and slowly lengthened his stride, and whether purposeful or without purpose, he arrived at the Temple of Quiet Self-Improvement.
The temple itself, with its white walls and black lacquer door, was as quiet as a spring day. He thought for a moment and went forward to knock at the door. A dog barked from within. He quickly snatched up a few fragments of bricks and returned, exerting himself to throw the stones at the door until it became scarred as if it were filled with pockmarks. It was then that he heard some one opening the door.
Ah Q quickly seized a few fragments of bricks and stood with legs apart in preparation to open war upon the black dog; but the temple door had only opened a crack and no black dog dashed out through it. When he looked, he saw that only an old nun was there.
"And why have you come again?" she cried, thoroughly frightened.
"Revolt . . . has been effected . . . do you know it?" Ah Q muttered indistinctly.
"Revolt, revolt, there has been one revolt . . . and if you mean to keep revolting, what will our condition be?" continued the old nun, her eyes turning red with tears.
