“I have sinned against you and your house. I was afraid to tell you all the truth. Ah, you are a better woman than I am a man. You are a great daughter of a great house.”
Then Hu Yüch Ying said, “If indeed you will listen to me, I will forgive you.”
He replied, “Whatever you say I will do.”
Meantime the old father and mother, having heard the crying and loud voices, came to the door. It was opened and they came in, saying, “For the first time we have heard what sounded like a quarrel, and have come to see what it is about.”
Their son-in-law came and, kneeling at his father’s feet, said, “Honoured and great father, I have sinned!” Then came the daughter and, kneeling before her mother, she said, “His sins are my sins,” and after that the two boys, who said as they knelt, “Our parents’ sins are ours,” and the four wept with loud and bitter tears. The old man said:
“Arise, my children, all of you,” and lifted up his son-in-law; the mother took her daughter in her arms, and two servants came forward and lifted up the boys.
“Now,” said old Mr. Hu, “tell me all the trouble.” Then said Tu Ching Ling: [[153]]
“I have lied to you.”
“What about, my son?” asked Mr. Hu. “What could you possibly do that I could not forgive?” Tu Ching Ling told of his wife, how he had lied about her, of her virtue, and all the sad, miserable story, including his fear to own his son, and sending him off. He concluded with:
“I am not worthy to be your son. Your goodness is as high as Heaven and as deep as the earth.” As he closed the old gentleman looked at Ting Lang and said: