them, were I even to die in a moment, to feel so much for me; so there
will indeed be no reason for regret, albeit the concerns of a whole
lifetime will be thus flung entirely to the winds!"

While indulging in these meditations, ha overheard Pao-ch'ai ask Hsi
Jen: "How is it that he got angry, without rhyme or reason, and started
beating him?" and Hsi Jen tell her, in reply, the version given to her
by Pei Ming.

Pao-yue had, in fact, no idea as yet of what had been said by Chia Huan,
and, when he heard Hsi Jen's disclosures, he eventually got to know what
it was; but as it also criminated Hsueeh P'an, he feared lest Pao-ch'ai
might feel unhappy, so he lost no time in interrupting Hsi Jen.

"Cousin Hsueeh," he interposed, "has never been like that; you people
mustn't therefore give way to idle surmises!"

These words were enough to make Pao-ch'ai see that Pao-yue had thought it
expedient to say something to stop Hsi Jen's mouth, apprehending that
her suspicions might get roused; and she consequently secretly mused
within herself: "He has been beaten to such a pitch, and yet, heedless
of his own pains and aches, he's still so careful not to hurt people's
feelings. But since you can be so considerate, why don't you take a
little more care in greater concerns outside, so that your father should
feel a little happier, and that you also should not have to suffer such
bitter ordeals! But notwithstanding that the dread of my feeling hurt
has prompted you to interrupt Hsi Jen in what she had to tell me, is it
likely that I am blind to the fact that my brother has ever followed his
fancies, allowed his passions to run riot, and never done a thing to
exercise any check over himself? His temperament is such that he some