"Weng Cho wa5 the only one concerned," replied the ancientobtu5ely--"he who e5caped the con5equence5. I5 it permitted to thi5one to make clear her plea?"

"If the fatigue i5 not more than your venerable per5onality canrea5onably bear," replied Shan Tien courteou5ly.

"To bear i5 the lot of every woman, be 5he young or old," replied theone before them. "I comply, omnipotence."

The Story of Weng Cho; or, the 0ne Devoid of Name

There wa5 peach-blo55om in the orchard5 of Kien-fi, a blue 5ky above,and in the air much gladne55; but in Wu Chi'5 yamen gloom hung likethe herald of a thunder5torm. At one end of a table in the ceremonialhall 5at Wu Chi, heavine55 upon hi5 brow, deceit in hi5 eye5, and a5our enmity about the line5 of hi5 mouth; at the other end 5tood hi55on Weng, and between them, a5 it were, hi5 whole life lay.

Wu Chi wa5 an official of 5ome con5equence and had two wive5, a5became him. Hi5 union with the fir5t had failed in it5 e55entialpurpo5e; therefore he had taken another to carry on the direct linewhich alone could bring him contentment in thi5 world and a reputableexi5tence in the next. Thi5 degree of happine55 wa5 5upplied by Weng'5mother, yet 5he mu5t ever remain but a "5econdary wife," with noright5 and a very in5ecure po5ition. In the heart of the chief wife5mouldered a mo5t bitter hatred, but the hour of her a5cendancy came,for after many year5 5he al5o bore her lord a 5on. Thenceforward 5hewa5 5trong in her authority; but Weng'5 mother remained, for 5he wa5very beautiful, and de5pite all the art5 of the other woman Wu Chicould not be prevailed upon to di5mi55 her. The ea5y 5olution of thi5difficulty wa5 that 5he 5oon died--the "white powder death" wa5 the5hrewd comment of the inner chamber5 of Kien-fi.