United States or Lebanon ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
That as he failed to carry out his design, he gave her a thrashing, which so exasperated Chin Ch'uan-erh that she threw herself into the well and committed suicide...." Before however he could conclude his account, Chia Cheng had been incensed to such a degree that his face assumed the colour of silver paper. "Bring Pao-yue here," he cried. While uttering these orders, he walked into the study.
"Go and tell your mother," Madame Wang thereupon said to Yue Ch'uan-erh, "to fetch your elder sister away." Chin Ch'uan-erh, at these words, speedily fell on her knees. With tears in her eyes: "I won't venture to do it again," she pleaded. "If you, Madame, wish to flog me, or to scold me do so at once, and as much as you like but don't send me away.
Strange coincidence Chia Cheng was in madame Wang's apartments consulting with her upon some matter or other, and Chin Ch'uan-erh, Ts'ai Yun, Ts'ai Feng, Ts'ai Luan, Hsiu Feng and the whole number of waiting-maids were all standing outside under the verandah.
After listening to these words, Madame Wang felt as if she had been blasted by thunder and struck by lightning; and, as they fitted so appositely with the incident connected with Chin Ch'uan-erh, her heart was more than ever fired with boundless affection for Hsi Jen.
And albeit Chin Ch'uan-erh indulged in solicitous entreaties, she would not on any account keep her in her service. At length, Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother, Dame Pao, was sent for to take her away. Chin Ch'uan-erh therefore had to conceal her disgrace, suppress her resentment, and quit the mansion. But without any further reference to her, we will now take up our story with Pao-yue.
Smacking her lips, "Ai!" she cried, "the phoenix has alighted! go in at once! Hadn't you come for another minute, every one would have been quite upset!" Pao-yue forced a smile. "Just try and guess where I've been?" he observed. Yue Ch'uan-erh twisted herself round, and, paying no notice to him, she continued drying her tears. Pao-yue had, therefore, no option but to enter with hasty step.
And by my bringing them in person to give them to them, doesn't it make things clearer?" As she said this, she put down the four rings. "One is for sister Hsi Jen," she continued, "one is for sister Yuean Yang. One for sister Chin Ch'uan-erh, and one for sister P'ing Erh. They are only for these four girls; but would the servant-boys too forsooth have remembered them so clearly!"
For her ladyship's rooms four elderly girls are at present allotted with a monthly allowance of one tael; the rest simply receiving several hundreds of cash each month; so now that Chin Ch'uan-erh is dead and gone, these people must, of course, be anxious to try their tricks and get this one-tael job!" Hearing this, lady Feng smiled a significant smile. "That's it. Yes, that's it!" she exclaimed.
Her elder sister came to an unpleasant end, after a long term of service with me; so if the younger sister, she leaves behind in my employ, receives a double share, it won't be any too excessive." Lady Feng expressed her approval and turning round she said smilingly to Yue Ch'uan-erh: "I congratulate you, I congratulate you!" Yue Ch'uan-erh thereupon crossed over and prostrated herself.
"Let them be up to whatever they like," smiled Pao-yue, "I shall simply stick to your side!" But he then saw Madame Wang twist herself round, get up, and give a slap to Chin Ch'uan-erh on her mouth. "You mean wench!" she exclaimed, abusing her, while she pointed her finger at her, "it's you, and the like of you, who corrupt these fine young fellows with all the nice things you teach them!"
Word Of The Day