One night the maid Pearl tests Poo Yu's feelings and stipulates her conditions.

One night the maid Pearl tests Poo Yu's feelings and stipulates her

conditions. Black Jade makes fun of Cousin Little Cloud.

ON RETURNING TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE, BEGINNING OF SPRING GAVE

her Imperial husband a report of her harmonious and pleasant visit to

her home. The dragon countenance of the Son of Heaven grew bright

with joy and in token of his favor and recognition he sent rich gifts

of silk, gold, and silver to his father‐in‐law Chia Cheng, for himself and

his family and also for distribution among the personal attendants of

the Imperial spouse.

After all the trouble and exertion which the illustrious visit had

.caused, the inmates of the east and west palaces permitted themselves

a few days of well‐earned rest and recreation. The New Year celebra‐ 

tions continued, it is true, but they were less formal than usual. Apart

from Phoenix, who continued to carry out her household duties with

her wonted energy, everyone sought his or her own comfort and

bothered as little as possible about others. Thus it happened that Pao

Yu was left to his own devices more than usual, and as the family school

was closed for the New Year holidays, he hardly knew what to do with

all his free time. He got bored by the monotony of the days, and lack of

supervision whetted his desire for freedom.

One afternoon he slipped away from the theatrical performance in

the Ningkuo palace. The demon dances on the stage, with their accom‐ 

paniment of wild cries and the intoxicating music of gongs and drums

which could be heard right out on the street, where they held a crowd

of loiterers spellbound with admiration, were not at all to his taste. He

found this kind of art too rough and ready.

After a hurried, passing glance into the inner rooms, where he said

good‐by to Princess Chen and various secondary wives, he stole into a

somewhat secluded part of the building, a little reading pavilion. In this

pavilion hung the picture of a marvelously beautiful woman which was

painted in a manner so true to nature that it almost seemed to breathe.

I will keep this beautiful lady company so that she will not feel so for‐ 

saken on this merry holiday, he thought to himself.

He was all alone, for the servants too had a great deal of freedom that

day. The older ones were free to indulge in their beloved card games or

spend the day with their relatives in the town; the younger ones were

allowed to attend the theatrical performances and fireworks. Today

none of them was required to bother much about the little master.

As Pao Yu passed under the window of the pavilion he heard a sound

of sighing and groaning from inside. What's this? Can the picture have

come to life? he thought in alarm, poking a hole in the window parch‐ 

ment to look in. No, the picture had not come to life; the noise came

instead from two real mortals who were absorbed in that pleasurable

game which the Fairy of Fearful Awakening had once taught him. In

the male half of the couple he recognized his valet, Ming Yen.

"Stop that!" he shouted, pushing the door open with his foot. The

lovers separated in haste, hurriedly fastening their clothing. Ming Yen

fell on his knees before his master and begged for mercy.

"This is a nice way to behave in clear daylight; if the master of the

house hears of it, it will go ill with you," scolded Pao Yu, at the same

time taking a good look at Ming Yen's partner. She was not exactly a

beauty, this little kitchen maid, but she was charming and pretty

enough not to leave a male heart unmoved. She had become red to the

ears, and was standing with downcast eyes, silent and embarrassed.

"Why don't you clear out?" asked Pao Yu angrily, stamping his foot.

The little creature slipped out like the wind. Pao Yu followed her.

"Don't be afraid; I am not a telltale !" he called after her.

"Not so loud, little ancestor. Your shouting will certainly betray us!"

cried Ming Yen, following him, in his turn. Pao Yu stopped and let the

young girl slip off. After he had questioned Ming Yen about her age

and parentage, he said that he would like to take some kind of expedi‐ 

tion. Ming Yen suggested a good long walk outside the city walls, but

his master thought that too daring. He finally decided on a visit to the

home of Pearl, who had got leave to spend the day with her mother.

The hou^e was only a bare mile away.

Pearl, who was just taking tea and cake with her mother and brother

and half a dozen female cousins, felt not a little surprised and honored

by the unexpected visit of her young master. He must surely be very

fond of her indeed if he could not do without her for a few hours.

She had wondered what urgent matter had brought him here, but he

said he was merely bored and wanted her company. Yet she had to

scold him for his folly in daring to leave the house all on his own and

she wanted to send him straight back. What if they missed him? Or if

he met his stern old father on the way? Or if his horse took fright in

the crowded streets and threw him? she asked anxiously. Her brother,

who was older than she, calmed her, saying that since the young gentle‐ 

man was here they were bound in decency to entertain him for a while.

So they took him into the living room, made him sit down on the

heated kang, and set before him all kinds of modest titbits which he did

not touch. Little comfort though Pearl's simple home could offer him,

nevertheless the change pleased him. The easygoing atmosphere of

humble folk which this living room breathed was something quite new

to the spoiled young aristocrat from a great house, and several of the

simple young things who sat with downcast eyes and flushed cheeks

around the family board seemed to him quite charming. Pearl herself

was touching in her attentions to him. She pushed her own cushion be‐ 

hind his back, put her own foot‐warmer to his feet, and set alight in his

honor two sweet‐smelling offerings of pressed plum blossoms. He no‐ 

ticed that there were red circles round her eyes and signs of tears on her

powdered cheeks.

"Have you been crying?" he asked gently.

"No, no ! A speck of dust got in my eye, and the lid has got red from

rubbing it," she answered brightly. "But you are very smartly dressed !

It was not for us, was it?" she asked, changing the subject hurriedly.

"No, it was for that awful theatrical show at Prince Chen's. I have

just come from it."

"And you must go back to it as quickly as you can. Our poor hut is

no place for you to be."

"I am going, but you must come back soon." She gave him a know‐ 

ing smile. Then she took the five‐colored cord with the stone amulet

from his neck and handed it round the family circle.

"Look, this is the wonderful thing I have often told you about.

Now you can look at it and wonder at it with your own eyes. Have a

really good look at it; you don't have the chance to see such a strange

thing as that every day," she declared proudly, fastening the cord

round his neck again. After this Pao Yu cut short his brief visit. On

Pearl's advice he hired a small covered sedan chair, which brought him

up near the side gate of the Ningkuo palace, so that he might avoid

being recognized on the way. Only there did he mount his horse again;

and in this way he got in unobserved. Thus his little flight into freedom

passed without repercussions, and it would have been scarcely worth

mentioning here were it not for the fact that it contributed to strengthen‐ 

ing Pearl's self‐assurance to a very great extent, as was soon apparent.

In his absence his former nurse, Mother Li, had come hobbling along

on her stick to pay him a New Year visit. Although she had long since

retired from service because of her age, nevertheless she felt that she

was still as important and indispensable as ever. She had scolded the

waiting maids and housemaids as usual and held forth loudly about the

loose ways that had crept into the household since she had left it; and

had gone away at last, still chiding and scolding^ having eaten up the

delicious mousse which had been sent specially that morning from the

Imperial kitchens for Pao Yu, and which Pao Yu had set aside for the

maid Pearl.

When Pearl came home in the evening he apologized to her because

the greedy old woman had once more snapped up her titbit out of envy.

Pearl, in her nice considerate way, had laughed it off, saying: "Thank

you for the good intention, but the last time I took that mousse it did not

agree with nie at all, tasty though it is. So I'm not a bit sorry for it. I

should much prefer a few nice roast chestnuts before going to bed. Per‐ 

haps you would peel some for me?"

Pao Yu obediently ordered a plate of roast chestnuts, picked out the

best, and peeled them for her with his own hands.

"Who was that girl in red, this afternoon?" he inquired casually,

absorbed in his occupation.

"She was a cousin of mine. But what are you sighing for? No doubt

you are thinking she is not grand enough to dress so strikingly?"

"Quite the contrary. Who has a better right than she to dress in red?

Could she not be taken on here?"

"Certainly not. My people find it quite enough to have one slave in

the family. You shall have to look around for someone else," retorted

Pearl, insolently.

"Do not be so touchy. I did not mean that she should come as a

slave, but only to visit, as your relative."

"She is not suitable company for you."

Pao Yu fell silent and went on peeling the chestnuts.

''Why don't you speak?" she went on after a fairly long pause. '"I

suppose I've offended yot 1 ? Very well, for all I care, if you're so struck

with her, it need only cost you a few ounces of silver and she's yours."

"You misunderstand me. I only meant to say that she deserves far

better than an inferior creature like me to pass her life in these spacious

halls and extensive gardens."

"That good fortune has certainly been denied her, but she has never

had to suffer want and her parents have spoiled her in every way. She

is seventeen now and she has already got her full bridal equipment

ready in her trunks and cases. For she's getting married this year."

A regretful "Ah!" escaped from Pao Yu.

"Yes, indeed, it's a pity," continued Pearl with a sigh. "We cousins

have seen so little of each other all these years that I've been here. And

now, just when I am about to return home, she is leaving us."

Pao Yu was so startled that he let the chestnuts roll onto the ground.

"What? You want to return home?" he asked, dumfounded.

"Yes. Just when you came this afternoon we were having a family

council over it. My mother and my brother were urging me to remain

just one more year in service; then they would have got together enough

money to buy my freedom."

"Why do they want to buy you free?"

"What a funny question ! After all, I am not a daughter of the house.

Do you think perhaps that I should end my days here?"

"What if I do not let you go?"

"Oho ! Even at the Imperial Court there is no such thing as perpetual

servitude. The domestic staff is changed and added to every few years.

There are special laws about these things. If even the Court must bow

to those laws, then your house must assuredly do so."

Pao Yu could not hide from himself the fact that she was right.

Nevertheless he tried to put forward other objections.

"You will find it difficult to get free without the permission of the

old Tai tai," he remarked.

"Why should she be against it? Am I perchance so special that she

could not do without me? That she should perhaps consent to an addi‐ 

tion to my mother's allowance, in order to keep me? It seems to me,

on the other hand, that I am no better than the average girl and can

be easily replaced at any time. At any rate, I have been in'the service

of your family long enough, first several years with Miss Little Cloud,

the old Tai tai's granddaughter, and after that who knows how many

years with you. It's really time for me to go. Your grandmother will be

pleased, on the contrary, I do believe, when she is rid of me at last, and

she won't demand a specially big ransom. The fact that I have served

you well was only my duty. Others do their duty just as well or better."

Pao Yu fidgeted uneasily on his seat.

"But what if I greatly desire you to remain? Would your mother not

desist from her intention if my grandmother asks her to, and offers her

an increased allowance?"

"My mother would certainly not dare to resist if the old Tai tai in‐ 

sisted absolutely that I should remain, and in that case there would He

no need of increasing the allowance by a single copper. But the question

is, would the old Tai tai insist? As far as I know, it lias never been the

custom of your family to misuse their power and influence in order to

intimidate and coerce the weak. From what I know of the old Tai tai I

doubt very much whether she would depart from this noble family tradi‐ 

tion in order to force my mother ‐and me to sometfiing which would be

of no particular advantage to your family and a human hardship for

mine."

Pao Yu remained thoughtful for a few moments.

"If I understand you aright, you are seriously resolved to leave?"

"Yes."

Ungrateful creature! he thought to himself, angrily. Then aloud,

with a sigh: "If I had guessed that before I would never have taken you

into my service. Now I shall remain behind alone here, a poor forsaken

ghost."

He slipped off sadly to his bed and lay down. He did not know that

Pearl had only been play‐acting a bit, in order to test his feelings for

her. In reality, she had declared today at home, when her mother and

brother had expressed the intention of buying her back, that she had no

desire to be ransomed and would rather die than leave her service. At

a time when there was not another grain of rice to eat at home, she her‐ 

self had decided to be sold into servitude to save her family from star‐ 

vation. She was lucky enough to have a position now where she lacked

neither clothing nor good food, was treated almost like a daughter of

the house, and was neither beaten by day nor misused by night; and was

she to be so foolish as to give up this pleasant life now to return to the

narrowness of her home? Certainly not. She did not wish to hear an‐ 

other word about being bought back, and meantime would prefer her

family to regard her as being dead.

An excited family discussion had followed, in the course of which

some tears, of which Pao Yu had remarked the traces, had been shed.

The result was that the mother and brother gave way and dropped their

intention. Pao Yu's unexpected visit had shown them the warm relations

existing between servant and master and left them completely con‐ 

vinced and reassured. In short, all that Pearl had just said about leaving

and being ransomed was sheer fiction.

Pao Yu had not been in bed for long when Pearl came to his bedside

and gave him a cheerful shaking. She noticed tears on his cheeks.

"What has wounded your heart?" she asked gently. "It all depends

on whether you are really bent on keeping me. If you. are, I could per‐ 

haps stay," she added unexpectedly.

He jumped up.

"Oh, is that so? And what can I do to keep you?"

"You would have to promise me three things. If you can do that, I

will believe in the sincerity of your wish, and then I will stay, even if

they were to cut my throat here."

"Name three, name a hundred conditions, dearest little sister! I

will do everything you ask if you will only stay with me. Remain at

least until I have turned into fleeting ashes no, not ashes, for ashes

would still contain too big a remnant of my bodily being. Remain until

1 have turned into a streak of smoke and been blown away by the wind

without leaving a trace. Then I will need you no longer; then you may

go wherever your fancy urges you. . . . !"

As he spoke he became more and more vehement. She sealed his

mouth with her hand and stopped him from speaking more.

"Stop! You need not be so sentimental. You need only fulfill three

small conditions."

"And what would they be?"

"Firstly, you must admit your faults when you are reproved."

"I will. And you may wrench out my tongue if I ever talk nonsense

again. Go p"'"

"Secondly, whether you are really learned or only pretend to be, you

must be more unassuming before people, and not mock and criticize so

much, annoying your father as you do. In any case, he is not particu‐ 

larly impressed by your achievements and he takes it ill that you speak

contemptuously behind his back of worthy older people who have

achieved something by dint of ability and whom you like to call 'salaried

blockheads.' So, not so overbearing, if you please!"

"You are quite right. And I will never again repeat those silly

things that I have said in the immaturity of my youth. Go on!"

'Thirdly, you must have more respect for pious bonzes and holy

Taoist priests, and ‐not make fun of them. Moreover, you must be less

frivolous and irresponsible in your ‐behavior with young girls, and not

run after all the girls you see with painted lips and in red dresses!"

"All right. I will mend my ways. Anything else?"

"No. It is enough for me if you fulfill these three conditions; if you

do, not even a litter with eight bearers will entice me to leave the

house."

"Why not? Who knows, you may yet have a litter with eight bearers

at your disposal, if you stay here long enough."

"Oh, no. I am not so very eager for that."

They were still talking late into the night when another waiting maid

appeared and asked them would they not settle down to sleep at last. It

was already the third watch of the night. Pao Yu asked her to hand

him the clock. Yes, the hand did in fact point to midnight. Pao Yu

washed his face and rinsed his mouth once more, then lay down to

sleep at last. Pearl was to learn soon enough, to her annoyance, how

lightly he was going to regard the promises which he had just solemnly

given her.

The next day brought new life and change to the Yungkuo palace

with the arrival of the cousin Hsiang Yun, or Little Cloud. She belonged

to the noble family of the Counts Shih and was a granddaughter of the

Princess Ancestress. Because of her saucy freshness and exuberant

gaiety pretty little Miss Hsiang Yun had always been a very welcome

guest, and from childhood a good comrade of her cousin Pao Yu, who

was her own age, and with whom she had played many a prank. One

occasion remembered with particular amusement in the palace was the

time she had disguised herself as Pao Yu and imitated him so perfectly

that she could only be distinguished from him by her voice.

Pao Yu happened to be with Precious Clasp when the arrival of his

childhood playmate was announced to him. Accompanied by Precious

Clasp, he went off at once to welcome her. He found her with the

Princess Ancestress, and the sound of gay chatter and merry laughter

betrayed her presence from a long way off. Black Jade and the other

cousins were all there already.

"Where have you come from now?" asked Black Jade, turning to

Pao Yu.

"I was with Sister Precious Clasp."

"Aha, that's why you are so late. Otherwise you would certainly

have dashed along here long ago."

"Do you think I exist only to pass the time for you?"

"No, but you may think so if you like. Moreover, I never asked you

to while away time for me. and in future 1 shall willingly do without

the pleasure of your company."

And already she was out the door and had run to her room. He ran

after her.

"Do not be so terribly touchy," he pleaded. "What bad thing have I

said again? Instead of staying here and amusing yourself with us, you

go off and make yourself miserable."

"Are you my guardian that you speak like that?"

"Of course I'm not, but I cannot look on and see you torturing your‐ 

self."

"If I torture myself, even if I torture myself to death, that's my

affair."

"How can one even speak of death now in this joyful New Year

Festival time?"

"That is just what I will speak of, and now. You are afraid of death,

I am sure, and would like to live to be a hundred. Isn't that so?"

"A charming conversation like this would almost make one wish for

death."

"Thank you. So you would wish me dead?"

"Who is speaking of your death? I meant mine. How you twist the

words in a person's mouth!"

"Cousin Little Cloud is waiting for you!" With these words Precious

Clasp broke in on their conversation and snatched Pao Yu away with‐ 

out more ado. Black Jade remained obstinately behind; she sat down

by the window and wept, but she had not been there long when Pao

Yu came back. As soon as he appeared Black Jade's suppressed weeping

changed to loud sobbing. He started trying to pacify her.

"Why are you bothering me again?" she asked, forestalling him.

"You have got someone else who can entertain you much better than I

can, and who is much cleverer, and more practical, and more edu‐ 

cated, and more amusing than I who is always anxious for your wel‐ 

fare and takes you away in good time when you are in boring company.

So what do you want here, please?"

"Do be reasonable!" he pleaded gently. "You know just as well as

I do that close relations come before distant ones, and old friendships

before new ones. I am much more closely related to you than to Precious

Clasp and I have known you much longer than I have known her. We

two have eaten together, lived together, learned and played together,

for years now, day after day so you have really no reason at all to

feel slighted."

"Pah ! I am not so, anxious for your favor that I would compete with

others for it. I do what suits me. What others think matters nothing at

all to me."

"I am just the same. That is why we have such frequent misunder‐ 

standings."

"Oh, I understand you thoroughly well. But you will no.t tolerate

any well‐meant reproof, and by your whims you are always challenging

people to reprove you. To give an example right away: why do you

take it into your head to leave off your warm blue fox collar just now

in this cold weather?"

"Because your bad humor has made me quite hot," he replied

gaily.

"You will catch a fine cold," she sighed. While they were skirmish‐ 

ing in this way Cousin Little Cloud came skipping along.

"You two have each other the whole time; you're together day after

day," she said with her comical‐sounding lisp. "I come here so seldom,

you might really give a little more time to me."

"What a funny pronunciation the little one has!" exclaimed Black

Jade, mockingly mimicking her. "If you counted one, two, three her

way you would bite your tongue in two."

"Take care that you do not bite your own tongue in two by mimick‐ 

ing her so well!" said Pao Yu to Black Jade in the same tone of

mimicry.

"You're terrible. You won't overlook the tiniest defect in your fellow

creatures; you must always find fault with us," lamented the victim.

"You may put on superior airs with others, but I know someone whom

you would never dare to find fault with."

"Oh, indeed? I would really love to know whom you mean," replied

Pao Yu.

"If you have enough courage to find fault with Cousin Precious

Clasp, you can be really proud of yourself."

"Oh, with her? Very well, just see if I don't. . . ."

Pao Yu tried to 'cut her short, and began talking about something

else. But Little Cloud would not give up and rattled away in mock

indignation to Black Jade: "I hope you will one day have a man who

will bite his tongue when he speaks and torture you day and night

with his stutter. If I live to see that, I will believe, holy Buddha, in you

and your power of retribution !"

And with this last shaft she was out of the room in a flash amid the

laughter of the others.

Black Jade wanted to dash after her, but Pao Yu stood in the door‐ 

way with outstretched arms, laughingly barring her way.

"Be generous and let her off!"

"No, I won't; she will have to pay for this!" said Black Jade heatedly,

trying in vain to push him aside.

"Dearest, best sister, I beg for mercy!" pleaded Little Cloud, who

had stopped outside.

"Be friends again for his sake," urged Precious Clasp from inside.

"No, I will not!" insisted Black Jade, stamping her foot defiantly.

"I see you have all plotted together to make game of me."

"But it was you who began it. Now, do be reasonable and give it

up!" Pao Yu tried to persuade her.

And so the lively contest went on for a while, this way and that, un‐ 

til a servant appeared to call them to their evening meal. They broke

off their squabble and went off, all four together, hot‐cheeked and

chattering gaily, to the apartments of the Princess Ancestress. Little

Cloud also went to her quarters just as usual, and shared a bed peace‐ 

ably with Black Jade.