Hsi Jen assured them that she would, and escorted them out. Just,
however, as she was about to retrace her footsteps, she met an old
matron, sent over by Madame Wang, who said to her: "Our mistress wants
one of Master Secundus attendants to go and see her."

Upon hearing this message, Hsi Jen communed with her own thoughts. Then
turning round, she whispered to Ch'ing Wen, She Yueeh, Ch'iu Wen, and the
other maids: "Our lady wishes to see one of us, so be careful and remain
in the room while I go. I'll be back soon."

At the close of her injunctions, she and the matron made their exit out
of the garden by a short cut, and repaired into the drawing-room.

Madame Wang was seated on the cool couch, waving a banana-leaf fan. When
she became conscious of her arrival: "It didn't matter whom you sent,"
she remarked, "any one would have done. But have you left him again?
Who's there to wait on him?"

At this question, Hsi Jen lost no time in forcing a smile. "Master
Secundus," she replied, "just now fell into a sound sleep. Those four or
five girls are all right now, they are well able to attend to their
master, so please, Madame, dispel all anxious thoughts! I was afraid
that your ladyship might have some orders to give, and that if I sent
any of them, they might probably not hear distinctly, and thus occasion
delay in what there was to be done."

"There's nothing much to tell you," added Madame Wang. "I only wish to
ask how his pains and aches are getting on now?"