A lost unicorn amulet causes Little Cloud to expose her bare head to
the fierce sun. Gold Ring cannot get over the insult she suffers and
seeks the death of honor.
ON THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE MIDDAY MEAL IN THE RESIDENCE
of the Ancestress, when everybody, employer and servant alike, was
taking a midday rest on account of the stupefying heat, and even the
birds in the trees and bushes were silent with exhaustion, Pao Yu strode
slowly through the back gardens and grounds of the western palace,
his hands behind his back. After walking through the western corridor
pavilion he came past the self‐contained dwelling of Phoenix and on
to the home of his mother. Here also the noonday silence reigned over
all. Passing by several maids who were drowsing over their needlework,
he arrived at the living room of the Tai tai. She was lying asleep on
a divan of matting. The waiting maid Gold Ring was leaning against
the end of the divan, with her legs stretched out limply, dozing.
Pao Yu slipped quietly up to her and plucked at her earring. "Are
you so tired?" he whispered. Gold Ring blinked at him sleepily, pointed
to the door with a smile, and shut her eyes again. But Pao Yu did not
move from her side. When he had furtively ascertained that the Tai tai
was really asleep, he pulled out of his belt pouch a tube of damp, sticky,
perfumed cinnamon paste, squeezed out a little ball, and pushed it be‐
tween the maid's lips. She liked it and swallowed it down without open‐
ing her eyes. He took hold of her hand.
"Look .here, shall 1 ask the Tai tai to give you to me?" he asked,
quietly. She remained silent
"As soon as the Tai tai wakes up, I shall ask her for yofi," he con‐
tinued. Gold Ring opened her eyes and looked at him, smiling.
"You are in a mighty hurry! What about having Lamb's Fleece? If
you go into the little eastern garden you can take her by surprise with
Master Chia Huan."
"They may enjoy themselves for all I care. I want you!" He had
scarcely finished speaking when the Tai tai suddenly stood up and
dealt the waiting maid a vigorous slap on the face.
"Abandoned creature! I shall just show you! Trying to seduce my
son!" she scolded.
Pao Yu had flown out like a streak of smoke the instant the Tai tai
had stirred. While Gold. Ring rubbed her burning cheek in bewilder‐
ment, not daring to open her mouth, several waiting maids and serving
women came rushing in, ready to serve. The Tai tai turned to Nephrite
Bangle, the younger sister of the girl whom she had just rebuked.
"Tell your mother that she is to take your sister out of the house this
very day!" she said. Gold Ring threw herself on her knees and with
tears and kowtows implored her enraged mistress to be merciful.
"Hit me, beat me, but do not turn me out!" she implored. "I have
already been serving you honorably for ten years. I could not survive
the shame of being driven away in the end!" But the Tai tai, who was
usually so kindhearted, and had never been in the habit of beating
her maids, would not be softened this time, and that very day poor
Gold Ring had to leave the house in disgrace.
The next day, the fifth of the fifth month, the Dragon Boat Festival
was celebrated. Reeds and wormwood were placed over the doors, and
everyone wore amulets and magic charms and spells. Madame Cheng
gave a family banquet at midday, but nobody was in a really festive
mood. Madame Cheng was still out of humor on account of the un‐
pleasant incident of yesterday when she had caught Pao Yu with Gold
Ring, and she ignored Pao Yu intentionally. Phoenix, who had been
told of the matter by Madame Cheng the evening before, also showed
her displeasure and, contrary to her usual manner, was neither talkative
nor inclined to laugh. Pao Yu was still suffering from the effect of the
painful snubbing to which his cousins Precious Clasp and Black Jade
had subjected him yesterday and did not venture to enter into con‐
versation with them, and his bad‐tempered silence infected them in
turn. And so the banquet proved a most strained and tedious affair and
everyone was relieved when it was over, but particularly Black Jade.
At no time was she very keen on social gatherings. The more pleasure
people find in merry parties, the more keenly do they feel their cold
and forlorn state when these parties are over; hence it is best to avoid
such social gatherings altogether. Thus she philosophized. She thought
of the flowers, whose fading was all the more painful the more one
had enjoyed their blooming, and she felt it would have been better
had they never bloomed. And so her face was mournful when other
people had happy faces, and vice versa.
Luckily, the arrival of Little Cloud next day brought life and merri‐
ment into the house. All the cousins were just assembled for the mid‐
day meal at the home of the Ancestress when she arrived. The young
people jumped up to meet her and overwhelmed her with all sorts of
questions. They had not seen her for a month, and of course there was
plenty to relate.
"Will you not make your clothing more comfortable on account of
the heat?" suggested the Ancestress.
Little Cloud stood up and took off the outer layer of her drapery.
And with this the conversation turned to Little Cloud's cleverness in
disguising herself.
"Don't you remember that time that she put on Pao Yu's coat and
shoes and put his forehead band round her head?" asked Precious
Clasp, laughing. "She looked so like him that when the old Tai tai
came in and saw her back as she stood over there by the armchair, she
was deceived and said to her: 'Pao Yu, come here and look at the
crystal chains on the ceiling lamps! They are quite covered with
smoke and dull the light.' But Little Cloud did not‐stir from the spot.
And how we laughed!"
"Yes, she dresses up splendidly as a boy," added the Ancestress.
"That is nothing for her!" continued Black Jade. "Do you remember
that snowy day in the first month of last year when she secretly put on
the old Tai tai's new red monkey ‐hair cloak? It was so long and wide
for her that she had to tie it up around her hips with two scarves. She
played snowballs wildly around the garden with the maids, finally
stumbling over a ditch and tumbling down full length in the snow, and
everyone thought it was the old Tai tai."
The whole company broke out into merry laughter at the memory
of this.
"Where on earth is Cousin Pao Yu?" inquired Little Cloud.
"Of course she is only thinking of the naughty companion of her
youthful pranks; she has no thought for us others, she is incorrigible,"
said Precious Clasp jokingly. Thereupon Pao Yu came along and
greeted the visitors joyfully.
"He has something nice for you!" Black Jade whispered to her.
"Something nice for me?" asked Little Cloud, incredulously.
"It is true, you can believe it," Pao Yu assured heri "How big you
have grown, Little Cloud!"
"You should not call each other by your first names any more," his
mother rebuked him. "The old Tai tai does not wish it. You are no
longer the children you used to be."
"How is your Pearl?" asked Little Cloud.
"Very well. Thank you for your kind inquiry."
"I have brought her something."
She produced a little polished box, in which were four rings. In the
red stone of each ring a name was engraved.
"You have given us presents like that in the past!" cried Black
Jade, disappointed. "I was expecting you to produce some novelty, but
you are not very ingenious. You certainly do not take much trouble
to think up something new."
"Oh, please, but on the other hand the presents are very practical,"
said Little Cloud in self‐defense. "For Pearl, Mandarin Duck, Gold
Ring, and Little Ping a suitable ring for each of them, so that one
can distinguish them. Otherwise one can hardly tell all the waiting
maids and other maids apart. Now, is it not practical?"
"Extremely practical!" they all agreed, amused.
"How she can talk! She's never at a loss for an answer," said Pao
Yu, smiling.
"She has no conversatior , but on the other hand she wears a golden
unicorn like a certain other person," Black Jade interrupted sharply,
and went out. Luckily, her remark had been understood only by Pao
Yu and Precious Clasp; it was received by her with an understanding
smile, and by him with an embarrassed one. Precious Clasp also got
up and went to join Black Jade.
"Refresh yourself with a cup of tea and a snack, and rest a while!
Then later you can greet your sister‐in‐law and play in the park," sug‐
gested the Ancestress to her granddaughter. Little Cloud took her ad‐
vice, and after she had greeted Phoenix and the Widow Chu she set
out for the Park of Delightful Vision escorted by a swarm of serving
women and waiting maids. Shortly before reaching Pao Yu's dwell‐
ing, the Courtyard of Harmonious Red, she dismissed her retinue, with
the exception of her own waiting maid, Blue Thread. As they came
through the rose arbor she noticed something shining like gold lying
on the ground. She told her maid to pick it up, and she examined it
with curiosity. It was an amulet in the shape of a golden unicorn, very
like her own, only somewhat bigger and more finely worked. She took
it in her hand and observed it thoughtfully.
How odd! Where can this thing have come from? I have never
noticed it on anyone in the house, she thought. While she was still
pondering, Pao Yu appeared.
"Look here, why are you two standing there. in the strong sun? Why
not come in and greet Pearl?" he asked.
"We are just going to her," said Little Cloud, quickly hiding her
find. The three of them went into the Begonia Courtyard together.
Pearl was sitting on the steps in a shady corner in front of the en‐
trance, leaning against the balustrade and fanning herself to get cool.
She stood up, went to greet Little Cloud and her maid, and led them by
the hand into the house.
"I have been expecting you for a long time. I have something nice
to show you," said Pao Yu to his cousin, beginning to rummage and
search in his pockets.
"Have you put the thing away?" he asked, turning in embarrass‐
ment to Pearl, after searching for a long time.
"What thing do you mean?" asked Pearl.
"The gold unicorn amulet which I recently got as a present."
"You always carry it about with you. I have no idea where it is."
"Then I must have lost it outside. Come, help me to look for it!"
He was about to rush out to the park but Little Cloud held him
back and showed him her find, with a smile.
"Is this it?"
He seized it with delight.
"You found it?"
"Oh, how can one be so careless! Luckily, it was only a trinket this
time, but if you should lose your stone the next time, it might be a
great misfortune."
"Oh, the loss of my stone would not trouble me at all. But this ar‐
ticle, which you call a trifle, is irreplaceable; its loss would mean death
to me."
Little Cloud bent blushing over the teacup which Pearl had passed
to her. Then the conversation turned to other things. In the midst of
the happy chattering a servant of Mr. Cheng's arrived and announced:
"Master Yu Tsun from the Street of Blooming Prosperity has come to
visit. The old master asks the young gentleman to come over to salute
the guest."
Pao Yu's good humor was instantly over.
"Is it not enough if the old man receives him? Why must I be there?"
he murmured ungraciously, while he slowly made himself ready for the
visit.
"How can one loiter so long when the old gentleman calls one!"
cried Little Cloud, dealing him a rap with her fan by way of en‐
couragement.
"Ah, it is not my old governor who has expressed a wish to see me,
but this Master Yu Tsun himself."
"It is all the more flattering for you w*\en such a very distinguished
gentleman shows interest in you. He will certainly use his influence for
you. That can only be to your advantage."
"Pah! What do I care about patronage and knowing distinguished
people? I am an average person and do not want anything more than
to be a human being among other human beings."
"You are quite incorrigible! After all, you are growing up. Have
you no special ambition? Are you not thinking at all of your future?
If you want to pass your State examinations, you must seek the ac‐
quaintance of serious people and future ministers in good time. Their conversation is profitable to you, and their friendship will ensure you
patronage later on. Being always in the company of girls will not get
you on ! "
"Would you be sc kind as to go to your cousins' apartments, young
lady! I would not wish that a serious person like you should be morti‐
fied by a sojourn in my unworthy dwelling," said Pao Yu, his tone
suddenly grown gruff. Pearl surreptitiously plucked Little Cloud by the
sleeve.
"He does not like anyone to bring up this subject," she said to her
in a low voice. "Recently he simply ran away when Miss Precious
Clasp began to speak of it. It was lucky that it was Miss Precious Clasp,
for she did not take it badly. If it had been Miss Black Jade, oh, then
there would have been a nice scene ! She would not have looked at him
again until he had admitted his wrong with all formality and had
begged for pardon."
"She is not capable of such a lack of good taste, otherwise I would
have broken with her long ago," interjected Pao Yu emphatically.
Just by chance Black Jade was a witness to his last remark. She knew
that Little Cloud had set out for the Begonia Courtyard, she presumed
that Pao Yu would show her the counterpart to her .gold unicorn amulet
and in doing so would introduce all kinds of affectionate allusions, as
was his way, and she had therefore crept along secretly to listen for
a bit under the window. She had just arrived in time to hear Little
Cloud recommending him to cultivate the acquaintance of serious men.
So when he declared emphatically that she, Black Jade, was not capable
of such lack of good taste in conversation, she felt simultaneously moved
by four sensations joy, fear, pain, and regret. She was joyful at not
being disappointed in his love and his noble‐mindedness; she was
frightened at his acknowledging his preference for her so openly before
people; she thought with pain of how alone she was in the world since
the death of her parents, and how she had no one to confide in regard‐
ing matters of the heart. And she had to sigh regretfully because she
was wasting away with a malady which would not give her much time
to wait, no matter how sure she might feel of his love. She was over‐
come with grief at the frightening presentiment that she might die too
soon to experience the f ulfillment of her wish. Her eyes filled with tears
and she went away again slowly.
Meantime Pao Yu had finished dressing, and when he went into the park he came upon Black Jade and noticed traces of tears on her cheeks.
"Where are you going, Mei mei? You have been crying? Has anyone
offended you?" he asked tenderly. Black Jade forced herself to smile.
"Crying? I did not know it."
"But I still see the traces of tears!"
He raised his hand and tried to wipe a few damp spots on her cheek
with his finger. She recoiled two steps.
"Do not trouble yourself! You are again ready to die, are you not?"
she said, derisively.
"Why not?"
"It's nothing to me. But would it not be difficult to part from a cer‐
tain gold unicorn amulet?"
"What do you mean by that? Do you want to drive me into a rage
again?" he burst out hotly.
She saw that she had offended him.
"It was only my chatter," she said, quickly changing her tone. "But
do not get so excited! The veins on your forehead are all swollen up
with anger! And how you are perspiring!"
She went up close to him and wiped the perspiration from his face
with her handkerchief. He submitted to it and looked at her fixedly for
a long time.
"Be quite reassured!" he said at last.
"Reassured? About what?"
He gave a deep sigh.
"Are you pretending, or do you really not understand me? Can I
have been so much deceived in you all the time that you do not guess
my innermost thoughts? If that is so, our daily misunderstandings are
not surprising."
"I really do not know what you mean by saying that I should be re‐
assured."
"Dearest Mei mei, please do not pretend ! You must know. You make
your illness worse by your constant worrying."
His reference to her suffei ng condition hit her like a thunderbolt.
How correctly he felt what she herself had realized shortly before \vith
secret fear! She had so mucu more on her mind which she wanted to
say, but she could not utter a word. The tears sprang to her eyes, and
with a stifled "Oh" she turned away. He ran after her and took her by
the hand.
"Dearest Mei mei, do stay for a while! I have something more to say
to you."
"I know everything," she said gently, then freed herself arid ran off.
He stood where he was and went on talking to himself as in a trance.
"Dearest Mei mei, up to now I have not dared to disclose to you what
touches my heart to the core, but today I feel the courage in me, and I
will speak, even if I have to pay for my impudence with my death. Do
you know that I also am ill, ill on your account, and I will not get well
again until you are well. Dreaming and waking, I am always thinking
only of you. . . ."
"You must be completely possessed by wicked spirits! Hurry up!
They are waiting for you!" He was brought back from his ecstasy by
the voice of Pearl. Pearl had run after him to bring him the fan he had
forgotten, and had been listening for quite a while with growing aston‐
ishment to his soliloquy. In his withdrawn state he had not noticed her
approach.
"Ah, it's you!" he now burst out, startled, took the fan, and hurried
off. Pearl looked after him for a while thoughtfully. It was clear to her
that the confession of love which she had just heard could only refer to
Black Jade. What would become of herself, Pearl, later on? While she
stood there sunk in thought Precious Clasp came along.
"What is Cousin Pao Yu up to?" she called out to the maid. "I have
just seen him all dressed up rushing to the park gate with long strides."
"The old Governor has sent for him."
"Oh, woe, no doubt another fatherly reprimand. The poor boy!"
"No, it is not that. He is to greet a guest."
"Is Little Cloud in there?"
"Yes."
"What is she doing?"
"Oh, we have just been chatting a bit."
""I am sorry for the poor girl. Things are not going very well at home.
She admitted to me that she often sits up late at night doing needle‐
work."
"Oh, I am sorry for that. And I, stupid thing, was just about to ask
her for a new pair of hand‐embroidered slippers. I was surprised that
recently she sent me back half finished a piece of embroidery a butter‐
fly‐patterned cloth that she had promised to do for me. She excused
herself, saying that she would finish it at her next visit here. Under
these circumstances one cannot, of course, expect her to do any more
needlework. It's a pity; now I must go without my slippers."
"It is not as bad as that. I shall make a pair for you."
"Really? Oh, that is fine; then I shall bring you the material this
evening."
While they were chatting a serving woman came along gasping in the
greatest excitement and called out to them: "Do you know that Gold
Ring has jumped into the well and drowned herself!"
"But why?" asked Pearl, horrified.
"Just recently she was suddenly dismissed and sent home by the Tai
tai Cheng, no one knows why. She could not get over it, and she sat
about at home the whole day crying. Then she suddenly disappeared.
Finally they found her body in the well when they were drawing water.
They tried to bring her to life again, but it was too late."
"Why can she have drowned herself? It's strange!" said Precious
Clasp thoughtfully, while Pearl shook her: head in silence and wept.
Precious Clasp went off at once to Aunt Cheng, to hear more details.
She found the Tai tai alone, in tears. She sat down beside her without
speaking.
"Where have you come from?" asked Aunt Cheng.
"From the park."
"Did you see your cousin Pao Yu?"
"Yes, at a distance. He was in visiting dress and seemed to be in a
hurry."
"Have you heard that Gold Ring has drowned herself in the well?"
continued Madame Cheng, with a deep sigh
"I heard about it. Why did she do it?"
"She broke something in my room recently and I dismissed her in
anger. I intended to take her back again in a few days. Who would
have thought that she would take it to heart like that and immediately
jump into the well! I am beside myself and am reproaching myself
bitterly."
"You should not do that, dear Aunt," said Precious Clasp consol‐
ingly. "After all, you were always so good to her! She has certainly not
taken her life on account of that. I believe it is more likely that she fell
into the well by accident, but if she really threw herself in on account
of such a trifle that would be such a foolish thing that one really should
not feel sorry for her."
"It may be as you think. But in any case her death grieves me to the
core."
, "Do not take it so much to heart! Send her relatives a little indem‐
nity! Then you will have done your duty and made restitution, and
complied with the obligations of a mistress to her servant."
"I have already sent her family fifty taels. I really wanted to give her
a beautiful new funeral robe and thought to take something from my
daughter's wardrobe, but she has already worn all her dresses once.
And to put a dress which has been worn on a corpse in a coffin is con‐
trary to the Rites. There is nothing for fne to do but to send fox a tailor
to come to the house."
"Why bother so much? Surely the money puts everything right?"
"No, the dead girl was particularly dear to me almost like a daugh‐
ter," said Aunt Cheng significantly, beginning to weep again.
"Very well, then, I shall help you out from my wardrobe. 1 have two
dresses which I have hardly ever worn at all and can do without. The
dead girl shall have them. She was my size and often wore my old
clothes."
"That is very nice of you. But are you not afraid? You say you have
already worn the two dresses yourself?"
"Oh, I disregard those superstitious rules," replied Previous Clasp
merrily, jumping up. When she came back later to Aunt Cheng with the
two dresses for the dead girl, she found Pao Yu in the room. He
looked as if he had been crying. When she entered, mother and son
suddenly stopped talking. Precious Clasp thought she knew to seven‐
or eight‐tenths what they were talking about; she did not let it be no‐
ticed, however, and silently delivered the two dresses which Aunt
Cheng later on presented to the mother of Gold Ring.