All the morning they squatted2 forlornly before the temple, hungry and desolate3 and sorrowful, and when at last Niu Tsang arose, and Tuen knew that the awful [Pg 32]moment when she must leave them forever had come, she felt as if she should surely die. Her mother caressed4 her, crying in a hopeless, patient way, but she managed to whisper encouragingly:
"After all, you will be better off," and Tuen answered bravely: "All of us will, I hope, be better off, mother. At least we shall not die of hunger."
"No, and nothing could be worse than that," her mother said with a shudder5, for she was even now weak and well-nigh exhausted6.
"You will never again want for food, mother," Tuen repeated, finding her only consolation7 in this knowledge. "Never again be hungry, and after a while my brother will grow up and marry a wife to wait on you. But mother, mother, I will not be there, never, never, never," and Tuen rocked herself to and fro and moaned.
"It is true," her mother answered, "but[Pg 33] to live in the house of a Viceroy is not an unpleasant prospect8, for it must be very splendid there." Thus did these two poor ones try to comfort each other.
"I will try to make the best of it, and maybe the gods will have pity on me," Tuen finally said, and with a last embrace of her mother, a last, long look at her baby brother, she followed her father, and she held her head very high, and did not dare to look back at them, lest her courage fail her.
Niu Tsang was also grief-stricken and spoke9 but little as they made their way through the narrow, crowded streets, where the throng10 ever pressed and jostled in good-natured confusion. At last they stopped in front of a high wall, more pretentious11 than any they had yet seen. Upon the lintels of the door, which was cut in the centre of the wall, were imposing12 boards with curious red letters upon them announcing the literary rank of the[Pg 34] owner, while from the eaves hung lanterns inscribed13 with his name and rank.
"It is the Viceroy's yamen," her father said briefly14. "Let us enter."
The gate-keeper, nodding contemptuously to them as he noticed the poverty of their appearance, allowed them to pass when Niu stated that he had an appointment with the Viceroy, and as this outer door, upon which was carved the protecting gods, closed behind them, Tuen felt that she had in truth passed the gates of doom15. Nevertheless as they entered the small space within the doorway16, guarded on each side by great stone lions, she forced back the tears that almost blinded her, and looked curiously17 at this ogre palace that was henceforth to be her home. To the left was the shrine18 of the gods of the threshold, where a bowl of ashes showed that incense19 sticks had lately burned, and on the right, behind bright red boards ornamented21 with gilt22 lettering,[Pg 35] were several sedan chairs. As they went behind the screen that separated this entranceway from the inner buildings they found themselves in a paved court where flowers bloomed in fancy jars, and rows of ornamental23 shrubbery outlined the walk. Here they were met by a porter, more supercilious24 in manner than the gate-keeper, and it was only after a prolonged argument, for he liked not to admit such unprepossessing individuals, that he finally conducted them to the main hall, where the Viceroy received his guests and transacted25 all business. At one end of this apartment was an altar dedicated26 to the household spirits, and upon it were incense vases and tall candlesticks of wrought27 brass28 in which red wax candles were burning, while on the wall hung gay banners and scrolls29 of white satin, inscribed with the maxims30 of Confucius. Small tables were arranged around the room, with two chairs at each one, where tea and tobacco[Pg 36] were served to callers, and at the end of the hall near the altar was a square couch filled with silken pillows, and upon this the magistrate31 half reclined, book in hand. He was clad in a flowing blue tunic32, over which were scattered33 crimson34 flowers, and upon the breast was embroidered35 a great golden lily, its centre a lustrous36 pearl. His loose pantaloons were met below the knees by stockings of white silk, and his thick-soled shoes were made of yellow silk. Upon his head was a red satin cap, adorned37 at the top with a crimson button, an insignia of his high rank, while from the silken girdle around his waist hung his tobacco pouch38, pipe case, bag for flint and steel, and two purses of loosely braided tinsel cord, in which huge gold watches were plainly visible. His wide sleeves were much longer than his arms, and shaped like a horseshoe at the hand, and his girdle was fastened with a clasp of highly polished jade39. Before him was a low stand of[Pg 37] ebony, upon which were writing materials, consisting of a pencil made of soft, fine hair, delicately pointed40 at the end, a bit of India ink, and a small stone where it could be rubbed smooth.
Tuen had a confused idea of these surroundings, although her eyes seemed fixed41 upon the tiled floor, and her heart was beating so loudly that she could but wonder if the Viceroy heard it.
"Ah, you have come," he said, hardly looking up from the book he was reading, and taking no notice of Niu Tsang's polite greetings. "'Tis to be hoped the girl will prove not a mere42 idle consumer of rice, for I have paid a good price for her."
"Not so much as she is worth," her father replied quickly. "She is wonderfully smart, considering that she had the misfortune to be born a female."
"Girls are always useless," the Viceroy answered, pursing up his lips knowingly[Pg 38] "and the gods in punishment send us many."
"It is indeed so," Niu readily agreed. "They are a crop that never fails. The land teems43 with them, and there seems no prospect of decrease."
"And yet I have burdened myself with another," the Viceroy said regretfully.
"If your illustrious highness," Niu commenced, when the Viceroy interrupted him.
"The trade is made," he said shortly. "It only remains44 for the coin to be counted."
Then he signed for a servant to approach.
"Take the girl to Wang," he commanded.
Tuen uttered a little gasp45 but did not move, and her father, seeing her agitation46, said tenderly:
"Go, my daughter, and may all the gods protect you."
[Pg 39]
Tuen followed the attendant, her form shaking with suppressed sobs47, and he led the way from the main hall into a second court, larger and more beautiful than the first. A gnarled and twisted evergreen48, simulating a canopy49, stood in the centre of this court, and underneath50 its thick branches was a little pool, encircled by moss-covered rocks, and filled with brilliant gold-fish. The walk was formed of many-colored pebbles51, laid in unique designs, but Tuen did not have time to decipher them for she was hurried on into a luxurious52 apartment, where bright-colored lanterns of horn and oiled silk, decorated with long red tassels53, hung from the joists, and on the walls were pen-and-ink sketches54 of landscapes, and paper panels bearing the ornamental autographs of friends—for with the Chinese, fine writing is a great accomplishment55. The bedstead was of ebony, carved in fruits and flowers, and from the tester hung draperies of[Pg 40] flowered silk. Beside it was a massive chair of the same costly56 wood, the arms ending in dragon's claws; and rich porcelain57 vases, taller than Tuen, stood upon the floor, while in one corner was a handsome pearl-inlaid bookcase. Tuen had now dried her eyes and was looking in wondering amazement58 at this fairy-land she had entered, and as they went out through the leaf-shaped door, hung with silken curtains, and through a narrow corridor lighted by means of a window made of small panes59 of oyster-shell, she uttered an exclamation60 of delight at the beautiful scene before her. They were now in a spacious61 court, where lilies, peonies, geraniums, and many flowers she had never seen before bloomed in odd-shaped jardinières. In the centre was a miniature lake where the rich green leaves of the lotus lay upon the still water, and here and there a pink bud peeped out from its cool hiding-place. Shrubs62 cut in the shape[Pg 41] of inviting63 benches or cosy64 chairs invited the weary to rest, while the light fell dimly through a roof of oyster-shells upon this lovely spot. A polished stone table stood on the bank of the lake, with chairs around it—for here the Viceroy often came to drink his tea—and hanging from the branches of trees were cages of chirping65 goldfinch. Tuen could but wish she might stay here a little while, but her guide was anxious to be rid of her and went quickly on. They now entered another bedroom, not less magnificent than the one she had lately seen, where the air was heavy with the perfume of incense that burned in a copper66 tripod, and passing out at a door, this time shaped like an urn20, she was led through many other corridors and apartments, until at last they came to the last court of all, where, surrounded by earthen tubs and buckets, two women were washing clothes, chattering67 constantly the while. A little apart from them stood an elderly woman[Pg 42] with a shrewd, pleasant face, who seemed to be overlooking the others.
"The Viceroy sent her to you," the servant who was with Tuen said to the older woman, pointing with one finger to the shrinking girl behind him.
At his words the women looked up from their work with evident curiosity, for there was but little break in the monotony of their lives, and this newcomer was therefore interesting. The one to whom he spoke came forward that she might better examine her charge.
"Where did he get her?" she inquired, regarding Tuen with something like disfavor in her keen eyes.
"Bought her," was the man's laconic68 answer. "From the ragman it appears," he also volunteered; and then with a shrug69 of his shoulders he went away.
"He was cheated if he paid much. Don't you say so, Wang?" one of the women said with a laugh that was not unkind.
[Pg 43]
A feeling of such utter, overpowering loneliness swept over Tuen as she stood undergoing their scrutiny70 that all at once she slipped down on the muddy ground and fell to weeping violently.
TUEN AND WANG
"A cry-baby," one of them muttered contemptuously, returning to her work.
"Poor child," the one called Wang murmured, perhaps remembering the day when she had been bought by the Viceroy; and she went over to the prostrate71 figure.
"O come, there's nothing to cry about," she said pleasantly. "You are in great good-fortune to have such an illustrious and wealthy gentleman as the Viceroy to buy you. It's not every girl has such a master."
"No indeed," replied the younger of the other two women. "Why he never beats us at all."
Encouraged by these cheerful remarks Tuen's sobs grew less, and she [Pg 44]surreptitiously dried her eyes on the skirt of her jacket.
"You look like a lazy thing," the woman who had called her a cry-baby, said spitefully. "Get up from there and draw me a bucket of water."
"You must not scold the child, Zau," Wang interposed. "She is only a bit homesick, now."
Zau muttered something to herself as Tuen took the bucket and went over to the middle of the court, where a stone with a small hole in the top covered the well.
While she was at her task the women whispered among themselves and nodded toward her, but when she returned Wang only said:
"Come with me and I will get you some better clothes. Then I will take you to see the wife of the Viceroy."
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1
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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2
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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9
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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10
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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12
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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13
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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14
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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15
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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16
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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17
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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18
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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19
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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20
urn
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| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
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21
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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23
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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24
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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25
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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26
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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27
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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28
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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29
scrolls
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| n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕 | |
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30
maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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31
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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32
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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33
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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35
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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36
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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37
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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38
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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39
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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40
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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41
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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42
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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43
teems
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| v.充满( teem的第三人称单数 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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44
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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45
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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46
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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47
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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48
evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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49
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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50
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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51
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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52
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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53
tassels
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| n.穗( tassel的名词复数 )；流苏状物；（植物的）穗；玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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54
sketches
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| n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概 | |
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55
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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56
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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57
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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58
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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59
panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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60
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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61
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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62
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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63
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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64
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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65
chirping
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的现在分词 ) | |
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66
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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67
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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68
laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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69
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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70
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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71
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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