As soon as Hsiao Hung and Chui Erh pushed the windows open from inside the pavilion， they heard Pao-ch'ai screaming， while rushing forward； and both fell into a state of trepidation from the fright they sustained.

Pao-ch'ai turned round and faced them. "Where have you been hiding Miss Lin？" she smiled.

"Who has seen anything of Miss Lin，" retorted Chui Erh.

"I was just now，" proceeded Pao-ch'ai， "on that side of the pool， and discerned Miss Lin squatting down over there and playing with the water. I meant to have gently given her a start， but scarcely had I walked up to her， when she saw me， and， with a _detour_ towards the East， she at once vanished from sight. So mayn't she be concealing herself in there？"

As she spoke， she designedly stepped in and searched about for her. This over， she betook herself away， adding： "she's certain to have got again into that cave in the hill， and come across a snake， which must have bitten her and put an end to her."

So saying， she distanced them， feeling again very much amused. "I have managed，" she thought， "to ward off this piece of business， but I wonder what those two think about it."

Hsiao Hung， who would have anticipated， readily credited as gospel the remarks she heard Pao-ch'ai make. But allowing just time enough to Pao-ch'ai to got to a certain distance， she instantly drew Chui Erh to her. "Dreadful！" she observed， "Miss Lin was squatting in here and must for a certainty have overheard what we said before she left."

Albeit Chui Erh listened to her words， she kept her own counsel for a long time. "What's to be done？" Hsiao Hung consequently exclaimed.

"Even supposing she did overhear what we said，" rejoined Chui Erh by way of answer， "why should she meddle in what does not concern her？ Every one should mind her own business."

"Had it been Miss Pao， it would not have mattered，" remarked Hsiao Hung， "but Miss Lin delights in telling mean things of people and is， besides， so petty-minded. Should she have heard and anything perchance comes to light， what will we do？"

During their colloquy， they noticed Wen Kuan， Hsiang Ling， Ssu Ch'i， Shih Shu and the other girls enter the pavilion， so they were compelled to drop the conversation and to play and laugh with them. They then espied lady Feng standing on the top of the hillock， waving her hand， beckoning to Hsiao Hung. Hurriedly therefore leaving the company， she ran up to lady Feng and with smile heaped upon smile， "my lady，" she inquired， "what is it that you want？"

Lady Feng scrutinised her for a time. Observing how spruce and pretty she was in looks， and how genial in her speech， she felt prompted to give her a smile. "My own waiting-maid，" she said， "hasn't followed me in here to-day； and as I've just this moment bethought myself of something and would like to send some one on an errand， I wonder whether you're fit to undertake the charge and deliver a message faithfully."

"Don't hesitate in entrusting me with any message you may have to send，" replied Hsiao Hung with a laugh. "I'll readily go and deliver it. Should I not do so faithfully， and blunder in fulfilling your business， my lady， you may visit me with any punishment your ladyship may please， and I'll have nothing to say."

"What young lady's servant are you，" smiled lady Feng？ "Tell me， so that when she comes back， after I've sent you out， and looks for you， I may be able to tell her about you."

"I'm attached to our Master Secundus，' Mr. Pao's rooms，" answered Hsiao Hung.

"Ai-ya！" ejaculated lady Feng， as soon as she heard these words. "Are you really in Pao-yue's rooms！ How strange！ Yet it comes to the same thing. Well， if he asks for you， I'll tell him where you are. Go now to our house and tell your sister P'ing that she'll find on the table in the outer apartment and under the stand with the plate from the Ju kiln， a bundle of silver； that it contains the one hundred and twenty taels for the embroiderers' wages； and that when Chang Ts'ai's wife comes， the money should be handed to her to take away， after having been weighed in her presence and been given to her to tally. Another thing too I want. In the inner apartment and at the head of the bed you'll find a small purse， bring it along to me."

Hsiao Hung listened to her orders and then started to carry them out. On her return， in a short while， she discovered that lady Feng was not on the hillock. But perceiving Ssu Ch'i eGREss from the cave and stand still to tie her petticoat， she walked up to her. "Sister， do you know where our lady Secunda is gone to？" she asked.

"I didn't notice，" rejoined Ssu Ch'i.