women, again trying to cause senseless suffering! Are there not already girls who cannot pass their entrance examinations or are expelled because they have bobbed hair?
"Radical reforms? Where is your weapon? To work one's way through school? But, to do that, where are your factories?
"Better let them grow their hair again and get married and become good daughters-in-law. It is a blessing to forget; if they keep such ideas as equality and freedom in their heads, they will suffer all their lives!
"Let me put to you the question raised by Artzibasheff: You hold out the promise of a golden age to these people's children, but what do you have for these people themselves?
"Ah! before the lashes of nature's whip fall upon the bare back of China, China will remain China; she will not of her own will alter a single hair!
"You people have no poison fangs in your mouths; why must you put the label 'poisonous vipers' on your foreheads to invite destruction by the beggar snake-catchers?"
N's talk became more and more confused and difficult to follow, but as soon as he saw that I showed no interest in what he was saying he stood up to get his hat.
"Are you going?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied. "It is going to rain."
Silently I walked with him to the gate. "Tsai-chien!" he said, as he put on his hat. "Forgive me for disturbing you. But fortunately tomorrow won't be Double Ten any more and we can forget everything."
