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THE CHINA REVIEW.
She hated him so that she would have liked to kill him, but she thought a bit sud called to mind her father's repeated warnings, so she contrived after one or two efforts to restrain herself and went aside and sat on a chair, with her head bent down, not saying a word. Ya-nei, seeing she was not pleased, would only drink more wine. Hsi-chen having seen his friend off hurried back and saw his daughter seated apart, with Ya-nei drink- ing by himself. On seeing him Ya-nei said, "Sit down." Hsi-chen said, "Why, my daughter not accompanying you but sitting on one side; you are both one family, don't be so shy." Li-oh'ing said in a low voice, "My brother wanted me to drink frora his cup and I could not resist other- wise than by moving off" she then rose up and said, "Papa, brother wants to go and amuse himself in the archery ground." Hsi-chen said, "Very good, let us have the things moved to the summer-house there." All three were going off when a servant said, "A bodyman has come from His Excellency, usking Ya-nei te return imme- diately on important business." Hsi-chen said, "As this is so, you, Ya-Bei, must come over another day; the peach blossoms will not be all gone by then." Ya-nei said, "I have eaten nothing and must go." Esi- chen went with him to the door and then coming back said, "My child, what did that brate say to you just now?" Li-ching shook her head and said, "Never mind; who was that guest who came just now? you, Papa, were with him an endless time." Hsi- chen said, "It is Mr. Chang who is going to Chiu-chow-fu; I asked him to take a letter, my child; when that brute comes again you must avoid him; I will make exenses for you." To return to Ya-nei geing home; when he got there he determined to finish up the matter and summoned San and Hsueh, when he said to them, "I shall die, my life will not be a long one." San and Haneh said, "Why does Ya-nei talk thus " Ya-nei said, "Pooh! you do not take any share of iny trouble on yourself; she will not consent
and I am at the end of my plans; how many more days am I to wait on this chaste whore? That girl haunts me in dreams; I can never be absent, and now the soothers of passions in my home no longer delight me; a little pastry is all the food I want; the fish may hang till it stinks, but the out still will grow thin: what have you two now to say?" The two brainless asses said, "Ya-nei, do not be angry, it is not that we have done nothing but that in this business, the hawk must have a long string; as Ya-nei talks thus, we must complete our work." Ya-nei said, "Very good, you do not gene- rally act wrongly," and so he went in fecling very uncomfortable. The two brainless asses Hew off to Hsi-chen's house to see him. Isi-chen said, "It is long since I have seen you." They both answered, "Yos, we have not been here for some time. To-day we have come to wait on you and also on account of an important matter."
"What
is it ?" said Hsi-chen. The two answered, "We have come about the betrothal of your darling young lady, but do not know if you will assent," Hsi-chen laughed and said, "I am much indebted to you two gentlemen, whatever you have to say cannot I should think be wrong, but whose family do you come from?" San said, "Lieutenant, you cun guess." Hsi-chen looked up and smiled and said, "I fear I can't guess unless it is The my adopted son looking thus on high.”* two burst out laughing, "You, old gentle- man, are a god indeed, but what do you say anent this marriage?" Ch'en said, "I hear Ya-nei has two real wives already, what then does he want my daughter to be?" San-kao said, "Please listen, Sir; although Ya-nei has two real wives pot he offers incense for three branches of the family. His Excellency is the second branch. Of the
* A pan. Ya-nei's surname is Kao (high).
This refers to a case where there are eight brothers and two have no children. The one who has offspring can have his son wed three wives, whose children shall respectively belong to each brother. That is, they can sacrifice to him when he is dead.
THE TANG HOU CHI,
two ladies one belongs to the first branch, one belongs to the third branch, so that His Excellency is the second branch, and for this one nothing has been settled. If you, Lieutenant, will consent, your darling will be His Excellency's own sou's wife, and not at all in the same position as the other two. What is your honoured meaning?" Hai- chen said, "I really won't deceive you two gentleman; an old fellow like me is very agreeable to such a marriage, but my rank is not at all equal to that of His Excellency," San said, "Lieutenant, don't talk like this. His Excellency is on very friendly terms with you, how can you then allude to differ- ences in rank? you must please consent and His Excellency is sure to be well pleased." Hsi-chen said, "If this be so, I much depend on your energy, only I have still three matters to ask for, but I don't want to exact any conditions. If His Excellency consents, not only this little maid but ten others would I willingly grant. If he can't consent, I without I hope being accused of contumacy must refuse assent." Sau and Hsuch said, "Please inform us,” Hai-chen said, "One of the three things, there is no need I think to discuss, and I feel sure His Excellency will agree to it. I have no son and depend solely on this daughter of mine. If Ya-nei beoumes my son-in-law he must regard me as his adopted father, and l' in after years shall depend on him." San and Hsueh said, "There will be to difficulty about this." Hsi-chen said, "The second affair is that my daughter, although she is the third to enter his family, yet I hear Ya- nei will soon be selected to be Prefect, and the violet patent, for a wife of the fourth rank, I first wish to be given to my child. The third matter is that I am by nature very fond of delicate living that Hsu Ming pavilion at the back of His Excellency's garden, must be given me for a retired dwel- ling. If any of these three things are not granted there is uo mom for further dis- cussion," Sau and Hanch consulted together and then said, "This, we can give no decì-
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sion about, but we will go and ask His Excellency." The two went off and told Ya-nei, who was as delighted as a lion rolled up in a ball;" what difficulty can there be? what difficulty? but I am miser- able here about one thing;" "What is that P" said they. Ya-nei said, "That girl's face looks as cold as snow, she puts on stupidity and clothes herself with obstinacy; I fear she is not up to the business, and will not be pleased at being married." Sau Kao said, "No, Ya-nei, don't you know she is a pure innocent home- bred girl, not at all like those three-and-four- rooms people who meet yon half way; when she is your wife, she will be the same as others." Ya-noi then led the two to make their request to Kao Chin. The two first conditions His Excellency agreed to, but as to his request for the pavilion, he gave an empty consent and said "When she has come over to our fataily we will think over the matter." Ya-nei was much pleased and told San and Hsueh to go and announce the matter to Hsi-chen, and ask him to choose the day, whilst he would await the answer. The two were gone for four hours, and then they came back and said, "The affair has been settled." Old Ch'en says, if the day is postponed too far off, the weather will be too hot if too near there will be not time sufficient to prepare the marriage pre- sents; he has selected the fourth day of the fourth moon for sending betrothal presents and the 10th for blonding the cups (e marriage), and Kao Chín said, “If this is so, it is very well, and you two had better do the business together, and order a feast to be prepared, but first thanks are due to you two match-makers." Kao Chin then told Ya-nei to accompany the two to the feast, and at night time they returned home, As to San Kao he was thoroughly drunk, and he had just got home and was sitting down, when the servant said, "The Master has come, he has just arrived." San, on hearing this, staggered to his feet, und said, "Ask him to come in and chat."
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