Chinese Literature

my clothes, too, and left me here; and now, cold and hungry and with no one to turn to, I wish I were dead. That is why I am weeping.”

“T lost my wife too in the confusion, so we are in the same boat,” answered Hsu. ‘Luckily, I have some money left. Suppose you stay in this inn for a few days, madam, to rest; and while I make inquiries about my wife I can see if there is any news of your husband. What do you say to that?”

The woman immediately dried her tears and thanked him, saying: “T could ask for nothing better.”

Then Hsu undid his bundle and took out some clothes for her, ater which they had a meal together in the inn and procured half a room to stay in. Hsu was very good to the woman, every day giving her tea and food. She, for her part, was grateful for his attentions; and since the search for their missing husband and wife was wellnigh hopeless and these two lonely people had been thrown by fate into such close proximity, they could not help loving each other. A few days later, when the woman’s feet had healed, she and Hsu went on as husband and wite to Chienkang which was then the southern capital.

Just at this time Prince Kang, who had come south, ascended the throne as Hmperor Kao Chung, named his new era Chien Yen and issued a proclamation calling for recruits for the army. Hsu enlisted and was made an officer; and he and his new wite settled down in Chienkang.

Time passed swiftly until one day, in the second year of the Chien Yen period, Hsu and his wife went out of the city to visit a relative. Returning towards evening, Hsu’s wife was thirsty, and he took her into a teashop to drink some tea. There was a man in the teashop who stood up when Hsu’s wife came in and stared at her as if he could not take his eyes from her face; but since she happened to be looking down, she did not notice him. Hsu, however, thought his behaviour very strange. After they had finished their tea, paid the bill and left the shop, this man followed them at a distance; and when they reached their house he stood by the door as if unable to tear himself away.

Furious, Hsu demanded: “Who are you? Why do you keep staring at someone else’s woman?”

The stranger bowed. ‘Don’t be angry, sir,” he said. “But I would like to ask you a question.”

“Out with it then,” snapped Hsu, still very angry.

“Pray don’t be offended, sir, if I ask you to step across the way so that I can have a word with you. If you are still angry, though, I dare not speak.”

Then Hsu followed him into a quiet alley, and when the stranger appeared to hesitate again before speaking, Hsu said: “I am a fair man. If you have something to say, out with it.”

“Who was that lady with you?”

“My wife.”