Volume Ii Part 32 (2/2)

As she spoke, she sat by her mother's side, but unable to curb her tears, she began to weep.

Seeing her sobbing, Mrs. Hsueh herself could not check her feelings, and she, too, burst out into a fit of crying. ”My child,” she simultaneously exhorted her, ”don't feel aggrieved! Wait, and I'll call that child of wrath to order; for were anything to happen to you, from whom will I have anything to hope?”

Hsueh P'an was outside and happened to overhear their conversation, so with alacrity he ran over, and facing Pao-ch'ai he made a bow, now to the left and now to the right, observing the while: ”My dear sister, forgive me this time. The fact is that I took some wine yesterday; I came back late, as I met a few friends on the way. On my return home, I hadn't as yet got over the fumes, so I unintentionally talked a lot of nonsense. But I don't so much as remember anything about all I said. It isn't worth your while, however, losing your temper over such a thing!”

Pao-ch'ai was, in fact, weeping, as she covered her face, but the moment this language fell on her ear, she could scarcely again refrain from laughing. Forthwith raising her head, she sputtered contemptuously on the ground. ”You can well dispense with all this sham!” she exclaimed, ”I'm well aware that you so dislike us both, that you're anxious to devise some way of inducing us to part company with you, so that you may be at liberty.”

Hsueh P'an, at these words, hastened to smile. ”Sister,” he argued, ”what makes you say so? once upon a time, you weren't so suspicious and given to uttering anything so perverse!”

Mrs. Hsueh hurriedly took up the thread of the conversation. ”All you know,” she interposed, ”is to find fault with your sister's remarks as being perverse; but can it be that what you said last night was the proper thing to say? In very truth, you were drunk!”

”There's no need for you to get angry, mother!” Hsueh P'an rejoined, ”nor for you sister either; for from this day, I shan't any more make common cause with them nor drink wine or gad about. What do you say to that?”

”That's equal to an acknowledgment of your failings,” Pao-ch'ai laughed.

”Could you exercise such strength of will,” added Mrs. Hsueh, ”why, the dragon too would lay eggs.”

”If I again go and gad about with them,” Hsueh P'an replied, ”and you, sister, come to hear of it, you can freely spit in my face and call me a beast and no human being. Do you agree to that? But why should you two be daily worried; and all through me alone? For you, mother, to be angry on my account is anyhow excusable; but for me to keep on worrying you, sister, makes me less then ever worthy of the name of a human being! If now that father is no more, I manage, instead of showing you plenty of filial piety, mamma, and you, sister, plenty of love, to provoke my mother to anger, and annoy my sister, why I can't compare myself to even a four-footed creature!”

While from his mouth issued these words, tears rolled down from his eyes; for he too found it hard to contain them.

Mrs. Hsueh had not at first been overcome by her feelings; but the moment his utterances reached her ear, she once more began to experience the anguish, which they stirred in her heart.

Pao-ch'ai made an effort to force a smile. ”You've already,” she said, ”been the cause of quite enough trouble, and do you now provoke mother to have another cry?”

Hearing this, Hsueh P'an promptly checked his tears. As he put on a smiling expression, ”When did I,” he asked, ”make mother cry? But never mind; enough of this! let's drop the matter, and not allude to it any more! Call Hsiang Ling to come and give you a cup of tea, sister!”

”I don't want any tea.” Pao-ch'ai answered. ”I'll wait until mother has finished was.h.i.+ng her hands and then go with her into the garden.”

”Let me see your necklet, sister,” Hsueh P'an continued. ”I think it requires cleaning.”

”It is so yellow and bright,” rejoined Pao-ch'ai, ”and what's the use of cleaning it again?”

”Sister,” proceeded Hsueh P'an, ”you must now add a few more clothes to your wardrobe, so tell me what colour and what design you like best.”

”I haven't yet worn out all the clothes I have,” Pao-ch'ai explained, ”and why should I have more made?”

But, in a little time, Mrs. Hsueh effected the change in her costume, and hand in hand with Pao-ch'ai, she started on her way to the garden.

Hsueh P'an thereupon took his departure. During this while, Mrs. Hsueh and Pao-ch'ai trudged in the direction of the garden to look up Pao-yu.

As soon as they reached the interior of the I Hung court, they saw a large concourse of waiting-maids and matrons standing inside as well as outside the antechambers and they readily concluded that old lady Chia and the other ladies were a.s.sembled in his rooms. Mrs. Hsueh and her daughter stepped in. After exchanging salutations with every one present, they noticed that Pao-yu was reclining on the couch and Mrs.

Hsueh inquired of him whether he felt any better.

Pao-yu hastily attempted to bow. ”I'm considerably better;” he said.

”All I do,” he went on, ”is to disturb you, aunt, and you, my cousin, but I don't deserve such attentions.”

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