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THE CHINA REVIEW.
we can do to assist you we will do.” Chien re- plying to the three, said with a low obeisance, "I am much indebted to your public spirit; as for Kao Chin when he was in a humble way he was often here, and I taught him to use the spear and the club; I always was well with him. The beast however learnt himself plenty of evil, but now that be has risen he still remembers me and often wished to promote me; I however did not wish to go his ways; we have therefore been slightly separated, but still in private affairs we keep up some connection, also at the three feasts or on our birthdus I go to his house; I have often told you, Fan, this. My daughter goes out constantly (fe. does not cover her head but lets her face appear.) To-day being the anniversary of her mother's death she went to the Jewel Fairy temple to burn incense, when this affair nexpectedly came up: Kao Ya-nei allows himself now to be in the wrong, and I think it is very pre- einus to endure a wrong, nor do I want to discuss the matter further; but I fear I am much troubling.” Tai said, "Although Kao Chin is a good friend to yon I fear this affair will not end like this; you will see there will soon be complications; it is not 1, Tai Tsung, who wishes to take you, but for a man of your ability to be buried into the long grass is much to be pitied, nor are you very old. Moreover the ministers now are bad and the road for men of virtue is closed, and the good birds pick out what trees they may rest on. Does not your rever- ence have any anxiety for the future? I am not very bold, but in my humble opinion you ought to come to our hill, and amongst our various chiefs and men of merit so gallant a man as you will be like adding flowers to embroidery, and all will respect you. When too the amnesty comes for us, what honours will there not be for you." Chou said, "If you, Bir, agree to Tai's word, choose your day for starting with your dear daughter, I will willingly act as your attendant on the way, and why should you be insulted and bent down by authority." Ch'en replied, "I am much
indebted to you for what you have said, and 1 should get my whip and stirrups ready. But I am intimate with matters beyond this world, and eare not for worldly matters, so I cannot, I fear, be thus happy; moreover my little daughter is like an infant dear to mo and cannot be separated from me. Li- ch'ing in your den has a fend and difference with me, and this though not worth dis- cussion would make it unpleasant for us to live in one place, and I shall, captains, be able some day to recompense you." Tai wanted to ask about the fend, but the old servant coming in said "that two messengers are come from Lord Kao Chin asking to speak with you, Sir, and they now are sitting in the hall." Chen rose up and asked the three to sit still. Fan and Tai, seeing what they had said was not appreciated and also seeing men had come from Kao Chin's, also got up and said, "We have come by chance (fit. lightly); we will pay our respects again." Ch'en said, "To-morrow I will visit; thank you; I trust I may not be in the wrong if I have been remiss or disrespectful.” Chou also rose up, thanked his host and wont out with the rest. Ch'en showed them to the door and they parted; then turning round he saw the other two. He told the old woman to shut the door. Tai on getting outside a few steps turned his head to the two others and said, "That ereature did not comprehend I was elevating him.”
Fau
said, "He is unwilling, but there is no help for it." Chou from behind called out,
"Let us return to the hill and consult with Woo, by hook or by crook to get him there; Tu-chien-I was got to come into our handa y how much more this one." Tai and Fan said, "People are coming out from all the lanes, speak lower." Chien meantime had recognized two of the low square caps who had talked with him at the wine-shop; here was San Kao, the fire-raising poker; the other Hsueh Pao, called the peace-hater. The two men bowed, and Hsi-chon, after bowing in return, said, “What business is it has troubled you two gentlemen to descond
THE TANG HOC CH1.
here from your brilliant abode ?" The two said, "Kao Ya-nei has sent us two here to beg your pardon, and to ask the lady to overlook the offence. Ya-nei would have come himself, but he feared Miss would look askant at him, so he told us to come in- stead." Chen said, "What, we have already come to an agreement about this at the wine-shop; since you two have boon at the trouble of moving, that little baggage of mine has had a beating from me, and she still is sulky:" he asked them to sit, and also told the old servant to fetch the young lady. In a short time Li-ch'ing appeared, having pur- posely rubbed her eyes till they were quite red, together with her nurse. She said, "Papa, strangers are here, what do you call me out for * Ch'en suid, "Come here di- rectly; this is Mr. Sau and that Mr. Hsuch. They have got into trouble about the row you created at Ya-nei's; you must immedi- ately bow to them." Li-chting joined her hands and bending low from her willowlike waist said, "Ten thousand happinesses; I am mach indebted to you. In my rongh conduct just now I forgot my station, and I trust my father has already punished me. you two gentlemen will have said all that is necessary for your slave to Kao Ya-nei," These two idiots put on an appearance and made a deep obeisance. "What! are you erying, Miss Ya-nei by his outrageous he- haviour to you told us to come here to ask you to overlook matters." They then made another obeisance, but Ch'en quickly raising them up said, "Why should a child like this he thus treated; my child, you have hardly obtained your forgiveness, you go in and tell them to get dinner ready." Li- ching saying much happiness, went in. The two idiots quickly began muttering a long string of excuses, that they were not hungry and rising up began to go. Chien attempted to stop them, saying a glass of wine would do them no harm. But they both said, "The day was late, and Ya-nei was expect- ing them--they must really be going." Ch'en then accompanied them to the door
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and asked them to come to-morrow, but the two with a bow went off as quickly as they could out of the lane. Hsi-chen then shut the door and went inside, where the nurse and servant were arranging the evening meal. As soon as he was alone with his daughter he said, "My plan is having some meaning; my teacher has often said your betrothal was in the N. E.; I tuo in N. E. have an evil genius there, and I must go to have done with him, and then I can get myself into order; I think the only other place we can go to is Chin-chun-fu in Shan- tung where your aunt's husband Liu-huang fives; his public spirit is universal and he agrees with me very well, only whether he can give us a resting-place I don't know now, as he has been degraded. No letter has lately come from him; your two cou- sius came up last year for their military I must examinations, but did not pass. remind him and go and see him, and now will be a good time for us to go toge- ther. You take care to get together a few ordinary things so that we can carry them with us in two bundles; the rost we will leave behind without regret, but don't let the nurse see." Li-ching said, "Papa, tell me what to do, I will do it. But there is mother's grave, we have no relation to ask to look after it." Hai-chen said, "Nover mind, I know it won't be long before we see a conflagration going on at that beast Kao Chin's house; he will of a certainty fall in four or five years more, and then when all is quiet we will return to our old place." Li- ching said, "Are we to leave all the things here as well as the house Hsi-chen said, "I regard wealth, bonours and reputation as so much dirt, they together with ourselves are all unreal, we only want to catch him whether he likes or not, why trouble about the things in the house?" Li-ching said, "Who were those three strangers ?" Chen said, "Did you not hear, one was a fellow citizen, Mr. Fan; I know him, but are not very intimato with him. Those other two are Liang-shan robbers who came here to ask me to enter their
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