Page:Mrs. Spring Fragrance - Far - 1912.djvu/274

 his humble spouse had suddenly become his superior officer, surprised him out of his dignity.

"What meaneth thy manner?" he bewilderedly inquired.

"It meaneth," returned the old lady, "that I have borne all I can bear. Thy grandson is lost through thy fault. Go, find him!"

"How my fault? Surely, thou art demented!"

"Hadst thou not hated Li Wang, Little Waking Eyes and Little Sleeping Eyes could have played together in our own grounds or within the compound of Li Wang. But this is no time to discourse on spilt plums. Go, follow Li Wang in the search for thy grandsons. I hear that he has already left for the place where the stupid thorns who had them in charge, declare they disappeared."

The old lady broke down.

"Oh, my little Bright Eyes! Where art thou wandering?" she wailed.

Liu Jusong regarded her sternly. "If my enemy," said he, "searcheth for my grandsons, then will not I."

With dignified step he passed out of the room. But in the hall was a child's plaything. His glance fell upon it and his expression softened. Following the servants despatched