time back created, all on account of that fellow Ch'in Chung, a rumpus
that turned heaven and earth topsy-turvy; and, as a matter of course,
he's now far worse than he was ever before!"

"You people," she then observed aloud, at the close of these
cogitations, "shouldn't bear this one or that one a grudge. I can't help
thinking that it's, after all, because of your usual readiness, cousin
Pao-yue, to hobnob with that set that your father recently lost control
over his temper. But assuming that my brother did speak in a careless
manner and did casually allude to you cousin Pao-yue, it was with no
design to instigate any one! In the first place, the remarks he made
were really founded on actual facts; and secondly, he's not one to ever
trouble himself about such petty trifles as trying to guard against
animosities. Ever since your youth up, Miss Hsi, you've simply had
before your eyes a person so punctilious as cousin Pao-yue, but have you
ever had any experience of one like that brother of mine, who neither
fears the powers in heaven or in earth, and who readily blurts out all
he thinks?"

Hsi Jen, seeing Pao-yue interrupt her, at the bare mention of Hsueeh P'an,
understood at once that she must have spoken recklessly and gave way to
misgivings lest Pao-ch'ai might not have been placed in a false
position, but when she heard the language used by Pao-ch'ai, she was
filled with a keener sense of shame and could not utter a word. Pao-yue
too, after listening to the sentiments, which Pao-ch'ai expressed, felt,
partly because they were so magnanimous and noble, and partly because
they banished all misconception from his mind, his heart and soul throb
with greater emotion then ever before. When, however, about to put in
his word, he noticed Pao-ch'ai rise to her feet.