第63部分(第2/7 页)

in　the　seat　of　honor。　Beside　this　Guan　Yu　received　presents　of　silks　and　gold　and　silver　vessels；　all　of　which　Guan　Yu　sent　into　the　ladies'　quarters　for　their　use　and　keeping。　In　fact　from　the　day　of　arrival　in　the　capital；　Guan　Yu　was　treated　with　marked　respect　and　distinction；　small　banquets　following　each　other　in　each　three　days；　and　large　banquets　held　in　each　five　days。

Cao　Cao　also　presented　him　with　ten　most　lovely　serving　girls。　Guan　Yu　sent　these　also　within　to　wait　upon　his　two　sisters…in…law。

Every　third　day　Guan　Yu　went　to　the　door　of　the　women's　quarters　to　inquire　after　their　welfare；　and　then　they　asked　if　any　news　of　the　wanderer　had　e。　This　ceremony　closed　with　the　words：　〃Brother…in…law；　you　may　retire　when　you　wish。〃

Cao　Cao　heard　of　this　extremely　correct　behavior　and　thought　all　the　more　of　the　man　for　it。

One　day　Cao　Cao　noticed　that　the　robe　Guan　Yu　was　wearing　was　old　and　frayed。　Taking　his　measurements；　Cao　Cao　had　a　new　one　made　of　fine　brocade　and　presented　it　to　him。　Guan　Yu　took　it　and　put　it　on　under　the　old　robe；　so　that　the　latter　covered　it。

〃Why　so　very　thrifty？〃　laughed　Cao　Cao。

〃It　is　not　thrift；〃　was　his　reply。　〃The　old　robe　was　a　gift　from　my　brother；　and　I　wear　it　because　it　reminds　me　of　him。　I　could　not　allow　the　new　gift　to　eclipse　his　old　one。〃

〃How　very　high　principled！〃　said　Cao　Cao；　sighing。

One　day　when　Guan　Yu　was　at　home；　there　came　a　messenger　to　say　that　the　two　women　had　thrown　themselves　on　the　ground　and　were　weeping。　They　would　not　say　why。

Guan　Yu　set　his　dress　in　order；　went　over；　and　knelt　by　the　door；　saying；　〃Why　this　grief；　sisters…in…law？〃

Lady　Gan　replied；　〃In　the　night　I　dreamed　that　the　Uncle　had　fallen　into　a　pit。　I　woke　up　and　told