Part 19 (1/2)

”Well, let us not argue, but rather act as if we were husband and wife.”

Thus both of them spoke words of meaning. They grew more and more pa.s.sionate.

”Since we are husband and wife,” he said impatiently, ”why do we not sleep under the same blanket?”

As he spoke, he pushed back the thick quilt, and began to observe the garment on the so sweet and smooth, so soft and graceful body. She had kept on an under garment, but her heart was filled with Springtime thoughts, and she offered no resistance to his eye.

Then, trembling with desire, he came to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s that had so lately dawned, and were so firm. Their tender points were red as a c.o.c.k's crest, and in all things lovable.

Delighted with this game, Prudence put out her hands to return his caresses, and also found his b.r.e.a.s.t.s. But there was nothing but quite a little b.u.t.ton. She was astonished, and said to herself:

”She is as tall as I am. How comes it that she is not further developed?”

But by this time Yu-lang was holding her right in his arms, and had his lips glued to her, wantonly thrusting out his tongue. She continued the game by giving it a little nibble, and then thrust out her own tongue. This he so tenderly caressed with his that the girl's body seemed all at once to melt, and she said languorously:

”This is no longer a game. We are truly husband and wife!”

The false bride, seeing that he had fully awakened the pa.s.sion of his dupe, made answer:

”Not yet. We must take off our under garments.”

”But I am afraid lest people should talk. It is not good to take them off.”

He gave a nervous laugh and, without paying attention to her words, undid her girdle and took off her garment. As he advanced toward her, she protected herself with her two hands, saying:

”Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, you must not!”

But he kissed her again upon the lips.

”There is nothing to forbid it, little sister. You may caress me also.”

In her agitation, and so as not to seem too stupid, she took off his vest, and her timid little hand suddenly stopped short. Her surprise was such that, for a moment, she could not speak. But at last she said: ”What man are you who dare to take my sister-in-law's place?”

”I am your husband,” he answered hugging her to him.

She pushed him off, and said seriously:

”If you do not tell me in plain truth who you are, I shall cry and call out, and you will be sorry for that.”

”Do not be angry, little sister,” he replied. ”I will tell you everything. I am Yu-lang, your sister-in-law's elder brother. My parents heard that your brother was seriously ill, and did not wish my sister to leave our house; but since your parents would not alter the day of the marriage, I had to disguise myself and take my sister's place, until your brother should be healed. I never expected that Heaven would, in its bounty, allow me to become your husband. But we alone must know of our love. Let us not betray it to any.”

Pressing forward again, he tried to bind her in his arms. Although she had believed she was with a woman, Prudence had loved him from the first; the feeling which she had mistaken for friends.h.i.+p quickly changed to that of love, for it was kindled, as was all of her, by the young man's ardour. Nevertheless she was suffused with shame, and so wavered between one extremity and the other.

As for him, in the freshness of his still maiden youth he spoke to her of everlasting vows, of a love higher than the mountain and vaster than the sea, and of a marriage shaped from a boundless happiness. Her betrothed, her parents and her shame were all forgotten. She covered her face with her hand and resisted no longer.

When the cloud and the rain of their intoxication had been dispelled, they clasped each other close and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, the nurse, being in the secret of this disguise, had been much disturbed at seeing Prudence share the young man's bed. From the adjoining room she had heard their laughter, and then their sighs, and had no further doubt of what had happened. And inwardly she cried: ”Woe! Woe!”

In the morning, after Prudence had returned to her parents' house to perform her toilet, the woman came in to wait upon Yu-lang, and said to him in a low voice: