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TUE CHINA REVIEW.
a good feed; now that I have such means of The varriage I am fairly independent.” surplus of his mouey he then gave to Li- ching to keep, and led away the horse and fed him. On coming back the servant said, "Kau Ya-nei has come to pay his respects," and hardly had he spoke when Ya-nei came in with Kao Chin's card, saying, "My father could not come himself, owing to pressing public affairs in connection with a military expedition projected against Liang- po-shan, and so he has asked his son to come instead." Isi-chen said, "What are your principles thus to trouble Ya-nei; come and sit inside." He then suid, "Ching, my child, your brother is come." Li-ch'ing from upstairs answered, and after a bit came slowly in. Hsi-chon put on wine and food and instructed his daughter to entertain him. Whilst conversation was going ou, Ya-nei sceing the room was very neat and elegant began to praise it, when he saw hanging from the wall a two-edged sword, whereupon he asked, "Is this the property of my illustrious sister ? Hsi-chen, said, "Yes." Ya-nei wished to look at it. Hsi- chen, went to fetch it and put it on the table to be looked at. The handle was bound round with silk, on it were inlaid with two ruddy gold letters Chong Shun, from the handle hung a butterfly fringe, there were two points of the yellow-twisted beard from the mouth of a lion on the scab- bard, which was covered with scales of the whale fish painted like flowers, and on the mouth were two heads of dragons; on the outside were fourteen characters also inlaid with ruddy gold; they were: "like the antumu waters for clearness, with an edge that chills with affright; white as the Pi-yu bird's flesh, the rainbow gleams flash out from a body fair as the water lily." Asi- chen then drew the sword out a little and gave it to Ya-nei to look at.
Ya-nei got a chill of fright from the cold steel, and it was blown out round his face till his hair stood on end; looking at it, he saw it was four fingers broad from the edge, and one
binger broad at the back; it was as clear as a mirror and from the distance looked like a stream of water, and it reflected a man's face quite distinctly. With the handle it weighed seven catties four ounces. It was four feet two inches long. Ya-nei said, "My adopted father, where did you buy this sword P" Hsi-chen said, "Buy it, indeed! This has come down to me from an ancester; it can cut iron and copper like so much wood; my ancestor was a follower of Emperor Chin- tsung in his attack on the Tan yuan, who took him to the frontiers where he slow a number of men with it. After this the sword came to the house; it did nothing but rain and sounds proceeded from the sword; when the old fellow was young he had heard an ascendant say when that sword used to hang up for many years one often by lamp-light saw likeness in it of men standing up, but on looking closer nothing could be seen; when that grumbling sound was heard it often leapt up from the seabbard; this year I think those dead spirits will gradually disperse and the figures of men will not be
seen,
When my silly daughter regards this like her life and puts it to bed with her when she sleeps. Now the scabbard being some- what hurt she has just repaired it and there- fore hung it up here." Ya-nei said, “As this is so precious to you, sister, I think you can brandish it will you try " Li-ching laughed and said, "A sword is a thing to kill men with, there is nothing pleasant in it." Ya-nei said, "My good sister, you don't want me to be hit." Hai-chen said, "What is your brother saying, my child ? brandish the sword a bit." Li-chting, not able to resist this prossing, rose up, rolled up her sleeves, drew out the sword and went down the steps and cleared a space. Kao Ya-nei opened his eyes and saw Li-ch'ing, and he shouted with all his might in her praise. Li-ch'ing having done some sword play, put the sword into its sheath again, Ya-nei let down her sleeves and sat down.
Isi-chen said, "Well, you play well." laughed and said, "Ya-nei, you are blind."
THE TANG HOU CHI,
Some more wine was then drunk, and Hsi- chen then again took Ya-nei into the back of the house, where were artificial hills, lakes, stones, flowers and trees, and led him about there by the hand. When it was late, Ya-nei took his leave and went home. There is no need to weary the reader, but after this Ya-nei came every day to Isi- chen's house, and often brought clothes, delicacies and wine as presents, whilst Hsi- ehen served to him wine etc. When Ya-nei did come Hsi-chen never told his daughter to avoid him, and so Li-ching plucked up her spirits and he treated her and she him like brother and sister. They talked about trivial matters, but nothing serious was said. Ya-noi ou seeing the checks of Li-ch'ing so tender that a breath would injure them, was furious that he could not devour her, as her old father would come bothering in between them; once he indulged in loose talk, and Isi-nhen seeing the colour on his daughter's cheeks, turned off the matter by some light remarke. Li-ch'ing too remembered her father's commands and kept down her anger. Ya-nei now only thought of hurrying on San and Heuch to propose marriage, but they exhorted him to restrain himself a bit for eight or nine days. Hsi-chen said to his daughter, "My services are more than half rubbed off, and as long as that animal does not come to propose marriage it will be all right. Everything will be ready in a few days, and then we can go in to the old lady's." Li-ching said, "Your child wishes much to go away very soon; I cannot endure this much longer." Hsi-ohen said, "My good daughter, after a day or two you must decline to see him from sickness, and so avoid him." Ya-nei then came again and Hai-ohen ushered him in. Ya-nei brought a piece of green jade and a pearl and said, "I present to my illustrious sister some marriage presents." Hai-chen said, "Why should you go to such an expense?" and told Li-ch'ing to take it and thank Ya-nei. He said, "Why should a sister thank her own brother!" The whole party then laughed
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and talked, and wine was drunk till Ya-nei was half drunk, when the servant came in and said, "Mr. Chang has come to take leave and wishes to see you, Sir; he is now in the front room." Hsi-chen said, "All right, you mind your business, I will come directly." Hsi-ohen put on his Taoist robe and said, "You two drink your wine-a guest calls me." He also told the nurse to attend on them carefully and not to go away, and he himself went off. Ya-nei seeing the old boy was really gone, grew very courage- ous and grinning bogan to stare at Li-ching. She could not endure his gaze and smiling bent down her head. Ya-nei seeing the smile could not contain himself for delight; he felt enervated all over, and his lewd courage became vast. He tried then to hook his foot round that of Li-ching, but the eight fairy table was too broad, and Li- ching's two feet were coiled round her chair so that he could not reach them. Ya-nei then cried out, "Sister, let us go and amuse ourselves in the artificial grotto behind." Li-ching said, "No, it would be improper, but you can go yourself, brother, as you know it well enough." Ya-nei said, “1 have heard your archery ground is an excel- lent one, but I have not yet seen it, won't you take me there ?" Li-chting said, “We must wait till Papa returns."
Ya-nei secing she would not move asked the nurse to warm some of this wine; the nurse lifting the wine-pot, said, "It is hot enough still, why should I warm it." Ya-nei said, "Sister, your wine is cold, I will change with you, and he took the cup holding the remains of her wine and drank it all off."* He then took the pot from the nurse's hond and poured out a cup full, he himself tasted, and then handed it with both hands to Li-ch'ing saying, "Sistor, tasto your brother's warm wine." Li-ohing could sit still no longer, being thus incited by him again in this way, and not being ablo to hear it stood up, the blood surging up all round her ears and face.
* A most improper proceeding in with a lady.
company
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