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By a strange coincidence， Chia Pao-yue becomes acquainted with the golden clasp. In an unexpected meeting， Hsueeh Pao-chai sees the jade of spiritual perception. Pao-yue and lady Feng， we will now explain， paid， on their return home， their respects to all the inmates， and Pao-yue availed himself of the first occasion to tell dowager lady Chia of his wish that Chin Chung should come over to the family school. The presence for himself of a friend as schoolmate would， he argued， be fitly excellent to stir him to zeal， and he went on to speak in terms of high praise of Chin Chung， his character and his manners， which most of all made people esteem him. Lady Feng besides stood by him and backed his request. In a day or two， she added， Chin Chung will be coming to pay his obeisance to your venerable ladyship. This bit of news GREatly rejoiced the heart of dowager lady Chia， and lady Feng likewise did not let the opportunity slip， without inviting the old lady to attend the theatrical performance to come off the day after the morrow. Dowager lady Chia was， it is true， well on in years， but was， nevertheless， very fond of enjoyment， so that when the day arrived and Mrs. Yu came over to invite her round， she forthwith took madame Wang， Lin Tai-yue， Pao-yue and others along and went to the play. It was about noon， when dowager lady Chia returned to her apartments for her siesta; and madame Wang， who was habitually partial to a quiet life， also took her departure after she had seen the old lady retire. Lady Feng subsequently took the seat of honour; and the party enjoyed themselves immensely till the evening， when they broke up. | 
