During the course of their conversation， the rain ceased， and Pao Kuan and Yue Kuan had been able to take their leave. Hsi Jen， however， experienced such intense pain in her side， and felt such inward vexation， that at supper she could not put a morsel of anything in her mouth. When in the evening， the time came for her to have her bath， she discovered， on divesting herself of her clothes， a bluish bruise on her side of the size of a saucer and she was very much frightened. But as she could not very well say anything about it to any one， she presently retired to rest. But twitches of pain made her involuntarily moan in her dreams and groan in her sleep.
Pao-yue did， it is true， not hurt her with any malice， but when he saw Hsi Jen so listless and restless， and suddenly heard her groan in the course of the night， he realised how severely he must have kicked her. So getting out of bed， he gently seized the lantern and came over to look at her. But as soon as he reached the side of her bed， he perceived Hsi Jen expectorate， with a retch， a whole mouthful of phlegm. "Oh me！" she gasped， as she opened her eyes. The presence of Pao-yue startled her out of her wits. "What are you up to？" she asked.
"You groaned in your dreams，" answered Pao-yue， "so I must have kicked you hard. Do let me see！"
"My head feels giddy，" said Hsi Jen. "My throat foul and sweet； throw the light on the floor！"
At these words， Pao-yue actually raised the lantern. The moment he cast the light below， he discerned a quantity of fresh blood on the floor.
Pao-yue was seized with consternation. "Dreadful！" was all he could say. At the sight of the blood， Hsi Jen's heart too partly waxed cold.
But， reader， the next chapter will reveal the sequel， if you really have any wish to know more about them.
