Pao-yue treasured at one time numberless tender things in his mind， which he meant to tell her， but feeling also， while he smarted under the sting of self-reproach （for the indiscretion he had committed）， Tai-yue give him a rap， he was utterly powerless to open his lips， much though he may have liked to speak， so he kept on sighing and snivelling to himself. With all these things therefore to work upon his feelings， he unwillingly melted into tears. He tried to find his handkerchief to dry his face with， but unexpectedly discovering that he had again forgotten to bring one with him， he was about to make his coat-sleeve answer the purpose， when Tai-yue， albeit her eyes were watery， noticed at a glance that he was going to use the brand-new coat of GREy coloured gauze he wore， and while wiping her own， she turned herself round， and seized a silk kerchief thrown over the pillow， and thrust it into Pao-yue's lap. But without saying a word， she screened her face and continued sobbing.
Pao-yue saw the handkerchief she threw， and hastily snatching it， he wiped his tears. Then drawing nearer to her， he put out his hand and clasped her hand in his， and smilingly said to her： "You've completely lacerated my heart， and do you still cry？ But let's go； I'll come along with you and see our venerable grandmother."
Tai-yue thrust his hand aside. "Who wants to go hand in hand with you？" she cried. "Here we grow older day after day， but we're still so full of brazen-faced effrontery that we don't even know what right means？"
But scarcely had she concluded before she heard a voice say aloud： "they're all right！"
Pao-yue and Tai-yue were little prepared for this surprise， and they were startled out of their senses. Turning round to see who it was， they caught sight of lady Feng running in， laughing and shouting. "Our old lady，" she said， "is over there， giving way to anger against heaven and earth. She would insist upon my coming to find out whether you were reconciled or not. 'There's no need for me to go and see，' I told her， 'they will before the expiry of three days， be friends again of their own accord.' Our venerable ancestor， however， called me to account， and maintained that I was lazy； so here I come！ But my words have in very deed turned out true. I don't see why you two should always be wrangling！ For three days you're on good terms and for two on bad. You become more and more like children. And here you are now hand in hand blubbering！ But why did you again yesterday become like black-eyed fighting cocks？ Don't you yet come with me to see your grandmother and make an old lady like her set her mind at ease a bit？"
