This particular victory, however, brought about a marked change in his character. He had been soaring on the pinions of elation for more than half a day when he floated to T'uku Temple, where, according to habit, he should have lain down and snored away. How was it to have been expected that on this particular night he should find it exceedingly difficult to close his eyes? He perceived that there was something strange about his thumb and index finger; they seemed to be much smoother than usual. It is not known whether the little nun's cheek had contained a bit of grease, which had stuck to his finger, or whether his thumb had rubbed her cheek until it had become smooth.
"Sonless, grandsonless Ah Q!" his ears again heard her words. He pondered to himself; there was no mistake in the assertion; he ought to have a mate, for a sonless, grandsonless man has no one to sacrifice a bowl of rice to his manes . . . yes, he ought to have a mate. There is the saying, "Of the three greatest sins against filial piety, the greatest is the lack of offspring." And the lack of food for one's manes is the one great sorrow of a man's life. Hence, his thoughts were in harmony with the canons of the saints, but it is regrettable that he afterwards lost part of his self-control.
