3/8 CHINESE LITERATURE
Just then, breaking in upon the hushed moments which succeed dissolution, sounds of far-off music were borne along upon the breeze. The slave-girl crept stealthily to the door, and strained her ear to listen ; but she could hear nothing save the soughing of the wind as it moaned fitfully through the trees.
But the bridegroom himself had already entered the valley of the dark shadow. Pao-yii was very ill. He raved and raved about Tai-yii, until at length Pao-ch'ai, who had heard the news, took upon herself the painful task of telling him she was already dead. " Dead ? " cried Pao-yii, " dead ? " and with a loud groan he fell back upon the bed insensible. A darkness came before his eyes, and he seemed to be transported into a region which was unfamiliar to him. Looking about, he saw some one advancing towards him, and immediately called out to the stranger to be kind enough to tell him where he was. " You are on the road to the next world," replied the man ; " but your span of life is not yet com- plete, and you have no business here." Pao-yii ex- plained that he had come in search of Tai-yii, who had lately died ; to which the man replied that Tai-yu's soul had already gone back to its home in the pure serene. "And if you would see her again," added the man, " return to your duties upon earth. Fulfil your destiny there, chasten your understanding, nourish the divinity that is within you, and you may yet hope to meet her once more." The man then flung a stone at him and struck him over the heart, which so frightened Pao-yii that he turned to retrace his steps. At that moment he heard himself loudly called by name ; and opening his eyes, saw his mother and grandmother standing by the side of his bed.
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