Poo Yu reveals his talent in the Park of Delightful Vision.

Poo Yu reveals his talent in the Park of Delightful Vision. Black Jade

is annoyed by the bite of a fly.

1 HE WORK ON THE MAGNIFICENT NEW PLEASURE GROUNDS WAS COM‐ 

pleted, and one fine day Prince Chen came with his helpers and asso‐ 

ciates to invite Chia Cheng to view them.

"The work as a whole is finished," he told him, "and now we would

like to have your verdict on it, and any suggestions for alterations

which you may wish to express. But above all we want your suggestions

for the inscriptions which have not yet been made and which are to em‐ 

bellish the principal places in the grounds."

"Hm, these inscriptions are going to offer difficulty," said Chia

Cheng, thoughtfully. "Strictly speaking, according to the Book of Rites,

we must leave to our noble guest the honor of deciding upon suitable

titles and inscriptions; but without a personal impression of the land‐ 

scape and the scenery the Imperial spouse will lack the necessary in‐ 

spiration for this. If, on the other hand, we await the happy hour of her

visit and refrain from putting up any inscription or any motto until

then, the scenery, despite all its charms, will still lack something es‐ 

sential."

"Quite so," they replied. "And to surmount this difficulty it seems to

us that the best we can do for the time being is to write, in three or four

characters, only the basic theme of the various inscriptions and mottoes

and to leave the final composition of the text to our illustrious visitor

herself to decide at the happy hour of her arrival."

"I agree; let us, then, commence our tour of inspection, for which

this lovely spring weather is ideal," decided Chia Cheng,. leading the

way. It just happened that, as the party approached, Pao Yu was in the

new park, which he had been visiting frequently of late at his grand‐ 

mother's wish, to seek distraction after the many weeks of mourning

for his dead friend. Prince Chen, who had gone on ahead of the rest of

the company, laughingly advised him to disappear as fast as he could

because his stern old governor was coming that way. Much frightened,

Pao Yu hurried towards the exit, but just as he got outside, he ran

straight into the much‐feared parent. There was no way of escape, so

he stood shyly at the edge of the path waiting for the company to pass

by.

"Come with us!" his father ordered tersely and abruptly. He had

heard recently from old Tai Ju that his scion, while not overstudious in

school, was showing a truly extraordinary talent for the composition of

couplets and antitheses. So he wished to test him out a bit today.

Mr. Cheng stopped first in front of the covered gateway and let the

impression of the view from outside work upon him. The roofs of the

five‐doored gateway,' which were covered with copper tiles, stood out

like the shimmering scaly backs of lizards or alligators. The balustrades

and steps of the marble bridge which led to the entrance were adorned

with artistically wrought ornaments in the Western style. Neither the

gateway nor the bridge had any whitewash or paint; both above and

below everything glittered in the natural white of water‐clear marble.

White was also the color of the lime‐washed wall enclosing the whole,

which ran from left and right of the gateway. The wall rose from a base

of natural freestones which were ribbed like a tiger's pelt, and cut and

placed in such a way, one over the other, that they gave the wall a most

pleasing appearance. The whole impression was that of an unusual

setting for a beautiful jewel.

Well content, Mr. Cheng moved on. Just inside the gateway the eye

was met by a green Bill.

"What a beautiful hill ! " they all exclaimed, enraptured.

"This hill, which at first shuts out the view, heightens expectation. If

one were to see the whole park immediately upon entering, the effect

would be monotonous," remarked Chia Cheng.

"Quite so!" the others agreed. "One must have heights and depths to

enliven the spirit."

They walked on by a narrow path which wound upwards through a

narrow gorge formed by mighty, gray rocks overgrown with moss and

creepers. These rocks, with their grotesque shapes, lying this way and

that, looked as fantastic as goblins or mighty, fabulous animals. Half‐ 

way up, in front of a single mirror‐bright sheet of stone, they halted

"It seems to me that this is the right place for an inscription. What

name shall we give to this spot? Your suggestions, please, gentlemen!"

.urged Chia Cheng.

A dozen suggestions, such as "Stratified Kingfisher Green," "Em‐ 

broidered Cra'gs," and the like, were heard. Pao Yu was the last to be

called upon to speak. He gave it frankly and freely as his opinion that

an inscription would be somewhat premature here, where one had just

taken the first step into the grounds, but if it were definitely desired to

adorn this in itself unimportant spot with a motto, he would suggest the

words, reminiscent of an ancient text: "On twisted paths through twi‐ 

light shades." There was general applause.

"This suggestion of our worthy nephew expresses true natural talent.

Compared with him, we others are only clumsy duffers and dry ped‐ 

ants," said the seniors, flatteringly.

"No exaggerated praise, if you please, or the boy will get notions

about his bit of knowledge. Better laugh at him; it would be more beneficial to him," objected Chia Cheng, smiling. "At any rate we have still

got time to consider the matter."

The path led on through dark grottoes into bright clearings over

slopes, some covered with bushes, some with trees, and others, again,

with flowers, along by a babbling brook which here wound sleepily

through level land and there hopped in gay leaps down towards a valley,

to disappear into a narrow fell, and finally to disperse in the form of a

steep, foaming waterfall into a small, shimmering lake. A white marble

balustrade encircled the shores of the lake, and over its narrow side the

triple arch of a marble bridge stretched like the gaping jaws of a sea

monster. The pavilion which stood on the bridge and overhung the

water was chosen as the next halting place.

All were fully agreed that this charming water pavilion was not only

worthy of a poetical name but definitely had to be extolled in a hepta‐ 

metric couplet. Hence, there followed a lively literary debate in which

Pao Yu once more had an opportunity of shining. While all the others

thought at once of an apt quotation from the celebrated ode, "Pavilion

of a drunken old man," in which the poet glorifies a pavilion near the

source of the Niang, and wanted to take from this ode the name of

Waterfall of Jasper, Pao Yu maintained that this was not a suitable

name. On the occasion of receiving such an exalted visit, one must pay

heed to etiquette and remember that the ideograph for waterfall also

stood for something very indelicate, namely, diarrhea, and might there‐ 

fore cause disgust in the highest quarters. This argument was quite un‐

answerable. Chia Cheng stroked his beard thoughtfully and remarked

that the boy was full of the spirit of contradiction and that nothing was

right to him. First he had been all in favor of old quotations, and now

when an old quotation had been proposed he had an objection to raise

to it. In the end, Pao Yu's suggestion of "Through Perfumed Glades"

as title for the place, where a waterfall emerged from a flowery glade,

found unanimous acceptance, and the couplet which he improvised on

the spot at his father's wish aroused still more admiration.

The company next made a round of the lake, in the course of which

each mount, crag, flower, and tree was the subject of a separate and

thorough examination. Suddenly they found themselves before a shady

bamboo grove surrounded by a low, whitewashed wall. Inside this green

belt lay hidden a friendly little country house, built on piles.

"What a charming little place!" they all exclaimed. They went in. An

arbor‐covered walk led in zigzag bends from the gateway up to the little

cottage, which had only three rooms, two of them opening onto open

verandas, and all three furnished tastefully but with the utmost econ‐ 

omy of space. From the center room a narrow door led into a back

garden full of pear trees and banana plants in bloom. From a foot‐wide

opening down by the garden wall a clear spring bubbled, which, turning

into a babbling brook, wound its way through the garden around the

little cottage, and splashed down from the bamboo glade, to hasten,

finally, into the near‐by lake.

"What a delightful spot! Think of sitting here at the window on a

beautiful moonlit night, studying; that would not be spending one's life

in vain!" exclaimed Chia Cheng, with a censorious glance at his son, Pao

Yu, who at once bowed his head timidly. Once more a lively literary

contest arose regarding a suitable motto, and again it was Pao Yu's idea

which won the day. He emphasized the fact that the distinguished

visitor would make her first rest at this spot and that for this reason the

inscription must contain some pleasant personal allusion. The classical

quotation which he recommended, "A phoenix comes with grace to

rest," aroused the general enthusiasm of the seniors no whit less than

did the further stanza which he had to compose at his father's com‐ 

mand. His father alone dissented, and was heard to mutter disparag‐ 

ingly something about "mediocrity" and "the brains of an insect."

The way now curved around a green projecting hillock, behind which

there emerged into view a rice plantation protected by low yellow clay

walls. Adjoining this paddy field was an orchard of some hundreds of

apricot trees in bloom. Behind the flame‐red cloud of blossoms the

straw‐thatched roof of a farmhouse peeped through. At the other side

of the farmhouse stood a mixed group of trees, such as elms, mulberry

trees, and cherry trees. Around them was a green hedge and "behind

this, on a hill, a country well, complete with bucket and lever. Beyond

the well stretched extensive plantations of choice vegetables, each kind

in its accurately measured plot.

"That is what pleases me!" exclaimed Mr. Cheng, enchanted at the

sight of all the tillage. "A piece of land laid out like that has sense and

meaning. I cannot contain my feelings, for the sight moves me to the

depths of my being and awakens my longing for a peaceful country

life. Let us go in there and rest!"

But at the same moment he discovered by the wayside, behind the

j>ath through the hedge, a single block of rock which doubtless lay there

to invite the wayfarer to sit down and meditate. This rock awaited an

inscription. "No! Come here instead. It is even lovelier here!" he

cried from outside, and they all followed him and gathered around

the slab of rock. Once more a profound literary discussion arose. "Vil‐ 

lage of Blossoming Apricot" was proposed unanimously by the elders.

But here again Pao Yu was of another opinion, and this time, no doubt

emboldened by the previous applause, he put forward his opinion

somewhat audaciously, without waiting to be asked for it by his father.

This brought him a sharp paternal reprimand.

The company now entered the straw‐thatched farmhouse. How simple

it was inside! Parchment panes were pasted over the window frames,

simple wooden bunks served as beds. Every trace of luxury or refine‐ 

ment was washed away, as it were. This was all entirely to Mr. Cheng's

taste. But was it to his son's taste loo?

"Now, how do you like it here?" he asked, to put him to the test. The

seniors, who did not fail to see the hidden intention behind this ques‐ 

tion, tried to convey to Pao Yu by signs and taps that he should answer

in a manner pleasing to his father. But Pao Yu seemed to be slow of

comprehension.

"This one cannot at all compare for beauty with the other co \ntry

house to which we gave the title ''A phoenix comes with grace to rest' "

was his glib verdict.

"Stupid boy!" roared Chia Cheng. "Must you, then, always have red

balconies and brightly colored pillars? It is plain that, to your depraved

taste, nothing is beautiful which is not costly and fine. You have no

understanding whatsoever of the pure charm of nature simplicity which

this place breathes. In this you betray your utter lack of culture."

Pao Yu had the impertinence to differ, and plunged into a lengthy

dissertation on the interpretation of the term "natural," and denying

that this piece of ground, which only simulated nature, had any real

naturalness. It was an artificial creation made by human hands, iso‐ 

lated, and set down without any natural affinity, in an environment en‐ 

tirely alien to it. True, there were fields here but there was no highroad

leading to a near‐by market in which the crops could be sold; there was

no village in the neighborhood, no temple on the hill. In fact, it lacked

this, that, and the other things necessary to maintain the illusion of

nature, in contrast to the other country house where there was nothing

contradictory to the surroundings and which, despite the artificial bam‐ 

boo plantation and the artificial watering, nevertheless merited the ad‐ 

jective "natural." In his ardor he became more and more theoretical,

until his father lost patience at last and cut short his stream of elo‐ 

quence with an angry: "Shut up and be off!"

Much taken aback, Pao Yu slipped out the gate, only to be immedi‐ 

ately recalled with a harsh: "Stop! Stay here!" He was not allowed to

evade dutifully producing the required couplet.

Pao Yu did his best and improvised a most charming couplet, but his

father only greeted this latest product of his muse with a muttering,

"Worse and worse each time!"

On they went. The path rounded a hill, wound through a flowery field

in which there was a rock spring surrounded by willows, led to an arbor

of Kashmir thistles, from there to a grove of peonies, and thence

through a rose garden to a banana plantation. After various zigzag

bends they stood before a rock grotto, overhung with creeping plants,

from which they could hear the rippling sound of water. Here the com‐ 

pany came to a halt and broke into exclamations of delight. Naturally,

this again was the right place for a motto. "Wu ling Spring" and

"Grotto of the Strange Hermit" were suggested, while Pao Yu proposed

"Bank of the Ferns." "Nonsense!" exclaimed Chia Cheng, cutting short

the discussion and walking on through the grotto. At the other side its

noisy brook ran into a silent dam.

"Can one not go on farther from here in a boat?" asked Chia Cheng.

"There are to be four boats for picking water lilies and one for row‐ 

ing," replied Prince Chen, "but unfortunately they are not here yet."

"What a pity!"

""Yes, we must go over the mountain on foot," replied Prince Chen,

taking the lead. A steep mountain path wound upwards along the gorge,

It was so narrow; indeed, that one had to hold on to shrubs and

branches. Then it ran down again, and the wayfarers found themselves

on the edge of a silent, lonely fishpond overhung with willow, peach,

and apricot trees. At the other end of the fishpond they caught a

glimpse, between the gre"en foliage of the trees, of a wooden bridge with

a red railing. Crossing this, they came upon a neat but apparently quite

tasteless brick house surrounded by a wall.

"Quite devoid of charm!" was the verdict of Chia Cheng.

Yet immediately beyond this plain building the landscape became

romantic once more. For the house lay with its back embedded, as it

were, in a great boulder‐strewn gorge, from which one single rugged

peak of rock rose steeply upwards. One felt suddenly and completely

transported to an austere highland landscape Flowers and trees were

completely absent. Only mosses, rare herbs, and trailing plants which

exuded aromatic and .exotic perfumes were visible here.

"This is really interesting," said Chia Cheng, correcting his first im‐ 

pression. "What a pity one knows so little about these plants."

His remark encouraged Pao Yu to display .his botanical knowledge.

In a long dissertation, interlarded with many learned quotations, he

identified the various plants one after another, glibly rolling off the un‐ 

familiar botanical names, until his father at last lost patience and

stopped him with a gruff: "Be silent! Who asked you?" Pao Yu, who

had rather expected some praise, was so intimidated that he did not

dare to open his mouth at all for a long time.

A twin pair of covered corridors led, like two outstretched arms,

from this alpine herdsman's hut to an ornate building. This one con‐ 

sisted of five rooms, was completely encircled by an open veranda, and,

with its graceful curved root, its prettily varnished walls, and the green

gauze curtains at the windows, it made an even more pleasing impres‐ 

sion than the various buildings which had been viewed up to this.

"If a man could brew his tea and peacefully play his lute here, he

could even find consolation and escape from the thought that he would

die without a son and have no one to offer sacrifice and burn incense

for him after his death," sighed Chia Cheng. Then, while the usual liter‐ 

ary debate was going on, he turned brusquely to his son, who was still

remaining silent.

"Why do you not speak when you should?" he asked. "No doubt you

are waiting to be politely requested to grant us the favor of your gra‐ 

cious instruction?"

Pao Yu could not evade the paternal challenge, and once more his

motto and his couplet met with the unanimous applause of the seniors.

But Mr. Cheng muttered something disparaging about "plagiarism"

and quoted the original verse upon which Pao Yu had based his compo‐ 

sition. The seniors, however, defended Pao Yu and asserted that at that

rate even the great Li Tai Po himself could be accused of plagiarism,

since he had based his ode, "The Terrace of the Phoenix" entirely upon

an earlier poem, "The Tower of the Yellow Crane." What mattered was

the excellence of the new version, and in this case Pao Yu's was de‐ 

cidedly better than the original.

A gruff "Nonsense" was Mr. Cheng's only reply.

After a short walk they reached a high and magnificent castle. A

pleasure gallery one story high led from this, in many curves and wind‐ 

ings, far into the countryside. The tops of pine trees caressed the edges

of the roofs. The marble terraces were lined with orchids. The bodies of

dragons and other fabulous animals glittered in gold, silver and bronze.

"The main hall," cried Mr. Cheng. "The only fault one can find with

it is a certain excess of magnificence."

"We are aware that the Imperial spouse values simplicity, yet con‐ 

sidering her high rank the outlay entailed here did not seem to us to be

excessive, but on the contrary called for as our due tribute of respect,"

the others replied.

On they went until they came to a high triumphal arch made of soft

white soapstone. Its frieze was ornamented with a design of dragons in

bas‐relief.

"What title shall we give this?" asked Mr. Cheng. "Entrance to the

Domain of the Blessed Spirits" was the unanimous suggestion. Pao Yu

was sunk deep in thought. The remembrance of a similar stone arch

which he had once seen though he could not remember when neither

the day, the month, or the year had been reawakened in him. He was

so lost in thought that he still remained silent even when his father

asked him for a title.

"Give him until tomorrow!" the seniors urged Mr. Cheng. They as‐ 

sumed that Pao Yu was so exhausted from being asked so often that his

brain had now ceased to function, and they feared that if he was too

much harried and goaded like an ox in harness his health might suffer,

and then they would have to expect the reproaches of the Princess An‐ 

cestress. Did not Mr. Cheng think the same?

"Ha, ha, the infant prodigy has reached the end of his wits," he

jeered. "Yes, you may be right." Then, turning to the boy: "Very well,

I give you until tomorrow, but woe betide you if you have not found a

title by then. You will pay for it!"

It was now decided to cut short the tour of inspection somewhat, for

there was too much to be seen. Of all the parks and grounds, only about

five‐ or six‐tenths had been viewed so far. The company halted once

more near a big bridge. Here there was a weir, over which the dammed‐ 

up watercourse dropped like a glistening crystal curtain.

"What name shall we give this weir?" asked Mr. Cheng.

"Weir of Penetrating Perfumes," suggested Pao Yu.

"Rubbish! Out of the question!" snapped Mr. Cheng, cutting short

the debate and striding on. There followed in gay succession imposing

halls and simple straw‐thatched huts, massive brick walls and graceful,

flowery arbors, silent mountain temples, hermits' cells hidden in dense

woods, and witches' caves where love potions might be brewed, pleasure

galleries and winding cloisters cut out of rock, angular kiosks, circular

pavilions, and many other things worth looking at. But Mr. Cheng did

not give himself time to stop everywhere. His legs were tired from walk‐ 

ing for such a long time, and he pressed on towards the exit.

A separately hedged off part of the park now emerged into view.

"Let us go and rest in there for a while," suggested Mr. Cheng. They

turned aside from the road and, passing under peach trees in bloorn and

through a rose arbor made of tall bamboo rods, came to a circular

moon gateway. Right and left of the gateway was an encircling white‐ 

washed wall, shaded with willows from the outside. Along the side of

the wall ran a covered pleasure gallery. Apart from a few banana plants

which stood among groups of rocks, the courtyard contained only one

magnificent specimen of that rare plant, the golden begonia. Its crown

spread out like an open umbrella, its branches shimmered like golden

threads, the calices of its flowers seemed as it were to spit out ver‐ 

milion.

"What magnificent blossoms!" they all cried in chorus. "Was such a

magnificent specimen ever seen before?"

"It is the foreign kind which is called 'Maiden Begonia,' " remarked

Chia Cheng. "The popular explanation for the name is that this variety

comes from a distant country of amazons. But that is only a wild

legend."

"This explanation does not seem to us so completely without founda‐ 

tion," said the seniors. "The blossoms are indeed quite extraordinary.

It may well he true that the plant comes from a country of amazons."

"Very probably the legend originated in the fertile brain of some

poet or travelling minstrel," remarked Pao Yu. "The rose tint, the

maidenly delicacy and fragility of the blooms may have inspired him

with it. And then, in the course of time, his fantastic explanation came

to be regarded as truth, because it is such a lovely and plausible ex‐ 

planation."

"Splendid! Well said!" applauded the seniors.

They sat down for a brief rest on the seats in the pleasure corridor

and agreed upon the title "Towering Radiance and Shimmering

Beauty." Pao Yu too found the title good though not quite adequate,

since it only referred to the begonia and left the banana plants uncon‐ 

sidered. The combination of the red of the begonias and the green

of the bananas was a deliberate one and therefore required to be ex‐ 

pressed in the title. Hence he suggested "Fragrant Red and Nephrite

Green."

"Bad," growled Chia Cheng, shaking his head and standing up to go

on.

On crossing the courtyard the party came to a circular hall. Its walls

were covered from top to bottom with intricately carved, perforated

woodwork. This showed the most varied assortment of patterns and

pictures driving clouds, fluttering bats, trees and shrubs, flowers and

birds, landscape pictures and scenes from human life, interlaced every‐ 

where with the ever‐recurrent lucky signs fit and shou, signifying

"Happiness" and "Long Life." All these things, carved by an artist's

hand, veneered with gold leaf and five colors besides, and encrusted

with brilliant stones, gave a deceptively lifelike impression. From this

artistic background there projected fanlike wall partitions on which

there were arranged book‐rests, flower vases, pewter dishes, and similar

objects. These wall partitions were most varied in form. Some were

angular, some were round, some had the shape of banana leaves, others

that of sunflower leaves, and yet others took the form of intersected

half‐circles; and they all fitted into their graceful frames like samplers

of tapestry. Then, there were here and there niches in the walls,

screened with silk curtains, which gave the impression of being secret,

hidden doors; and inside these were precious antiques and works of

art such as bronze swords, lutes, porcelain vases, and the like.

The astonishment and admiration of the company knew no bounds

and, carried away by their delight in the sights, they had already em‐

barked upon a second round, when Chia Cheng announced that it was

time to leave. But he could no longer find the exit. The circular hall

contained a number of mirror doors, all similar, and several windows,

lil vise similar, and the pattern on the wall was so confusingly con‐

tinu ? that it was quite impossible to see where it began and where

it ended. But Prince Chen, who knew the place thoroughly, smilingly

led the party out of this mazelike hall through the correct mirrored

door. Threading their way between flower beds and rose trellises, they

passed for a time along a clear watercourse and around the foot of a

hill before reaching level ground once more.

"A truly enchanting parjk, a peak achievement of brilliant inven‐ 

tion!" Such was the verdict of the highly gratified company. Pao Yu

was glad that the time had come to leave. He was yearning for the

company of girls, which he had had to do without for so long. But he

had to wait on, for his father had not yet dismissed him.

The word of release came at last. "What are you doing still hang‐ 

ing about here? Have you not had enough? Be off! Your grandmother

will be asking for you," said Chia Cheng, suddenly turning to him. He

made off in a trice.

The party was hardly out of sight when several of his father's serv‐ 

ants came rushing along behind him, and surrounded him, chatter‐ 

ing and laughing excitedly.

"Rejoice, young Master! The old master is in a good humor," they in‐ 

formed him with solemn faces. "Your grandmother sent for you sev‐ 

eral times, but the old master sent her word that he was pleased with

you and wished to keep you for a little time longer in his company.

Everyone is full of praise of your talent, and they are all saying that

your mottoes were much more beautiful than the others. And now you

must give us something to celebrate the day."

"Very well, each of you shall have a string of coppers," said Pao Yu,

laughing.

"No, coppers are no use to us. We want a proper souvenir," they

protested vigorously, and without waiting for his consent they took hold

of him and in no time had pulled off the purse, the fan‐shaped case, and

all the other little things which he carried on his belt.

"Now, that's settled," they declared, "we will be your guard of honor

and take you to the old Tai tai." And they escorted him in triumph into

the presence of the Princess' Ancestress. "Oh, they've plundered you

shamelessly!" remarked the maid Pearl with a smile, as she poured him

tea in the green pavilion.

Black Jade, who had overheard this remark from the next room, came

and looked at him attentively.

"You have given them the embroidered lotus‐leaf purse that I

gave you! That's nice! You may be certain that I will never give you

a present again!" she said petulantly, turning her back on him. On re‐ 

turning to her room she took her scissors and began angrily cutting

to pieces the still unfinished perfume bag which he had asked her to

make for him a short time before. Pao Yu, who came running in after

her, looked on regretfully at the work of destruction.

"What a pity to destroy the lovely bag!" he said. "But look! What's

this I've got here?" Saying this, ‐he turned back the facing of his coat

and, pulling out a lotus‐leaf purse, held it towards her, smiling. She

looked up. It was the one she had given him. She immediately re‐ 

pented her hastiness and hung her head, silent and ashamed. He must

really treasure her gift, she thought, to keep it so safely hidden under

his clothing. But to punish her he now began to play the offended party.

"You need not have been so quick with your scissors. But if you

think me unworthy of your gift, please take back your purse!" he said

coolly, aiming the purse so truly at her that it slid straight down her

bosom. Whereupon he left the room. Black Jade burst out crying, took

the purse from inside her dress, and was just beginning to cut it up

with the scissors. But suddenly there was Pao Yu standing before her

again. With a rapid movement he snatched from her this second victim

of her ill‐temper.

"Spare it, dear little sister!" he begged her, smiling. She let the

scissors fall to the ground and, dabbing her tear‐filled eyes with her

handkerchief, said in a voice choked with sobs: "It is horrible of you

to toy with me as you do. Nice one time and nasty the next ... I

can't bear it. . . ."

She jumped up and threw herself on her bed, the better to go on

drying her eyes with her face turned to the wall. Pao Yu could not

refrain from jumping up after her and assuring her, with many tender

words, how sorry he was to have offended her, and that he recognized

his guilt and would be better in the future.

Meanwhile the Princess Ancestress had been inquiring where her

grandson was. He was in Miss Ling's room, she was told.

"That's all the better," said the grandmother. "His father has been

tormenting and persecuting him half the day. Why begrudge him a

little time enjoying himself with his cousin, out of harm's way? Do not

call him, but only see that they do not quarrel!"

Black Jade, who found Pao Yu's endearments too overwhelming

for her liking, had got up from the bed again.

"You tormenter! You do not leave me a moment in peace! I am

going to leave you," she said, going towards the door

"Then I shall go with you," he declared, beginning to fasten the

lotus‐leaf purse back on his belt. But suddenly she snatched it from

him.

"I think you do not like it. You are a plague and a nuisance!

"Dear Mei met, give it back to me!"

"First say 'please' nicely!"

"Please, please! And you will give me the perfume bag ypu promised

me too, won't you?"

"That will depend entirely on my mood."