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THE CHINA REVIEW.
source of evil from many homes." She then again tried to get her fist loose, but her father would not let go and cried to her to forgive the mau. As such was her father's command, Lá-ching wrenching her hand free said, "Well I will forgive, but I must leave some mark on him." Whereat she tried to tear off Ya-nei's ear; her father seized her hand, but blood was already coming from a slight tear, nor would she let go. Her fa- ther then shouted, "Yon baggage, after all I have said to you, won't you let go." Li-ch'ing theu, seeing her father was angry, let go and stood back on one side. Ya-nei now lay pant- ing on the ground and trembled so he could not get up. He saw a circle of men stand- ing round him all speaking of the formidable young lady, but all he saw was her attendant bringing clothes &o. As people were crowd- ing in Ch'en Hsi-chen took a jacket which he threw over her, and at once spoke threaten- ingly to her, saying, "When you had burnt your incense, why did you not go home as you were told, and not loiter about as you pleased, and thus fail foul of this mishap. I know the Minister Kao, and what shall I say to him when you have thus injured his son!" Li-ob'ing with one hand wiped the perspiration off her face and let down her petticoat, and at the same time pointed to Kao Ya-nei and said, “ Yon brute you, unless you want to be a dead man, don't come and insult me again: what- ever you may wish to do relying on your father's influence I and my servant will flog you and your father alive and pickle your flesh."
Hsi-chen shonted out, "What! won't yon go home now ?" Kao Ya-nei did not dare to give any reply, and the by- standers put their tougnes in their cheeks for a second, and drew them back; the boy led away the horse; Hai put the veil down over his daughter's face and told her to go home, and not to get into any more tronble on the road, Li-ch'ing said, "Papa, dear, now this is finished, why should we not go home together?" Isi said ho would some directly, and she went off. The attendant,
after folding up the things, mounted her mule and followed her. Hsi now turned and saw Kao sitting on the ground and wanting to rise. Hsi went to help him, and with a bow said to him laughing; "My daugh- ter has grievously offended you, and as may be seen from my face, I ask forgiveness." Ya-nei half angry half ashamed said, “Well, old man, I did not know it was your daugh- ter, and I am in the wrong too; but your darling acted most unbecomingly; I merely made a joke from a distance and she gives me such a murderous thrashing, you can go on, but I cannot lot this matter drop." Chien, hiding a smile said, "Please allude no more to the subject; I will go homo and reprove my daughter, and then come and make my apologies at your house; your Lordship should put a veil over the whole matter." Ya-nei said, "It is no use talk- ing to her now she has struck me." Tho various followers gradually came together again and saw that Ya-nei's right ear was running with blood-"How is this?" say they. Ch'en said, "The wound is a slight one," and he laughingly remarked, "Had I boen a stop later she would have done it though, and now all is well," Two mon now came out of the temple assisting one of those blackguards of magicians; his nose had been flattened and his lips were all swollen, he had been tripped up by Li-ch'ing, so that his ankle-bone was injured and he could hardly walk, and he limped along sup. ported by his two friends. He called out, "Ya-nei, you must act for me." Ya-pci Baid, "Ch'en's dear daughter is the cause of all this; it is ourious we should both have suffered at her hands:" the magician staring at Ch'en said, "His Lordship has always been good towards you, and that your daughter should strike his son requires some explanation from you to him." Chien bowing said, "Your servant has come on purpose to ask forgiveness and smooth over matters." Ya-nei remonstrating said, "Ch'en is my very good friend; we won't say anything more about this little misfor-
THE TANG HOU CHI.
tune." Some of the square caps about seeing Ya-nei aot thus also remonstrated, for among these were some with their heads broken, somo with their hands swollen. They said, 4 Wo all who have been wounded pat the matter aside; but how can Ya-nei with his ear in this state visit his father? this indeed does concern us, but Ya-nei should give us his opinion." Ya-nei said, "I have already told you to let the matter drop." Ch'en on hearing this was secretly delighted and said, "He has fallen into my trap," and address- ing himself to these men said, "All you wounded men must come with me to the doctor to be cured at my expense." Of this we will not talk, but let them depart to their wine-shop. The magician, however, said, Few men are so honest and benevolent or so like the superior man as this Ya-nei:" the followers cried out, "There is no need to state this, for all know it," and so he went limping off. The lookers-on all laugh. ed and said, “This old Taoist's daughter having been insulted, how is it, he is still ao careful in making amends ?" Fan smiling said, "Beeuse from being a fine fellow, he has turned Taoist, and he has now studied till he has no courage left." He then said to his two friends, "Let us again enter the temple" they all did so; indeed, it was noisy, lamps and silks dazzled the eye, Butes and drums sounded, in the galleries were several figures all of which had been upset, and as to the images how were they to be ever repaired again-clubs, sticks and bits of instruments strewed the floor. Several old women burning incense were heard to say, "What family does that girl belong to, to be thus fieree and that so many fine fellows should have been struck by her." Several young men also talked about the trouble Ya-nei bud got into; they thought he must have his revenge after getting into such a scrape. Our three friends secretly smiled and then went about seeing every- thing and enjoying themselves. Fan then proposed a move and then went off to the wine-shop. Ch'en and Ya-nei had both
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left, but the people there were still talking about it. Tai after looking round him spied an empty table in a corner where they sat themselves down. The servants got in wine and meat, and after eating Tai said "That girl was a terrible eroature.” Chou said, "I-chang-ching's prowess is good too, and she is good looking too, but she is not so elegant as this one." Tai looking all round said in a whisper, "Could we not take advantage of this opportunity to get her to join our band ?" Fan assented after having eaten and drunk and paid their bill. Chon asked where the Great East Street led to ? Fan said, "You come along with me:" all three then entered the wall and came to
Ch'en's house,
Let us now turn to Mr. Ch'en. After having quieted Ya-nei at the wine-shop and his followers he ran home, and having knooked at the door, it was opened by the servant. Ch'en went inside and saw his daughter coming out giggling to meet him; she said, "Papa has got home then." Hei-cben did not answer, but went to the back room, Li-ching followed behind say- ing, "Your child indeed wished to finish him, but Papa would not let me move, nor aven leave my raark on him, it would have done the brute good." Ch'en sat himself down on a chair, and then seeing his daugh- ter and putting on a graud air shouted out, "How can you be so happy, after rushing upon such a mishap; you will be the death of me; don't hide your face." Li-chting, cried out, "Papa, dear, you did not see the brute's licentious behaviour; there came from his lips such disgusting unheard-of things that I could not but be angry; moreover I pushed him off, but he called a man to scize me; how was I then to endure this?"Yes, yes," said Ch'en, "thrico to-day I have begged pardon, but he won't be satisfied. Lord Kao will know, and sooner or later a row will be made about it; what then ?" Li-chting said, “Why should we fear? If this Lord Kao comes here I will make a fine
hole through his body with my arrow."
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