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these words ended， she took over the order and went off. Entries had， at the time to be made in the books， and orders to be issued， and Ch'in Chung was induced to interpose with a smirk， "In both these mansions of yours， such orders are alike in use； but were any outsider stealthily to counterfeit one and to abscond， after getting the money， what could ever be done？"
"In what you say，" replied lady Feng， "you take no account of the laws of the land."
"How is it that from our house， no one comes to get any orders or to obtain anything？" Pao-yue having inquired： "At the time they come to fetch them，" rejoined lady Feng， "you're still dreaming； but let me ask you one thing， when will you two at last begin your evening course of studies？"
"Oh， I wish we were able to begin our studies this very day，" Pao-yue added； "that would be the best thing， but they're very slow in putting the school-room in order， so that there's no help for it！"
Lady Feng laughed. "Had you asked me，" she remarked， "I can assure you it would have been ready quick enough."
"You too would have been of no use，" observed Pao-yue， "for it will certainly be ready by the time they ought to finish it in."
"But in order that they should do the work，" suggested lady Feng， "it's also necessary that they should have the material， they can't do without them； and if I don't give them any permits， it will be difficult to obtain them."
Pao-yue at these words readily drew near to lady Feng， and there and then applied for the permits. "My dear sister，" he added， "do give them the permits to enable them to obtain the material and effect the repairs."
"I feel quite sore from fatigue，" ventured lady Feng， "and how can I stand your rubbing against me？ but compose your mind. they have this very day got the paper， and gone to paste it； and would they， for whatever they need， have still waited until they had been sent for？ they are not such fools after all！"
Pao-yue would not believe it， and lady Feng at once called Ts'ai Ming to look up the list， which she handed for Pao-yue's inspection； but while they were arguing a servant came in to announce that Chao Erh， who had gone to Su Chow， had returned， and lady Feng all in a flurry directed that he should be asked to walk in. Chao Erh bent one knee and paid his obeisance.
"Why have you come back？" lady Feng readily inquired.
"Mr. Secundus （Chia Lien），" he reported， "sent me back to tell you that Mr. Lin （our dowager lady's） son-in-law， died on the third of the ninth moon； that Master Secundus is taking Miss Lin along with him to escort the coffin of Mr. Lin as far as Su Chow； and that they hope to be back some time about the end of the year. Master despatched me to come and announce the news， to bring his compliments， and to crave our old lady's instructions as well as to see how you are getting on in my lady's home. He also bade me take back to him a few long fur pelisses."
"Have you seen any one else besides me？" lady Feng inquired.
"I've seen every one，" rejoined Chao Erh； and withdrew hastily at the conclusion of this remark， out of the apartment， while lady Feng turned towards Pao-yue with a smile and said， "Your cousin Lin can now live in our house for ever."
"Poor thing！" exclaimed Pao-yue. "I presume that during all these days she has wept who knows how much；" and saying this he wrinkled his brow and heaved a deep sigh.
