stayed one
night at the temple and came back next day. Whipping up their donkey,
they soon arrived at the north gate of the P`ing-k`ang quarter. At this
point his mistress turned to him and said, "My aunt's house is in a
turning just near here. How would it be if we were to go there and rest
for a little?"

He drove on as she directed him, and they had not gone more than a
hundred paces, when he saw the entrance to a spacious carriage-drive. A
servant who belonged to the place came out and stopped the cart, saying,
"This is the entrance." The young man got down and was met by some one
who came out and asked who they were. When told that it was Miss Li, he
went back and announced her. Presently a married lady came out who
seemed to be about forty. She greeted him, saying, "Has my niece
arrived?" Miss Li then got out of the cart and her aunt said to her:
"Why have you not been to see me for so long?" At which they looked at
one another and laughed. Then Miss Li introduced him to her aunt and
when that was over they all went into a side garden near the Western
Halberd Gate. In the middle of the garden was a pagoda, and round it
grew bamboos and trees of every variety, while ponds and summer-houses
added to its air of seclusion. He asked Miss Li if this were her aunt's
estate; she laughed, but did not answer and spoke of something else.

Tea of excellent quality was served; but when they had been drinking it
for a little while, a messenger came galloping up on a huge Fergana
horse, saying that Miss Li's mother had suddenly been taken very ill and
had already lost consciousness, so that they had better come back as
quickly as possible.

Miss Li said to her aunt: "I am very much upset. I think I had better
take the horse and ride on ahead. Then I will send it back, and you and
my husband can come along later." The young man was anxious to go with
her, but the aunt and her servants engaged him in conversation,
flourishing their hands in front of him and preventing him from leaving
the garden. The aunt said to him: "No doubt my sister is dead by this
time. You and I ought to discuss together what can be done to help with
the expenses of the burial. What is the use of running off like that?
Stay here and help me to make a plan for the funeral and mourning
ceremonies."

It grew late; but the messenger had not returned. The aunt said: "I am
surprised he has not come back with the horse. You had better go there
on foot as qui