Pao-chai avails herself of the excuse afforded her by a fan to administer a couple of raps. While Chun Ling traces, in a absent frame of mind, the outlines of the character Chiang, a looker-on appears on the scene. Lin Tai-yue herself, for we will now resume our narrative, was also, ever since her tiff with Pao-yue, full of self-condemnation, yet as she did not see why she should run after him, she continued, day and night, as despondent as she would have been had she lost some thing or other belonging to her. Tzu Chuean surmised her sentiments. As regards what happened the other day, she advised her, you were, after all, Miss, a little too hasty; for if others dont understand that temperament of Pao-yues, have you and I, surely, also no idea about it? Besides, havent there been already one or two rows on account of that very jade? Tsui! exclaimed Tai-yue. Have you come, on behalf of others, to find fault with me? But how ever was I hasty? Why did you, smiled Tzu Chuean, take the scissors and cut that tassel when there was no good reason for it? So isnt Pao-yue less to blame than yourself, Miss? Ive always found his behaviour towards you, Miss, without a fault. Its all that touchy disposition of yours, which makes you so often perverse, that induces him to act as he does. Lin Tai-yue had every wish to make some suitable reply, when she heard some one calling at the door. Tzu Chuean discerned the tone of voice. This sounds like Pao-yues voice, she smiled. I expect hes come to make his apologies. |