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"But, dearest heart," I said, "Jen Larsen and the girl saw your father in the garden that night." She shook her head slowly and answered, "The evil one blinded their eyes." She wept bitterly again. "Tell me, beloved," she began again, after a while, "tell me frankly this much. If God sends us no further enlightenment in this unfortunate affair, what sentence must you give?"
"But as it happens," explained Hsi Jen, "that mulish-minded and perverse-tempered young master of ours won't allow the least bit of needlework, no matter whether small or large, to be made by those persons employed to do sewing in the household. And as for me, I have no time to turn my attention to all these things." "Why mind him?" laughed Pao-ch'ai.
With the bravado born of her new grip on life she brazenly descended on the "beastly Aunt Jen" and demanded and received her trunks and personal trinkets. As for Felice, her victories were humbler they were small, silent victories over Self. In the long hours while she sat sewing she fought out her little battle the battle of hating uncongenial toil.
Hsi Jen at these words banished, at last, all anxiety from her mind. "You're again up to your larks," she observed, "but what's the aim of your visit? Who else has come along with him?" she at the same time went on to question Ming Yen. "All the others know nothing about it!" explained Ming Yen exultingly; "only we two do, that's all."
"It is easier to be wicked and free, and spend when one is rich, and starve when one is poor, than to be a sergeant and wear the triple chevron. But the sleep will do him good just the same, Jen Galbraith." "He said that he must go to Archangel's Rise tonight, and be back at Fort Desire to-morrow night." "Well, that's nothing to us, Jen," replied Galbraith, roughly.
This reminder made the fact dawn upon Pao-yue that the sash had originally been the property of Hsi Jen, and that he should by rights not have parted with it; but however much he felt his conscience smitten by remorse, he failed to see how he could very well disclose the truth to her. He could therefore only put on a smiling expression and add, "I'll give you another one instead."
On the plain, in face of superior strength, she had not the solid force needed to resist strong will and clear issues. Alf looked steadily at her, his reddish cheeks more red, his obstinate mouth more obstinate, so that she could imagine the bones of his jaws cracking with his determination. "It won't do, Jen," he said. "And you know it." Jenny wavered.
He put his hand to his head, and said, absently: "It's my duty and it's orders, and... what was I sayin'? The disgrace of me if, if... bedad! the sleep's on me; I'm awake, but I can't open my eyes.... If the orders of me and a good meal... and the disgrace... to do me duty-looked the world in the face " During this speech he staggered to his feet, Jen watching him anxiously the while.
The next day, Hsi Jen got up as soon as it was dawn, feeling her body heavy, her head sore, her eyes swollen, and her limbs burning like fire. She managed however at first to keep up, an effort though it was, but as subsequently she was unable to endure the strain, and all she felt disposed to do was to recline, she therefore lay down in her clothes on the stove-couch.
With eyes that could not see for tears, she touched pityingly, lovingly, the wounds on his head and shoulder, and said: "These pay a greater debt than you ever owed me. You risked your life for me yes, for me. You have given up everything to do it. I can't pay you the great difference. No, never!" "Yes yes, you can, if you will, Jen. It's as aisy!
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