hand when he beheld Wang-hu, who, completely mesmerized by his interest in the tale, had stretched forward his neck. Ah Q straightway let his hand down upon the curve of Wang-hu's neck and cried, "Tutt!"
Wang-hu jumped with alarm, withdrew his neck with the speed of lightning or flint; even the other listeners shivered with delight. Wang-hu remained bewildered for some days; and furthermore never again dared to come near Ah Q. Others acted likewise.
In regard to the position occupied by Ah Q in the eyes of the Weichuangites at this time, although we dare not say that his position surpassed that of the Venerable Mr. Chao, still we must confess that this was about the state of affairs. Roughly speaking, we have not made much of a misstatement.
It was not long before Ah Q's great name was conveyed into the private apartments of the fair sex of Weichuang. Although in Weichuang there were only two large households, namely, those of Chin and Chao, and aside from these, nine out of ten were poor homes, still, women's apartments are, in the end, women's apartments; consequently, this affair may be considered a matter extraordinary. On meeting, women would say: "Tsou Ch'i-sao bought a blue silk skirt from Ah Q; although it had been worn, yet, it cost only ninety
