"While intent upon speaking, I forgot," smiled Pao-yue, "all about
propriety and gesticulated, yet quite inadvertently. But what care I
whether I die or live!"

"To die would, after all" added Lin Tai-yue, "be for you of no matter;
but you'll leave behind some gold or other, and a unicorn too or other;
and what would they do?"

This insinuation was enough to plunge Pao-yue into a fresh fit of
exasperation. Hastening up to her: "Do you still give vent to such
language?" he asked. "Why, it's really tantamount to invoking
imprecations on me! What, are you yet angry with me!"

This question recalled to Lin Tai-yue's mind the incidents of a few days
back, and a pang of remorse immediately gnawed her heart for having been
again so indiscreet in her speech. "Now don't you distress your mind!"
she observed hastily, smiling. "I verily said what I shouldn't! Yet what
is there in this to make your veins protrude, and to so provoke you as
to bedew your whole face with perspiration?"

While reasoning with him, she felt unable to repress herself, and,
approaching him, she extended her hand, and wiped the perspiration from
his face.

Pao-yue gazed intently at her for a long time. "Do set your mind at
ease!" he at length observed.

At this remark, Lin Tai-yue felt quite nervous. "What's there to make my
mind uneasy?" she asked after a protracted interval. "I can't make out
what you're driving at; tell me what's this about making me easy or