CONSULAR SERVICE, CHINA. BOOK II
CHAPTER XXV. The gem of Spiritual Perception meets, in a fit of torpor, the two
perfect men. Then, at length, she realised that it
was only a dream. After a while, he lowered the window. But the only one, of whom he failed to get a
glimpse, was the girl he had met the day before. Pao-yü speedily walked out of the door with slipshod shoes. It was, in point of fact, the
waiting-maid of the day before, tarrying about plunged in a reverie. His
wish was to go forward and meet her, but he did not, on the other hand,
see how he could very well do so. But unawares perceiving Hsi Jen
wave her hand and call her by name, she had to walk up to her. When she got as far as the Ts'ui Yen bridge, she saw, on raising her
head and looking round, the mounds and lofty places entirely shut in by
screens, and she bethought herself that labourers were that day to plant
trees in that particular locality. The time came for Hsiao Hung to pass by, but
she could not muster the courage to do so. Then getting
the watering-pot, she sped on her way back again. A day went by. he next
cried, "you're in the way of the rays of the lamp." The servant-girls had all along entertained an antipathy for him, and
not one of them therefore worried her mind about what he said. Now that you are
on intimate terms with Pao-yü, you don't pay much heed to me. she cried. "You're like the dog, that bit Lü
T'ung-pin. But a brief interval over, Pao-yü too appeared on the scene. Chiding him the while, she directed a servant to fetch a pillow. "My dear girl!" These two were in the act of wrangling, when verily Chia Huan overheard
what was going on. At
another, she heaped abuse upon Chia Huan. Time and again I
paid no notice whatever to what happened, and you and he have become
more audacious, and have gone from worse to worse!" She then perceived that a whole row of blisters had
risen on the left side of Pao-yü's face, but that fortunately no injury
had been done to his eyes. "It's rather sore," said Pao-yü, "but it's nothing to speak of. On their arrival, Hsi Jen and his other attendants saw
him, and they were all in a great state of flurry. In the evening, she deputed
messengers two and three times to go and inquire about him. "It isn't very sore," replied Pao-yü, "if I look after it for a day or
two, it will get all right." But after another short stay, Lin Tai-yü repaired back to her quarters. The next day Pao-yü saw dowager lady Chia. rejoined the Taoist matron Ma, "all one need do
is to perform several meritorious deeds on his account so as to
counteract the consequences of retribution and everything will then be
put right. "Nothing of any great value," answered the Taoist matron, Ma. It rests upon the goodwill of
the donor," Ma, the Taoist matron, put in by way of reply. "If it
be on account of father or mother or seniors, any excessive donation
would not matter. exclaimed Ma, the Taoist matron, "Oh merciful, and mighty
P'u Sa!" These directions concluded, the Taoist matron trudged into the various
quarters, and paid her respects, and then strolled leisurely about. Presently, she entered Mrs. Chao's apartments. "Look," she said, "whether there be still among
them any pieces good for anything. "The other day," Mrs. Chao went on to inquire, "I sent a servant over
with five hundred cash; have you presented any offerings before the god
of medicine or not?" "Don't trouble your mind on this score," suggested Ma, the Taoist
matron. At these words Mrs. Chao gave a smile. "Enough, enough!" she cried. Ma, the Taoist matron, understood the meaning she desired to convey. "It's your lady Secunda, Lien, eh?" she forthwith asked. Hastily waving her hand, she got
to her feet, raised the portiere, and peeped outside. Ma, the Taoist matron, at these words, remarked
with a view to ascertain what she implied. "My dear woman," rejoined Mrs. Chao, "Not let her have her own way! she asked. When the Taoist matron, Ma, heard this, she drew near to her. Ma, the Taoist matron, greeted this remark with a smile. and when that time comes, won't you get all you may wish?" remarked Mrs. Chao. answered the Taoist matron, Ma. "Take these,"
she said, "in advance for presents in your temple." When she however had done speaking, she suddenly saw Madame Wang's
waiting-maid make her appearance inside the room. my dame, are
you in here!" the girl exclaimed. "Why, our lady is waiting for you!" But passing them over, we will now allude to Lin Tai-yµ. As Pao-yü had
scalded his face, and did not go out of doors very much, she often came
to have a chat with him. On this particular day she took up, after her
meal, some book or other and read a couple of pages out of it. The fact is that Li Kung-ts'ai, lady Feng, and Pao-ch'ai were assembled
inside. "The other day," interposed lady Feng, "I sent servants with a present
of two caddies of tea for you, Miss Lin; was it, after all, good?" "I had just forgotten all about it," Tai-yü rejoined, "many thanks for
your kind attention! "I tasted it," observed Pao-yü. "I did not think it anything good. But I
don't know how others, who've had any of it, find it." "Its flavour," said Tai-yü, "is good; the only thing is, it has no
colour." "It's tribute tea from the Laos Kingdom," continued lady Feng. "When I
tried it, I didn't either find it anything very fine. "To my taste, it's all right," put in Tai-yü. "As you say it's good," suggested Pao-yü, "you're quite at liberty to
take all I have for your use." "I'll tell a servant-girl to go and fetch it," Tai-yü replied. "No need," lady Feng went on. "You just mark
this," she observed. "I've had to-day a little tea from her place, and
she at once begins making a tool of me!" She turned her head the other way, and uttered not a word. exclaimed Tai-yü; "they're purely and simply the prattle
of a mean mouth and vile tongue! Saying this, she went on to sputter in disgust. Pointing then at Pao-yü, "Look here!" Tai-yü rose to her feet, and retired immediately. While calling out to her, she jumped up to pull her back. But just as Pao-ch'ai was about to open her lips, she perceived a
servant-girl, attached to Madame Wang's apartments, appear on the scene. "Your maternal uncle's wife has come," she said, "and she requests you,
ladies and young ladies, to come out and see her." "But whatever you do, pray,
don't ask aunt to come in here." "Cousin Lin," he went on to say, "do
stay on a while; I've got something to tell you." Turning her head towards Lin Tai-yü, "There's
some one," she cried; "who wants to speak to you." exclaimed Pao-yü. "It should be!" rejoined Tai-yü. Wang Tzu-t'eng's wife was, at this time, also with them, so they all
came in a body to see him. Presently, all the
inmates were seized with fright. P'ing Erh, Feng Erh, and the other girls began to weep. Some suggested exorcists. Every kind of remedy was tried, but no
benefit whatever became visible. On the ensuing day, Wang Tzu-t'eng himself also came to make
inquiries. Others spoke highly of doctors. As
they lay prostrate on their beds, they talked deliriously. They sat round them, and did
nothing but cry. "From this day forward,"
he said, "I may no longer abide in your house, so you had better send me
off at once!" These words made dowager lady Chia feel as if her very heart had been
wrenched out of her. Mrs. Chao, who stood by, exhorted her. "You
shouldn't, venerable lady," she said, "indulge in excessive grief. she cried
abusively. "Who is it,"--she inquired; "who gave orders to make the coffins? But at an unforeseen moment resounded in the air the gentle
rapping of a 'wooden fish' bell. Should any
human being lie in sickness, and his family be solicitous on his
account; or should any one have met with evil spirits and come across
any baleful evils, we have the means to effect a cure." It turned out to be, in fact, a
mangy-headed bonze and a hobbling Taoist priest. And the Taoist priest, what was he like? the bonze smiled, "you must not ask too many
questions! "There are," explained Chia Cheng, "two of our members, who have been
possessed of evil spirits. But, is there, I wonder, any remedy by means
of which they could he healed?" "It's true," he consequently
rejoined, "that my son brought along with him, at the time of his birth,
a piece of jade, on the surface of which was inscribed that it had the
virtue of dispelling evil influences, but we haven't seen any efficacy
in it." Alas, alas! "Sister Pao," inquired Hsi Ch'un, "what are you laughing for?" Now, isn't this enough
to make one laugh, eh?" she exclaimed; "none of you are good
people. But, reader, do you want to know any further circumstances? If so, the
next chapter will explain them to you. During the time
that Pao-yü was of late laid up in bed, Chia Yün along with the young
pages of the household sat up on watch to keep an eye over him, and both
day and night, they tarried on this side of the mansion. rejoined Hsiao Hung, "are medicines also to be recklessly
taken ?" It would be a riddance!" Now, do tell me, is this
sufficient to anger one or not?" "What you say is true," she ventured. But when
about to pass some remark, she perceived a youthful servant-girl, who
had not as yet let her hair grow, walk in, holding in her hands several
patterns and two sheets of paper. As she spoke, she threw them at Hsiao Hung, and twisting herself round,
she immediately scampered away. "Whose are they, after all?" Or
are you afraid, forsooth, lest it should get cold?" While she soliloquised, she became wrapt in thought. After some
reflection she, at length, gave a smile. "Of course!" she exclaimed,
"the other evening Ying Erh took it away." And turning towards Chia Hui,
"Fetch it for me," she shouted. "Sister Hua," Chia Hui rejoined, "is waiting for me to get a box for
her, so you had better go for it yourself!" remarked Hsiao Hung, "she's waiting for you, and are you still
squatting here chatting leisurely? Hadn't it been that I asked you to go
and fetch it, she too wouldn't have been waiting for you; you most
perverse vixen!" With these words on her lips, she herself walked out of the room, and
leaving the I Hung court, she straightway proceeded in the direction of
Pao-ch'ai's court. Nurse Li stopped short, and clapped her hands. "Are you, old lady," replied Hsiao Hung smiling, "taking things in such
real earnest that you readily believe them and want to go and ask him in
here?" rejoined nurse Li. "Besides, he's not a fool!" Saying this, she continued her way, leaning on her staff. "I've been told to bring in master Secundus, Mr. Yün," Chui Erh replied. After which answer, she there and then departed with all speed. While advancing Chia Yün ogled Hsiao
Hung; and Hsiao Hung too, though pretending to be addressing herself to
Chui Erh, cast a glance at Chia Yün; and their four eyes, as luck would
have it, met. He failed, however, to detect where Pao-yü
was ensconced. The moment he turned his head round, he espied, on the
left side, a large cheval-glass; behind which appeared to view, standing
side by side, two servant-girls of fifteen or sixteen years of age. The moment he perceived Chia Yün walk in, he
discarded his book, and forthwith smiled and raised himself up. "Ever since the moon in which I came across you," Pao-yü observed
smilingly, "and told you to come into the library, I've had, who would
have thought it, endless things to continuously attend to, so that I
forgot all about you." "It's I, indeed, who lacked good fortune!" "All right!" answered Pao-yü. "Had I even had any trouble to bear," added Chia Yün, "it would have
been my duty to bear it. But your complete recovery, uncle, is really a
blessing to our whole family." As he spoke, he discerned a couple of servant-maids come to help him to
a cup of tea. Pao-yü interposed; "will you also behave
in this fashion with servant-girls?" So saying, he took a seat and drank his tea. "To-morrow, if you
have nothing to do, do come over!" he said, "How many years have you been in uncle Pao's
apartments? "Yes, her name is Hsiao Hung!" But, dear Mr. Secundus,
since you've picked it up, give it to me. Do! "I would like to
go out," he smiled, "but I can't reconcile myself to the separation from
you!" laughed Hsi Jen. exclaimed Pao-yü. Pao-yü could not do otherwise, dull and out of sorts though he was, than
accede to her importunities. "Uncle Secundus," he smiled, "are you at home? "You are up to mischief again, eh?" Pao-yü rejoined. exclaimed Pao-yü. Saying this, he continued his way and straightway reached the entrance
of a court. Here the bamboo foliage was thick, and the breeze sighed
gently. "Why is it," smiled Pao-yü, from outside the window, "that your feelings
day after day slumber drowsily?" So saying, he raised the portière and
stepped in. they said. "If so, we'll ask her over, when she wakes
up." As these words were being spoken, Tai-yü eagerly twisted herself round
and sat up. she laughed. This greeting over, they called
Tzu Chüan. While calling her, they quitted the room in a body. Tai-yü remained
seated on the bed. "I
heard all." But in the middle of their colloquy, they saw Tzu Chüan enter. he cried, "pour me a cup of
your good tea!" "If you want good
tea, you'd better wait till Hsi Jen comes." With this answer, she started to serve the tea. "My dear girl," Pao-yü exclaimed laughingly, "If I could only share the
same bridal curtain with your lovable young mistress, would I ever be
able (to treat you as a servant) by making you fold the covers and make
the beds." she
remonstrated. "What, did I say anything?" smiled Pao-yü. And whenever you read any improper book, you poke your fun at me. As she began to cry, she jumped down from bed, and promptly left the
room. "Go
back at once," she cried, "and put on your clothes as master wants to
see you." At the very mention of his father, Pao-yü felt suddenly as if struck by
lightning. "Master, hurry out at once!" This said, he urged Pao-yü on, and together they turned past the large
pavilion. he laughed. Pei Ming also laughed, and fell on his knees. But by and bye, when you wish to chaff
me, just you likewise allude to my father, and we'll thus be square." exclaimed Pao-yü. he said, "what are you
still kneeling for?" "Had it been for anything else," Hsüeh P'an chimed in, "I wouldn't have
made bold to disturb you; but it's simply in connection with my birthday
which is to-morrow, the third day of the fifth moon. I lost
no time in presenting some to my mother, and at once sent some to your
old grandmother, and my aunt. As they talked, they walked; and, as they walked, they reached the
interior of the library. retorted Hsüeh P'an, "but when you come to-morrow to
congratulate me we'll consider what novel kind of present you can give
me." "As far as
money, clothes, eatables and other such articles go, they are not really
mine: all I can call my own are such pages of characters that I may
write, or pictures that I may draw." "Your reference to pictures," added Hsüeh P'an smiling, "reminds me of a
book I saw yesterday, containing immodest drawings; they were, truly,
beautifully done. It was, in fact, something or
other like Keng Huang. The pictures were, actually, exceedingly good!" This done, he went on to
inquire of Hsüeh. "Were they possibly these two characters?" he remarked. "They must, we fancy, have been these two characters!" they cried. But barely were these words out of their mouths, than they realised that
Feng Tzu-ying had already stepped in, talking and laughing as he
approached. asked Pao-yü. "It isn't to be wondered at then," observed Pao-yü, "that when I went
the other day, on the third and fourth, to a banquet at friend Shen's
house, I didn't see you there. Yet I meant to have inquired about you;
but I don't know how it slipped from my memory. Did you go alone, or did
your venerable father accompany you?" "Of course, my father went," Tzu-ying replied, "so I had no help but to
go. At this suggestion Feng Tzu-ying there and then rose to his feet. "This is, indeed, strange!" But if you do insist upon
making me have a drink, well, then bring a large cup and I'll take two
cups full and finish." Saying this, he pushed his way and was going off at once, when Hsüeh
P'an interposed. "What you've said," he observed, "has put us more than
ever on pins and needles. We cannot brook any delay. With this answer he went out of the door, mounted his horse, and
took his departure. Pao-yü returned into the garden in time to find Hsi Jen thinking with
solicitude that he had gone to see Chia Cheng and wondering whether it
foreboded good or evil. exclaimed Pao-yü. "Of course, I
did! she asked, a smile curling her lips. As she spoke, a servant-girl poured her a cup of tea and brought it to
her. While she sipped it, she carried on a conversation on irrelevant
matters; which we need not notice, but turn our attention to Lin Tai-yü. Tai-yü, however, lost no time in knocking. she cried, "don't you yet open the gate?" As these words reached Lin Tai-yü's ear, she unwittingly was overcome
with indignation at being left standing outside. While indulging in reflection, tears trickled from her eyes. But just as
she was feeling unable to retrace her steps, and unable to remain
standing any longer, and quite at a loss what to do, she overheard the
sound of jocular language inside, and listening carefully, she
discovered that it was, indeed, Pao-yü and Pao-ch'ai. Alone, clasped in a subtle smell, she quits her maiden room. Then fixing her gaze steadfastly on the
gateway, she dropped a few tears. At first, there
were such as still endeavoured to afford her solace; or who, suspecting
lest she brooded over the memory of her father and mother, felt
home-sick, or aggrieved, through some offence given her, tried by every
persuasion to console and cheer her; but, as contrary to all
expectations, she subsequently persisted time and again in this dull
mood, through each succeeding month and year, people got accustomed to
her eccentricities and did not extend to her the least sympathy. The morrow was the 26th
day of the fourth moon. In addition
to this, the members of the family were clad in such fineries that they
put the peach tree to shame, made the almond yield the palm, the swallow
envious and the hawk to blush. We could not therefore exhaustively
describe them within our limited space of time. Pao-ch'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un, Li Wan, lady Feng and
other girls, as well as Ta Chieh Erh, Hsiang Ling and the waiting-maids
were, one and all, we will now notice, in the garden enjoying
themselves; the only person who could not be seen was Lin Tai-yü. "Wait all of you here," rejoined Pao-ch'ai, "and I'll go and shake her
up and bring her." With these words, she speedily left her companions and repaired
straightway into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. While she was going on her errand, she met Wen Kuan and the rest of the
girls, twelve in all, on their way to seek the party. As for me, I'm going to fetch
Miss Lin, but I'll be back soon." Saying this, she followed the winding path, and came to the Hsiao Hsiang
lodge. Upon suddenly raising her eyes, she saw Pao-yü walk in. Yün." "To be sure it is my own," another party observed, "bring it along and
give it to me." she further heard. "If you don't reward him," she heard some one continue, "what will I be
able to tell him? Besides, he enjoined me time after time that if there
was to be no recompense, I was not to give it to you." "If I tell any one," she likewise overheard, "may an ulcer grow on my
mouth, and may I, in course of time, die an unnatural death!" Besides, should they approach, we shall be able to observe them, and at
once stop our conversation!" It would be better at present
therefore for me to lose no time in retiring. "P'in Erh, I see where you're hiding!" she smiled. "Who has seen anything of Miss Lin," retorted Chui Erh. As she spoke, she designedly stepped in and searched about for her. So saying, she distanced them, feeling again very much amused. she observed, "Miss Lin was squatting in here and must
for a certainty have overheard what we said before she left." Albeit Chui Erh listened to her words, she kept her own counsel for a
long time. "Had it been Miss Pao, it would not have mattered," remarked Hsiao Hung,
"but Miss Lin delights in telling mean things of people and is, besides,
so petty-minded. During their colloquy, they noticed Wen Kuan, Hsiang Ling, Ssu Ch'i,
Shih Shu and the other girls enter the pavilion, so they were compelled
to drop the conversation and to play and laugh with them. "Tell me, so that
when she comes back, after I've sent you out, and looks for you, I may
be able to tell her about you." Yet it comes to the same
thing. Well, if he asks for you, I'll tell him where you are. "Sister, do you know
where our lady Secunda is gone to?" she asked. "I didn't notice," rejoined Ssu Ch'i. At this reply, Hsiao Hung turned round and cast a glance on all four
quarters. "Young ladies," she said, straining a smile, "do you
perchance have any idea where our lady Secunda is gone to now?" The moment Ch'ing Wen saw Hsiao Hung, she called out to her. she exclaimed. As for the birds, you're still in the arms of
Morpheus, sister, when I give them their food." cried Ch'i Hsia, "but don't you
girls speak to her; let her stroll about and have done!" Saying this, she raised the purse and let them see it; and they, finding
they could hit upon nothing more to taunt her with, trudged along
onwards. she cried. All she told her must have been just some word or two, who knows! As she derided her, she continued on her way. With these words, she produced the purse and presented it to her. exclaimed widow Li, before the close of the message. "Why, her remarks refer to four or five distinct
families." "My dear girl," she smiled,
"what a trouble you've been put to! But when I
asked her: 'must you forsooth imitate the humming of a mosquito, in
order to be accounted a handsome girl?' and spoke to her, on several
occasions, she at length improved considerably." "This girl is first-rate!" rejoined lady Feng, "she just now delivered
two messages. They didn't, I admit, amount to much, yet to listen to
her, she spoke to the point." "To-morrow," she continued, addressing herself to Hsiao Hung smilingly,
"come and wait on me, and I'll acknowledge you as my daughter; and the
moment you come under my control, you'll readily improve." At this news, Hsiao Hung spurted out laughing aloud. But snapping my fingers at
them, I to-day exalt you." she consequently
cried, "is she really his daughter?" "I'm seventeen," replied Hsia Hung. "But as it was a
duplicate of that of Master Secundus, Mr. Pao-yü, I'm now simply called
Hsiao Hung." she remarked,
"Those bearing the name Yü would seem to be very cheap; for your name is
Yü, and so is also mine Yü. She assented
unreservedly, but she put it off and never chose any. But is it likely that she
wouldn't have been well off with me?" Li Wan laughed. As she had had but little sleep in the night, she got up the next day at
a late hour. When she heard that all her cousins were collected in the
park, giving a farewell entertainment for the god of flowers, she
hastened, for fear people should laugh at her for being lazy, to comb
her hair, perform her ablutions, and go out and join them. "My dear
cousin," he said, "did you lodge a complaint against me yesterday? "Brother Pao," she said, "are you all right. Pao-yü rejoined, a smile on his lips. "The
other day, I asked news of you of our senior sister-in-law." "Brother Pao," T'an Ch'un remarked, "come over here; I want to tell you
something." The moment Pao-yü heard this, he quickly went with her. "He hasn't," Pao-yü answered laughingly by way of reply. exclaimed T'an Ch'un. "Why,
these are worth nothing! Were you to take a hundred cash and give them
to the servant-boys, they could, I'm sure, bring two cart-loads of
them." "Those you chose
for me were plain yet not commonplace. Now, what do
you say to this bargain?" "Your reference to this," smiled Pao-yü, "reminds me of an old incident. But after a
while, 'why uselessly waste,' he observed, 'human labour, and throw away
silks to make things of this sort!' On my return, I told Hsi Jen about
it. 'Never mind,' said Hsi Jen; but Mrs. Chao got angry. "Now tell me,
aren't these words utter rot!" she shouted. And is it likely that Huan Erh hasn't his own share of
things! I simply work a pair or part of a pair when I am at leisure,
with time on my hands. "Yet," he
said, "you don't know what her motives may be. she cried. While she taunted them, T'an Ch'un and Pao-yü eventually drew near her
with smiling faces. As he argued to himself, he heard Pao-ch'ai bid them go out. "I wonder," soliloquised Pao-yü, "whose servant-girl this is, who has
been so aggrieved as to run over here to have a good cry!" While speculating within himself, he halted. What time the third moon comes, the scented nests have been already
built. Sudden they droop and fly; and whither they have flown, 'tis hard to
guess. Now by the footsteps, I bury the flowers, but sorrow will slay me. Regret for spring, because it sudden comes; vexed, for it sudden goes. For spotless once my frame did come, and spotless again it will go! Ye flowers are now faded and gone, and, lo, I come to bury you. But as for me, what day I shall see death is not as yet divined! Who knows, who will, in years to come, commit me to my grave! But, reader, do you feel any interest in him? Unable to check the emotion, caused by the decay
of the flowers, she spontaneously recited, after giving way to several
loud lamentations, those verses which Pao-yü, she little thought,
overheard from his position on the mound. At first, he did no more than
nod his head and heave sighs, full of feeling. Pao-yü, meanwhile, remained for a time a prey to melancholy. he cried. "I know you don't care a rap for me; but I'll just make one single
remark, and from this day forward we'll part company." Pao-yü smiled at her. he asked. At these words, Tai-yü twisted herself round and beat a retreat. Turning her face towards him, "what about days gone by," she remarked,
"and what about now?" "Ai!" "I myself am aware," he
speedily resumed, "that I'm worth nothing now; but, however imperfect I
may be, I could on no account presume to become guilty of any
shortcoming with you cousin. After lending him a patient ear, Tai-yü suddenly banished from her
memory all recollection of the occurrences of the previous night. he exclaimed. "If I have done anything of the kind, may I die at once." "I didn't really see you come over," protested Pao-yü. "Cousin Pao-ch'ai
it was, who came and sat for a while and then left." After some reflection, Lin Tai-yü smiled. "This is, I feel sure, the reason," answered Pao-yü, "so when I go back,
I'll find out who it was, call them to task and put things right." While she taunted him, she pressed her lips, and laughed sarcastically. Pao-yü heard her remarks and felt both disposed to gnash his teeth with
rage, and to treat them as a joke; but in the midst of their colloquy,
they perceived a waiting-maid approach and invite them to have their
meal. Presently, the whole body of inmates crossed over to the front. "The other day," said Madame Wang, "the doctor mentioned the name of
some pills, but I've forgotten what it is." "That isn't it," Madame Wang demurred. At this joke, every one in the whole room burst out laughing. "Yes, that's the name," Madame Wang laughed, "why, now, I too have
become muddle-headed." "What you want again is
your father to whip you!" "It's a positive fact," smiled Pao-yü. At the mention of her name, Pao-ch'ai laughingly waved her hand. "I know
nothing about it," she observed. "Nor have I heard anything about it, so
don't tell your mother to ask me any questions." "What I stated just now,"
he explained, "was the truth; yet you maintain that it was all lies." "Brother Pao tells no lies," she smilingly chimed in,
"this is really a fact. The moment lady Feng had done speaking, Pao-yü put in his word. exclaimed Madame Wang, after listening to him throughout. he asked. "You just listen to him, aunt," she
observed. She, of course, knows
less than ever about them! Yet, cousin Lin just now stealthily treated
my statements as lies, and put me to the blush." These words were still on his lips, when they perceived a waiting-maid,
from dowager lady Chia's apartments, come in quest of Pao-yü and Lin
Tai-yü to go and have their meal. "I'll have my repast with my mother to-day," Pao-yü said. "Not at all," Madame Wang remarked, "not at all. "I'll also fast with you then," Pao-yü retorted. As he spoke, he called out to the servant to go back, and rushing up to
the table, he took a seat. "You, girls," she
observed, "had better have your meal, and let him have his own way!" "Whether you
have anything to eat or not, you should go over for a while to keep
company to cousin Lin, as she will be quite distressed and out of
spirits." Pao-yü rejoined, "she'll get all right again
after a time." Shortly, they finished their repast. "You come quite opportunely,"
she said; "walk in, walk in, and write a few characters for me." "Yes, she can go and fetch her," acquiesced Pao-yü. While replying, he made an attempt to take his leave. "Come back,"
shouted lady Feng, "I've got something more to tell you." "There was really nothing nice," Pao-yü smiled. "She's in the inner rooms," answered his grandmother. Pao-yü stepped in. "O! he
smiled. Why, in a short while you'll be having a headache again!" Tai-yü, however, did not heed him in the least, but busied herself
cutting out what she had to do. "The corner of that piece of satin is not yet right," a servant-girl put
in. The moment she espied Lin Tai-yü engaged in
cutting out something: "You have," she cried, "attained more skill than
ever; for there you can even cut out clothes!" "I'll tell you a joke," replied Pao-ch'ai smiling, "when I just now said
that I did not know anything about that medicine, cousin Pao-yü felt
displeased." "He'll get all right
shortly." With this remark, she nevertheless at once
quitted the room. As she spoke, she went on with her cutting. It will be time enough by and bye to continue your
cutting." Pao-yü addressed himself
therefore to the servant-girls. he asked. "It's no
business of yours, Mr. Secundus." At this announcement, Pao-yü betook himself with alacrity out
of the room. On his arrival outside, Pao-yü discovered Pei Ming. "You are invited,"
he said, "to go to Mr. Feng's house." Seeing an old woman walk out, Pei Ming went up to her. At these words, Pei Ming smiled. So saying, he repaired with quick step to the second gate on the east
side, where, by a lucky hit, the young servant-boys on duty, were
kicking marbles on the raised road. "My worthy cousins," rejoined Feng Tzu-ying smiling. Eh, will you?" When my heart longs for thee to come,
It also yearns for him. And I had, verily, no word in answer for myself to give. "Well now," she cried, "down with
that whole jar!" "Why, it isn't worth a jarful," smiled Hsüeh P'an at these words. Speedily rising from the banquet, he poured the wine for the company. At the end of this recitation, we'll
have to drink the 'door cup' over the wine, to sing an original and
seasonable ballad, while over the heel taps, to make allusion to some
object on the table, and devise something with some old poetical lines
or ancient scrolls, from the Four Books or the Five Classics, or with
some set phrases." "I won't join you, so don't count me; this
is, in fact, done in order to play tricks upon me." Yün Erh, however, also rose to her feet and shoved him down into his
seat. she laughed. Yet I mean to recite, by and bye, my own share. they shouted. They then heard Pao-yü recite:
A girl is sad,
When her spring-time of life is far advanced and she still occupies a
vacant inner-room. Having listened to him, "Capital!" one and all cried out in a chorus. In due course Pao-yü took up the guitar. In spring, in ceaseless bloom nourish willows and flowers around the
painted tower. Alas! "A maid is glad." he commenced:
When at her first confinement she gives birth to twins, both sons. A maid is joyful,
When on the sly she to the garden creeps crickets to catch. A maid is sad,
When her husband some sickness gets and lies in a bad state. A maiden is wounded at heart,
When a fierce wind blows down the tower, where she makes her toilette. A spirit too, thou couldst not be more shrewd. he exclaimed. A maiden is joyful,
When hushing the pan-pipe and double pipe, a stringed instrument she
thrums. At the end of her effusion, she at once began to sing:
"T'is the third day of the third moon, the nutmegs bloom;
A maggot, lo, works hard to pierce into a flower;
But though it ceaseless bores it cannot penetrate. So crouching on the buds, it swing-like rocks itself. Finishing her song, she drank the "opening cup," after which she added:
"the delicate peach-blossom," and thus complied with the exigencies of
the rule. "What you say is quite right," they eagerly replied. they asked. "He must be mulcted," they cried, "he
must be mulcted. exclaimed Hsüeh P'an, "do you really fancy that I have
no good ones! they ejaculated. they
inquired. We'll let you off," answered one and all, "so don't
be hindering others." A maiden is disconsolate,
When she has no money to go and buy some _olea frangrans_ oil. A maiden is glad,
When the wick of the lantern forms two heads like twin flowers on one
stem. A maiden is joyful,
When true conjugal peace prevails between her and her mate. Our union is, indeed, a happy match! But. Finishing the song, he drank the "opening cup." "I know," he smiled,
"few poetical quotations bearing on this sort of thing. "It's awful, awful!" "There was nothing about precious things!" "If she isn't,
what is she? And if you don't believe me, you ask him about it,"
pointing, at the conclusion of this remark, at Pao-yü. Rising to his feet, "Cousin," he
observed, "you should be fined heavily." "Ignorance," the party said with one consent, "does not amount to
guilt." he exclaimed. But to-day is our first
meeting, and what shall I do?" After some thought, he produced a fan from his sleeve, and, unloosening
one of the jade pendants, he handed it to Ch'i Kuan. "It does not deserve your acceptance, yet it will be a
small souvenir of our acquaintance to-day." "I do not deserve," he replied,
"such a present. With these protestations, he raised his garment, and, untying a deep red
sash, with which his nether clothes were fastened, he presented it to
Pao-yü. It was given to me yesterday by the Prince of Pei Ching, and
it is only to-day that I put it on. To any one else, I would certainly
not be willing to present it. But, Mr. Secundus, please do unfasten the
one you have on and give it to me to bind round me." Clutching the two young fellows, "What do you," he exclaimed, "leave
your wine for and withdraw from the banquet. rejoined the two young fellows with one voice. So resuming their seats, they drank until
dark, when the company broke up. The next day, when
she woke up at the break of day, she heard Pao-yü call out laughingly:
"Robbers have been here in the night; are you not aware of it? she cried, "quick, take it away!" rejoined Pao-yü. "I knew all about it, there was no
need for her to wait." he
smiled. "Of course, it's my duty to go over," Pao-yü cried at these words, but
forthwith calling Tzu Chüan: "Take these to your Miss Lin," he told her,
"and say that I got them, yesterday, and that she is at liberty to keep
out of them any that take her fancy." "I'm not gifted
with such extreme good fortune," she consequently answered, "as to be
able to accept them. With all promptitude, she smiled and observed, "They're all to
no use! Why utter such oaths, when there's no rhyme or reason! "You needn't swear any more," Lin Tai-yü replied, "I'm well aware that
I, your younger cousin, have a place in your heart; but the thing is
that at the sight of your elder cousin, you at once forget all about
your younger cousin." Had it been
I, who had been guilty of any such thing, I don't know what you wouldn't
have done again." Pao-ch'ai, however, was naturally inclined to
embonpoint, and it proved therefore no easy matter for her to get the
beads off; and while Pao-yü stood by watching her snow-white arm,
feelings of admiration were quickly stirred up in his heart. But it is, as it happens, part and
parcel of her body; how I really do deplore this lack of good fortune." rejoined Lin Tai-yü, with a cynical smile. While replying, she threw the handkerchief, she was holding, straight
into Pao-yü's face. He was hit on
the eye. he exclaimed. But, reader, do you want to hear the sequel? A happy man enjoys a full measure of happiness, but still prays for
happiness. A beloved girl is very much loved, but yet craves for more love. he cried. "I would not venture to do such a
thing," she said, "it was a mere slip of my hand. Pao-yü kept on rubbing his eyes. The idea suggested itself to him to
make some remonstrance, but he could not again very well open his lips. Presently, lady Feng arrived. I don't mean to come." "It's cool enough over at their place," answered lady Feng. "There are
also two-storied buildings on either side; so we must all go! "To-morrow," dowager lady Chia continued, "I can stay in the two-storied
building, situated on the principal site, while you can go to the one on
the side. Shortly, old lady Chia and the other inmates started
on their way. Along with lady Feng, came a
nurse carrying Ta Chieh Erh. "Girls," she said, "this is the street. On their arrival at the temple, the sound of bells and the rattle of
drums struck their ear. The moment dowager lady Chia reached, in her
chair, the interior of the main gate, she descried the lares and
penates, the lord presiding over that particular district, and the clay
images of the various gods, and she at once gave orders to halt. she shouted, "where are you
running to?" Beat him, beat him!" Were you to frighten him, he will really be much to be
pitied; and won't his father and mother be exceedingly cut up?" As she spoke, she asked Chia Chen to go and do his best to bring him
round. With the scissors still clasped in his
hand, the lad fell on his knees, and trembled violently. The boy, however, could on no account give vent to speech. But of a sudden they espied
Chia Chen wend his way outwards, leading a young Taoist priest, and
calling the servants to come, say; "Take him and give him several
hundreds of cash and abstain from ill-treating him." At these orders,
the domestics approached with hurried step and led him off. At this inquiry, the pages standing below, called out in chorus,
"Majordomo!" Do you understand me, yes or no? "I understand," replied Lin Chih-hsiao hurriedly signifying his
obedience. "Now," proceeded Chia Chen; "you can go on your way. he went on to ask. "Look at him," shouted Chia Chen. I don't feel hot in here, and yet he must go in search of a cool
place. "Grandfather Chang," he said, "has come in to pay his respects." he then observed. smiled old lady Chia, "how are you; quite
well?" The other day, on the 26th of the fourth moon, I celebrated the
birthday of the 'Heaven-Pervading-Mighty-King;' few people came and
everything went off right and proper. As she spoke, she turned her head round and called Pao-yü. "My
respects to you, grandfather Chang," he said. "Outwardly, his looks," replied dowager lady Chia, "may be all right,
but, inwardly, he is weak. In addition to this, his father presses him
so much to study that he has again and again managed, all through this
bullying, to make his child fall sick." "The other day," continued Chang the Taoist, "I went to several places
on a visit, and saw characters written by Mr. Pao and verses composed by
him, all of which were exceedingly good; so how is it that his worthy
father still feels displeased with him, and maintains that Mr. Pao is
not very fond of his books? At these words, old lady Chia herself found it hard to control her
feelings. "Quite so,"
she assented, "I've had ever so many sons and grandsons, and not one of
them betrayed the slightest resemblance to his grandfather; and this
Pao-yü turns out to be the very image of him!" This said, he burst into another loud fit of laughter. "The other day,"
he resumed, "I was at some one's house and there I met a young girl, who
is this year in her fifteenth year, and verily gifted with a beautiful
face, and I bethought myself that Mr. Pao must also have a wife found
for him. But mark my words now. When she had done speaking, lady Feng was heard to smilingly interpose:
"Grandfather Chang, aren't you going to change the talisman of 'Recorded
Name' of our daughter? The other day, lucky enough for you, you had
again the great cheek to send some one to ask me for some satin of
gosling-yellow colour. I gave it to you, for had I not, I was afraid
lest your old face should have been made to feel uneasy." Saying this, he rushed into the main hall. Presently, he returned with a
tea-tray in hand, on which was spread a deep red satin cover, brocaded
with dragons. In this, he presented the charm. But just as the Taoist was on the point of taking Ta Chieh-erh in his
embrace, lady Feng remarked with a smile: "It would have been sufficient
if you'd carried it in your hand! Aren't you afraid of going down to that Hell,
where tongues are cut off?" Chang, the Taoist, indulged in further laughter. It wasn't,
however, to beg for donations. "Your venerable ladyship," resumed Chang, the Taoist, "isn't aware that
though I be, to look at, a man of eighty, I, after all, continue, thanks
to your protection, my dowager lady, quite hale and strong. In the
second place, there are crowds of people in the outer rooms; and the
smells are not agreeable. After these forebodings old lady Chia accordingly desired Pao-yü to
unclasp the jade of Spiritual Perception, and to deposit it in the tray. But just as they were on
the point of going up the two-storied building, they heard Chia Chen
shout: "Grandfather Chang has brought back the jade." As he spoke, the Taoist Chang was seen advancing up to them, the tray in
hand. She discovered
that its contents consisted of gold signets, and jade rings, or
sceptres, implying: "may you have your wishes accomplished in
everything," or "may you enjoy peace and health from year to year;" that
the various articles were strung with pearls or inlaid with precious
stones, worked in jade or mounted in gold; and that they were in all
from thirty to fifty. He may, on no account, accept
them." Were you to let the beggars have them,
why they will, first of all, be none the better for them; and, next, it
will contrariwise be tantamount to throwing them away! These directions given, Chang, the Taoist, retired out of the place. Before long, Chia Chen came back. "Yet
never mind; for as the gods will it thus, there is no help than not to
demur. "The Nan Ko dream is the third," Chia Chen answered. Chia Chen
therefore withdrew downstairs, and betook himself outside to make
arrangements for the offerings to the gods, for the paper money and
eatables that had to be burnt, and for the theatricals about to begin. exclaimed old lady Chia. "Cousin Pao-ch'ai," rejoined T'an Ch'un laughingly, "has the power of
observation; no matter what she sees, she remembers." "As far as other matters are
concerned," she insinuated, "her observation isn't worth speaking of;
where she's extra-observant is in articles people may wear about their
persons." Pao-chai, upon catching this sneering remark, at once turned her head
round, and pretended she had not heard. "I don't care about it," said Lin Tai-yü, giving her head
a sudden twist. Saying this, he once again thrust it away. But just as he was about to
open his lips to make some other observation, he saw Mrs. Yu, the spouse
of Chia Chen, arrive along with the second wife recently married by Chia
Jung, that is, his mother and her daughter-in-law, to pay their
obeisance to dowager lady Chia. "I came here for a turn, simply because I had nothing to do." The moment lady Feng heard about it she hastily crossed to the main part
of the two-storied building. "Ai-ya;" she ejaculated, clapping her hands
and laughing. Why, we haven't even got any slips of paper with tips ready." In due
course, one lot of visitors followed another. "By striking the wall, we've also stirred up dust," lady Feng argued. When lady Feng, however, found that she would
not join them, she herself took charge of the family party and set out
on the excursion. Unable to curb his feelings, he
instantaneously lowered his face. "But, never mind, patience!" But as you
were not able to do anything to dispel my annoyance, but made use,
instead, of the language you did to laugh at me, and to gag my mouth,
it's evident that though you hold, at every second and at every moment,
a place in my heart, I don't, in fact, occupy a place in yours." These two cousins had, to all appearances, once been of one and the same
mind, but the many issues, which had sprung up between them, brought
about a contrary result and made them of two distinct minds. "I don't care what you do, everything is well," Pao-yü further argued,
"so long as you act up to your feelings; and if you do, I shall be ever
only too willing to even suffer immediate death for your sake. Whether
you know this or not, doesn't matter; it's all the same. "If
you will treat me well, I'll treat you well. he cried. But in the middle of their dispute, Tzu Chüan, Hsüeh Yen and the other
maids promptly interfered and quieted them. But the
moment she got so vexed she found it hard to keep down the potion of
boletus and the decoction, for counter-acting the effects of the sun,
she had taken only a few minutes back, and with a retch she brought
everything up. But mouthful succeeded mouthful,
and in no time the handkerchief was soaked through and through. The moment Pao-yü caught this advice, which accorded so thoroughly with
his own ideas, he found how little Tai-yü could hold her own with Tzu
Chüan. She nevertheless went on rubbing
Pao-yü's hands, which were icy cold. "I have," sobbed Tai-yü, "wasted my energies on them for nothing; for he
doesn't prize them. she cried. "Cut it, if you like!" chimed in Pao-yü, addressing himself to Tai-yü. "I will on no account wear it, so it doesn't matter a rap." they asked. One day passed. But shortly my eyes shall be closed, this
breath of mine shall be snapped, and those two enemies will be free to
cause trouble even up to the very skies; for as my eyes will then loose
their power of vision, and my heart will be void of concern, it will
really be nothing to me. While inwardly a prey to resentment, she also melted into tears. These words were brought to the ears of Pao-yü and Tai-yü. But to-morrow is the fifth day of the moon, a great festival, and will
you two still continue like this, as if you were very enemies? You here will then be all right, and so will she
over there." Besides, haven't there been
already one or two rows on account of that very jade?" exclaimed Tai-yü. "This sounds like Pao-yü's voice," she smiled. "I won't have any one open the door," Tai-yü cried at these words. Saying this, she speedily walked out and opened the door. While ushering him in, she gave him a smile. "She is," replied Tzu Chüan, "physically all right; but, mentally, her
resentment is not quite over." "I understand," continued Pao-yü with a smile. "But resentment, for
what?" With this inquiry, he wended his steps inside the apartment. "Cousin, are
you quite well again?" he inquired. Tai-yü simply went on drying her tears, and made no reply of any kind. "I know," he
smiled, "that you're not vexed with me. It would be better, supposing you wish to beat me or
blow me up, that you should please yourself and do so now; but whatever
you do, don't give me the cold shoulder!" I couldn't presume henceforward to
be on friendly terms with you, Master Secundus! At these words, Pao-yü gave way to laughter. he
inquired. "I'm going back home," answered Tai-yü. "I'll go along with you then," smiled Pao-yü. asked Tai-yü. The moment Tai-yü caught this reply, she hung down her head. she cried. But to-morrow I'll
tell them about this to judge for themselves what your motives are!" she shouted, "can't you
speak?" she cried. "Our old
lady," she said, "is over there, giving way to anger against heaven and
earth. 'There's no need for me to go and see,' I told her,
'they will before the expiry of three days, be friends again of their
own accord.' Our venerable ancestor, however, called me to account, and
maintained that I was lazy; so here I come! But not one of them was in attendance. Then making their exit out of the garden gate, they
entered dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. These words evoked laughter from every one in the room. Pao-ch'ai,
however, was present at the time so Lin Tai-yü did not retort, but went
and ensconced herself in a seat near her grandmother. If to-morrow you find any leisure, cousin, do
therefore explain matters for me to him." smiled Pao-ch'ai. Pao-yü, at these words, could not but feel ill at ease. Yet when
about to call him to task, she found that it would not be nice for her
to do so. After some reflection, the colour rushed to her cheeks. rejoined Pao-ch'ai, shaking her finger at
her. At this suggestion, Ch'ing Erh made her escape. Pao-yü smiled. Why, the real name of the play is:
'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'". "There's
no one eating raw ginger," they said. In a short while, however, Pao-ch'ai and lady Feng took their leave. But she too was quite drowsy, and her
eyes wore all awry. The moment,
however, that he unfastened the pendants from the earrings she wore,
Chin Ch'uan opened her eyes, and realised that it was no one than
Pao-yü. Then waving her
hand so as to bid him quit the room, she again closed her eyes. Pao-yü, at the sight of her, felt considerable affection for her and
unable to tear himself away, so quietly stretching his head forward, and
noticing that Madame Wang's eyes were shut, he extracted from a purse,
suspended about his person, one of the 'scented-snow-for-moistening-mouth
pills,' with which it was full, and placed it on Chin Ch'uan-erh's lips. "What's
the hurry?" she laughed. she exclaimed,
abusing her, while she pointed her finger at her, "it's you, and the
like of you, who corrupt these fine young fellows with all the nice
things you teach them!" The moment Pao-yü perceived Madame Wang rise, he bolted like a streak of
smoke. With tears
in her eyes: "I won't venture to do it again," she pleaded. At length, Chin Ch'uan-erh's
mother, Dame Pao, was sent for to take her away. As she dug, she silently gave way to tears. But not only is what she does not original, but it is
despicable to boot. Pao-yü could not, from the very first,
make up his mind to wrench himself away. He watched each dash, each dot and each hook. He
counted the strokes. They numbered eighteen. He himself then set to work
and sketched with his finger on the palm of his hand, the lines, in
their various directions, and in the order they had been traced a few
minutes back, so as to endeavour to guess what the character was. Let me see,
however, what she's going to write next." While cogitating, he looked once more. Lo, the girl was still tracing. But tracing up or tracing down, it was ever the character "Ch'iang." When he gazed again, it was still the self-same Ch'iang. The
one outside gazed and gazed, until he unwittingly also got into the same
foolish mood. In midsummer, cloudy and bright weather are uncertain. See,
it's pouring; you're wet through!" The girl caught these words, and was frightened out of her wits. "Many thanks, sister, for
recalling me to my senses," she consequently smiled. Then drooping his head, he realised that his own
person too was drenched. "This will never do," he cried, and with one
breath he had to run back into the I Hung court. He gave a rap at the door. "It's I," rejoined Pao-yü. "It's Miss Pao-ch'ai's tone of voice," added She Yüeh. cried Ch'ing Wen. With these words, she came along the passage to the doorway. Seeing him in this plight, Hsi Jen felt solicitous as well as amused. he shouted. As he spoke, he lowered his head. Where did I kick you?" Pao-yü walked into the room. As he did so, he smiled. "I've been here from the very first," she
simultaneously added, smilingly, "so in all things, whether large or
small, good or bad, it has naturally fallen to my share to bear the
brunt. "I did not strike you intentionally just now," retorted Pao-yü. During the course of their conversation, the rain ceased, and Pao Kuan
and Yü Kuan had been able to take their leave. But as
she could not very well say anything about it to any one, she presently
retired to rest. So getting out of bed, he gently seized the lantern and came over to
look at her. she gasped, as she opened her eyes. she asked. "You groaned in your dreams," answered Pao-yü, "so I must have kicked
you hard. "My head feels giddy," said Hsi Jen. At these words, Pao-yü actually raised the lantern. The moment he cast
the light below, he discerned a quantity of fresh blood on the floor. was all he could say. But, reader, the next chapter will reveal the sequel, if you really have
any wish to know more about them. But to proceed. he consequently asked her. "It's simply a bruise; nothing
more," (he said), and forthwith he gave him the names of some pills and
medicines, and told him how they were to be taken, and how they were to
be applied. She did not care
for social gatherings. Her notions, however, were not entirely devoid of
reason. In an unguarded moment, she let her fan slip out of her hand
and drop on the ground. As it fell, the bones were snapped. Pao-yü exclaimed, sighing, "what a dunce! The other day you even beat Hsi Jen and here you are
again now finding fault with us! If you dislike us, well
pack us off and select some good girls to serve you, and we will quietly
go away. "You needn't be in a hurry!" she said to Pao-yü, "why, there's nothing to put your monkey
up! At these insinuations, Hsi Jen felt both incensed and ashamed. it's really we, who are to blame!" Why,
I'm purely and simply a slave-girl; that's all." "Are you, after all," cried Hsi Jen, at these words, "bickering with me,
or with Master Secundus? But if you
have a spite against Mr. Secundus, you shouldn't be shouting so
boisterously as to make thousands of people know all about it! Yet you neither seem to be angry with me, nor with Mr.
Secundus! I won't utter another word, but let you have your say!" While she spoke, she was hurriedly wending her way out. "You needn't raise your dander." She tried to conceal her tears. she asked. "If
even you be so prejudiced against me as to try and devise means to pack
me off, you won't succeed." Pao-yü exclaimed. While addressing her, he rose to his feet and was intent upon trudging
off at once. she cried. "I'm going to tell mother," answered Pao-yü. "It's no use whatever!" Hsi Jen smiled, "you may be in real earnest to
go and tell her, but aren't you afraid of putting her to shame? But if you now go in hot haste and
tell her, as if the matter were an urgent one, won't you be the means of
making our mistress give way to suspicion?" "My mother," demurred Pao-yü, "is sure not to entertain any suspicions,
as all I will explain to her is that she insists upon leaving." "You fly into a
rage, and then you have recourse to threats to intimidate me. "This is, indeed, strange!" exclaimed Pao-yü. Saying this, he was resolved upon going to report the matter. "Get up," he shouted to the body of girls, "and clear out! he asked, addressing himself to Hsi Jen. Now she spoke, and now she patted Hsi Jen on the shoulder. "My dear
sister-in-law," she smiled, "just you tell me! Confide in me, your cousin, so that I might
reconcile you." Unless my breath fails and I die, I shall continue in his
service." As for me, I shall be the first to die from crying." laughed Hsi Jen. "What's
the good of coming out with all these things?" "Up to
this," she laughed, "he's become a bonze twice. The
result was that, on his return, in the evening, he was to a great extent
under the effect of wine. With bustling step, he wended his way into his
own court. As he did so, he gave her a push, and
inquired whether her sore place was any better. Pao-yü, at a glance, realised that it was not Hsi Jen, but Ch'ing Wen. "Your
disposition," he smiled, "has been more and more spoilt through
indulgence. But, ponder now, ought you to have done it; yes or no?" Should any people see you, what will they think? "No, no!" smiled Ch'ing Wen, waving her hand, "I cannot presume to put
you to any trouble, Sir. We could not very well walk in. Just simply wash your hands, and bring the fruit and let's have some
together." Were I also to break the dish,
it will be still more dreadful!" "If you want to break it, break it!" smiled Pao-yü. The original use of that fan, for
instance, was to fan one's self with; but if you chose to break it for
fun, you were quite at liberty to do so. But if you
fancy that kind of sound, then deliberately smash them, that will be all
right. "Since that be so," she said, "bring me your fan and let me tear it. Close
upon this, the sound of crash upon crash became audible. he laughed. "Don't," she smiled,
"be up to so much mischief!" What, are they such fine things!" Pao-yü laughed. "I'm feeling tired," interposed Ch'ing Wen, as she laughingly leant on
the bed. "An old writer says," added Pao-yü with a smile, "'that a thousand
ounces of gold cannot purchase a single laugh'! After moralising, he went on to call Hsi Jen. Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yu and her other cousins, quickly ran down the steps to
meet her and exchange greetings. Presently, she entered the apartments, paid her
respects and inquired how they all were. But after this conventional
interchange of salutations, old lady Chia pressed her to take off her
outer garments as the weather was so close. Why, would any one of her own accord wear so many
things!" She even put on his shoes, and attached his frontlets as well round her
head. she said
to her." But, lo, she it was who had put it on! "Pranks are nothing," Ying Ch'un smiled. "I think she's better of late," interposed Madame Wang. "The other day
some party or other came and they met; so she's to have a mother-in-law
very soon; and can she still be comporting herself like that!" "Your venerable ladyship has not seen what an amount
of clothes we've brought," she replied. "We mean, of course, to stay a
couple of days." inquired Hsiang-yün." "Cousin Yün, have you come?" he smiled. inquired Hsiang-yün. "Many thanks for your kind thought
of her." Saying this, she produced her handkerchief, tied into a knot. asked Pao-yü. "Why, what's this?" exclaimed Hsiang-yün laughing, opening, as she
spoke, the handkerchief. "Look here!" In
very truth, you're a mere dunce!" The servant, deputed to bring the things to you, had no need to
open his mouth and say anything; for, as soon as they were brought in,
it was of course evident, at a glance, that they were to be presented to
you young ladies. He would have made an awful mess of it, and talked a lot of nonsense. Had a female servant been despatched, it
would have been all right. "One is for sister Hsi
Jen," she continued, "one is for sister Yüan Yang. One for sister Chin
Ch'uan-erh, and one for sister P'ing Erh. At these words, the whole company smiled. they
cried. Luckily, every one did not hear what she said. She went in search of Tai-yü, to
have a chat and laugh with her. Presently, she got up
with the idea of paying visits to lady Feng and her other relatives. But after a short visit, she turned
her steps towards the I Hung court to look up Hsi Jen. "You people
needn't," she said, turning her head round, "come along with me! It will be quite enough if you
simply leave Ts'ui Lü to wait upon me." "They too," continued Ts'ui Lü, "resemble those in our pond; they are
double flowers." "These here," remarked Hsiang-yün, "are not however up to ours." With sufficient vitality, they grow up in a healthy
condition." "I tell you not to talk,"
she cried, "but you will insist upon talking! exclaimed Hsiang-yün smiling, "the more you talk,
the more stuff and nonsense falls from your lips! Besides,
the two words Yin and Yang are really one word; for when the Yang
principle is exhausted, it becomes the Yin; and when the Yin is
exhausted, it becomes Yang. And it isn't that, at the exhaustion of the
Yin, another Yang comes into existence; and that, at the exhaustion of
the Yang, a second Yin arises." laughed Hsiang-yün, "you have at last understood!" exclaimed Hsiang-yün. "For example, even the leaves of
that tree are distinguished by Yin and Yang. "Is it really so!" Ts'ui Lü went on to nod her head, and to laugh. "This, Miss," she said smiling, "cannot likely also have any Yin and
Yang!" The
females of beasts are Yin; and the males, Yang; so how is there none?" "Is this male, or is this female?" exclaimed Hsiang-yün, "what about male and female! "Well, never mind about that," added Ts'ui Lü, "But how is it that all
things have Yin and Yang, and that we human beings have no Yin and no
Yang?" she exclaimed. "But it's better for us to proceed on our way, for the more questions
you ask, the nicer they get." asked Ts'ui Lü, "But I
know all about it, so there's no need for you to keep me on pins and
needles." she said. "That you, Miss, are Yang, and that I'm Yin," answered Ts'ui Lü. "Perfectly right, perfectly right!" acquiesced Hsiang-yün. So saying, she first laid hold of the unicorn, belonging to Shih
Hsiang-yün, and passed it under inspection. "It's a precious gem," she smiled. "You mayn't see it, Miss. "Give it to me and let me look at it," retorted Hsiang-yün. "Yes, Miss, please look at
it!" she laughed. "We were just
going," she replied, "so let us all go together." Conversing, they, in a company, wended their steps into the I Hung
court. "You should have come earlier," Pao-yü said. Saying this, he searched and searched about his person. he ejaculated. he eagerly asked Hsi Jen. inquired Hsi Jen. "The unicorn," explained Pao-yü, "I got the other day." "You've daily worn it about you, and how is it you ask me?" remarked Hsi
Jen. he cried. Still, are you so careless?" But to resume our narrative. he said, with a face beaming with smiles. Hsi Jen smiled. exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yün laughingly. "You and I were then great friends. retorted Hsi Jen, putting on a smile. If I be
guilty of anything of the kind, may I at once die! "We were only joking," they said, "but you've taken everything again as
gospel. As she spoke, she unfolded her handkerchief and, producing a ring, she
gave it to Hsi Jen. As for the ring itself, what is its worth? "Miss Pao let me have it." But is it really cousin Pao, that gave it
to you! While indulging in these regrets, her eyes got quite red. laughed Hsi Jen, who was standing by her. "Now, enough of your jokes!" urged Hsi Jen. exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yün. Were you to ask
any one of those men to execute your work, who could very well refuse to
do it?" laughed Hsi Jen. At this reply, it at once dawned upon Shih Hsiang-yün that the shoes
must be intended for Pao-yü. "Since that be the case," she in
consequence smiled; "I'll work them for you. laughed Hsi Jen. "To speak the truth," rejoined Shih Hsiang-yün, "you've put me to the
trouble of working, I don't know how many things for you. answered Hsi Jen. "He never knew that you'd done it," Hsi Jen also laughed. But as
she plies the scissors so admirably, why, you might as well tell her to
finish the shoes for you." "Our
master," he added, "bids you, Mr. Secundus, come out and greet him." Pao-yü, meanwhile, put on his boots, but as he
did so, he gave way to resentment. Pao-yü rejoined. "Why, it's he himself who asks
that I should be sent for to see him." "But I am not what one would call courteous," demurred Pao-yü. "I am, of
all coarse people, the coarsest. Besides, I do not choose to have any
relations with such people as himself." "Miss," ventured Hsi Jen, "drop this at once! But lucky for him it was only Miss Pao. Had it been Miss
Lin, there's no saying what row there may not have been again, and what
tears may not have been shed! But
after a time, she also betook herself away. I then felt very unhappy as
I imagined that she was angry; but contrary to all my expectations, she
was by and bye just the same as ever. She is, in very truth,
long-suffering and indulgent! exclaimed Pao-yü. "What you say is all trash!" She therefore quietly
crossed over to watch her opportunity and take such action as would
enable her to get an insight into his and her sentiments. Pao-yü, meanwhile, had hurriedly got into his new costume. With
rapid stride, he overtook her. "Cousin Lin," he smiled, "where are you off to? "Look here!" Saying this, he could not check an impulse to raise his arm and wipe her
eyes, but Lin Tai-yü speedily withdrew several steps backwards. "Are you
again bent," she said, "upon compassing your own death! he asked. "Why, it's really tantamount to invoking
imprecations on me! What, are you yet angry with me!" she observed hastily, smiling. he at length observed. At this remark, Lin Tai-yü felt quite nervous. she asked after a protracted interval. Pao-yü heaved a sigh. he
inquired. "My dear girl," urged Pao-yü, nodding and sighing. These words made Lin Tai-yü feel as if she had been blasted by thunder,
or struck by lightning. But after carefully weighing them within
herself, they seemed to her far more fervent than any that might have
emanated from the depths of her own heart, and thousands of sentiments,
in fact, thronged together in her mind; but though she had every wish to
frame them into language, she found it a hard task to pronounce so much
as half a word. Pao-yü jumped forward, with alacrity, and dragged her back. "My dear
cousin," he pleaded, "do stop a bit! Let me tell you just one thing;
after that, you may go." exclaimed Lin Tai-yü, who while wiping
her tears, extricated her hand from his grasp. "I know." she cried, "all
you have to say." As she spoke, she went away, without even turning her head to cast a
glance behind her. As Pao-yü gazed at her receding figure, he fell into abstraction. After a time, Tai-yü walked
away; and as he still remained where he was without budging, she
approached him. "You left," she said, "without even taking a fan with you. Happily I
noticed it, and so hurried to catch you up and bring it to you." But whether
I sleep, or whether I dream, I never, never forget you." she asked. He then became aware that it
was Hsi Jen, and that she had come to bring him a fan. "Those two
birds," she answered, "were having a fight, and such fun was it that I
stopped to watch them." asked Pao-ch'ai, "I just caught sight of him, as he went by. "If it isn't this," added Hsi Jen laughing, "some visitor must, I
presume, have come and he wishes him to meet him." smiled Hsi Jen. "What was that girl Hsiang-yün doing in your quarters?" Well, I meant to ask her to-morrow to finish them for me." Pao-chai, at these words, turned her head round, first on this side, and
then on the other. But when I consider the circumstances in which she is placed, for she
has certainly had the misfortune of being left, from her very infancy,
without father and mother, the very sight of her is too much for me, and
my heart begins to bleed within me." "It isn't strange then if she let me have
the ten butterfly knots I asked her to tie for me only after ever so
many days, and if she said that they were coarsely done, but that I
should make the best of them and use them elsewhere, and that if I
wanted any nice ones, I should wait until by and bye when she came to
stay here, when she would work some neatly for me. "But as it happens," explained Hsi Jen, "that mulish-minded and
perverse-tempered young master of ours won't allow the least bit of
needlework, no matter whether small or large, to be made by those
persons employed to do sewing in the household. resumed Hsi Jen. "Why, he'll promptly
find out everything. "You shouldn't work so hard," smiled Pao-ch'ai. "Which Chin Ch'uan-erh is it," she
speedily inquired. rejoined the old matron. "It's the one in our Mistress,' Madame Wang's, apartments, who was the
other day sent away for something or other, I don't know what. The moment Hsi Jen heard the tidings, she shook her head and moaned. Hsi Jen, during this interval, returned to her room. asked Madame Wang. "I come from inside the garden," answered Pao-ch'ai. "I saw him just now," Pao-ch'ai replied, "go out, dressed up in his
fineries. asked Madame Wang,
while she nodded her head and sighed. "Why, Chin Ch'uan Erh jumped into
the well and committed suicide." Or, she might have
been standing in front of the well, and her foot slipped, and she fell
into it. But even admitting
that she had such a temper, she was, after all, a stupid girl to do as
she did; and she doesn't deserve any pity." "You shouldn't, aunt, distress your mind about it!" "I just now gave them fifty taels for her," pursued Madame Wang. But as your cousin
Lin has ever been such a sensitive child and has always too suffered and
ailed, I thought it would be unpropitious for her, if her clothes were
also now handed to people to wrap their dead in, after she had been told
that they were given her for her birthday. Had it been any other servant-girl,
I could have given her a few taels and have finished. Saying this, tears unwittingly ran down from her eyes. "What you say is all very well," rejoined Madame Wang; "but can it be
that it isn't distasteful to you?" As she spoke, she rose to her feet and walked away. she said. But, reader, you will have to peruse the next chapter for further
details. The mother prostrated herself and expressed her gratitude;
after which, she took her leave. Whither he was
trudging, he himself had not the least idea. that person was heard to cry out, as he stood still. Raising his face to see, he
discovered that it was no other than his father. When Yü-ts'un came
just now and he asked to see you, you only put in your appearance after
a long while. But just as he was about to chide him, a messenger
approached and announced to him: "Some one has come from the mansion of
the imperial Prince Chung Shun, and wishes to see you, Sir." At this
announcement, surmises sprung up in Chia Cheng's mind. As he
gave way to these reflections. "Be quick," he shouted, "and ask him to
take a seat in the pavilion," while he himself precipitately entered the
inner room and changed his costume. When he came out to greet the
visitor, he discovered that it was the senior officer of the Chung Shun
mansion. Promptly returning his smile, he rose to his
feet. The senior officer gave a sardonic smile. With all promptitude, he issued directions that Pao-yü
should be told to come out of the garden. To what do, after all, the two words Ch'i Kuan refer,
I wonder! As he spoke, he started crying. And will we
not then bear in mind your virtue, worthy scion!" "I positively don't know." The senior officer gave two loud smiles, full of derision. But as you assert that you don't know who this person is,
how is it that that red sash has come to be attached to your waist?" If he's there, well and good; but if not,
I shall come again and request you to give me further directions." These words were still on his lips, when he took his leave and walked
off with hurried step. "I have," (he said), "to ask you something on my return." But just as he was
turning back, he casually came across Chia Huan and several servant-boys
running wildly about in a body. "Quick, bring him here to me!" he cried. he inquired. he
shouted. The servant-lads signified their obedience, with one voice. "Father, why need you be angry?" he said. "My mother,"
he resumed, "told me that when brother Pao-yü was, the other day, in
Madame Wang's apartments, he seized her servant-maid Chin Ch'uan-erh
with the intent of dishonouring her. he shouted consecutively. The servant-boys felt compelled to express their obedience with one
consent, and some of them came to look after Pao-yü. His longing was at its height, when he perceived an old nurse come on
the scene. "Go in," he urged, "at once and tell them that
my father wishes to beat me to death. Be quick, be quick, for it's
urgent, there's no time to be lost." Readily smiling therefore:
"If she wants to jump into the well, let her do so," she said. "What's
there to make you fear, Master Secundus?" rejoined the old nurse. The servant-boys did not have the boldness to disobey him. "You people," he answered, "had better ask him whether the tricks he has
been up to deserve to be overlooked or not! Seeing no other course open to her, she hastily dressed
herself and issued out of the garden. "Of course, of course," Chia Cheng exclaimed, "what you want to do
to-day is to make me succumb to anger!" The weather, besides,
is extremely hot, and our old lady is not feeling quite up to the mark. Were you to knock Pao-yü about and kill him, it would not matter much;
but were perchance our venerable senior to suddenly fall ill, wouldn't
it be a grave thing?" Whenever I've had to call him to account, there
has always been a whole crowd of you to screen him; so isn't it as well
for me to avail myself of to-day to put an end to his cur-like existence
and thus prevent future misfortune?" As he spoke, he asked for a rope to strangle him; but Madame Wang lost
no time in clasping him in her embrace, and reasoning with him as she
wept. But as you are bent upon strangling him, be quick and first
strangle me before you strangle him! It will be as well that we, mother
and son, should die together, so that if even we go to hell, we may be
able to rely upon each other!" But just as there
seemed no prospect of their being consoled, a servant-girl was unawares
heard to announce: "Our dowager lady has come!" With all promptitude, he went out to meet her. Had you anything to enjoin me, you
could have sent for me, your son, and given me your orders." While doing all in his power to contain
his tears: "The reason why," he explained, "your son corrects his
offspring is a desire to reflect lustre on his ancestors and splendour
on his seniors; so how can I, your son, deserve the rebuke with which
you greet me, mother?" At this reply, old lady Chia spurted contemptuously. Saying this, tears suddenly rolled down from her eyes also. "Mother;" he proceeded, "you shouldn't
distress yourself! Your son did it in a sudden fit of rage, but from
this time forth I won't touch him again." she urged. The servant had no help but to assent. "You needn't
indulge in sorrow!" she exhorted her. "Pao-yü is now young, and you
cherish him fondly; but does it follow that when in years to come he
becomes an official, he'll remember that you are his mother? We'll see then who'll
interfere and dissuade you from beating people!" So clasping
him in her arms, she wept and wept incessantly. At this suggestion, the servants rushed hurry-scurry inside and actually
brought a bench; and, lifting Pao-yü, they placed him on it. By this time, Mrs. Hsüeh together with Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling, Hsi Jen,
Shih Hsiang-yün and his other cousins had also congregated in the
apartments. On
his arrival, she submitted him to a searching inquiry. "Why is it," she
asked, "that he was beaten just now without the least provocation; and
that you didn't run over soon to tell me a word about it?" "It happened," answered Pei Ming in great perplexity, "that I wasn't
present. inquired Hsi Jen. This I heard
from the lips of some person, who was in attendance upon master." But after they
had completed every arrangement, dowager lady Chia impressed on their
minds that it would be better were they to carefully move him into his
own quarters. With one voice they all signified their approval, and with
a good deal of bustling and fussing, they speedily transferred Pao-yü
into the I Hung court, where they stretched him out comfortably on his
own bed. Then after some further excitement, the members of the family
began gradually to disperse. But, reader, if you feel any curiosity to hear what follows, listen to
what you will find divulged in the next chapter. Pao-yü heaved a sigh. "It was simply," he replied, "about those trifles. At these words, Hsi Jen put out her hand, and inserting it gently under
his clothes, she began to pull down the middle garments. It was after three or four
similar attempts that she, at length, succeeded in drawing them down. "My mother!" she ejaculated, "how is it that
he struck you with such a ruthless hand! This done, she perceived Pao-ch'ai walk in, her hands laden with pills
and medicines. After these directions, she handed the medicines to Hsi Jen. she proceeded to inquired. rejoined Pao-yü. "I'm feeling better," he at the same time
went on to say; after which, he pressed her to take a seat. But nodding her head, she sighed. While indulging in these meditations, ha overheard Pao-ch'ai ask Hsi
Jen: "How is it that he got angry, without rhyme or reason, and started
beating him?" and Hsi Jen tell her, in reply, the version given to her
by Pei Ming. These words were enough to make Pao-ch'ai see that Pao-yü had thought it
expedient to say something to stop Hsi Jen's mouth, apprehending that
her suspicions might get roused; and she consequently secretly mused
within herself: "He has been beaten to such a pitch, and yet, heedless
of his own pains and aches, he's still so careful not to hurt people's
feelings. "You people," she then observed aloud, at the close of these
cogitations, "shouldn't bear this one or that one a grudge. "I'll come again to see you to-morrow," she said, "but take good care of
yourself! With these recommendations, she walked out of the door. "Miss," she remarked, "we've really put you to the trouble of coming. Some other day, when Mr. Secundus is well, I shall come in person to
thank you." replied Pao-ch'ai, turning her head
round and smiling. "But mind, you advise him to carefully tend his
health, and not to give way to idle thoughts and reckless ideas, and
he'll recover. He tried
to change his position a bit, but unable to bear the anguish, he burst
into groans. Presently,
Chin Ch'uan-erh too appeared in his room bathed in tears, and explained
to him the circumstances which drove her to leap into the well. On opening his eyes, he found it to be no other than Lin
Tai-yü. Seeing her two eyes so swollen, as to look as big as peaches,
and her face glistening all over with tears: "If it is not Tai-yü," (he
thought), "who else can it be?" he asked. At these words, Pao-yü heaved a deep sigh. exclaimed Pao-yü as he laid hold of her and
tried to detain her. she
added in an undertone. she asked Pao-yü. "If you fancy anything to eat, mind
you send some one over to my place to fetch it for you." Shortly after, a
messenger likewise arrived from old lady Chia (to inquire after him). Presently, Chou Jui's wife, Wu Hsin-teng's wife and Cheng Hao-shih's
wife, all of whom were old dames who frequently went to and fro, heard
that Pao-yü had been flogged and they too hurried into his quarters. Saying this, she led them into the room on the opposite side, and,
pressing then to sit down, she poured them some tea. Hsi Jen assured them that she would, and escorted them out. I'll be back soon." At this question, Hsi Jen lost no time in forcing a smile. But he drank it with distaste; for, being
surfeited with it, he found it neither scented nor sweet." So saying, she hastened to tell Ts'ai Yün to fetch the bottles of
scented water, which she had received as a present a few days before. "Let her only bring a couple of them, they'll be enough!" Hsi Jen chimed
in. "If you give us more, it will be a useless waste! If it isn't
enough, I can come and fetch a fresh supply. Having listened to all they had to say, Ts'ai Yün left the room. Hsi Jen smiled. "They are of the kind sent to the palace," rejoined Madame Wang. Hsi Jen assented. "If your ladyship will not get angry, I'll speak out," remarked Hsi Jen. Unable to resist the impulse, she drew near
Hsi Jen. Time and again I reason with him. Sometimes, I talk to
him; sometimes, I advise him; sometimes, I cry with him. As she spoke, she could not help melting into tears. Only let no one
else know anything about it, that is all that is needed." Mr. Secundus is a young man now, and the young ladies inside
are no more children. Besides, his great weakness is to fuss in our midst, so if no
caution be exercised, and the slightest mistake be sooner or later
committed, there'll be then no question of true or false: for when
people are many one says one thing and another, and what is there that
the months of that mean lot will shun with any sign of respect? Secondly, it's no easy thing for your
ladyship to see anything of our master. Yet, did I
not also think of them? But you had better go now;
I know of a way. Yet, just another word. After your remarks to me, I'll
hand him over to your charge; please be careful of him. In very
deed, he found it unusually fragrant and good. He was, however, afraid of Hsi Jen. "Go," he said, "over to Miss
Lin's and see what she's up to. "I have no message that you can give her," added Pao-yü. After some cogitation, Pao-yü stretched out his hand and, laying hold of
a couple of handkerchiefs, he threw them to Ch'ing Wen. "These will do,"
he smiled. exclaimed Ch'ing Wen. she said. It was in
perfect darkness. she shouted. "Mr. Secundus," explained Ch'ing Wen, "sends you some handkerchiefs,
Miss." she then asked aloud. "They must be fine
ones, so tell him to keep them and give them to some one else; for I
don't need such things at present." "They are of an ordinary kind, and
old." But after minutely searching her
heart, she at last suddenly grasped his meaning and she hastily
observed: "Leave them and go your way." Putting her aside, we will now take up our story with Hsi Jen. The one, who had,
in fact, told Hsi Jen was Pei Ming. But Pei Ming too had arrived at the
conjecture in his own mind, and could not adduce any definite proof, so
that every one treated his statements as founded partly on mere
suppositions, and partly on actual facts; but, despite this, they felt
quite certain that it was (Hsüeh P'an) who had intrigued. Mrs. Hsüeh was at the time much distressed on this score. These words made Hsüeh P'an wince. he
quickly asked. Mrs. Hsüeh
continued, "and is it likely that she would accuse you falsely, pray?" If you wait quietly, we'll find out the plain and
honest truth." Not to speak of others,
why I myself will be the first to suspect you!" And here to-day, they have gone further, and involved me. They may drag
me in as much as they like, I don't fear a rap! she cried. But every day that
Pao-yü lives, the longer by that day I have to bear a false charge, so
it's as well that we should both die that things be cleared up?" she exhorted
him. Now is it likely, forsooth, that this too was
something that I started?" exclaimed Mrs. Hsüeh and Pao-ch'ai, out of
patience. She therefore took leave
of her parent, and went back all alone. On her return to her chamber,
she sobbed and sobbed throughout the whole night. The next day, she got
out of bed, as soon as it dawned; but feeling even no inclination to
comb her chevelure or perform her ablutions, she carelessly adjusted her
clothes and came out of the garden to see her mother. "I'm going home," Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai replied. While preoccupied with conjectures, she raised her head. In a body they walked into the court. "Miss," she said, "you had better go and
take your medicine! she exclaimed. she asked. On her return home, she found her mother alone combing her
hair and having a wash. "Why do you run over at this early hour of the
morning?" "To see," replied Pao-ch'ai, "whether you were all right or not, mother. Did he come again, I wonder, after I left yesterday and make any more
trouble or not?" As she spoke, she sat by her mother's side, but unable to curb her
tears, she began to weep. Seeing her sobbing, Mrs. Hsüeh herself could not check her feelings, and
she, too, burst out into a fit of crying. The fact is that I took some wine yesterday; I
came back late, as I met a few friends on the way. On my return home, I
hadn't as yet got over the fumes, so I unintentionally talked a lot of
nonsense. But I don't so much as remember anything about all I said. she exclaimed,
"I'm well aware that you so dislike us both, that you're anxious to
devise some way of inducing us to part company with you, so that you may
be at liberty." Mrs. Hsüeh hurriedly took up the thread of the conversation. In very truth, you were drunk!" Mrs. Hsüeh had not at first been overcome by her feelings; but the
moment his utterances reached her ear, she once more began to experience
the anguish, which they stirred in her heart. As he put on a
smiling expression, "When did I," he asked, "make mother cry? let's drop the matter, and not allude to it any
more! "Let me see your necklet, sister," Hsüeh P'an continued. Mrs. Hsüeh and her
daughter stepped in. "All I do," he went on, "is to disturb you, aunt, and you, my cousin,
but I don't deserve such attentions." Mrs. Hsüeh lost no time in supporting and laying him down. she proceeded. After a considerable lapse of time, the matron returned. Mrs. Hsüeh was the first to take them and examine them. On the top, holes were bored of the size of beans. Some
resembled chrysanthemums, others plum blossom. They numbered in all
thirty or forty kinds, and were ingeniously executed. "Aunt," she
said, "how could you ever have divined that these were used last year
for the imperial viands! "There's good reason for it," answered lady Feng. Pao-ch'ai, who was standing near, thereupon interposed with a smile. Your aunt, poor thing, won't speak much! But that girl Feng has a sharp
tongue, so is it a wonder if people take to her." "Quite so," smiled Pao-yü, "yet though senior sister-in-law Chia Chu
doesn't, I must confess, talk much, you, venerable ancestor, treat her
just as you do cousin Feng. But if you maintain that those alone, who
can talk, are worthy of love, then among all these young ladies, sister
Feng and cousin Lin are the only ones good enough to be loved." At these words, Mrs. Hsüeh promptly smiled. she
said, "you're rather partial in your verdict." But of a sudden, some one came
to ask them to go and have their meal. "If there's anything you might fancy to eat,"
she also said to Mrs. Hsüeh and the others, "mind you, come and tell me,
and I know how to coax that hussey Feng to get it for you as well as
me." "Aunt," smiled lady Feng, "don't make such statements! Even Pao-yü, who was inside the room, could
not keep quiet. Saying this, he dragged her down and made her take a seat next to him. Pao-yü observed with a smile. she
answered. "I'll tell her by and bye to come; it will be all right." And should you be in need of any one for
anything, I have over at my place a whole number of servant-girls doing
nothing! Out of them, you are at liberty to send for any you like to
wait on you!" Mrs. Hsüeh and Pao-ch'ai observed
smilingly with one consent. Shortly, they all sallied out of the garden. But after a protracted absence on
the errand, only two of the girls turned up: T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un. "Let's do as she wills!" Mrs. Hsüeh signified her approval with a smile; so lady Feng placed, in
due course, four pairs of chopsticks on the table; the two pairs on the
upper end for dowager lady Chia and Mrs. Hsüeh; those on the two sides
for Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai and Shih Hsiang-yün. Presently,
the soup _à la_ lotus leaves arrived. "She can't carry it single-handed," demurred lady Feng. observed Ying Erh. "I know how to do
it." Saying this, she directed a matron to come and place the soup, rice and
the rest of the eatables in a present box; and bidding her lay hold of
it and follow them, the two girls sped on their way with empty hands,
and made straight for the entrance of the I Hung court. With these words on their lips, they descended to greet them. She did not even look
straight at Pao-yü. And only after a long pause was it that she at last
uttered merely the words, "all right," by way of reply. Pao-yü,
therefore, found talking to her of little zest. But after a protracted
silence he felt impelled to again force a smile, and to ask: "Who told
you to bring these things over to me?" "The ladies," answered Yü Chuan-erh. Should you be lazy to budge, well then, I'll endure the pain and
get down and fetch it myself." As he spoke, he tried to alight from bed. He strained every nerve, and
raised himself, but unable to stand the exertion, he burst out into
groans. Springing up, "Lie down!" she cried. While taunting him, she again blurted out laughing, and brought the soup
over to him. "My dear girl;" smiled Pao-yü, "if you want to show temper, better do so
here! "Eat away, eat away!" "If this isn't nice, what's
nice?" "If you don't
believe me taste it, and you'll find out for yourself." "Well," laughed Pao-yü, "it is nice!" Secundus." There was, in fact, a reason for his action. At these words, Pao-yü became at last aware of the injury he had
received. The servants rushed with all promptitude and cleared the mess. "It isn't strange," smiled the one, "if people say that this Pao-yü of
theirs is handsome in appearance, but stupid as far as brains go. Now, isn't this being a regular fool?" Now, tell me,
isn't this ridiculous, eh? Time and again, when no one is present, he
cries to himself, then laughs to himself. But as for waste, what does he mind? I put you to the trouble of coming, not for
anything else, but that you should also make me a few nets." Pao-yü, at this question, put on a smile. he replied. "My dear girl," smiled Pao-yü, "work at them for me then whenever you
are at leisure, and have nothing better to do." Pao-yü answered. "It's a deep red one." Pao-yü rejoined. "For a deep red one," continued Ying Erh, "a black net will do very
nicely, or one of dark green. Pao-yü observed. "Yet with all their
plainness, they should be somewhat gaudy." "Yes, they'll also do!" Pao-yü retorted. Ying Erh remarked. "There are 'the stick of incense,' 'stools upset towards heaven,' 'part
of elephant's eyes,' 'squares,' 'chains,' 'plum blossom,' and 'willow
leaves." "What was the kind of design you made for Miss Tertia the other day?" "Yes, that's nice." Pao-yü rejoined. "Go and have your meal," urged Pao-yü, "and come back quick after you've
had it." "There are visitors here," Hsi Jen smiled, "and how can I very well go?" Ying Erh laughed, while adjusting the cords. "I'm sixteen," she simultaneously rejoined. "What was your original surname?" Pao-yü added. "My name, at one time, consisted of two characters," continued Ying Erh. Pao-yü
pursued. Ying Erh puckered up her lips, and gave a significant smile. "My dear girl, please
tell me!" "If I tell you," said Ying Erh, "you must, on no account, let her know
anything about it again." she
said. But wait, I'll
try and devise something. But just at that
moment Hsi Jen stepped in, with two bowls of eatables. she said to Pao-yü. "Why, a few minutes back, my
mistress, your mother, sent some one to bring me two bowls of viands." "It isn't that," continued Hsi Jen, "for they were distinctly given to
me by name. "If they're given to you," Pao-yü smiled, "why, you had better go and
eat them. "If this," she laughed; "makes you fell
uneasy, there will be by and bye other things to make you far more
uneasy." "I shall come and hold the
cords," she observed, "as soon as I've rinsed my hands." This said, she immediately quitted the apartment. By this time, Pao-ch'ai had been called away by a servant, despatched by
Hsüeh P'an. As he bade them both sit down, he, at the same time, called Ch'iu Wen. "Take," he said to her, "half of the fruits, just received, to Miss Lin
as a present." He, in fact, wasted away
in the most complete _dolce far niente_ days as well as months. P'ing Erh answered with a
sardonic smile. "That's it. Yes,
that's it!" she exclaimed. I've, after all, resolved how to act
in the matter!" Mrs. Hsüeh and her daughter were sitting one day, at noon, in Madame
Wang's quarters, together with Lin Tai-yü and the other girls, when lady
Feng found an opportunity and broached the topic with Madame Wang. "What you say is, properly speaking, perfectly correct," smiled lady
Feng; "but it's an old established custom. "Never
mind," she then observed, "just you bring over this allowance and pay it
to me. I'll hand over
this tael to her younger sister, Yü Ch'uan-erh, and finish with it. "The other day," Madame Wang proceeded, "I heard a faint rumour that
there was some one, who complained in an aggrieved way that she had got
a string short. But
for this, they can't bear me a grudge. "Eight of them," rejoined lady Feng, "but there are at present only
seven; the other one is Hsi Jen." Mrs. Hsüeh smiled. Well, my words have actually come out true
to-day!" Indeed, such a girl is not easy
to come across!" she observed. "Why,
she's a hundred times better than my own Pao-yü. How fortunate, in
reality, Pao-yü is! Seeing her issue out of the room, they with one consent smiled. You people," she proceeded to tell them, "say that I've been
talking to her all this while, but Madame Wang conjured up all that has
occurred for the last two hundred years and questioned me about it; so
could I very well not have anything to say in reply? After some more gossip,
each went her own way; and Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yü and the rest of the cousins
returned into the garden. Even the two storks stood under the banana trees, plunged in sleep. Next to her, lay a yak tail. "You're
really far too scrupulous," she said smilingly in an undertone. "Miss," she whispered with a smile, "you came upon me so unawares that
you gave me quite a start! "It isn't to be wondered at," Pao-ch'ai suggested, "for the back of
these rooms adjoins the water; the whole place is also one mass of
fragrant flowers, and the interior of this room is, too, full of their
aroma. Saying this, she cast a look on the needlework she (Hsi Jen) held in her
hands. It consisted, in fact, of a belt of white silk, lined with red,
and embroidered on the upper part with designs representing mandarin
ducks, disporting themselves among some lotus. I'll
be back shortly." With these words, she sallied out of the room. At
a glance, she espied Pao-yü, clad in a silvery-red coat, lying
carelessly on the bed, and Pao-ch'ai, seated by his side, busy at some
needlework, with a fly-brush resting by her side. The moment Hsiang-yün saw the way she went on, she concluded
that she must have something new to impart to her, and she approached
her with all promptitude. she observed. she inquired. "I just came across," Hsi Jen smiled, "Miss Lin and Miss Shih. "I didn't see them come in," Pao-ch'ai answered. "They simply came out with
some of those jokes of theirs," she explained. Hsi Jen, upon hearing this, smiled a smile full of irony. "You shouldn't
say such things!" she replied. All I'll have to do will be to tell her, and then I shall be
free to do as I like." smiled Hsi Jen. that will do," he shouted. Take me as an
instance now. And could I get you to shed such profuse tears for me as
to swell out into a stream large enough to raise my corpse and carry it
to some secluded place, whither no bird even has ever wended its flight,
and could I become invisible like the wind, and nevermore from this
time, come into existence as a human being, I shall then have died at a
proper season." By the morrow, all recollection of the discussion had vanished
from his mind. But
the moment he got there, he discovered Pao Kuan, and Yü Kuan in the
court. Though perfectly conscious of his arrival, she did not move a muscle. "I'm hoarse," she
rejoined with a stern expression on her face. Seeing her sit bolt upright, Pao-yü went on to pass her under a minute
survey. Pao-yü told them. he asked. "He's just gone out," Pao Kuan answered. "Of course, Ling Kuan must have
wanted something or other, and he's gone to devise ways and means to
bring it to her." But after standing about
for a while, he actually saw Chia Ch'iang arrive from outside, carrying
a cage, with a tiny stage inserted at the top, and a bird as well; and
wend his steps, in a gleeful mood, towards the interior to join Ling
Kuan. The moment, however, he noticed Pao-yü, he felt under the
necessity of halting. "Can it hold a flag in its
beak, or do any tricks?" "It's the 'jade-crested and gold-headed bird,'" smiled Chia Ch'iang. "A tael and eight mace," replied Chia Ch'iang. Ling Kuan asked, rising. With this prelude, he took a few seeds and began to coax the bird, until
it, in point of fact, performed various tricks, on the stage, clasping
in its beak a mask and a flag. So saying, he verily gave the bird its liberty; and, with one blow, he
smashed the cage to atoms. Speaking the while, he was about to go immediately when Ling Kuan cried
out and stopped him. she said. "You may ask him to come, but I won't see him." But unable to bear the ordeal
any longer, he forthwith took himself out of the way. In an imbecile
frame of mind, he came to the I Hung court. "I was very wrong in what I said yesterday evening," he remarked. Pao-yü kept silent, and attempted to make no reply. "I didn't go the other day, when it was Mr. Chia She's birthday, so I
won't go now." Pao-yü answered. "If it is a matter of meeting any one, I
won't go anywhere. No, I won't go. "You should," she smiled, "go as far as there for the
sake of her, who drives the mosquitoes away from you." Pao-yü could not make out the drift of her insinuation. "It shouldn't have been done!" Pao-yü promptly exclaimed, after hearing
her explanations. The moment Pao-yü and Tai-yü heard what was the object of her visit,
they quickly rose to their feet and pressed her to take a seat. Pao-ch'ai, however, inwardly
understood that if her people told her aunt anything on their return,
there would again be every fear of her being blown up, as soon as she
got back home, and she therefore urged her to start on her way. Presently, they turned to go back. But, reader, if you like to follow up the story, peruse the
details contained in the chapter below. But to continue. It would be a needless task, however, to
recount with any full particulars how Pao-yü and all the inmates saw him
off, how Chia Cheng went to take up his official duties, and what
occurred abroad, suffice it for us to notice that Pao-yü, ever since
Chia Cheng's departure, indulged his caprices, allowed his feelings to
run riot, and gadded wildly about. In fact, he wasted his time, and
added fruitless days and months to his age. With them, he whiled away some of his time, after which he
returned into the garden. "It quite slipped from my mind," Pao-yü remarked. "Miss is all right," Ts'ui Mo answered. Time after time also did you send your
attendants round to make affectionate inquiries about me. Respectfully written." Clapping his hands; "My third cousin," he laughed, "is the one eminently
polished; I'll go at once to-day and talk matters over with her." As he spoke, he started immediately, followed by Ts'ui Mo. The moment she perceived Pao-yü she forthwith came up
to meet him. "Mr. Yün," she said, "presents his compliments to you. This is a note he bade me bring
you." Your son, Yün, on his knees, lays this
epistle at your feet. After reading this note, Pao-yü laughed. he asked. "He's got two flower pots as well," rejoined the matron. "You go and tell him," Pao-yü urged, "that I've informed myself of the
contents of his note, and that there are few who think of me as he does! If you also take the flowers and, put them in my room, it will be all
right." So saying, he came with Ts'ui Mo into the Ch'iu Shuang study, where he
discovered Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yü, Ying Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un already
assembled. they exclaimed. "I'm not a boor," smiled T'an Ch'un, "so when the idea casually crossed
my mind, I wrote a few notes to try and see who would come. "It's unfortunately late," Pao-yü smilingly observed. Tai-yü interposed, "so why give way to
regret! "This is," suggested Pao-yü, "a legitimate and great purpose; and we
should all exert our energies. "We are not all
here yet." "'Resident-scholar or master' is, in fact, not to the point. It's
clumsy, besides," Pao-yü interposed. they unanimously cried. At these words, the whole company laughed. It too is one of three characters." "I'll raise her to the rank of 'Princess of Heng Wu,'" Li Wan rejoined. "This title of honour," T'an Ch'un observed, "is most apposite." "You should try and think of one for me
also!" "You should, after all, retain your old name of 'master of the flowers
in the purple cave,'" Li Wan suggested. Pao-yü laughed. "I must however give you a name," Pao-ch'ai remarked. "There's a very
vulgar name, but it's just the very thing for you. These two blessings cannot be enjoyed together,
but, as it happens, you hold one along with the other, so that we might
as well dub you the 'rich and honourable idler.'" "These will do very well!" Li Wan cried. Li Wan replied. The one to
choose the themes and assign the metre, the other to act as copyist and
supervisor. If you agree to this, well, we can proceed
with the society; but, if you don't fall in with my wishes, I can't
presume to join you." What is
more, Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai and Lin Tai-yü were present. "Your proposals," she consequently said, "may be right enough; but in my
views they are ridiculous. "Well then," Pao-yü suggested, "let's go to the Tao Hsiang village." Li Wan remarked. "If we meet too often," argued T'an Ch'un, "there won't be fun in it. "This suggestion is excellent," they all exclaimed. "Well, after this remark," Li Wan proceeded, "what do you say to your
being the first to convene a meeting to-morrow?" "To-morrow," T'an Ch'un demurred, "is not as good as to-day; the best
thing is to have it at once! With these words, she walked up to the book-case, and, extracting a
volume, she opened it, at random, at some verses which turned out to be
a heptameter stanza. "Just utter," she bade her, "the first character that comes to your
mouth." The waiting-maid was standing, leaning against the door, so readily she
suggested the word "door." Saying this, she asked for the box with the rhyme slips, and, pulling
out the thirteenth drawer with the character "Yuan," she directed a
young waiting-maid to take four words as they came under her hand. "The two characters pot and door," observed Pao-yü, "are not very easy
to rhyme with." Presently, T'an Ch'un was the first to think of some verses, and, taking
up her pen, she wrote them down; and, after submitting them to several
alterations, she handed them up to Ying Ch'un. he thereupon said to Tai-yü, "they've all done!" he exclaimed. "Well," Pao-yü added, "I can't be looking after you! Whether good or
bad, I'll write mine out too and have done." As he spoke, he likewise drew up to the table and began putting his
lines down. "Of course!" responded the party with one voice. In due course, therefore, she first read T'an Ch'un's draft. What time the sun's rays slant, and the grass waxeth cold, close the
double doors. Beauteous is jade, but yet with thee in purity it cannot ever vie. When the moon reacheth the third watch, thy comely shade begins to
show itself. After she had read them aloud, one and all sang their praise for a time. Red, as if with cosmetic washed, are the shadows in autumn on the
steps. In silence plunges their fine bloom, now that once more day yields to
dusk. Next they bestowed their attention on the following lines, composed by
Pao-yü:--
Thy form in autumn faint reflects against the double doors. Thy shade is spotless as Tai Chen, when from her bath she hails. When the morn-ushering breeze falls not, thy thousand blossoms grieve. Li Wan was, however, inclined to concede to the
stanza, indited by Pao-ch'ai, the credit of possessing much merit. Tai-yü asked. So saying, she picked up a pen and completing her task, with a few
dashes, she threw it to them to look over. Thy mould like broken ice it looks, jade-like thy pot. This couplet over, Pao-yü took the initiative and shouted: "Capital." every one (who heard) them conned over, felt impelled to
cry. they unanimously remarked, after it had
been read for their benefit. "This criticism is right." "Yours, gentleman of I Hung," Li Wan pursued, "is the last of the lot. "My stanza," Pao-yü ventured, "isn't really worth a straw. "You should," argued Li Wan, "fall in with my judgment; this is no
business of any of you, so whoever says anything more will have to pay a
penalty." In the
selection of themes and the settlement of the rhymes, you'll all have
then to do as I wish. It will be no concern of mine, so long as when the second and
sixteenth arrive, you do, as you're bound to, and come over to my
place." "There are four of them every day," answered one of the matrons. But, Miss, if you've anything to order
them to do, we'll go and deliver your message." Hsi Jen laughed. Hsi Jen asked. At this question, one looked at the one, and the other stared at the
other, but none of them could remember anything about it. After a
protracted lapse of time, Ch'ing Wen smiled. "There are plenty of articles," Hsi Jen remarked, "for sending over
things on ordinary occasions; and do you deliberately go and carry this
off?" But, look! "The mention of these vases," Ch'iu Wen laughed, "reminds me again of a
funny incident. The other day,
he espied the olea flowers in the park, and he plucked two twigs. His
original idea was to place them in a vase for himself, but a sudden
thought struck him. 'Pao-yü,' she said to
every one she met, 'is the one, after all, who shows me much attention. Our venerable mistress, you all know very well, has
never had much to say to me. 'I was to be
pitied,' she observed, 'for being born with a weak physique!' This was,
indeed, an unforeseen piece of good luck! After that, we went over into Madame Wang's. Who it was, I don't know. "Had it been myself," Ch'ing Wen pursued, "I would at once have refused
them! Dear sister, do tell me who it is so that
I may know." "Ever since I've heard about it,
I've been delighted and happy. they ejaculated unanimously; "for weren't they given to
that foreign spotted pug dog?" Hsi Jen laughed, "when you've got
nothing to do, you make me the scapegoat to crack your jokes, and poke
your fun at! "Was it verily you, sister, who got them?" I tender you my apologies." "You might be a little less domineering!" Besides, Madame Wang doesn't trouble herself about such
things. "What you say is
perfectly right," she assented, "so you'd better let me go and fetch
it." "I'll, after all, go for it." "You should let me once go for something!" As she spoke, she ran outside. The other day, too,
she was quite taken with this cornelian tray so let her keep it for her
use. In this silk bag she'll find the work, which she asked me some time
ago to do for her. "Has Mr. Pao, I wonder, anything more for me to tell her?" When she had changed her clothes and arranged her hair,
Hsi Jen further enjoined them to go by the back door, where there was a
servant-boy, waiting with a curricle. "I forgot all about her!" he cried. Luckily,
you've alluded to her! "It's all,
for the mere sake of recreation! responded Pao-yü. "I'll tell our venerable senior to
despatch some one to bring her over." But in the middle of their conversation, nurse Sung returned already
from her mission, and expressed to him, (Hsiang-yün's) acknowledgment;
and to Hsi Jen her thanks for the trouble. Pao-yü, at these words, turned himself round and betook himself
immediately into his grandmother's apartments, where he did all that lay
in his power to urge her to depute servants to go and fetch her. "Don't,"
they said, "allow her to see them! First tell her the rhymes and number
of feet; and, as she comes late, she should, as a first step, pay a
penalty by conforming to the task we had to do. "I have," she remarked, with a precursory smile, "stuck to
the metre and written two stanzas. While bandying words, they perused her two stanzas. 1. The drops of rain increase the prints, left from the previous night. No. 2. The tears, which from the jade-like candle drip, dry in the wind. "To-morrow," Shih Hsiang-yün proposed, "first fine me by making me stand
a treat, and letting me be the first to convene a meeting; may I?" they all assented. So producing also the
verses, composed the previous day, they submitted them to her for
criticism. In the evening, Hsiang-yün came at the invitation of Pao-ch'ai, to the
Heng Wu Yüan to put up with her for the night. "If you want," she said, "to
hold a meeting, you have to pay the piper. "I have already fixed upon a plan in my mind," Pao-ch'ai resumed. "There's an assistant in our pawnshop from whose family farm come some
splendid crabs. And if we then lay out four or five tables with plates full of
refreshments, won't we save trouble and all have a jolly time as well?" But if you won't give way to
suspicion, I'll be able to tell them at once to go and get things
ready." But, on her return, she brought no reply. "The themes for the verses," she advised her, "mustn't also be too
out-of-the-way. If the subject be too much out-of-the-way and the metre too difficult,
one cannot get good verses. In a word, we are a mean lot and our verses
are certain, I fear, to consist of mere repetitions. After some reflection, Pao-ch'ai exclaimed, "I've hit upon something! But they must all consist of two characters: the one, an empty word; the
other, a full one. The full word might be chrysanthemums; while for the
empty one, we might employ some word in general use. In this manner, we
shall, on one hand, sing the chrysanthemum; and, on the other, compose
verses on the theme. "Be quick, and tell it!" "Capital," she cried. While talking, they rubbed the ink and moistened the pens. In a short time, they got ten of them. "The first stanza should be: 'Longing for chrysanthemums,'" Pao-chai
said, "and as one cannot get them by wishing, and has, in consequence,
to search for them, the second should be 'searching for chrysanthemums.' In
this wise the fine scenery and fine doings of the third part of autumn,
will both alike be included in our themes." But after once more passing her eye over it, she went on to
inquire what rhymes should be determined upon. "I do not, as a rule, like hard-and-fast rhymes," Pao-ch'ai retorted. "What you say is perfectly right," Hsiang-yün observed. But we only
muster five members, and there are here twelve themes. Those, with any ability, may choose all twelve. While those, with none, may only limit themselves to one stanza. Both
will do. "Yes, that will do," assented Hsiang-yün. But after settling everything
satisfactorily, they extinguished the lamp and went to bed. The next day, Hsiang-yün invited dowager lady Chia and her other
relatives to come and look at the olea flowers. "Besides, the two olea plants, on that hill,
yonder, are now lovely in their full blossom, and the water of that
stream is jade-like and pellucid, so if we sit in the pavilion in the
middle of it, won't we enjoy an open and bright view? It will be
refreshing too to our eyes to watch the pool." Presently, they entered the arbour. "This child is, I say, so scrupulously particular," old lady Chia
observed, "that everything she does is thoroughly devised." At that time, I was of the same age as
the girls, and my wont was to go day after day and play with my sisters
there. 'It was dreadful, dreadful!' she smiled. For one can, when in high spirits, indulge in a
couple of them more with impunity." "I like her such as she is," dowager lady Chia laughed. "Besides, she's
truly no child, ignorant of the distinction between high and low. While bandying words, they entered the pavilion in a body. "They'll be sweeter were I to open them with my own hands," Mrs. Hsüeh
remarked, "there's no need for any one to serve me." she then went on to
cry. "Go," she added, directing the servant-girls, "and fetch the
powder, made of green beans, and scented with the leaves of
chrysanthemums and the stamens of the olea fragrans; and keep it ready
to rinse our hands with." After a time, she stepped out on the verandah where Yüan Yang
and the other girls were having their refreshments in high glee. they inquired. "You people,"
she smiled, "had better sit down and have something to eat, for I'm off
now." smiled lady Feng. she shouted. Saying this, she rushed up to her. P'ing Erh was holding a crab full of yellow meat, which she was in the
act of cleaning. she
ejaculated. P'ing Erh hastily crossed over and wiped her face for her, and then went
in person to fetch some water. "Tell us," (she urged), "what it is so that we
too should have a laugh." Presently, however, dowager lady Chia too abandoned all idea of having
anything more to eat. And if you feel in the humour, we can come again for a turn to-morrow." acquiesced dowager lady Chia, in reply to this suggestion. Pao-yü interposed. "Yes, quite right!" put in Pao-yü. "I myself don't fancy hard and fast
rhymes!" At this, Hsi Jen cleaned the meat out of a shell, and gave it to him to
eat. "If there's no one to write on
'Pinning the chrysanthemums'" she observed, while scrutinising the
themes, "do let me have it! But as she spoke, she perceived Hsiang-yün come forward, and jointly
mark the fourth and fifth, that is: "facing the chrysanthemums," and
"putting chrysanthemums in vases," to which she, like the others,
appended a word, Hsiang." "She's right!" one and all exclaimed. What time the smart weed russet turns, and the reeds white, my heart
is rent in two. When in autumn the hedges thin, and gardens waste, all trace of you is
gone. When the moon waxeth cold, and the dew pure, my dreams then know
something of you. Now that it's cool, a thousand stanzas on the autumn scenery I sing. From other gardens I transplant them, and I treasure them like gold. Such autumn splendour, I must not misuse, as steadily it fleets. What time the frost is pure, a new dream steals o'er me, as by the
paper screen I rest. I too differ from others in this world, for my own tastes resemble
those of yours. "Singing chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort." Eating the bread of idleness, the frenzy of poetry creeps over me both
night and day. Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth, and, turning to the moon, I
sing my sentiments. "Drawing chrysanthemums," by the "Princess of Heng Wu." Verses I've had enough, so with my pens I play; with no idea that I am
mad. "Asking the chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort." While humming with my arms behind my back, on the east hedge I rap. I put some in a vase, and plant some by the hedge, so day by day I
have ample to do. I rave as much for them as raved Mr. P'eng Tsê, when he was under the
effects of wine. I make off furtively, and stealthily transplant them from the three
crossways. "Dreaming of chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort." So long I for my old friend T'ao, the magistrate, that I again seek
him. In a sound sleep I fell; but so soon as the wild geese cried, they
broke my rest. My secret wrongs to whom can I go and divulge, when I wake up from
sleep? "Fading of the chrysanthemums," by the "Visitor under the banana trees." Naught but the chirp of crickets strikes my ear, while the moon shines
on half my bed. We part, but only for a time, so don't let us indulge in anxious
thoughts. Li Wan
smiled. The original nature of the
themes makes the verses full of originality, and their conception still
more original. Clapping his
hands, "Quite right! it's most just," he shouted. Tai-yü remarked. "Their fault, after all,
is that they are a little too minutely subtile." "They are subtile but good," Li Wan rejoined; "for there's no
artificialness or stiffness about them." "What you say is certainly so," explained Li Wan smiling; "but that line
of yours:
"'Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth,....'
"beats that." "'...who is meet with you to stay'"
she said, "and
"'...burst the last in bloom.' "are questions so straight to the point set to the chrysanthemums, that
they are quite at a loss what answer to give." smiled Pao-yü. ...verdure is all past. But after a few further criticisms, they asked for some more warm crabs;
and, helping themselves, as soon as they were brought, from the large
circular table, they regaled themselves for a time. With this challenge, he there and then hastily washed his hands and
picking up a pen he wrote out what, his companions found on perusal, to
run in this strain:
When in my hands I clasp a crab what most enchants my heart is the
cassia's cool shade. While I pour vinegar and ground ginger, I feel from joy as if I would
go mad. What time I can behold their luscious food, with the fine season doth
accord
When cassias wave with fragrance pure, and the chrysanthemums are
decked with frost. "As my compositions can't come up to yours," she then observed, "I'll
burn it. "It cannot, of course, be worth
much, but I'll put it down for fun's sake." As she spoke, she too wrote down her lines. Under their shells in spring and autumn only reigns a vacuum, yellow
and black. Alas! Upon seeing, the story explains, P'ing Erh arrive, they unanimously
inquired, "What is your mistress up to? "There are plenty!" P'ing Erh hastily swallowed
a sip and endeavoured immediately to beat a retreat. Saying this, she went on to bid the nurses go ahead, and take the box
over. "Tell her," she added, "that I've kept P'ing Erh here." She advises you, however, not to have too many cups of wine." Uttering these words, she went on with her drink; after which she
partook of some more crab. While she went on eating and drinking with Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang-yün and the
other girls, P'ing Erh turned her head round. she laughed, "It makes me feel quite ticklish." "It's a key," P'ing Erh answered. P'ing Erh ventured. "Of course she is!" "Well, never mind about her!" Li Wan suggested. "You're, after all, the fortunate one!" Li Wan retorted, "but our hussey
Feng too is lucky in having you! Had I not also once, just remember, two
girls, when your senior master Chu was alive? But in such a surly frame of
mind did I find them both day after day that, as soon as your senior
master departed this life, I availed myself of their youth (to give them
in marriage) and to pack both of them out of my place. As she spoke, the very balls of her eyes suddenly became quite red. they with one voice, exclaimed. "Come into my room,"
said Hsi Jen to P'ing Erh, "and sit down and have another cup of tea." "I won't have any tea just now," P'ing Erh answered. "I'll come some
other time." So saying, she was about to go off when Hsi Jen called out to her and
stopped her. They're sure, anyhow, to be issued in a couple of
days." "Why is it," smiled Hsi Jen, "that this gives you such a start?" I confide this to you, but, mind, you
mustn't go and tell any other person about it." Hsi Jen smiled. "I'm not in need of any just now," retorted Hsi Jen. P'ing Erh promised that she would let her have the money at any time she
sent for it, and, and taking the shortest cut, she issued out of the
garden gate. "Our lady," she
said, "has something for you to do, and is waiting for you." P'ing Erh inquired. "Whether you go or not is your own look out," the maid replied. If you dare, go and tell
these things to our mistress!" P'ing Erh spat at her contemptuously, and rushed back in anxious haste. She discovered, however, that lady Feng was not at home. All at home," she pursued, "send you
their compliments. But melons, fruits and vegetables have also been
plentiful. "Many thanks for all the trouble you have taken!" "There's a joyous air about your face to-day, Miss, and your eye-balls
are all red," the wife of Chou Jui and the wife of Chang Ts'ai thereupon
smilingly ventured. P'ing Erh laughed. But when any one by and by invites you, Miss, do
take me along with you!" At these words, one and all burst out laughing. P'ing Erh observed. P'ing Erh then asked. "Yes, I have seen her," assented old goody Liu. "She bade us wait." As
she spoke, she again looked out of the window to see what the time of
the day could be. "It's getting quite late," she afterwards proceeded. "I'll go and see what she's up
to for you." With these words, she straightway left the room. "Good fortune has, indeed, descended upon you, old dame!" she smiled. P'ing Erh speedily cried. Chou." they shouted out. "Miss!" P'ing Erh asked. P'ing Erh exclaimed. The other day
that Chu Erh went, Mr. Secundus happened not to want him, so I assented,
though I also added that I was doing it as a favour; but here you too
come to-day!" P'ing Erh enjoined. As you go now, give a
message to Wang Erh! The servant-lad felt in high glee and exuberant spirits. Expressing his
obedience, he walked off. P'ing Erh and her companions repaired then to old lady Chia's
apartments. Her
gaze was, however, attracted by an old dame, reclining alone on a divan. "My obeisance to you, star of longevity!" she said. But Pan Erh was still so very shy that he did not know how
to make his obeisance. "I'm seventy-five this
year," she rejoined. Were
we also like this, there'd be no one to carry on that farming work." "They're both still all right," old goody Liu replied. "The left molars,
however, have got rather shaky this year." My eyesight is dim; my ears are deaf, my memory is
gone. I can't even recollect any of you, old family connections. "I'm a useless old
thing, no more." Yet, we long to have fish and meat for our fare, but we
can't afford it." When lady Feng saw how delighted old lady Chia was with the prospects of
the old dame's stay, she too lost no time in doing all she could to
induce her to remain. But Pan Erh did not venture to touch them, conscious as he was of
the presence of such a number of bystanders. But in the midst of her narration, a
servant, at lady Feng's instance, asked goody Liu to go and have her
evening meal. "It was no wayfarers at all," old goody Liu retorted smiling, "and
that's what makes the story so strange. The moment,
therefore, the report fell on her car, she jumped up with all despatch,
and leaning on one of the family, she rushed on to the verandah to
ascertain the state of things. She goes in daily for fasting, and worshipping Buddha. The fact is,
this old dame had one son. But, in
course of time, another son was actually born to him. "Grandmother," added Pao-yü, "is also fond of rain and snow, so wouldn't
it be as well to wait until the first fall, and then ask her to come and
look at the snow. "This official," old goody Liu resumed, "had no son. he then asked. "It hasn't become a spirit," remonstrated Pao-yü with vehemence. "Human
beings of this kind may, the rule is, die, yet they are not dead." "Were they to
raze the temple to the ground, their crime won't be small." "It's lucky that you told me, Sir," old goody Liu added. At
last then he perceived Pei Ming walk in, in high glee. His eyes laughed. Pao-yü smiled full of joy. "Why it was,
in fact, no more than a green-faced and red-haired god of plagues." Pao-yü, at this answer, spat at him contemptuously. "You are, in very
truth, a useless fool!" he cried. he urged. If it turns out that she has
hood-winked us, why, there will, naturally, be no such thing. As he spoke, he espied a servant-lad, on service at the second gate,
approach and report to him: "The young ladies in our venerable
ladyship's apartments are standing at the threshold of the second gate
and looking out for you, Mr. Secundus." CHAPTER XL. When he came to look about him, he
discovered Hu Po standing in front of the screen. "They're waiting to speak to you." Pao-yü wended his way into the drawing rooms. "As there are
to be no outside guests, the eatables too should not be limited to any
kind or number. Besides,
a painted box with partitions and a decanter. The next day, they got
up at early dawn. The weather, fortunately, was beautifully clear. "You're very busy, our
senior lady!" they said. "Be careful with them," shouted Li Wan. Turning her head round, "old dame," she observed, addressing herself
smilingly to goody Liu, "go upstairs too and have a look!" The servants expressed their obedience. Once more they unlocked the
doors, and carried down everything required. Li Wan promptly went
up to greet them. While she spoke, Pi Yüeh at once presented to her a jadite tray, of the
size of a lotus leaf, containing twigs cut from every species of
chrysanthemum. But turning round, she noticed old
goody Liu. "Come over here," she vehemently cried with a smile; "and put
on a few flowers." she laughed. With these words, she seized
a whole plateful of flowers and stuck them three this way, four that
way, all over her head. "I wonder," shouted goody Liu smiling, "what blessings I have brought
upon my head that such honours are conferred upon it to-day!" she asked
her. she smiled. she cried, "so
young in years, and yet so pretty, and so accomplished too! First, they visited the
Hsiao Hsiang lodge. The moment they stepped into the entrance, a narrow
avenue, flanked on either side with kingfisher-like green bamboos, met
their gaze. But Hu Po tugged at her. "Come up, old
dame, and walk here!" she exclaimed. So, young ladies, please proceed. "Just as my mouth was bragging,"
she observed, "I got a whack on the lips!" retorted goody Liu, "am I so delicate? "Why, in very deed, it's superior to any first class library!" "He's in the boat, on the pond," the waiting-maids, with one voice,
returned for answer. Will you again brag by and bye, after this?" Mrs. Hsüeh and all the others smiled. So why don't you, venerable senior, tell
her what it is so that we too may be edified." "That gauze is older in years than any one of you," she
said. "It isn't therefore to be wondered, if you make a mistake and take
it for 'cicada wing' gauze. Its true name, however, is
'soft smoke' silk." Of this 'soft smoke' silk, there only exist four kinds of colours. It would be sheer
waste to keep these things, as they will be spoilt by the damp." "There are other things still better than this," lady Feng added. Saying this, they straightway left the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. These two then began to mature their plans. Li Wan chided them with a smile. "You people," she said, "don't know
even how to perform the least good act! Mind, our venerable
ancestor might call you to task!" These words were still on her lips, when she saw dowager lady Chia and
the rest of the company arrive. Mrs. Hsüeh had come over, after her meal, so she simply
seated herself on one side and sipped her tea. "Miss," goody Liu exclaimed, "set your mind at ease!" The fact is that
lady Feng and Yüan Yang had put their heads together and decided to only
assign to goody Liu a pair of antiquated four-cornered ivory chopsticks,
inlaid with gold. Then puffing out her cheeks, she added not a word. Mrs. Hsüeh had much difficulty
in curbing her mirth, and she sputtered the tea, with which her mouth
was full, all over T'an Ch'un's petticoat. Some retired to a corner and, squatting down,
laughed away. They rolled and rolled
in the bowl for ever so long; and, it was only after extreme difficulty
that she succeeded in shoving one up. The servants, standing on the floor below, had indeed had no hand in
getting those ivory chopsticks; they had, in fact, been brought by lady
Feng and Yüan Yang; but when they heard these remarks, they hurried to
put them away and to change them for a pair similar to those used by the
others, made of blackwood inlaid with silver. But, after all, they're not as handy as those we use!" "If there's poison in such viands as these," old goody Liu added, "why
those of ours must be all arsenic! But barely had she done speaking, when Yüan Yang too walked in. "Old
goody Liu," she said laughingly, "don't be angry! I tender you my
apologies, venerable dame!" From the very first moment you spoke to me, I knew at
once that it was intended to afford merriment to you all! I've had it already. But you, Miss, must also have
something to eat." she
said. the matrons responded. At these words, a matron lost no time in selecting two sorts of
eatables, and, taking the box, she went to take them over. Li Wan replied. "Hsi Jen isn't here," lady Feng observed, "so tell some one to take her
a few things!" "They'll be ready, I think, in a little while," a matron explained. On the right, was suspended, on a Japanese-lacquered frame,
a white jade sonorous plate. Its shape resembled two eyes, one by the
side of the other. Next, he wanted a "Buddha's hand" to eat. "You may play with it," she said, "but you can't eat
it." she cried. she laughed. As she spoke, one and all rose to their feet. she
smiled. "When we get drunk shortly, we'll go and sit in their rooms and have a
lark!" These words evoked laughter from every one. In a body they quitted the
place. Do it for my sake." Saying this, the boat was pushed off with one shove. Pao-yü exclaimed. "Are not these Miss Hsüeh's quarters," she
asked. "Yes, they are!" A few books and teacups were also conspicuous,
but no further knicknacks. "This child," dowager lady Chia sighed, "is too simple! Your things, of
course, have been left at home, and have not been brought over." So saying, she told Yuan Yang to go and fetch several bric-a-brac. "She herself wouldn't have them," (lady Feng) rejoined. "We really sent
over a few, but she refused every one of them and returned them." "In her home also," smiled Mrs. Hsüeh, "she does not go in very much for
such sort of things." she added. And if they have any strong predilection
for simplicity, a few things less will do quite as well. These girls
are, however, learning how to do things very nicely. "To-morrow or the day after will do very well; but don't forget, that's
all," dowager lady Chia urged. Presently, they left the rooms
and repaired straightway into the Cho Chin hall. But we should also have a game of
forfeits to-day, we'll have plenty of fun then." But if your aim be to intoxicate us, why, we'll all straightway
drink one or two cups more than is good for us and finish!" "It isn't modesty!" Mrs. Hsüeh replied smiling. "If you don't give the right answer," Madame Wang promptly interposed
with a smile, "you'll only have to drink a cup or two more of wine, and
should we get drunk, we can go to sleep; and who'll, pray laugh at us?" Mrs. Hsüeh nodded her head. "Of course, it should be so!" "This will never do!" "I'll now give out the set of dominoes." But they must rhyme. they all exclaimed. "There now remains," Yüan Yang explained, "one piece, the six and one." they shouted. "The one on the right is a ten spot," Yüan Yang pursued. "Mortals cannot be happy as immortals,"
Mrs. Hsüeh rejoined. Her answers over, the whole company extolled them and had a drink. "On the left, are
distinctly the distant dots of the double ace." "On the right, are a couple of spots, far apart, which clearly form a
one and one." When she had done with her part, she drank a cup of wine. "The centre piece is a three and six, making a nine spot," Yüan Yang
pursued. "Where there are wind and waves, there I feel sad;"
Pao-ch'ai answered. When she had finished her turn and drained her cup, Yüan Yang went on
again. "On the left," she said, "there's a 'heaven.'" "A morning fine and beauteous scenery, but, alas, what a day for me!" "Not e'en Hung Niang to the gauze window comes, any message to bring." Tai-yü responded. "There now remains a two and six, eight in all," Yüan Yang resumed. "On the left," she said, "there's a four and five, making a
'different-combined nine.'" they exclaimed. The fact is that both lady Feng and
Yüan Yang were so eager to hear the funny things that would be uttered
by old goody Liu, that they with one voice purposely ruled that every
one answered wrong and fined them. "On the left," Yüan Yang smiled, "there's a double four, i.e. 'man.'" she cried. "This will do very well! ", the party laughed, "go on with what is in
your line." "On the right," Yüan Yang smilingly continued, "there's a one and four,
and is really pretty." "The flower dropped, and a huge melon formed." But, reader, if you entertain any curiosity to hear what else was said
during the banquet, listen to the explanation given in the next chapter. CHAPTER XLI. In due course, however, she drank the closing cup. "To speak the truth to-day,"
she smilingly observed, "my hands and my feet are so rough, and I've had
so much wine that I must be careful; or else I might, by a slip of the
hand, break the porcelain cups. "I just now simply spoke in jest about those cups in order to induce
them to laugh," old goody Liu at these words, mused within herself,
"but, who would have thought that she actually has some of the kind. Ah, of course! They must,
I expect, be the wooden bowls used by the young children. But I don't mind it. This wine is, verily, like honey, so if I
drink a little more, it won't do me any harm." "I know those ten cups of yours," she
remarked, "they're small. "Yes, that would be much better," lady Feng smiled. But as you, old dame, asked for them, and they were fished
out, after ever so much trouble, you're bound to do the proper thing and
drink out of each, one after the other." she promptly demurred. "My dear lady, do let me off!" "To speak is to speak, and a joke is a joke, but she mayn't take too
much," they said; "let her just empty this first cup, and have done." At this remark, the whole company once more gave way to laughter. Mrs. Hsüeh then told lady Feng to put some viands before her. smiled lady Feng, "tell me the name of anything you fancy, and
I'll bring it and feed you." "You people," she smiled, "daily feed on
egg-plants; so taste these of ours and see whether they've been nicely
prepared or not." one and all protested. But
tell me how they're cooked, so that I may prepare them in the same way
for myself." You hash it into fine mince, and fry it in chicken fat. At any time that you want any to eat, all you
have to do is to take out some, and mix it with some roasted chicken,
and there it is all ready." she shouted. Saying this, she quietly finished her wine. "If you
haven't, well, then drink another cup." "But,
after all, what kind of wood is this cup made of?" "It isn't to be wondered at," old goody Liu smiled, "that you can't make
it out Miss! When weary, we use them
as our pillows and go to sleep on them. When exhausted, we sit with our
backs leaning against them. I am therefore well able to tell whether
any wood be good or bad, genuine or false. As she spoke, she intently scanned the cup for a considerable length of
time. "Such a family as yours," she then said, "could on no account own
mean things! "I forgot all about them!" "Tell them to begin rehearsing at once!" Presently, became
audible the notes of the pan-pipe and double flute, now soft, now loud,
and the blended accents of the pipe and fife. Unable
to resist the temptation, Pao-yü was the first to snatch a decanter and
to fill a cup for himself. With this proposal, she laid hold of a cup and offered it to Mrs. Hsüeh. she
added, "must also have a cup. Your cousin Lin can't take much wine, but
even she mustn't be let off." While pressing them, she drained her cup. But shortly the music ceased. In due course, therefore, they all left the banquet
and went with their old senior, for a walk. they felt impelled to ask. The other being rolls with goose fat and fir cone seeds. The
second box contained two kinds of fried eatables; one of which was small
dumplings, about an inch in size. "They're with crabs inside," 'hastily rejoined the matrons. "These fat,
greasy viands for such a time!" she observed. she exclaimed. "I would like to eat it, but I can't
make up my mind to! Goody Liu, however, had never before touched such delicacies. These
were, in addition, made small, dainty, and without the least semblance
of clumsiness, so when she and Pan Erh had served themselves to a few of
each sort, half the contents of the dish vanished. By this time dowager lady Chia and the other members had had tea, so
leading off again goody Liu, they threaded their way to the Lung Ts'ui
monastery. On their arrival in the
interior of the court, they saw the flowers and trees in luxuriant
blossom. As she spoke, she wended her steps towards the Eastern hall. Miao Yü,
with a face beaming with smiles, made way for her to walk in. "I don't care for 'Liu An' tea!" "I know it; but this is old 'Chün Mei,'" Miao Yü answered with a smile. she said. "It's good, of
course," she remarked laughingly, "but it's rather weak! It would be far
better were it brewed a little stronger!" he smiled. But just as Miao Yü was going to fetch a cup, she perceived an old
taoist matron bring away the tea things, which had been used in the
upper rooms. The one had an ear on the side. After these, followed a row of small characters in the 'true'
style, to the effect that the cup had been an article much treasured by
Wang K'ai. This cup, Miao Yü filled, and handed to Pao-ch'ai. The other cup was, in appearance, as clumsy as it was small; yet on it
figured an engraved inscription, consisting of 'spotted rhinoceros cup,'
in three 'seal' characters, which bore the semblance of pendent pearls. Miao Yü exclaimed. "'Do in the country as country people do,' the proverb says," Pao-yü
laughingly rejoined. But were
you now to go in for this huge cup, why what more wouldn't that be?" At these words, Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yü and Pao-yü simultaneously indulged in
laughter. "What you say makes your meaning clear enough!" Miao-yü said, when she
heard his reply. I've had some of it once before, and this is the
second time. Pao-yü gave a forced smile to Miao Yü. To my idea it would be preferable, wouldn't it? Miao Yü listened to his suggestion, and then nodded her head, after some
reflection. "Yes, that will be all right!" she answered. Now, be quick and clear it away at once!" "Of course; quite so!" If you give it to me, it will be all right." When it was brought, Pao-yü took charge of it. "Yes, that would be better!" Miao Yü smiled. "To-morrow,"
he told her, "give this to goody Liu to take with her, when she starts
on her way homewards!" But let us now leave her to herself, without
any additional explanations. But in a little time, they also perceived Yüan Yang arrive. Shortly, they got under the honorary gateway put up in the additional
grounds, reserved for the imperial consort's visits to her parents, and
old goody Liu shouted aloud: "Ai-yoh! goody Liu inquired. they
laughingly asked. Everybody laughed. But when
about to chaff her again, goody Liu experienced a rumbling noise in her
stomach, and vehemently pulling a young servant-girl, and asking her for
a couple of sheets of paper, she began immediately to loosen her
garments. one and all laughingly shouted out to
her, and quickly they directed a matron to lead her away. But on
her exit from the private chamber, the wind blew the wine to her head. After searching and searching, she accidentally caught sight
of a bamboo fence. Upon close examination, she discovered that it
was a picture. It was perfectly even all over. She nodded her head, and heaved a couple of sighs. She tried to discover an exit, but where could she find a doorway? On
the left, was a bookcase. On the right, a screen. she said. As she soliloquised, she kept on rubbing the mirror. With
hasty step, she egressed. But let us now see what the others were up to. Pan Erh got, in the absence of his
grandmother, so distressed that he melted into tears. one and all laughingly observed. With these words still on her lips, she retraced her footsteps and
repaired into the I Hung court. At a glance, she discovered old goody Liu lying
on the bed, face downwards, with hands sprawled out and feet knocking
about all over the place. "Miss!" she pleaded. So saying, she swept her hands over it. she quickly rejoined in a low tone of voice with a
smile, "I'm here to answer for this. Come along with me!" "All right! Hsi Jen afterwards helped her to two cups of tea, when she, at length,
got over the effects of the wine. she asked. "Why, it's our master
Secundus', Mr. Pao's bedroom." No
one paid any heed to the excuse she gave, and the subject was dropped. Presently, dowager lady Chia awoke, and the evening meal was at once
served in the Tao Hsiang Ts'un. But, reader, you do not know the sequel, so peruse the circumstances
given in detail in the next chapter. CHAPTER XLII. Goody Liu, at these words, speedily heaved a sigh. When brought, she desired
Ts'ai Ming to look over it for her. Saying this, she bade a servant purchase two lots of paper money. goody Liu said. "I've no idea of the date of her birth!" she smiled after
a time. And this will all arise from
this one word, 'Ch'iao' (ingenuity.)" Saying this, she called P'ing Erh. "Goody Liu," she remarked, "come over
here and see!" "This,"
she explained, "is a roll of that green gauze you asked for yesterday. In this bundle are two pieces of
silk, for you to make clothes with, for the end of the year. These two bags are those in which the melons and
fruit were packed up yesterday. In this packet, you'll find
eight taels of silver. But if you disdain them, I won't be so presuming as
to say anything." "Miss!" she said, "what are you saying? Had I even the money, I couldn't buy
them anywhere. P'ing Erh laughed. "You and I
are friends; so compose your mind and take the things I gave you just
now! Besides, I have, on my part, something to ask of you. We're all, both high or low, fond of such things. But as old
lady Chia was unwell, the various members of the family came to see how
she was getting on. and am I, pray, to still stand on any
ceremonies with him? Presently, they perceived the trio Chia Chen, Chia Lien, and Chia Jung,
bringing Dr. Wang. On the right and left stood four young maids, whose hair had
not as yet been allowed to grow, with fly-brushes, finger-bowls, and
other such articles in their hands. With speedy
step, he advanced and paid his obeisance. she inquired, forcing a smile. "What is the worthy surname of
this noble doctor?" she then asked Chia Chen. "His surname is Wang,"
they said. "There was once a certain Wang Chün-hsiao who filled the chair of
President of the College of Imperial Physicians," dowager lady smilingly
proceeded. "That was," he explained, "my grand uncle." "Is it really so!" Drooping his head, he felt the pulse of the one
hand for a long while; next, he examined that of the other; after which,
hastily making a curtsey, he bent his head and started on his way out of
the apartment. "Chen Erh, escort him outside, and do see that he has a cup of tea." But
I'll now write a prescription, in here. Saying this, he wrote the prescription, as he sipped his tea. But when
about to take his leave, he saw a nurse bring Ta Chieh-erh into the
room. "Mr. Wang," she said, "do also have a look at our Chieh Erh!" Indeed,
she hasn't worn them even once. In the box you'll find the flour-fruits, for which you asked. So saying, she forthwith loosened the cord, and,
producing two ingots representing pencils, and with 'ju i' on them,
implying 'your wishes will surely be fulfilled,' she drew near and
showed them to her, "Take the purses," she pursued smiling, "but do
leave these behind and give them to me." she observed. Speaking the while, she espied a young maid walk in with a cup from the
'Ch'eng' kiln, and hand it to old goody Liu. "This," (she said,) "our
master Secundus, Mr. Pao, gives you." With these words, she eagerly took possession of the cup. she remarked. "They don't see
any one just now! When
you've got any leisure, do come again. After breakfast, they recrossed into their
grandmother's rooms and made inquiries about her health. On their way
back to the garden, they reached a point where they had to take
different roads. she
observed, "come with me; I've got a question to ask you." she smiled. "Look
here." she cried, "this chit Pao has gone clean off her senses! Just speak
the honest and candid truth, and finish!" she remarked. she smiled, "I really wasn't conscious of what I was saying! "I've no idea of what you were driving at," Pao-ch'ai laughingly
rejoined. I won't, in the
future, breathe such things again." Indeed, neither are
they within the portion of men. Hence, the study
of books makes them worse than they ever were before. Yet, it so happens that we too know a
few characters. While she indulged in this long rigmarole, Tai-yü lowered her head and
sipped her tea. But at an unexpected moment, Su Yün appeared in the room. Miss Secunda, Miss
Tertia, Miss Quarta, Miss Shih and Mr. Pao, our master Secundus, are
there waiting for you." "You and I will know what it is when we get there," Tai-yü explained. So saying, she came, with Pao-ch'ai, into the Tao Hsiang village. Here
they, in fact, discovered every one assembled. Pao-Ch'ai rejoined, a smile
playing on her lips. she
smiled. As she spoke, one and all were highly amused. After lending an ear to her arguments, they all laughed. Li Wan
proposed. "I gave her a month, but she thinks it too little. I've really had such a laugh over
them that I can scarcely move! "It's the way that cousin Pao-ch'ai puffs her up," Hsi Ch'un observed
"that makes her so much the more arrogant that she turns me also into a
laughing-stock now!" Tai-yü said. While Tai-yü laughed, she
beat her chest with both hands. she cried. At these words, they laughed so much the more heartily that at a time
they bent forward, and at another they leant back. She did not, besides, notice that the dovetails on each side had
come out, so with a tilt towards the east, she as well as the chair
toppled over in a heap. Depute, besides, cousin Pao-yü to lend her a
hand in her task. At this suggestion Pao-yü was the first to feel quite enchanted. he exclaimed. So not only won't it be
suitable, but it will be a pity too to waste the paper. It will be
well consequently for you to purchase a new set of each." "Why,
I simply use any pencil that first comes under my hand to paint with;
that's all. But you don't need them, so were I to
give you any, they'd lie uselessly about. I'll put them away for you now
for a time, and, when you want them, I'll let you have some. You and I can scour and clarify
all these pigments, and thus amuse ourselves, and prepare them for use
as well. "It's really so," they exclaimed with one voice, after this explanation. But, I presume,
she's got so muddled, that she inserts a list of articles needed for her
trousseau." "Cousin Pao," she observed, "don't you
wring her mouth? Speaking the while, she drew near, and, seizing Tai-yü, she pressed her
down on the stove-couch with the intention of pinching her face. Tai-yü
smilingly hastened to implore for grace. But you
are my elder cousin, so teach me how to behave. "She's right there," they
consequently pleaded smilingly. "It's you, after all, elder cousin," Tai-yü laughed. "Had it been I, I
wouldn't have let any one off." "It is no wonder," she said, "that
our dear ancestor doats on you and that every one loves you. If
there be any at home, well and good; but if not, get some money to buy
them with. But, reader, the occurrences of the next day areas yet a mystery to you,
but the nest chapter will divulge them. CHAPTER XLIII. So, with speedy step, Madame Wang led the way for
lady Feng, and they came over into her quarters. She does not render futile the love, which you, venerable senior,
ever lavish on her." she answered smiling. When brought, these were proffered to Lai Ta's mother and some
other nurses, who were advanced in years and held in respect; for it was
the custom in the Chia mansion that the family servants, who had waited
upon any of the fathers or mothers, should enjoy a higher status than
even young masters and mistresses. These words made every one laugh. It's you, venerable
senior, who'll be the sufferer by this arrangement." "It's this hussey Feng," she observed, "who, after all, takes
my side! What you say is quite right. Hadn't it been for you, I would
again have been duped by them!" "Dear senior!" If you
make each contribute one share, it will be square enough." she
observed. It's only
just then that you should be placed on the same standing as those
people!" Turning her
head, "Yüan Yang!" she cried, "a few of you should assemble in like
manner, and consult as to what share you should take in the matter. Of these, some
subscribed two taels; others contributed one tael. "The other money I gave," P'ing Erh smiled, "I gave privately, and is
extra." eagerly answered lady Chia, at these words. While she spoke, a servant-girl went off. While she uttered these taunts, they computed that the collections would
reach a sum over and above one hundred and fifty taels. They then prolonged their chat for a little longer, until one and all
realised that their old senior must be quite fagged out, and they
gradually dispersed. Why, was it simply on this account? "I didn't send for
you; so why should I be thankful to you! "You go on like this as you see her in such excellent spirits, that's
why!" After some further colloquy, these two ladies eventually parted company. she asked. "Nurse Lin," the servant-girl said by way of response. "Call her in," Mrs. Yu said. The servant-girls walked as far as the lower rooms and called Lin
Chih-hsiao's wife to come in. While she hurriedly combed her hair and washed her face and
hands, she wanted to know how much the bundle contained in all. As for the
contributions of our venerable mistress, and those of the ladies, they
aren't ready yet." Mrs. Yu cried, scolding them with a smile. The waiting-maids smilingly hastened to go and take delivery of the
money and bring it in. It consisted, in all, of two bundles, and
contained Pao-ch'ai's and Tai-yü's shares as well. Mrs. Yu asked. "There's also that of your senior lady," Mrs. Yu proceeded. Mrs. Yu asked. These words over, she verily checked sum after sum. "There's all that money; and isn't it yet enough?" I won't, by any manner of means, agree to
this proposal of yours! "Well, never mind if you don't give your quota!" So rejoining, she produced P'ing Erh's share. "P'ing Erh, come here,"
she cried, "take this share of yours and put it away! P'ing Erh apprehended her meaning. P'ing Erh had no option, but to retain her portion. she said, and with
these words still on her lips, she straightway quitted her presence and
went in search of Madame Wang. These two dames would not however presume to take their money back. "Your lot, ladies, is a pitiful one!" At these assurances, both put the money away, with profuse expressions
of gratitude. "This is," Li Wan went on to say to the young ladies, "the proper day
for our literary gathering, so don't forget it. Speaking, "Go and see what he is up to!" The waiting-maid returned after a long absence. "Sister Hua says," she
reported, "that he went out of doors, soon after daylight this morning." they said. "This girl is stupid, and doesn't know how to
speak." "It's really true," she
explained, "that he has gone out of doors. He gave out that a friend of
his was dead, and that he was going to pay a visit of condolence." "There's certainly nothing of the kind," T'an Ch'un interposed. Just call Hsi Jen here,
and let me ask her!" But just as she was issuing these directions, she perceived Hsi Jen
appear on the scene. Secondly, this is the proper day as well for holding our first
literary gathering, and he doesn't so as apply for leave, but stealthily
sneaks away." I
advised him not to go; but, of course, he wouldn't listen to me. "Let's write our
verses," they said, "and we can fine him on his return." As these words were being spoken, they espied a messenger despatched by
dowager lady Chia to ask them over, so they at once adjourned to the
front part of the compound. In the event
of any one wishing to start in search of me, bid him place every
obstacle in the way, as all inquiries can well be dispensed with! he eagerly inquired, from
behind. he observed. While
speaking, he administered his steed two more whacks. The horse quickly
turned a couple of corners, and trotted out of the city gate. With one
gallop, they covered a distance of over seven or eight lis. Turning his head round: "Is there
any place here," he asked, "where incense is sold?" Pei Ming shouted, "yes, there is; but what kind of incense it
is I don't know." "All other incense is worth nothing," Pao-yü resumed, after a moment's
reflection. But Pei Ming noticing his dilemma,
"What do you want incense for?" he felt impelled to ask. At this
discovery, his heart expanded with delight. Pei Ming urged. exclaimed Pao-yü. Pei Ming indulged in a protracted reverie, after which, he gave a smile. You don't, I expect, only require these
things; you'll need others too, I presume. "Yes, that would be better; let's
press forward." With this reply, he touched his horse with his whip. While advancing on
their way, he turned round. There's only one thing, I've often been struck with the strong
dislike you have for this 'Water Spirit' monastery, master, and how is
that you're now, so delighted with the idea of going to it?" Pao-yü stepped into the temple. "Take the censer," he said to Pei Ming, "and go out
into the back garden and find a clean spot!" Pei Ming inquired. Then along with him, he repaired to
the platform of the well. He deposited the censer on the ground, while
Pei Ming stood on one side. Pao-yü produced the incense, and threw it on
the fire. But thou, oh spirit! Giving
him a kick, "Don't talk such stuff and nonsense!" he shouted. But as you're, after all, going to
spend a whole day in peace and quiet in here, you should try and divert
yourself as best you can. It won't, therefore, by any manner of means do
for you to have nothing to eat." rejoined Pei Ming. Well, if it's only a matter of fulfilling this obligation,
and you don't care whether our old mistress and our lady, your mother,
experience concern or not, why, the spirit itself, which has just been
the recipient of your oblations, won't feel in a happy frame of mind! Pao-yü smiled. "Yes, that would be better!" exclaimed Pei Ming. Conversing the while, they wended their way into the Buddhistic hall. Here the nun had, in point of fact, got ready a table with lenten
viands. he kept on shouting, "be
careful how you ride! That horse hasn't been ridden very much, so hold
him in tight a bit." they said laughingly,
"you've come! At these words, Pao-yü speedily divested himself of his plain clothes
and put on a coloured costume, reserved for festive occasions, which he
hunted up with his own hands. This done, "Where are they holding the
banquet?" he inquired. Smacking her lips, "Ai!" she cried, "the phoenix
has alighted! he
observed. On his arrival in the reception-hall, he paid his
greetings to his grandmother Chia, to Madame Wang, and the other
inmates, and one and all felt, in fact, as happy to see him back as if
they had come into the possession of a phoenix. she observed. Or
did you get any sort of fright, eh?" they said, "you can well dispense with flying into a
rage! Besides, he has come back without any misadventure, so we should all
compose our minds and enjoy ourselves a bit!" She therefore dropped all mention of his escapade at once. But, reader, do you wish to know the sequel? If so, the next chapter
will explain it. CHAPTER XLIV. But to resume our narrative. It would be quite immaterial where he offered his sacrifices, and why
must he repair to the riverside? 'At the sight of an object,' the
proverb has it, 'one thinks of a person. The fact is, that dowager lady Chia had enjoined
on them that this occasion was unlike others, and that it was absolutely
necessary for them to do the best to induce lady Feng to heartily enjoy
herself for the day. "Very well," said Mrs. Yu. she smiled, "don't believe all they tell you! At these words, Mrs. Yu speedily dragged her out, laughing the while,
and forced her into a seat, and, directing a servant to fetch a cup, she
filled it with wine. "And who are you, I
wonder? "Dear
sisters," she pleaded, "do spare me! we're a mean lot," Yüan Yang laughed. Really, I shouldn't have
come. But, as you won't touch our wine, we might as well be quick and
retire!" While she spoke, she was actually walking away, when lady Feng hastened
to lay hold of her and to detain her. So saying, she took the wine and filled a cup to the very brim, and
drained it. she shouted to Mrs. Yu. P'ing Erh had,
however, been keeping her eye on her, so hastily she followed in her
footsteps. The servant-maid fell into a state of consternation, and was scared out
of her very wits. "I was, besides, much concerned as there was no one in the
rooms; that's why I was running on." "If there's no one in the rooms, who told you to come out again?" P'ing Erh hastened to reason with her mistress. she said, "be
careful you'll be hurting your hand!" "Go on, pommel her," urged lady Feng, "and ask her what made her run! "I'll tell your
ladyship everything," she cried, "but you mustn't say that it was I who
told you." "Mr. Secundus himself arrived only a few minutes back," the maid began. Seeing
lady Feng, she too drew in her head, and tried at once to effect her
escape. "I was
just going to tell your ladyship," she smiled, "and here you come! "That Mr. Secundus is at home," the girl replied, "and has done so and
so." As she spoke, she raised her arm and administered the maid a slap, which
upset her equilibrium. So with hurried step, she betook herself away. P'ing Erh herself is full of displeasure; yet she dares not
speak. she shouted out abusingly. P'ing Erh was pummelled away till her heart thrilled with
a sense of injury, but she had nowhere to go, and breathe her woes. "You people," she railingly shouted, "go and do a lot of shameful
things, and then you also deliberately involve me; but why?" So shouting, she too clutched Pao Erh's wife and began to assail her. Chia Lien had freely primed himself with wine, so, on his return home,
he was in such exuberance of spirits that he observed no secresy in his
doings. The moment, however, he perceived lady Feng appear on the scene,
he got to his wits' end. he
cried. P'ing Erh was of a timid disposition. At once, therefore, she withheld
her hands, and melted into tears. When lady Feng descried in what fear and dread P'ing Erh was of Chia
Lien, she lost more than ever control over her temper, and, starting
again in pursuit of her, she struck P'ing Erh, while urging her to go
for Pao Erh's wife. P'ing Erh was driven to exasperation; and forthwith rushing out of the
apartment, she went in search of a knife to commit suicide with. Chia Lien was driven to despair; to such a degree that unsheathing a
sword suspended on the wall, "There's no need for any one of you to
commit suicide!" he screamed. they asked. "There was nothing up just
now, so why is all this row for?" By this time, the play was over. she exclaimed. It
turned out, in fact, to be Pao Erh's wife holding council with him. At this, I lost my temper. she ejaculated. Chia Lien evidently placed such
thorough reliance upon the love, which old lady Chia had all along
lavished upon them, that he entertained little regard even for his
mother or his aunt, so he came, with perfect effrontery, to stir up a
disturbance in their presence. they shouted, abusing him. "Your crime is more heinous, for our venerable senior is in here!" Snatching the sword from his grasp,
she kept on telling him to quit the room at once. But in such a state of frenzy was he that he did not return
to his quarters, but betook himself into the outer study. "Why, what serious matter could it ever have been?" "To-morrow I'll send
for him to apologise to you; but, you'd better to-day not go over, as
you might put him to shame!" "P'ing Erh isn't to blame!" "Is it really so!" exclaimed old lady Chia. P'ing Erh had, we may explain, from an early hour, been dragged by Li
Wan into the garden of Broad Vista. While she reasoned with her, she saw Hu Po approach, and deliver dowager
lady Chia's message. P'ing Erh then felt in herself that she had come
out of the whole affair with some credit, and she, little by little,
resumed her equilibrium. She did not, nevertheless, put her foot
anywhere near the front part of the compound. P'ing Erh returned her smile. "Many thanks!" she rejoined. P'ing Erh smiled. "We cousins, whether male or female, are all alike." Pao-yü smilingly
argued. Speaking, he directed the young maids to draw some water for washing the
face and to heat an iron and bring it. P'ing Erh had ever heard people maintain that all that Pao-yü excelled
in was in knitting friendships with girls. Pao-yü stood by her side. It's her birthday, besides; and our old ancestor
has sent some one again to come and cheer you up." P'ing Erh emptied some on the palm of her hand. P'ing Erh followed his directions and performed her toilette. P'ing Erh was furthermore a girl of a high
grade, most intelligent, most winsome, and unlike that sort of vulgar
and dull-minded beings, so that he cherished intense disgust against his
fate. But after a short time spent in a
brown study, he too betook himself to the Tao Hsiang village for a chat;
and it was only when the lamps had been lit that he got up to take his
leave. P'ing Erh put up in Li Wan's quarters for the night. The moment therefore it was light, she hastily crossed over, and
sent for Chia Lien to repair to dowager lady Chia's apartments. "What was the matter?" "You go and glut yourself with spirits, and, not to speak
of your not going to stretch yourself like a corpse and sleep it off,
you contrariwise start beating your wife! Chia Lien was at heart full of a sense of injury, but he could not
master sufficient courage to say anything in his own defence. And if you make your apologies
in a proper manner to your wife and take her home, I'll be satisfied. But if you don't, just you clear out of this, for I won't even presume
to have any of your genuflexions!" Chia Lien took to heart the injunctions that fell on his ear. exclaimed dowager lady Chia laughingly. Saying this, he made another bow. But I don't bear you any grudge, my lady, for it was that
wench, who was at the bottom of it all. As she spoke, tears trickled down her cheeks too. And yet, in the presence of so many people,
it was I who, after all, fell to-day on my knees and made apologies as
well. You came in for plenty of credit, and do you now go on jabber,
jabber? If you try and play the bully beyond bounds, it
won't be a good thing for you!" To these arguments, lady Feng could find no suitable response. P'ing Erh then blurted out laughing. Chia Lien smiled. These words were still on his lips, when they saw a married woman walk
in. "Dead, eh? she shouted instead. she observed. "And by having recourse to intimidation as well as to
promises of money, they, at last, agreed to our terms." "Had I even any money, I
wouldn't let them have it; so just let them go and lodge any charge they
fancy. "I'll go out and see what they're up to!" Chia Lien remarked. "Mind, I won't have you give them any money!" Chia Lien straightway made his exit. Chia Lien then impressed upon Lin Chih-hsiao to insert the two hundred
taels in the accounts for the current year, by making such additions to
various items here and there as would suffice to clear them off, and
presented Pao Erh with money out of his own pocket as a crumb of
comfort, adding, "By and bye, I'll choose a nice wife for you." Where did I strike you, let
me see?" P'ing Erh said by way of reply. CHAPTER XLV. Tai-yü feels dull on a windy and rainy evening, and indites verses on
wind and rain. "So many of you come to-day," lady Feng smiled, "that it looks as if
you'd been asked to come by invitation." "You shouldn't try and play your tricks upon me!" These words evoked general laughter. they
exclaimed. Yet, you and your son don't muster, masters and servants,
ten persons in all. Were you then to
contribute each year a hundred or two hundred taels, to help them to
have some fun, how many years could this outlay continue? You've also made such a splendid match; and do you still
behave in the way you do? Li Wan observed. "I'm here for you! Li Wan laughingly answered. But as for me, I won't utter a single word against
you, for, as I had rather bear the blame myself, I won't venture, to
involve you!" Li Wan smiled. But
let me ask you. Will you, after all, assume the control of this rhyming
society or not?" As these words dropped from her lips, one and all laughed again. "I'll now open the loft," proceeded lady Feng. If any will serve your purpose, keep them and use
them. Li Wan nodded her head by way of assent and smiled. "This will be
putting you to much trouble and inconvenience," she said. Well in that case, go home all of you, and,
if after a time, she doesn't send the thing round, you can come again
and bully her." So saying, she there and then led off the young ladies, and was making
her way out, when lady Feng exclaimed: "It's Pao-yü and he alone, who
has given rise to all this fuss." they said, "do take a
seat!" They then in a body presented their congratulations to her. Nurse Lai seated herself on the edge of the stovecouch and returned
their smiles. Li Wan inquired, with a smile. Nurse Lai heaved a sigh. she answered. "Why, I let them have their own way and start when they like! they
observed. The other day, that he came to
knock his head before our venerable senior and Madame Wang, we caught
sight of him in her courtyard yonder; and, got up in the uniform of his
new office, he looked so dignified, and stouter too than before. When you've got time to spare, do get into a
chair and come in and have a game of cards and a chat with our worthy
senior; and who ever will have the face to hurt your feelings? P'ing Erh poured a cup of tea and brought it to her. Nurse Lai speedily
stood up. In the event of any license, they're sure to find time to kick
up trouble, and annoy their elders. Time after time, have I had to send for his father; and he has
been the better, after a scolding from him." There was
besides the father of your elder cousin Chen, of the eastern mansion. If anything was said, and he flew into a rage, why, talk about a son, it
was really as if he tortured a robber. Besides, he doesn't exercise the least
restraint over his own self, so is it to be wondered at if all his
cousins and nieces don't respect him? As she reproved him, they saw Lai Ta's wife arrive. "A wife," laughed lady Feng, "has come to fetch her mother-in-law!" When nurse Lai caught this remark, she smiled. "I've really grown quite
idiotic!" In this way, we'll have
three days' excitement, and, by the boundless favour of our master,
we'll have the benefit of enjoying the honour of your society." "As far as
we are concerned, we'll feel it our duty to come. Nor do I know anything
about tips to players or others. "I'm off now to invite our venerable mistress," nurse Lai smilingly
remarked. "Of course!" she consequently observed. nurse Lai shouted. "The other day," lady Feng observed, "that my birthday was celebrated,
that young fellow of his got drunk, before the wine ever went round; and
when the old dame, over there, sent presents, he didn't go outside to
give a helping hand, but squatted down, instead, and upbraided people. nurse Lai ventured. My lady, listen to me! But to drive him out of the place, will never, by any manner of means,
do. After lending an ear to her arguments, lady Feng addressed herself to
Lai Ta's wife. When evening came, lady Feng actually bade the servants go and look
(into the loft), and when they discovered a lot of painting materials,
which had been put away long ago, they brought them into the garden. And could he succeed in getting you all
right, wouldn't it be nice? "It's no use," Tai-yü rejoined. "I know well enough that there's no cure
for this complaint of mine! Not to speak of when I'm unwell, why even
when I'm not, my state is such that one can see very well that there's
no hope!" she ventured. "An old writer says:
'Those who eat, live.' she
said. While deploring her lot, she coughed two or three times. They are splendid tonics,
of course, but too many heating things are not good. Had I not made this discovery the other day, I wouldn't be
speaking like this to your very face to-day. I've really come
here as a mere refugee, for I had no one to sustain me and no one to
depend upon. You've also got some business and land in
here, and, at home, you can call houses' and fields your own. It's only
therefore the ties of relationship, which make you stay here at all. But I, have nothing whatever that I can call my own. At this insinuation, Tai-yü unconsciously blushed scarlet. What you said just now is quite right; but,
you should worry and fret about as little and not as much as you can. But, I presume, you feel quite done up now, so I'll be off!" "Come in the evening again," Tai-yü pressed her, "and have a chat with
me." On long autumnal nights, the autumn lanterns with bright radiance
burn. As from my window autumn scenes I scan, autumn endless doth seem. Fright snaps my autumn dreams, those dreams which under my lattice I
dreamt. They stir up grief, dazzle my eyes, and a sense of parting arouse. A lull for few nights reigned, but the wind has again risen in
strength. By the lantern I weep, as if I sat with some one who must go. The small courtyard, full of bleak mist, is now become quite desolate. she exclaimed. Then
straining his eyes, he scrutinised her for a while. "You look better
to-day," he smiled. Pao-yü smiled. she
consequently asked. "Ordinarily, when it rains, he too wears this kind of outfit
at home. But if it has taken your fancy, I'll have a suit made for you. This is worn, when
it snows, by men and women alike. laughed Tai-yü. Pao-yü laughed. At these words, Pao-yü drew back his hand, and producing from his breast
a gold watch about the size of a walnut, he looked at the time. he replied. With these apologies, he
threw the wrapper over him, put on the rain-hat and quitted the room. But turning round, he retraced his steps inside. he asked. "If there be, tell me, and I'll let our
venerable ancestor know of it to-morrow as soon as it's day. "Let me," rejoined Tai-yü smiling, "think in the night. But harken, it's raining harder than it did; so be
off at once! Have you got any attendants, or no?" "Yes!" "There are servants to wait on him. laughed Tai-yü. Pao-yü answered. "They're made of sheep's horn, so
they don't mind the rain." "This," she said, "gives out more light
than the others; and is just the thing for rainy weather." Pao-yü replied. But, were it even to slip from your hand, it wouldn't
matter much. After these words, Pao-yü approached her and took the lantern from her. "These," she said, "are
much better than what you can buy. Our young lady sends you word, miss,
to first go on with these. When you've done with them, she'll let you
have some more." "Many thanks for the trouble you've taken!" "I won't have any tea," the old servant smiled. While she reclined all alone on her pillow, Tai-yü thought gratefully of
Pao-ch'ai. For the time, however, there is nothing that we can add. CHAPTER XLVI. The maid, Yüan Yang, vows to break off the marriage match. "You shouldn't, I say, go and bang your head
against a nail!" That cooping them up in
his rooms, is a mere waste of human beings. Were he
even to try, at this juncture, to beat a retreat, he couldn't, I fear,
effectively do so. Don't,
my lady, be angry with me; but I daren't undertake the errand. It would be well therefore for
your ladyship to advise him what to do. "There are endless wealthy families
with three and four concubines," she said, "and is it in ours that such
a thing won't do? Just take our Mr. Secundus, (my husband), as an instance. If she gives her, so much the better. "You're really shrewd in your devices, my lady!" But, mind, don't let the cat out of the bag! At this suggestion, Madame Hsing directed her servants to come and
change her costume. But after a chat with her
senior, she quitted the apartment, under the pretence that she was going
to Madame Wang's rooms. Then making her exit by the back door, she
passed in front of Yüan Yang's bedroom. The moment she caught sight of Madame
Hsing, she rose to her feet. "Let me see! That's why we thought of choosing some home-born girl out of those which
throng in our mansion, but then again we could find none decent enough;
for if her looks were not at fault, her disposition was not proper; and
if she possessed this quality, she lacked that one. Arguing the while, she dragged her by the hand with the idea of hurrying
her off there and then. All you have to do is to follow me, that's all." This said, she sped into lady Feng's suite of rooms. P'ing Erh nodded her head and smiled. "Madame Hsing," lady Feng remarked, "is sure to come over here to
consult with me. Hu Po undertook to tell her so, and Yüan Yang then betook herself too
into the garden. P'ing Erh looked round to see that
there was no one about. Facing P'ing Erh, she gave a
sardonic smile. Yet, my heart is just what it was in
days gone by. Not to speak of our senior master wishing to make me his concubine, were
even our lady to die this very moment, and he to send endless
go-betweens, and countless betrothal presents, with the idea of wedding
me and taking me over as his lawful primary wife, I wouldn't also go." P'ing Erh was at this point desirous to put in some observation, when
from behind the boulder became audible the loud tones of laughter. a voice cried. These words reached the ears of both girls, and, so unawares were they
taken, that they got a regular start, and jumping up with all haste they
went to see behind the boulder. Do tell me!" As she spoke, the trio seated themselves on a rock. P'ing Erh then
imparted to Hsi Jen as well the drift of their recent conversation. she shouted. So you'd better now pull up a bit, and
not be cheeky to such an excessive degree!" But tell us what you've decided to do, so that
we too should know, and set our minds at ease." P'ing Erh shook her head. "You mightn't go," she interposed, "but it
isn't likely that the matter will drop. It will be
time enough to talk about it when that date comes. If not, there's yet another thing: death! But if you don't believe my words, well, you'll
be able to see by and bye; then you'll feel convinced. You, poor thing, are a child born in this establishment. You're
not like us two, who are solitary creatures here." "All this wench is good for," Yüan Yang shouted, "is 'to rush about as
if selling camels in the six states!' If she heard what I said, she
won't feel flattered." "Have you, miss,
run over here? Come along with me; I've got something to tell you!" P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen speedily motioned to her to sit down, but (Yüan
Yang's) sister-in-law demurred. "Young ladies, pray be seated; I've come
in search of our girl to tell her something." they said with a smile. "We were engaged in guessing
puns here, so let's find out this, before you go." "When we get over there, I'll
tell you. It would be
ever so much better, were you to bundle yourself away from this! While indulging in this raillery, she gave vent to tears. P'ing Erh and
Hsi Jen did all they could to reason with her so as to prevent her from
crying. "Whether you mean to
accept the proposal, or not," she consequently said, "you can anyhow
speak nicely. These two young
ladies have however given you no provocation whatever; and yet by
referring, as you've done, in this way and that way to secondary wives
how can people stand it peacefully?" "You shouldn't speak so!" If she abuses people, let her
do so; it isn't worth our while to be touchy!" But you two have, fortunately,
your wits about you! P'ing Erh then asked Hsi Jen. But I dodged you, so you didn't see anything of me. I, however, saw that you two had come to have a chat. Hsi Jen smiled, and was the first to speak. "You've made me have a good
search," she said. Pao-yü laughed. Pao-yü gave her a push. he smiled. Saying this, he made an attempt to pull Yüan Yang to her feet. "Her father," lady Feng replied, "is called Chin Ts'ai. On Mrs. Chin Wen-hsiang's arrival, she told her all. "It's no use," she said, "she gave me a
scolding." she proceeded to inquire. "There was Miss P'ing!" was Chin's wife's reply. "Miss P'ing wasn't present," Chin's wife protested. "Go and fetch her at once!" Feng Erh quickly came up to her. After some reflection, Chia She promptly summoned
Chia Lien. "There are other people in Nanking to look after our property," he told
him on his arrival; "there's not only one family, so be quick and depute
some one to go and summon Chin Ts'ai to come up to the capital." "Last night a letter arrived from Nanking," Chia Lien rejoined, "to the
effect that Chin Ts'ai had been suffering from some phlegm-obstruction
in the channels of the heart. Whether he be dead or alive now, I don't know. But
even if alive, he must have lost all consciousness. His wife, on the other hand, is
quite deaf." he shouted. "Is it you of all people, who are up to those things? Chia Lien withdrew out of the room in a state of trepidation. But in a
short while, (Chia She) gave orders to call Chin Wen-hsiang. Presently, Chin Wen-hsiang arrived. The servant-lads led
him straightway past the second gate; and he only came out again and
took his departure after sufficient time had elapsed to enable one to
have four or five meals in. Chia Lien could not for long summon up courage enough to ask what was
up, but when he found out, after a time, that Chia She had gone to
sleep, he eventually crossed over to his quarters. Then, at last, he understood
the meaning of the excitement. She did not get, the whole night, a wink of
sleep. "I'll tell you what," he shouted;
"bid your wife go and tell her that I say: 'that she must, like the
goddess Ch'ang O herself who has from olden times shown a predilection
for young people, only despise me for being advanced in years; that, as
far as I can see, she must be hankering after some young men; that it
must, most likely, be Pao-yü; but probably Lien Erh too! This is the first thing. To every remark that Chia She uttered, Chin Wen-hsiang acquiesced. "Yes!" he said. Chia She observed. I'll either commit suicide, or cut my hair
off, and go and become a nun. "Of all the attendants
I've had," she cried, "there only remains this single one, upon whom I
can depend, and now they want to conspire and carry her off!" she resumed. "Outwardly, you display filial devotion; but, secretly, you plot and
scheme against me. If I have aught that's worth having, you come and dun
me for it. If I have any one who's nice, you come and ask for her. She did not, however, dare to
return a single syllable in self-defence. Mrs. Hsüeh noticed that Madame Wang herself came in for her share of
blame, and she did not feel as if she could any longer make an attempt
to tender words of advice. she interposed. "I've really grown stupid from old
age!" she exclaimed. Mrs. Hsüeh confined her reply to a 'yes.' "Dear senior, you're so full
of prejudices," she afterwards observed, "that you love your youngest
son's wife more than any one of the others; but it's quite natural." "I have no prejudices," old lady Chia protested. "What you say is quite reasonable," his grandmother laughed. At this suggestion, Pao-yü hastily crossed over, and dropping on his
knees, he was about to open his lips, when Madame Wang laughingly pulled
him up. "Get up," she cried, "at once! "Of course, it's your fault, venerable senior!" "He's only a fit
mate for such as myself and P'ing Erh. At this rejoinder, they all exploded into a hearty fit of laughter. CHAPTER XLVII. The moment, however, she stepped inside the courtyard-entrance, several
matrons promptly explained to her, quite confidentially, that their old
mistress had been told all only a few minutes back, and she meant to
retrace her steps, (but she saw that) every inmate in the suite of rooms
was already conscious of her presence. When she caught sight, besides,
of Madame Wang walking out to meet her she had no option but to enter. You people have also got now a whole
lot of grandchildren and sons. "I advised him time
and again," she explained, "but he wouldn't listen to me. That's why I had no choice in the matter!" But consider now. So busy, that I have
myself now curtailed a hundred and one things. Of those girls, who've come to my quarters and those who've
gone, there only remains this single one. These words over, she called the servants. "Go," she said, "and ask Mrs.
Hsüeh, and your young mistresses to come! We were in the middle of a
chat full of zest, and how is it they've all dispersed?" The waiting-maids immediately assented and left to go in search of their
mistresses, one and all of whom promptly re-entered her apartments, with
the sole exception of Mrs. Hsüeh. "Dearest Mrs. the waiting-maid pleaded, "my worthy senior! Should you object
to walking, why I'm quite ready to carry you on my back." Mrs. Hsüeh laughed. While replying, she felt that she had no course but to retrace her
footsteps, in company with the waiting-maid. "Let's have a game
of cards!" "Quite so," laughed Mrs. Hsüeh. "Were one more player let in," lady Feng interposed, "it would be
merrier!" Why, look
here. After the
game had gone on for a time, Yüan Yang noticed that dowager lady Chia
had a full hand and was only waiting for one two-spotted card, and she
made a secret sign to lady Feng. "I mean to see by and bye," lady Feng resumed. "You're at liberty to see," Mrs. Hsüeh said. "But go on, play now! At a glance, Mrs. Hsüeh
perceived that it was the two spot. "I don't fancy this card," she
smiled. "I played
this card of my own accord, so there's no one with whom I can find
fault." "You should then beat your own lips and punish your own self; it's only
fair;" old lady Chia remarked. Mrs. Hsüeh smiled. "It isn't at all that you wish to win. But as for me, I am really a mean
creature; and, as I managed to lose, I count the money and put it away
at once." "Why is it you're so huffed," old lady Chia
asked, "that you don't even shuffle for me?" Mrs. Hsüeh
laughed. "It's simply for mere fun, nothing more!" "Aunt," she
said, a smile curling her lips, "look here! I couldn't tell you how much
there is in that box that was won from me! Your temper, worthy ancestor, will
thus calm down. "Be
quick," she shouted, "and wrench that mouth of hers!" P'ing Erh placed the cash according to her mistress' directions. But
after indulging too in laughter for a time, she retraced her footsteps. On reaching the entrance into the court, she met Chia Lien. he inquired. "I'll go over," Chia Lien said. These words over, he quickly marched off. exclaimed old lady Chia. "I also," she interposed,
"indistinctly noticed the shadow of some one." Saying this, she walked away and quitted the room. Chia Lien entered
with hasty step. "Yes!" assented old lady Chia, likewise with a laugh. Chia Lien could not muster courage to utter a single word to vindicate
himself, but retired out of the room with all promptitude. P'ing Erh was
standing outside the window. "Mother, cross over at once," Chia Lien urged; "for he told me to come
and ask you to go a long time ago." Pressing his mother, he escorted her outside as far as the other part of
the mansion. But enough of this subject. In the way of springs, rockeries, arbours and woods,
towers and terraces, pavilions and halls, it likewise contained a good
many sufficient to excite admiration. With these words, he was off. he inquired of him. "The other day a few of us
went out to give our falcons a fly; and we were yet at a distance of two
li from his tomb, when remembering the heavy rains, we've had this
summer, I gave way to fears lest his grave may not have been proof
against them; so evading the notice of the party I went over and had a
look. "It isn't strange then!" exclaimed Pao-yü, "When the lotus blossomed
last month in the pond of our garden of Broad Vista, I plucked ten of
them and bade T'sai Ming go out of town and lay them as my offering on
his grave. "I am outside, so all you need do is to inwardly foster the wish;
that's all. But in a little while, I again purpose going
away on a tour abroad, to return in three to five years' time." he at once inquired. But if you really be
bent upon going on a distant tour, you must absolutely tell me something
beforehand. Don't, on any account, sneak away quietly!". As he spoke, the tears trickled down his cheeks. "Go in at once," he
urged, "there's no need to see me off!" Saying this, he quitted the study. The moment these shouts fell on Liu Hsiang-lien's ear, his anger flared
up as if it had been sparks spurting wildly about, and he only wished he
could strike him dead with one blow. Clutching him with one grip, "My dear brother," he smirked. "I'm going somewhere, but will be back soon," Hsiang-lien said by way of
response. If you do so, it will be a proof of your regard for me! But speedily devising a plan, he drew him to a
secluded spot. "Is your friendship real," he smiled, "or is it only a
sham?" "Is it really
so?" he asked. But let us meanwhile rejoin the banquet and
have some wine. Come along, after you've seen me go; they won't notice
us then." "Yes!" "Go home
ahead," he directed his page Hsing Nu. "I'm going out of town, but I'll
be back at once." The moment he turned
back, he unawares caught sight of Hsiang-lien, and his spirits rose
within him, as if he had got hold of some precious thing of an
extraordinary value. "I knew well enough," he eagerly smiled, "that you
weren't one to break faith." "Quick, let's go ahead!" he said, laughingly, to Hsüeh P'an. "Both parties should really be agreeable," he shouted. With these words, he fetched his whip, and administered him, thirty or
forty blows from his back down to his shins. "Why, I thought you were not afraid of beatings." he proceeded to ask. But simply lay prostrate, and moaned. "Oh, my
ribs are broken!" he shouted. "I know you're a proper sort of person! So it's I who am at fault." "Ai!" he exclaimed. "Ai Yo!" "I'll drink it, I'll drink it!" So saying, he felt obliged to lower his head to the very roots of the
reeds and drink a mouthful. exclaimed Hsiang-lien. I couldn't take that were I even on the verge of death!" they with one voice exclaimed; "for if the horse
is there, the master must be there too!" Speedily dismounting, he
told the servants to prop him up. In the evening, after the party broke up, he came to inquire after him. Mrs. Hsüeh fell a prey to anguish and displeasure. As for me, that sudden fit of anger quite dazed me!" But, reader, if you feel any interest to know what happened when Hsüeh
P'an heard the version his mother gave him, listen to what you will find
in the next chapter. CHAPTER XLVIII. An estimable and refined girl manages, after great exertion, to
compose verses at a refined meeting. But to resume our story. After hearing his mother's arguments, Hsüeh
P'an's indignation gradually abated. And to sham
illness, day after day, isn't again quite the right thing! In addition
to this, here I've reached this grown-up age, and yet I'm neither a
civilian nor a soldier. Nor do I know
anything about our territories, customs and manners, distances and
routes. Whether
I earn any money or not, will be equally immaterial to me. More, I shall
escape from all disgrace. It will, secondly, be a good thing for me to
see a bit of country." In the evening, he imparted the tidings to his mother. Mrs. Hsüeh, upon
hearing his intention, was albeit delighted, tormented with fresh
misgivings lest he should stir up trouble abroad,--for as far as the
expense was concerned she deemed it a mere bagatelle,--and she
consequently would not permit him to go. Should I at any time be
guilty of any impropriety, he will be sure to speak to me, and to exhort
me. But if you refuse to let me go, I'll wait for a couple of
days, and, without breathing a word to any one at home, I'll furtively
make my preparations and start, and, when by next year I shall have made
my fortune and come back, you'll at length know what stuff I'm made
off!" When he had done speaking, he flew into a huff and went off to sleep. Mrs. Hsüeh felt impelled, after the arguments she heard him propound, to
deliberate with Pao-ch'ai. Mrs. Hsüeh listened to her, and communed within herself for a moment. "What you say is, indeed, right and proper!" she remarked. They then matured their plans; and nothing further of any note
transpired during the rest of the night. The next day, Mrs. Hsüeh sent a messenger to invite Chang Te-hui to come
round. On his arrival, she charged Hsüeh P'an to regale him in the
library. Mrs. Hsüeh then set to, and worked away, with the assistance
of Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling and two old nurses, for several consecutive
days, before she got his luggage ready. After which, he came and paid his farewell visit to the members
of the Chia household. But to these
festivities, there is likewise little need to allude with any
minuteness. Mrs. Hsüeh had, in coming up to the capital, only brought four or five
family domestics and two or three old matrons and waiting-maids with
her, so, after the departure on the recent occasion, of those, who
followed Hsüeh P'an, no more than one or two men-servants remained in
the outer quarters. Mrs. Hsüeh repaired therefore on the very same day
into the study, and had the various ornaments, bric-à-brac, curtains and
other articles removed into the inner compound and put away. smiled Mrs. Hsüeh, "I forgot that! "If we buy one, we won't know what she's really like!" This is the first day
that you spend in here, and you should, first and foremost, go out of
the garden by the eastern side gate and look up and salute every one in
her respective quarters commencing from our old lady. "What is this that you're saying, Miss?" P'ing Erh rejoined, with a
smile. "It's the right thing!" In a house, there's the
master, and in a temple there's the chief priest.' P'ing Erh promised to carry out her wishes. "I had just this very moment," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "told her to go and do
so." "You needn't however go to our house," P'ing Erh remarked, "our Mr.
Secundus is laid up at home." she inquired in a low tone of voice. P'ing Erh set her teeth to and gave way to abuse. From what our
Mr. Secundus says, it would be really difficult to get any the like of
them. The 'stone fool,' however, refused. Mr. Chia She could do nothing, but day after day he abused
our Mr. Secundus as a good-for-nothing. Now, miss, do consider
what was to be done? But, Yü-ts'un is, as it happens, a man with no
regard for divine justice. Mr. Chia She, however, taunted Mr. Secundus. P'ing Erh turned towards Pao-ch'ai, and expressed her readiness to
execute her commission, after which she betook herself home, where we
will leave her without further notice. By this time Tai-yü had
got considerably better. It will be a bit
of good luck for me if you do." "Of course you do!" In the event of any out-of-the-way lines, it won't matter if the
even and uneven tones, and the empty and full words do not pair." "Yes, that's just the principle that holds good," Tai-yü answered. "But
diction is, after all, a last consideration. An old inkslab, with a slight hole, collects plenty of ink. But when
once you get into this sort of style, it's impossible to get out of it. It will be a
good thing if I can manage to read several stanzas at night." At these words, Tai-yü bade Tzu Chüan fetch Wang Tso-ch'eng's pentameter
stanzas. When brought, she handed them to Hsiang Ling. "They've all been selected by
me. Read each one of them; and should there be any you can't fathom, ask
your miss about them. Or when you come across me, I can explain them to
you." "Of all these, how many stanzas can you recollect?" Tai-yü asked,
smiling. "Yes, I've caught some!" Let me tell you." But go on and let me
hear you." "There's a good deal of right in what you say," Tai-yü observed. The sun is, of course, round. But in the course of their colloquy, Pao-yü and T'an Ch'un arrived; and
entering the room, they seated themselves, and lent an ear to her
arguments on the verses. he cried. Were you therefore to, at once, set to work,
and versify, your lines are bound to be good." "To-morrow," observed T'an ch'un with a smile; "I'll stand an extra
treat and invite you to join the society." "Why make a fool of me, miss?" they asked. Pao-yü interposed. Pao-yü smiled. "Do choose
some theme," she also asked Tai-yü and T'an Ch'un, "and let me go and
write on it. When I've done, I'll bring it for you to correct." "Last night," Tai-yü observed, "the moon was so magnificent, that I
meant to improvise a stanza on it; but as I haven't done yet, go at once
and write one using the fourteenth rhyme, 'han,' (cool). It's that P'in Erh, who has led you on to it! "Miss," smiled Hsiang Ling, "don't confuse me." So saying, she set to work and put together a stanza, which she first
and foremost handed to Pao-ch'ai to look over. Don't fear of losing face, but take it and give it to her to peruse. We'll see what she says." At this suggestion, Hsiang Ling forthwith went with her verses in search
of Tai-yü. The rustic daren't see her, so fears he to enhance his grief. The eve is fine, so why need any silvery candles burn? "There's a good deal of spirit in them," Tai-yü smiled, "but the
language is not elegant. "Last night
she kept on muttering away straight up to the fifth watch, when she at
last turned in. But shortly, daylight broke, and I heard her get up and
comb her hair, all in a hurry, and rush after P'in Erh. This is a clear sign that heaven and earth are most equitable!" Pao-yü made no reply. Tai-yü rejoined. Selene, mark! covers, like a jade platter, the clear vault of heaven. What time the fragrance faint of the plum bloom is fain to tinge the
air,
The dew-bedecked silken willow trees begin to lose their leaves. When from my dreams I wake, in the west tower, all human trace is
gone. In a few days longer, you'll be able to do well." Speaking the while, she actually walked out of the room, and laying hold
of her, she brought her through the Lotus Fragrance arbour to the bank
of Warm Fragrance. With one voice,
they roused Hsi Ch'un, and raising the gauze cover to contemplate her
work, they saw that three tenths of it had already been accomplished. Presently, the day dawned, and Pao-ch'ai woke up; but, when she lent an
ear, she discovered (Hsiang Ling) in a sound sleep. "She has racked her
brains the whole night long," she pondered. "I wonder, however, whether
she has succeeded in finishing her task. She must be tired now, so I
won't disturb her." But in the midst of her cogitations, she heard Hsiang Ling laugh and
exclaim in her sleep: "I've got it. And,
calling her by name, she woke her up. she asked. But, reader, do you wish to know any further particulars? CHAPTER XLIX. The pretty girl, fragrant with powder, cuts some meat and eats it. she said. With these words, she handed the verses to Tai-yü and her companions. Her shadows are by nature full of grace, frigid her form. When her disc's half, and the cock crows at the fifth watch, 'tis
cold. Wrapped in my green cloak in autumn, I hear flutes on the stream. So
your ladyship and you, young ladies, had better come at once and see
what relatives they are." Li Wan laughed. "You might, after all, state
distinctly whose relatives they are." "There's also another young lady, who says she's miss
Hsüeh's cousin, and a gentleman who pretends to be Mr. Hsüeh P'an's
junior cousin. As
they spoke, they straightway took their leave. "My aunt has probably also come to the capital," Li Wan laughed. In due course, they
exchanged the conventional salutations; and these over, they had a chat. It
was, indeed, sure to come to this to-day!" While she conversed on every-day topics, the presents had to be put
away; and, as she, at the same time, expressed a wish to keep the new
arrivals to partake of some wine and eatables, lady Feng had, needless
to say, much extra work added to her ordinary duties. he smiled. I couldn't adequately tell you what they're like. "Our poetical society is in a flourishing way," she remarked. "It is," smiled Pao-yü. There's only one
thing however. "I just now asked every one of them," T'an Ch'un replied. "It's really so!" she
smiled. Pao-yü went into ecstasies. he eagerly inquired. But to-morrow is the sixteenth, so we should
have a meeting." Everything is, in fact, up and
down!" Besides, Hsiang-yün has not
arrived. You and I must now go over to our
worthy ancestor's, on the other side, and hear what's up. And if we succeed in adding a few more to our number, won't it be more
fun for us?" he speedily exclaimed. When she consequently heard
her proposal, Madame Hsing was, of course, only too glad to comply with
her wishes, and readily she handed Hsing Chou-yen to the charge of lady
Feng. Besides, her
continence in remaining a widow at her tender age commanded general
esteem. Li Wan was the chief inmate. In addition
to these, there were lady Feng and Pao-yü, so that they mustered
thirteen in all. This is a clear sign that
our worthy ancestor is fond of you, for with all her love for Pao-yü,
she hasn't given it to him to wear." Come she may, but
here she also gets our dear ancestor to lavish such love on her!" "Unless you stay with our worthy senior," Hsiang-yün said, "do come into
the garden. But when you get over to Madame Hsing's rooms, talk
and joke with her, if she be at home, to your heart's content; it won't
matter if you tarry ever so long. These words much amused Pao-ch'ai, Pao-ch'in, Hsiang-Ling, Ying Erh and
the others present. "Were one to say," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "that you're heartless, (it
wouldn't do); for you've got a heart. Saying this, she espied Hu Po enter the room. Pushing Pao-ch'in, she laughed. "Be off now; for mind, we
might hurt your feelings. As she spoke, Pao-yü and Tai-yü walked in. Pointing, as she uttered
this remark, at Pao-yü. "If it isn't he," Hu Po proceeded still laughing, "it's she." She had, from her very youth up, learnt how
to read and how to write. Do tell me!" At this inquiry, Tai-yü too could not help laughing. "The question was
originally nicely put," she felt urged to rejoin with a laugh. "At one time," Pao-yü. Tai-yü
smiled. he argued. "Of late," Tai-yü observed, drying her tears, "I feel sore at heart. After which, the two cousins trudged in the snow, and repaired
to this side of the mansion. Shortly, Shih Hsiang-yün arrived. This was lined with gosling-yellow,
gold-streaked silk. "Look here, all of you!" So saying, she threw off her cloak. The sleeves were short. On her
feet, she too wore a pair of low shoes made of deer leather. Her waist
looked more than ever like that of a wasp, her back like that of the
gibbon. Her bearing resembled that of a crane, her figure that of a
mantis. We'll thus be able to give the visitors a greeting;
and to get an opportunity of writing a few verses. "It isn't likely," cried out the party with one voice, "that this snowy
weather will clear up. Our venerable senior, I fancy, is
not sure about caring to join us. A tael from each of you
will be ample, but send your money to me here! Pao-yü got, by this time, into an
unusual state of exhilaration. They too looked, however, as if they were placed
in a glass bowl. Turning his head, he espied ten
and more red plum trees, over at Miao Yü's in the Lung Ts'ui monastery. But just as he was proceeding on his way, he
caught sight of some one on the "Wasp waist" wooden bridge, advancing in
his direction, with an umbrella in hand. It was the servant, despatched
by Li Wan, to request lady Peng to go over. On his arrival in the Lu Hsüeh pavilion, Pao-yü found the maids and
matrons engaged in sweeping away the snow and opening a passage. The moment the maids and matrons saw him approach with his
waterproof-wrapper thrown over his person and his rain-hat on his head,
they with one voice laughed, "We were just remarking that what was
lacking was a fisherman, and lo, now we've got everything that was
wanted! At these words, Pao-yü had no help but to retrace his footsteps. Shortly, the whole number of girls arrived. One of the dishes consisted of kid, boiled in cow's milk. "This is
medicine for us, who are advanced in years," old lady Chia observed. We'll thus be able to sate our
hunger, and have some fun as well." Presently, they all got up from table. After a time, they entered the
garden and came in a body to the Lu Hsüeh pavilion to hear Li Wan give
out the themes, and fix upon the rhymes. "Those two," Tai-yü observed, "can't get together! The moment they meet,
how much trouble doesn't arise! These words were still on her lips when she saw 'sister-in-law' Li
coming also to see what the noise was all about. they exclaimed, "Be
quick and bring them both here!" "All this fuss," Tay-yü smiled, "is the work of that girl Yün. "We're doing nothing of the kind," Pao-yü hastily rejoined. "Well, that won't matter!" Li Wan observed. "Just smell that sweet
fragrance," T'an Ch'un remarked. "The guests are all assembled," she observed. "Whenever," she said, "I eat this sort of thing, I feel a
craving for wine. As she spoke, she discerned Pao-ch'in,
standing and laughing opposite to her, in her duck-down garment. "You idiot," Hsiang-yün laughingly cried, "come and have a mouthful to
taste." "You go and try it." Your
cousin Lin is so very weak that she couldn't digest it, if she had any. Otherwise she too is very fond of this." "Miss Shih," P'ing Erh explained, "won't let me go. "You're having," she smiled; "such dainties to eat, and don't you tell
me?" Saying this, she also drew near and began to eat. "But never mind, never mind! she exclaimed. But as for the whole lot of
you, your poor and lofty notions are all a sham! While bandying words, they finished eating. For a time, they busied
themselves with washing their hands. We too can well dispense
with searching for it, and repair to the front. Before three days are
out, I'll wager that it turns up. "Of course we'll have to write a few," they laughingly rejoined, upon
hearing her remarks. "We forgot all about it. Let's hurry up now, and
compose a few fine ones, so as to have them ready to enjoy some good fun
in the first moon." Speaking the while, they came in a body into the room with the earthen
couches, where they found the cups, dishes and eatables already laid out
in readiness. On the walls had been put up the themes, metre, and
specimen verses. But, reader, if you entertain any desire to know the sequel, peruse the
particulars recorded in the chapter that follows. But to continue. After her, a
list of the respective names was made in the order in which they came
out. It consists of five
words. As for the rest, I have no idea how to manage them." "The coarser the language, the better it is," one and all laughed. It's not only good, but it will afford to
those, who come after you, inexhaustible scope for writing. Oh, what a pity they're so purely white! But in the villages the price of mellow wine doth rise. The coal, musk-scented, burns in the precious tripod. "I'll go and see that the wine is warm for you people," Li Wan smiled. Fur coats are, out of pity, on the troops at the frontiers bestowed. As she recited this couplet, she gave Pao-yü a shove and urged him to go
on. The snow covers the steps, both high and low. she ejaculated; after which, she
hastened to complete the couplet by saying:
The drops from the bamboo are meet, when one is drunk, to mix with
wine. "It isn't as if I were writing verses," Hsiang-yün laughed rising to her
feet; "it's really as if I were fighting for very life." "It's for you to come out with something," they all cried with a laugh. But as she passed
the remark: "They haven't as yet been brought to a proper close," Li Wen
took up the clue, as soon as she caught her words, and added the
sentiment:
My wish is to record this morning's fun. "That's enough, that will do!" Li Wan cried. "This penalty," they shouted with one accord, "is both excellent as well
as pleasant." "Now swallow the wine we give you," Hsiang-yün smiled. "And if you don't
bring any plum blossom, we'll inflict a double penalty." Tai-yü, however, hastened to interfere and make her desist. "Were any one to go with him, he'll contrariwise
not get the flowers." Li Wan nodded her head. "Yes!" "And when he comes back," she felt induced to add, "we must
recite verses on the red plum." "We'll on no account let you indite any more to-day," Pao-ch'ai laughed. But by and bye we'll fine Pao-yü; and, as he says that
he can't pair antithetical lines, we'll now make him compose a stanza
himself." Tai-yü smiled. "An excellent proposal!" one and all inquired. "Well, may you look at it now," Pao-yü smiled. "Dear senior cousin, dear junior cousin," pleaded Pao-yü, "let me use my
own rhymes. Don't bind me down to any." "Go on as you like," they replied with one consent. But conversing the while, they passed the plum blossom under inspection. Indeed, their appearance was as if the
blossom spurted cosmetic. What time it strikes the cold, it's first joyful to smile at the east
wind. The green petals add grace to a coiffure, when painted candles burn. Its heart is sore, but no anger it knows; to ashes too it turns. From the fairyland pool she secret drops, and casts off her old form. In spring, both north and south of the river, with splendour it doth
bloom. The wandering elf roweth in fragrant spring, the boat in the red
stream. In a previous existence, it must sure have been of fairy form. "You two have daily made a fool of me, and are
you now going to fool her also?" Pao-yü rejoined, smilingly. "Recite them," she smiled, "and I'll
write them down." "The first tattoo is over,"
she laughed. "I'm ready," Pao-yü smiled. "Go on writing." Tai-yü noted it down, and shaking her head, "They begin very smoothly,"
she said, as she smiled. Pao-yü laughingly continued:
To fairyland I speed to seek for spring, and the twelfth moon to find. "It's rather good," they smiled. "They're
ingenious, that's all," she observed. every one also laughed. Speaking the while, they discerned, at a great distance, their
grandmother Chia seated, enveloped in a capacious wrapper, and rolled up
in a warm hood lined with squirrel fur, in a small bamboo sedan-chair
with an open green silk glazed umbrella in her hand. On her approach, old lady Chia smiled. But in the course of her remarks, Li Wan quickly gave orders to a
domestic to fetch a large wolf skin rug, and to spread it in the centre,
so dowager lady Chia made herself comfortable on it. "Just go on as
before with your romping and joking, drinking and eating," she then
laughed. "As the days are so short, I did not venture to have a midday
siesta. "Yes!" Let me hear you, and feel happy. If you do so, well and good. "We were writing verses," answered the whole party. With one voice, they expressed their approval. But after they had jested
for a little time; "It's damp in here;" old lady Chia said, "so don't
you sit long, for mind you might be catching cold. they smiled. "She
could only, we fancy, get it ready by the dragon boat festival next
year." With these words still on her lips, she ensconced herself again in the
bamboo sedan, and closed in or followed by the whole company, she
repaired to the Lotus Fragrance Arbour, where they got into a narrow
passage, flanked on the east as well as the west, with doors from which
they could cross the street. The door they went
in by, on this occasion, lay on the west. On their arrival at the hall, they walked in by the main
entrance, which looked towards the south. "The weather is so bitterly cold," Hsi Ch'un consequently explained
smiling, "that the glue, whose property is mainly to coagulate, cannot
be moistened, so I feared that, were I to have gone on with the
painting, it wouldn't be worth looking at; and I therefore put it away." Produce it at once and go on painting for
me, as quick as you can." she shouted, "You don't even so much as let any one know
to-day, but sneak over stealthily. When old lady Chia saw her join them, she felt filled with delight. "I
was afraid," she rejoined, "that you'd be feeling cold. That's why, I
didn't allow any one to tell you. As she spoke, everybody burst out laughing. "We girls are all here." "My eyes," old lady Chia smiled, "are getting dimmer and dimmer!" So saying, they drew near, and of course, they turned out to be Pao-yü
and Pao-ch'in. "Many thanks for the trouble you've been put to," they, with one voice,
replied. "With all this snow," she observed, "I haven't been over the whole day
to see how you, venerable senior, were getting on. "Last night," Mrs. Hsüeh smiled, "I was thinking of getting from our
Madame Wang to-day the loan of the garden for the nonce and spreading
two tables with our mean wine, and inviting you, worthy senior, to enjoy
the snow; but as I saw that you were having a rest, and I heard, at an
early hour, that Pao-yü had said that you were not in a joyful frame of
mind, I did not, in consequence, presume to come and disturb you to-day. "This is," rejoined dowager lady Chia with a smile, "only the first fall
of snow in the tenth moon. In this way, you will neither have
anything to bother you, aunt, nor will you have a chance of forgetting." "An excellent idea," she laughed. I won't however take any money from you, Mrs. Hsüeh. Mrs. Hsüeh conjectured that the object she had in mind was, in all
probability, to seek a partner for her. The other year, when
they were here, he engaged her to the son of the Hanlin Mei. she
exclaimed, stamping her foot. "What you say isn't opportune! But as she has now long ago been promised to some one, it would
be of no use, were I even to speak out. The next day, the
snowy weather had cleared up. After breakfast, her grandmother Chia
again pressed Hsi Ch'un. "You should go on," she said, "with your
painting, irrespective of cold or heat. After a time, a number of her relatives came, in a body, to watch the
progress of the painting. "Tell them to us first, and let's
have a guess!" Li Ch'i smiled. "In one's conduct, one must press towards the highest benevolence." "You should ponder over the meaning of the three words implying: 'handed
down by ancestors'," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "before you venture a guess." Tai-yü smiled. Li Wan proceeded. "You've succeeded in guessing it," Li Wan smiled. "It is!" answered Li Wan. It refers to a single
word," Li Wan resumed. "The meaning of this is certainly deep," Pao-ch'in put in. Li Ch'i smiled. one and all observed. "Yes," they all replied, "we should also think of some simple ones on
ordinary objects." "But it's really on an ordinary object. So try
and guess it." Saying this, she forthwith went on to recite:
The creeks and valleys it leaves;
Travelling the world, it performs. A conundrum. After protracted
thought, some made a guess, by saying it was a bonze. "All your guesses are wrong," Pao-yü chimed in, after considerable
reflection. "The first part is all right," the party observed, "but how do you
explain the last line?" What time the 'Lang Ya' feast goes past, then mind you take great
care. On the 'fish backs' and the 'three isles' it only makes a name, (a
rotating lantern). So, cousins, please try and guess
them!" they exclaimed in chorus, when they heard the
result of her labour. "Why not write them out, and let us have a look at
them?" But, reader, peruse the next chapter, if you want to learn what follows. CHAPTER LI. A stupid doctor employs, in reckless manner, drugs of great strength. Its fame is spread beyond the seas, scattered in foreign lands. What time were no more thrummed the frozen cords, the songs waxed sad. If not by the plum trees, then by the willows it must be. "The first eight stanzas," she said, "are
founded upon the testimony of the historical works. But as for the last
two stanzas, there's no knowing where they come from. "What she says is perfectly correct," T'an Ch'un chimed in. "She has besides," Li Wan then remarked, "been to these places herself. Pao-ch'ai, after these arguments, dropped at length all discussion. None, however, of their
solutions turned out to be correct. The servants at this stage announced to Madame Wang that Hsi Jen's elder
brother, Hua Tzu-fang, was outside, and reported to her that he had
entered the city to say that his mother was lying in bed dangerously
ill, and that she was so longing to see her daughter that he had come to
beg for the favour of taking Hsi Jen home on a visit. "All right!" acquiesced Chou Jui's wife. But just as she was about to
start, lady Feng continued her injunctions. Her valise,
must be a handsome one; and she must take a decent hand-stove. If you wear this, you'll besides feel cold, so put on one with
long fur." they observed. They are, in fact, matters of no consequence. After hearing her out, the whole party heaved a sigh. P'ing Erh walked away and produced the articles. The one was made of
deep-red felt, and was old. The other was of deep-red soft satin,
neither old nor new. "Yes, we know them all," Mrs. Chou Jui assented. And in the event of our having to stay over, we'll naturally apply
for one or two extra inner rooms." With these words still on her lips, she followed Hsi Jen out of the
apartment. "Quite so," answered the two nurses, agreeing to her directions, after
which, they quitted her presence. When lady Feng heard these arrangements, she nodded her head. But every day that you people are here, I
shall try and enjoy peace and quiet." "My dear girl," She Yüeh laughed, "I'll make the bed, but drop the cover
over that cheval-glass and put the catches right; you are so much taller
than I." So saying, she at once set to work to arrange the bed for Pao-yü. "Warm yourselves,"
he smiled, "I've done all there was to be done." "As far as I'm concerned," Ch'ing Wen put in, "I'm going to sleep in
here. There's She Yüeh, so you'd better induce her to come and sleep
outside." He uttered her name twice, but no one was about
to answer him. proceeding, she then inquired of him. "I want some tea," Pao-yü replied. "My dear girl," Ch'ing Wen interposed smiling, "do give me also a sip." "You put on more airs than ever," She Yüeh laughed. "My dear girl;" Ch'ing Wen added, "to-morrow night, you needn't budge;
I'll wait on you the whole night long. The brilliancy of the moon,
which met her eye, was as limpid as water. she laughed. "It isn't at all that you might do her harm by frightening her," Pao-yü
smiled, "but, in the first place, it wouldn't be good for you to get
frost-bitten; and, in the second, you would take her so much off her
guard that she won't be able to prevent herself from uttering a shout. Pao-yü laughingly exclaimed. Pao-yü urged. "I've had such a fright," she smiled, as she went on speaking. Recounting her experiences, she washed her hands. Had I not been quick in shouting, she would verily have given
you a fright." "There was no need for me to go and frighten her," Ch'ing Wen laughingly
observed. With these words she ensconced herself again under her own coverlet. "Why, of course, she went out like this!" Pao-yü smiled. Saying this, she again raised the copper cover from the brasier, and,
picking up the shovel, she buried the live charcoal deep with ashes, and
taking two bits of incense of Cambodia fragrant wood, she threw them
over them. sighed Pao-yü. The next day, they got up at an early hour. "Be quick," urged Pao-yü, "and don't make a fuss, for your mistress, my
mother, may come to know of it, and bid you also shift to your house and
nurse yourself. Your home might, of course, be all very nice, but it's
in fact somewhat cold. "Go and deliver this message to your senior mistress," he
enjoined her. On her return,
"Our senior mistress," she reported, "has been told everything. "Don't lose your temper," he advised her. But in the middle of his advice to her, a servant came and told him that
the doctor had arrived. The waiting-maids, meanwhile, withdrew out of the way. Yet it's only a slight chill, after
all. But
if she takes a couple of doses of medicine to dispel it with, she'll be
quite right." So saying, he followed once more the matron out of the house. But not
a single girl did he see. "Sir," urged an old nurse, "don't go yet. Our young master is fretful
and there may be, I fancy, something more to ask you." With these words, she took the prescription and wended her way into the
garden. Bundle him off at
once; and send for another, who knows what he's about." "Whether he uses the right medicines or not," the old nurse pleaded, "we
are not in a position to know. "Were one to give him too little, it wouldn't look nice," a matron
ventured. "When Dr. Wang comes," Pao-yü asked, "how much is he given?" This is a fixed annual
custom. As he spoke, he and She Yüeh came together into what was used as a
store-room by Hsi Jen. But, presently they
pulled out the drawer, when they saw, in a small wicker basket, several
pieces of silver, and a steelyard. Then raising the steelyard,
"Which is the one tael mark?" she asked. Pao-yü laughed. he said. "Choose a piece out of those big ones
and give it to him, and have done," he said. She Yüeh, upon hearing this, dropped the steelyard, and selected a
piece, which she weighed in her hand. "This piece," she smiled, "must, I
fancy, be a tael. A matron who stood at the threshold of the door, smilingly chimed in. "This ingot," she said, "weighs five taels. Even if you cut half of it
off, it will weigh a couple of taels, at least. she laughed. "If there's a little more, well, you
take it and finish." "Be quick," Pao-yü remarked, "and tell Pei Ming to go for another
doctor. It will be all right." Presently, Dr. Wang actually arrived, at the invitation of Pei Ming. The only
difference being that there was, in fact, no citrus or sida or other
similar drugs, included in the prescription. They should, it's true, be of a laxative nature, but never over
and above what's needful. You and I resemble the newly-opened white begonia,
Yün Erh sent me in autumn. To look at, the branches and leaves are of
luxuriant growth, but they are hollow at the core." She Yüeh smiled. "Is
it likely, pray, that there are no fir and cypress trees? Speaking, he lost no time in giving orders to a servant to put the
medicines on the fire. And it will be all right if a few of
those pheasants, deer, and every kind of game, be apportioned to them." "I too was just thinking about this," dowager lady Chia observed. "There'll be nothing much to do," lady Feng replied. In here, something may be added;
but in there something will be reduced. Should it even involve a little
trouble, it will be a small matter. In fact, brother Pao himself wouldn't be proof against it. What's
more, none of the various young ladies can boast of a strong
constitution." CHAPTER LII. But let us return to our story. Mrs. Hsüeh, 'sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Yu smiled with one consent. "There are indeed but few like her!" they cried. In fact, she's as genuinely
filial with you, venerable senior." On his arrival
at his quarters, he found the rooms full of the fragrance emitted by the
medicines. When he came to touch it, his hand experienced a scorching sensation. Her body as well was as
hot as fire. But they must
be talking about my having fallen ill, and my not leaving this place to
go home." "P'ing Erh isn't that sort of person," Pao-yü pleaded. "Besides, she had
no idea whatever about your illness, so that she couldn't have come
specially to see how you were getting on. But if you don't go home, it's none of her business. Speaking the while, he, in point of fact, sauntered out of the back
door; and getting below the window, he lent an ear to their confidences. Thirdly, Hsi
Jen as well as yourselves would not also cut a very good figure.' But it's the pearl, which increases its
weight. That's why I
simply tell you. Exercise due care, and it will be all right." With this warning, she bid her farewell and went on her way. Her words delighted, vexed and grieved Pao-yü. Vexed, because Chui Erh had turned out a petty thief. Better for us to show ourselves sensible of
her kindness and by and bye pack the girl off, and finish." When evening came, she had another
couple of doses. The next day, Dr. Wang came again to examine her pulse and
see how she was getting on. "Go and fetch the snuff," Pao-yü said to She Yüeh, "and give it to her
to sniff. Pao-yü speedily raised the cover of the bottle. Pao-yü urged. "If the smell evaporates, it won't be
worth anything." But with no effect. So digging out again a good
quantity of it, she pressed it into her nostrils. she
laughed. "Bring me some paper, quick!" "Well," said Pao-yü smiling, "how are you feeling now?" Saying this, "Go," he
accordingly desired She Yüeh, "to our lady Secunda, and ask her for
some. After which, she took the
medicine, and softening it by the fire, she spread it on them with a
hairpin. Speaking the while, he rose to his feet and left the room with the idea
of repairing to Hsi Ch'un's quarters to have a look at the painting. The moment they caught a glimpse of him, their faces beamed with smiles. they cried. Pao-yü
smiled. So saying, he made himself comfortable on a favourite chair of Tai-yü's
over which was thrown a grey squirrel cover. he exclaimed. Of these, she gave me
a pot of narcissi; and to that girl Yün, a pot of allspice. But if you want them, I'll, in my turn, present
them to you. Pao-yü gave a laugh. "Let's have a meeting to-morrow," he proposed, "for
we've also got the themes. Tai-yü rejoined, upon hearing his proposal. Whenever I indite any, I'm
mulcted. Pao-yü smiled. I'm not afraid of any shame, but, lo, you screen your face." But as far as the verses
go, we could forcibly turn out a few, just by higgledy-piggledy taking
several passages from the 'Canon of Changes,' and inserting them in our
own; but, after all, what fun will there be in that sort of thing? In very truth, even in pictures, there is no one as
beautiful as she. "I've no luck," he
cried, "to see anything like this in the world." she
remarked. "I know well enough that you are not likely, on a visit like
this, to have left any such things of yours at home. You people may believe
what she says, but I, for my part, don't." Drooping her head against her chest, she
gave a faint smile; but she uttered not a word by way of response. "There's a whole heap of trunks and baskets," Pao-ch'ai put in laughing,
"which haven't been yet cleared away. But if you
happen to remember the lines," she pursued, speaking to Pao-ch'in, "why
not recite them for our benefit?" "For a foreign
girl, they're verily very well done." "Don't begin for a while," Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. "Let me send for Yün
Erh, so that she too might hear them." Hsiao Lo gave a smile, and went away. "Be quick, out with it! "We're not going," Pao-ch'ai rejoined. "When
is Hsi Jen, after all, coming back?" she asked. "She'll naturally come back after she has accompanied the funeral,"
Pao-yü retorted. After some moments spent in
abstraction, "Off with you!" she cried. he asked. "Last night," Tai-yü answered, "I was all right; I coughed only twice. "It only now crossed my mind." Saying this, he
approached her and added in a confidential tone: "I think that the
birds' nests sent to you by cousin Pao-chai...."
Barely, however, had he had time to conclude than he spied dame Chao
enter the room to pay Tai-yü a visit. "Miss, have you been all right
these last few days?" she inquired. "Many thanks, dame Chao," she said, "for the trouble of thinking of me,
and for coming in person in this intense cold." Pao-yü grasped her meaning, and forthwith quitted the apartment. "You should awake," she said. If you go out and tell them to get the water for tea ready
for him, while I wake him, it will be all right." she said. "We can summon
them in, after this fire-box has been removed. "That's my idea too," Ch'ing Wen replied. "The weather is dull," Pao-yü replied, "but it isn't snowing yet." This is woven of the down of peacocks, caught in Russia, twisted
into thread. The other day, I presented that one with the wild duck down
to your young female cousin, so I now give you this one." Pao-yü prostrated himself before her, after which he threw the coat over
his shoulders. "Go and let your mother see it before you start," his grandmother
laughingly added. "My mother," he added, "has seen what I've got on. Even did I want to have one made for
you like it now, it would be out of the question." "Don't," she
said, "have too much wine and come back early." "It has been daily under lock and key, so there will be no need for you,
master, to get down from your horse." "Though it be locked up," Pao-yü smiled, "I shall have to dismount all
the same." In the event of our coming across Mr. Lai Ta and our number two Mr. Lin,
they're sure, rather awkward though it be for them to say anything to
their master, to tender you one or two words of advice, but throw the
whole of the blame upon us. Pao-yü speedily pulled in his horse, with the idea of dismounting. Pao-yü stood up on
his stirrup, and, putting on a smile, he took his hand in his, and made
several remarks to him. The moment they espied Pao-yü, they, one
and all, stood along the wall, and dropped their arms against their
sides, with the exception of the head lad, who bending one knee, said:
"My obeisance to you, sir." Pao-yü could not recall to mind his name or surname, but forcing a faint
smile, he nodded his head to and fro. Presently, they egressed from the side-gate. "All he's good for," she cried, "is to squeeze people's money. She Yüeh said, as she
advised her, with a smile. Besides,
they're not the divine pills of 'Lao Chün'. But
the more you work yourself into such a frenzy, the worse you get!" she ejaculated. "They
see well enough that I'm ill, so they make bold and runaway. But by and
bye when I recover, I shall take one by one of you and flay your skin
off for you." Ting Erh, a young maid, was struck with dismay, and ran up to her with
hasty step. "Miss," she inquired, "what's up with you?" "If I don't ask for her, she
won't come. she railed at her. "They don't ply a
needle, and they don't touch any thread! She then pressed Ch'ing Wen, until she
induced her to lie down. He himself gives her orders to
her very face, but she is ever ready to raise objections and not to
budge. "Well, now let's drop this!" At these words, nurse Sung had no alternative but to step out, and to
send for her mother. When she came, she got ready all her effects, and
then came to see Ch'ing Wen and the other girls. "Young ladies," she
said, "what's up? If your niece doesn't behave as she ought to, why,
call her to account. she answered. But
if you, young ladies, aren't agreeable, it's really of no avail. Not to speak of you,
sister-in-law, even Mrs. Lai Ta and Mrs. Lin treat us fairly well. This is one side of the question. And is it for you,
sister-in-law, to come and pick out this fault? From one year's end to
the other, all you do is to simply loaf outside the third door. Yet were she to
simply knock her head, she would acquit herself of a duty, if nothing
more. Chui Erh overheard these words, and felt under the necessity of turning
back. But the
moment she felt more at ease, she saw Pao-yü come back. She Yüeh promptly asked him. Speaking the while, he took it off. She Yüeh, on inspection, found
indeed a hole burnt in it of the size of a finger. "This," she said,
"must have been done by some spark from the hand-stove. It's of no
consequence." "Take this out on the sly," she
bade her, "and let an experienced weaver patch it. It will be all right
then." So saying, she packed it up in a wrapper, and a nurse carried it
outside. "It should be ready by daybreak," she urged. "To-morrow is the very day of the anniversary," Pao-yü rejoined. "Grandmother and my mother bade me put this on and go and pay my visit;
and here I go and burn it, on the first day I wear it. "Bring it here,"
she chimed in, "and let me see it! These words were still on Ch'ing Wen's lips, when the coat was handed to
her. "You needn't go on in this chicken-hearted way!" With this reply, she sat up, and, putting her hair up, she threw
something over her shoulders. In real deed, she
could not stand the strain. She therefore had
perforce to make a supreme effort and, setting her teeth to, she bore
the exertion. "This," she remarked,
"isn't quite like them; but when it's patched up with it, it won't show
very much." "It will do very well," Pao-yü said. Later on, he asked her to
repose herself. Shortly after, he took a pillow and propped her up. she exclaimed, "do go to bed and sleep! She Yüeh put in. "One couldn't detect it, unless one
examined it carefully." "Really,"
he smiled, "it's quite the same thing." "It's mended, it's true," she remarked, "but it does not, after
all, look anything like it. Yet, I cannot stand the effort any more!" But, reader, if you choose to know anything more of her state, peruse
the next chapter. CHAPTER LIII. But to resume our story. Presently, Dr. Wang arrived. After feeling her pulse, his suspicions
were aroused. he exclaimed. cried Ch'ing Wen, from where she was reclining on her pillow. "Dear Mr. Secundus, go and mind your own business! But in the
afternoon, he gave out that he was not feeling up to the mark, and
hurried back to her side again. By this time, the twelfth moon arrived. In the two mansions of Ning
and Jung, inside as well as outside, above as well as below, everything
was, therefore, bustle and confusion. With these words, she presented the tray. The servant-girl signified her obedience, and went away. But shortly
Chia Chen arrived for his meal, and Chia Jung's wife withdrew. "I've sent Jung Erh to-day to go and receive it," Mrs. Yu rejoined. In very truth, therefore, the imperial favour is vast, and
allproviding!" "I didn't receive the money to-day from the
Board of Rites," he replied. (They asked me
to tell you) that they had not seen you for many days, and that they are
really longing for your company." "Go," he then said, "and give it to Lai Sheng so
that he may see its contents and invite the guests. "For a farmer," he remarked, "it has several good
points!" "Pay no heed to the style," urged Chia Jung, also smiling; "but to the
good wishes." Saying this, he speedily opened the list. he cried. But
simply halting in the court, he bumped his head on the ground and paid
his respects. he
smiled. The other day, the weather suddenly turned mild, and with the
thaw that set in, it became so very hard to make any progress that we
wasted several days. Rain set in ever since the third moon, and there it went on incessantly
straight up to the eighth moon. Indeed, the weather hasn't kept fine for
five or six consecutive days. Why, verily these aren't
sufficient to see the new year in with." During the course of the past year or
two, they've had to make up many deficits. And if they don't appeal to
you, to whom can they go?" "It's true," he said, "that in that mansion many
items have been added, but money goes out and money comes in. At these words, Chia Chen smilingly faced Chia Jung and the other
inmates. he exclaimed. Why, even supposing she may at heart entertain any
such wish, she herself cannot possibly adopt independent action. "This is just another devilish trick of that minx Feng!" Chia Chen
smiled. he asked. Those two years you had no work, I gave you plenty of
things too. he cried. Besides you're far away from us, so you're arrogant and audacious. At this announcement, Chia Chen immediately told Chia Jung to go out and
entertain the messengers. "And just say," he added, "that I'm not at
home." The next day, he had, needless to say, still more things to give his
mind to. In the two mansions alike, the gate
guardian gods and scrolls were renovated. These consisted, in fact, of a distinct courtyard on the west side of
the Ning mansion. This too had been executed by Wang, the Grand Tutor. Inside, lanterns and candles burnt with resplendent brightness. Chia Lien and Chia Tsung offered up the strips
of paper. These devotions over,
paper money was burnt; and libations of wine were poured. After the
observance of the prescribed rites, the band stopped, and withdrew. On the right and left of them,
were also arrayed the likenesses of a number of eminent ancestors. These
were arranged in proper order, with due regard to left and right. "Go on, worthy senior!" laughed lady Feng, as she propped old lady Chia. Shortly, the Jung mansion was
reached. The moment dowager lady Chia
ensconced herself into a seat, an old nurse entered and announced that:
"the senior ladies had come to pay their respects." Every inmate, whether high or low, was got up in gala dress. The morrow came. "Make allowances," she said, "for my old age. No table stood below the couch,
but only a high teapoy. If they took her fancy, she kept them at the small
table. But once tasted by her, they were again removed and placed on
their table. Lower
down came Mrs. Yu, Li Wan, lady Feng and Chia Jung's wife. In the way of men, there were
only Chia Ch'in, Chia Yün, Chia Ch'ang and Chia Ling; the four of them
and no others. Each couple
carried a table, so there were in all three tables. Put the table down." Saying this,
she picked up the cash, and loosening the knots, she unstrung them and
piled them on the table. The play was
drawing to a close. The joke
made old lady Chia, and the rest of the company laugh. "What a dreadful, impish child!" Mrs. Hsüeh and the others exclaimed. "This child is only just nine years of age," lady Feng interposed. she shouted. At the end of these words, they flung the contents of the baskets upon
the stage. CHAPTER LIV. The noise of the cash, running on every side of the stage, was all that
fell on the ear. Next they approached Mrs. Hsüeh's table,
and they also replenished her cup. These two ladies lost no time in standing up, and smilingly
expostulating. "Gentlemen," they said, "please take your seats. Chia Lien was behind, and held the kettle up to her. she said. Pao-yü laughed. "Hold on a bit," he rejoined in a low tone, "and I'll go
and do so." "You people had better be going," old lady Chia and the other ladies
unanimously observed. "They'll, then, be more at their ease." The
second watch had not, at the time, yet gone. Mind, the lighted pieces of paper falling from above might
burn you." Pao-yü smiled. "I'm not going far," he answered. "I'm merely going out
of the room, and will be back at once." "Her mother," she
explained, "died the other day; so being in deep mourning, she couldn't
very well present herself." "When one is in service,"
she smilingly remarked, "there should be no question of mourning or no
mourning. But as far as she goes, she's
diligent, and careful of every place. That's why I told her that there was no need for her to
come. "What you say," she promptly
put in, "is perfectly right. Quick, don't send for her! "Yes," resumed dowager lady Chia smiling, after some reflection, "I
remember now. My memory is really not of the best." At this, everybody gave way to laughter. She is,
besides, not a slave-girl, born or bred in the place. "The other day," lady Feng remarked, "Madame Wang presented her with
forty taels; so that was all right." At these words, old lady Chia nodded assent. "Yes, never mind about
that," she observed. "Why,
she joined (Hsi Jen) long ago." The lanterns burnt brightly, yet
not a human voice was audible. "Have they all, forsooth, gone to sleep?" "Let's walk in gently, and give them a fright!" Presently, they stepped, on tiptoe, past the mirrored partition-wall. At
a glance, they discerned Hsi Jen lying on the stove-couch, face to face
with some other girl. rejoined Hsi Jen. When I broke the news to our Madame Wang,
she also gave me forty taels. Hsi
Jen was alone, and down in the mouth, so it's a fortunate thing that she
joined her in such good time." As he spoke, they once more walked out of the court with gentle tread. Pao-yü went to the back of the rockery, and stopping short, he raised
his clothes. "Stoop," they smiled, "and then loosen your clothes! they
inquired. "Pao-yü is here," Ch'ing Wen answered. "But mind, if you bawl and shout
like that, you'll give him a start." Speaking the while, they drew near. "We're taking over," they replied, "some things to the two girls: Miss
Chin and Miss Hua." "Take the lid off," Pao-yü cried, "and let me see what there's inside." "Those two dames are pleasant enough," Pao-yü smiled, "and they know how
to speak decently; but it's they who get quite worn out every day, and
they contrariwise say that you've got ample to do daily. Now, doesn't
this amount to bragging and boasting?" "Those two women," She Yüeh chimed in, "are not bad. Speaking, he made his exit out of the garden gate. "The older you grow," she cried, "the denser you get! "Miss, look at the weather!" While she made this rejoinder, an old matron was, by a strange
coincidence, seen coming along, carrying a jug of hot water. "My dear girl," the matron responded, "this is for our old mistress to
brew tea with. "I don't care whose it is," Ch'iu Wen put in. "If you don't give me any,
I shall certainly empty our old lady's teapot and wash my hands." exclaimed Ch'iu Wen. "With all your years, don't you yet
know what's what? "He's only a youngster,"
she said, "so let him pour the wine! With these words, she quaffed her own cup, leaving no heel-taps. she cried, "you mustn't take any cold wine. "I'm not having any cold wine," Pao-yü replied. "I know you're not," lady Feng smiled, "but I simply warn you." Presently, the soup was brought, and soon after that the 'feast of
lanterns' cakes were handed round. "Those young people," (she said) "are be to pitied! They then can go on again. The play was shortly stopped. "We've got a new story," the two girls explained. "It's about an old
affair of the time of the Five Dynasties, which trod down the T'ang
dynasty." First tell us its general purport, and
if it's interesting, you can continue." "This story," the girl explained, "treats of the time when the T'ang
dynasty was extinguished. There lived then one of the gentry, who had
originally been a denizen of Chin Ling. He had, about this time, pleaded old age
and returned to his home. He had about his knees only one son, called
Wang Hsi-feng." The girl speedily stood up, smiling the while. she observed. This Mr. Li
had no son, but only a daughter. This young daughter's worthy name was
Ch'u Luan. "Your venerable ladyship must really have heard the story before," the
singing-girl smiled. they all exclaimed. From the very first, they
canvass the families of the gentry. This young lady is sure to understand all about
letters, and propriety. She knows every thing and is, in a word, a
peerless beauty. Indeed, what is
said before doesn't accord with what comes afterwards. Isn't it so, eh?" Hence is it that, for
fun's sake, they devise all these yarns. Why, even the
maids themselves don't understand any of this sort of language. "This is just the rule,"
they said, "which should exist in great families. "Enough, that will do!" she
laughed. It has had its origin in this reign, in this
place, in this year, in this moon, on this day and at this very season. But
whether the stones be true or fictitious, don't let us say anything more
about them. Let's have the footlights put in order, and look at the
players. Eh, what do you say?" Saying this, she poured the wine, laughing the while. "There are
people outside; this isn't like any ordinary occasion." "It's the third watch," the matrons replied with alacrity. It would be as well. And if we entertain them, it will he all
right." "Yes, this will be nice!" one and all cried. Assenting, they forthwith rose from table. The married women hastened to
remove the debandade of the banquet. While she assigned a chair to Chia Jung's wife among the lower
seats, put crosswise. "You needn't
come in. We've just sat down, and you'll make us get up again. To-morrow, there are to be some more grand doings!" "But Jung Erh should remain to replenish
the cups," he smiled; "it's only fair that he should." "I forgot all about him." "Yes!" acquiesced Chia Chen. But Jung Erh sit
near your wife, for she and you will then make the pair complete." After lending an ear to her, the married women assented and quitted the
room. "Your venerable ladyship is quite right," Wen Kuan smiled. "Besides, they don't go out to earn money. "You needn't," she added, "make your face up. But if you spare yourselves the least exertion, I shall be
unhappy." "There are some," dowager lady Chia answered. Yea, far better than
this!" When lady Feng saw dowager lady Chia in most exuberant spirits, she
smiled. When
brought, it was handed to the singing girls to put on the table and rap
on it. "I'll tell you what," lady Feng interposed with a smile. Or quick, as when beans are being
sown. In a certain
family," she consequently went on to narrate, "there were ten sons;
these married ten wives. That's why our father and mother-in-law think her
so perfect. 'Let's go to-morrow,' she proposed, 'to
the temple of the King of Hell and burn incense. The eight
listened to her plan, and were quite enraptured with it. they assented. Hastily they fell on
their knees, and pleaded for mercy." "The nine women, with alacrity, told him all." he asked. "At these assurances, the nine women gave way to entreaties. 'There's no difficulty in the way,' he observed. So I (saw) him do
something on the ground, and the junior sister-of-law of yours lap it
up. But if you now wish to become smart and sharp-tongued, the remedy
lies in water. "A joke must hit the point to be amusing," Mrs. Hsüeh ventured. Presently, she began with a smile. While minding her story, they laughed. they cried. "If you want to bully me," Mrs. Yu smiled, "I'll tear that mouth of
yours to pieces." Well, if it is so, I won't go
on." "Proceed with your story," old lady Chia exclaimed with a smile. "Well, after that," she continued
laughingly, "they all sat together and crammed the whole room. "I'll tell you another," lady Feng laughingly remarked. "Why, the men themselves were deaf," lady Feng rejoined. she exclaimed. At this, one and all indulged in renewed merriment. And
pointing at her, "This thing," they cried, "has really a mean tongue." Mrs. Hsüeh, meanwhile, took
Hsiang-yün in her arms. "I'm not afraid," smiled Hsiang-yün. "We've got no one to care a rap for us," lady Feng laughed. "I'm here for you," Mrs. Yu rejoined with a laugh. "Wait till we break up," lady Feng answered laughing, "and we'll go and
let some off in our garden. "The night is long," old lady Chia said, "and
somehow or other I feel peckish." "There's also some congee made with non-glutinous rice and powder of
dates. "If there's any of this, it will do very well," old lady Chia replied. While she spoke, orders were given to remove the remnants of the
banquet, and inside as well as outside; were served every kind of
_recherché_ small dishes. We need not, however, dilate on irrelevant details. In due course, the
festival of the fifteenth of the first moon passed. But, reader, if you
have any curiosity to learn any subsequent events, listen to those given
in the chapter below. CHAPTER LV. "I know
all about their doings," (she said). "When that girl Feng is well enough
to go out, they have some little fear. Yet you, dear child, are one in
whom I can repose complete trust. And should anything unexpected turn up,
just come and tell it to me. But mild weather had now set in, and any complete fittings were quite
superfluous. But after the expiry of three or four days several concerns passed
through her hands, which gave them an opportunity to gradually find out
that T'an Ch'un did not, in smartness and thoroughness, yield to lady
Feng, and that the only difference between them was that she was soft in
speech and gentle in disposition. But just as they were sipping their
tea, they espied Wu Hsin-teng's wife walk in. Li Wan reflected for a while. "The other day," she rejoined, "that Hsi
Jen's mother died, I heard that she was given forty taels. "Come back," shouted T'an Ch'un. "Wait, don't get the money yet," T'an Ch'un remarked. Now if any of
them died at home, how much was allowed them? Hastily forcing a smile,
"This is," she replied, "nothing of any such great consequence. she exclaimed. During her absence, other matters were reported. But in a little while,
Wu Hsin-teng's wife returned with the old accounts. Under these two records, the reasons were assigned. "Give her twenty taels," readily suggested T'an Ch'un. "I never would
presume to do any such thing," she protested. But you haven't as well any face, so don't let's speak of myself." While she spoke, she resumed her seat, and taking up the accounts, she
turned them over for Mrs. Chao to glance at, after which she read them
out to her for her edification. If this reaches Madame Wang's ear, I fear I shall get
into trouble. Li Wan, who stood by, did her best to pacify them with her advice. "Mrs.
Chao," she argued, "don't lose your temper! "Who tells you," she asked, "to give a lift
to any one? You could, my dear girl, well set your mind at ease. Sobbing, she asked the while: "Who's my maternal uncle? Li Wan was much concerned, but she had to continue to exhort them to
desist. Mrs.
Chao hastily forced a saturnine smile, and motioned to her to take a
seat. Upon seeing P'ing Erh enter, Li Wan felt prompted to ask her the object
of her visit. she promptly
demurred. When she gets better and is able to come out, she
can effect whatever additions she fancies." The moment P'ing Erh arrived, she obtained a fair insight (into lady
Feng's designs), so when she heard the present remarks, she grasped a
still more correct idea of things. The other two girls prostrated themselves next to her and handed the
towels and the rest of the toilet things, which consisted of a
looking-glass, rouge and powder. P'ing Erh was the first to speak. she cried. This young lady is, it's true, generous
and lenient, but I'll go and report you to your mistress. But when you
find yourselves in a mess, don't bear me any malice." "I've been rude," she exclaimed. With these words, she
rushed with all despatch out of the room. While doing so, she turned herself towards
P'ing Erh and gave her a cynical smile. "You've come just one step too
late," she remarked. P'ing Erh laughed. But, Miss, don't credit all they say. P'ing Erh laughed a laugh full irony. "So long as you're aware of this,
it's well and good," she said. they ejaculated. While she spoke, she called the woman, who had been with them a few
minutes back, to return into the room. she inquired of her. "I've really got nothing to do," P'ing Erh answered smiling. The fact is, she
bade me come and help the girls wait on you, my lady, and on you, miss." she vociferated. P'ing Erh is standing here, so tell her to go and give
the message." P'ing Erh immediately assented, and issued from the room, bent upon
going on the errand. they smiled. "We've
got some one here, who can do so!" So saying, they dusted one of the stone steps with their handkerchiefs. P'ing Erh took a seat on the step. "It's cold on those
stones," they ventured; "this is, as clean as it can be. So, miss, do
make the best of it, and use it!" P'ing Erh hastily forced a smile. "Many thanks," she replied. Miss, pray moisten your mouth with
some." P'ing Erh lost no time in bending her body forward and taking the cup. But as for you, you'll get at once into endless trouble. P'ing Erh urged again in an undertone. "My dear
ladies, 'when a wall falls, every one gives it a shove.' And how many, many times hasn't she been abused by you?" "She's dreadful," one and all of them rejoined. The other day, we said, in talking matters over,
that things could not go on smoothly from beginning to end, and that
some unpleasantness was bound to happen. The married women ran up to her
and inquired after her health. "Miss," they said, "do rest a little. "I'm not like you people," Ch'iu Wen smiled. With these words on her lips, she was about to go into the hall, when
P'ing Erh quickly called her back. P'ing Erh gently asked. P'ing Erh answered. "Why is it?" P'ing Erh and the other servants then promptly told her the various
reasons. While replying, she immediately rose to her feet and took leave of them. The married women (meanwhile) discussed matters in a confidential
whisper. "Let's do our downright best to save trouble," they argued. In the tea-room, three maids waited with
three basins in hand. The moment they saw the dining-table brought out,
all three walked in. But after a brief interval, they egressed with the
basins and rinsing cups. "When we've
had our rice," she added, "we'll come and relieve you. The married women at length delivered their reports in a quiet and
orderly manner; and as they did not presume to be as contemptuous and
offhandish as they had been before, T'an Ch'un eventually cooled down. Happily, I remembered it
just now, so come back as soon as you've had your meal. P'ing Erh acquiesced and returned to her quarters. P'ing Erh smiled and gave her a full account of what had recently
transpired. P'ing Erh smiled. she remarked. 1 or No. 2 wife. And many of these won't have anything to say
to her, as she is the child, of a No. 2. 1 and No. "I myself entertain fears on the same score," lady Feng smiled. "But,
after all, there will be ample. So with further economies at present, there will be
plenty for all our successive needs. There's Pao-yü, it's true, but he too
is made of the same stuff as the rest of them in here. Besides, she doesn't belong to this
place. But when I think of all this,
I feel quite angry! The other has made up her mind not to
open her month in anything that doesn't concern her. There's only therefore Miss
Tertia, who is as sharp of mind as of tongue. Could I have had my own way, I
would long ere this have packed him out of the place. For if we can afford each other a helping hand, I too won't be
single-handed and alone. In the event consequently of her raising
objections to anything I've done, mind you don't begin any dispute with
her. she smiled. I couldn't, therefore,
but tender you the advice I did. You see how ill I am, and yet
you come to rub me the wrong way. After which, she filled a bowl of rice for her. But, reader, do you wish to follow up the story? If so, listen to the
circumstances detailed in the next chapter. CHAPTER LVI. But let us pick up the clue of our story. P'ing Erh bore lady Feng
company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her
mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an
Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect
stillness. P'ing Erh stepped into the hall. "What was exercising my mind," she thereupon observed, "confines itself
to this. P'ing Erh smiled. "There's a why and a wherefore," she answered. they said. "But as for shirking
the purchases, they don't actually do so. "This accounts for the unhappy state my heart is in," T'an Ch'un
observed. This is the first thing. "It isn't half as big as ours," P'ing Erh laughingly explained. "This is, in very truth, the way wealthy and well-to-do people talk!" "And since everything can be utilised, everything must
be worth money. Secondly, people won't
venture to injure or uselessly waste anything. she cried. Li Wan chimed in. "It remained for you, miss, to put these suggestions in words," P'ing
Erh remarked. "Miss,
speak out; who do you consider fit? "What you say is all very well," T'an Ch'un rejoined, "but it will be
necessary to let your lady know something about it. But as your mistress is full of gumption, I adopted the course I did. With this response, she went on the errand; and only returned after a
long lapse of time. "I said," she laughed, "that it would be perfectly
useless for me to go. At this answer, P'ing Erh allowed the subject to drop. P'ing Erh speedily went and
fetched a pen and inkslab. "This old mother Chu," the trio observed, "is a trustworthy woman. "Things in the Heng Wu garden are in a worse state," Li Wan hastily
interposed. As for the I Hung court, we needn't mention other things, but
only take into account the roses that bud during the two seasons of
spring and summer; to how many don't they amount in all? "Her mother is well-versed in these things. exclaimed the trio, in utter astonishment. "It will on no account do," Pao-ch'ai added. In the event too of any
one making any mean insinuations, the blame won't fall on our shoulders. P'ing Erh rejoined a smile playing,
about her lips. As for the profits, we'll
settle accounts at the close of the year." This is
an old custom. In this wise, you too will have such
articles as will be fit for use. And you people will have a grievance, but you won't have anywhere
to go and confide it. "It is better," they said, "than to be
obliged to go out and be squeezed by them; and to have to fork out our
own money as well." And if you do so, will they have any
occasion to bully you? "What you say is
quite right," they replied. "From this time forth you, miss, and you,
our lady, can well compose your minds. "The family of the Chen mansion of Chiang Nan," she
explained, "arrived in the capital yesterday. To-day, they're going into
the palace to offer their congratulations. While she spoke, she produced the list of presents and handed it up. On their arrival, the presents were passed under review;
and this over, Li Wan put them aside. "We entered the
capital yesterday," they answered. That's why she bade us come
and give you their compliments, and see how the young ladies are getting
on." they said. "Only our lady has
come, together with Miss Tertia." "Not yet," rejoined the quartet. "Yes, they are," replied the four women with a smile. In addition to this, they're old
relatives. "Yes, he has also come with our old mistress," the four women retorted. "He's thirteen this year," the four women said by way of response. But as we hadn't come to
the capital for ten years or so, we couldn't remember." The married women and maids assented and approached several steps. The married women, upon hearing her orders, promptly went off. After a
while, they entered the room pressing round Pao-yü. The moment the four
dames caught sight of him, they speedily rose to their feet. they exclaimed smilingly. Had it been
that fellow of ours, he would have simply called us fools. Not to speak
of taking his hand in ours, why we daren't even slightly move any of his
things. That's why, those who wait on him are invariably young girls." "Let's also send some one now," she said,
"to have a look at your Pao-yü. When his hand is taken, he too is sure
to make an effort to put up with it. "Your words
venerable lady," they exclaimed, "are quite correct. There is no
one, therefore, who sees him without falling in love with him. Can this ever do?...." Pao-yü exclaimed. "This matter of names is all well enough," Pao-yü rejoined with a smile. "But as it happens, his very appearance is the counterpart of mine. Saying this, she lay herself down. "If I say," he cogitated, "that there can't be one, there seems from all
appearances to be one. And if I say that there is one, I haven't, on the
other hand, seen him with my own eyes." Finding himself (in his dream) in some garden or other, Pao-yü was
seized with astonishment. With
hasty step, he consequently drew near them, and returned their smiles. "I got here," he answered, "quite listlessly. What old family friend's
garden is this, I wonder? But sisters, pray, take me for a stroll." they exclaimed, "this isn't
our Pao-yü. he eagerly cried, "is there
actually a second Pao-yü in here?" urged another maid, as she smiled. With these words on her lips, they straightway walked off. These words fell on Pao-yü's ears, and took him quite aback. But after much difficulty, I succeeded in penetrating
into his room. he laughingly asked. Pao-yü rejoined. "It's reality, yea,
nothing but reality!" The other promptly began to shout, "Pao-yü! she laughed. Hsi Jen laughed. "You're under the delusion of a dream," she said. But, presently, a maid handed him a rince-bouche and tea and
salt, and he washed his mouth. END OF BOOK II. One person,
speaking, quotes another person, speaking. A few other corrections to
punctuation are noted below, but most are not. The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, was
used as the authority for spellings. Chap. _not_ tael." _not_
stomachaches. _not_ temple. _not_ curtains. _not_ enough. _not_ feed.' _not_ matter."