lamplight, Hsiang-yuenconsulted with her how she was to play the hostess and fix upon thethemes; but, after lending a patient ear to all her proposals for a longtime, Pao-ch'ai thought them so unsuitable for the occasion, thatturning towards her, she raised objections. "If you want," she said, "tohold a meeting, you have to pay the piper. And albeit it's for mere fun,you have to make every possible provision; for while consulting your owninterests, you must guard against giving umbrage to people. In that caseevery one will afterwards be happy and contented. You count for nothingtoo in your own home; and the whole lump sum of those few tiaos, youdraw each month, are not sufficient for your own wants, and do you nowalso wish to burden yourself with this useless sort of thing? Why, ifyour aunt gets wind of it, won't she be more incensed with you thanever! What's more, even though you might fork out all the money you cancall your own to bear the outlay of this entertainment with, it won't beanything like enough, and can it possibly be, pray, that you would gohome for the express purpose of requisitioning the necessary funds? Orwill you perchance ask for some from in here?"
This long tirade had the effect of bringing the true facts of the caseto Hsiang-yuen's notice, and she began to waver in a state ofuncertainty.
"I have already fixed upon a plan in my mind," Pao-ch'ai resumed."There's an assistant in our pawnshop from whose family farm come somesplendid crabs. Some time back, he sent us a few as a present, and now,starting from our venerable senior and including the inmates of theupper quarters, most of them are quite in love with crabs. It was onlythe other day that my mother mentioned that she intended inviting ourworthy ancestor into the garden to look at the olea flowers and partakeof crabs, but she has had her hands so full that she hasn't as yet askedher round. So just you now drop the poetical meeting, and invite thewhole crowd to a show; and if we wait until they go, won't we be able toindite as many poems as we like? But let me speak to my brother and askhim to let us have several baskets of the fattest and largest crabs hecan get, and to also go to some shop and fetch several jars of lusciouswine. And if we then lay out four or five tables with plates full ofrefreshments, won't we save trouble and all have a jolly time as well?"
As soon as Hsiang-yuen heard (the alternative proposed by Pao-ch'ai,) shefelt her heart throb with gratitude and in most profuse terms shepraised her for her forethought.
"The proposal I've made." Pao-ch'ai pursued smilingly; "is promptedentirely by my sincere feelings for you; so whatever you do don't betouchy and imagine that I look down upon you; for in that case we twowill have been good friends all in vain. But if you won't give way tosuspicion, I'll be able to tell them at once to go and get thingsready."
"My dear cousin," eagerly rejoined Hsiang-yuen, a smile on her lips, "ifyou say these things it's you who treat me with suspicion; for no matterhow foolish a person I may be, as not to even know what's good and bad,I'm still a human being! Did I not regard you, cousin, in the same lightas my own very sister, I wouldn't last time have had any wish orinclination to disclose to you every bit of those troubles, whichordinarily fall to my share at home."
After listening to these assurances, Pao-ch'ai summoned a matron andbade her go out and tell her master, Hsueeh P'an, to procure a fewhampers of crabs of the same kind as those which were sent on theprevious occasion. "Our venerable senior," (she said,) "and aunt Wangare asked to come to-morrow after their meal and admire the oleaflowers, so mind, impress upon your master to please not forget, as I'vealready to-day issued the invitations."
The matron walked out of the garden and distinctly delivered themessage. But, on her return, she brought no reply.
During this while, Pao-ch'ai continued her conversation with Hsiang-yuen."The themes for the verses," she advised her, "mustn't also be tooout-of-the-way. Just search the works of old writers, and where will youfind any eccentric and peculiar subjects, or any extra difficult metre!If the subject be too much out-of-the-way and the metre too difficult,one cannot get good verses. In a word, we are a mean lot and our versesare certain, I fear, to consist of mere repetitions. Nor is it advisablefor us to aim at excessive originality. The first thing for us to do isto have our ideas clear, as our language will then not be commonplace.In fact, this sort of thing is no vital matter; spinning and needleworkare, in a word, the legitimate duties of you and me. Yet, if we can atany time afford the leisure, it's only
right and proper that we shouldtake some book, that will benefit both body and mind, and read a fewchapters out of it."
Hsiang-yuen simply signified her assent. "I'm now cogitating in my mind,"she then laughingly remarked, "that as the verses we wrote yesterdaytreated of begonias, we should, I think, compose on this occasion someon chrysanthemums, eh? What do you say?"
"Chrysanthemums are in season," Pao-ch'ai replied. "The only objectionto them is that too many writers of old have made them the subject oftheir poems."
"I also think so," Hsiang-yuen added, "so that, I fear, we shall only befollowing in their footsteps."
After some reflection, Pao-ch'ai exclaimed, "I've hit upon something! Ifwe take, for the present instance, the chrysanthemums as a secondaryterm, and man as the primary, we can, after all, select several themes.But they must all consist of two characters: the one, an empty word; theother, a full one. The full word might be chrysanthemums; while for theempty one, we might employ some word in general use. In this manner, weshall, on one hand, sing the chrysanthemum; and, on the other, composeverses on the theme. And as old writers have not written much in thisstyle, it will be impossible for us to drift into the groove of theirideas. Thus in versifying on the scenery and in singing the objects, wewill, in both respects, combine originality with liberality of thought."
"This is all very well," smiled Hsiang-yuen. "The only thing is what kindof empty words will, I wonder, be best to use? Just you first think ofone and let me see."
Pao-ch'ai plunged in thought for a time, after which she laughinglyremarked: "Dream of chrysanthemums is good."
"It's positively good!" Hsiang-yuen smiled. "I've also got one: 'theChrysanthemum shadow,' will that do?"
"Well enough," Pao-ch'ai answered, "the only objection is that peoplehave written on it; yet if the themes are to be many, we might throwthis in. I've got another one too!"
"Be quick, and tell it!" Hsiang-yuen urged.
"What do you say to 'ask the Chrysanthemums?'" Pao-ch'ai observed.
Hsiang-yuen clapped her hand on the table. "Capital," she cried. "I'vethought of one also." She then quickly continued, "It is, search forchrysanthemums; what's your idea about it?"
Pao-ch'ai thought that too would do very well. "Let's choose ten of themfirst," she next proposed; "and afterwards note them down!"
While talking, they rubbed the ink and moistened the pens. Thesepreparations over, Hsiang-yuen began to write, while Pao-ch'ai enumeratedthe themes. In a short time, they got ten of them.
"Ten don't form a set," Hsiang-yuen went on to smilingly suggest, afterreading them over. "We'd better complete them by raising their number totwelve; they'll then also be on the same footing as people's picturesand books."
Hearing this proposal, Pao-ch'ai devised another couple of themes, thusbringing them to a dozen. "Well, since we've got so far," she pursued,"let's go one step further and copy them out in their proper order,putting those that are first, first; and those that come last, last."
"It would be still better like that," Hsiang-yuen acquiesced, "as we'llbe able to make up a 'chrysanthemum book.'"
"The first stanza should be: 'Longing for chrysanthemums,'" Pao-chaisaid, "and as one cannot get them by wishing, and has, in consequence,to search for them, the second should be 'searching for chrysanthemums.'After due search, one finds them, and plants them, so the third must be:'planting chrysanthemums.' After they've been planted, they, blossom,and one faces them and enjoys them, so the fourth should be 'facing thechrysanthemums.' By facing them, one derives such excessive delight thatone plucks them and brings them in and puts them in vases for one's owndelectation, so the fifth must be 'placing chrysanthemums in vases.' Ifno verses are sung in their praise, after they've been placed in vases,it's tantamount to seeing no point of beauty in chrysanthemums, so thesixth must be 'sing about chrysanthemums.' After making them the burdenof one's song, one can't help representing them in pictures. The seventhplace should therefore be conceded to 'drawing chrysanthemums.' Seeingthat in spite of all the labour bestowed on the drawing ofchrysanthemums, the fine traits there may be about them are not yet, infact, apparent, one impulsively tries to find them out by inquiries, sothe eighth should be 'asking the chrysanthemums.' As any perception,which the chrysanthemums might display in fathoming the questions setwould help to make the inquirer immoderately happy, the ninth must be'pinning the chrysanthemums in the hair.' And as after everything hasbeen accomplished, that comes within the sphere of man, there willremain still some chrysanthemums about which something could be written,two stanzas on the 'shadow of the chrysanthemums,' and the 'dream aboutchrysanthemums' must be tagged on as numbers ten and eleven. While thelast section should be 'the withering of the chrysanthemums' so as tobring to a close the sentiments expressed in the foregoing subjects. Inthis wise the fine scenery and fine doings of the third part of autumn,will both alike be included in our themes."
Hsiang-yuen signified her approval, and taking the list she copied it outclean. But after once more passing her eye over it, she went on toinquire what rhymes should be determined upon.
"I do not, as a rule, like hard-and-fast rhymes," Pao-ch'ai retorted."It's evident enough that we can have good verses without them, sowhat's the use of any rhymes to shackle us? Don't let us imitate thatmean lot of people. Let's simply choose our subject and pay no notice torhymes. Our main object is to see whether we cannot by chance hit uponsome well-written lines for the sake of fun. It isn't to make this themeans of subjecting people to perplexities."
"What you say is perfectly right," Hsiang-yuen observed. "In this mannerour poetical composition will improve one step higher. But we onlymuster five members, and there are here twelve themes. Is it likely thateach one of us will have to indite verses on all twelve?"
"That would be far too hard on the members!" Pao-ch'ai rejoined. "Butlet's copy out the themes clean, for lines with seven words will have tobe written on every one, and stick them to-morrow on the wall forgeneral perusal. Each member can write on the subject which may be mostin his or her line. Those, with any ability, may choose all twelve.While those, with none, may only limit themselves to one stanza. Bothwill do. Those, however, who will show high mental capacity, combinedwith quickness, will be held the best. But any one, who shall havecompleted all twelve themes, won't be permitted to hasten and begin overagain; we'll have to fine such a one, and finish."
"Yes, that will do," assented Hsiang-yuen. But after settling everythingsatisfactorily, they extinguished the lamp and went to bed.
Reader, do you want to know what subsequently took place? If you do,then listen to what is contained in the way of explanation in thefollowing chapter.