much more beautiful and much kinder and more friendly than the old Nai nai, by which they meant you. . . ."

Little Wang was announced. Hsi-feng asked 1 P'ing Erh to be silent and ordered that Little Wang should come in. He remained standing timidly on the threshold of the antechamber in a respectful attitude, his hands hanging down by his sides.

"Come nearer! I wish to question you," ordered Hsi-feng, whereupon he advanced to the threshold of the inner chamber.

"What do you know about the person with whom my husband associates outside?"

Little Wang bent one knee.

"The slave performs his service at the second gateway day after day. How can he know what the master does outside?"

"Naturally, you know about nothing!"

Little Wang went down on both knees.

"Very well, then, I was present by chance just now when Little Hsing and Little Hsi were gossiping at the second gate. I only told them to be quiet; I understood nothing of what they were talking about. You should question Little Hsing. He always accompanies the master when he goe's out."

"Ah, you are just as good for nothing as the other pack!" cried Hsi-feng angrily. >'Ydu are all tangled and matted together like creepers. But do not imagine that you can, deceive me ! Run and bring Little Hsing here! I shall cross-examine him first, then you shall have another turn!"

"Shih, shift!" stuttered Little Wang; and, having made a kowtow, he picked himself up quickly and ran out, returning very soon with Little Hsing. Little Hsing stood timidly hesitant on the outer threshold.

"Come in!" Hsi-feng ordered him. "That's nice business you have been up to with your master!

Now, out with the story!"

The severity of her face and voice shattered the air of confidence which he had put on up to now. In his confusion he could think of nothing better to do than to fall upon his knees and press his forehead to the ground.

"You are not implicated in the case yourself," continued Hsi-feng in a milder tone; "but why did you not notify me at once? I cannot help reproaching you. Now, please, out with the whole truth. Then I will spare you. But woe betide you if you only come out with empty evasions!

Better make sure first that your brain-box is well screwed on!"

Shaking with fear, Little Hsing slid a little nearer, and made another kowtow.

"The slave is not at all aware of what harm he is supposed to have done with the master," he said now, as calmly and boldly as possible.

"Give him a couple of blows!" ordered Hsi-feng, blazing up in anger. Little Wang rushed up and was just about to carry out her order when she stopped him.

"No, let him box his own ears! There will be time enough later on for other hands to belabor this tortoise."

Little Hsing bent to the right and to the left, dealing' himself, with a swift sweeping movement, a good dozen heavy clouts on the ears, until his mistress called "Stop!"

"Well, what do you know about this new Nai nai, whom your master is said to have picked up in the city?"

Little Hsing pulled off his cap and beat his bare forehead a couple of times on the earthenware tiles of the floor so forcibly that the thuds resounded dully like mountain echoes.

"I beg for mercy and I will certainly not lie again!" he declared.

"Stand up and speak!"

Little Hsing picked himself up and told what he knew how one day the house steward Yu Lu went out to the Temple of the Iron Railings to Prince Chen for money; how Mr. Chia Lien had accompanied him back to the eastern palace, and how he and Mr. Chia Yung had discussed the two sisters-in-law of Prince Chen on the way and how Mr. Chia Lien had indulged in admiring praise of their superior qualities and virtues; how Mr. Chia Yung had offered his services to procure the second Yu girl as a secondary wife for him. He had got thus far with his confession when Hsi-feng, almost choking with rage, burst out: "So it's that one! And a relative into the bargain! Such miserable, faceless, tortoise behavior!" Little Hsing, alarmed,

paused in his report, made a hasty kowtow, and then stared resignedly in front of him.

"Get on! Why do you not talk?" Hsi-feng urged him.

"But will the MM nai not hurt the slave if he speaks on?" asked Little Hsing, wanting to be sure first.

"Nonsense! Go on!"

And Little Hsing continued to relate how his master had entered joyfully into his nephew's plan-.

"How the plan was subsequently carried out is not known to me."

"Of course, a servant cannot know everything that the master does or does not do. Go on!"

"Then, later on Mr. Chia Yung procured and furnished a house for Mr. Chia Lien. . . ."

"A house? Where, then?" he was again interrupted.

"Behind the eastern palace."

"Aha! And we noticed nothing of all this! We must have been simply dead!" said Hsi-feng, turning a reproachful glance on the waiting maid P'ing Erh.

"Then Prince Chen paid an indemnity to the family Chang; I do not know the exact amount,"

continued Little Hsing.

"The family Chang? What, then, has that family got to do with the matter?"

"You must know that the second MM nai . . ."

He stopped short and gave himself a resounding box on the ear. How could he so forget himself as to mention a second Nai nai in the presence of the Nai nai? This comical act of voluntary self-chastisement made Hsi-feng smile in spite of the seriousness of the situation,

and the waiting maids and serving women to the right and to the left quickly put their hands over their mouths and had to laugh too.

"The younger sister of Princess Chen," he corrected himself, "was originally betrothed to a certain Chang Hua of the family of Chang. The family has recently been in very poor circumstances and was therefore willing to renounce the engagement on payment of an indemnity. 1 "

"Did you hear that? See what revelations are coming to light!" exclaimed Hsi-feng, shaking her head and turning to her attendants. "And yet this impudent fellow asserted in the beginning that he knew nothing!"

"Mr. Chia Lien had the house newly painted and beautifully papered and furnished, and then he brought home the second Yu."

"Who escorted her?"

"Only Mr. Chia Yung and a few waiting maids and serving women."

"Not Princess Chen?"

"No, she only paid her a visit two days later and brought several presents with her."

"So this is the alleged business which kept him for days on end in the eastern palace!" hissed Hsi-feng. "Is anyone else living with that person?"

"Her mother and also, until a short time ago, the younger sister who cut her throat."

"Why, actually, did she do that?"

Little Hsing told of her unhappy love and her betrothal to the Cold Knight, which had been broken off.

"He did well to free himself in time from that disreputable crowd!" said Hsi-feng derisively.

"Anything else?"

"I know nothing more; and every word I have reported is certainly true. The Nai nai can make inquiries, and if she can convict me of a lie, she may have me beaten to death if she likes!"

"I would have reason enough for that, you ape. Stand up!"

Little Hsing kowtowed once more, stood up, and slunk out. He was already on the outer threshold when Hsi-feng called him back.

"You seem in a mighty hurry to be off to your new Nai nai. You would like to divulge everything to her and earn a reward, wouldn't you? But you will do nothing of the sort! From today on you will not stir a step to go to that house but will remain permanently at my disposal. Is that understood?"

"Shih" promised Little Hsing and withdrew again, to be called back once more.

"Now, you are going to run off and repeat everything to your master, are you not?"

"Your servant will not dare."

"I would not advise you to, if you value your skin. Off with you! Clear out!"

Now Little Wang was called in. Hsi-feng looked at him sharply for a moment, and then she said: "You are a good fellow, Little Wang. I am pleased with you. And in future always be sure to tell me when you Lear something outside! Can I rely on you? Very well, you may go."

"Now, what do you think of that? A nice story, is it not?" she said, turning to P'ing Erh. P'ing Erh only smiled. Hsi-feng threw herself on the divan, took a sip of tea, and settled down to think. Suddenly she raised her brows. She had thought of a plan; she beckoned P'ing Erh.

"We must act, and at once, before my husband is back from his travels," she said, and began to explain her plan to the waiting maid.

During the next few days the residence of the absent Chia Lien became a hive of activity. A crowd of builders, carpenters, painters, joiners, and other artisans arrived, and on the instructions of Hsi-feng they put in order the empty eastern wing, consisting of three rooms.

The rooms were fitted with the same kind of wallpaper, carpets, furniture, covers, curtains, and other equipment as the rooms which Hsi-feng herself occupied. On the day that the work was completed and the workers left the house it was the fourteenth of the ninth month Hsi-feng sent a message to the Ancestress that she intended to visit this and that temple to burn

incense and pray on the following day.

The next day she got into her carriage and, accompanied by the waiting maids P'ing Erh and Little Lung, as well as the wife of the porter Little Wang and the wife of the steward Chou Jui,

went off, not to the temples named, but to the house of the second Yu in the Lane of the Flowering Branch. Little Hsing was taken along and had to show the way and announce the visitor. The second Yu was more than a little surprised when quite suddenly the wife of Little Pao came run-ning in, terribly excited and trembling all over, and announced: "The great Nai nai is coming to visit!"

She pulled herself together at once, however, ran to the door and accompanied her visitor courteously into the reception room, politely laid cushions for her in the place of honor, and had tea served to her. She excused herself on the plea of her youthfulness for all that had

happened. Everything, she said, had been dpne over her head and through her mother and Princess Chen, and she assured Madame Hsi-feng of how honored and happy she was at the visit, and how eager to hear the instructions of the "elder sister" and to serve her with dutiful respect.

Hsi-feng was dressed completely in white and silver gray, to give the impression that she was mourning for the deceased third Yu, for whom she in fact cared less than nothing. To the kowtow of submission which the other performed before her she replied with a slight bow, and said:

"Purely out of understandable tenderness and care for his health, and also to spare his parents annoyance and trouble, I always warned my husband against spending the night away from home 'between flowers and beneath willow trees.' Unfortunately, he has completely misunderstood my well-intended advice. Now, if it were a question of some dubious person, he would perhaps be right in concealing an attachment from me. But the fact

that he has chosen a highly respectable woman such as you, dear sister, for his 'side-chamber' makes it a different matter and quite in order. No one in his senses could blame him for it. Such things are, after all, customary in other families. I myself have always actually advised him to such a step; I have even offered him P'ing Erh. It is indeed my own wish that

he should have a little boy and legitimate heir, who would one day be a support and comfort to myself in my old age. It was quite wrong of him to keep this matter secret from me through quite unfounded fear of my jealousy. I am neither narrow-minded nor jealous, and call heaven

and earth to witness that. I only heard of the matter just by chance a few days ago. My husband is away travelling at present, so I cannot speak to him myself. In order to show you meantime, dear sister, how greatly my husband has misjudged me, I have come to you today to invite you, earnestly and lovingly, to give up your isolation and come ov?r to me. Let us live

together in future and unite in a sisterly way in caring for our husband's health and well-being;

we owe this to the strict requirements of good form and propriety. This living separately is profitable neither to your reputation nor to mine, nor to that of our husband. How do I stand in the eyes of the servants who as it is detest me because I keep a somewhat strict eye on them? No, the present situation is untenable. So do me the favor, dear sister, of moving over to my place! As regards accommodation, and food, and clothing, and service, you will have exactly the same as I have. You are such a sensible woman, you will be a valuable and inestimable support to me, and there will be an end once and for all to the servants' gossip.

When our husband comes home and sees us peacefully united he will feel penitent and will realize that he has shamefully misjudged me. But if you do not wish to move over to me, then I am determined to move over to you, dear sister. And in this event I hope you will put in a good word for me with our husband, so that he will not tear us. apart again. I shall be most

glad to do everything for you, to do your hair and prepare your foot bath, and perform every service which you may ask, if only I can be with you."

She had spoken with growing emotion, which was meant to simulate sincere feeling, and she now began actually to sob and weep. Her emotion seemed so genuine that the second Yu was quite touched and her eyes too filled with tears. At a sign from her mistress the wife of the steward Chou Jui now had to take out of her cotton bag four pieces of beautiful silk cloth

and a pair of gold bangles and of earrings set with She Yües, and pass them to the second Yu as a token of friendship. The second Yu was now fully convinced that Hsi-feng must be a most kindhearted woman and that everything which Little Hsing had recently told about her wicked character must be slander and servants' gossip. She gave up her previous reserve,

became talkative, opened her heart wide, laid bare her thoughts, and trustfully accepted the invitation to move over to the western palace that very day.

"But what will become of my household here?" she asked.

"That is very simple. Your new dwelling is ready and furnished, so we only need to take over your clothing and linen and other personal belongings. All the furniture can be left here."

The second Yu indicated the few trunks and objects which represented her personal belongings, dressed herself ready to depart, and allowed Hsi-feng to take her by the hand and lead her to the carriage. On the journey in the carriage Hsi-feng said to her confidentially:

"Over here our household rules are rather strict. So far the old Tai tai knows nothing of this story. If she now learns that 01 r husband has married secretly in the middle of the mourning period, she will be very angry and probably have him nearly beaten to death in punishment.

Therefore, it is better for me not to present you to the old Tai tai straight away and not to take you into my own home yet, but to put you up in the park for the time being. You will be well looked after there and quite safe from prying eyes. In the meantime I will take further

measures and carefully prepare the old Tai tai"

"Do exactly as you think best!" replied the second Yu submissively. As prearranged, the carriage entered the precincts of the western palace, not through the main entrance but unobtrusively through a back gate.

Soon after passing in Hsi-feng dismissed her attendants and smuggled the second Yu through yet another side gate into the Park of Delightful Vision and took her thence,

unobserved, to Widow Chu's in the Rice Farm. She told the widow about the matter and asked her to keep the second Yu with her for a few days. At the same time she ordered the servants in the park, under the threat of severe punishment, to keep strict silence and to watch the newcomer's every step, and under no circumstances to allow her to leave the park.

Furthermore, she deprived the second Yu of her former servants and gave her instead one of her own maids named Shan, to whom she gave her own special instructions.

Three days later the second Yu wanted to send the waiting maid Shan to Hsi-feng to get

some new hair oil. She met with unexpected resistance.

"Indeed, you have strange ideas!" said the maid very cheekily. "Madame Hsi-feng has more important things in her head and cannot trouble about such trifles. She is on the go the whole day taking orders from the old Tai tai or Princess Shieh or the Tai tai Cheng; then she has to look after all the young ladies in the park, and the many guests and visitors, and finally, she is responsible for all the several hundred servants. Everyone turns to her; she is besieged on every side with questions and requests. At a moderate estimate she has tc settle every day one to two dozen big matters and thirty to forty smaller ones. Thousands go through her hands every day. How, then, can I trouble her with such trifles? You must get accustomed to

having patience. Just remember that you did not marry into our house in an open, correct manner; all the more reason, then, to be unobtrusive and quiet! Be thankful that she has treated you in such a friendly way up to the present, and do not lose her favor by your folly.

Otherwise it may go badly with you!"

There was nothing for the second Yu to do but to put up with the reprimand and be silent.

Gradually the maid Shan began to show all kinds of negligence in her service she served the meals unpunctually, and what she did put on the table either at midday or in the evening usually consisted only of stale leavings. Two or three times the second Yu ventured a remark,

but each time she was so intimidated by offended looks and indignant demeanor that she did not venture another word of complaint and put up with everything.

Hsi-feng herself came over once a week. On these visits she was outwardly all friendliness and kindness, and loving expressions such as "dear sister" and "good sister" simply flowed from her lips.

"If you have any complaint to make about the service, let me know at once!" she said. And she put on an act of lecturing the staff of the Rice Farm, saying that she would see through it and take ruthless

measures if they failed in their duty and were negligent in their service behind her back. The kindhearted Yu was sorry for the servants who were thus rebuked, and whenever she thoughtlessly opened her mouth to complain about this or that, she shut it quickly again,

wishing to spare her servants and not to make herself unpopular. And so everything remained just as it was after these visits of inspection. \

Meanwhile Hsi-feng was making secret inquiries about the past life of the second Yu through her confidant, the porter Little Wang, and so she learned of the latter's first engagement to young Chang Hua, who was now nineteen years of age and an utter wastrel and loafer. His parents had cast him off long ago on account of his dissolute way of life; consequently he

himself knew nothing as yet about the cancellation of his engagement and the indemnity of twenty taels which Prince Chen had paid to his parents.

Now Hsi-feng sent Little Wang secretly to Chang Hua and won him for her little game by a payment of twenty taels. He was to serve a writ accusing Chia Lien of having enticed away his betrothed and married her in the middle of a period of public and family mourning without the knowledge of his legal wife and of the family elder, after having obliged her by coercion and money to cancel her previous engagement to him, the plaintiff. Chang Hua had hesitated to make a direct accusation against a member of the powerful Chia clan, whom he did not wish to quarrel with. It was therefore agreed that Little Wang should take the accusation upon himself as the alleged go-between and instigator. Fhoenix was less interested in actually

carrying through the lawsuit than in exposing the "gang," namely, the chief, culprits of the story her cousin Prince Chen, his wife, and their son Chia Yung and frightening them by the imminent prospect of a public scandal. Moreover, she intended to step in just at the right moment if the action should take an unfavorable turn.

Chang Hua accordingly appeared one day before the public session of the Court, called attention to himself by the customary cry of "Injustice," and handed in his writ. In response to the writ the magistrate sent his greencoats next day to the Yungkuo palace to arrest the accused porter Little Wang and hail him before the Court. Through respect, the greencoats

did not enter the lordly mansion themselves, and were about to send a servant to the custodian of the inner gate politely requesting him to come out. But that was not at all necessary. Little Wang had reckoned on their coming and was already waiting cheerfully for them in the street in front of the gate.

"No doubt, honored brothers, you have come for me. Very well, seize me and hold me fast!"

he invited the greencoats peaceably and good-humoredly, for he knew in advance that no harm would come to him.

"But, good elder brother, how can we do it! We only want you to come with us without any fuss," they invited him just as politely, and escorted him to the Court. The magistrate showed him the indictment handed in yesterday. Little Wang read it, kowtowed, and declared: "That is quite correct. But I myself have nothing to do with it. Chang Hua has merely drawn me into it,

because we have been on unfriendly terms for a long time past. You will have to arrest other people."

The plaintiff Chang Hua likewise kowtowed and explained: "That is also correct; but I did not dare to take action against the employers, therefore, I named the servant."

"Stupid fellow! We are standing here in an Imperial Court, before which we are all equal,

whether master or servant; so now cite the names!" replied Little Wang. Chang Hua now named Chia Yung, the son of Prince Chen, as being really the guilty person. The magistrate therefore could not do otherwise than issue a summons against Chia Yung.

The same evening Hsi-feng secretly sent the magistrate three hundred taels to his house with a message requesting him for this and that reason to proceed without consideration against her accused clan and to take a really high hand with them. She was very anxious so the message ran to give her people a proper scare. And the magistrate, as a good friend of her

uncle, Marshal Wang Tzu Teng, felt obliged to comply with the request which she had backed with such a considerable gift.

Prince Chen and his son were terribly shocked when news came that this obscure individual,

Chang Hua, had dragged their honorable name bef6re the magistrate's Court. Prince Chen foamed at the mouth over the colossal impudence of the fellow. He had vainly believed that he had silenced the family Chang once for all with the indemnity of twenty taels. Now he would have to dig deep into his pockets again and quickly produce two hundred nice shining silver pieces to buy the magistrate's favor. Just as hf and his son were discussing the

annoying affair and the counter-measures to be taken, who should appear quite unexpectedly but Cousin Hsi-feng.

The father and son would, have given anything to escape this meeting, but it was too late.

"That's a pretty business you two have been up to with my husband!" she said, bursting in on them.

While she caught Chia Yung, by the hand, as he murmured an embarrassed temg an, the Prince succeeded an squeezing past her and gaining the exit.

"An urgent business engagement!" he excused himself with a glib smile. "But my son will keep you company for the present and see that you get the best things from the kitchen."

In a trice he was out the door and had mounted his horse and gone off. In the meantime Mother Yu had appeared from the next room. Seeing the visitor's angry face, she guessed there was trouble brewing.

"You seem to be out of humor. May one ask . . .?" she began. In reply, Hsi-feng spat right into her face. . .

"You are welcome to ask!" she hissed. "Am I to accept it quietly when you smuggle in your jilted daughter and secretly pawn her off on my husband? If you had just done it openly and honestly, and in the proper manner with three negotiators and six witnesses. But no, you did it on the sly, and, what is doubly incorrect, in a time of public and family mourning! And now we shall have the devil to pay! A man has appeared and has brought the matter publicly before the Court, just so that everyone will hear what an abominable, narrow-minded, jealous woman

I am! People will point their finger at me and persuade my husband to divorce me! What have I done to you that you treat me so meanly? Is the old Tai tai perchance behind it all? Did she inspire the whole base plan, in order to get rid of me in this way? Well, it will all come to light

in time. First you will come to the Court with me, and let each of us render an account to the judge, so that the truth may triumph. And then let us appear before the assembled clan at home and let us each justify herself. If the clan finds me guilty, very well then, they may write

the letter of divorce for me and I will leave the house voluntarily."

'She began to weep loudly, and to drag Mother Yu by the hand to the door as if she wanted to set out for the Court with her straight away. Utterly dismayed, Chia Yung got in front of her,

threw himself at her feet, performed a kowtow, and begged for mercy.

"May lightning strike you and split you in i?ve, you crazy creature," she roared at him. "Shame on you, you good-for-nothing, shameless intriguer and disturber of family peace, scorner of laws and rights and .of all order of heaven and of earth! The spirits of all your ancestors and

the shades of your late wife will turn away from you in abhorrence and disgust. And a creature like you has the impudence to want to harangue me!"

She raised her hand and dealt him blows right and left. Chia Yung bent down again quickly to make another kowtow. "Do not excite yourself, Aunt!" he begged. "For the sake of the one day in a thousand that I am good, please relent! Spare your nerves and your gentle hand! If I deserve blows on the ear, I can deal them myself."

And he gave himself a few powerful slaps. Then he started to upbraid

himself: "May such a thing never happen to me again! To count up to four and skip the three!

To follow the uncle and to overlook the esteemed aunt, that indeed is no manners! What, then, has the esteemed aunt done to you, that you should join with others in being so abominable and irresponsible towards her?" .

The bystanders had difficulty in keeping from laughing aloud when they heard him abusing himself in this way. But Hsi-feng threw herself on Mother Yu's breast with a pathetic outcry, calling upon heaven and earth.

"Come! Come with me to the Court! Otherwise the constable may come and fetch us by force!" she sobbed. "And afterwards let us go together to the old Tai tai and have the clan judge us. I shall bow to their judgment and leave the house at once if the verdict is against me. I have already fetched your daughter away and lodged her in the park for the time being.

I have, as a matter of fact, furnished a permanent home for her in my own house, where she will want for nothing and fare exactly as I do as regards clothing, food, and service. But up till now I have not dared to let her be seen by the old Tai tai, as I wished to spare the old lady annoyance and excitement. But the matter cannot be hushed up any longer. Now that it has

become a public scandal the old Tai tai will have to hear the truth. It is terrible that she has to experience such a disgrace in her old age! What has happened to the good name of our family? It is gone! And besides, there is all this unnecessary expense! I have secretly taken five hundred ounces from the funds and passed them to the magistrate in the hope that he

will dismiss the case. It's a pity to lose that good money! And I do not even know yet if what I did is of any avail. The magistrate seems to have taken my gift badly, for he has held my messenger and put him in chains. Oh! Oh! What will the illustrious ancestors of our house in their Realm of Shades think of us . . .?"

She again wept aloud and even hit her head against the wall as if she wanted to take her life.

Mother Yu felt crushed and kneaded to noodle dough by .this outbreak of despair. Her dress was wet with her tears. Now she in her turn stormed against Chia Yung. "Ill-behaved creature!" she cried. "You have made a fine mess of things, you and your father! And I had warned you beforehand . . .!"

"Well, if you were against it, why did you not open your mouth and say a word to me?"

interjected Hsi-feng. "Your mouth is not stopped with eggplant apples or constrained by a bit and curb. I certainly would not have let it come to this public lawsuit and scandal if I had been informed in good time. You could well refrain from reproaching others, and reproach yourself instead, for your stupidity and your culpable silence!"

Oh, how cleverly she knew how to twist things round, after having herself goaded Chang Hua into bringing an action! The various secondary wives and serving women and waiting maids who were standing about felt so full of pity for Mother Yu, seeing her so cruelly driveninto a corner, that all together they fell at the feet of the angry Hsi-feng, appealing to her great wisdom and understanding, and implored in chorus for peace and mercy, for she had now trampled on the poor old lady long enough. True, their entreaties had the effect of making Hsi-feng stop shouting and she put her tousled coiffure in order again; but she was very far from being pacified. She disdained the tea which was offered to her and threw it straight away on the floor. She was itching to call Prince Chen to account next.

"Fetch your father here! I want to ask him a few questions personally," she ordered Chia Yung peremptorily. "I demand an explanation from him as to whethe