and.as they glared.beamed tenderness the while. Around his neck he wore a golden torque in the likeness of a dragon and a woven cord of coloured silks to which the famous jade was attached. Dai-yu looked at him with astonishment.How strange!How very strange!It was as though she had seen him somewhere before,he was so extraordinarily familiar.Bao-yu went straight past her and saluted his grandmother.who told him to come after he had seen his mother.whereupon he turned round and walked straight out again Ouite soon he was back once more this time dressed in a completely different outfit The wn and cirelet had e.She could now see that his side hair was d sed in a number of small braids plaited with red silk,which were drawn round to join the long hair at the back in a single large queue of glistening jet black,fastened at intervals from the nape downwards with four enormous pearls and ending in a iewelled gold clasp He had changed his robe and iacket for a rather more worn-looking rose-coloured gown sprigged with flowers.He wore the gold torque and his iade as before.and she observed that the collection of objects round his neck had been further a padlock-shaped amulet and a lucky charm.A pair of trimmed with brocade.In place of the formal boots he was wearing thick-soled erimson slippers She was even more struck than before by his fresh complexion.The cheeks might have been brushed with oowder and the lips touched with rouge,so bright was their natural colour. His glance was soulful. yet from his lips the laughter ofen leaped a world of charm upon that brow was heaped. a world of feeling from those dark eyes peeped In short,his outward appearance was very fine.But appearances can be misleading.A perceptive poet has supplied two sets of verses,to be sung to the tune of Moon On West River.which contain a more accurate appraisal of our hero than the foregoing descriptions. Oft-times he sought Out what would make him sad some sausage-skin He proved to have but sorry meat within A harum-scarum,to all duty blind. A doltish mule.to study disinclined. His acts outlandish and his nature queer Yet not a cared he how folk might jeer Prosperous,he could not play his part with grace. That both indoors and out he was disgraced For uselessness the world's prize he might bear. His gracelessness in history has no peer. let gilded youths who every dainty sample 31
31 and, as they glared, beamed tenderness the while. Around his neck he wore a golden torque in the likeness of a dragon and a woven cord of coloured silks to which the famous jade was attached. Dai-yu looked at him with astonishment. How strange! How very strange! It was as though she had seen him somewhere before, he was so extraordinarily familiar. Bao-yu went straight past her and saluted his grandmother, who told him to come after he had seen his mother, whereupon he turned round and walked straight out again. Quite soon he was back once more, this time dressed in a completely different outfit. The crown and circlet had gone. She could now see that his side hair was dressed in a number of small braids plaited with red silk, which were drawn round to join the long hair at the back in a single large queue of glistening jet black, fastened at intervals from the nape downwards with four enormous pearls and ending in a jewelled gold clasp. He had changed his robe and jacket for a rather more worn-looking rose-coloured gown, sprigged with flowers. He wore the gold torque and his jade as before, and she observed that the collection of objects round his neck had been further augmented by a padlock-shaped amulet and a lucky charm. A pair of ivy-coloured embroidered silk trousers were partially visible beneath his gown, thrust into black and white socks trimmed with brocade. In place of the formal boots he was wearing thick-soled crimson slippers. She was even more struck than before by his fresh complexion. The cheeks might have been brushed with powder and the lips touched with rouge, so bright was their natural colour. His glance was soulful, yet from his lips the laughter often leaped; a world of charm upon that brow was heaped; a world of feeling from those dark eyes peeped. In short, his outward appearance was very fine. But appearances can be misleading. A perceptive poet has supplied two sets of verses, to be sung to the tune of Moon On West River, which contain a more accurate appraisal of our hero than the foregoing descriptions. I Oft-times he sought Out what would make him sad; Sometimes an idiot seemed and sometimes mad. Though outwardly a handsome sausage-skin, He proved to have but sorry meat within. A harum-scarum, to all duty blind, A doltish mule, to study disinclined; His acts outlandish and his nature queer; Yet not a whit cared he how folk might jeer! 2 Prosperous, he could not play his part with grace, Nor, poor, bear hardship with a smiling face. So shamefully the precious hours he’d waste That both indoors and out he was disgraced. For uselessness the world’s prize he might bear; His gracelessness in history has no peer. Let gilded youths who every dainty sample
Not imitate this rascal's dire examplel Bao-yu had already caught sight of a slender,delicate girl whom he surmised to be his Aunt Lin's daughter and quickly went over to greet her.Then,returning to his place and taking a seat,he studied her attentively.How different she seemed from the other girls he knew! Her mist-wreathed brows at first seemed to frown,yet were not frowning Her pas nate eyes at first seemed to smileyet were not merry. Habit had given a melancholy cast to her tender face; Nature had bestowed a sickly constitution on her delicate frame Often the eves swam with glistening tears. Often the breath came in gentle gasps. ne think of a graceful flower refected in the wa In motion she called to mind tender willow shoots caressed by the winc She had more chambers in her heart than the martyred Bi Gan: And suffered a tithe more pain in it than the beautiful xi shi Having completed his survey.Bao-yu gave a laugh.'I have seen this cousin before. Nonsense!said Grandmother Jia How could you P055-ibly have done? Well.perhaps not,said Bao-yu,but he face seems 80 familiar that I have the impression of meeting he again after a long separation 'All the better.said Grandmother Jia.'That means that you should get on well together. Bao-yu moved over again and,drawing a chair up beside Dai-yu,recommenced his scrutiny Presently:Do you study books yet,cousin? Nosaid Dai-yu 'I have only been taking lessons for a year or so.I can barely read and write. What's your name? Dai-yu told him 'What's your school-name? 'I haven't got one Bao-yu 'I'llgive you one,cousin.I think"Frowner"would suit you perfectly. Where's your reference?'said Tan-chun. 'In the Encyclopedia of Men and Objects Ancient and Modern it says that somewhere in the West there is a mineral called"dai"which can be used instead of eve-black for painting the eyebrows with.She has this "dai"in her name and she knits her brows together in a little frown.I think it's a splendid name for her! "I expeet you made it un'said Tan-chun scornfully What if I did?said Bao-yu.There are lots ofm made-up things -apart from the Four Books.of course He returned to his interrogation of Dai-vu Have you got a jade?' The test of the c were puzzled,hut Dai-yu at once divined that he was asking her if she too had a it al-yu.That jade of yours is a very rare object You can't expect everybody to have one This sent Bao-yu off instantly into one of his mad fits.Snatching the jade from his neck he hurled it violently on the floor as if to smash it and began abusing it passionately. 'Rare object!Rare object!What's so lucky about a stone that can't even tell which people are better than others?Beastly thing!I don't want it! 32
32 Not imitate this rascal’s dire example! ‘Fancy changing your clothes before you have welcomed the visitor!’ Grandmother Jia chided indulgently on seeing Bao-yu back again. ‘Aren’t you going to pay your respects to your cousin?’ Bao-yu had already caught sight of a slender, delicate girl whom he surmised to be his Aunt Lin’s daughter and quickly went over to greet her. Then, returning to his place and taking a seat, he studied her attentively. How different she seemed from the other girls he knew! Her mist-wreathed brows at first seemed to frown, yet were not frowning; Her passionate eyes at first seemed to smile, yet were not merry. Habit had given a melancholy cast to her tender face; Nature had bestowed a sickly constitution on her delicate frame. Often the eyes swam with glistening tears; Often the breath came in gentle gasps. In stillness she made one think of a graceful flower reflected in the water; In motion she called to mind tender willow shoots caressed by the wind. She had more chambers in her heart than the martyred Bi Gan; And suffered a tithe more pain in it than the beautiful Xi Shi. Having completed his survey, Bao-yu gave a laugh. ‘I have seen this cousin before.’ ‘Nonsense!’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘How could you P055-ibly have done?’ ‘Well, perhaps not,’ said Bao-yu, ‘but her face seems 80 familiar that I have the impression of meeting her again after a long separation.’ ‘All the better,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘That means that you should get on well together.’ Bao-yu moved over again and, drawing a chair up beside Dai-yu, recommenced his scrutiny. Presently: ‘Do you study books yet, cousin?’ ‘No,’ said Dai-yu. ‘I have only been taking lessons for a year or so. I can barely read and write.’ ‘What’s your name?’ Dai-yu told him. ‘What’s your school-name?’ ‘I haven’t got one.’ Bao-yu laughed. ‘I’ll give you one, cousin. I think “Frowner” would suit you perfectly.’ ‘Where’s your reference?’ said Tan-chun. ‘In the Encyclopedia of Men and Objects Ancient and Modern it says that somewhere in the West there is a mineral called “dai” which can be used instead of eye-black for painting the eyebrows with. She has this “dai” in her name and she knits her brows together in a little frown. I think it’s a splendid name for her!’ ‘I expect you made it up,’ said Tan-chun scornfully. ‘What if I did?’ said Bao-yu. ‘There are lots of made-up things in books—apart from the Four Books, of course.’ He returned to his interrogation of Dai-yu. ‘Have you got a jade?’ The test of the company were puzzled, hut Dai-yu at once divined that he was asking her if she too had a jade like the one he was born with. ‘No,’ said Dal-yu. ‘That jade of yours is a very rare object. You can’t expect everybody to have one.’ This sent Bao-yu off instantly into one of his mad fits. Snatching the jade from his neck he hurled it violently on the floor as if to smash it and began abusing it passionately. ‘Rare object! Rare object! What’s so lucky about a stone that can’t even tell which people are better than others? Beastly thing! I don’t want it!’
The maids all seemed terrified and rushed forward to pick it up,while Grandmother Jia clung to Bao-yu in alarm Naughty.naughty boy!Shout at someone or strike them if you like when you are in a nasty temper,but why go smashing that precious thing that your very life dependson 'None of the girls has got one,said Bao-yu,his face streaming with tears and sobbing hysterically.'Only I have got one.It always upsets me.And now this new cousin comes here who is as beautiful as an angel and she hasn't got one either,so I know it can't be any good. 'Your cousin did have a iade once'said grandmother Jia.coaxing him like a little child'but because when Auntie died she couldn't bear to leave her little girl behind,they had to let her take the jade with her that way your cousin could show her mamma how much she loved her by letting the jade be buried with her,and at the same time,whenever Auntie's spirit looked at the jade,it would be just like looking at her own little girl again. 'So when your cousin said she hadn't got one.it was only because she didn't want to boast about the good. kind thing she did when she gave it to her mamma Now you put yours on again like a good boy,and mind you mother doesn'find Out how naughty you have been. So saying.she took the jade from the hands of one of the maids and hung it round his neck for him.And Bao-yu.after reflecting for a moment or two on what she had said.offered no further resistance At this point some of the older women came to inquire what room Dai-yu was to sleep in. Move Bao-yu into the closet-bed with me.'said Grandmother Jia,and put Miss Lin for the time being in the green muslin m hed We ha ait until spring when the last of the cold weather r is over before seeing about therooms for them and getting them setted permanently 'Dearest Grannie,'said Bao-yu pleadingly.'I should be perfectly all right next to the summer-bed.There's no need to move me into your room.I should only keep you awake.' Grandmother Jia.after a moment's reflection.gave her consent.She further gave instructions that Dai-vu and Bao-yu were each to have one nurse and on maid to sleep with them.The nts were to do night duty by rota in the adjoining room.Xi-feng had already sent across some lilac-coloured hangings,brocade quilts,satin coverlets and the like for Dai-yu's bedding. Dai-yu had brought only two of her own people with her from home.One was her old wet-nurse Nannie Wang.the other was a little ten-year-old maid called Snowgoose.Considering Snowgoose too young and ice gr f the second grad lled Nightingale She also gave orders that Dai-yu and Bao-yu were to be attended in other respects exactly like the three girls:that is to say,apart from the one wet-nurse,each was to have four other nurses to act as chaperones,two maids as body-servants to attend to their washing.dressing.and so forth,and four or five maids for dusting and cleaning.running errands and general duties These arrang ents completed,Nannie Wang and Nightingale accompanied Dai-yu to bed inside the tent-like summer-bed,while Bao-yu's wet-nurse Nannie Li and his chief maid Aroma settled him down for the night in a big bed on the other side of the canopy Like Nightingale,Aroma had previously been one of Grandmother Jia's own maids.Her real name was Pearl.Bao-yu's grandmother,fearful that the maids who already waited on her darling boy could not be trusted to look after him uous fidelit and pu ut her in charge ove hem.It was Bao-yu was responsible for the curious nameAroma Discovering that Pearl's sumame was Hua,which means 'Flowers',and having recently come across the line The flowers'aroma breathes of hotter days 12
33 The maids all seemed terrified and rushed forward to pick it up, while Grandmother Jia clung to Bao-yu in alarm.‘Naughty, naughty boy! Shout at someone or strike them if you like when you are in a nasty temper, but why go smashing that precious thing that your very life depends on?’ ‘None of the girls has got one,’ said Bao-yu, his face streaming with tears and sobbing hysterically. ‘Only I have got one. It always upsets me. And now this new cousin comes here who is as beautiful as an angel and she hasn’t got one either; so I know it can’t be any good.’ ‘Your cousin did have a jade once,’ said Grandmother Jia, coaxing him like a little child, ‘but because when Auntie died she couldn’t bear to leave her little girl behind, they had to let her take the jade with her instead. In that way your cousin could show her mamma how much she loved her by letting the jade be buried with her; and at the same time, whenever Auntie’s spirit looked at the jade, it would be just like looking at her own little girl again.‘So when your cousin said she hadn’t got one, it was only because she didn’t want to boast about the good, kind thing she did when she gave it to her mamma. Now you put yours on again like a good boy, and mind your mother doesn’t find Out how naughty you have been.’ So saying, she took the jade from the hands of one of the maids and hung it round his neck for him. And Bao-yu, after reflecting for a moment or two on what she had said, offered no further resistance. At this point some of the older women came to inquire what room Dai-yu was to sleep in. ‘Move Bao-yu into the closet-bed with me,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘and put Miss Lin for the time being in the green muslin summer-bed. We had better wait until spring when the last of the cold weather is over before seeing about the rooms for them and getting them settled permanently.’ ‘Dearest Grannie,’ said Bao-yu pleadingly, ‘I should be perfectly all right next to the summer-bed. There’s no need to move me into your room. I should only keep you awake.’ Grandmother Jia, after a moment’s reflection, gave her consent. She further gave instructions that Dai-yu and Bao-yu were each to have one nurse and one maid to sleep with them. The rest of their servants were to do night duty by rota in the adjoining room. Xi-feng had already sent across some lilac-coloured hangings, brocade quilts, satin coverlets and the like for Dai-yu’s bedding. Dai-yu had brought only two of her own people with her from home. One was her old wet-nurse Nannie Wang, the other was a little ten-year-old maid called Snowgoose. Considering Snowgoose too young and irresponsible and Nannie Wang too old and decrepit to be of much real service, Grandmother Jia gave Dai-yu one of her own maids, a body-servant of the second grade called Nightingale. She also gave orders that Dai-yu and Bao-yu were to be attended in other respects exactly like the three girls: that is to say, apart from the one wet-nurse, each was to have four other nurses to act as chaperones, two maids as body-servants to attend to their washing, dressing, and so forth, and four or five maids for dusting and cleaning, running errands and general duties.These arrangements completed, Nannie Wang and Nightingale accompanied Dai-yu to bed inside the tent-like summer-bed, while Bao-yu’s wet-nurse Nannie Li and his chief maid Aroma settled him down for the night in a big bed on the other side of the canopy. Like Nightingale, Aroma had previously been one of Grandmother Jia’s own maids. Her real name was Pearl. Bao-yu’s grandmother, fearful that the maids who already waited on her darling boy could not be trusted to look after him properly, had picked out Pearl as a girl of tried and conspicuous fidelity and put her in charge over them. It was Bao-yu who was responsible for the curious name ‘Aroma’. Discovering that Pearl’s surname was Hua, which means ‘Flowers’, and having recently come across the line The flowers’ aroma breathes of hotter days
in a book of poems,he told his grandmother that he wanted to call his new maid'Aroma',so'Aroma'her name thenceforth became. Aroma had a certain dogged streak in her nature which had made her utterly devoted to Grandmother Jia as long as she was Grandmother Jia's servant,but which caused her to become just as exclusively and single-mindedly devoted to Bao-yu when her services were transferred to him.Since she found his character strange and incomprehensible,her simple devotion frequently impelled her to remonstrate with him.and when.as invariably happened.he took not the least notice of what she said. she was worried and hurt. That night when Bao-yu and Nannie Li were already asleep.Aroma could hear that Dai-yu and Nightingale on their side of the canopy had still not settled down,so,when she had finished taking down her hair and making herself ready for bed,she tiptoed through the muslin curtains and in a friendly way inquired what was the matter.Dai-yu invited her to sit down,and when she had seated herself on the edge of the bed,Nightingale proceeded to tell her what was troubling her new mistress Miss Lin is all upset She has crying her eyes out says she only just arrived here today,and yet already she has started young hopeful off on one of his tums.She says if that jade had been really smashed.it would have been all her fault.That's what she's so upset about.I've had no end of a job trying to comfort her." 'You mustn't take on so.Miss.'said Aroma.'You'll see him do much stranger things than that be hurting you.Try not to be so sensitive:Missl Dai-yu thanked her and promised to bear in mind what she had said,and after talking a little longer,they all settled down and went to sleep Rising early next day,they visited Grandmother Jia to wish her a good morning and then went over to Lady Wang's They found her closeted with wang xi-feng deep in discussion of a letter which had iust arrived from Nanking,and attended by women who had come with a message from Lady Wang's elder brothera sister-in-law.Tan-chun and the girls told Dai-yu,who knew nothing of the matter under discussion,that they were talking about Xue Pan.the son of their Aunt Xue who lived in Nanking. It seemed that Xue Pan,relying on wealth and family pull to protect him from the consequences,had taken another man's life.The case was at present under investigation by the Ying-tian-fu vamen.Their uncle Wang Zi-teng had been informed of it,and had sent these m engers to the members of the family in the Rong man that they should inviteXue Pan to the capital But the outcome of this discussion will be dealt with in the following chapter CHAPTER 4 The Bottle-gourd girl meets an unfortunate voung man And the Boule-gourd monk seules a 34
34 in a book of poems, he told his grandmother that he wanted to call his new maid ‘Aroma’, so ‘Aroma’ her name thenceforth became. Aroma had a certain dogged streak in her nature which had made her utterly devoted to Grandmother Jia as long as she was Grandmother Jia’s servant, but which caused her to become just as exclusively and single-mindedly devoted to Bao-yu when her services were transferred to him. Since she found his character strange and incomprehensible, her simple devotion frequently impelled her to remonstrate with him, and when, as invariably happened, he took not the least notice of what she said, she was worried and hurt. That night, when Bao-yu and Nannie Li were already asleep, Aroma could hear that Dai-yu and Nightingale on their side of the canopy had still not settled down, so, when she had finished taking down her hair and making herself ready for bed, she tiptoed through the muslin curtains and in a friendly way inquired what was the matter. Dai-yu invited her to sit down, and when she had seated herself on the edge of the bed, Nightingale proceeded to tell her what was troubling her new mistress. ‘Miss Lin is all upset. She has just been crying her eyes out because she says she only just arrived here today, and yet already she has started young hopeful off on one of his turns. She says if that jade had been really smashed, it would have been all her fault. That’s what she’s so upset about. I’ve had no end of a job trying to comfort her.’ ‘You mustn’t take on so, Miss,’ said Aroma. ‘You’ll see him do much stranger things than that before he’s finished. If you allow yourself to feel hurt every time he carries on like that, he will always be hurting you. Try not to be so sensitive; Miss!’ Dai-yu thanked her and promised to bear in mind what she had said, and after talking a little longer, they all settled down and went to sleep. * Rising early next day, they visited Grandmother Jia to wish her a good morning and then went over to Lady Wang’s. They found her closeted with Wang Xi-feng, deep in discussion of a letter which had just arrived from Nanking, and attended by two women who had come with a message from Lady Wang’s elder brother and sister-in-law. Tan-chun and the girls told Dai-yu, who knew nothing of the matter under discussion, that they were talking about Xue Pan, the son of their Aunt Xue who lived in Nanking. It seemed that Xue Pan, relying on wealth and family pull to protect him from the consequences, had taken another man’s life. The case was at present under investigation by the Ying-tian-fu yamen. Their uncle Wang Zi-teng had been informed of it, and had sent these messengers to the members of the family in the Rong mansion to suggest that they should invite Xue Pan to the capital. But the outcome of this discussion will be dealt with in the following chapter. CHAPTER 4 The Bottle-gourd girl meets an unfortunate young man And the Bottle-gourd monk settles a protracted lawsuit
When Dai-yu and the girls went to call on Lady Wang.they found her in the midst of discussing family affairs with the messengers from her elder brother and his wife and heard talk of their aunt's family in Nanking being involved in a case of manslaughter.Since Lady Wang was obviously preoccupied with this matter,the girls went off to call on Li Wan LiWan's husband Jia Zhu had died young.but fortunately not without issue.He left her ason called Jia Lan who was now'just five vears old and had already begun his schooling.Like most of the Jia women.Li Wan was the daughter of a distinguished Nanking official.Her father,Li Shou-zhong,had been a Director of Education. Up to li Shou-zhong's time.all members of the clan.including the women.had been given a first-class on but when Li Shou-hong became head of the family,he founded good old maxim'a stupid woman is a virtuous oneand,when he had a daughter of his own,refused to let he engage in serious study.She was permitted to work her way through The Four Books for Girls and Lives ofNoble Women.so that she might be able to recognize a few characters and be familiar with some of the models of female virtue of former ages;but overriding importance was to be attached to spinning and sewing.and even her nameWan',which mea a kind of silk,was ir nded to symbolize her dedication tothe needle Thanks to her upbringing.this young widowliving in the midst of uury and self-indulgence was able to keep herself like the 'withered tree and dead ashes'of the philosopher,shutting out everything that did not concern her and attending only to the duties of serving her husband's parents and bringing up her child.Whatever leisure this left her was devoted to her little sister-in-law and cousins,accompanying them at their embroidery or nearing them recite their lessons With such gentle companions to console her,Dai-yu,though a stranger r and far from home,soon had nothing apart from her old father that she need worry about. Letus the affairs of,newly installed in the yamenat Ying-tian-fu No sooner had he arrived at his new post than a case involving manslaughter was referred to his tribunal.It concerned two parties in dispute over the purchase of a slave-girl.Neither had been willing to give way to the other.and in the ensuing affray one of the parties had been wounded and had subsequently died.After reading the s in the case,Yu- cun s summoned the plaintiff for questioning and received from him the following account The murdered man was my master,Your Honour.Although he did not realize it at the time,the girl he purchased had been kidnapped by the man who was selling her.My master paid him in advance,and arranged to receive the girl into his house three days from the date of purchase,the third day being a lucky day.The kidnapper,having already pocketed my young master's money,then quietly went off and sold her again to Xue. Wher found this ou went along to ehimand the gr But unfortunately this Xue turned Out to be a powerful Nanking boss.who evidently thought that by money and influence he could get away with anything.He set a crowd of his henchmen on to my young master and beat him up so badly that he died. 'Xue and his henchmen have now disappeared without trace,leaving only a few retainers who were not ar since I first ought this the Sriminal nd t h one has done help me.I bes old the cour of justice I Both the livingand the dead will be everlastingly grateful to you if you do! 'This is monstrous!'said Yu-cun in a towering rage.'Am I to understand that a man can be beaten to death and the murderer walk off scot-free with nobody lifting a finger to arrest him?'and he took up a warrant and was on the point of sending his runners to seize the murderer's dependants and bring them to court so that they might 35
35 When Dai-yu and the girls went to call on Lady Wang, they found her in the midst of discussing family affairs with the messengers from her elder brother and his wife and heard talk of their aunt’s family in Nanking being involved in a case of manslaughter. Since Lady Wang was obviously preoccupied with this matter, the girls went off to call on Li Wan. Li Wan’s husband Jia Zhu had died young, but fortunately not without issue. He left her a son called Jia Lan who was now’ just five years old and had already begun his schooling. Like most of the Jia women, Li Wan was the daughter of a distinguished Nanking official. Her father, Li Shou-zhong, had been a Director of Education. Up to Li Shou-zhong’s time, all members of the clan, including the women, had been given a first-class education; but when Li Shou-zhong became head of the family, he founded his educational policy for girls on the good old maxim ‘a stupid woman is a virtuous one’ and, when he had a daughter of his own, refused to let her engage in serious study. She was permitted to work her way through The Four Books for Girls and Lives of Noble Women, so that she might be able to recognize a few characters and be familiar with some of the models of female virtue of former ages; but overriding importance was to be attached to spinning and sewing, and even her name ‘Wan’, which means a kind of silk, was intended to symbolize her dedication to the needle. Thanks to her upbringing, this young widow living in the midst of luxury and self-indulgence was able to keep herself like the ‘withered tree and dead ashes’ of the philosopher, shutting out everything that did not concern her and attending only to the duties of serving her husband’s parents and bringing up her child. Whatever leisure this left her was devoted to her little sister-in-law and cousins, accompanying them at their embroidery or hearing them recite their lessons. With such gentle companions to console her, Dai-yu, though a stranger and far from home, soon had nothing apart from her old father that she need worry about. * Let us now turn to the affairs of Jia Yu-cun, newly installed in the yamen at Ying-tian-fu. No sooner had he arrived at his new post than a case involving manslaughter was referred to his tribunal. It concerned two parties in dispute over the purchase of a slave-girl. Neither had been willing to give way to the other, and in the ensuing affray one of the parties had been wounded and had subsequently died. After reading the papers in the case, Yu-cun summoned the plaintiff for questioning and received from him the following account of what had happened: ‘The murdered man was my master, Your Honour. Although he did not realize it at the time, the girl he purchased had been kidnapped by the man who was selling her. My master paid him in advance, and arranged to receive the girl into his house three days from the date of purchase, the third day being a lucky day. The kidnapper, having already pocketed my young master’s money, then quietly went off and sold her again to Xue. When we found this out, we went along to seize him and to collect the girl. ‘But unfortunately this Xue turned Out to be a powerful Nanking boss, who evidently thought that by money and influence he could get away with anything. He set a crowd of his henchmen on to my young master and beat him up so badly that he died. ‘Xue and his henchmen have now disappeared without trace, leaving only a few retainers who were not involved in the crime. But though it is a year since I first brought this charge, no one has yet done anything to help me. I beseech Your Honour to arrest the criminals and to uphold the course of justice I Both the living and the dead will be everlastingly grateful to you if you do!’ ‘This is monstrous!’ said Yu-cun in a towering rage. ‘Am I to understand that a man can be beaten to death and the murderer walk off scot-free with nobody lifting a finger to arrest him?’ and he took up a warrant and was on the point of sending his runners to seize the murderer’s dependants and bring them to court so that they might