"He has returned from the temple and is in the audience hall, where he has been receiving calls from all the high authorities of the city. Now he is alone, and wishes to speak with you," the servant further volunteered. Tuen did not wait to hear more, but hastened to obey the summons, though she paused outside of the Viceroy's door for a few minutes in order to calm herself, for she was quite breathless. Then she slipped in, and saw him sitting before a table, wearing the superb tunic1 she had made, and clad in robes of more gorgeous splendor2 than[Pg 77] she had ever seen him wear. "Kungli! Kungli! Oh, great and glorious one!" she murmured low, saluting3 him, and then with a proud flush upon her face she listened to his words of praise.
Now it so happened that on this auspicious4 occasion the Viceroy was in a most gracious mood. He had received many magnificent offerings from his people, a bevy5 of his friends had called to wish him happiness, and said many flattering things. On the table before him was a great heap of large red cards containing good wishes for his continued prosperity, and the Viceroy felt that he had just cause to feel satisfied, for surely he was favored by the gods. When he had complimented Tuen upon the beauty of her needle-work, not forgetting to praise her faithfulness and her industry, he added kindly6:
"What would you like me to give you, as a reward for your work, Tuen?" She[Pg 78] made no answer, for although she had expected this question, and had long ago decided7 upon the very words she would say in reply, now that the time had come her lips were dumb.
"Speak! What is it?" he insisted, but still she hesitated.
He looked at her half-impatiently, and then he saw her round, rosy8 face, her lustrous9, pleading eyes, and her trembling little mouth, and, his humor changing, he smiled encouragingly.
Tuen, seeing this, threw herself at his feet and cried out impetuously:
"O wisest and best among men, I would like to learn to read."
I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO READ
"What?" he ejaculated so sharply that her new-found courage instantly deserted10 her, and she hid her face, and wondered at her own audacity11.
In truth the Viceroy was not so much displeased12 as he was astonished, for he had never dreamed of such a strange[Pg 79] request, and could hardly believe his ears.
"You, a girl, learn to read!" he finally exclaimed contemptuously. "What nonsense! You couldn't learn if you tried. You haven't sense enough."
"Indeed, I think I have," she said in a tearful voice, "and I do so want to know about things."
"There is no one to teach you," he answered shortly. "Go back to your sewing, your gossip among the women, and know that it was for that you were made, else had you been born a man."
"I can't help what I was born," she sobbed13. "The gods made me a woman, and I just have to make the best of it."
"Umph!" the magistrate14 grunted15, watching her keenly from beneath his drooping16 lids, and something told Tuen that her reply had pleased him, so now she arose to her feet, and entreated17 softly:
"Be not angry with Tuen. Remember[Pg 80] you told her to make her wish known to you, and this was the one, the only desire of her heart. Everything else that she could want you have given her."
"Your request has been most strange," he replied, somewhat mollified; and noticing this difference in his tone she persisted.
"If the master is great the servant should also aspire18, that he may be worthy19 to serve such a master. (For this was a speech she had heard her father make, and had remembered.) Is not that true, O Wise ruler of the province of Kiangsi?"
"Truly for a woman she has some wit," he told himself; and after considering a moment he said to her:
"Answer me three questions, and if your words are wise your request shall be granted."
"I will try," she replied quietly, but she grew very pale.
"Well, first, why do you wish to learn[Pg 81] to read?" he inquired, assuming a judicial20 air, and Tuen felt that he was laughing at her, but that knowledge only made her the more determined21 to gain her point.
"That I may be wise, and therefore good, and being both of these the better able to serve the Viceroy," she answered with a low bow.
He nodded his head approvingly.
"I would let all of my servants learn if they would make that use of it," he said. "For one that knows nothing your answer is not altogether foolish. Now tell me what gods are the most to be feared?"
"It would seem to me—perhaps because I am a woman—that it is the household gods who are the most to be dreaded," she said hesitatingly.
"Why?" he questioned.
"Because both man and woman must needs live in the house, and if peace and prosperity reign22 there they will have [Pg 82]happiness. If not, all is confusion and terror."
But as she spoke23 she watched him fearfully, as if half afraid he would be offended.
But he answered: "Your reason is good, for peace in the house is indeed the greatest blessing24. Now one more question and I am done. Of all living creatures which would you like to be?"
"A man, Oh, learned sir," she said promptly25, "since he alone of all creatures has been given wisdom. And if further choice were given me I would like to be the Viceroy of Kiangsi, since he is the wisest and best of men."
"Well said, well said," he exclaimed; for, like some other great ones of whom we have heard, he was not averse26 to flattery. And thus on him did Tuen use some of that diplomacy27 for which she one day would be celebrated28.
"You have spoken wisely," he [Pg 83]continued, "and if there can be found in Lu Chang one who will teach you, by the gods you shall learn to read. I, the Viceroy, have said it."
Uttering many profuse29 thanks Tuen prostrated30 herself before him, for in this land where females were ofttimes drowned like kittens at their birth, or if allowed to live, despised and beaten, sold as mere31 chattels32, or even killed if disobedient to the husband's parents, the patience of the Viceroy was indeed marvellous, and the permission she had wrested33 from him was much to be wondered at.
As soon as she had left his presence she ran to find Wang, and throwing herself in the arms of this faithful friend she sobbed:
"Oh, Wang, Wang, I am to be taught to read. The Viceroy has said it."
"Taught to read?" Wang repeated blankly.
"Yes, to read," Tuen cried. "I begged[Pg 84] it of him, and at first he would not, and then he finally consented, and oh, Wang, I feel as if I should die for joy."
"I am sure I don't know what you want to read for," said the puzzled Wang, "but I do know that there is not another master in all China who would have granted such a favor to a slave. You are a lucky girl to have been bought by him, for he is the kindest man in the land. Any one else would have beaten you for asking such a thing. You had better pray to the gods every day that you shall always belong to him."
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1
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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2
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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bevy
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| n.一群 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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7
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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10
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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15
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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16
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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17
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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19
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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23
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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24
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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26
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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27
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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28
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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29
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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30
prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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31
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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32
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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33
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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