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THE CHINA REVIEW.
band. Have I then no resource? I will not set wrongly and become a rubber; if I am a robber I will not act as a subordinate to Sung Chiang; those fellows wanted to catch me in replying to them, only I fear if their general Woo-yung comes himself and sets light to the grass it is well then to be pre- pared. I hear Tsai-ching wants to invade them and they can't dare to leave their den, Li-ch'ing and besides him they fear none." said, "Why did you not tell me before? we might have scized those men and taken them before the Magistrate and got a reward
what a pity they are gone." Hsi-chen started and said, "You are at it again; what have you to do with it? had you taken them and handed them up to Kao Chin he would have rewarded you preciously." The ourse now brought the lamp and they ate supper, and then Li-ching was told to go to bed. Hai-chen offered his oblations. Id-ch'ing went off and on getting inside looked about her in the shooting yard; the archery bow gleamed ruddy in fire, and she arranged the various weapons. She then shut the door and went to sleep. Hsi-chen then went him- self to clear up, and having done, about the 3rd watch, he went to sleep. He rose early and after dressing he called his daughter, and said, "I am going to call on friends and shall soon be back, if any one comes from Kao Chin to-day, I am out, and don't you put your head out." Li-ching assented and Ch'on went off to Fan's house; the entrance gate was open and an old woman was sweep. ing: Ch'en asked if Fan was up, the old woman quickly dropped her broom and re- plied, "Master went away, on account of a marriage in his family, early to-day." "Where are the other two ?" said Ch'en. "They have all gone back to the country. They started at early dawn just at opening of gate; won't you, Sir, come in for tea ?" Ch'en declined, and said, "When your Master comes back tell him I called to thank him," Ch'en then went home and getting there found the fire-making Poker and the Peace-hater sitting at the door.
Chen quickly went forward, and said, "1 have missed you, I have missed you, you are early." They said, "We have come here on business of importance to tell you, Lieutenant." Hai-chen in a fright said, "When we returned home "What is it?"
that night and told Ya-nei what you said, he raged all night, he kotowed enough to break his head and wanted to run here at once, only we held him back; all night he had not a wink of sleep." Hsi-chen said, "How was that, not by reason of any fault of mine, I hope." The two said, "Because we hastily told him your Miss had been punished by you. He then stamped his foot and beat bis breast and lated himself unto death. He loudly said, What, destroy such a person! He then beat himself about, and at night be wanted to come over with a rod to be beaten. At daylight too he did not dare come, and he is now waiting in a tea-shop at the end of the lane having told us two to come to announce him." Hsi-chen on hearing this burst out laughing, and after thanking thera said, "What principle have you for Ya-nei to be so shy of himself; call him in quickly to take a seat." The two ran as hard as their fect could go to the end of the Iano, where Ya-nei was sitting watching and behind him two more followers. On seeing Ch'en he made a deep obeisance, but Chien hur- riedly lifted him up, saying, "The wrong has passed off; I am ready to die; come to my humble reed hut and receive my apologies ;" then joining hands they went in together. Ou reaching the ball Ya-nei first knelt down and then kotowed, and said, "My old friend, I have thrice requested you, how is it you are so determined, that you have done this wrong to your dear daughter and punished her? did you design my death? even then as a spirit I should have grieved." Ch'en quickly bent his knee in acknowledgement and raising Ya-nei said, "Why do you talk this nonsense? this wild daughter has been born to me and she has wronged Ya- nei; of what importance is the punishment 1 have inflicted on her? If Ya-nei is not
THE TANG HOU CHI,
angry, I am indeed deeply grateful to him and also for the deep feeling I have drawn. If you will sit down I will bring my little baggage out." Kao Ya-nei made a feint of stopping him, but Ch'en went inside for a bit and then brought Lá-ch'ing, her head much adorned and beautifully dressed, quietly out. Ya-nei looked at her anxiously with his body all in a flutter and did obeisance. Ch'en quickly stopped him, saying, "How's this, how's this! the wrong is bent to the wrong side; my child, return the bow." Li- ching hurriedly knelt down and pai-paied several times. Then they both ruse. Yu- nei said, "Lady, your little one was ignor- ant he was injuring you; he has passed a bad night in consequence." Li-chting said, *Your slave was indeed coarse and rude; she has repeatedly repented; it would indeed have been overwhelming to have killed Ya-nei. I do not know whether Ya-nei was hurt at all anywhere or not " Ya-mel said, "Nothing, nothing, only 1 fear I hurt your honored hund." The two idiots gave a loud laugh, and said this indeed may be called not fighting and yet not being friends, and so Ya-nei forgives. This is indeed great, and the lady is a real saint for virtue. Ch'en said, "Don't let us recur to old memories, but let us sit down and chat, but Sau and Hsueh said "Ya-nei, there is yet one thing." Indeed it was the butterfly greedy for the flowers ruuuing into death into the spider's web, or the moth, eager to put out the light of the lamp, burning its body in the red flame. What Ya-nei said shall be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER III.
In the last chapter the two idiots bad something further to say from Ya-nei, which they begged the Lieutenant not to refuse. Hei-oben said "Please instruct me." The two replied, "In the night Ya-nei said to us there are very few who are so benevolent, virtuous, and superior as the Lieutenant: Ya-uei is willing to pass over into his family and to become his adopted son." Ch'en said,
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"What is this you are saying, what kind of man am I, Ch'en: I am it is true rather older than he, and am an intimate with the minister, but now our ranks are widely separated, and notwithstanding Ya-nei's graceful affection, which is regardless of possible disgrace, yet when the minister comes to hear of it, he will look askant at me, Chen, and think me indecorous." Ya- nei said, "My father has already been asked." Jab Kao said, "It is the wish of the minister himself;" the two followers then lighted two candles as thick as one's arm, which they put in the candlestick on the table, and arranged on the best table. Hai-cheu could not prevent them (do what he would); the fire-raising Poker brought up a chair and the Peace-hater pushed Hei-chen into it and kept him there, Kao Ya-nel then knelt down; Hsi-chen wanted to return the compliment, but the two fools kept him down until eight kotows had been given him. In the meanwhile Li-ch'ing stood by the screen at the side, flashing her two eyes on what the two were doing, but too astonished to say a word, but the servant and nurse could not keep from laughing. When bowing &n. was over Hsi- chen said, "My two elder brothers, I am eaught and am at the end of my resources; what am I to say? come over here, my child, and look at your elder brother." Li-ch'ing came into the centre of the room and together with Ya-nei made four obei- sances. Chien then asked them to take the sest of honour; Li-ch'ing then went and sat by side of the son. The servants brought tea, and Ch'en told them to call the cook to prepare a feast, but if she could not be in time, to go to the wine-shop and get somo food ready cooked, and of the best kind. Kao Ya-noi said, "Why take all this trou- ble," but did not rise. The servant soon returned saying, "That to-day being a festival the cook had no time and was gone out." Hsi-chen said, "I must trouble you then to go the wine-shop and get things from there at any cost." Hai-chen said, "I re-
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