ightedandexhilaratedbythecourageofthisundertaking-thoughitdidputWeninadifficultposition,evenifMissChouwasneveropenlyreproachful.Itnowappearedasthoughthewistfulnessthatwaspartofthebeautyoftheirrelationshipwasnotoneofthosethingsthatcouldn&rsquotbehelped.
Lowasonlyhomeonceintwoyears.Theyweredifficultyearsforboththemotheranddaughter-in-law.Theybegantogetoneachother&rsquosnerves.Therewasanunwrittenlawthatawifecouldneverbedivorcedonceshehadwornmorningwhiteandtheramiescarfofmourningforaparent-in-law.Sotheoldladygottheideathatherdaughter-in-lawwishedforherdeath.Itwouldcertainlysettlethedivorceproblem.Buttheoldladysworeshewouldseetheyoungerwomanoutofthehouseverticallybeforeshemadeherownexithorizontally.
Outwardlythedivorcenegotiationshadnotgainedmuchgroundinsixyears.MissFan&rsquosfamilyneverdidapprove.Nowtheykeptremindingherthatattwenty-sixshewasbecominganoldmaid.Soonshewouldnotevenqualifyfort&rsquoien-fang&mdashroomfiller,awifetofillupawidower&rsquosemptyroom.ItseemedtoherfamilythatLowasonlywaitingtohaveheronhisownterms.Itwasdoubtfulwhetherhewasseriouslytryingtogetadivorce.Possiblyalimonywasthestumblingblock.Therewerethosewhosaidhewasactuallyquitepoor.Whatlittlehehadmusthavedwindledawaythroughhislongabsencefromhome,withhisestateleftinthehandsofanestrangedwife.Therehadbeensomeunpleasantnessoverthedivorcequestionattheschoolwherehewasteaching.Ifhedidn&rsquotdependonhisjobforaliving,whydidn&rsquotheresign?
MissChoutoldWenconfidentiallythatMissFanhadbeenouttodinnerwithapawnbroker,chaperonedbymembersofherfamilyandaladymatchmaker.WenwasnottotellLo.
InhisindignationWentoldLoanyway,thoughofcourseheadded,&ldquoIt&rsquosallherfamily&rsquosdoing.&rdquo
&ldquoTheydidn&rsquottieherupwitharopeanddraghertotherestaurant,didthey?&rdquoLosaidsardonically.Hepromisednottotakeupthematterwithherimmediatelyasthatwouldbetraythesourceofhisinformation.
ButthateveningLodr