This single remark proved sufficient to recall Pao-yue to himself. With an exclamation of "Ai-yah，" he at length became conscious that his whole body was cold as ice. then drooping his head， he realised that his own person too was drenched. "This will never do，" he cried， and with one breath he had to run back into the I Hung court. His mind， however， continued much exercised about the girl as she had nothing to shelter her from the rain.

As the next day was the dragon-boat festival， Wen Kuan and the other singing girls， twelve in all， were given a holiday， so they came into the garden and amused themselves by roaming everywhere and anywhere. As luck would have it， the two girls Pao-Kuan， who filled the _role_ of young men and Yue Kuan， who represented young women， were in the I Hung court enjoying themselves with Hsi Jen， when rain set in and they were prevented from going back， so in a body they stopped up the drain to allow the water to accumulate in the yard. Then catching those that could be caught， and driving those that had to be driven， they laid hold of a few of the GREen-headed ducks， variegated marsh-birds and coloured mandarin-ducks， and tying their wings they let them loose in the court to disport themselves. Closing the court Hsi Jen and her playmates stood together under the verandah and enjoyed the fun. Pao-yue therefore found the entrance shut. He gave a rap at the door. But as every one inside was bent upon laughing， they naturally did not catch the sound； and it was only after he had called and called， and made a noise by thumping at the door， that they at last heard. Imagining， however， that Pao-yue could not be coming back at that hour， Hsi Jen shouted laughing： "who's it now knocking at the door？ There's no one to go and open."

"It's I，" rejoined Pao-yue.

"It's Miss Pao-ch'ai's tone of voice，" added She Yueeh.

"Nonsense！" cried Ch'ing Wen. "What would Miss Pao-ch'ai come over to do at such an hour？"

"Let me go，" chimed in Hsi Jen， "and see through the fissure in the door， and if we can open， we'll open； for we mustn't let her go back， wet through."

With these words， she came along the passage to the doorway. On looking out， she espied Pao-yue dripping like a chicken drenched with rain.

Seeing him in this plight， Hsi Jen felt solicitous as well as amused. With alacrity， she flung the door wide open， laughing so heartily that she was doubled in two. "How could I ever have known，" she said， clapping her hands， "that you had returned， Sir！ Yet how is it that you've run back in this heavy rain？"

Pao-yue had， however， been feeling in no happy frame of mind. He had fully resolved within himself to administer a few kicks to the person， who came to open the door， so as soon as it was unbarred， he did not try to make sure who it was， but under the presumption that it was one of the servant-girls， he raised his leg and give her a kick on the side.

"Ai-yah！" ejaculated Hsi Jen.

Pao-yue nevertheless went on to abuse. "You mean things！" he shouted. "It's because I've always treated you so considerately that you don't respect me in the least！ And you now go to the length of making a laughing-stock of me！"

As he spoke， he lowered his head. then catching sight of Hsi Jen， in tears， he realised that he had kicked the wrong person. "Hallo！" he said， promptly smiling， "is it you who've come？ Where did I kick you？"

Hsi Jen had never， previous to this， received even a harsh word from him. When therefore she on this occasion unexpectedly saw Pao-yue gave her a kick in a fit of anger and， what made it worse， in the presence of so many people， shame， resentment， and bodily pain overpowered her and she did not， in fact， for a time know where to go and hide herself. She was then about to give rein to her displeasure， but the reflection that Pao-yue could not have kicked her intentionally obliged her to suppress her indignation. "Instead of kicking，" she remarked， "don't you yet go and change your clothes？"

Pao-yue walked into the room. As he did so， he smiled. "Up to the age I've reached，" he observed， "this is the first instance on which I've ever so thoroughly lost control over my temper as to strike any one； and， contrary to all my thoughts， it's you that happened to come in my way？"

Hsi Jen， while patiently enduring the pain， effected the necessary change in his attire. "I've been here from the very first，" she simultaneously added， smilingly， "so in all things， whether large or small， good or bad， it has naturally fallen to my share to bear the brunt. But not to say another word about your assault on me， why， to-morrow you'll indulge your hand and star-beating others！"

"I did not strike you intentionally just now，" retorted Pao-yue.

"Who ever said，" rejoined Hsi Jen， "that you did it intentionally！ It has ever been the duty of that tribe of servant-girls to open and shut the doors， yet they've got into the way of being obstinate， and have long ago become such an abomination that people's teeth itch to revenge themselves on them. They don't know， besides， what fear means. So had you first assured yourself that it was they and given them a kick， a little intimidating would have done them good. But I'm at the bottom of the mischief that happened just now， for not calling those， upon whom it devolves， to come and open for you."

During the course of their conversation， the rain ceased， and Pao Kuan and Yue Kuan had been able to take their leave. Hsi Jen， however， experienced such intense pain in her side， and felt such inward vexation， that at supper she could not put a morsel of anything in her mouth. When in the evening， the time came for her to have her bath， she discovered， on divesting herself of her clothes， a bluish bruise on her side of the size of a saucer and she was very much frightened. But as she could not very well say anything about it to any one， she presently retired to rest. But twitches of pain made her involuntarily moan in her dreams and groan in her sleep.

Pao-yue did， it is true， not hurt her with any malice， but when he saw Hsi Jen so listless and restless， and suddenly heard her groan in the course of the night， he realised how severely he must have kicked her. So getting out of bed， he gently seized the lantern and came over to look at her. But as soon as he reached the side of her bed， he perceived Hsi Jen expectorate， with a retch， a whole mouthful of phlegm. "Oh me！" she gasped， as she opened her eyes. The presence of Pao-yue startled her out of her wits. "What are you up to？" she asked.

"You groaned in your dreams，" answered Pao-yue， "so I must have kicked you hard. Do let me see！"

"My head feels giddy，" said Hsi Jen. "My throat foul and sweet； throw the light on the floor！"

At these words， Pao-yue actually raised the lantern. The moment he cast the light below， he discerned a quantity of fresh blood on the floor.

Pao-yue was seized with consternation. "Dreadful！" was all he could say. At the sight of the blood， Hsi Jen's heart too partly waxed cold.

But， reader， the next chapter will reveal the sequel， if you really have any wish to know more about them.