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diff --git a/9604-0.txt b/9604-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc27555 --- /dev/null +++ b/9604-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,28743 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hung Lou Meng, Book II, by Cao Xueqin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: Hung Lou Meng, Book II + +Author: Cao Xueqin + +Release Date: October 9, 2003 [EBook #9604] +[Most recently updated: September 27, 2020] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HUNG LOU MENG, BOOK II *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +Hung Lou Meng, Book II + +OR, THE DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER, A CHINESE NOVEL IN TWO BOOKS + +by Cao Xueqin + + +Translated by H. BENCRAFT JOLY + +H.B.M. CONSULAR SERVICE, CHINA. + + + + +BOOK II + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +By a demoniacal art, a junior uncle and an elder brother's wife (Pao-yü +and lady Feng) come across five devils. +The gem of Spiritual Perception meets, in a fit of torpor, the two +perfect men. + +Hsiao Hung, the story continues, was much unsettled in her mind. Her +thoughts rolled on in one connected string. But suddenly she became +drowsy, and falling asleep, she encountered Chia Yün, who tried to +carry out his intention to drag her near him. She twisted herself +round, and endeavoured to run away; but was tripped over by the +doorstep. This gave her such a start that she woke up. Then, at length, +she realised that it was only a dream. But so restlessly did she, in +consequence of this fright, keep on rolling and tossing that she could +not close her eyes during the whole night. As soon as the light of the +next day dawned, she got up. Several waiting-maids came at once to tell +her to go and sweep the floor of the rooms, and to bring water to wash +the face with. Hsiao Hung did not even wait to arrange her hair or +perform her ablutions; but, turning towards the looking-glass, she +pinned her chevelure up anyhow; and, rinsing her hands, and, tying a +sash round her waist, she repaired directly to sweep the apartments. + +Who would have thought it, Pao-yü also had set his heart upon her the +moment he caught sight of her the previous day. Yet he feared, in the +first place, that if he mentioned her by name and called her over into +his service, Hsi Jen and the other girls might feel the pangs of +jealousy. He did not, either in the second place, have any idea what +her disposition was like. The consequence was that he felt downcast; so +much so, that when he got up at an early hour, he did not even comb his +hair or wash, but simply remained seated, and brooded in a state of +abstraction. After a while, he lowered the window. Through the gauze +frame, from which he could distinctly discern what was going on +outside, he espied several servant-girls, engaged in sweeping the +court. All of them were rouged and powdered; they had flowers inserted +in their hair, and were grandly got up. 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. Under the +pretence of admiring the flowers, he glanced, now towards the east; now +towards the west. But upon raising his head, he descried, in the +southwest corner, some one or other leaning by the side of the railing +under the covered passage. A crab-apple tree, however, obstructed the +view and he could not see distinctly who it was, so advancing a step +further in, he stared with intent gaze. 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. Just as he was cogitating +within himself, he, of a sudden, perceived Pi Hen come and ask him to +go and wash his face. This reminder placed him under the necessity of +betaking himself into his room. But we will leave him there, without +further details, so as to return to Hsiao Hung. + +She was communing with her own thoughts. But unawares perceiving Hsi +Jen wave her hand and call her by name, she had to walk up to her. + +"Our watering-pot is spoilt," Hsi Jen smiled and said, "so go to Miss +Lin's over there and find one for us to use." + +Hsiao Hung hastened on her way towards the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan. + +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. + +At a great distance off, a band of men were, in very deed, engaged in +digging up the soil, while Chia Yün was seated on a boulder on the +hill, superintending the works. The time came for Hsiao Hung to pass +by, but she could not muster the courage to do so. Nevertheless she had +no other course than to quietly proceed to the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan. Then +getting the watering-pot, she sped on her way back again. But being in +low spirits, she retired alone into her room and lay herself down. One +and all, however, simply maintained that she was out of sorts, so they +did not pay any heed to her. + +A day went by. On the morrow fell, in fact, the anniversary of the +birth of Wang Tzu-t'eng's spouse, and some one was despatched from his +residence to come and invite dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang. Madame +Wang found out however that dowager lady Chia would not avail herself +of the invitation, and neither would she go. So Mrs. Hsüeh went along +with lady Feng, and the three sisters of the Chia family, and Pao-ch'ai +and Pao-yü, and only returned home late in the evening. + +Madame Wang was sitting in Mrs. Hsüeh's apartments, whither she had +just crossed, when she perceived Chia Huan come back from school, and +she bade him transcribe incantations out of the Chin Kang Canon and +intonate them. Chia Huan accordingly came and seated himself on the +stove-couch, occupied by Madame Wang, and, directing a servant to light +the candles, he started copying in an ostentatious and dashing manner. +Now he called Ts'ai Hsia to pour a cup of tea for him. Now he asked Yu +Ch'uan to take the scissors and cut the snuff of the wick. "Chin +Ch'uan!" 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. Ts'ai +Hsia was the only one who still got on well with him, so pouring a cup +of tea, she handed it to him. But she felt prompted to whisper to him: +"Keep quiet a bit! what's the use of making people dislike you?" + +"I know myself how matters stand," Chia Huan rejoined, as he cast a +steady glance at her; "so don't you try and befool me! Now that you are +on intimate terms with Pao-yü, you don't pay much heed to me. I've also +seen through it myself." + +Ts'ai Hsiao set her teeth together, and gave him a fillip on the head. +"You heartless fellow!" she cried. "You're like the dog, that bit Lü +T'ung-pin. You have no idea of what's right and what's wrong!" + +While these two nagged away, they noticed lady Feng and Madame Wang +cross together over to them. Madame Wang at once assailed him with +questions. She asked him how many ladies had been present on that day, +whether the play had been good or bad, and what the banquet had been +like. + +But a brief interval over, Pao-yü too appeared on the scene. After +saluting Madame Wang, he also made a few remarks, with all decorum; and +then bidding a servant remove his frontlet, divest him of his long gown +and pull off his boots, he rushed head foremost, into his mother's lap. + +Madame Wang caressed and patted him. But while Pao-yü clung to his +mother's neck, he spoke to her of one thing and then another. + +"My child," said Madame Wang, "you've again had too much to drink; your +face is scalding hot, and if you still keep on rubbing and scraping it, +why, you'll by and bye stir up the fumes of wine! Don't you yet go and +lie down quietly over there for a little!" + +Chiding him the while, she directed a servant to fetch a pillow. Pao-yü +therefore lay himself down at the back of Madame Wang, and called Ts'ai +Hsia to come and stroke him. + +Pao-yü then began to bandy words with Ts'ai Hsia. But perceiving that +Ts'ai Hsia was reserved, and, that instead of paying him any attention, +she kept her eyes fixed upon Chia Huan, Pao-yü eagerly took her hand. +"My dear girl!" he said; "do also heed me a little;" and as he gave +utterance to this appeal, he kept her hand clasped in his. + +Ts'ai Hsia, however, drew her hand away and would not let him hold it. +"If you go on in this way," she vehemently exclaimed, "I'll shout out +at once." + +These two were in the act of wrangling, when verily Chia Huan overheard +what was going on. He had, in fact, all along hated Pao-yü; so when on +this occasion, he espied him up to his larks with Ts'ai Hsia, he could +much less than ever stifle feelings of resentment in his heart. After +some reflection, therefore, an idea suggested itself to his mind, and +pretending that it was by a slip of the hand, he shoved the candle, +overflowing with tallow, into Pao-yü's face. + +"Ai ya!" Pao-yü was heard to exclaim. Every one in the whole room was +plunged in consternation. With precipitate haste, the lanterns, +standing on the floor, were moved over; and, with the first ray of +light, they discovered that Pao-yü's face was one mass of tallow. + +Madame Wang gave way to anger as well as anxiety. At one time, she +issued directions to the servants to rub and wash Pao-yü clean. At +another, she heaped abuse upon Chia Huan. + +Lady Feng jumped on to the stone-couch by leaps and bounds. But while +intent upon removing the stuff from Pao-yü's face, she simultaneously +ejaculated: "Master Tertius, are you still such a trickster! I'll tell +you what, you'll never turn to any good account! Yet dame Chao should +ever correct and admonish him." + +This single remark suggested the idea to Madame Wang, and she lost no +time in sending for Mrs. Chao to come round. + +"You bring up," she berated her, "such a black-hearted offspring like +this, and don't you, after all, advise and reprove him? 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!" + +Mrs. Chao had no alternative but to suppress every sense of injury, +silence all grumblings, and go herself and lend a hand to the others in +tidying Pao-yü. 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. + +When Madame Wang's attention was drawn to them she felt her heart sore. +It fell a prey to fears also lest when dowager lady Chia made any +inquiries about them she should find it difficult to give her any +satisfactory reply. And so distressed did she get that she gave Mrs. +Chao another scolding. But while she tried to comfort Pao-yü, she, at +the same time, fetched some powder for counteracting the effects of the +virus, and applied it on his face. + +"It's rather sore," said Pao-yü, "but it's nothing to speak of. +Tomorrow when my old grandmother asks about it, I can simply explain +that I scalded it myself; that will be quite enough to tell her." + +"If you say that you scalded it yourself," lady Feng observed, "why, +she'll also call people to task for not looking out; and a fit of rage +will, beyond doubt, be the outcome of it all." + +Madame Wang then ordered the servants to take care and escort Pao-yü +back to his room. On their arrival, Hsi Jen and his other attendants +saw him, and they were all in a great state of flurry. + +As for Lin Tai-yü, when she found that Pao-yü had gone out of doors, +she continued the whole day a prey to ennui. In the evening, she +deputed messengers two and three times to go and inquire about him. But +when she came to know that he had been scalded, she hurried in person +to come and see him. She then discovered Pao-yü all alone, holding a +glass and scanning his features in it; while the left side of his face +was plastered all over with some medicine. + +Lin Tai-yü imagined that the burn was of an extremely serious nature, +and she hastened to approach him with a view to examine it. Pao-yü, +however, screened his face, and, waving his hand, bade her leave the +room; for knowing her usual knack for tidiness he did not feel inclined +to let her get a glimpse of his face. Tai-yü then gave up the attempt, +and confined herself to asking him: "whether it was very painful?" + +"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. But in spite of his +confession that he himself was responsible for the scalding of his +face, his grandmother could not refrain from reading another lecture to +the servants who had been in attendance. + +A day after, Ma, a Taoist matron, whose name was recorded as Pao-yü's +godmother, came on a visit to the mansion. Upon perceiving Pao-yü, she +was very much taken aback, and asked all about the circumstances of the +accident. When he explained that he had been scalded, she forthwith +shook her head and heaved a sigh; then while making with her fingers a +few passes over Pao-yü's face, she went on to mutter incantations for +several minutes. "I can guarantee that he'll get all right," she added, +"for this is simply a sadden and fleeting accident!" + +Turning towards dowager lady Chia: "Venerable ancestor," she observed, +"Venerable Buddha! how could you ever be aware of the existence of the +portentous passage in that Buddhistic classic, 'to the effect that a +son of every person, who holds the dignity of prince, duke or high +functionary, has no sooner come into the world and reached a certain +age than numerous evil spirits at once secretly haunt him, and pinch +him, when they find an opportunity; or dig their nails into him; or +knock his bowl of rice down, during, meal-time; or give him a shove and +send him over, while he is quietly seated.' So this is the reason why +the majority of the sons and grandsons of those distinguished families +do not grow up to attain manhood." + +Dowager lady Chia, upon hearing her speak in this wise, eagerly asked: +"Is there any Buddhistic spell, by means of which to check their +influence or not?" + +"This is an easy job!" 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. That canon further explains: 'that in the western part of +the world there is a mighty Buddha, whose glory illumines all things, +and whose special charge is to cast his lustre on the evil spirits in +dark places; that if any benevolent man or virtuous woman offers him +oblations with sincerity of heart, he is able to so successfully +perpetuate the peace and quiet of their sons and grandsons that these +will no more meet with any calamities arising from being possessed by +malevolent demons.'" + +"But what, I wonder," inquired dowager lady Chia, "could be offered to +this god?" + +"Nothing of any great value," answered the Taoist matron, Ma. +"Exclusive of offerings of scented candles, several catties of scented +oil can be added, each day, to keep the lantern of the Great Sea +alight. This 'Great Sea' lantern is the visible embodiment and +Buddhistic representation of this divinity, so day and night we don't +venture to let it go out!" + +"For a whole day and a whole night," asked dowager lady Chia, "how much +oil is needed, so that I too should accomplish a good action?" + +"There is really no limit as to quantity. It rests upon the goodwill of +the donor," Ma, the Taoist matron, put in by way of reply. "In my +quarters, for instance, I have several lanterns, the gifts of the +consorts of princes and the spouses of high officials living in various +localities. The consort of the mansion of the Prince of Nan Au has been +prompted in her beneficence by a liberal spirit; she allows each day +forty-eight catties of oil, and a catty of wick; so that her 'Great +Sea' lamp is only a trifle smaller than a water-jar. The spouse of the +marquis of Chin Hsiang comes next, with no more than twenty catties a +day. Besides these, there are several other families; some giving ten +catties; some eight catties; some three; some five; subject to no fixed +rule; and of course I feel bound to keep the lanterns alight on their +behalf." + +Dowager lady Chia nodded her head and gave way to reflection. + +"There's still another thing," continued the Taoist matron, Ma. "If it +be on account of father or mother or seniors, any excessive donation +would not matter. But were you, venerable ancestor, to bestow too much +in your offering for Pao-yü, our young master won't, I fear, be equal +to the gift; and instead of being benefited, his happiness will be +snapped. If you therefore want to make a liberal gift seven catties +will do; if a small one, then five catties will even be sufficient." + +"Well, in that case," responded dowager lady Chia, "let us fix upon +five catties a day, and every month come and receive payment of the +whole lump sum!" + +"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed Ma, the Taoist matron, "Oh merciful, and mighty +P'u Sa!" + +Dowager lady Chia then called the servants and impressed on their minds +that whenever Pao-yü went out of doors in the future, they should give +several strings of cash to the pages to bestow on charity among the +bonzes and Taoist priests, and the poor and needy they might meet on +the way. + +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. After the two ladies had +exchanged salutations, Mrs. Chao bade a young servant-girl hand her +guest a cup of tea. While Mrs. Chao busied herself pasting shoes, Ma, +the Taoist matron, espied, piled up in a heap on the stove-couch, +sundry pieces of silks and satins. "It just happens," she consequently +remarked, "that I have no facings for shoes, so my lady do give me a +few odd cuttings of silk and satin, of no matter what colour, to make +myself a pair of shoes with." + +Mrs. Chao heaved a sigh. "Look," she said, "whether there be still +among them any pieces good for anything. But anything that's worth +anything doesn't find its way in here. If you don't despise what's +worthless, you're at liberty to select any two pieces and to take them +away, and have done." + +The Taoist matron, Ma, chose with alacrity several pieces and shoved +them in her breast. + +"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?" + +"I've offered them long ago for you," the Taoist matron Ma rejoined. + +"O-mi-to-fu!" ejaculated Mrs. Chao with a sigh, "were I a little better +off, I'd also come often and offer gifts; but though my will be +boundless, my means are insufficient!" + +"Don't trouble your mind on this score," suggested Ma, the Taoist +matron. "By and bye, when Mr. Huan has grown up into a man and obtained +some official post or other, will there be then any fear of your not +being able to afford such offerings as you might like to make?" + +At these words Mrs. Chao gave a smile. "Enough, enough!" she cried. +"Don't again refer to such contingencies! the present is a fair +criterion. For up to whom in this house can my son and I come? Pao-yü +is still a mere child; but he is such that he wins people's love. Those +big people may be partial to him, and love him a good deal, I've +nothing to say to it; but I can't eat humble pie to this sort of +mistress!" + +While uttering this remark, she stretched out her two fingers. + +Ma, the Taoist matron, understood the meaning she desired to convey. +"It's your lady Secunda, Lien, eh?" she forthwith asked. + +Mrs. Chao was filled with trepidation. Hastily waving her hand, she got +to her feet, raised the portiere, and peeped outside. Perceiving that +there was no one about, she at length retraced her footsteps. +"Dreadful!" she then said to the Taoist matron. "Dreadful! But speaking +of this sort of mistress, I'm not so much as a human being, if she +doesn't manage to shift over into her mother's home the whole of this +family estate." + +"Need you tell me this!" Ma, the Taoist matron, at these words, +remarked with a view to ascertain what she implied. "Haven't I, +forsooth, discovered it all for myself? Yet it's fortunate that you +don't trouble your minds about her; for it's far better that you should +let her have her own way." + +"My dear woman," rejoined Mrs. Chao, "Not let her have her own way! +why, is it likely that any one would have the courage to tell her +anything?" + +"I don't mean to utter any words that may bring upon me retribution," +added Ma, the Taoist matron, "but you people haven't got the wits. But +it's no matter of surprise. Yet if you daren't openly do anything, why, +you could stealthily have devised some plan. And do you still tarry up +to this day?" + +Mrs. Chao realised that there lurked something in her insinuation, and +she felt an inward secret joy. "What plan could I stealthily devise?" +she asked. "I've got the will right enough, but I'm not a person gifted +with this sort of gumption. So were you to impart to me some way or +other, I would reward you most liberally." + +When the Taoist matron, Ma, heard this, she drew near to her. +"O-mi-to-fu! desist at once from asking me!" she designedly exclaimed. +"How can I know anything about such matters, contrary as they are to +what is right?" + +"There you are again!" Mrs. Chao replied. "You're one ever most ready +to succour those in distress, and to help those in danger, and is it +likely that you'll quietly look on, while some one comes and compasses +my death as well as that of my son? Are you, pray, fearful lest I +shouldn't give you any reward?" + +Ma, the Taoist matron, greeted this remark with a smile. "You're right +enough in what you say," she ventured, "of my being unable to bear the +sight of yourself and son receiving insult from a third party; but as +for your mention of rewards, why, what's there of yours that I still +covet?" + +This answer slightly reassured Mrs. Chao's mind. "How is it," she +speedily urged, "that an intelligent person like you should have become +so dense? If, indeed, the spell prove efficacious, and we exterminate +them both, is there any apprehension that this family estate won't be +ours? and when that time comes, won't you get all you may wish?" + +At this disclosure, Ma, the Taoist matron, lowered her head for a long +time. "When everything," she observed, "shall have been settled +satisfactorily, and when there'll be, what's more, no proof at all, +will you still pay any heed to me?" + +"What's there hard about this?" remarked Mrs. Chao. "I've saved several +taels from my own pin-money, and have besides a good number of clothes +and head-ornaments. So you can first take several of these away with +you. And I'll further write an I.O.U., and entrust it to you, and when +that time does come, I'll pay you in full." + +"That will do!" answered the Taoist matron, Ma. + +Mrs. Chao thereupon dismissed even a young servant-girl, who happened +to be in the room, and hastily opening a trunk, she produced several +articles of clothing and jewelry, as well as a few odd pieces of silver +from her own pocket-money. Then also writing a promissory note for +fifty taels, she surrendered the lot to Ma, the Taoist matron. "Take +these," she said, "in advance for presents in your temple." + +At the sight of the various articles and of the promissory note, the +Taoist matron became at once unmindful of what was right and what was +wrong; and while her mouth was full of assent, she stretched out her +arm, and first and foremost laid hold of the hard cash, and next +clutched the I.O.U. Turning then towards Mrs. Chao, she asked for a +sheet of paper; and taking up a pair of scissors, she cut out two human +beings and gave them to Mrs. Chao, enjoining her to write on the upper +part of them the respective ages of the two persons in question. +Looking further for a sheet of blue paper, she cut out five blue-faced +devils, which she bade her place together side by side with the paper +men, and taking a pin she made them fast. "When I get home," she +remarked, "I'll have recourse to some art, which will, beyond doubt, +prove efficacious." + +When she however had done speaking, she suddenly saw Madame Wang's +waiting-maid make her appearance inside the room. "What! my dame, are +you in here!" the girl exclaimed. "Why, our lady is waiting for you!" + +The two dames then parted company. + +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. Next, +she busied herself a little with needlework, in company with Tzu Chuan. +She felt however thoroughly dejected and out of sorts. So she strolled +out of doors along with her. But catching sight of the newly sprouted +bamboo shoots, in front of the pavilion, they involuntarily stepped out +of the entrance of the court, and penetrated into the garden. They cast +their eyes on all four quarters; but not a soul was visible. When they +became conscious of the splendour of the flowers and the chatter of the +birds, they, with listless step, turned their course towards the I Hung +court. There they found several servant-girls baling out water; while a +bevy of them stood under the verandah, watching the thrushes having +their bath. They heard also the sound of laughter in the rooms. + +The fact is that Li Kung-ts'ai, lady Feng, and Pao-ch'ai were assembled +inside. As soon as they saw them walk in, they with one voice shouted, +smiling: "Now, are not these two more!" + +"We are a full company to-day," laughed Tai-yü, "but who has issued the +cards and invited us here?" + +"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. It's not up to +what we ordinarily drink." + +"To my taste, it's all right," put in Tai-yü. "But what your palates +are like, I can't make out." + +"As you say it's good," suggested Pao-yü, "you're quite at liberty to +take all I have for your use." + +"I've got a great deal more of it over there," lady Feng remarked. + +"I'll tell a servant-girl to go and fetch it," Tai-yü replied. + +"No need," lady Feng went on. "I'll send it over with some one. I also +have a favour to ask of you to-morrow, so I may as well tell the +servant to bring it along at the same time." + +When Lin Tai-yü heard these words, she put on a smile. "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!" + +"Since you've had some of our tea," lady Feng laughed, "how is it that +you have not yet become a wife in our household?" + +The whole party burst out laughing aloud. So much so, that they found +it difficult to repress themselves. But Tai-yü's face was suffused with +blushes. She turned her head the other way, and uttered not a word. + +"Our sister-in-law Secunda's jibes are first-rate!" Pao-ch'ai chimed in +with a laugh. + +"What jibes!" exclaimed Tai-yü; "they're purely and simply the prattle +of a mean mouth and vile tongue! They're enough to evoke people's +displeasure!" + +Saying this, she went on to sputter in disgust. + +"Were you," insinuated lady Feng, "to become a wife in my family, what +is there that you would lack?" Pointing then at Pao-yü, "Look here!" +she cried—"Is not this human being worthy of you? Is not his station in +life good enough for you? Are not our stock and estate sufficient for +you? and in what slight degree can he make you lose caste?" + +Tai-yü rose to her feet, and retired immediately. But Pao-ch'ai shouted +out: "Here's P'in Erh in a huff! Don't you yet come back? when you've +gone, there will really be no fun!" + +While calling out to her, she jumped up to pull her back. As soon, +however, as she reached the door of the room, she beheld Mrs. Chao, +accompanied by Mrs. Chou; both coming to look up Pao-yü. Pao-yü and his +companions got up in a body and pressed them into a seat. Lady Feng was +the sole person who did not heed them. + +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." + +Li Kung-ts'ai hurriedly walked away in company with lady Feng. The two +dames, Mrs. Chao and Mrs. Chou, in like manner took their leave and +quitted the room. + +"As for me, I can't go out," Pao-yü shouted. "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." + +Lady Feng overheard him. Turning her head towards Lin Tai-yü, "There's +some one," she cried; "who wants to speak to you." And forthwith laying +hold of Lin Tai-yü, she pushed her back and then trudged away, along +with Li Kung-ts'ai. + +During this time, Pao-yü clasped Tai-yü's hand in his. He did nothing +than smile. But not a word did he utter. Tai-yü naturally, therefore, +got crimson in the face, and struggled to escape his importunities. + +"Ai-ya!" exclaimed Pao-yü. "How my head is sore!" + +"It should be!" rejoined Tai-yü. "O-mi-to-fu." + +Pao-yü then gave vent to a loud shout. His body bounced three or four +feet high from the ground. His mouth was full of confused shrieks. But +all he said was rambling talk. + +Tai-yü and the servant-girls were full of consternation, and, with all +possible haste, they ran and apprised Madame Wang and dowager lady +Chia. + +Wang Tzu-t'eng's wife was, at this time, also with them, so they all +came in a body to see him. Pao-yü behaved more and more as if +determined to clutch a sword or seize a spear to put an end to his +existence. He raged in a manner sufficient to subvert the heavens and +upset the earth. + +As soon as dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang caught sight of him, they +were struck with terror. They trembled wildly like a piece of clothing +that is being shaken. Uttering a shout of: "My son," and another of: +"My flesh," they burst out into a loud fit of crying. Presently, all +the inmates were seized with fright. Even Chia She, Madame Hsing, Chia +Cheng, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Jung, Chia Yün, Chia P'ing, Mrs. +Hsüeh, Hsüeh P'an, Chou Jui's wife, and the various members of the +household, whether high or low, and the servant-girls and married women +too, rushed into the garden to see what was up. + +The confusion that prevailed was, at the moment, like entangled flax. +Every one was at a loss what to do, when they espied lady Feng dash +into the garden, a glistening sword in hand, and try to cut down +everything that came in her way, ogle vacantly whomsoever struck her +gaze, and make forthwith an attempt to despatch them. A greater panic +than ever broke out among the whole assemblage. But placing herself at +the head of a handful of sturdy female servants, Chou Jui's wife +precipitated herself forward, and clasping her tight, they succeeded in +snatching the sword from her grip, and carrying her back into her room. + +P'ing Erh, Feng Erh, and the other girls began to weep. They invoked +the heavens and appealed to the earth. Even Chia Cheng was distressed +at heart. One and all at this stage started shouting, some, one thing; +some, another. Some suggested exorcists. Some cried out for the +posture-makers to attract the devils. Others recommended that Chang, +the Taoist priest, of the Yü Huang temple, should catch the evil +spirits. A thorough turmoil reigned supreme for a long time. The gods +were implored. Prayers were offered. Every kind of remedy was tried, +but no benefit whatever became visible. + +After sunset, the spouse of Wang Tzu-t'eng said good-bye and took her +departure. On the ensuing day, Wang Tzu-t'eng himself also came to make +inquiries. Following closely upon him, arrived, in a body, messengers +from the young marquis Shih, Madame Hsing's young brother, and their +various relatives to ascertain for themselves how (lady Feng and +Pao-yü) were progressing. Some brought charm-water. Some recommended +bonzes and Taoist priests. Others spoke highly of doctors. But that +young fellow and his elder brother's wife fell into such greater and +greater stupor that they lost all consciousness. Their bodies were hot +like fire. As they lay prostrate on their beds, they talked +deliriously. With the fall of the shades of night their condition +aggravated. So much so, that the matrons and servant-girls did not +venture to volunteer their attendance. They had, therefore, to be both +moved into Madame Wang's quarters, where servants were told off to take +their turn and watch them. + +Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang, Madame Hsing and Mrs. Hsüeh did not +budge an inch or a step from their side. They sat round them, and did +nothing but cry. Chia She and Chia Cheng too were a prey, at this +juncture, to misgivings lest weeping should upset dowager lady Chia. +Day and night oil was burnt and fires were, mindless of expense, kept +alight. The bustle and confusion was such that no one, either master or +servant, got any rest. + +Chia She also sped on every side in search of Buddhist and Taoist +priests. But Chia Cheng had witnessed how little relief these things +could afford, and he felt constrained to dissuade Chia She from his +endeavours. "The destiny," he argued, "of our son and daughter is +entirely dependent upon the will of Heaven, and no human strength can +prevail. The malady of these two persons would not be healed, even were +every kind of treatment tried, and as I feel confident that it is the +design of heaven that things should be as they are, all we can do is to +allow it to carry out its purpose." + +Chia She, however, paid no notice to his remonstrances and continued as +hitherto to fuss in every imaginable way. In no time three days +elapsed. Lady Feng and Pao-yü were still confined to their beds. Their +very breaths had grown fainter. The whole household, therefore, +unanimously arrived at the conclusion that there was no hope, and with +all despatch they made every necessary preparation for the subsequent +requirements of both their relatives. + +Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang, Chia Lien, P'ing Erh, Hsi Jen and the +others indulged in tears with keener and keener anguish. They hung +between life and death. Mrs. Chao alone was the one who assumed an +outward sham air of distress, while in her heart she felt her wishes +gratified. + +The fourth day arrived. At an early hour Pao-yü suddenly opened his +eyes and addressed himself to his grandmother Chia. "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. This +young man has been long ago of no good; so wouldn't it be as well to +dress him up and let him go back a moment sooner from this world. +You'll also be thus sparing him considerable suffering. But, if you +persist, in not reconciling yourself to the separation and this breath +of his is not cut off, he will lie there and suffer without any +respite…." + +Her arguments were scarcely ended, when she was spat upon by dowager +lady Chia. "You rotten-tongued, good-for-nothing hag!" she cried +abusively. "What makes you fancy him of no good! You wish him dead and +gone; but what benefit will you then derive? Don't give way to any +dreams; for, if he does die, I'll just exact your lives from you! It's +all because you've been continuously at him, inciting and urging him to +read and write, that his spirit has become so intimidated that, at the +sight of his father, he behaves just like a rat trying to get out of +the way of a cat! And is not all this the result of the bullying of +such a mean herd of women as yourselves! Could you now drive him to +death, your wishes would immediately be fulfilled; but which of you +will I let off?" + +Now she shed tears; now she gave vent to abuse. + +Chia Cheng, who stood by, heard these invectives; and they so enhanced +his exasperation that he promptly shouted out and made Mrs. Chao +withdraw. He then exerted himself for a time to console (his senior) by +using kindly accents. But suddenly some one came to announce that the +two coffins had been completed. This announcement pierced, like a +dagger, dowager lady Chia to the heart; and while weeping with despair +more intense, she broke forth in violent upbraidings. + +"Who is it,"—she inquired; "who gave orders to make the coffins? Bring +at once the coffin-makers and beat them to death!" + +A stir ensued sufficient to convulse the heavens and to subvert the +earth. But at an unforeseen moment resounded in the air the gentle +rapping of a 'wooden fish' bell. A voice recited the sentence: "Ave! +Buddha able to unravel retribution and dispel grievances! 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." + +Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang at once directed servants to go out +into the street and find out who it was. It turned out to be, in fact, +a mangy-headed bonze and a hobbling Taoist priest. What was the +appearance of the bonze? + + His nose like a suspended gall; his two eyebrows so long, + His eyes, resembling radiant stars, possessed a precious glow, + His coat in tatters and his shoes of straw, without a home; + Rolling in filth, and, a worse fate, his head one mass of boils. + +And the Taoist priest, what was he like? + + With one leg perchèd high he comes, with one leg low; + His whole frame drenching wet, bespattered all with mud. + If you perchance meet him, and ask him where's his home, + "In fairyland, west of the 'Weak Water,' he'll say." + +Chia Cheng ordered the servants to invite them to walk in. "On what +hill," he asked those two persons, "do you cultivate the principles of +reason? + +"Worthy official!" the bonze smiled, "you must not ask too many +questions! It's because we've learnt that there are inmates of your +honourable mansion in a poor state of health that we come with the +express design of working a cure." + +"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?" + +"In your family," laughingly observed the Taoist priest, "you have +ready at hand a precious thing, the like of which is rare to find in +the world. It possesses the virtue of alleviating the ailment, so why +need you inquire about remedies?" + +Chia Cheng's mind was forthwith aroused. "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." + +"There is, worthy officer," said the bonze, "something in it which you +do not understand. That precious jade was, in its primitive state, +efficacious, but consequent upon its having been polluted by music, +lewdness, property and gain it has lost its spiritual properties. But +produce now that valuable thing and wait till I have taken it into my +hands and pronounced incantations over it, when it will become as full +of efficacy as of old!" + +Chia Cheng accordingly unclasped the piece of jade from Pao-yü's neck, +and handed it to the two divines. The Buddhist priest held it with +reverence in the palm of his hand and heaving a deep sigh, "Since our +parting," he cried, "at the foot of the Ch'ing Keng peak, about +thirteen years have elapsed. How time flies in the mortal world! Thine +earthly destiny has not yet been determined. Alas, alas! how admirable +were the qualities thou did'st possess in those days! + + "By Heaven unrestrained, without constraint from Earth, + No joys lived in thy heart, but sorrows none as well; + Yet when perception, through refinement, thou did'st reach, + Thou went'st among mankind to trouble to give rise. + How sad the lot which thou of late hast had to hear! + Powder prints and rouge stains thy precious lustre dim. + House bars both day and night encage thee like a duck. + Deep wilt thou sleep, but from thy dream at length thou'lt wake, + Thy debt of vengeance, once discharged, thou wilt depart." + +At the conclusion of this recital, he again rubbed the stone for a +while, and gave vent to some nonsensical utterances, after which he +surrendered it to Chia Cheng. "This object," he said, "has already +resumed its efficacy; but you shouldn't do anything to desecrate it. +Hang it on the post of the door in his bed-room, and with the exception +of his own relatives, you must not let any outside female pollute it. +After the expiry of thirty-three days, he will, I can guarantee, be all +right." + +Chia Cheng then gave orders to present tea; but the two priests had +already walked away. He had, however, no alternative but to comply with +their injunctions, and lady Feng and Pao-yü, in point of fact, got +better from day to day. Little by little they returned to their senses +and experienced hunger. Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, at length, +felt composed in their minds. All the cousins heard the news outside. +Tai-yü, previous to anything else, muttered a prayer to Buddha; while +Pao-ch'ai laughed and said not a word. + +"Sister Pao," inquired Hsi Ch'un, "what are you laughing for?" + +"I laugh," replied Pao-ch'ai, "because the 'Thus-Come' Joss has more to +do than any human being. He's got to see to the conversion of all +mankind, and to take care of the ailments, to which all flesh is heir; +for he restores every one of them at once to health; and he has as well +to control people's marriages so as to bring them about through his +aid; and what do you say, has he ample to do or not? Now, isn't this +enough to make one laugh, eh?" + +Lin Tai-yü blushed. "Ts'ui!" she exclaimed; "none of you are good +people. Instead of following the example of worthy persons, you try to +rival the mean mouth of that hussey Feng." + +As she uttered these words, she raised the portiere and made her exit. + +But, reader, do you want to know any further circumstances? If so, the +next chapter will explain them to you. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + + On the Feng Yao bridge, Hsiao Hung makes known sentimental matters in + equivocal language. + In the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, Tai-yü gives, while under the effects of + the spring lassitude, expression to her secret feelings. + +After thirty days' careful nursing, Pao-yü, we will now notice, not +only got strong and hale in body, but the scars even on his face +completely healed up; so he was able to shift his quarters again into +the garden of Broad Vista. + +But we will banish this topic as it does not deserve any additional +explanations. Let us now turn our attention elsewhere. 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. But Hsiao +Hung as well as all the other waiting-maids remained in the same part +to nurse Pao-yü, so (Chia Yün) and she saw a good deal of each other on +several occasions, and gradually an intimacy sprung up between them. + +Hsiao Hung observed that Chia Yün held in his hand a handkerchief very +much like the one she herself had dropped some time ago and was bent +upon asking him for it, but she did, on the other hand, not think she +could do so with propriety. The unexpected visit of the bonze and +Taoist priest rendered, however, superfluous the services of the +various male attendants, and Chia-yün had therefore to go again and +oversee the men planting the trees. Now she had a mind to drop the +whole question, but she could not reconcile herself to it; and now she +longed to go and ask him about it, but fears rose in her mind lest +people should entertain any suspicions as to the relations that existed +between them. But just as she faltered, quite irresolute, and her heart +was thoroughly unsettled, she unawares heard some one outside inquire: +"Sister, are you in the room or not?" + +Hsiao Hung, upon catching this question, looked out through a hole in +the window; and perceiving at a glance that it was no one else than a +young servant-girl, attached to the same court as herself, Chia Hui by +name, she consequently said by way of reply: "Yes, I am; come in!" + +When these words reached her ear, Chia Hui ran in, and taking at once a +seat on the bed, she observed with a smile: "How lucky I've been! I was +a little time back in the court washing a few things, when Pao-yü cried +out that some tea should be sent over to Miss Lin, and sister Hua +handed it to me to go on the errand. By a strange coincidence our old +lady had presented some money to Miss Lin and she was engaged at the +moment in distributing it among their servant-girls. As soon therefore +as she saw me get there, Miss Lin forthwith grasped two handfuls of +cash and gave them to me; how many there are I don't know, but do keep +them for me!" + +Speedily then opening her handkerchief, she emptied the cash. Hsiao +Hung counted them for her by fives and tens at a time. She was +beginning to put them away, when Chia Hui remarked: "How are you, after +all, feeling of late in your mind? I'll tell you what; you should +really go and stay at home for a couple of days. And were you to ask a +doctor round and to have a few doses of medicine you'll get all right +at once!" + +"What are you talking about?" Hsiao Hung replied. "What shall I go home +for, when there's neither rhyme nor reason for it!" + +"Miss Lin, I remember, is naturally of a weak physique, and has +constantly to take medicines," Chia Hui added, "so were you to ask her +for some and bring them over and take them, it would come to the same +thing." + +"Nonsense!" rejoined Hsiao Hung, "are medicines also to be recklessly +taken ?" + +"You can't so on for ever like this," continued Chia Hui; "you're +besides loth to eat and loth to drink, and what will you be like in the +long run?" + +"What's there to fear?" observed Hsiao Hung; "won't it anyhow be better +to die a little earlier? It would be a riddance!" + +"Why do you deliberately come out with all this talk?" Chia Hui +demurred. + +"How could you ever know anything of the secrets of my heart?" Hsiao +Hung inquired. + +Chia Hui nodded her head and gave way to reflection. "I don't think it +strange on your part," she said after a time; "for it is really +difficult to abide in this place! Yesterday, for instance, our dowager +lady remarked that the servants in attendance had had, during all the +days that Pao-yü was ill, a good deal to put up with, and that now that +he has recovered, incense should be burnt everywhere, and the vows +fulfilled; and she expressed a wish that those in his service should, +one and all, be rewarded according to their grade. I and several others +can be safely looked upon as young in years, and unworthy to presume so +high; so I don't feel in any way aggrieved; but how is it that one like +you couldn't be included in the number? My heart is much annoyed at it! +Had there been any fear that Hsi Jen would have got ten times more, I +could not even then have felt sore against her, for she really deserves +it! I'll just tell you an honest truth; who else is there like her? Not +to speak of the diligence and carefulness she has displayed all along, +even had she not been so diligent and careful, she couldn't have been +set aside! But what is provoking is that that lot, like Ch'ing Wen and +Ch'i Hsia, should have been included in the upper class. Yet it's +because every one places such reliance on the fine reputation of their +father and mother that they exalt them. Now, do tell me, is this +sufficient to anger one or not?" + +"It won't do to be angry with them!" Hsiao Hung observed. "The proverb +says: 'You may erect a shed a thousand _li_ long, but there is no +entertainment from which the guests will not disperse!' And who is it +that will tarry here for a whole lifetime? In another three years or +five years every single one of us will have gone her own way; and who +will, when that time comes, worry her mind about any one else?" + +These allusions had the unexpected effect of touching Chia Hui to the +heart; and in spite of herself the very balls of her eyes got red. But +so uneasy did she feel at crying for no reason that she had to exert +herself to force a smile. "What you say is true," she ventured. "And +yet, Pao-yü even yesterday explained how the rooms should be arranged +by and bye; and how the clothes should be made, just as if he was bound +to hang on to dear life for several hundreds of years." + +Hsiao Hung, at these words, gave a couple of sardonic smiles. 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. "You are asked," she said, "to trace +these two designs!" + +As she spoke, she threw them at Hsiao Hung, and twisting herself round, +she immediately scampered away. + +"Whose are they, after all?" Hsiao Hung inquired, addressing herself +outside. "Couldn't you wait even so much as to conclude what you had to +say, but flew off at once? Who is steaming bread and waiting for you? +Or are you afraid, forsooth, lest it should get cold?" + +"They belong to sister Ch'i," the young servant-girl merely returned +for answer from outside the window; and raising her feet high, she ran +tramp-tramp on her way back again. + +Hsiao Hung lost control over her temper, and snatching the designs, she +flung them on one side. She then rummaged in a drawer for a pencil, but +finding, after a prolonged search, that they were all blunt; "Where did +I," she thereupon ejaculated, "put that brand-new pencil the other day? +How is it I can't remember where it is?" + +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!" + +"What!" 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. As soon, however, as she reached the Hsin Fang +pavilion, she saw dame Li, Pao-yü's nurse, appear in view from the +opposite side; so Hsiao Hung halted and putting on a smile, "Nurse Li," +she asked, "where are you, old dame, bound for? How is it you're coming +this way?" + +Nurse Li stopped short, and clapped her hands. "Tell me," she said, +"has he deliberately again gone and fallen in love with that Mr. +something or other like Yun (cloud), or Yü (rain)? They now insist upon +my bringing him inside, but if they get wind of it by and bye in the +upper rooms, it won't again be a nice thing." + +"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?" + +"What can I do?" rejoined nurse Li. + +"Why, that fellow," added Hsiao Hung laughingly, "will, if he has any +idea of decency, do the right thing and not come." + +"Besides, he's not a fool!" pleaded nurse Li; "so why shouldn't he come +in?" + +"Well, if he is to come," answered Hsiao Hung, "it will devolve upon +you, worthy dame, to lead him along with you; for were you by and bye +to let him penetrate inside all alone and knock recklessly about, why, +it won't do at all." + +"Have I got all that leisure," retorted nurse Li, "to trudge along with +him? I'll simply tell him to come; and later on I can despatch a young +servant-girl or some old woman to bring him in, and have done." + +Saying this, she continued her way, leaning on her staff. + +After listening to her rejoinder, Hsiao Hung stood still; and plunging +in abstraction, she did not go and fetch the pencil. But presently, she +caught sight of a servant-girl running that way. Espying Hsiao Hung +lingering in that spot, "Sister Hung," she cried, "what are you doing +in here?" + +Hsiao Hung raised her head, and recognised a young waiting-maid called +Chui Erh. "Where are you off too?" Hsiao Hung asked. + +"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. + +Hsiao Hung reached, meanwhile, the Feng Yao bridge. As soon as she +approached the gateway, she perceived Chui Erh coming along with Chia +Yün from the opposite direction. 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. Hsiao Hung involuntarily blushed all over; and turning +herself round, she walked off towards the Heng Wu court. But we will +leave her there without further remarks. + +During this time, Chia Yün followed Chui Erh, by a circuitous way, into +the I Hung court. Chui Erh entered first and made the necessary +announcement. Then subsequently she ushered in Chia Yün. When Chia Yün +scrutinised the surroundings, he perceived, here and there in the +court, several blocks of rockery, among which were planted +banana-trees. On the opposite side were two storks preening their +feathers under the fir trees. Under the covered passage were suspended, +in a row, cages of every description, containing all sorts of +fairylike, rare birds. In the upper part were five diminutive +anterooms, uniformly carved with, unique designs; and above the +framework of the door was hung a tablet with the inscription in four +huge characters—"I Hung K'uai Lü, the happy red and joyful green." + +"I thought it strange," Chia Yün argued mentally, "that it should be +called the I Hung court; but are these, in fact, the four characters +inscribed on the tablet!" + +But while he was communing within himself, he heard some one laugh and +then exclaim from the inner side of the gauze window: "Come in at once! +How is it that I've forgotten you these two or three months?" + +As soon as Chia Yün recognised Pao-yü's voice, he entered the room with +hurried step. On raising his head, his eye was attracted by the +brilliant splendour emitted by gold and jade and by the dazzling lustre +of the elegant arrangements. 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. "Master Secundus," they ventured, "please take a seat in the inner +room." + +Chia Yün could not even muster courage to look at them straight in the +face; but promptly assenting, he walked into a green gauze +mosquito-house, where he saw a small lacquered bed, hung with curtains +of a deep red colour, with clusters of flowers embroidered in gold. +Pao-yü, wearing a house-dress and slipshod shoes, was reclining on the +bed, a book in hand. The moment he perceived Chia Yün walk in, he +discarded his book, and forthwith smiled and raised himself up. Chia +Yün hurriedly pressed forward and paid his salutation. Pao-yü then +offered him a seat; but he simply chose a chair in the lower part of +the apartment. + +"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!" rejoined Chia Yün, with a +laugh; "particularly so, as it again happened that you, uncle, fell +ill. But are you quite right once more?" + +"All right!" answered Pao-yü. "I heard that you've been put to much +trouble and inconvenience on a good number of days!" + +"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. But while conversing with Pao-yü, Chia Yün was intent +upon scrutinising the girl with slim figure, and oval face, and clad in +a silvery-red jacket, a blue satin waistcoat and a white silk petticoat +with narrow pleats. + +At the time of Pao-yü's illness, Chia Yün had spent a couple of days in +the inner apartments, so that he remembered half of the inmates of +note, and the moment he set eyes upon this servant-girl he knew that it +was Hsi Jen; and that she was in Pao-yü's rooms on a different standing +to the rest. Now therefore that she brought the tea in herself and that +Pao-yü was, besides, sitting by, he rose to his feet with alacrity and +put on a smile. "Sister," he said, "how is it that you are pouring tea +for me? I came here to pay uncle a visit; what's more I'm no stranger, +so let me pour it with my own hands!" + +"Just you sit down and finish!" Pao-yü interposed; "will you also +behave in this fashion with servant-girls?" + +"In spite of what you say;" remarked Chia Yün smiling, "they are young +ladies attached to your rooms, uncle, and how could I presume to be +disorderly in my conduct?" + +So saying, he took a seat and drank his tea. Pao-yü then talked to him +about trivial and irrelevant matters; and afterwards went on to tell +him in whose household the actresses were best, and whose gardens were +pretty. He further mentioned to him in whose quarters the servant-girls +were handsome, whose banquets were sumptuous, as well as in whose home +were to be found strange things, and what family possessed remarkable +objects. Chia Yün was constrained to humour him in his conversation; +but after a chat, which lasted for some time, he noticed that Pao-yü +was somewhat listless, and he promptly stood up and took his leave. And +Pao-yü too did not use much pressure to detain him. "To-morrow, if you +have nothing to do, do come over!" he merely observed; after which, he +again bade the young waiting-maid, Chui Erh, see him out. + +Having left the I Hung court, Chia Yün cast a glance all round; and, +realising that there was no one about, he slackened his pace at once, +and while proceeding leisurely, he conversed, in a friendly way, with +Chui Erh on one thing and another. First and foremost he inquired of +her what was her age; and her name. "Of what standing are your father +and mother?" he said, "How many years have you been in uncle Pao's +apartments? How much money do you get a month? In all how many girls +are there in uncle Pao's rooms?" + +As Chui Erh heard the questions set to her, she readily made suitable +reply to each. + +"The one, who was a while back talking to you," continued Chia Yün, "is +called Hsiao Hung, isn't she?" + +"Yes, her name is Hsiao Hung!" replied Chui Erh smiling; "but why do +you ask about her?" + +"She inquired of you just now about some handkerchief or other," +answered Chia Yün; "well, I've picked one up." + +Chui Erh greeted this response with a smile. "Many are the times," she +said; "that she has asked me whether I had seen her handkerchief; but +have I got all that leisure to worry my mind about such things? She +spoke to me about it again to-day; and she suggested that I should find +it for her, and that she would also recompense me. This she told me +when we were just now at the entrance of the Heng Wu court, and you +too, Mr. Secundus, overheard her, so that I'm not lying. But, dear Mr. +Secundus, since you've picked it up, give it to me. Do! And I'll see +what she will give me as a reward." + +The truth is that Chia Yün had, the previous moon when he had come into +the garden to attend to the planting of trees, picked up a +handkerchief, which he conjectured must have been dropped by some +inmate of those grounds; but as he was not aware whose it was, he did +not consequently presume to act with indiscretion. But on this +occasion, he overheard Hsiao Hung make inquiries of Chui Erh on the +subject; and concluding that it must belong to her, he felt +immeasurably delighted. Seeing, besides, how importunate Chui Erh was, +he at once devised a plan within himself, and vehemently producing from +his sleeve a handkerchief of his own, he observed, as he turned towards +Chui Erh with a smile: "As for giving it to you, I'll do so; but in the +event of your obtaining any present from her, you mustn't impose upon +me." + +Chui Erh assented to his proposal most profusely; and, taking the +handkerchief, she saw Chia Yün out and then came back in search of +Hsiao Hung. But we will leave her there for the present. + +We will now return to Pao-yü. After dismissing Chia Yün, he lay in such +complete listlessness on the bed that he betrayed every sign of being +half asleep. Hsi Jen walked up to him, and seated herself on the edge +of the bed, and pushing him, "What are you about to go to sleep again," +she said. "Would it not do your languid spirits good if you went out +for a bit of a stroll?" + +Upon hearing her voice, Pao-yü grasped her hand in his. "I would like +to go out," he smiled, "but I can't reconcile myself to the separation +from you!" + +"Get up at once!" laughed Hsi Jen. And as she uttered these words, she +pulled Pao-yü up. + +"Where can I go?" exclaimed Pao-yü. "I'm quite surfeited with +everything." + +"Once out you'll be all right," Hsi Jen answered, "but if you simply +give way to this languor, you'll be more than ever sick of everything +at heart." + +Pao-yü could not do otherwise, dull and out of sorts though he was, +than accede to her importunities. Strolling leisurely out of the door +of the room, he amused himself a little with the birds suspended under +the verandah; then he wended his steps outside the court, and followed +the course of the Hsin Fang stream; but after admiring the golden fish +for a time, he espied, on the opposite hillock, two young deer come +rushing down as swift as an arrow. What they were up to Pao-yü could +not discern; but while abandoning himself to melancholy, he caught +sight of Chia Lan, following behind, with a small bow in his hand, and +hurrying down hill in pursuit of them. + +As soon as he realised that Pao-yü stood ahead of him, he speedily +halted. "Uncle Secundus," he smiled, "are you at home? I imagined you +had gone out of doors!" + +"You are up to mischief again, eh?" Pao-yü rejoined. "They've done +nothing to you, and why shoot at them with your arrows?" + +"I had no studies to attend to just now, so, being free with nothing to +do," Chia Lan replied laughingly, "I was practising riding and +archery." + +"Shut up!" exclaimed Pao-yü. "When are you not engaged in practising?" + +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. This was the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. Pao-yü listlessly rambled in. +He saw a bamboo portière hanging down to the ground. Stillness +prevailed. Not a human voice fell on the ear. He advanced as far as the +window. Noticing that a whiff of subtle scent stole softly through the +green gauze casement, Pao-yü applied his face closely against the frame +to peep in, but suddenly he caught the faint sound of a deep sigh and +the words: "Day after day my feelings slumber drowsily!" Upon +overhearing this exclamation, Pao-yü unconsciously began to feel a prey +to inward longings; but casting a second glance, he saw Tai-yü +stretching herself on the bed. + +"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. + +The consciousness that she had not been reticent about her feelings +made Tai-yü unwittingly flush scarlet. Taking hold of her sleeve, she +screened her face; and, turning her body round towards the inside, she +pretended to be fast asleep. Pao-yü drew near her. He was about to pull +her round when he saw Tai-yü's nurse enter the apartment, followed by +two matrons. + +"Is Miss asleep?" 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. "Who's asleep?" she laughed. + +"We thought you were fast asleep, Miss," smiled the two or three +matrons as soon as they perceived Tai-yü get up. This greeting over, +they called Tzu Chüan. "Your young mistress," they said, "has awoke; +come in and wait on her!" + +While calling her, they quitted the room in a body. Tai-yü remained +seated on the bed. Raising her arms, she adjusted her hair, and +smilingly she observed to Pao-yü, "When people are asleep, what do you +walk in for?" + +At the sight of her half-closed starlike eyes and of her fragrant +cheeks, suffused with a crimson blush, Pao-yü's feelings were of a +sudden awakened; so, bending his body, he took a seat on a chair, and +asked with a smile: "What were you saying a short while back?" + +"I wasn't saying anything," Tai-yü replied. + +"What a lie you're trying to ram down my throat!" laughed Pao-yü. "I +heard all." + +But in the middle of their colloquy, they saw Tzu Chüan enter. Pao-yü +then put on a smiling face. "Tzu Chüan!" he cried, "pour me a cup of +your good tea!" + +"Where's the good tea to be had?" Tzu Chüan answered. "If you want good +tea, you'd better wait till Hsi Jen comes." + +"Don't heed him!" interposed Tai-yü. "Just go first and draw me some +water." + +"He's a visitor," remonstrated Tzu Chüan, "and, of course, I should +first pour him a cup of tea, and then go and draw the water." + +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." + +Lin Tai-yü at once drooped her head. "What are you saying?" she +remonstrated. + +"What, did I say anything?" smiled Pao-yü. + +Tai-yü burst into tears. "You've recently," she observed, "got into a +new way. Whatever slang you happen to hear outside you come and tell +me. And whenever you read any improper book, you poke your fun at me. +What! have I become a laughing-stock for gentlemen!" + +As she began to cry, she jumped down from bed, and promptly left the +room. Pao-yü was at a loss how to act. So agitated was he that he +hastily ran up to her, "My dear cousin," he pleaded, "I do deserve +death; but don't go and tell any one! If again I venture to utter such +kind of language, may blisters grow on my mouth and may my tongue waste +away!" + +But while appealing to her feelings, he saw Hsi Jen approach him. "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. Regardless of everything and anything, he rushed, as fast as +possible, back to his room, and changing his clothes, he came out into +the garden. Here he discovered Pei Ming, standing at the second +gateway, waiting for him. + +"Do you perchance know what he wants me for?" Pao-yü inquired. + +"Master, hurry out at once!" Pei Ming replied. "You must, of course, go +and see him. When you get there, you are sure to find out what it's all +about." + +This said, he urged Pao-yü on, and together they turned past the large +pavilion. Pao-yü was, however, still labouring under suspicion, when he +heard, from the corner of the wall, a loud outburst of laughter. Upon +turning his head round, he caught sight of Hsüeh P'an jump out, +clapping his hands. "Hadn't I said that my uncle wanted you?" he +laughed. "Would you ever have rushed out with such alacrity?" + +Pei Ming also laughed, and fell on his knees. But Pao-yü remained for a +long time under the spell of utter astonishment, before he, at length, +realised that it was Hsüeh P'au who had inveigled him to come out. + +Hsüeh P'an hastily made a salutation and a curtsey, and confessed his +fault. He next gave way to entreaties, saying: "Don't punish the young +servant, for it is simply I who begged him go." + +Pao-yü too had then no other alternative but to smile. "I don't mind +your playing your larks on me; but why," he inquired, "did you mention +my father? Were I to go and tell my aunt, your mother, to see to the +rights and the wrongs of the case, how would you like it?" + +"My dear cousin," remarked Hsüeh P'an vehemently, "the primary idea I +had in view was to ask you to come out a moment sooner and I forgot to +respectfully shun the expression. But by and bye, when you wish to +chaff me, just you likewise allude to my father, and we'll thus be +square." + +"Ai-ya!" exclaimed Pao-yü. "You do more than ever deserve death!!" Then +turning again towards Pei Ming, "You ruffian!" he said, "what are you +still kneeling for?" + +Pei Ming began to bump his head on the ground with vehemence. + +"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. Ch'eng +Jih-hsing, who is in that curio shop of ours, unexpectedly brought +along, goodness knows where he fished them from, fresh lotus so thick +and so long, so mealy and so crisp; melons of this size; and a Siamese +porpoise, that long and that big, smoked with cedar, such as is sent as +tribute from the kingdom of Siam. Are not these four presents, pray, +rare delicacies? The porpoise is not only expensive, but difficult to +get, and that kind of lotus and melon must have cost him no end of +trouble to grow! I lost no time in presenting some to my mother, and at +once sent some to your old grandmother, and my aunt. But a good many of +them still remain now; and were I to eat them all alone, it would, I +fear, be more than I deserve; so I concluded, after thinking right and +left, that there was, besides myself, only you good enough to partake +of some. That is why I specially invite you to taste them. But, as luck +would have it, a young singing-boy has also come, so what do you say to +you and I having a jolly day of it?" + +As they talked, they walked; and, as they walked, they reached the +interior of the library. Here they discovered a whole assemblage +consisting of Tan Kuang, Ch'eng Jih-hsing, Hu Ch'i-lai, Tan T'ing-jen +and others, and the singing-boy as well. As soon as these saw Pao-yü +walk in, some paid their respects to him; others inquired how he was; +and after the interchange of salutations, tea was drunk. Hsüeh P'an +then gave orders to serve the wine. Scarcely were the words out of his +mouth than the servant-lads bustled and fussed for a long while laying +the table. When at last the necessary arrangements had been completed, +the company took their seats. + +Pao-yü verily found the melons and lotus of an exceptional description. +"My birthday presents have not as yet been sent round," he felt +impelled to say, a smile on his lips, "and here I come, ahead of them, +to trespass on your hospitality." + +"Just so!" 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." + +"I've got nothing that I can give you," rejoined Pao-yü. "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. On the front page there figured also a whole lot of +characters. But I didn't carefully look at them; I simply noticed the +name of the person, who had executed them. It was, in fact, something +or other like Keng Huang. The pictures were, actually, exceedingly +good!" + +This allusion made Pao-yü exercise his mind with innumerable +conjectures. + +"Of pictures drawn from past years to the present, I have," he said, +"seen a good many, but I've never come across any Keng Huang." + +After considerable thought, he could not repress himself from bursting +out laughing. Then asking a servant to fetch him a pencil, he wrote a +couple of words on the palm of his hand. This done, he went on to +inquire of Hsüeh. P'an: "Did you see correctly that it read Keng +Huang?" + +"How could I not have seen correctly?" ejaculated Hsüeh P'an. + +Pao-yü thereupon unclenched his hand and allowed him to peruse, what +was written in it. "Were they possibly these two characters?" he +remarked. "These are, in point of fact, not very dissimilar from what +Keng Huang look like?" + +On scrutinising them, the company noticed the two words T'ang Yin, and +they all laughed. "They must, we fancy, have been these two +characters!" they cried. "Your eyes, Sir, may, there's no saying, have +suddenly grown dim!" + +Hsüeh P'an felt utterly abashed. "Who could have said," he smiled, +"whether they were T'ang Yin or Kuo Yin, (candied silver or fruit +silver)." + +As he cracked this joke, however, a young page came and announced that +Mr. Feng had arrived. Pao-yü concluded that the new comer must be Feng +Tzu-ying, the son of Feng T'ang, general with the prefix of Shen Wu." + +"Ask him in at once," Hsüeh P'an and his companions shouted with one +voice. + +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. + +The company speedily rose from table and offered him a seat. + +"That's right!" smiled Feng Tzu-ying. "You don't go out of doors, but +remain at home and go in for high fun!" + +Both Pao-yü and Hsüeh P'an put on a smile. "We haven't," they remarked, +"seen you for ever so long. Is your venerable father strong and hale?" + +"My father," rejoined Tzu-ying, "is, thanks to you, strong and hale; +but my mother recently contracted a sudden chill and has been unwell +for a couple of days." + +Hsüeh P'an discerned on his face a slight bluish wound. "With whom have +you again been boxing," he laughingly inquired, "that you've hung up +this sign board?" + +"Since the occasion," laughed Feng Tzu-ying, "on which I wounded +lieutenant-colonel Ch'ou's son, I've borne the lesson in mind, and +never lost my temper. So how is it you say that I've again been boxing? +This thing on my face was caused, when I was out shooting the other day +on the T'ieh Wang hills, by a flap from the wing of the falcon." + +"When was that?" asked Pao-yü. + +"I started," explained Tzu-ying, "on the 28th of the third moon and +came back only the day before yesterday." + +"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. For is it likely, forsooth, that I've gone mad from lack of +anything to do! Don't we, a goodly number as we are, derive enough +pleasure from our wine-bouts and plays that I should go in quest of +such kind of fatiguing recreation! But in this instance a great piece +of good fortune turned up in evil fortune!" + +Hsüeh P'an and his companions noticed that he had finished his tea. +"Come along," they one and all proposed, "and join the banquet; you can +then quietly recount to us all your experiences." + +At this suggestion Feng Tzu-ying there and then rose to his feet. +"According to etiquette," he said. "I should join you in drinking a few +cups; but to-day I have still a very urgent matter to see my father +about on my return so that I truly cannot accept your invitation." + +Hsüeh P'an, Pao-yü and the other young fellows would on no account +listen to his excuses. They pulled him vigorously about and would not +let him go. + +"This is, indeed, strange!" laughed Feng Tzu-ying. "When have you and I +had, during all these years, to have recourse to such proceedings! I +really am unable to comply with your wishes. 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." + +After this rejoinder, the party could not but give in. Hsüeh P'an took +hold of the kettle, while Pao-yü grasped the cup, and they poured two +large cups full. Feng Tzu-ying stood up and quaffed them with one +draught. + +"But do, after all," urged Pao-yü, "finish this thing about a piece of +good fortune in the midst of misfortune before you go." + +"To tell you this to-day," smiled Feng Tzu-ying, "will be no great fun. +But for this purpose I intend standing a special entertainment, and +inviting you all to come and have a long chat; and, in the second +place, +I've also got a favour to ask of you." + +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. Who knows when you +will ask us round; so better tell us, and thus avoid keeping people in +suspense!" + +"The latest," rejoined Feng Tzu-ying, "in ten days; the earliest in +eight." With this answer he went out of the door, mounted his horse, +and took his departure. + +The party resumed their seats at table. They had another bout, and then +eventually dispersed. + +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. As soon as she perceived Pao-yü come back in a +drunken state, she felt urged to inquire the reason of it all. Pao-yü +told her one by one the particulars of what happened. + +"People," added Hsi Jen, "wait for you with lacerated heart and anxious +mind, and there you go and make merry; yet you could very well, after +all, have sent some one with a message." + +"Didn't I purpose sending a message?" exclaimed Pao-yü. "Of course, I +did! But I failed to do so, as on the arrival of friend Feng, I got so +mixed up that the intention vanished entirely from my mind." + +While excusing himself, he saw Pao-ch'ai enter the apartment. "Have you +tasted any of our new things?" she asked, a smile curling her lips. + +"Cousin," laughed Pao-yü, "you must have certainly tasted what you've +got in your house long before us." + +Pao-ch'ai shook her head and smiled. "Yesterday," she said, "my brother +did actually make it a point to ask me to have some; but I had none; I +told him to keep them and send them to others, so confident am I that +with my mean lot and scanty blessings I little deserve to touch such +dainties." + +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. + +The instant she heard that Chia Cheng had sent for Pao-yü, and that he +had not come back during the whole day, she felt very distressed on his +account. After supper, the news of Pao-yü's return reached her, and she +keenly longed to see him and ask him what was up. Step by step she +trudged along, when espying Pao-ch'ai going into Pao-yü's garden, she +herself followed close in her track. But on their arrival at the Hsin +Fang bridge, she caught sight of the various kinds of water-fowl, +bathing together in the pond, and although unable to discriminate the +numerous species, her gaze became so transfixed by their respective +variegated and bright plumage and by their exceptional beauty, that she +halted. And it was after she had spent some considerable time in +admiring them that she repaired at last to the I Hung court. The gate +was already closed. Tai-yü, however, lost no time in knocking. But +Ch'ing Wen and Pi Hen had, who would have thought it, been having a +tiff, and were in a captious mood, so upon unawares seeing Pao-ch'ai +step on the scene, Ch'ing Wen at once visited her resentment upon +Pao-ch'ai. She was just standing in the court giving vent to her +wrongs, shouting: "You're always running over and seating yourself +here, whether you've got good reason for doing so or not; and there's +no sleep for us at the third watch, the middle of the night though it +be," when, all of a sudden, she heard some one else calling at the +door. Ch'ing Wen was the more moved to anger. Without even asking who +it was, she rapidly bawled out: "They've all gone to sleep; you'd +better come to-morrow." + +Lin Tai-yü was well aware of the natural peculiarities of the +waiting-maids, and of their habit of playing practical jokes upon each +other, so fearing that the girl in the inner room had failed to +recognise her voice, and had refused to open under the misconception +that it was some other servant-girl, she gave a second shout in a +higher pitch. "It's I!" she cried, "don't you yet open the gate?" + +Ch'ing Wen, as it happened, did not still distinguish her voice; and in +an irritable strain, she rejoined: "It's no matter who you may be; Mr. +Secundus has given orders that no one at all should be allowed to come +in." + +As these words reached Lin Tai-yü's ear, she unwittingly was overcome +with indignation at being left standing outside. But when on the point +of raising her voice to ask her one or two things, and to start a +quarrel with her; "albeit," she again argued mentally, "I can call this +my aunt's house, and it should be just as if it were my own, it's, +after all, a strange place, and now that my father and mother are both +dead, and that I am left with no one to rely upon, I have for the +present to depend upon her family for a home. Were I now therefore to +give way to a regular fit of anger with her, I'll really get no good +out of it." + +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. Lin Tai-yü waxed +more wroth. After much thought and cogitation, the incidents of the +morning flashed unawares through her memory. "It must, in fact," she +mused, "be because Pao-yü is angry with me for having explained to him +the true reasons. But why did I ever go and tell you? You should, +however, have made inquiries before you lost your temper to such an +extent with me as to refuse to let me in to-day; but is it likely that +we shall not by and bye meet face to face again?" + +The more she gave way to thought, the more she felt wounded and +agitated; and without heeding the moss, laden with cold dew, the path +covered with vegetation, and the chilly blasts of wind, she lingered +all alone, under the shadow of the bushes at the corner of the wall, so +thoroughly sad and dejected that she broke forth into sobs. + +Lin Tai-yü was, indeed, endowed with exceptional beauty and with charms +rarely met with in the world. As soon therefore as she suddenly melted +into tears, and the birds and rooks roosting on the neighbouring willow +boughs and branches of shrubs caught the sound of her plaintive tones, +they one and all fell into a most terrific flutter, and, taking to +their wings, they flew away to distant recesses, so little were they +able to listen with equanimity to such accents. But the spirits of the +flowers were, at the time, silent and devoid of feeling, the birds were +plunged in dreams and in a state of stupor, so why did they start? A +stanza appositely assigns the reason:— + + P'in Erh's mental talents and looks must in the world be rare—. + Alone, clasped in a subtle smell, she quits her maiden room. + The sound of but one single sob scarcely dies away, + And drooping flowers cover the ground and birds fly in dismay. + +Lin Tai-yü was sobbing in her solitude, when a creaking noise struck +her ear and the door of the court was flung open. Who came out, is not +yet ascertained; but, reader, should you wish to know, the next chapter +will explain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + + In the Ti Ts'ui pavilion, Pao-ch'ai diverts herself with the + multi-coloured butterflies. + Over the mound, where the flowers had been interred, Tai-yü bewails + their withered bloom. + +Lin Tai-yü, we must explain in taking up the thread of our narrative, +was disconsolately bathed in tears, when her ear was suddenly attracted +by the creak of the court gate, and her eyes by the appearance of +Pao-ch'ai beyond the threshold. Pao-yü, Hsi Jen and a whole posse of +inmates then walked out. She felt inclined to go up to Pao-yü and ask +him a question; but dreading that if she made any inquiries in the +presence of such a company, Pao-yü would be put to the blush and placed +in an awkward position, she slipped aside and allowed Pao-ch'ai to +prosecute her way. And it was only after Pao-yü and the rest of the +party had entered and closed the gate behind them that she at last +issued from her retreat. Then fixing her gaze steadfastly on the +gateway, she dropped a few tears. But inwardly conscious of their utter +futility she retraced her footsteps and wended her way back into her +apartment. And with heavy heart and despondent spirits, she divested +herself of the remainder of her habiliments. + +Tzu Chüan and Hsüeh Yen were well aware, from the experience they had +reaped in past days, that Lin Tai-yü was, in the absence of anything to +occupy her mind, prone to sit and mope, and that if she did not frown +her eyebrows, she anyway heaved deep sighs; but they were quite at a +loss to divine why she was, with no rhyme or reason, ever so ready to +indulge, to herself, in inexhaustible gushes of 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. Hence +it was that no one (on this occasion) troubled her mind about her, but +letting her sit and sulk to her heart's content, they one and all +turned in and went to sleep. + +Lin Tai-yü leaned against the railing of the bed, clasping her knees +with both hands, her eyes suffused with tears. She looked, in very +truth, like a carved wooden image or one fashioned of mud. There she +sat straight up to the second watch, even later, when she eventually +fell asleep. + +The whole night nothing remarkable transpired. The morrow was the 26th +day of the fourth moon. Indeed on this day, at one p.m., commenced the +season of the 'Sprouting seeds,' and, according to an old custom, on +the day on which this feast of 'Sprouting seeds' fell, every one had to +lay all kinds of offerings and sacrificial viands on the altar of the +god of flowers. Soon after the expiry of this season of 'Sprouting +seeds' follows summertide, and us plants in general then wither and the +god of flowers resigns his throne, it is compulsory to feast him at +some entertainment, previous to his departure. + +In the ladies' apartments this custom was observed with still more +rigour; and, for this reason, the various inmates Of the park of Broad +Vista had, without a single exception, got up at an early hour. The +young people either twisted flowers and willow twigs in such a way as +to represent chairs and horses, or made tufted banners with damask, +brocaded gauze and silk, and bound them with variegated threads. These +articles of decoration were alike attached on every tree and plant; and +throughout the whole expanse of the park, embroidered sashes waved to +and fro, and ornamented branches nodded their heads about. 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. + +"How is it," consequently inquired Ying Ch'un, "that I don't see cousin +Liu? What a lazy girl! Is she forsooth fast asleep even at this late +hour of the day?" + +"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. Drawing near, +they inquired after her health. After exchanging a few commonplace +remarks, Pao-ch'ai turned round and pointing, said: "you will find them +all in there; you had better go and join them. 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. +Pao-ch'ai immediately halted, and, lowering her head, she gave way to +meditation for a time. "Pao-yü and Lin Tai-yü," she reflected, "have +grown up together from their very infancy. But cousins, though they be, +there are many instances in which they cannot evade suspicion, for they +joke without heeding propriety; and at one time they are friends and at +another at daggers drawn. Tai-yü has, moreover, always been full of +envy; and has ever displayed a peevish disposition, so were I to follow +him in at this juncture, why, Pao-yü would, in the first place, not +feel at ease, and, in the second, Tai-yü would give way to jealousy. +Better therefore for me to turn back." + +At the close of this train of thought, she retraced her steps. But just +as she was starting to join her other cousins, she unexpectedly +descried, ahead of her, a pair of jade-coloured butterflies, of the +size of a circular fan. Now they soared high, now they made a swoop +down, in their flight against the breeze; much to her amusement. + +Pao-ch'ai felt a wish to catch them for mere fun's sake, so producing a +fan from inside her sleeve, she descended on to the turfed ground to +flap them with it. The two butterflies suddenly were seen to rise; +suddenly to drop: sometimes to come; at others to go. Just as they were +on the point of flying across the stream to the other side, the +enticement proved too much for Pao-ch'ai, and she pursued them on +tiptoe straight up to the Ti Ts'ui pavilion, nestling on the bank of +the pond; while fragrant perspiration dripped drop by drop, and her +sweet breath panted gently. But Pao-ch'ai abandoned the idea of +catching them, and was about to beat a retreat, when all at once she +overheard, in the pavilion, the chatter of people engaged in +conversation. + +This pavilion had, it must be added, a verandah and zig-zag balustrades +running all round. It was erected over the water, in the centre of a +pond, and had on the four sides window-frames of carved wood work, +stuck with paper. So when Pao-ch'ai caught, from without the pavilion, +the sound of voices, she at once stood still and lent an attentive ear +to what was being said. + +"Look at this handkerchief," she overheard. "If it's really the one +you've lost, well then keep it; but if it isn't you must return it to +Mr. Yün." + +"To be sure it is my own," another party observed, "bring it along and +give it to me." + +"What reward will you give me?" she further heard. "Is it likely that +I've searched all for nothing!" + +"I've long ago promised to recompense you, and of course I won't play +you false," some one again rejoined. + +"I found it and brought it round," also reached her ear, "and you +naturally will recompense me; but won't you give anything to the person +who picked it up?" + +"Don't talk nonsense," the other party added, "he belongs to a family +of gentlemen, and anything of ours he may pick up it's his bounden duty +to restore to us. What reward could you have me give him?" + +"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." + +A short pause ensued. "Never mind!" then came out again to her, "take +this thing of mine and present it to him and have done! But do you mean +to let the cat out of the bag with any one else? You should take some +oath." + +"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!" + +"Ai-ya!" was the reply she heard; "our minds are merely bent upon +talking, but some one might come and quietly listen from outside; +wouldn't it be as well to push all the venetians open. Any one seeing +us in here will then imagine that we are simply chatting about +nonsense. Besides, should they approach, we shall be able to observe +them, and at once stop our conversation!" + +Pao-ch'ai listened to these words from outside, with a heart full of +astonishment. "How can one wonder," she argued mentally, "if all those +lewd and dishonest people, who have lived from olden times to the +present, have devised such thorough artifices! But were they now to +open and see me here, won't they feel ashamed. Moreover, the voice in +which those remarks were uttered resembles very much that of Hung Erh, +attached to Pao-yü's rooms, who has all along shown a sharp eye and a +shrewd mind. She's an artful and perverse thing of the first class! And +as I have now overheard her peccadilloes, and a person in despair +rebels as sure as a dog in distress jumps over the wall, not only will +trouble arise, but I too shall derive no benefit. It would be better at +present therefore for me to lose no time in retiring. But as I fear I +mayn't be in time to get out of the way, the only alternative for me is +to make use of some art like that of the cicada, which can divest +itself of its _exuviae_." + +She had scarcely brought her reflections to a close before a sound of +'ko-chih' reached her ears. Pao-ch'ai purposely hastened to tread with +heavy step. "P'in Erh, I see where you're hiding!" she cried out +laughingly; and as she shouted, she pretended to be running ahead in +pursuit of her. + +As soon as Hsiao Hung and Chui Erh pushed the windows open from inside +the pavilion, they heard Pao-ch'ai screaming, while rushing forward; +and both fell into a state of trepidation from the fright they +sustained. + +Pao-ch'ai turned round and faced them. "Where have you been hiding Miss +Lin?" she smiled. + +"Who has seen anything of Miss Lin," retorted Chui Erh. + +"I was just now," proceeded Pao-ch'ai, "on that side of the pool, and +discerned Miss Lin squatting down over there and playing with the +water. I meant to have gently given her a start, but scarcely had I +walked up to her, when she saw me, and, with a _detour_ towards the +East, she at once vanished from sight. So mayn't she be concealing +herself in there?" + +As she spoke, she designedly stepped in and searched about for her. +This over, she betook herself away, adding: "she's certain to have got +again into that cave in the hill, and come across a snake, which must +have bitten her and put an end to her." + +So saying, she distanced them, feeling again very much amused. "I have +managed," she thought, "to ward off this piece of business, but I +wonder what those two think about it." + +Hsiao Hung, who would have anticipated, readily credited as gospel the +remarks she heard Pao-ch'ai make. But allowing just time enough to +Pao-ch'ai to got to a certain distance, she instantly drew Chui Erh to +her. "Dreadful!" 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. "What's to be done?" Hsiao Hung consequently exclaimed. + +"Even supposing she did overhear what we said," rejoined Chui Erh by +way of answer, "why should she meddle in what does not concern her? +Every one should mind her own business." + +"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. Should she have heard and anything perchance +comes to light, what will we do?" + +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. They then +espied lady Feng standing on the top of the hillock, waving her hand, +beckoning to Hsiao Hung. Hurriedly therefore leaving the company, she +ran up to lady Feng and with smile heaped upon smile, "my lady," she +inquired, "what is it that you want?" + +Lady Feng scrutinised her for a time. Observing how spruce and pretty +she was in looks, and how genial in her speech, she felt prompted to +give her a smile. "My own waiting-maid," she said, "hasn't followed me +in here to-day; and as I've just this moment bethought myself of +something and would like to send some one on an errand, I wonder +whether you're fit to undertake the charge and deliver a message +faithfully." + +"Don't hesitate in entrusting me with any message you may have to +send," replied Hsiao Hung with a laugh. "I'll readily go and deliver +it. Should I not do so faithfully, and blunder in fulfilling your +business, my lady, you may visit me with any punishment your ladyship +may please, and I'll have nothing to say." + +"What young lady's servant are you," smiled lady Feng? "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." + +"I'm attached to our Master Secundus,' Mr. Pao's rooms," answered Hsiao +Hung. + +"Ai-ya!" ejaculated lady Feng, as soon as she heard these words. "Are +you really in Pao-yü's rooms! How strange! Yet it comes to the same +thing. Well, if he asks for you, I'll tell him where you are. Go now to +our house and tell your sister P'ing that she'll find on the table in +the outer apartment and under the stand with the plate from the Ju +kiln, a bundle of silver; that it contains the one hundred and twenty +taels for the embroiderers' wages; and that when Chang Ts'ai's wife +comes, the money should be handed to her to take away, after having +been weighed in her presence and been given to her to tally. Another +thing too I want. In the inner apartment and at the head of the bed +you'll find a small purse, bring it along to me." + +Hsiao Hung listened to her orders and then started to carry them out. +On her return, in a short while, she discovered that lady Feng was not +on the hillock. But perceiving Ssu Ch'i egress from the cave and stand +still to tie her petticoat, she walked up to her. "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. Seeing T'an Ch'un and Pao-ch'ai standing by the bank of the +pond on the opposite side and looking at the fish, Hsiao Hung advanced +up to them. "Young ladies," she said, straining a smile, "do you +perchance have any idea where our lady Secunda is gone to now?" + +"Go into your senior lady's court and look for her!" T'an Ch'un +answered. + +Hearing this, Hsiao Hung was proceeding immediately towards the Tao +Hsiang village, when she caught sight, just ahead of her, of Ch'ing +Wen, +Ch'i Hsia, Pi Hen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yüeh, Shih Shu, Ju Hua, Ying Erh and +some other girls coming towards her in a group. + +The moment Ch'ing Wen saw Hsiao Hung, she called out to her. "Are you +gone clean off your head?" she exclaimed. "You don't water the flowers, +nor feed the birds or prepare the tea stove, but gad about outside!" + +"Yesterday," replied Hsiao Hung, "Mr. Secundus told me that there was +no need for me to water the flowers to-day; that it was enough if they +were watered every other day. As for the birds, you're still in the +arms of Morpheus, sister, when I give them their food." + +"And what about the tea-stove?" interposed Pi Hen. + +"To-day," retorted Hsiao Hung, "is not my turn on duty, so don't ask me +whether there be any tea or not!" + +"Do you listen to that mouth of hers!" cried Ch'i Hsia, "but don't you +girls speak to her; let her stroll about and have done!" + +"You'd better all go and ask whether I've been gadding about or not," +continued Hsiao Hung. "Our lady Secunda has just bidden me go and +deliver a message, and fetch something." + +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. + +Ch'ing Wen smiled a sarcastic smile. "How funny!" she cried. "Lo, she +climbs up a high branch and doesn't condescend to look at any one of +us! All she told her must have been just some word or two, who knows! +But is it likely that our lady has the least notion of her name or +surname that she rides such a high horse, and behaves in this manner! +What credit is it in having been sent on a trifling errand like this! +Will we, by and bye, pray, hear anything more about you? If you've got +any gumption, you'd better skedaddle out of this garden this very day. +For, mind, it's only if you manage to hold your lofty perch for any +length of time that you can be thought something of!" + +As she derided her, she continued on her way. + +During this while, Hsiao Hung listened to her, but as she did not find +it a suitable moment to retaliate, she felt constrained to suppress her +resentment and go in search of lady Feng. + +On her arrival at widow Li's quarters, she, in point of fact, +discovered lady Feng seated inside with her having a chat. Hsiao Hung +approached her and made her report. "Sister P'ing says," she observed, +"that as soon as your ladyship left the house, she put the money by, +and that when Chang Ts'ai's wife went in a little time to fetch it, she +had it weighed in her presence, after which she gave it to her to take +away." + +With these words, she produced the purse and presented it to her. +"Sister P'ing bade me come and tell your ladyship," she added, +continuing, "that Wang Erh came just now to crave your orders, as to +who are the parties from whom he has to go and (collect interest on +money due) and sister P'ing explained to him what your wishes were and +sent him off." + +"How could she tell him where I wanted him to go?" Lady Feng laughed. + +"Sister P'ing says," Hsiao Hung proceeded, "that our lady presents her +compliments to your ladyship (widow Li) here-(_To lady Feng_) that our +master Secundus has in fact not come home, and that albeit a delay of +(a day) or two will take place (in the collection of the money), your +ladyship should, she begs, set your mind at ease. (_To Li Wan_). That +when lady Quinta is somewhat better, our lady will let lady Quinta know +and come along with her to see your ladyship. (_To lady Feng_). That +lady Quinta sent a servant the day before yesterday to come over and +say that our lady, your worthy maternal aunt, had despatched a letter +to inquire after your ladyship's health; that she also wished to ask +you, my lady, her worthy niece in here, for a couple of +'long-life-great-efficacy-full-of-every-virtue' pills; and that if you +have any, they should, when our lady bids a servant come over, be +simply given her to bring to our lady here, and that any one bound +to-morrow for that side could then deliver them on her way to her +ladyship, your aunt yonder, to take along with her." + +"Ai-yo-yo!" exclaimed widow Li, before the close of the message. "It's +impossible for me to make out what you're driving at! What a heap of +ladyships and misters!" + +"It's not to be wondered at that you can't make them out," interposed +lady Feng laughing. "Why, her remarks refer to four or five distinct +families." + +While speaking, she again faced Hsiao Hung. "My dear girl," she smiled, +"what a trouble you've been put to! But you speak decently, and unlike +the others who keep on buzz-buzz-buzz, like mosquitoes! You're not +aware, sister-in-law, that I actually dread uttering a word to any of +the girls outside the few servant-girls and matrons in my own immediate +service; for they invariably spin out, what could be condensed in a +single phrase, into a long interminable yarn, and they munch and chew +their words; and sticking to a peculiar drawl, they groan and moan; so +much so, that they exasperate me till I fly into a regular rage. Yet +how are they to know that our P'ing Erh too was once like them. 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." + +"What a good thing it would be," laughed Li Kung-ts'ai, "if they could +all be as smart as you are." + +"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. + +"What are you laughing for?" Lady Feng inquired. "You must say to +yourself that I am young in years and that how much older can I be than +yourself to become your mother; but are you under the influence of a +spring dream? Go and ask all those people older than yourself. They +would be only too ready to call me mother. But snapping my fingers at +them, I to-day exalt you." + +"I wasn't laughing about that," Hsiao Hung answered with a smiling +face. +"I was amused by the mistake your ladyship made about our generations. +Why, my mother claims to be your daughter, my lady, and are you now +going to recognise me too as your daughter?" + +"Who's your mother?" Lady Feng exclaimed. + +"Don't you actually know her?" put in Li Kung-ts'ai with a smile. +"She's +Lin Chih-hsiao's child." + +This disclosure greatly surprised lady Feng. "What!" she consequently +cried, "is she really his daughter?" + +"Why Lin Chih-hsiao and his wife," she resumed smilingly, "couldn't +either of them utter a sound if even they were pricked with an awl. +I've always maintained that they're a well-suited couple; as the one is +as deaf as a post, and the other as dumb as a mute. But who would ever +have expected them to have such a clever girl! By how much are you in +your teens?" + +"I'm seventeen," replied Hsia Hung. + +"What is your name?" she went on to ask. + +"My name was once Hung Yü." Hsiao Hung rejoined. "But as it was a +duplicate of that of Master Secundus, Mr. Pao-yü, I'm now simply called +Hsiao Hung." + +Upon hearing this explanation, lady Feng raised her eyebrows into a +frown, and turning her head round: "It's most disgusting!" she +remarked, "Those bearing the name Yü would seem to be very cheap; for +your name is Yü, and so is also mine Yü. Sister-in-law," she then +observed; "I never let you know anything about it, but I mentioned to +her mother that Lai Ta's wife has at present her hands quite full, and +that she hasn't either any notion as to who is who in this mansion. +'You had better,' (I said), 'carefully select a couple of girls for my +service.' She assented unreservedly, but she put it off and never chose +any. On the contrary, she sent this girl to some other place. But is it +likely that she wouldn't have been well off with me?" + +"Here you are again full of suspicion!" Li Wan laughed. "She came in +here long before you ever breathed a word to her! So how could you bear +a grudge against her mother?" + +"Well, in that case," added lady Feng, "I'll speak to Pao-yü to-morrow, +and induce him to find another one, and to allow this girl to come +along with me. I wonder, however, whether she herself is willing or +not?" + +"Whether willing or not," interposed Hsiao Hung smiling, "such as we +couldn't really presume to raise our voices and object. We should feel +it our privilege to serve such a one as your ladyship, and learn a +little how to discriminate when people raise or drop their eyebrows and +eyes (with pleasure or displeasure), and reap as well some experience +in such matters as go out or come in, whether high or low, great and +small." + +But during her reply, she perceived Madame Wang's waiting-maid come and +invite lady Feng to go over. Lady Feng bade good-bye at once to Li +Kung-ts'ai and took her departure. + +Hsiao Hung then returned into the I Hung court, where we will leave her +and devote our attention for the present to Lin Tai-yü. + +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. As soon as +she reached the interior of the court, she caught sight of Pao-yü, +entering the door, who speedily greeted her with a smile. "My dear +cousin," he said, "did you lodge a complaint against me yesterday? I've +been on pins and needles the whole night long." + +Tai-yü forthwith turned her head away. "Put the room in order," she +shouted to Tzu Chüan, "and lower one of the gauze window-frames. And +when you've seen the swallows come back, drop the curtain; keep it down +then by placing the lion on it, and after you have burnt the incense, +mind you cover the censer." + +So saying she stepped outside. + +Pao-yü perceiving her manner, concluded again that it must be on +account of the incident of the previous noon, but how could he have had +any idea about what had happened in the evening? He kept on still +bowing and curtseying; but Lin Tai-yü did not even so much as look at +him straight in the face, but egressing alone out of the door of the +court, she proceeded there and then in search of the other girls. + +Pao-yü fell into a despondent mood and gave way to conjectures. + +"Judging," he reflected, "from this behaviour of hers, it would seem as +if it could not be for what transpired yesterday. Yesterday too I came +back late in the evening, and, what's more, I didn't see her, so that +there was no occasion on which I could have given her offence." + +As he indulged in these reflections, he involuntarily followed in her +footsteps to try and catch her up, when he descried Pao-ch'ai and +T'an-ch'un on the opposite side watching the frolics of the storks. + +As soon as they saw Tai-yü approach, the trio stood together and +started a friendly chat. But noticing Pao-yü also come up, T'an Ch'un +smiled. "Brother Pao," she said, "are you all right. It's just three +days that I haven't seen anything of you?" + +"Are you sister quite well?" 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. Distancing +Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yü, the two of them came under a pomegranate tree. +"Has father sent for you these last few days?" T'an Ch'un then asked. + +"He hasn't," Pao-yü answered laughingly by way of reply. + +"Yesterday," proceeded T'an Ch'un, "I heard vaguely something or other +about father sending for you to go out." + +"I presume," Pao-yü smiled, "that some one must have heard wrong, for +he never sent for me." + +"I've again managed to save during the last few months," added T'an +Ch'un with another smile, "fully ten tiaos, so take them and bring me, +when at any time you stroll out of doors, either some fine writings or +some ingenious knicknack." + +"Much as I have roamed inside and outside the city walls," answered +Pao-yü, "and seen grand establishments and large temples, I've never +come across anything novel or pretty. One simply sees articles made of +gold, jade, copper and porcelain, as well as such curios for which we +could find no place here. Besides these, there are satins, eatables, +and wearing apparel." + +"Who cares for such baubles!" exclaimed T'an Ch'un. "How could they +come up to what you purchased the last time; that wee basket, made of +willow twigs, that scent-box, scooped out of a root of real bamboo, +that portable stove fashioned of glutinous clay; these things were, oh, +so very nice! I was as fond of them as I don't know what; but, who'd +have thought it, they fell in love with them and bundled them all off, +just as if they were precious things." + +"Is it things of this kind that you really want?" laughed Pao-yü. "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." + +"What do the servant-boys know?" T'an Ch'un replied. "Those you chose +for me were plain yet not commonplace. Neither were they of coarse +make. So were you to procure me as many as you can get of them, I'll +work you a pair of slippers like those I gave you last time, and spend +twice as much trouble over them as I did over that pair you have. Now, +what do you say to this bargain?" + +"Your reference to this," smiled Pao-yü, "reminds me of an old +incident. One day I had them on, and by a strange coincidence, I met +father, whose fancy they did not take, and he inquired who had worked +them. But how could I muster up courage to allude to the three words: +my sister Tertia, so I answered that my maternal aunt had given them to +me on the recent occasion of my birthday. When father heard that they +had been given to me by my aunt, he could not very well say anything. +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. +'Her own brother,' she murmured indignantly, 'wears slipshod shoes and +socks in holes, and there's no one to look after him, and does she go +and work all these things!'" + +T'an Ch'un, hearing this, immediately lowered her face. "Now tell me, +aren't these words utter rot!" she shouted. "What am I that I have to +make shoes? And is it likely that Huan Erh hasn't his own share of +things! Clothes are clothes, and shoes and socks are shoes and socks; +and how is it that any grudges arise in the room of a mere servant-girl +and old matron? For whose benefit does she come out with all these +things! I simply work a pair or part of a pair when I am at leisure, +with time on my hands. And I can give them to any brother, elder or +younger, I fancy; and who has a right to interfere with me? This is +just another bit of blind anger!" + +After listening to her, Pao-yü nodded his head and smiled. "Yet," he +said, "you don't know what her motives may be. It's but natural that +she should also cherish some expectations." + +This apology incensed T'an Ch'un more than ever, and twisting her head +round, "Even you have grown dull!" she cried. "She does, of course, +indulge in expectations, but they are actuated by some underhand and +paltry notion! She may go on giving way to these ideas, but I, for my +part, will only care for Mr. Chia Cheng and Madame Wang. I won't care a +rap for any one else. In fact, I'll be nice with such of my sisters and +brothers, as are nice to me; and won't even draw any distinction +between those born of primary wives and those of secondary ones. +Properly speaking, I shouldn't say these things about her, but she's +narrow-minded to a degree, and unlike what she should be. There's +besides another ridiculous thing. This took place the last time I gave +you the money to get me those trifles. Well, two days after that, she +saw me, and she began again to represent that she had no money and that +she was hard up. Nevertheless, I did not worry my brain with her goings +on. But as it happened, the servant-girls subsequently quitted the +room, and she at once started finding fault with me. 'Why,' she asked, +'do I give you my savings to spend and don't, after all, let Huan Erh +have them and enjoy them?' When I heard these reproaches, I felt both +inclined to laugh, and also disposed to lose my temper; but I there and +then skedaddled out of her quarters, and went over to our Madame Wang." + +As she was recounting this incident, "Well," she overheard Pao-ch'ai +sarcastically observe from the opposite direction, "have you done +spinning your yarns? If you have, come along! It's quite evident that +you are brother and sister, for here you leave every one else and go +and discuss your own private matters. Couldn't we too listen to a +single sentence of what you have to say?" + +While she taunted them, T'an Ch'un and Pao-yü eventually drew near her +with smiling faces. + +Pao-yü, however, failed to see Lin Tai-yü and he concluded that she had +dodged out of the way and gone elsewhere. "It would be better," he +muttered, after some thought, "that I should let two days elapse, and +give her temper time to evaporate before I go to her." But as he +drooped his head, his eye was attracted by a heap of touch-me-nots, +pomegranate blossom and various kinds of fallen flowers, which covered +the ground thick as tapestry, and he heaved a sigh. "It's because," he +pondered, "she's angry that she did not remove these flowers; but I'll +take them over to the place, and by and bye ask her about them." + +As he argued to himself, he heard Pao-ch'ai bid them go out. "I'll join +you in a moment," Pao-yü replied; and waiting till his two cousins had +gone some distance, he bundled the flowers into his coat, and ascending +the hill, he crossed the stream, penetrated into the arbour, passed +through the avenues with flowers and wended his way straight for the +spot, where he had, on a previous occasion, interred the peach-blossoms +with the assistance of Lin Tai-yü. But scarcely had he reached the +mound containing the flowers, and before he had, as yet, rounded the +brow of the hill, than he caught, emanating from the off side, the +sound of some one sobbing, who while giving way to invective, wept in a +most heart-rending way. + +"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. He then heard, mingled +with wails:— + + Flowers wither and decay; and flowers do fleet; they fly all o'er the + skies; + Their bloom wanes; their smell dies; but who is there with them to + sympathise? + While vagrant gossamer soft doth on fluttering spring-bowers bind its + coils, + And drooping catkins lightly strike and cling on the embroidered + screens, + A maiden in the inner rooms, I sore deplore the close of spring. + Such ceaseless sorrow fills my breast, that solace nowhere can I + find. + Past the embroidered screen I issue forth, taking with me a hoe, + And on the faded flowers to tread I needs must, as I come and go. + The willow fibres and elm seeds have each a fragrance of their own. + What care I, peach blossoms may fall, pear flowers away be blown; + Yet peach and pear will, when next year returns, burst out again in + bloom, + But can it e'er be told who will next year dwell in the inner room? + What time the third moon comes, the scented nests have been already + built. + And on the beams the swallows perch, excessive spiritless and staid; + Next year, when the flowers bud, they may, it's true, have ample to + feed on: + But they know not that when I'm gone beams will be vacant and nests + fall! + In a whole year, which doth consist of three hundred and sixty days, + Winds sharp as swords and frost like unto spears each other rigorous + press, + So that how long can last their beauty bright; their fresh charm how + long stays? + Sudden they droop and fly; and whither they have flown, 'tis hard to + guess. + Flowers, while in bloom, easy the eye attract; but, when they wither, + hard they are to find. + Now by the footsteps, I bury the flowers, but sorrow will slay me. + Alone I stand, and as I clutch the hoe, silent tears trickle down, + And drip on the bare twigs, leaving behind them the traces of blood. + The goatsucker hath sung his song, the shades lower of eventide, + So with the lotus hoe I return home and shut the double doors. + Upon the wall the green lamp sheds its rays just as I go to sleep. + The cover is yet cold; against the window patters the bleak rain. + How strange! Why can it ever be that I feel so wounded at heart! + Partly, because spring I regret; partly, because with spring I'm + vexed! + Regret for spring, because it sudden comes; vexed, for it sudden + goes. + For without warning, lo! it comes; and without asking it doth fleet. + Yesterday night, outside the hall sorrowful songs burst from my + mouth, + For I found out that flowers decay, and that birds also pass away. + The soul of flowers, and the spirit of birds are both hard to + restrain. + Birds, to themselves when left, in silence plunge; and flowers, + alone, + they blush. + Oh! would that on my sides a pair of wings could grow, + That to the end of heaven I may fly in the wake of flowers! + Yea to the very end of heaven, + Where I could find a fragrant grave! + For better, is it not, that an embroidered bag should hold my + well-shaped bones, + And that a heap of stainless earth should in its folds my winsome + charms enshroud. + For spotless once my frame did come, and spotless again it will go! + Far better than that I, like filthy mire, should sink into some + drain! + 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! + Here I am fain these flowers to inter; but humankind will laugh me as + a fool. + Who knows, who will, in years to come, commit me to my grave! + Mark, and you'll find the close of spring, and the gradual decay of + flowers, + Resemble faithfully the time of death of maidens ripe in years! + In a twinkle, spring time draws to a close, and maidens wax in age. + Flowers fade and maidens die; and of either nought any more is known. + +After listening to these effusions, Pao-yü unconsciously threw himself +down in a wandering frame of mind. + +But, reader, do you feel any interest in him? If you do, the subsequent +chapter contains further details about him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + + Chiang Yü-han lovingly presents a rubia-scented silk sash. + Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai blushingly covers her musk-perfumed string of red + beads. + +Lin Tai-yü, the story goes, dwelt, after Ch'ing Wen's refusal, the +previous night, to open the door, under the impression that the blame +lay with Pao-yü. The following day, which by another remarkable +coincidence, happened to correspond with the season, when the god of +flowers had to be feasted, her total ignorance of the true +circumstances, and her resentment, as yet unspent, aroused again in her +despondent thoughts, suggested by the decline of spring time. She +consequently gathered a quantity of faded flowers and fallen petals, +and went and interred them. 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. But when +subsequently his ear caught: + + "Here I am fain these flowers to inter, but humankind will laugh me + as + a fool; + Who knows who will, in years to come, commit me to my grave! + In a twinkle springtime draws to an end, and maidens wax in age. + Flowers fade and maidens die; and of either naught any more is + known." + +he unconsciously was so overpowered with grief that he threw himself on +the mound, bestrewing the whole ground with the fallen flowers he +carried in his coat, close to his chest. "When Tai-yü's flowerlike +charms and moon-like beauty," he reflected, "by and bye likewise reach +a time when they will vanish beyond any hope of recovery, won't my +heart be lacerated and my feelings be mangled! And extending, since +Tai-yü must at length some day revert to a state when it will be +difficult to find her, this reasoning to other persons, like Pao-ch'ai, +Hsiang Ling, Hsi Jen and the other girls, they too are equally liable +to attain a state beyond the reach of human search. But when Pao-ch'ai +and all the rest have ultimately reached that stage when no trace will +be visible of them, where shall I myself be then? And when my own human +form will have vanished and gone, whither I know not yet, to what +person, I wonder, will this place, this garden and these plants, +revert?" + +From one to a second, and from a second to a third, he thus pursued his +reflections, backwards and forwards, until he really did not know how +he could best, at this time and at such a juncture, dispel his fit of +anguish. His state is adequately described by: + + The shadow of a flower cannot err from the flower itself to the left + or the right. + The song of birds can only penetrate into the ear from the east or + the + west. + +Lin Tai-yü was herself a prey to emotion and agitation, when unawares +sorrowful accents also struck her ear, from the direction of the mound. +"Every one," she cogitated, "laughs at me for labouring under a foolish +mania, but is there likely another fool besides myself?" She then +raised her head, and, casting a glance about her, she discovered that +it was Pao-yü. "Ts'ui!" eagerly cried Tai-yü, "I was wondering who it +was; but is it truly this ruthless-hearted and short-lived fellow!" + +But the moment the two words "short-lived" dropped from her mouth, she +sealed her lips; and, heaving a deep sigh, she turned herself round and +hurriedly walked off. + +Pao-yü, meanwhile, remained for a time a prey to melancholy. But +perceiving that Tai-yü had retired, he at once realised that she must +have caught sight of him and got out of his way; and, as his own +company afforded him no pleasure, he shook the dust off his clothes, +rose to his feet and descending the hill, he started for the I Hung +court by the path by which he had come. But he espied Tai-yü walking in +advance of him, and with rapid stride, he overtook her. "Stop a +little!" 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." + +Tai-yü looked round. Observing that it was Pao-yü, she was about to +ignore him; hearing him however mention that he had only one thing to +say, "Please tell me what it is," she forthwith rejoined. + +Pao-yü smiled at her. "If I pass two remarks will you listen to me; yes +or no?" he asked. + +At these words, Tai-yü twisted herself round and beat a retreat. Pao-yü +however followed behind. + +"Since this is what we've come to now," he sighed, "what was the use of +what existed between us in days gone by?" + +As soon as Tai-yü heard his exclamation, she stopped short impulsively. +Turning her face towards him, "what about days gone by," she remarked, +"and what about now?" + +"Ai!" ejaculated Pao-yü, "when you got here in days gone by, wasn't I +your playmate in all your romps and in all your fun? My heart may have +been set upon anything, but if you wanted it you could take it away at +once. I may have been fond of any eatable, but if I came to learn that +you too fancied it, I there and then put away what could be put away, +in a clean place, to wait, Miss, for your return. We had our meals at +one table; we slept in one and the same bed; whatever the servant-girls +could not remember, I reminded them of, for fear lest your temper, +Miss, should get ruffled. I flattered myself that cousins, who have +grown up together from their infancy, as you and I have, would have +continued, through intimacy or friendship, either would have done, in +peace and harmony until the end, so as to make it palpable that we are +above the rest. But, contrary to all my expectations, now that you, +Miss, have developed in body as well as in mind, you don't take the +least heed of me. You lay hold instead of some cousin Pao or cousin +Feng or other from here, there and everywhere and give them a place in +your affections; while on the contrary you disregard me for three days +at a stretch and decline to see anything of me for four! I have besides +no brother or sister of the same mother as myself. It's true there are +a couple of them, but these, are you not forsooth aware, are by another +mother! You and I are only children, so I ventured to hope that you +would have reciprocated my feelings. But, who'd have thought it, I've +simply thrown away this heart of mine, and here I am with plenty of +woes to bear, but with nowhere to go and utter them!" + +While expressing these sentiments, tears, unexpectedly, trickled from +his eyes. + +When Lin Tai-yü caught, with her ears, his protestations, and noticed +with her eyes his state of mind, she unconsciously experienced an +inward pang, and, much against her will, tears too besprinkled her +cheeks; so, drooping her head, she kept silent. + +Her manner did not escape Pao-yü's notice. "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. Were I to ever commit the slightest fault, +your task should be either to tender me advice and warn me not to do it +again, or to blow me up a little, or give me a few whacks; and all this +reproof I wouldn't take amiss. But no one would have ever anticipated +that you wouldn't bother your head in the least about me, and that you +would be the means of driving me to my wits' ends, and so much out of +my mind and off my head, as to be quite at a loss how to act for the +best. In fact, were death to come upon me, I would be a spirit driven +to my grave by grievances. However much exalted bonzes and eminent +Taoist priests might do penance, they wouldn't succeed in releasing my +soul from suffering; for it would still be needful for you to clearly +explain the facts, so that I might at last be able to come to life." + +After lending him a patient ear, Tai-yü suddenly banished from her +memory all recollection of the occurrences of the previous night. +"Well, in that case," she said, "why did you not let a servant-girl +open the door when I came over?" + +This question took Pao-yü by surprise. "What prompts you to say this?" +he exclaimed. "If I have done anything of the kind, may I die at once." + +"Psha!" cried Tai-yü, "it's not right that you-should recklessly broach +the subject of living or dying at this early morn! If you say yea, it's +yea; and nay, it's nay; what use is there to utter such oaths!" + +"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. "Yes," she observed, "your +servant-girls must, I fancy, have been too lazy to budge, grumpy and in +a cross-grained mood; this is probable enough." + +"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." + +"Those girls of yours;" continued Tai-yü, "should be given a lesson, +but properly speaking it isn't for me to mention anything about it. +Their present insult to me is a mere trifle; but were to-morrow some +Miss Pao (precious) or some Miss Pei (jewel) or other to come, and were +she to be subjected to insult, won't it be a grave matter?" + +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. + +"Miss," inquired Madame Wang at the sight of Tai-yü, "have you taken +any of Dr. Pao's medicines? Do you feel any better?" + +"I simply feel so-so," replied Lin Tai-yü, "but grandmother Chia +recommended me to go on taking Dr. Wang's medicines." + +"Mother," Pao-yü interposed, "you've no idea that cousin Lin's is an +internal derangement; it's because she was born with a delicate +physique that she can't stand the slightest cold. All she need do is to +take a couple of closes of some decoction to dispel the chill; yet it's +preferable that she should have medicine in pills." + +"The other day," said Madame Wang, "the doctor mentioned the name of +some pills, but I've forgotten what it is." + +"I know something about pills," put in Pao-yü; "he merely told her to +take some pills or other called 'ginseng +as-a-restorative-of-the-system.'" + +"That isn't it," Madame Wang demurred. + +"The 'Eight-precious-wholesome-to-mother' pills," Pao-yü proceeded, "or +the 'Left-angelica' or 'Right-angelica;' if these also aren't the ones, +they must be the 'Eight-flavour Rehmannia-glutinosa' pills." + +"None of these," rejoined Madame Wang, "for I remember well that there +were the two words chin kang (guardians in Buddhistic temples)." + +"I've never before," observed Pao-yü, clapping his hands, "heard of the +existence of chin kang pills; but in the event of there being any chin +kang pills, there must, for a certainty, be such a thing as P'u Sa +(Buddha) powder." + +At this joke, every one in the whole room burst out laughing. Pao-ch'ai +compressed her lips and gave a smile. "It must, I'm inclined to think," +she suggested, "be the 'lord-of-heaven-strengthen-the-heart' pills!" + +"Yes, that's the name," Madame Wang laughed, "why, now, I too have +become muddle-headed." + +"You're not muddle-headed, mother," said Pao-yü, "it's the mention of +Chin kangs and Buddhas which confused you." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" ejaculated Madame Wang. "What you want again is +your father to whip you!" + +"My father," Pao-yü laughed, "wouldn't whip me for a thing like this." + +"Well, this being their name," resumed Madame Wang, "you had better +tell some one to-morrow to buy you a few." + +"All these drugs," expostulated Pao-yü, "are of no earthly use. Were +you, mother, to give me three hundred and sixty taels, I'll concoct a +supply of pills for my cousin, which I can certify will make her feel +quite herself again before she has finished a single supply." + +"What trash!" cried Madame Wang. "What kind of medicine is there so +costly!" + +"It's a positive fact," smiled Pao-yü. "This prescription of mine is +unlike all others. Besides, the very names of those drugs are quaint, +and couldn't be enumerated in a moment; suffice it to mention the +placenta of the first child; three hundred and sixty ginseng roots, +shaped like human beings and studded with leaves; four fat tortoises; +full-grown polygonum multiflorum; the core of the Pachyma cocos, found +on the roots of a fir tree of a thousand years old; and other such +species of medicines. They're not, I admit, out-of-the-way things; but +they are the most excellent among that whole crowd of medicines; and +were I to begin to give you a list of them, why, they'd take you all +quite aback. The year before last, I at length let Hsüeh P'an have this +recipe, after he had made ever so many entreaties during one or two +years. When, however, he got the prescription, he had to search for +another two or three years and to spend over and above a thousand taels +before he succeeded in having it prepared. If you don't believe me, +mother, you are at liberty to ask cousin Pao-ch'ai about it." + +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." + +"Really," said Madame Wang smiling, "Pao-ch'ai is a good girl; she does +not tell lies." + +Pao-yü was standing in the centre of the room. Upon hearing these +words, he turned round sharply and clapped his hands. "What I stated +just now," he explained, "was the truth; yet you maintain that it was +all lies." + +As he defended himself, he casually looked round, and caught sight of +Lin Tai-yü at the back of Pao-ch'ai laughing with tight-set lips, and +applying her fingers to her face to put him to shame. + +But Lady Feng, who had been in the inner rooms overseeing the servants +laying the table, came out at once, as soon as she overheard the +conversation. "Brother Pao tells no lies," she smilingly chimed in, +"this is really a fact. Some time ago cousin Hsüeh P'an came over in +person and asked me for pearls, and when I inquired of him what he +wanted them for, he explained that they were intended to compound some +medicine with; adding, in an aggrieved way, that it would have been +better hadn't he taken it in hand for he never had any idea that it +would involve such a lot of trouble! When I questioned him what the +medicine was, he returned for answer that it was a prescription of +brother Pao's; and he mentioned ever so many ingredients, which I don't +even remember. 'Under other circumstances,' he went on to say, 'I would +have purchased a few pearls, but what are absolutely wanted are such +pearls as have been worn on the head; and that's why I come to ask you, +cousin, for some. If, cousin, you've got no broken ornaments at hand, +in the shape of flowers, why, those that you have on your head will do +as well; and by and bye I'll choose a few good ones and give them to +you, to wear.' I had no other course therefore than to snap a couple of +twigs from some flowers I have, made of pearls, and to let him take +them away. One also requires a piece of deep red gauze, three feet in +length of the best quality; and the pearls must be triturated to powder +in a mortar." + +After each sentence expressed by lady Feng, Pao-yü muttered an +invocation to Buddha. "The thing is as clear as sunlight now," he +remarked. + +The moment lady Feng had done speaking, Pao-yü put in his word. +"Mother," he added, "you should know that this is a mere makeshift, for +really, according to the letter of the prescription, these pearls and +precious stones should, properly speaking, consist of such as had been +obtained from, some old grave and been worn as head-ornaments by some +wealthy and honourable person of bygone days. But how could one go now +on this account and dig up graves, and open tombs! Hence it is that +such as are simply in use among living persons can equally well be +substituted." + +"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed Madame Wang, after listening to him throughout. +"That will never do, and what an arduous job to uselessly saddle one's +self with; for even though there be interred in some graves people, +who've been dead for several hundreds of years, it wouldn't be a +propitious thing were their corpses turned topsy-turvey now and the +bones abstracted; just for the sake of preparing some medicine or +other." + +Pao-yü thereupon addressed himself to Tai-yü. "Have you heard what was +said or not?" he asked. "And is there, pray, any likelihood that cousin +Secunda would also follow in my lead and tell lies?" + +While saying this, his eyes were, albeit his face was turned towards +Lin +Tai-yü, fixed upon Pao-ch'ai. + +Lin Tai-yü pulled Madame Wang. "You just listen to him, aunt," she +observed. "All because cousin Pao-ch'ai would not accommodate him by +lying, he appeals to me." + +"Pao-yü has a great knack," Madame Wang said, "of dealing +contemptuously with you, his cousin." + +"Mother," Pao-yü smilingly protested, "you are not aware how the case +stands. When cousin Pao-ch'ai lived at home, she knew nothing whatever +about my elder cousin Hsüeh P'an's affairs, and how much less now that +she has taken up her quarters inside the garden? 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. Lin Tai-yü, however, did not even +call Pao-yü, but forthwith rising to her feet, she went along, dragging +the waiting-maid by the hand. + +"Let's wait for master Secundus, Mr. Pao, to go along with us," +demurred the girl. + +"He doesn't want anything to eat," Lin Tai-yü replied; "he won't come +with us, so I'll go ahead." So saying she promptly left the room. + +"I'll have my repast with my mother to-day," Pao-yü said. + +"Not at all," Madame Wang remarked, "not at all. I'm going to fast +to-day, so it's only right and proper that you should go and have your +own." + +"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. + +Madame Wang faced Pao-ch'ai and her companions. "You, girls," she +observed, "had better have your meal, and let him have his own way!" + +"It's only right that you should go," Pao-ch'ai smiled. "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." + +"Who cares about her!" Pao-yü rejoined, "she'll get all right again +after a time." + +Shortly, they finished their repast. But Pao-yü apprehended, in the +first place, that his grandmother Chia, would be solicitous on his +account, and longed, in the second, to be with Lin Tai-yü, so he +hurriedly asked for some tea to rinse his mouth with. + +"Cousin Secundus," T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un interposed with an ironic +laugh, "what's the use of the hurry-scurry you're in the whole day +long! Even when you're having your meals, or your tea, you're in this +sort of fussy helter-skelter!" + +"Make him hurry up and have his tea," Pao-ch'ai chimed in smiling, "so +that he may go and look up his cousin Lin. He'll be up to all kinds of +mischief if you keep him here!" + +Pao-yü drank his tea. Then hastily leaving the apartment, he proceeded +straightway towards the eastern court. As luck would have it, the +moment he got near lady Feng's court, he descried lady Feng standing at +the gateway. While standing on the step, and picking her teeth with an +ear-cleaner, she superintended about ten young servant-boys removing +the flower-pots from place to place. As soon as she caught sight of +Pao-yü approaching, she put on a smiling face. "You come quite +opportunely," she said; "walk in, walk in, and write a few characters +for me." + +Pao-yü had no option but to follow her in. When they reached the +interior of her rooms, lady Feng gave orders to a servant to fetch a +pen, inkslab and paper. + +"Forty rolls of deep red ornamented satin," she began, addressing +herself to Pao-yü, "forty rolls of satin with dragons; a hundred rolls +of gauzes of every colour, of the finest quality; four gold +necklaces…." + +"What's this?" Pao-yü shouted, "it is neither a bill; nor is it a list +of presents, and in what style shall I write it?" + +Lady Feng remonstrated with him. "Just you go on writing," she said, +"for, in fact, as long as I can make out what it means, it's all that +is needed." + +Pao-yü at this response felt constrained to proceed with the writing. + +This our lady Feng put the paper by. As she did so, "I've still +something more to tell you," she smilingly pursued, "but I wonder +whether you will accede to it or not. There is in your rooms a +servant-maid, Hsiao Hung by name, whom I would like to bring over into +my service, and I'll select several girls to-morrow to wait on you; +will this do?" + +"The servants in my quarters," answered Pao-yü, "muster a large crowd, +so that, cousin, you are at perfect liberty to send for any one of +them, who might take your fancy; what's the need therefore of asking me +about it?" + +"If that be so," continued lady Feng laughingly, "I'll tell some one at +once to go and bring her over." + +"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." + +"Our venerable senior has sent for me," Pao-yü rejoined; "if you have +anything to tell me you must wait till my return." + +After this explanation, he there and then came over to his grandmother +Chia's on this side, where he found that they had already got through +their meal. + +"Have you had anything nice to eat with your mother?" old lady Chia +asked. + +"There was really nothing nice," Pao-yü smiled. "Yet I managed to have +a bowl of rice more than usual." + +"Where's cousin Lin?" he then inquired. + +"She's in the inner rooms," answered his grandmother. + +Pao-yü stepped in. He caught sight of a waiting-maid, standing below, +blowing into an iron, and two servant-girls seated on the stove-couch +making a chalk line. Tai-yü with stooping head was cutting out +something or other with a pair of scissors she held in her hand. + +Pao-yü advanced further in. "O! what's this that you are up to!" he +smiled. "You have just had your rice and do you bob your head down in +this way! 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. "You had better iron it again!" + +Tai-yü threw down the scissors. "Why worry yourself about it?" she +said; "it will get quite right after a time." + +But while Pao-yü was listening to what was being said, and was inwardly +feeling in low spirits, he became aware that Pao-ch'ai, T'an Ch'un and +the other girls had also arrived. After a short chat with dowager lady +Chia, Pao-ch'ai likewise entered the apartment to find out what her +cousin Lin was up to. 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!" + +"This too," laughed Tai-yü sarcastically, "is a mere falsehood, to +hoodwink people with, nothing more." + +"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." "Who cares!" shouted Lin Tai-yü. "He'll get all right +shortly." + +"Our worthy grandmother wishes to play at dominoes," Pao-yü thereupon +interposed directing his remarks to Pao-ch'ai; "and there's no one +there at present to have a game with her; so you'd better go and play +with her." + +"Have I come over now to play dominoes!" promptly smiled Pao-ch'ai when +she heard his suggestion. With this remark, she nevertheless at once +quitted the room. + +"It would be well for you to go," urged Lin Tai-yü, "for there's a +tiger in here; and, look out, he might eat you up." + +As she spoke, she went on with her cutting. + +Pao-yü perceived how loath she was to give him any of her attention, +and he had no alternative but to force a smile and to observe: "You +should also go for a stroll! It will be time enough by and bye to +continue your cutting." + +But Tai-yü would pay no heed whatever to him. Pao-yü addressed himself +therefore to the servant-girls. "Who has taught her how to cut out +these things?" he asked. + +"What does it matter who taught me how to cut?" Tai-yü vehemently +exclaimed, when she realised that he was speaking to the maids. "It's +no business of yours, Mr. Secundus." + +Pao-yü was then about to say something in his defence when he saw a +servant come in and report that there was some one outside who wished +to see him. At this announcement, Pao-yü betook himself with alacrity +out of the room. + +"O-mi-to-fu!" observed Tai-yü, turning outwards, "it wouldn't matter to +you if you found me dead on your return!" + +On his arrival outside, Pao-yü discovered Pei Ming. "You are invited," +he said, "to go to Mr. Feng's house." + +Upon hearing this message, Pao-yü knew well enough that it was about +the project mooted the previous day, and accordingly he told him to go +and ask for his clothes, while he himself wended his steps into the +library. + +Pei Ming came forthwith to the second gate and waited for some one to +appear. Seeing an old woman walk out, Pei Ming went up to her. "Our +Master Secundus, Mr. Pao," he told her, "is in the study waiting for +his out-door clothes; so do go in, worthy dame, and deliver the +message." + +"It would be better," replied the old woman, "if you did not echo your +mother's absurdities! Our Master Secundus, Mr. Pao, now lives in the +garden, and all the servants, who attend on him, stay in the garden; +and do you again come and bring the message here?" + +At these words, Pei Ming smiled. "You're quite right," he rejoined, "in +reproving me, for I've become quite idiotic." + +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. Pei Ming explained to them the +object of his coming. A young boy thereupon ran in. After a long +interval, he, at length, made his appearance, holding, enfolded in his +arms, a bundle of clothes, which he handed to Pei Ming, who then +returned to the library. Pao-yü effected a change in his costume, and +giving directions to saddle his horse, he only took along with him the +four servant-boys, Pei Ming, Chu Lo, Shuang Jui and Shou Erh, and +started on his way. He reached Feng Tzu-ying's doorway by a short cut. +A servant announced his arrival, and Feng Tzu-ying came out and ushered +him in. Here he discovered Hsüeh P'an, who had already been waiting a +long time, and several singing-boys besides; as well as Chiang Yü-han, +who played female roles, and Yün Erh, a courtesan in the Chin Hsiang +court. The whole company exchanged salutations. They next had tea. +"What you said the other day," smiled Pao-yü, raising his cup, "about +good fortune coming out of evil fortune has preyed so much upon my +mind, both by day and night, that the moment I received your summons I +hurried to come immediately." + +"My worthy cousins," rejoined Feng Tzu-ying smiling. "You're all far +too credulous! It's a mere hoax that I made use of the other day. For +so much did I fear that you would be sure to refuse if I openly asked +you to a drinking bout, that I thought it fit to say what I did. But +your attendance to-day, so soon after my invitation, makes it clear, +little though one would have thought it, that you've all taken it as +pure gospel truth." + +This admission evoked laughter from the whole company. The wines were +afterwards placed on the table, and they took the seats consistent with +their grades. Feng Tzu-ying first and foremost called the singing-boys +and offered them a drink. Next he told Yün Erh to also approach and +have a cup of wine. + +By the time, however, that Hsüeh P'an had had his third cup, he of a +sudden lost control over his feelings, and clasping Yün Erh's hand in +his: "Do sing me," he smiled, "that novel ballad of your own +composition; and I'll drink a whole jar full. Eh, will you?" + +This appeal compelled Yün Erh to take up the guitar. She then sang: + + Lovers have I two. + To set aside either I cannot bear. + When my heart longs for thee to come, + It also yearns for him. + Both are in form handsome and fair. + Their beauty to describe it would be hard. + Just think, last night, when at a silent hour, we met in secret, by + the trellis + frame laden with roses white, + One to his feelings stealthily was giving vent, + When lo, the other caught us in the act, + And laying hands on us; there we three stood like litigants before + the + bar. + And I had, verily, no word in answer for myself to give. + +At the close of her song, she laughed. "Well now," she cried, "down +with that whole jar!" + +"Why, it isn't worth a jarful," smiled Hsüeh P'an at these words. +"Favour us with some other good song!" + +"Listen to what I have to suggest," Pao-yü interposed, a smile on his +lips. "If you go on drinking in this reckless manner, we will easily +get drunk and there will be no fun in it. I'll take the lead and +swallow a large cupful and put in force a new penalty; and any one of +you who doesn't comply with it, will be mulcted in ten large cupfuls, +in quick succession!" + +Speedily rising from the banquet, he poured the wine for the company. +Feng Tzu-ying and the rest meanwhile exclaimed with one voice: "Quite +right! quite right!" + +Pao-yü then lifted a large cup and drained it with one draught. "We +will now," he proposed, "dilate on the four characters, 'sad, wounded, +glad and joyful.' But while discoursing about young ladies, we'll have +to illustrate the four states as well. 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." + +Hsüeh P'an gave him no time to finish. He was the first to stand up and +prevent him from proceeding. "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. + +"What are you in such a funk for?" she laughed. "You're fortunate +enough to be able to drink wine daily, and can't you, forsooth, even +come up to me? Yet I mean to recite, by and bye, my own share. If you +say what's right, well and good; if you don't, you will simply have to +swallow several cups of wine as a forfeit, and is it likely you'll die +from drunkenness? Are you, pray, going now to disregard this rule and +to drink, instead, ten large cups; besides going down to pour the +wine?" + +One and all clapped in applause. "Well said!" they shouted. + +After this, Hüeh P'an had no way out of it and felt compelled to resume +his seat. + +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. + A girl feels wounded in her heart, + When she regrets having allowed her better half to go abroad and win + a + marquisdom. + A girl is glad, + When looking in the mirror, at the time of her morning toilette, she + finds her colour fair. + A girl is joyful, + What time she sits on the frame of a gallows-swing, clad in a thin + spring gown. + +Having listened to him, "Capital!" one and all cried out in a chorus. +Hsüeh P'an alone raised his face, shook his head and remarked: "It +isn't good, he must be fined." + +"Why should he be fined?" demurred the party. + +"Because," retorted Hsüeh P'an, "what he says is entirely +unintelligible to me. So how can he not be fined?" + +Yün Erh gave him a pinch.—"Just you quietly think of yours," she +laughed; "for if by and bye you are not ready you'll also have to bear +a fine." + +In due course Pao-yü took up the guitar. He was heard to sing: + + "When mutual thoughts arise, tears, blood-stained, endless drop, like + lentiles sown broadcast. + In spring, in ceaseless bloom nourish willows and flowers around the + painted tower. + Inside the gauze-lattice peaceful sleep flies, when, after dark, come + wind and rain. + Both new-born sorrows and long-standing griefs cannot from memory + ever + die! + E'en jade-fine rice, and gold-like drinks they make hard to go down; + they choke the throat. + The lass has not the heart to desist gazing in the glass at her wan + face. + Nothing can from that knitted brow of hers those frowns dispel; + For hard she finds it patient to abide till the clepsydra will have + run its course. + Alas! how fitly like the faint outline of a green hill which nought + can screen; + Or like a green-tinged stream, which ever ceaseless floweth onward + far + and wide!" + +When the song drew to an end, his companions with one voice cried out: +"Excellent!" + +Hsüeh P'an was the only one to find fault. "There's no metre in them," +he said. + +Pao-yü quaffed the "opening cup," then seizing a pear, he added: + +"While the rain strikes the pear-blossom I firmly close the door," + +and thus accomplished the requirements of the rule. + +Feng Tzu-ying's turn came next. + +"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. + +Concluding this recitation, he raised the cup and sang: + + "Thou art what one could aptly call a man. + But thou'rt endowed with somewhat too much heart! + How queer thou art, cross-grained and impish shrewd! + A spirit too, thou couldst not be more shrewd. + If all I say thou dost not think is true, + In secret just a minute search pursue; + For then thou'lt know if I love thee or not." + +His song over, he drank the "opening cup" and then observed: + +"The cock crows when the moon's rays shine upon the thatchèd inn." + +After his observance of the rule followed Yün Erh's turn. + +A girl is sad, + +Yün Erh began, + + When she tries to divine on whom she will depend towards the end of + life. + +"My dear child!" laughingly exclaimed Hsüeh P'an, "your worthy Mr. +Hsüeh still lives, and why do you give way to fears?" + +"Don't confuse her!" remonstrated every one of the party, "don't muddle +her!" + +"A maiden is wounded at heart." + +Yün Erh proceeded: + + "When her mother beats and scolds her and never for an instant doth + desist." + +"It was only the other day," interposed Hsüeh P'an, "that I saw your +mother and that I told her that I would not have her beat you." + +"If you still go on babbling," put in the company with one consent, +"you'll be fined ten cups." + +Hsüeh P'an promptly administered himself a slap on the mouth. "How you +lack the faculty of hearing!" he exclaimed. "You are not to say a word +more!" + +"A girl is glad," + +Yün Erh then resumed: + + When her lover cannot brook to leave her and return home. + 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. + My precious pet, my own dear little darling, + If I don't choose to open how can you steal in?" + +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. + +Next came Hsüeh P'an. "Is it for me to speak now?" Hsüeh P'an asked. + +"A maiden is sad…" + +But a long time elapsed after these words were uttered and yet nothing +further was heard. + +"Sad for what?" Feng Tzu-ying laughingly asked. "Go on and tell us at +once!" + +Hsüeh P'an was much perplexed. His eyes rolled about like a bell. + +"A girl is sad…" + +he hastily repeated. But here again he coughed twice before he +proceeded. + +"A girl is sad." + +he said: + +"When she marries a spouse who is a libertine." + +This sentence so tickled the fancy of the company that they burst out +into a loud fit of laughter. + +"What amuses you so?" shouted Hsüeh P'an, "is it likely that what I say +is not correct? If a girl marries a man, who chooses to forget all +virtue, how can she not feel sore at heart?" + +But so heartily did they all laugh that their bodies were bent in two. +"What you say is quite right," they eagerly replied. "So proceed at +once with the rest." + +Hsüeh P'an thereupon stared with vacant gaze. + +"A girl is grieved…." + +he added: + +But after these few words he once more could find nothing to say. + +"What is she grieved about?" they asked. + +"When a huge monkey finds its way into the inner room." + +Hsüeh P'an retorted. + +This reply set every one laughing. "He must be mulcted," they cried, +"he must be mulcted. The first one could anyhow be overlooked; but this +line is more unintelligible." + +As they said this, they were about to pour the wine, when Pao-yü +smilingly interfered. "The rhyme is all right," he observed. + +"The master of the rules," Hsüeh P'an remarked, "approves it in every +way, so what are you people fussing about?" + +Hearing this, the company eventually let the matter drop. + +"The two lines, that follow, are still more difficult," suggested Yün +Erh with a smile, "so you had better let me recite for you." + +"Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed Hsüeh P'an, "do you really fancy that I have +no good ones! Just you listen to what I shall say. + + "A girl is glad, + When in the bridal room she lies, with flowery candles burning, and + she is loth to rise at morn." + +This sentiment filled one and all with amazement. "How supremely +excellent this line is!" they ejaculated. + +"A girl is joyful," + +Hsüeh P'an resumed, + +"During the consummation of wedlock." + +Upon catching this remark, the party turned their heads away, and +shouted: "Dreadful! Dreadful! But quick sing your song and have done." + +Forthwith Hsüeh P'an sang: + +"A mosquito buzzes heng, heng, heng!" + +Every one was taken by surprise. "What kind of song is this?" they +inquired. + +But Hsüeh P'an went on singing: + +"Two flies buzz weng, weng, weng." + +"Enough," shouted his companions, "that will do, that will do!" + +"Do you want to hear it or not?" asked Hsüeh P'an, "this is a new kind +of song, called the 'Heng, heng air,' but if you people are not +disposed to listen, let me off also from saying what I have to say over +the heel-taps and I won't then sing." + +"We'll let you off! We'll let you off," answered one and all, "so don't +be hindering others." + +"A maiden is sad," + +Chiang Yü-han at once began, + + When her husband leaves home and never does return. + 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. + +His recital over, he went on to sing: + + "How I love thee with those seductive charms of thine, heaven-born! + In truth thou'rt like a living fairy from the azure skies! + The spring of life we now enjoy; we are yet young in years. + Our union is, indeed, a happy match! + But. lo! the milky way doth at its zenith soar; + Hark to the drums which beat around in the watch towers; + So raise the silver lamp and let us soft under the nuptial curtain + steal." + +Finishing the song, he drank the "opening cup." "I know," he smiled, +"few poetical quotations bearing on this sort of thing. By a stroke of +good fortune, however, I yesterday conned a pair of antithetical +scrolls; of these I can only remember just one line, but lucky enough +for me the object it refers to figures as well on this festive board." + +This said he forthwith drained the wine, and, picking up a bud of a +diminutive variety of _olea fragrans_, he recited: + + "When the perfume of flowers wafts (hsi jen) itself into a man, he + knows the day is warm." + +The company unanimously conceded that the rule had been adhered to. But +Hsüeh P'an once again jumped up. "It's awful, awful!" he bawled out +boisterously; "he should be fined, he should be made to pay a forfeit; +there's no precious article whatever on this table; how is it then that +you introduce precious things?" + +"There was nothing about precious things!" Chiang Yü-han vehemently +explained. + +"What I are you still prevaricating?" Hsüeh P'an cried, "Well, repeat +it again!" + +Chiang Yü-han had no other course but to recite the line a second time. +"Now is not Hsi Jen a precious thing?" Hsüeh P'an asked. "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. + +Pao-yü felt very uncomfortable. Rising to his feet, "Cousin," he +observed, "you should be fined heavily." + +"I should be! I should be!" Hsüeh P'an shouted, and saying this, he +took up the wine and poured it down his throat with one gulp. + +Feng Tzu-ying, Chiang Yü-han and their companions thereupon asked him +to explain the allusion. Yün Erh readily told them, and Chiang Yü-han +hastily got up and pleaded guilty. + +"Ignorance," the party said with one consent, "does not amount to +guilt." + +But presently Pao-yü quitted the banquet to go and satisfy a natural +want and Chiang Yü-han followed him out. The two young fellows halted +under the eaves of the verandah, and Chiang Yü-han then recommenced to +make ample apologies. Pao-yü, however, was so attracted by his handsome +and genial appearance, that he took quite a violent fancy to him; and +squeezing his hand in a firm grip. "If you have nothing to do," he +urged, "do let us go over to our place. I've got something more to ask +you. It's this, there's in your worthy company some one called Ch'i +Kuan, with a reputation extending at present throughout the world; but, +unfortunately, I alone have not had the good luck of seeing him even +once." + +"This is really," rejoined Chiang Yü-han with a smile, "my own infant +name." + +This disclosure at once made Pao-yü quite exuberant, and stamping his +feet he smiled. "How lucky! I'm in luck's way!" he exclaimed. "In very +truth your reputation is no idle report. 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. "This is a mere +trifle," he said. "It does not deserve your acceptance, yet it will be +a small souvenir of our acquaintance to-day." + +Ch'i Kuan received it with a smile. "I do not deserve," he replied, +"such a present. How am I worthy of such an honour! But never mind, +I've also got about me here a strange thing, which I put on this +morning; it is brand-new yet, and will, I hope, suffice to prove to you +a little of the feeling of esteem which I entertain for you." + +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. "This sash," he remarked, "is an article brought as tribute +from the Queen of the Hsi Hsiang Kingdom. If you attach this round you +in summer, your person will emit a fragrant perfume, and it will not +perspire. 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." + +This proposal extremely delighted Pao-yü. With precipitate haste, he +accepted his gift, and, undoing the dark brown sash he wore, he +surrendered it to Ch'i Kuan. But both had just had time to adjust their +respective sashes when they heard a loud voice say: "Oh! I've caught +you!" And they perceived Hsüeh P'an come out by leaps and bounds. +Clutching the two young fellows, "What do you," he exclaimed, "leave +your wine for and withdraw from the banquet. Be quick and produce those +things, and let me see them!" + +"There's nothing to see!" rejoined the two young fellows with one +voice. + +Hsüeh P'an, however, would by no means fall in with their views. And it +was only Feng Tzu-ying, who made his appearance on the scene, who +succeeded in dissuading him. So resuming their seats, they drank until +dark, when the company broke up. + +Pao-yü, on his return into the garden, loosened his clothes, and had +tea. But Hsi Jen noticed that the pendant had disappeared from his fan +and she inquired of him what had become of it. + +"I must have lost it this very moment," Pao-yü replied. + +At bedtime, however, descrying a deep red sash, with spots like specks +of blood, attached round his waist, Hsi Jen guessed more or less the +truth of what must have transpired. "As you have such a nice sash to +fasten your trousers with," Hsi Jen consequently said, "you'd better +return that one of mine." + +This reminder made the fact dawn upon Pao-yü that the sash had +originally been the property of Hsi Jen, and that he should by rights +not have parted with it; but however much he felt his conscience +smitten by remorse, he failed to see how he could very well disclose +the truth to her. He could therefore only put on a smiling expression +and add, "I'll give you another one instead." + +Hsi Jen was prompted by his rejoinder to nod her head and sigh. "I felt +sure;" she observed; "that you'd go again and do these things! Yet you +shouldn't take my belongings and bestow them on that low-bred sort of +people. Can it be that no consideration finds a place in your heart?" + +She then felt disposed to tender him a few more words of admonition, +but dreading, on the other hand, lest she should, by irritating him, +bring the fumes of the wine to his head, she thought it best to also +retire to bed. + +Nothing worth noticing occurred during that night. 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? Just you +look at my trousers." + +Hsi Jen lowered her head and looked. She saw at a glance that the sash, +which Pao-yü had worn the previous day, was bound round her own waist, +and she at once realised that Pao-yü must have effected the change +during the night; but promptly unbinding it, "I don't care for such +things!" she cried, "quick, take it away!" + +At the sight of her manner, Pao-yü had to coax her with gentle terms. +This so disarmed Hsi Jen, that she felt under the necessity of putting +on the sash; but, subsequently when Pao-yü stepped out of the +apartment, she at last pulled it off, and, throwing it away in an empty +box, she found one of hers and fastened it round her waist. + +Pao-yü, however, did not in the least notice what she did, but inquired +whether anything had happened the day before. + +"Lady Secunda," Hsi Jen explained, "dispatched some one and fetched +Hsiao Hung away. Her wish was to have waited for your return; but as I +thought that it was of no consequence, I took upon myself to decide, +and sent her off." + +"That's all right!" rejoined Pao-yü. "I knew all about it, there was no +need for her to wait." + +"Yesterday," resumed Hsi Jen, "the Imperial Consort deputed the Eunuch +Hsia to bring a hundred and twenty ounces of silver and to convey her +commands that from the first to the third, there should be offered, in +the Ch'ing Hsu temple, thanksgiving services to last for three days and +that theatrical performances should be given, and oblations presented: +and to tell our senior master, Mr. Chia Chen, to take all the +gentlemen, and go and burn incense and worship Buddha. Besides this, +she also sent presents for the dragon festival." + +Continuing, she bade a young servant-maid produce the presents, which +had been received the previous day. Then he saw two palace fans of the +best quality, two strings of musk-scented beads, two rolls of silk, as +fine as the phoenix tail, and a superior mat worked with hibiscus. At +the sight of these things, Pao-yü was filled with immeasurable +pleasure, and he asked whether the articles brought to all the others +were similar to his. + +"The only things in excess of yours that our venerable mistress has," +Hsi Jen explained, "consist of a scented jade sceptre and a pillow made +of agate. Those of your worthy father and mother, our master and +mistress, and of your aunt exceed yours by a scented sceptre of jade. +Yours are the same as Miss Pao's. Miss Lin's are like those of Misses +Secunda, Tertia and Quarta, who received nothing beyond a fan and +several pearls and none of all the other things. As for our senior +lady, Mrs. Chia Chu, and lady Secunda, these two got each two rolls of +gauze, two rolls of silk, two scented bags, and two sticks of +medicine." + +After listening to her enumeration, "What's the reason of this?" he +smiled. "How is it that Miss Lin's are not the same as mine, but that +Miss Pao's instead are like my own? May not the message have been +wrongly delivered?" + +"When they were brought out of the palace yesterday," Hsi Jen rejoined, +"they were already divided in respective shares, and slips were also +placed on them, so that how could any mistake have been made? Yours +were among those for our dowager lady's apartments. When I went and +fetched them, her venerable ladyship said that I should tell you to go +there to-morrow at the fifth watch to return thanks. + +"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." + +Tzu Chüan expressed her obedience and took the things away. After a +short time she returned. "Miss Lin says," she explained, "that she also +got some yesterday, and that you, Master Secundus, should keep yours." + +Hearing this reply, Pao-yü quickly directed a servant to put them away. +But when he had washed his face and stepped out of doors, bent upon +going to his grandmother's on the other side, in order to pay his +obeisance, he caught sight of Lin Tai-yü coming along towards him, from +the opposite direction. Pao-yü hurriedly walked up to her, "I told +you," he smiled, "to select those you liked from my things; how is it +you didn't choose any?" + +Lin Tai-yü had long before banished from her recollection the incident +of the previous day, which had made her angry with Pao-yü, and was only +exercised about the occurrence of this present occasion. "I'm not +gifted with such extreme good fortune," she consequently answered, "as +to be able to accept them. I can't compete with Miss Pao, in connection +with whom something or other about gold or about jade is mentioned. We +are simply beings connected with the vegetable kingdom." + +The allusion to the two words "gold and jade," aroused, of a sudden, +much emotion in the heart of Pao-yü. "If beyond what people say about +gold or jade," he protested, "the idea of any such things ever crosses +my mind, may the heavens annihilate me, and may the earth extinguish +me, and may I for ten thousand generations never assume human form!" + +These protestations convinced Lin Tai-yü that suspicion had been +aroused in him. With all promptitude, she smiled and observed, "They're +all to no use! Why utter such oaths, when there's no rhyme or reason! +Who cares about any gold or any jade of yours!" + +"It would be difficult for me to tell you, to your face, all the +secrets of my heart," Pao-yü resumed, "but by and bye you'll surely +come to know all about them! After the three—my old grandmother, my +father and my mother—you, my cousin, hold the fourth place; and, if +there be a fifth, I'm ready to swear another oath." + +"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." + +"This comes again from over-suspicion!" ejaculated Pao; "for I'm not at +all disposed that way." + +"Well," resumed Lin Tai-yü, "why did you yesterday appeal to me when +that hussey Pao-ch'ai would not help you by telling a story? Had it +been I, who had been guilty of any such thing, I don't know what you +wouldn't have done again." + +But during their _tête-a-tête_, they espied Pao-ch'ai approach from the +opposite direction, so readily they beat a retreat. Pao-ch'ai had +distinctly caught sight of them, but pretending she had not seen them, +she trudged on her way, with lowered head, and repaired into Madame +Wang's apartments. After a short stay, she came to this side to pay +dowager lady Chia a visit. With her she also found Pao-yü. + +Pao-ch'ai ever made it a point to hold Pao-yü aloof as her mother had +in days gone by mentioned to Madame Wang and her other relatives that +the gold locket had been the gift of a bonze, that she had to wait +until such time as some suitor with jade turned up before she could be +given in marriage, and other similar confidences. But on discovery the +previous day that Yüan Ch'un's presents to her alone resembled those of +Pao-yü, she began to feel all the more embarrassed. Luckily, however, +Pao-yü was so entangled in Lin Tai-yü's meshes and so absorbed in heart +and mind with fond thoughts of his Lin Tai-yü that he did not pay the +least attention to this circumstance. But she unawares now heard Pao-yü +remark with a smile: "Cousin Pao, let me see that string of scented +beads of yours!" + +By a strange coincidence, Pao-ch'ai wore the string of beads round her +left wrist so she had no alternative, when Pao-yü asked her for it, +than to take it off. 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. "Were this +arm attached to Miss Lin's person," he secretly pondered, "I might, +possibly have been able to caress it! But it is, as it happens, part +and parcel of her body; how I really do deplore this lack of good +fortune." + +Suddenly he bethought himself of the secret of gold and jade, and he +again scanned Pao-ch'ai's appearance. At the sight of her countenance, +resembling a silver bowl, her eyes limpid like water and almond-like in +shape, her lips crimson, though not rouged, her eyebrows jet-black, +though not pencilled, also of that fascination and grace which +presented such a contrast to Lin Tai-yü's style of beauty, he could not +refrain from falling into such a stupid reverie, that though Pao-ch'ai +had got the string of beads off her wrist, and was handing them to him, +he forgot all about them and made no effort to take them. Pao-ch'ai +realised that he was plunged in abstraction, and conscious of the +awkward position in which she was placed, she put down the string of +beads, and turning round was on the point of betaking herself away, +when she perceived Lin Tai-yü, standing on the door-step, laughing +significantly while biting a handkerchief she held in her mouth. "You +can't resist," Pao-ch'ai said, "a single puff of wind; and why do you +stand there and expose yourself to the very teeth of it?" + +"Wasn't I inside the room?" rejoined Lin Tai-yü, with a cynical smile. +"But I came out to have a look as I heard a shriek in the heavens; it +turned out, in fact, to be a stupid wild goose!" + +"A stupid wild goose!" repeated Pao-ch'ai. "Where is it, let me also +see it!" + +"As soon as I got out," answered Lin Tai-yü, "it flew away with a +'t'e-rh' sort of noise." + +While replying, she threw the handkerchief, she was holding, straight +into Pao-yü's face. Pao-yü was quite taken by surprise. He was hit on +the eye. "Ai-yah!" he exclaimed. + +But, reader, do you want to hear the sequel? In that case, listen to +the circumstances, which will be disclosed in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + + 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. + +Pao-yü, so our story runs, was gazing vacantly, when Tai-yü, at a +moment least expected, flung her handkerchief at him, which just hit +him on the eyes, and frightened him out of his wits. "Who was it?" he +cried. + +Lin Tai-yü nodded her head and smiled. "I would not venture to do such +a thing," she said, "it was a mere slip of my hand. As cousin Pao-ch'ai +wished to see the silly wild goose, I was pointing it out to her, when +the handkerchief inadvertently flew out of my grip." + +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. She then alluded, in the course of +conversation, to the thanksgiving service, which was to be offered on +the first, in the Ch'ing Hsü temple, and invited Pao-ch'ai, Pao-yü, +Tai-yü and the other inmates with them to be present at the +theatricals. + +"Never mind," smiled Pao-ch'ai, "it's too hot; besides, what plays +haven't I seen? 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! I'll send +servants a few days before to drive all that herd of Taoist priests +out, to sweep the upper stories, hang up curtains, and to keep out +every single loafer from the interior of the temple; so it will be all +right like that. I've already told our Madame Wang that if you people +don't go, I mean to go all alone, as I've been again in very low +spirits these last few days, and as when theatricals come off at home, +it's out of the question for me to look on with any peace and quiet." + +When dowager lady Chia heard what she said, she smiled. "Well, in that +case," she remarked, "I'll go along with you." + +Lady Feng, at these words, gave a smile. "Venerable ancestor," she +replied, "were you also to go, it would be ever so much better; yet I +won't feel quite at my ease!" + +"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. You can then likewise dispense with coming over +to where I shall be to stand on any ceremonies. Will this suit you or +not?" + +"This is indeed," lady Feng smiled, "a proof of your regard for me, my +worthy senior." + +Old lady Chia at this stage faced Pao-ch'ai. "You too should go," she +said, "so should your mother; for if you remain the whole day long at +home, you will again sleep your head off." + +Pao-ch'ai felt constrained to signify her assent. Dowager lady Chia +then also despatched domestics to invite Mrs. Hsüeh; and, on their way, +they notified Madame Wang that she was to take the young ladies along +with her. But Madame Wang felt, in the first place, in a poor state of +health, and was, in the second, engaged in making preparations for the +reception of any arrivals from Yüan Ch'un, so that she, at an early +hour, sent word that it was impossible for her to leave the house. Yet +when she received old lady Chia's behest, she smiled and exclaimed: +"Are her spirits still so buoyant!" and transmitted the message into +the garden that any, who had any wish to avail themselves of the +opportunity, were at liberty to go on the first, with their venerable +senior as their chaperonne. As soon as these tidings were spread +abroad, every one else was indifferent as to whether they went or not; +but of those girls who, day after day, never put their foot outside the +doorstep, which of them was not keen upon going, the moment they heard +the permission conceded to them? Even if any of their respective +mistresses were too lazy to move, they employed every expedient to +induce them to go. Hence it was that Li Kung-ts'ai and the other +inmates signified their unanimous intention to be present. Dowager lady +Chia, at this, grew more exultant than ever, and she issued immediate +directions for servants to go and sweep and put things in proper order. +But to all these preparations, there is no necessity of making detailed +reference; sufficient to relate that on the first day of the moon, +carriages stood in a thick maze, and men and horses in close concourse, +at the entrance of the Jung Kuo mansion. + +When the servants, the various managers and other domestics came to +learn that the Imperial Consort was to perform good deeds and that +dowager lady Chia was to go in person and offer incense, they arranged, +as it happened that the first of the moon, which was the principal day +of the ceremonies, was, in addition, the season of the dragon-boat +festival, all the necessary articles in perfect readiness and with +unusual splendour. Shortly, old lady Chia and the other inmates started +on their way. The old lady sat in an official chair, carried by eight +bearers: widow Li, lady Feng and Mrs. Hsüeh, each in a four-bearer +chair. Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yü mounted together a curricle with green +cover and pearl tassels, bearing the eight precious things. The three +sisters, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, and Hsi Ch'un got in a carriage with +red wheels and ornamented hood. Next in order, followed dowager lady +Chia's waiting-maids, Yüan Yang, Ying Wu, Hu Po, Chen Chu; Lin Tai-yü's +waiting-maids Tzu Chüan, Hsüeh Yen, and Ch'un Ch'ien; Pao-ch'ai's +waiting-maids Ying Erh and Wen Hsing; Ying Ch'un's servant-girls Ssu +Ch'i and Hsiu Chü; T'an Ch'un's waiting-maids Shih Shu and Ts'ui Mo; +Hsi Ch'un's servant-girls Ju Hua and Ts'ai P'ing; and Mrs. Hsüeh's +waiting-maids T'ung Hsi, and T'ung Kuei. Besides these, were joined to +their retinue: Hsiang Ling and Hsiang Ling's servant-girl Ch'in Erh; +Mrs. Li's waiting-maids Su Yün and Pi Yüeh; lady Feng's servant-girls +P'ing Erh, Feng Erh and Hsiao Hung, as well as Madame Wang's two +waiting-maids Chin Ch'uan and Ts'ai Yün. Along with lady Feng, came a +nurse carrying Ta Chieh Erh. She drove in a separate carriage, together +with a couple of servant-girls. Added also to the number of the suite +were matrons and nurses, attached to the various establishments, and +the wives of the servants of the household, who were in attendance out +of doors. Their carriages, forming one black solid mass, therefore, +crammed the whole extent of the street. + +Dowager lady Chia and other members of the party had already proceeded +a considerable distance in their chairs, and yet the inmates at the +gate had not finished mounting their vehicles. This one shouted: "I +won't sit with you." That one cried: "You've crushed our mistress' +bundle." In the carriages yonder, one screamed: "You've pulled my +flowers off." Another one nearer exclaimed: "You've broken my fan." And +they chatted and chatted, and talked and laughed with such incessant +volubility, that Chou Jui's wife had to go backward and forward calling +them to task. "Girls," she said, "this is the street. The on-lookers +will laugh at you!" But it was only after she had expostulated with +them several times that any sign of improvement became at last visible. + +The van of the procession had long ago reached the entrance of the +Ch'ing Hsü Temple. Pao-yü rode on horseback. He preceded the chair +occupied by his grandmother Chia. The throngs that filled the streets +ranged themselves on either side. + +On their arrival at the temple, the sound of bells and the rattle of +drums struck their ear. Forthwith appeared the head-bonze Chang, a +stick of incense in hand; his cloak thrown over his shoulders. He took +his stand by the wayside at the head of a company of Taoist priests to +present his greetings. 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. Chia +Chen advanced to receive her acting as leader to the male members of +the family. Lady Feng was well aware that Yüan Yang and the other +attendants were at the back and could not overtake their old mistress, +so she herself alighted from her chair to volunteer her services. She +was about to hastily press forward and support her, when, by a strange +accident, a young Taoist neophyte, of twelve or thirteen years of age, +who held a case containing scissors, with which he had been snuffing +the candles burning in the various places, just seized the opportunity +to run out and hide himself, when he unawares rushed, head foremost, +into lady Feng's arms. Lady Feng speedily raised her hand and gave him +such a slap on the face that she made the young fellow reel over and +perform a somersault. "You boorish young bastard!" she shouted, "where +are you running to?" + +The young Taoist did not even give a thought to picking up the +scissors, but crawling up on to his feet again, he tried to scamper +outside. But just at that very moment Pao-ch'ai and the rest of the +young ladies were dismounting from their vehicles, and the matrons and +women-servants were closing them in so thoroughly on all sides that not +a puff of wind or a drop of rain could penetrate, and when they +perceived a Taoist neophyte come rushing headlong out of the place, +they, with one voice, exclaimed: "Catch him, catch him! Beat him, beat +him!" + +Old lady Chia overheard their cries. She asked with alacrity what the +fuss was all about. Chia Chen immediately stepped outside to make +inquiries. Lady Feng then advanced and, propping up her old senior, she +went on to explain to her that a young Taoist priest, whose duties were +to snuff the candles, had not previously retired out of the compound, +and that he was now endeavouring to recklessly force his way out." + +"Be quick and bring the lad here," shouted dowager lady Chia, as soon +as she heard her explanation, "but, mind, don't frighten him. Children +of mean families invariably get into the way of being spoilt by +over-indulgence. How ever could he have set eyes before upon such +display as this! 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. Chia Chen felt under the necessity of going, and he managed to +drag the lad into her presence. With the scissors still clasped in his +hand, the lad fell on his knees, and trembled violently. + +Dowager lady Chia bade Chia Chen raise him up. "There's nothing to +fear!" she said reassuringly. Then she asked him how old he was. + +The boy, however, could on no account give vent to speech. + +"Poor boy!" once more exclaimed the old lady. And continuing: "Brother +Chen," she added, addressing herself to Chia Chen, "take him away, and +give him a few cash to buy himself fruit with; and do impress upon +every one that they are not to bully him." + +Chia Chen signified his assent and led him off. + +During this time, old lady Chia, taking along with her the whole family +party, paid her devotions in storey after storey, and visited every +place. + +The young pages, who stood outside, watched their old mistress and the +other inmates enter the second row of gates. 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. + +Chia Chen then inquired from the terrace-steps where the majordomo was. +At this inquiry, the pages standing below, called out in chorus, +"Majordomo!" + +Lin Chih-hsiao ran over at once, while adjusting his hat with one hand, +and appeared in the presence of Chia Chen. + +"Albeit this is a spacious place," Chia Chen began, "we muster a good +concourse to-day, so you'd better bring into this court those servants, +who'll be of any use to you, and send over into that one those who +won't. And choose a few from among those young pages to remain on duty, +at the second gate and at the two side entrances, so as to ask for +things and deliver messages. Do you understand me, yes or no? The young +ladies and ladies have all come out of town to-day, and not a single +outsider must be permitted to put his foot in here." + +"I understand," replied Lin Chih-hsiao hurriedly signifying his +obedience. Next he uttered several yes's. + +"Now," proceeded Chia Chen; "you can go on your way. But how is it, I +don't see anything of Jung Erh?" he went on to ask. + +This question was barely out of his lips, when he caught sight of Jung +Erh running out of the belfry. "Look at him," shouted Chia Chen. "Look +at him! I don't feel hot in here, and yet he must go in search of a +cool place. Spit at him!" he cried to the family servants. + +The young pages were fully aware that Chia Chen's ordinary disposition +was such that he could not brook contradiction, and one of the lads +speedily came forward and sputtered in Chia Jung's face. But Chia Chen +still kept his gaze fixed on him, so the young page had to inquire of +Chia Jung: "Master doesn't feel hot here, and how is it that you, Sir, +have been the first to go and get cool?" + +Chia Jung however dropped his arms, and did not venture to utter a +single sound. Chia Yün, Chia P'ing, Chia Ch'in and the other young +people overheard what was going on and not only were they scared out of +their wits, but even Chia Lien, Chia Pin, Chia Ch'ung and their +companions were stricken with intense fright and one by one they +quietly slipped down along the foot of the wall. + +"What are you standing there for?" Chia Chen shouted to Chia Jung. +"Don't you yet get on your horse and gallop home and tell your mother +that our venerable senior is here with all the young ladies, and bid +them come at once and wait upon them?" + +As soon as Chia Jung heard these words, he ran out with hurried stride +and called out repeatedly for his horse. Now he felt resentment, +arguing within himself: "Who knows what he has been up to the whole +morning, that he now finds fault with me!" Now he went on to abuse the +young servants, crying: "Are your hands made fast, that you can't lead +the horse round?" And he felt inclined to bid a servant-boy go on the +errand, but fearing again lest he should subsequently be found out, and +be at a loss how to account for his conduct he felt compelled to +proceed in person; so mounting his steed, he started on his way. + +But to return to Chia Chen. Just as he was about to be take himself +inside, he noticed the Taoist Chang, who stood next to him, force a +smile. "I'm not properly speaking," he remarked, "on the same footing +as the others and should be in attendance inside, but as on account of +the intense heat, the young ladies have come out of doors, I couldn't +presume to take upon myself to intrude and ask what your orders, Sir, +are. But the dowager lady may possibly inquire about me, or may like to +visit any part of the temple, so I shall wait in here." + +Chia Chen was fully cognisant that this Taoist priest, Chang, had, it +is true, in past days, stood as a substitute for the Duke of the Jung +Kuo mansion, but that the former Emperor had, with his own lips, +conferred upon him the appellation of the 'Immortal being of the Great +Unreal,' that he held at present the seal of 'Taoist Superior,' that +the reigning Emperor had raised him to the rank of the 'Pure man,' that +the princes, now-a-days, dukes, and high officials styled him the +"Supernatural being," and he did not therefore venture to treat him +with any disrespect. In the second place, (he knew that) he had paid +frequent visits to the mansions, and that he had made the acquaintance +of the ladies and young ladies, so when he heard his present remark he +smilingly rejoined. "Do you again make use of such language amongst +ourselves? One word more, and I'll take that beard of yours, and +outroot it! Don't you yet come along with me inside?" + +"Hah, hah," laughed the Taoist Chang aloud, as he followed Chia Chen +in. Chia Chen approached dowager lady Chia. Bending his body he +strained a laugh. "Grandfather Chang," he said, "has come in to pay his +respects." + +"Raise him up!" old lady Chia vehemently called out. + +Chia Chen lost no time in pulling him to his feet and bringing him +over. + +The Taoist Chang first indulged in loud laughter. "Oh Buddha of +unlimited years!" he then observed. "Have you kept all right and in +good health, throughout, venerable Senior? Have all the ladies and +young ladies continued well? I haven't been for some time to your +mansion to pay my obeisance, but you, my dowager lady, have improved +more and more." + +"Venerable Immortal Being!" smiled old lady Chia, "how are you; quite +well?" + +"Thanks to the ten thousand blessings he has enjoyed from your hands," +rejoined Chang the Taoist, "your servant too continues pretty strong +and hale. In every other respect, I've, after all, been all right; but +I have felt much concern about Mr. Pao-yü. Has he been all right all +the time? 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. I told them to invite Mr. Pao to +come for a stroll; but how was it they said that he wasn't at home?" + +"It was indeed true that he was away from home," remarked dowager lady +Chia. As she spoke, she turned her head round and called Pao-yü. + +Pao-yü had, as it happened, just returned from outside where he had +been to make himself comfortable, and with speedy step, he came +forward. "My respects to you, grandfather Chang," he said. + +The Taoist Chang eagerly clasped him in his arms and inquired how he +was getting on. Turning towards old lady Chia, "Mr. Pao," he observed, +"has grown fatter than ever." + +"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? According to my humble idea, he +knows quite enough. As I consider Mr. Pao's face, his bearing, his +speech and his deportment," he proceeded, heaving a sigh, "what a +striking resemblance I find in him to the former duke of the Jung +mansion!" As he uttered these words, tears rolled down his cheeks. + +At these words, old lady Chia herself found it hard to control her +feelings. Her face became covered with the traces of tears. "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!" + +"What the former duke of Jung Kuo was like in appearance," Chang, the +Taoist went on to remark, addressing himself to Chia Chen, "you +gentlemen, and your generation, were, of course, needless to say, not +in time to see for yourselves; but I fancy that even our Senior master +and our Master Secundus have but a faint recollection of it." + +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. As far as looks, intelligence and mental talents, +extraction and family standing go, this maiden is a suitable match for +him. But as I didn't know what your venerable ladyship would have to +say about it, your servant did not presume to act recklessly, but +waited until I could ascertain your wishes before I took upon myself to +open my mouth with the parties concerned." + +"Some time ago," responded dowager lady Chia, "a bonze explained that +it was ordained by destiny that this child shouldn't be married at an +early age, and that we should put things off until he grew somewhat in +years before anything was settled. But mark my words now. Pay no regard +as to whether she be of wealthy and honourable stock or not, the +essential thing is to find one whose looks make her a fit match for him +and then come at once and tell me. For even admitting that the girl is +poor, all I shall have to do will be to bestow on her a few ounces of +silver; but fine looks and a sweet temperament are not easy things to +come across." + +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." + +"Hah, hah," roared the Taoist Chang, "just see how my eyes must have +grown dim! I didn't notice that you, my lady, were in here; nor did I +express one word of thanks to you! The talisman of 'Recorded Name' is +ready long ago. I meant to have sent it over the day before yesterday, +but the unforeseen visit of the Empress to perform meritorious deeds +upset my equilibrium, and made me quite forget it. But it's still +placed before the gods, and if you will wait I'll go and fetch it." + +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. Ta Chieh-erh's +nurse took it from him. + +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! And why use a tray to lay +it on?" + +"My hands aren't clean," replied the Taoist Chang, "so how could I very +well have taken hold of it? A tray therefore made things much cleaner!" + +"When you produced that tray just now," laughed lady Feng, "you gave me +quite a start; I didn't imagine that it was for the purpose of bringing +the charm in. It really looked as if you were disposed to beg donations +of us." + +This observation sent the whole company into a violent fit of laughter. +Even Chia Chen could not suppress a smile. + +"What a monkey!" dowager lady Chia exclaimed, turning her head round. +"What a monkey you are! Aren't you afraid of going down to that Hell, +where tongues are cut off?" + +"I've got nothing to do with any men whatever," rejoined lady Feng +laughing, "and why does he time and again tell me that it's my bounden +duty to lay up a store of meritorious deeds; and that if I'm remiss, my +life will be short?" + +Chang, the Taoist, indulged in further laughter. "I brought out," he +explained, "the tray so as to kill two birds with one stone. It wasn't, +however, to beg for donations. On the contrary, it was in order to put +in it the jade, which I meant to ask Mr. Pao to take off, so as to +carry it outside and let all those Taoist friends of mine, who come +from far away, as well as my neophytes and the young apprentices, see +what it's like." + +"Well, since that be the case," added old lady Chia, "why do you, at +your age, try your strength by running about the whole day long? Take +him at once along and let them see it! But were you to have called him +in there, wouldn't it have saved a lot of trouble?" + +"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. Besides it's a very hot day and Mr. Pao +couldn't stand the heat as he is not accustomed to it. So were he to +catch any disease from the filthy odours, it would be a grave thing!" + +After these forebodings old lady Chia accordingly desired Pao-yü to +unclasp the jade of Spiritual Perception, and to deposit it in the +tray. The Taoist, Chang, carefully ensconced it in the folds of the +wrapper, embroidered with dragons, and left the room, supporting the +tray with both his hands. + +During this while, dowager lady Chia and the other inmates devoted more +of their time in visiting the various places. 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. "The whole company," he smiled, "were much obliged to me. They +think Mr. Pao's jade really lovely! None of them have, however, any +suitable gifts to bestow. These are religious articles, used by each of +them in propagating the doctrines of Reason, but they're all only too +ready to give them as congratulatory presents. If, Mr. Pao, you don't +fancy them for anything else, just keep them to play with or to give +away to others." + +Dowager lady Chia, at these words, looked into the tray. 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. + +"What nonsense you're talking!" she then exclaimed. "Those people are +all divines, and where could they have rummaged up these things? But +what need is there for any such presents? He may, on no account, accept +them." + +"These are intended as a small token of their esteem," responded Chang, +the Taoist, smiling, "your servant cannot therefore venture to +interfere with them. If your venerable ladyship will not keep them, +won't you make it patent to them that I'm treated contemptuously, and +unlike what one should be, who has joined the order through your +household?" + +Only when old lady Chia heard these arguments did she direct a servant +to receive the presents. + +"Venerable senior," Pao-yü smilingly chimed in. "After the reasons +advanced by grandfather Chang, we cannot possibly refuse them. But +albeit I feel disposed to keep these things, they are of no avail to +me; so would it not be well were a servant told to carry the tray and +to follow me out of doors, that I may distribute them to the poor? + +"You are perfectly right in what you say!" smiled dowager lady Chia. + +The Taoist Chang, however, went on speedily to use various arguments to +dissuade him. "Mr. Pao," he observed, "your intention is, it is true, +to perform charitable acts; but though you may aver that these things +are of little value, you'll nevertheless find among them several +articles you might turn to some account. 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! If +you want to distribute anything among the poor, why don't you dole out +cash to them?" + +"Put them by!" promptly shouted Pao-yü, after this rejoinder, "and when +evening comes, take a few cash and distribute them." + +These directions given, Chang, the Taoist, retired out of the place. + +Dowager lady Chia and her companions thereupon walked upstairs and sat +in the main part of the building. Lady Feng and her friends adjourned +into the eastern part, while the waiting-maids and servants remained in +the western portion, and took their turns in waiting on their +mistresses. + +Before long, Chia Chen came back. "The plays," he announced, "have been +chosen by means of slips picked out before the god. The first one on +the list is the 'Record of the White Snake.'" + +"Of what kind of old story does 'the record of the white snake,' +treat?" old lady Chia inquired. + +"The story about Han Kao-tsu," replied Chia Chen, "killing a snake and +then ascending the throne. The second play is, 'the Bed covered with +ivory tablets.'" + +"Has this been assigned the second place?" asked dowager lady Chia. +"Yet never mind; for as the gods will it thus, there is no help than +not to demur. But what about the third play?" she went on to inquire. + +"The Nan Ko dream is the third," Chia Chen answered. + +This response elicited no comment from dowager lady Chia. 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. +So we will leave him without any further allusion, and take up our +narrative with Pao-yü. + +Seating himself upstairs next to old lady Chia, he called to a +servant-girl to fetch the tray of presents given to him a short while +back, and putting on his own trinket of jade, he fumbled about with the +things for a bit, and picking up one by one, he handed them to his +grandmother to admire. But old lady Chia espied among them a unicorn, +made of purplish gold, with kingfisher feathers inserted, and eagerly +extending her arm, she took it up. "This object," she smiled, "seems to +me to resemble very much one I've seen worn also by the young lady of +some household or other of ours." + +"Senior cousin, Shih Hsiang-yün," chimed in Pao-ch'ai, a smile playing +on her lips, "has one, but it's a trifle smaller than this." + +"Is it indeed Yün-erh who has it?" exclaimed old lady Chia. + +"Now that she lives in our house," remarked Pao-yü, "how is it that +even +I haven't seen anything of it?" + +"Cousin Pao-ch'ai," rejoined T'an Ch'un laughingly, "has the power of +observation; no matter what she sees, she remembers." + +Lin Tai-yü gave a sardonic smile. "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. But as soon as Pao-yü learnt +that Shih Hsiang-yün possessed a similar trinket, he speedily picked up +the unicorn, and hid it in his breast, indulging, at the same time, in +further reflection. Yet, fearing lest people might have noticed that he +kept back that particular thing the moment he discovered that Shih +Hsiang-yün had one identical with it, he fixed his eyes intently upon +all around while clutching it. He found however that not one of them +was paying any heed to his movements except Lin Tai-yü, who, while +gazing at him was, nodding her head, as if with the idea of expressing +her admiration. Pao-yü, therefore, at once felt inwardly ill at ease, +and pulling out his hand, he observed, addressing himself to Tai-yü +with an assumed smile, "This is really a fine thing to play with; I'll +keep it for you, and when we get back home, I'll pass a ribbon through +it for you to wear." "I don't care about it," said Lin Tai-yü, giving +her head a sudden twist. + +"Well," continued Pao-yü laughingly, "if you don't like it, I can't do +otherwise than keep it myself." + +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. + +"What do you people rush over here for again?" old lady Chia inquired. + +"I came here for a turn, simply because I had nothing to do." + +But no sooner was this inquiry concluded than they heard a messenger +announce: "that some one had come from the house of general Feng." + +The family of Feng Tzu-ying had, it must be explained, come to learn +the news that the inmates of the Chia mansion were offering a +thanksgiving service in the temple, and, without loss of time, they got +together presents of pigs, sheep, candles, tea and eatables and sent +them over. 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. "I never expected anything of the +sort; we merely said that we ladies were coming for a leisurely stroll +and people imagined that we were spreading a sumptuous altar with +lenten viands and came to bring us offerings! But it's all our old +lady's fault for bruiting it about! Why, we haven't even got any slips +of paper with tips ready." + +She had just finished speaking, when she perceived two matrons, who +acted as house-keepers in the Feng family, walk upstairs. But before +the Feng servants could take their leave, presents likewise arrived, in +quick succession, from Chao, the Vice-President of the Board. In due +course, one lot of visitors followed another. For as every one got wind +of the fact that the Chia family was having thanksgiving services, and +that the ladies were in the temple, distant and close relatives, +friends, old friends and acquaintances all came to present their +contributions. So much so, that dowager lady Chia began at this +juncture to feel sorry that she had ever let the cat out of the bag. +"This is no regular fasting," she said, "we simply have come for a +little change; and we should not have put any one to any +inconvenience!" Although therefore she was to have remained present all +day at the theatrical performance, she promptly returned home soon +after noon, and the next day she felt very loth to go out of doors +again. + +"By striking the wall, we've also stirred up dust," lady Feng argued. +"Why we've already put those people to the trouble so we should only be +too glad to-day to have another outing." + +But as when dowager lady Chia interviewed the Taoist Chang, the +previous day, he made allusion to Pao-yü and canvassed his engagement, +Pao-yü experienced, little as one would have thought it, much secret +displeasure during the whole of that day, and on his return home he +flew into a rage and abused Chang, the rationalistic priest, for +harbouring designs to try and settle a match for him. At every breath +and at every word he resolved that henceforward he would not set eyes +again upon the Taoist Chang. But no one but himself had any idea of the +reason that actuated him to absent himself. In the next place, Lin +Tai-yü began also, on her return the day before, to ail from a touch of +the sun, so their grandmother was induced by these two considerations +to remain firm in her decision not to go. 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. + +But without descending to particulars, let us advert to Pao-yü. Seeing +that Lin Tai-yü had fallen ill, he was so full of solicitude on her +account that he even had little thought for any of his meals, and not +long elapsed before he came to inquire how she was. + +Tai-yü, on her part, gave way to fear lest anything should happen to +him, (and she tried to re-assure him). "Just go and look at the plays," +she therefore replied, "what's the use of boxing yourself up at home?" + +Pao-yü was, however, not in a very happy frame of mind on account of +the reference to his marriage made by Chang, the Taoist, the day +before, so when he heard Lin Tai-yü's utterances: "If others don't +understand me;" he mused, "it's anyhow excusable; but has she too begun +to make fun of me?" His heart smarted in consequence under the sting of +a mortification a hundred times keener than he had experienced up to +that occasion. Had he been with any one else, it would have been +utterly impossible for her to have brought into play feelings of such +resentment, but as it was no other than Tai-yü who spoke the words, the +impression produced upon him was indeed different from that left in +days gone by, when others employed similar language. Unable to curb his +feelings, he instantaneously lowered his face. "My friendship with you +has been of no avail" he rejoined. "But, never mind, patience!" + +This insinuation induced Lin Tai-yü to smile a couple of sarcastic +smiles. "Yes, your friendship with me has been of no avail," she +repeated; "for how can I compare with those whose manifold qualities +make them fit matches for you?" + +As soon as this sneer fell on Pao-yü's ear he drew near to her. "Are +you by telling me this," he asked straight to her face, "deliberately +bent upon invoking imprecations upon me that I should be annihilated by +heaven and extinguished by earth?" + +Lin Tai-yü could not for a time fathom the import of his remarks. "It +was," Pao-yü then resumed, "on account of this very conversation that I +yesterday swore several oaths, and now would you really make me repeat +another one? But were the heavens to annihilate me and the earth to +extinguish me, what benefit would you derive?" + +This rejoinder reminded Tai-yü of the drift of their conversation on +the previous day. And as indeed she had on this occasion framed in +words those sentiments, which should not have dropped from her lips, +she experienced both annoyance and shame, and she tremulously observed: +"If I entertain any deliberate intention to bring any harm upon you, +may I too be destroyed by heaven and exterminated by earth! But what's +the use of all this! I know very well that the allusion to marriage +made yesterday by Chang, the Taoist, fills you with dread lest he might +interfere with your choice. You are inwardly so irate that you come and +treat me as your malignant influence." + +Pao-yü, the fact is, had ever since his youth developed a peculiar kind +of mean and silly propensity. Having moreover from tender infancy grown +up side by side with Tai-Yü, their hearts and their feelings were in +perfect harmony. More, he had recently come to know to a great extent +what was what, and had also filled his head with the contents of a +number of corrupt books and licentious stories. Of all the eminent and +beautiful girls that he had met too in the families of either distant +or close relatives or of friends, not one could reach the standard of +Lin Tai-yü. Hence it was that he commenced, from an early period of his +life, to foster sentiments of love for her; but as he could not very +well give utterance to them, he felt time and again sometimes elated, +sometimes vexed, and wont to exhaust every means to secretly subject +her heart to a test. + +Lin Tai-yü happened, on the other hand, to possess in like manner a +somewhat silly disposition; and she too frequently had recourse to +feigned sentiments to feel her way. And as she began to conceal her +true feelings and inclinations and to simply dissimulate, and he to +conceal his true sentiments and wishes and to dissemble, the two +unrealities thus blending together constituted eventually one reality. +But it was hardly to be expected that trifles would not be the cause of +tiffs between them. Thus it was that in Pao-yü's mind at this time +prevailed the reflection: "that were others unable to read my feelings, +it would anyhow be excusable; but is it likely that you cannot realise +that in my heart and in my eyes there is no one else besides yourself. +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." Such was the construction attached to her conduct by Pao-yü, +yet he did not have the courage to tax her with it. + +"If, really, I hold a place in your heart," Lin Tai-yü again reflected, +"why do you, albeit what's said about gold and jade being a fit match, +attach more importance to this perverse report and think nothing of +what I say? Did you, when I so often broach the subject of this gold +and jade, behave as if you, verily, had never heard anything about it, +I would then have seen that you treat me with preference and that you +don't harbour the least particle of a secret design. But how is it that +the moment I allude to the topic of gold and jade, you at once lose all +patience? This is proof enough that you are continuously pondering over +that gold and jade, and that as soon as you hear me speak to you about +them, you apprehend that I shall once more give way to conjectures, and +intentionally pretend to be quite out of temper, with the deliberate +idea of cajoling me!" + +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. Yet were you +to just do as my heart would have you, you'll afford me a clear proof +that you and I are united by close ties and that you are no stranger to +me!" + +"Just you mind your own business," Lin Tai-yü on her side cogitated. +"If you will treat me well, I'll treat you well. And what need is there +to put an end to yourself for my sake? Are you not aware that if you +kill yourself, I'll also kill myself? But this demonstrates that you +don't wish me to be near to you, and that you really want that I should +be distant to you." + +It will thus be seen that the desire, by which they were both actuated, +to strive and draw each other close and ever closer became contrariwise +transformed into a wish to become more distant. But as it is no easy +task to frame into words the manifold secret thoughts entertained by +either, we will now confine ourselves to a consideration of their +external manner. + +The three words "a fine match," which Pao-yü heard again Lin Tai-yü +pronounce proved so revolting to him that his heart got full of disgust +and he was unable to give utterance to a single syllable. Losing all +control over his temper, he snatched from his neck the jade of +Spiritual Perception and, clenching his teeth, he spitefully dashed it +down on the floor. "What rubbishy trash!" he cried. "I'll smash you to +atoms and put an end to the whole question!" + +The jade, however, happened to be of extraordinary hardness, and did +not, after all, sustain the slightest injury from this single fall. +When Pao-yü realised that it had not broken, he forthwith turned +himself round to get the trinket with the idea of carrying out his +design of smashing it, but Tai-yü divined his intention, and soon +started crying. "What's the use of all this!" she demurred, "and why, +pray, do you batter that dumb thing about? Instead of smashing it, +wouldn't it be better for you to come and smash me!" + +But in the middle of their dispute, Tzu Chüan, Hsüeh Yen and the other +maids promptly interfered and quieted them. Subsequently, however, they +saw how deliberately bent Pao-yü was upon breaking the jade, and they +vehemently rushed up to him to snatch it from his hands. But they +failed in their endeavours, and perceiving that he was getting more +troublesome than he had ever been before, they had no alternative but +to go and call Hsi Jen. Hsi Jen lost no time in running over and +succeeded, at length, in getting hold of the trinket. + +"I'm smashing what belongs to me," remarked Pao-yü with a cynical +smile, "and what has that to do with you people?" + +Hsi Jen noticed that his face had grown quite sallow from anger, that +his eyes had assumed a totally unusual expression, and that he had +never hitherto had such a fit of ill-temper and she hastened to take +his hand in hers and to smilingly expostulate with him. "If you've had +a tiff with your cousin," she said, "it isn't worth while flinging this +down! Had you broken it, how would her heart and face have been able to +bear the mortification?" + +Lin Tai-yü shed tears and listened the while to her remonstrances. Yet +these words, which so corresponded with her own feelings, made it clear +to her that Pao-yü could not even compare with Hsi Jen and wounded her +heart so much more to the quick that she began to weep aloud. 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. Tzu Chüan immediately pressed to her side and used her +handkerchief to stop her mouth with. But mouthful succeeded mouthful, +and in no time the handkerchief was soaked through and through. + +Hsüeh Yen then approached in a hurry and tapped her on the back. + +"You may, of course, give way to displeasure," Tzu Chüan argued; "but +you should, after all, take good care of yourself Miss. You had just +taken the medicines and felt the better for them; and here you now +begin vomitting again; and all because you've had a few words with our +master Secundus. But should your complaint break out afresh how will +Mr. Pao bear the blow?" + +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. And perceiving how flushed Tai-yü's face was, how her temples +were swollen, how, while sobbing, she panted; and how, while crying, +she was suffused with perspiration, and betrayed signs of extreme +weakness, he began, at the sight of her condition, to reproach himself. +"I shouldn't," he reflected, "have bandied words with her; for now that +she's got into this frame of mind, I mayn't even suffer in her stead!" + +The self-reproaches, however, which gnawed his heart made it impossible +for him to refrain from tears, much as he fought against them. Hsi Jen +saw them both crying, and while attending to Pao-yü, she too +unavoidably experienced much soreness of heart. She nevertheless went +on rubbing Pao-yü's hands, which were icy cold. She felt inclined to +advise Pao-yü not to weep, but fearing again lest, in the first place, +Pao-yü might be inwardly aggrieved, and nervous, in the next, lest she +should not be dealing rightly by Tai-yü, she thought it advisable that +they should all have a good cry, as they might then be able to leave +off. She herself therefore also melted into tears. As for Tzu-Chüan, at +one time, she cleaned the expectorated medicine; at another, she took +up a fan and gently fanned Tai-yü. But at the sight of the trio plunged +in perfect silence, and of one and all sobbing for reasons of their +own, grief, much though she did to struggle against it, mastered her +feelings too, and producing a handkerchief, she dried the tears that +came to her eyes. So there stood four inmates, face to face, uttering +not a word and indulging in weeping. + +Shortly, Hsi Jen made a supreme effort, and smilingly said to Pao-yü: +"If you don't care for anything else, you should at least have shown +some regard for those tassels, strung on the jade, and not have +wrangled with Miss Lin." + +Tai-yü heard these words, and, mindless of her indisposition, she +rushed over, and snatching the trinket, she picked up a pair of +scissors, lying close at hand, bent upon cutting the tassels. Hsi Jen +and Tzu Chüan were on the point of wresting it from her, but she had +already managed to mangle them into several pieces. + +"I have," sobbed Tai-yü, "wasted my energies on them for nothing; for +he doesn't prize them. He's certain to find others to string some more +fine tassels for him." + +Hsi Jen promptly took the jade. "Is it worth while going on in this +way!" she cried. "But this is all my fault for having blabbered just +now what should have been left unsaid." + +"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." + +But while all they minded inside was to create this commotion, they +little dreamt that the old matrons had descried Tai-yü weep bitterly +and vomit copiously, and Pao-yü again dash his jade on the ground, and +that not knowing how far the excitement might not go, and whether they +themselves might not become involved, they had repaired in a body to +the front, and reported the occurrence to dowager lady Chia and Madame +Wang, their object being to try and avoid being themselves implicated +in the matter. Their old mistress and Madame Wang, seeing them make so +much of the occurrence as to rush with precipitate haste to bring it to +their notice, could not in the least imagine what great disaster might +not have befallen them, and without loss of time they betook themselves +together into the garden and came to see what the two cousins were up +to. + +Hsi Jen felt irritated and harboured resentment against Tzu Chüan, +unable to conceive what business she had to go and disturb their old +mistress and Madame Wang. But Tzu Chüan, on the other hand, presumed +that it was Hsi Jen, who had gone and reported the matter to them, and +she too cherished angry feelings towards Hsi Jen. + +Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang walked into the apartment. They found +Pao-yü on one side saying not a word. Lin Tai-yü on the other uttering +not a sound. "What's up again?" they asked. But throwing the whole +blame upon the shoulders of Hsi Jen and Tzu Chüan, "why is it," they +inquired, "that you were not diligent in your attendance on them. They +now start a quarrel, and don't you exert yourselves in the least to +restrain them?" + +Therefore with obloquy and hard words they rated the two girls for a +time in such a way that neither of them could put in a word by way of +reply, but felt compelled to listen patiently. And it was only after +dowager lady Chia had taken Pao-yü away with her that things quieted +down again. + +One day passed. Then came the third of the moon. This was Hsüeh Pan's +birthday, so in their house a banquet was spread and preparations made +for a performance; and to these the various inmates of the Chia mansion +went. But as Pao-yü had so hurt Tai-yü's feelings, the two cousins saw +nothing whatever of each other, and conscience-stricken, despondent and +unhappy, as he was at this time could he have had any inclination to be +present at the plays? Hence it was that he refused to go on the pretext +of indisposition. + +Lin Tai-yü had got, a couple of days back, but a slight touch of the +sun and naturally there was nothing much the matter with her. When the +news however reached her that he did not intend to join the party, "If +with his weakness for wine and for theatricals," she pondered within +herself, "he now chooses to stay away, instead of going, why, that +quarrel with me yesterday must be at the bottom of it all. If this +isn't the reason, well then it must be that he has no wish to attend, +as he sees that I'm not going either. But I should on no account have +cut the tassels from that jade, for I feel sure he won't wear it again. +I shall therefore have to string some more on to it, before he puts it +on." + +On this account the keenest remorse gnawed her heart. + +Dowager lady Chia saw well enough that they were both under the +influence of temper. "We should avail ourselves of this occasion," she +said to herself, "to go over and look at the plays, and as soon as the +two young people come face to face, everything will be squared." +Contrary to her expectations neither of them would volunteer to go. +This so exasperated their old grandmother that she felt vexed with +them. "In what part of my previous existence could an old sufferer like +myself," she exclaimed, "have incurred such retribution that my destiny +is to come across these two troublesome new-fledged foes! Why, not a +single day goes by without their being instrumental in worrying my +mind! The proverb is indeed correct which says: 'that people who are +not enemies are not brought together!' 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. But I couldn't very well +stifle this breath of life of mine!" + +While inwardly a prey to resentment, she also melted into tears. + +These words were brought to the ears of Pao-yü and Tai-yü. Neither of +them had hitherto heard the adage: "people who are not enemies are not +brought together," so when they suddenly got to know the line, it +seemed as if they had apprehended abstraction. Both lowered their heads +and meditated on the subtle sense of the saying. But unconsciously a +stream of tears rolled down their cheeks. They could not, it is true, +get a glimpse of each other; yet as the one was in the Hsiao Hsiang +lodge, standing in the breeze, bedewed with tears, and the other in the +I Hung court, facing the moon and heaving deep sighs, was it not, in +fact, a case of two persons living in two distinct places, yet with +feelings emanating from one and the same heart? + +Hsi Jen consequently tendered advice to Pao-yü. "You're a million times +to blame," she said, "it's you who are entirely at fault! For when some +time ago the pages in the establishment, wrangled with their sisters, +or when husband and wife fell out, and you came to hear anything about +it, you blew up the lads, and called them fools for not having the +heart to show some regard to girls; and now here you go and follow +their lead. 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? If so, our venerable mistress will be the more angry, and +she certainly will be driven sick! I advise you therefore to do what's +right by suppressing your spite and confessing your fault, so that we +should all be on the same terms as hitherto. You here will then be all +right, and so will she over there." + +Pao-yü listened to what she had to say; but whether he fell in with her +views or not is not yet ascertained; yet if you, reader, choose to +know, we will explain in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + + Pao-ch'ai avails herself of the excuse afforded her by a fan to + administer a couple of raps. + While Ch'un Ling traces, in a absent frame of mind, the outlines of + the character Ch'iang, a looker-on appears on the scene. + +Lin Tai-yü herself, for we will now resume our narrative, was also, +ever since her tiff with Pao-yü, full of self-condemnation, yet as she +did not see why she should run after him, she continued, day and night, +as despondent as she would have been had she lost some thing or other +belonging to her. + +Tzu Chüan surmised her sentiments. "As regards what happened the other +day," she advised her, "you were, after all, Miss, a little too hasty; +for if others don't understand that temperament of Pao-yü's, have you +and I, surely, also no idea about it? Besides, haven't there been +already one or two rows on account of that very jade?" + +"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Tai-yü. "Have you come, on behalf of others, to find +fault with me? But how ever was I hasty?" + +"Why did you," smiled Tzu Chüan, "take the scissors and cut that tassel +when there was no good reason for it? So isn't Pao-yü less to blame +than yourself, Miss? I've always found his behaviour towards you, Miss, +without a fault. It's all that touchy disposition of yours, which makes +you so often perverse, that induces him to act as he does." + +Lin Tai-yü had every wish to make some suitable reply, when she heard +some one calling at the door. Tzu Chüan discerned the tone of voice. +"This sounds like Pao-yü's voice," she smiled. "I expect he's come to +make his apologies." + +"I won't have any one open the door," Tai-yü cried at these words. + +"Here you are in the wrong again, Miss," Tzu Chüan observed. "How will +it ever do to let him get a sunstroke and come to some harm on a day +like this, and under such a scorching sun?" + +Saying this, she speedily walked out and opened the door. It was indeed +Pao-yü. While ushering him in, she gave him a smile. "I imagined," she +said, "that you would never again put your foot inside our door, Master +Secundus. But here you are once more and quite unexpectedly!" + +"You have by dint of talking," Pao-yü laughed, "made much ado of +nothing; and why shouldn't I come, when there's no reason for me to +keep away? Were I even to die, my spirit too will come a hundred times +a day! But is cousin quite well?" + +"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. He then +caught sight of Lin Tai-yü reclining on the bed in the act of crying. +Tai-yü had not in fact shed a tear, but hearing Pao-yü break in upon +her, she could not help feeling upset. She found it impossible +therefore to prevent her tears from rolling down her cheeks. + +Pao-yü assumed a smiling expression and drew near the bed. "Cousin, are +you quite well again?" he inquired. + +Tai-yü simply went on drying her tears, and made no reply of any kind. + +Pao-yü approached the bed, and sat on the edge of it. "I know," he +smiled, "that you're not vexed with me. But had I not come, third +parties would have been allowed to notice my absence, and it would have +appeared to them as if we had had another quarrel. And had I to wait +until they came to reconcile us, would we not by that time become +perfect strangers? 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!" + +Continuing, he proceeded to call her "my dear cousin" for several tens +of times. + +Tai-yü had resolved not to pay any more heed to Pao-yü. When she, +however, now heard Pao-yü urge: "don't let us allow others to know +anything about our having had a quarrel, as it will look as if we had +become thorough strangers," it once more became evident to her, from +this single remark, that she was really dearer and nearer to him than +any of the other girls, so she could not refrain from saying sobbingly: +"You needn't have come to chaff me! I couldn't presume henceforward to +be on friendly terms with you, Master Secundus! You should treat me as +if I were gone!" + +At these words, Pao-yü gave way to laughter. "Where are you off to?" he +inquired. + +"I'm going back home," answered Tai-yü. + +"I'll go along with you then," smiled Pao-yü. + +"But if I die?" asked Tai-yü. + +"Well, if you die," rejoined Pao-yü, "I'll become a bonze." + +The moment Tai-yü caught this reply, she hung down her head. "You must, +I presume, be bent upon dying?" she cried. "But what stuff and nonsense +is this you're talking? You've got so many beloved elder and younger +cousins in your family, and how many bodies will you have to go and +become bonzes, when by and bye they all pass away! But to-morrow I'll +tell them about this to judge for themselves what your motives are!" + +Pao-yü was himself aware of the fact that this rejoinder had been +recklessly spoken, and he was seized with regret. His face immediately +became suffused with blushes. He lowered his head and had not the +courage to utter one word more. Fortunately, however, there was no one +present in the room. + +Tai-yü stared at him for ever so long with eyes fixed straight on him, +but losing control over her temper, "Ai!" she shouted, "can't you +speak?" Then when she perceived Pao-yü reduced to such straits as to +turn purple, she clenched her teeth and spitefully gave him, on the +forehead, a fillip with her finger. "Heug!" she cried gnashing her +teeth, "you, this……" But just as she had pronounced these two words, +she heaved another sigh, and picking up her handkerchief, she wiped her +tears. + +Pao-yü treasured at one time numberless tender things in his mind, +which he meant to tell her, but feeling also, while he smarted under +the sting of self-reproach (for the indiscretion he had committed), +Tai-yü give him a rap, he was utterly powerless to open his lips, much +though he may have liked to speak, so he kept on sighing and snivelling +to himself. With all these things therefore to work upon his feelings, +he unwillingly melted into tears. He tried to find his handkerchief to +dry his face with, but unexpectedly discovering that he had again +forgotten to bring one with him, he was about to make his coat-sleeve +answer the purpose, when Tai-yü, albeit her eyes were watery, noticed +at a glance that he was going to use the brand-new coat of grey +coloured gauze he wore, and while wiping her own, she turned herself +round, and seized a silk kerchief thrown over the pillow, and thrust it +into Pao-yü's lap. But without saying a word, she screened her face and +continued sobbing. + +Pao-yü saw the handkerchief she threw, and hastily snatching it, he +wiped his tears. Then drawing nearer to her, he put out his hand and +clasped her hand in his, and smilingly said to her: "You've completely +lacerated my heart, and do you still cry? But let's go; I'll come along +with you and see our venerable grandmother." + +Tai-yü thrust his hand aside. "Who wants to go hand in hand with you?" +she cried. "Here we grow older day after day, but we're still so full +of brazen-faced effrontery that we don't even know what right means?" + +But scarcely had she concluded before she heard a voice say aloud: +"They're all right!" + +Pao-yü and Tai-yü were little prepared for this surprise, and they were +startled out of their senses. Turning round to see who it was, they +caught sight of lady Feng running in, laughing and shouting. "Our old +lady," she said, "is over there, giving way to anger against heaven and +earth. She would insist upon my coming to find out whether you were +reconciled or not. '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 my words have in very +deed turned out true. I don't see why you two should always be +wrangling! For three days you're on good terms and for two on bad. You +become more and more like children. And here you are now hand in hand +blubbering! But why did you again yesterday become like black-eyed +fighting cocks? Don't you yet come with me to see your grandmother and +make an old lady like her set her mind at ease a bit?" + +While reproaching them, she clutched Tai-yü's hand and was trudging +away, when Tai-yü turned her head round and called out for her +servant-girls. But not one of them was in attendance. + +"What do you want them for again?" lady Feng asked. "I am here to wait +on you!" + +Still speaking, she pulled her along on their way, with Pao-yü +following in their footsteps. Then making their exit out of the garden +gate, they entered dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. "I said that it +was superfluous for any one to trouble," lady Feng smiled, "as they +were sure of themselves to become reconciled; but you, dear ancestor, +so little believed it that you insisted upon my going to act the part +of mediator. Yet when I got there, with the intention of inducing them +to make it up, I found them, though one did not expect it, in each +other's company, confessing their faults, and laughing and chatting. +Just like a yellow eagle clutching the feet of a kite were those two +hanging on to each other. So where was the necessity for any one to +go?" + +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. + +When Pao-yü noticed that no one had anything to say, he smilingly +addressed himself to Pao-ch'ai. "On cousin Hsüeh P'an's birth-day," he +remarked, "I happened again to be unwell, so not only did I not send +him any presents, but I failed to go and knock my head before him. Yet +cousin knows nothing about my having been ill, and it will seem to him +that I had no wish to go, and that I brought forward excuses so as to +avoid paying him a visit. If to-morrow you find any leisure, cousin, do +therefore explain matters for me to him." + +"This is too much punctiliousness!" smiled Pao-ch'ai. "Even had you +insisted upon going, we wouldn't have been so arrogant as to let you +put yourself to the trouble, and how much less when you were not +feeling well? You two are cousins and are always to be found together +the whole day; if you encourage such ideas, some estrangement will, +after all, arise between you." + +"Cousin," continued Pao-yü smilingly, "you know what to say; and so +long as you're lenient with me all will be all right. But how is it," +he went on to ask, "that you haven't gone over to see the theatricals?" + +"I couldn't stand the heat" rejoined Pao-ch'ai. "I looked on while two +plays were being sung, but I found it so intensely hot, that I felt +anxious to retire. But the visitors not having dispersed, I had to give +as an excuse that I wasn't feeling up to the mark, and so came away at +once." + +Pao-yü, at these words, could not but feel ill at ease. All he could do +was to feign another smile. "It's no wonder," he observed, "that they +compare you, cousin, to Yang Kuei-fei; for she too was fat and afraid +of hot weather." + +Hearing this, Pao-ch'ai involuntarily flew into a violent rage. 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. +Smiling ironically twice, "I may resemble," she said, "Yang Kuei-fei, +but there's not one of you young men, whether senior or junior, good +enough to play the part of Yang Kuo-chung." + +While they were bandying words, a servant-girl Ch'ing Erh, lost sight +of her fan and laughingly remarked to Pao-ch'ai: "It must be you, Miss +Pao, who have put my fan away somewhere or other; dear mistress, do let +me have it!" + +"You'd better be mindful!" rejoined Pao-ch'ai, shaking her finger at +her. "With whom have I ever been up to jokes, that you come and suspect +me? Have I hitherto laughed and smirked with you? There's that whole +lot of girls, go and ask them about it!" + +At this suggestion, Ch'ing Erh made her escape. + +The consciousness then burst upon Pao-yü, that he had again been +inconsiderate in his speech, in the presence of so many persons, and he +was overcome by a greater sense of shame than when, a short while back, +he had been speaking with Lin Tai-yü. Precipitately turning himself +round, he went, therefore, and talked to the others as well. + +The sight of Pao-yü poking fun at Pao-ch'ai gratified Tai-yü immensely. +She was just about to put in her word and also seize the opportunity of +chaffing her, but as Ch'ing Erh unawares asked for her fan and +Pao-ch'ai added a few more remarks, she at once changed her purpose. +"Cousin Pao-ch'ai," she inquired, "what two plays did you hear?" + +Pao-ch'ai caught the expression of gratification in Tai-yü's +countenance, and concluded that she had for a certainty heard the +raillery recently indulged in by Pao-yü and that it had fallen in with +her own wishes; and hearing her also suddenly ask the question she did, +she answered with a significant laugh: "What I saw was: 'Li Kuei blows +up Sung Chiang and subsequently again tenders his apologies'." + +Pao-yü smiled. "How is it," he said, "that with such wide knowledge of +things new as well as old; and such general information as you possess, +you aren't even up to the name of a play, and that you've come out with +such a whole string of words. Why, the real name of the play is: +'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'". + +"Is it truly called: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'"? +Pao-ch'ai asked with laugh. "But you people know all things new and old +so are able to understand the import of 'carrying a birch and begging +for punishment.' As for me I've no idea whatever what 'carrying a birch +and begging for punishment' implies." + +One sentence was scarcely ended when Pao-yü and Tai-yü felt guilty in +their consciences; and by the time they heard all she said, they were +quite flushed from shame. Lady Feng did not, it is true, fathom the +gist of what had been said, but at the sight of the expression betrayed +on the faces of the three cousins, she readily got an inkling of it. +"On this broiling hot day," she inquired laughing also; "who still eats +raw ginger?" + +None of the party could make out the import of her insinuation. +"There's no one eating raw ginger," they said. + +Lady Feng intentionally then brought her hands to her cheeks, and +rubbing them, she remarked with an air of utter astonishment, "Since +there's no one eating raw ginger, how is it that you are all so fiery +in the face?" + +Hearing this, Pao-yü and Tai-yü waxed more uncomfortable than ever. So +much so, that Pao-ch'ai, who meant to continue the conversation, did +not think it nice to say anything more when she saw how utterly abashed +Pao-yü was and how changed his manner. Her only course was therefore to +smile and hold her peace. And as the rest of the inmates had not the +faintest notion of the drift of the remarks exchanged between the four +of them, they consequently followed her lead and put on a smile. + +In a short while, however, Pao-ch'ai and lady Feng took their leave. + +"You've also tried your strength with them," Tai-yü said to Pao-yü +laughingly. "But they're far worse than I. Is every one as simple in +mind and dull of tongue as I am as to allow people to say whatever they +like." + +Pao-yü was inwardly giving way to that unhappiness, which had been +occasioned by Pao-ch'ai's touchiness, so when he also saw Tai-yü +approach him and taunt him, displeasure keener than ever was aroused in +him. A desire then asserted itself to speak out his mind to her, but +dreading lest Tai-yü should he in one of her sensitive moods, he, +needless to say, stifled his anger and straightway left the apartment +in a state of mental depression. + +It happened to be the season of the greatest heat. Breakfast time too +was already past, and masters as well as servants were, for the most +part, under the influence of the lassitude felt on lengthy days. As +Pao-yü therefore strolled, from place to place, his hands behind his +back he heard not so much as the caw of a crow. Issuing out of his +grandmother's compound on the near side, he wended his steps westwards, +and crossed the passage, on which lady Feng's quarters gave. As soon as +he reached the entrance of her court, he perceived the door ajar. But +aware of lady Feng's habit of taking, during the hot weather, a couple +of hours' siesta at noon, he did not feel it a convenient moment to +intrude. Walking accordingly through the corner door, he stepped into +Madame Wang's apartment. Here he discovered several waiting-maids, +dosing with their needlework clasped in their hands. Madame Wang was +asleep on the cool couch in the inner rooms. Chin Ch'uan-erh was +sitting next to her massaging her legs. But she too was quite drowsy, +and her eyes wore all awry. Pao-yü drew up to her with gentle tread. +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. + +"Are you feeling so worn out!" he smilingly remarked in a low tone of +voice. + +Chin Ch'uan pursed up her lips and gave him a smile. 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. Chin Ch'uan-erh, however, did not +open her eyes, but simply held (the pill) in her mouth. Pao-yü then +approached her and took her hand in his. "I'll ask you of your +mistress," he gently observed smiling, "and you and I will live +together." + +To this Chin Ch'uan-erh said not a word. + +"If that won't do," Pao-yü continued, "I'll wait for your mistress to +wake and appeal to her at once." + +Chin Ch'uan-erh distended her eyes wide, and pushed Pao-yü off. "What's +the hurry?" she laughed. "'A gold hair-pin may fall into the well; but +if it's yours it will remain yours only.' Is it possible that you don't +even see the spirit of this proverb? But I'll tell you a smart thing. +Just you go into the small court, on the east side, and you'll find for +yourself what Mr. Chia Huau and Ts'ai Yun are up to!" + +"Let them be up to whatever they like," smiled Pao-yü, "I shall simply +stick to your side!" + +But he then saw Madame Wang twist herself round, get up, and give a +slap to Chin Ch'uan-erh on her mouth. "You mean wench!" 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. Chin Ch'uan-erh, meanwhile, felt half of her face as hot as +fire, yet she did not dare utter one word of complaint. The various +waiting-maids soon came to hear that Madame Wang had awoke and they +rushed in in a body. + +"Go and tell your mother," Madame Wang thereupon said to Yü Ch'uan-erh, +"to fetch your elder sister away." + +Chin Ch'uan-erh, at these words, speedily fell on her knees. With tears +in her eyes: "I won't venture to do it again," she pleaded. "If you, +Madame, wish to flog me, or to scold me do so at once, and as much as +you like but don't send me away. You will thus accomplish an act of +heavenly grace! I've been in attendance on your ladyship for about ten +years, and if you now drive me away, will I be able to look at any one +in the face?" + +Though Madame Wang was a generous, tender-hearted person, and had at no +time raised her hand to give a single blow to any servant-girl, she, +however, when she accidentally discovered Chin Ch'uan-erh behave on +this occasion in this barefaced manner, a manner which had all her +lifetime been most reprehensible to her, was so overcome by passion +that she gave Chin Ch'uan-erh just one slap and spoke to her a few +sharp words. And albeit Chin Ch'uan-erh indulged in solicitous +entreaties, she would not on any account keep her in her service. At +length, Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother, Dame Pao, was sent for to take her +away. Chin Ch'uan-erh therefore had to conceal her disgrace, suppress +her resentment, and quit the mansion. + +But without any further reference to her, we will now take up our story +with Pao-yü. As soon as he saw Madame Wang awake, his spirits were +crushed. All alone he hastily made his way into the Ta Kuan garden. +Here his attention was attracted by the ruddy sun, shining in the +zenith, the shade of the trees extending far and wide, the song of the +cicadas, filling the ear; and by a perfect stillness, not even broken +by the echo of a human voice. But the instant he got near the trellis, +with the cinnamon roses, the sound of sobs fell on his ear. Doubts and +surmises crept into Pao-yü's mind, so halting at once, he listened with +intentness. Then actually he discerned some one on the off-side of the +trellis. This was the fifth moon, the season when the flowers and +foliage of the cinnamon roses were in full bloom. Furtively peeping +through an aperture in the fence, Pao-yü saw a young girl squatting +under the flowers and digging the ground with a hair-pin she held in +her hand. As she dug, she silently gave way to tears. + +"Can it be possible," mused Pao-yü, "that this girl too is stupid? Can +she also be following P'in Erh's example and come to inter flowers? Why +if she's likewise really burying flowers," he afterwards went on to +smilingly reflect, "this can aptly be termed: 'Tung Shih tries to +imitate a frown.' But not only is what she does not original, but it is +despicable to boot. You needn't," he meant to shout out to the girl, at +the conclusion of this train of thought, "try and copy Miss Lin's +example." But before the words had issued from his mouth, he luckily +scrutinised her a second time, and found that the girl's features were +quite unfamiliar to him, that she was no menial, and that she looked +like one of the twelve singing maids, who were getting up the plays. He +could not, however, make out what _rôles_ she filled: scholars, girls, +old men, women, or buffoons. Pao-yü quickly put out his tongue and +stopped his mouth with his hand. "How fortunate," he inwardly +soliloquised, "that I didn't make any reckless remark! It was all +because of my inconsiderate talk on the last two occasions, that P'in +Erh got angry with me, and that Pao-ch'ai felt hurt. And had I now +given them offence also, I would have been in a still more awkward +fix!" + +While wrapt in these thoughts, he felt much annoyance at not being able +to recognise who she was. But on further minute inspection, he noticed +that this maiden, with contracted eyebrows, as beautiful as the hills +in spring, frowning eyes as clear as the streams in autumn, a face, +with transparent skin, and a slim waist, was elegant and beautiful and +almost the very image of Lin Tai-yü. Pao-yü could not, from the very +first, make up his mind to wrench himself away. But as he stood gazing +at her in a doltish mood, he realised that, although she was tracing on +the ground with the gold hair-pin, she was not digging a hole to bury +flowers in, but was merely delineating characters on the surface of the +soil. Pao-yü's eyes followed the hair-pin from first to last, as it +went up and as it came down. 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. On completing the sketch, he discovered, the moment he +came to reflect, that it was the character "Ch'iang," in the +combination, 'Ch'iang Wei,' representing cinnamon roses. + +"She too," pondered Pao-yü, "must have been bent upon writing verses, +or supplying some line or other, and at the sight now of the flowers, +the idea must have suggested itself to her mind. Or it may very likely +be that having spontaneously devised a couplet, she got suddenly elated +and began, for fear it should slip from her memory, to trace it on the +ground so as to tone the rhythm. Yet there's no saying. 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 inside the fence fell, in fact, from an early stage, into a +foolish mood, and no sooner was one 'Ch'iang,' finished than she +started with another; so that she had already written several tens of +them. The one outside gazed and gazed, until he unwittingly also got +into the same foolish mood. Intent with his eyes upon following the +movements of the pin, in his mind, he communed thus with his own +thoughts: "This girl must, for a certainty, have something to say, or +some unspeakable momentous secret that she goes on like this. But if +outwardly she behaves in this wise, who knows what anguish she mayn't +suffer at heart? And yet, with a frame to all appearances so very +delicate, how could she ever resist much inward anxiety! Woe is me that +I'm unable to transfer some part of her burden on to my own shoulders!" + +In midsummer, cloudy and bright weather are uncertain. A few specks of +clouds suffice to bring about rain. Of a sudden, a cold blast swept by, +and tossed about by the wind fell a shower of rain. Pao-yü perceived +that the water trickling down the girl's head saturated her gauze +attire in no time. "It's pouring," Pao-yü debated within himself, "and +how can a frame like hers resist the brunt of such a squall." Unable +therefore to restrain himself, he vehemently shouted: "Leave off +writing! See, it's pouring; you're wet through!" + +The girl caught these words, and was frightened out of her wits. +Raising her head, she at once descried some one or other standing +beyond the flowers and calling out to her: "Leave off writing. It's +pouring!" But as Pao-yü was, firstly, of handsome appearance, and as +secondly the luxuriant abundance of flowers and foliage screened with +their boughs, thick-laden with leaves, the upper and lower part of his +person, just leaving half of his countenance exposed to view, the +maiden simply jumped at the conclusion that he must be a servant girl, +and never for a moment dreamt that it might be Pao-yü. "Many thanks, +sister, for recalling me to my senses," she consequently smiled. "Yet +is there forsooth anything outside there to protect you from the rain?" + +This single remark proved sufficient to recall Pao-yü to himself. With +an exclamation of "Ai-yah," he at length became conscious that his +whole body was cold as ice. 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. His mind, +however, continued much exercised about the girl as she had nothing to +shelter her from the rain. + +As the next day was the dragon-boat festival, Wen Kuan and the other +singing girls, twelve in all, were given a holiday, so they came into +the garden and amused themselves by roaming everywhere and anywhere. As +luck would have it, the two girls Pao-Kuan, who filled the _rôle_ of +young men and Yü Kuan, who represented young women, were in the I Hung +court enjoying themselves with Hsi Jen, when rain set in and they were +prevented from going back, so in a body they stopped up the drain to +allow the water to accumulate in the yard. Then catching those that +could be caught, and driving those that had to be driven, they laid +hold of a few of the green-headed ducks, variegated marsh-birds and +coloured mandarin-ducks, and tying their wings they let them loose in +the court to disport themselves. Closing the court Hsi Jen and her +playmates stood together under the verandah and enjoyed the fun. Pao-yü +therefore found the entrance shut. He gave a rap at the door. But as +every one inside was bent upon laughing, they naturally did not catch +the sound; and it was only after he had called and called, and made a +noise by thumping at the door, that they at last heard. Imagining, +however, that Pao-yü could not be coming back at that hour, Hsi Jen +shouted laughing: "who's it now knocking at the door? There's no one to +go and open." + +"It's I," rejoined Pao-yü. + +"It's Miss Pao-ch'ai's tone of voice," added She Yüeh. + +"Nonsense!" cried Ch'ing Wen. "What would Miss Pao-ch'ai come over to +do at such an hour?" + +"Let me go," chimed in Hsi Jen, "and see through the fissure in the +door, and if we can open, we'll open; for we mustn't let her go back, +wet through." + +With these words, she came along the passage to the doorway. On looking +out, she espied Pao-yü dripping like a chicken drenched with rain. + +Seeing him in this plight, Hsi Jen felt solicitous as well as amused. +With alacrity, she flung the door wide open, laughing so heartily that +she was doubled in two. "How could I ever have known," she said, +clapping her hands, "that you had returned, Sir! Yet how is it that +you've run back in this heavy rain?" + +Pao-yü had, however, been feeling in no happy frame of mind. He had +fully resolved within himself to administer a few kicks to the person, +who came to open the door, so as soon as it was unbarred, he did not +try to make sure who it was, but under the presumption that it was one +of the servant-girls, he raised his leg and give her a kick on the +side. + +"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Hsi Jen. + +Pao-yü nevertheless went on to abuse. "You mean things!" he shouted. +"It's because I've always treated you so considerately that you don't +respect me in the least! And you now go to the length of making a +laughing-stock of me!" + +As he spoke, he lowered his head. Then catching sight of Hsi Jen, in +tears, he realised that he had kicked the wrong person. "Hallo!" he +said, promptly smiling, "is it you who've come? Where did I kick you?" + +Hsi Jen had never, previous to this, received even a harsh word from +him. When therefore she on this occasion unexpectedly saw Pao-yü gave +her a kick in a fit of anger and, what made it worse, in the presence +of so many people, shame, resentment, and bodily pain overpowered her +and she did not, in fact, for a time know where to go and hide herself. +She was then about to give rein to her displeasure, but the reflection +that Pao-yü could not have kicked her intentionally obliged her to +suppress her indignation. "Instead of kicking," she remarked, "don't +you yet go and change your clothes?" + +Pao-yü walked into the room. As he did so, he smiled. "Up to the age +I've reached," he observed, "this is the first instance on which I've +ever so thoroughly lost control over my temper as to strike any one; +and, contrary to all my thoughts, it's you that happened to come in my +way?" + +Hsi Jen, while patiently enduring the pain, effected the necessary +change in his attire. "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. But not to say another word about your assault on me, why, +to-morrow you'll indulge your hand and start beating others!" + +"I did not strike you intentionally just now," retorted Pao-yü. + +"Who ever said," rejoined Hsi Jen, "that you did it intentionally! It +has ever been the duty of that tribe of servant-girls to open and shut +the doors, yet they've got into the way of being obstinate, and have +long ago become such an abomination that people's teeth itch to revenge +themselves on them. They don't know, besides, what fear means. So had +you first assured yourself that it was they and given them a kick, a +little intimidating would have done them good. But I'm at the bottom of +the mischief that happened just now, for not calling those, upon whom +it devolves, to come and open for you." + +During the course of their conversation, the rain ceased, and Pao Kuan +and Yü Kuan had been able to take their leave. Hsi Jen, however, +experienced such intense pain in her side, and felt such inward +vexation, that at supper she could not put a morsel of anything in her +mouth. When in the evening, the time came for her to have her bath, she +discovered, on divesting herself of her clothes, a bluish bruise on her +side of the size of a saucer and she was very much frightened. But as +she could not very well say anything about it to any one, she presently +retired to rest. But twitches of pain made her involuntarily moan in +her dreams and groan in her sleep. + +Pao-yü did, it is true, not hurt her with any malice, but when he saw +Hsi Jen so listless and restless, and suddenly heard her groan in the +course of the night, he realised how severely he must have kicked her. +So getting out of bed, he gently seized the lantern and came over to +look at her. But as soon as he reached the side of her bed, he +perceived Hsi Jen expectorate, with a retch, a whole mouthful of +phlegm. "Oh me!" she gasped, as she opened her eyes. The presence of +Pao-yü startled her out of her wits. "What are you up to?" she asked. + +"You groaned in your dreams," answered Pao-yü, "so I must have kicked +you hard. Do let me see!" + +"My head feels giddy," said Hsi Jen. "My throat foul and sweet; throw +the light on the floor!" + +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. + +Pao-yü was seized with consternation. "Dreadful!" was all he could say. +At the sight of the blood, Hsi Jen's heart too partly waxed cold. + +But, reader, the next chapter will reveal the sequel, if you really +have any wish to know more about them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + + Pao-yü allows the girl Ch'ing Wen to tear his fan so as to afford her + amusement. + A wedding proves to be the result of the descent of a unicorn. + +But to proceed. When she saw on the floor the blood, she had brought +up, Hsi Jen immediately grew partly cold. What she had often heard +people mention in past days 'that the lives of young people, who +expectorate blood, are uncertain, and that although they may live long, +they are, after all, mere wrecks,' flashed through her mind. The +remembrance of this saying at once completely scattered to the winds +the wish, she had all along cherished, of striving for honour and of +being able to boast of glory; and from her eyes unwittingly ran down +streams of tears. + +When Pao-yü saw her crying, his heart was seized with anguish. "What's +it that preys on your mind?" he consequently asked her. + +Hsi Jen strained every nerve to smile. "There's no rhyme or reason for +anything," she replied, "so what can it be?" + +Pao-yü's intention was to there and then give orders to the servant to +warm some white wine and to ask them for a few 'Li-T'ung' pills +compounded with goat's blood, but Hsi Jen clasped his hand tight. "My +troubling you is of no matter," she smiled, "but were I to put ever so +many people to inconvenience, they'll bear me a grudge for my +impudence. Not a soul, it's clear enough, knows anything about it now, +but were you to make such a bustle as to bring it to people's notice, +you'll be in an awkward fix, and so will I. The proper thing, +therefore, is for you to send a page to-morrow to request Dr. Wang to +prepare some medicine for me. When I take this I shall be all right. +And as neither any human being nor spirit will thus get wind of it, +won't it be better?" + +Pao-yü found her suggestion so full of reason that he thought himself +obliged to abandon his purpose; so approaching the table, he poured a +cup of tea, and came over and gave it to Hsi Jen to rinse her mouth +with. Aware, however, as Hsi Jen was that Pao-yü himself was not +feeling at ease in his mind, she was on the point of bidding him not +wait upon her; but convinced that he would once more be certain not to +accede to her wishes, and that the others would, in the second place, +have to be disturbed, she deemed it expedient to humour him. Leaning on +the couch, she consequently allowed Pao-yü to come and attend to her. + +As soon as the fifth watch struck, Pao-yü, unmindful of combing or +washing, hastily put on his clothes and left the room; and sending for +Wang Chi-jen, he personally questioned him with all minuteness about +her ailment. + +Wang Chi-jen asked how it had come about. "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. + +Pao-yü committed every detail to memory, and on his return into the +garden, the treatment was, needless for us to explain, taken in hand in +strict compliance with the directions. + +This was the day of the dragon-boat festival. Cat-tail and artemisia +were put over the doors. Tiger charms were suspended on every back. At +noon, Madame Wang got a banquet ready, and to this midday feast, she +invited the mother, daughter and the rest of the members of the Hsüeh +household. + +Pao-yü noticed that Pao-ch'ai was in such low spirits that she would +not even speak to him, and concluded that the reason was to be sought +in the incident of the previous day. Madame Wang seeing Pao-yü in a +sullen humour jumped at the surmise that it must be due to Chin +Ch'uan's affair of the day before; and so ill at ease did she feel that +she heeded him less than ever. Lin Tai-yü, detected Pao-yü's apathy, +and presumed that he was out of sorts for having given umbrage to +Pao-ch'ai, and her manner likewise assumed a listless air. Lady Feng +had, in the course of the previous evening, been told by Madame Wang +what had taken place between Pao-yü and Chin Ch'uan, and when she came +to know that Madame Wang was in an unhappy frame of mind she herself +did not venture to chat or laugh, but at once regulated her behaviour +to suit Madame Wang's mood. So the lack of animation became more than +ever perceptible; for the good cheer of Ying Ch'un and her sisters was +also damped by the sight of all of them down in the mouth. The natural +consequence therefore was that they all left after a very short stay. + +Lin Tai-yü had a natural predilection for retirement. She did not care +for social gatherings. Her notions, however, were not entirely devoid +of reason. She maintained that people who gathered together must soon +part; that when they came together, they were full of rejoicing, but +did they not feel lonely when they broke up? That since this sense of +loneliness gave rise to chagrin, it was consequently preferable not to +have any gatherings. That flowers afforded an apt example. When they +opened, they won people's admiration; but when they faded, they added +to the feeling of vexation; so that better were it if they did not +blossom at all! To this cause therefore must be assigned the fact that +when other people were glad, she, on the contrary, felt unhappy. + +Pao-yü's disposition was such that he simply yearned for frequent +gatherings, and looked forward with sorrow to the breaking up which +must too soon come round. As for flowers, he wished them to bloom +repeatedly and was haunted with the dread of their dying in a little +time. Yet albeit manifold anguish fell to his share when banquets drew +to a close and flowers began to fade, he had no alternative but to +practice resignation. + +On this account was it that, when the company cheerlessly broke up from +the present feast, Lin Tai-yü did not mind the separation; and that +Pao-yü experienced such melancholy and depression, that, on his return +to his apartments, he gave way to deep groans and frequent sighs. + +Ch'ing Wen, as it happened, came to the upper quarters to change her +costume. 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. "You stupid +thing!" Pao-yü exclaimed, sighing, "what a dunce! what next will you be +up to by and bye? When, in a little time, you get married and have a +home of your own, will you, forsooth, still go on in this +happy-go-lucky careless sort of way?" + +"Master Secundus," replied Ch'ing Wen with a sardonic smile, "your +temper is of late dreadfully fiery, and time and again it leaks out on +your very face! The other day you even beat Hsi Jen and here you are +again now finding fault with us! If you feel disposed to kick or strike +us, you are at liberty, Sir, to do so at your pleasure; but for a fan +to slip on the ground is an everyday occurrence! How many of those +crystal jars and cornelian bowls were smashed the other time, I don't +remember, and yet you were not seen to fly into a tantrum; and now, for +a fan do you distress yourself so? What's the use of it? If you dislike +us, well pack us off and select some good girls to serve you, and we +will quietly go away. Won't this be better?" + +This rejoinder so exasperated Pao-yü that his whole frame trembled +violently. "You needn't be in a hurry!" he then shouted. "There will be +a day of parting by and bye." + +Hsi Jen was on the other side, and from an early period she listened to +the conversation between them. Hurriedly crossing over, "what are you +up to again?" she said to Pao-yü, "why, there's nothing to put your +monkey up! I'm perfectly right in my assertion that when I'm away for +any length of time, something is sure to happen." + +Ch'ing Wen heard these remarks. "Sister," she interposed smiling +ironically, "since you've got the gift of the gab, you should have come +at once; you would then have spared your master his fit of anger. It's +you who have from bygone days up to the present waited upon master; +we've never had anything to do with attending on him; and it's because +you've served him so faithfully that he repaid you yesterday with a +kick on the stomach. But who knows what punishment mayn't be in store +for us, who aren't fit to wait upon him decently!" + +At these insinuations, Hsi Jen felt both incensed and ashamed. She was +about to make some response but Pao-yü had worked himself into such +another passion as to get quite yellow in the face, and she was obliged +to rein in her temper. Pushing Ch'ing Wen, "Dear sister," she cried, +"you had better be off for a stroll! it's really we, who are to blame!" + +The very mention of the word "we" made it certain to Ch'ing Wen that +she implied herself and Pao-yü, and thus unawares more fuel was added +again to her jealous notions. Giving way to several loud smiles, full +of irony: "I can't make out," she insinuated, "who you may mean. But +don't make me blush on your account! Even those devilish pranks of +yours can't hoodwink me! How and why is it that you've started styling +yourself as 'we?' Properly speaking, you haven't as yet so much as +attained the designation of 'Miss!' You're simply no better than I am, +and how is it then that you presume so high as to call yourself 'we.'" + +Hsi Jen's face grew purple from shame. "The fact is," she reflected, +"that I've said more than I should." + +"As one and all of you are ever bearing her malice," Pao-yü +simultaneously observed, "I'll actually raise her to-morrow to a higher +status!" + +Hsi Jen quickly snatched Pao-yü's hand. "She's a stupid girl," she +said, "what's the use of arguing with her? What's more, you've so far +borne with them and overlooked ever, so many other things more grievous +than this; and what are you up to to-day?" + +"If I'm really a stupid girl," repeated Ch'ing Wen, smiling +sarcastically, "am I a fit person for you to hold converse with? 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? If you bear me a grudge, you'd better then +address your remarks to me alone; albeit it isn't right that you should +kick up such a hullaballoo in the presence of Mr. 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! I came +in, a few minutes back, merely for the purpose of setting matters +right, and of urging you to make up your quarrels so that we should all +be on the safe side; and here I have the unlucky fate of being set upon +by you, Miss! Yet you neither seem to be angry with me, nor with Mr. +Secundus! But armed _cap-à-pie_ as you appear to be, what is your +ultimate design? 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." Pao-yü remarked to Ch'ing Wen. "I've +guessed the secret of your heart, so I'll go and tell mother that as +you've also attained a certain age, she should send you away. Will this +please you, yes or no?" + +This allusion made Ch'ing Wen unwittingly feel again wounded at heart. +She tried to conceal her tears. "Why should I go away?" she asked. "If +even you be so prejudiced against me as to try and devise means to pack +me off, you won't succeed." + +"I never saw such brawling!" Pao-yü exclaimed. "You're certainly bent +upon going! I might as well therefore let mother know so as to bundle +you off!" + +While addressing her, he rose to his feet and was intent upon trudging +off at once. Hsi Jen lost no time in turning round and impeding his +progress. "Where are you off to?" 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? If even +she positively means to leave, you can very well wait until you two +have got over this bad blood. And when everything is past and gone, it +won't be any too late for you to explain, in the course of +conversation, the whole case to our lady, your mother. 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." + +"When did I ever insist upon going?" sobbed Ch'ing Wen. "You fly into a +rage, and then you have recourse to threats to intimidate me. But +you're at liberty to go and say anything you like; for as I'll knock my +brains out against the wall, I won't get alive out of this door." + +"This is, indeed, strange!" exclaimed Pao-yü. "If you won't go, what's +the good of all this fuss? I can't stand this bawling, so it will be a +riddance if you would get out of the way!" + +Saying this, he was resolved upon going to report the matter. Hsi Jen +found herself powerless to dissuade him. She had in consequence no +other resource but to fall on her knees. + +Pi Hen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yüeh and the rest of the waiting-maids had +realised what a serious aspect the dispute had assumed, and not a sound +was to be heard to fall from their lips. They remained standing outside +listening to what was going on. When they now overheard Hsi Jen making +solicitous entreaties on her knees, they rushed into the apartment in a +body; and with one consent they prostrated themselves on the floor. + +Pao-yü at once pulled Hsi Jen up. Then with a sigh, he took a seat on +the bed. "Get up," he shouted to the body of girls, "and clear out! +What would you have me do?" he asked, addressing himself to Hsi Jen. +"This heart of mine has been rent to pieces, and no one has any idea +about it!" + +While speaking, tears of a sudden rolled down his cheek. At the sight +of Pao-yü weeping, Hsi Jen also melted into a fit of crying. Ch'ing Wen +was standing by them, with watery eyes. She was on the point of +reasoning with them, when espying Lin Tai-yü step into the room, she +speedily walked out. + +"On a grand holiday like this," remonstrated Lin Tai-yü smiling, "how +is it that you're snivelling away, and all for nothing? Is it likely +that high words have resulted all through that 'dumpling' contest?" + +Pao-yü and Lin Tai-yü blurted out laughing. + +"You don't tell me, cousin Secundus," Lin Tai-yü put in, "but I know +all about it, even though I have asked no questions." + +Now she spoke, and now she patted Hsi Jen on the shoulder. "My dear +sister-in-law," she smiled, "just you tell me! It must surely be that +you two have had a quarrel. Confide in me, your cousin, so that I might +reconcile you." + +"Miss Lin," rejoined Hsi Jen, pushing her off, "what are you fussing +about? I am simply one of our servant-girls; you're therefore rather +erratic in your talk!" + +"You say that you're only a servant-girl," smilingly replied Tai-yü, +"and yet I treat you like a sister-in-law." + +"Why do you," Pao-yü chimed in, "give her this abusive epithet? But +however much she may make allowance for this, can she, when there are +so many others who tell idle tales on her account, put up with your +coming and telling her all you've said?" + +"Miss Lin," smiled Hsi Jen, "you're not aware of the purpose of my +heart. Unless my breath fails and I die, I shall continue in his +service." + +"If you die," remarked Lin Tai-yü smiling, "what will others do, I +wonder? As for me, I shall be the first to die from crying." + +"Were you to die," added Pao-yü laughingly, "I shall become a bonze." + +"You'd better be a little more sober-minded!" laughed Hsi Jen. "What's +the good of coming out with all these things?" + +Lin Tai-yü put out two of her fingers, and puckered up her lips. "Up to +this," she laughed, "he's become a bonze twice. Henceforward, I'll try +and remember how many times you make up your mind to become a Buddhist +priest!" + +This reminded Pao-yü that she was referring to a remark he had made on +a previous occasion, but smiling to himself, he allowed the matter to +drop. + +After a short interval, Lin Tai-yü went away. A servant then came to +announce that Mr. Hsüeh wanted to see him, and Pao-yü had to go. The +purpose of this visit was in fact to invite him to a banquet, and as he +could not very well put forward any excuse to refuse, he had to remain +till the end of the feast before he was able to take his leave. 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. Here he perceived that the cool couch with a back +to it, had already been placed in the yard, and that there was some one +asleep on it. Prompted by the conviction that it must be Hsi Jen, +Pao-yü seated himself on the edge of the couch. As he did so, he gave +her a push, and inquired whether her sore place was any better. But +thereupon he saw the occupant turn herself round, and exclaim: "What do +you come again to irritate me for?" + +Pao-yü, at a glance, realised that it was not Hsi Jen, but Ch'ing Wen. +Pao-yü then clutched her and compelled her to sit next to him. "Your +disposition," he smiled, "has been more and more spoilt through +indulgence. When you let the fan drop this morning, I simply made one +or two remarks, and out you came with that long rigmarole. Had you gone +for me it wouldn't have mattered; but you also dragged in Hsi Jen, who +only interfered with every good intention of inducing us to make it up +again. But, ponder now, ought you to have done it; yes or no?" + +"With this intense heat," remonstrated Ch'ing Wen, "why do you pull me +and toss me about? Should any people see you, what will they think? But +this person of mine isn't meet to be seated in here." + +"Since you yourself know that it isn't meet," replied Pao-yü with a +smile, "why then were you sleeping here?" + +To this taunt Ch'ing Wen had nothing to say. But she spurted out into +fresh laughter. "It was all right," she retorted, "during your absence; +but the moment you come, it isn't meet for me to stay! Get up and let +me go and have my bath. Hsi Jen and She Yüeh have both had theirs, so +I'll call them here!" + +"I've just had again a good deal of wine," remarked Pao-yü, laughingly; +"so a wash will be good for me. And since you've not had your bath, you +had better bring the water and let's both have it together." + +"No, no!" smiled Ch'ing Wen, waving her hand, "I cannot presume to put +you to any trouble, Sir. I still remember how when Pi Hen used to look +after your bath you occupied fully two or three hours. What you were up +to during that time we never knew. We could not very well walk in. When +you had however done washing, and we entered your room, we found the +floor so covered with water that the legs of the bed were soaking and +the matting itself a regular pool. Nor could we make out what kind of +washing you'd been having; and for days afterwards we had a laugh over +it. But I've neither any time to get the water ready; nor do I see the +need for you to have a wash along with me. Besides, to-day it's chilly, +and as you've had a bath only a little while back, you can very well +just now dispense with one. But I'll draw a basin of water for you to +wash your face, and to shampoo your head with. Not long ago, Yüan Yang +sent you a few fruits; they were put in that crystal bowl, so you'd +better tell them to bring them to you to taste." + +"Well, in that case." laughed Pao-yü, "you needn't also have a bath. +Just simply wash your hands, and bring the fruit and let's have some +together." + +"I'm so shaky," smiled Ch'ing Wen "that even fans slip out of my hands, +and how could I fetch the fruit for you. Were I also to break the dish, +it will be still more dreadful!" + +"If you want to break it, break it!" smiled Pao-yü. "These things are +only intended for general use. You like this thing; I fancy that; our +respective tastes are not identical. 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. The only thing is, when you +get angry don't make it the means of giving vent to your temper! Just +like those salvers. They are really meant for serving things in. But if +you fancy that kind of sound, then deliberately smash them, that will +be all right. But don't, when you are in high dudgeon avail yourself of +them to air your resentment! That's what one would call having a fancy +for a thing!" + +Ch'ing Wen greeted his words with a smile. + +"Since that be so," she said, "bring me your fan and let me tear it. +What most takes my fancy is tearing!" + +Upon hearing this Pao-yü smilingly handed it to her. Ch'ing Wen, in +point of fact, took it over, and with a crash she rent it in two. Close +upon this, the sound of crash upon crash became audible. + +Pao-yü was standing next to her. "How nice the noise is!" he laughed. +"Tear it again and make it sound a little more!" + +But while he spoke, She Yüeh was seen to walk in. "Don't," she smiled, +"be up to so much mischief!" Pao-yü, however, went up to her and +snatching her fan also from her hand, he gave it to Ch'ing Wen. Ch'ing +Wen took it and there and then likewise broke it in two. Both he and +she then had a hearty laugh. + +"What do you call this?" She Yüeh expostulated. "Do you take my +property and make it the means of distracting yourselves!" + +"Open the fan-box," shouted Pao-yü, "and choose one and take it away! +What, are they such fine things!" + +"In that case," ventured She Yüeh, "fetch the fans and let her break as +many as she can. Won't that be nice!" + +"Go and bring them at once!" Pao-yü laughed. + +"I won't be up to any such tomfoolery!" She Yüeh demurred. "She hasn't +snapped her hands, so bid her go herself and fetch them!" + +"I'm feeling tired," interposed Ch'ing Wen, as she laughingly leant on +the bed. "I'll therefore tear some more to-morrow again." + +"An old writer says," added Pao-yü with a smile, "'that a thousand +ounces of gold cannot purchase a single laugh'! What can a few fans +cost?" + +After moralising, he went on to call Hsi Jen. Hsi Jen had just finished +the necessary change in her dress so she stepped in; and a young +servant-girl, Chiao Hui, crossed over and picked up the broken fans. +Then they all sat and enjoyed the cool breeze. But we can well dispense +with launching into any minute details. + +On the morrow, noon found Madame Wang, Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai, Lin Tai-yü, and +the rest of the young ladies congregated in dowager lady Chia's suite +of rooms. Some one then brought the news that: "Miss Shih had arrived." +In a little time they perceived Shih Hsiang-yun make her appearance in +the court, at the head of a bevy of waiting-maids and married women. +Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yu and her other cousins, quickly ran down the steps to +meet her and exchange greetings. But with what fervour girls of tender +years re-unite some day after a separation of months need not, of +course, be explained. 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. Shih Hsiang-yün lost no +time in rising to her feet and loosening her clothes. "I don't see +why," Madame Wang thereupon smiled, "you wear all these things!' + +"It's entirely at aunt Secunda's bidding," retorted Shih Hsiang-yün, +"that I put them on. Why, would any one of her own accord wear so many +things!" + +"Aunt," interposed Pao-ch'ai, who stood by, with a smile, "you're not +aware that what most delights her in the matter of dress is to don +other people's clothes! Yes, I remember how, during her stay here in +the third and fourth moons of last year, she used to wear cousin Pao's +pelisses. She even put on his shoes, and attached his frontlets as well +round her head. At a casual glance, she looked the very image of cousin +Pao; what was superfluous was that pair of earrings of hers. As she +stood at the back of that chair she so thoroughly took in our venerable +ancestor that she kept on shouting: 'Pao-yü, come over! Mind the +tassels suspended on that lamp; for if you shake the dust off, it may +get into your eyes!' But all she did was to laugh; she did not budge; +and it was only after every one found it hard to keep their countenance +that our worthy senior also started laughing. 'You do look well in male +habiliments!' she said to her." + +"What about that!" cried Lin Tai-yü, "why, she had scarcely been here +with us a couple of days in the first moon of last year, when we sent +and fetched her, that we had a fall of snow. You, venerable senior, and +her maternal aunt had on that day, I remember so well, just returned +from worshipping the images of our ancestors, and a brand-new deep red +felt wrapper of yours, dear grandmother, had been lying over there, +when suddenly it disappeared. But, lo, she it was who had put it on! +Being, however, too large and too long for her, she took a couple of +handkerchiefs, and fastened them round her waist. She was then trudging +into the back court with the servant-girls to make snow men when she +tripped and fell flat in front of the drain, and got covered all over +with mud." + +As she narrated this incident, every one recalled the circumstances to +mind, and had a good laugh. + +"Dame Chou," Pao-ch'ai smilingly inquired of nurse Chou, "is your young +lady always as fond of pranks as ever or not?" + +Nurse Chou then also gave a laugh. + +"Pranks are nothing," Ying Ch'un smiled. "What I do detest is her +fondness for tittle-tattle! I've never seen any one who, even when +asleep, goes on chatter-chatter; now laughing, and now talking, as she +does. Nor can I make out where she gets all those idle yarns of hers." + +"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!" + +"Are you going to stay to-day," dowager lady Chia then asked, "or going +back home?" + +Nurse Chou smiled. "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." + +"Is cousin Pao-yü not at home?" inquired Hsiang-yün." + +"There she's again! She doesn't think of others," remarked Pao-ch'ai +smiling significantly. "She only thinks of her cousin Pao-yü. They're +both so fond of larks! This proves that she hasn't yet got rid of that +spirit of mischief." + +"You're all now grown up," observed old lady Chia; "and you shouldn't +allude to infant names." + +But while she was chiding them, they noticed Pao-yü arrive. + +"Cousin Yün, have you come?" he smiled. "How is it that you wouldn't +come the other day when some one was despatched to fetch you?" + +"It's only a few minutes," Madame Wang said, "since our venerable +senior called that one to task, and now here he comes and refers to +names and surnames!" + +"Your cousin Pao," ventured Lin Tai-yü, "has something good, which he +has been waiting to give you." + +"What good thing is it?" asked Hsiang-yün. + +"Do you believe what she says?" observed Pao-yü laughingly. "But how +many days is it that I have not seen you, and you've grown so much +taller!" + +"Is cousin Hsi Jen all right?" inquired Hsiang-yün. + +"She's all right," answered Pao-yü. "Many thanks for your kind thought +of her." + +"I've brought something nice for her," resumed Hsiang-yün. + +Saying this, she produced her handkerchief, tied into a knot. + +"What's this something nice?" asked Pao-yü. "Wouldn't it have been +better if you'd brought her a couple of those rings with streaked +stones of the kind you sent the other day?" + +"Why, what's this?" exclaimed Hsiang-yün laughing, opening, as she +spoke, the handkerchief. + +On close scrutiny, they actually found four streaked rings, similar to +those she had previously sent, tied up in the same packet. + +"Look here!" Lin Tai-yü smiled, "what a girl she is! Had you, when +sending that fellow the other day to bring ours, given him these also +to bring along with him, wouldn't it have saved trouble? Instead of +that, here you fussily bring them yourself to-day! I presumed that it +was something out of the way again; but is it really only these things? +In very truth, you're a mere dunce!" + +"It's you who behave like a dunce now!" Shih Hsiang-yün smiled. + +"I'll speak out here and let every one judge for themselves who is the +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. But had he been the bearer of these things for +them, I would have been under the necessity of explaining to him which +was intended for this servant-girl, and which for that. Had the +messenger had his wits about him, well and good; but had he been at all +stupid he wouldn't have been able to remember so much as the names of +the girls! He would have made an awful mess of it, and talked a lot of +nonsense. So instead of being of any use he would have even muddled, +hickledy-pickledy, your things. Had a female servant been despatched, +it would have been all right. But as it happened, a servant-boy was +again sent the other day, so how could he have mentioned the names of +the waiting-girls? And by my bringing them in person to give them to +them, doesn't it make things clearer?" + +As she said this, she put down the four rings. "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. They are only for these four +girls; but would the servant-boys too forsooth have remembered them so +clearly!" + +At these words, the whole company smiled. "How really clear!" they +cried. + +"This is what it is to be able to speak!" Pao-yü put in. "She doesn't +spare any one!" + +Hearing this, Lin Tai-yü gave a sardonic smile. "If she didn't know how +to use her tongue," she observed, "would she deserve to wear that +unicorn of gold!" + +While speaking, she rose and walked off. + +Luckily, every one did not hear what she said. Only Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai +pursed up her lips and laughed. Pao-yü, however, had overheard her +remark, and he blamed himself for having once more talked in a heedless +manner. Unawares his eye espied Pao-ch'ai much amused, and he too could +not suppress a smile. But at the sight of Pao-yü in laughter, Pao-ch'ai +hastily rose to her feet and withdrew. She went in search of Tai-yü, to +have a chat and laugh with her. + +"After you've had tea," old lady Chia thereupon said to Hsiang-yün, +"you'd better rest a while and then go and see your sisters-in-law. +Besides, it's cool in the garden, so you can walk about with your +cousins." + +Hsiang-yün expressed her assent, and, collecting the three rings, she +wrapped them up, and went and lay down to rest. Presently, she got up +with the idea of paying visits to lady Feng and her other relatives. +Followed by a whole bevy of nurses and waiting-maids, she repaired into +lady Feng's quarters on the off side. She bandied words with her for a +while and then coming out she betook herself into the garden of Broad +Vista, and called on Li Kung-ts'ai. 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! You +may go and see your friends and relatives. It will be quite enough if +you simply leave Ts'ui Lü to wait upon me." + +Hearing her wishes, each went her own way in quest of aunts, or +sisters-in-law. There only remained but Hsiang-yün and Ts'ui Lü. + +"How is it," inquired Ts'ui Lü, "that these lotus flowers have not yet +opened?" + +"The proper season hasn't yet arrived," rejoined Shih Hsiang-yün. + +"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." + +"They have over there," observed Ts'ui Lü, "a pomegranate tree, with +four or five branches joined one to another, just like one storey +raised above another storey. What trouble it must have cost them to +rear!" + +"Flowers and plants," suggested Shih Hsiang-yün, "are precisely like +the human race. With sufficient vitality, they grow up in a healthy +condition." + +"I can't credit these words," replied Ts'ui Lü, twisting her face +round. "If you maintain that they are like human beings, how is it that +I haven't seen any person, with one head growing over another." + +This rejoinder evoked a smile from Hsiang-yün. "I tell you not to +talk," she cried, "but you will insist upon talking! How do you expect +people to be able to answer every thing you say! All things, whether in +heaven or on earth come into existence by the co-operation of the dual +powers, the male and female. So all things, whether good or bad, novel +or strange, and all those manifold changes and transformations arise +entirely from the favourable or adverse influence exercised by the male +and female powers. And though some things seldom seen by mankind might +come to life, the principle at work is, after all, the same." + +"In the face of these arguments," laughed Ts'ui Lü, "everything, from +old till now, from the very creation itself, embodies a certain +proportion of the Yin and Yang principles." + +"You stupid thing!" exclaimed Hsiang-yün smiling, "the more you talk, +the more stuff and nonsense falls from your lips! What about everything +embodying a certain proportion of the principles Yin and Yang! 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." + +"This trash is sufficient to kill me!" ejaculated Ts'ui Lü. "What are +the Yin and Yang? Why, they are without substance or form! But pray, +Miss, tell me what sort of things these Yin and Yang can be!" + +"The Yin and Yang," explained Hsiang-yün, "are no more than spirits, +but anything affected by their influence at once assumes form. The +heavens, for instance, are Yang, and the earth is Yin; water is Yin and +fire is Yang; the sun is Yang and the moon Yin." + +"Quite so! quite so!" cried out Ts'ui Lü, much amused by these +explanations, "I've at length attained perception! It isn't strange +then that people invariably call the sun 'T'ai-yang.' While astrologers +keep on speaking of the moon as 'T'ai-yin-hsing,' or something like it. +It must be on account of this principle." + +"O-mi-to-fu!" laughed Hsiang-yün, "you have at last understood!" + +"All these things possess the Yin and Yang; that's all right." T'sui Lü +put in. "But is there any likelihood that all those mosquitoes, flees +and worms, flowers, herbs, bricks and tiles have, in like manner, +anything to do with the Yin and Yang?" + +"How don't they!" exclaimed Hsiang-yün. "For example, even the leaves +of that tree are distinguished by Yin and Yang. The side, which looks +up and faces the sun, is called Yang; while that in the shade and +looking downwards, is called Yin." + +"Is it really so!" ejaculated T'sui Lü, upon hearing this; while she +smiled and nodded her head. "Now I know all about it! But which is Yang +and which Yin in these fans we're holding." + +"This side, the front, is Yang," answered Hsiang-yün; "and that, the +reverse, is Yin." + +Ts'ui Lü went on to nod her head, and to laugh. She felt inclined to +apply her questions to several other things, but as she could not fix +her mind upon anything in particular, she, all of a sudden, drooped her +head. Catching sight of the pendant in gold, representing a unicorn, +which Hsiang-yün had about her person, she forthwith made allusion to +it. "This, Miss," she said smiling, "cannot likely also have any Yin +and Yang!" + +"The beasts of the field and the birds of the air," proceeded +Hsiang-yün, "are, the cock birds, Yang, and the hen birds, Yin. The +females of beasts are Yin; and the males, Yang; so how is there none?" + +"Is this male, or is this female?" inquired Ts'ui Lü. + +"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Hsiang-yün, "what about male and female! Here you +are with your nonsense again." + +"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?" + +Hsiang-yün then lowered her face. "You low-bred thing!" she exclaimed. +"But it's better for us to proceed on our way, for the more questions +you ask, the nicer they get." + +"What's there in this that you can't tell me?" asked Ts'ui Lü, "But I +know all about it, so there's no need for you to keep me on pins and +needles." + +Hsiang-yün blurted out laughing. "What do you know?" she said. + +"That you, Miss, are Yang, and that I'm Yin," answered Ts'ui Lü. + +Hsiang-yün produced her handkerchief, and, while screening her mouth +with it, burst out into a loud fit of laughter. + +"What I say must be right for you to laugh in this way," Ts'ui Lü +observed. + +"Perfectly right, perfectly right!" acquiesced Hsiang-yün. + +"People say," continued Ts'ui Lü, "that masters are Yang, and that +servant-girls are Yin; don't I even apprehend this primary principle?" + +"You apprehend it thoroughly," responded Hsiang-yün laughingly. But +while she was speaking, she espied, under the trellis with the cinnamon +roses, something glistening like gold. "Do you see that? What is it?" +Hsiang-yün asked pointing at it. + +Hearing this, Ts'ui Lü hastily went over and picked up the object. +While scrutinising it, she observed with a smile, "Let us find out +whether it's Yin or Yang!" + +So saying, she first laid hold of the unicorn, belonging to Shih +Hsiang-yün, and passed it under inspection. + +Shih Hsiang-yün longed to be shown what she had picked up, but Ts'ui Lü +would not open her hand. + +"It's a precious gem," she smiled. "You mayn't see it, Miss. Where can +it be from? How very strange it is! I've never seen any one in here +with anything of the kind." + +"Give it to me and let me look at it," retorted Hsiang-yün. + +Ts'ui Lü stretched out her hand with a dash. "Yes, Miss, please look at +it!" she laughed. + +Hsiang-yün raised her eyes. She perceived, at a glance, that it was a +golden unicorn, so beautiful and so bright; and so much larger and +handsomer than the one she had on. Hsiang-yün put out her arm and, +taking the gem in the palm of her hand, she fell into a silent reverie +and uttered not a word. She was quite absent-minded when suddenly +Pao-yü appeared in the opposite direction. + +"What are you two," he asked smiling, "doing here in the sun? How is it +you don't go and find Hsi Jen?" + +Shih Hsiang-yün precipitately concealed the unicorn. "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. Hsi Jen was leaning on the balustrade at the bottom of the +steps, her face turned to the breeze. Upon unexpectedly seeing +Hsiang-yün arrive she with alacrity rushed down to greet her; and +taking her hand in hers, they cheerfully canvassed the events that had +transpired during their separation, while they entered the room and +took a seat. + +"You should have come earlier," Pao-yü said. "I've got something nice +and was only waiting for you." + +Saying this, he searched and searched about his person. After a long +interval, "Ai-ya!" he ejaculated. "Have you perchance put that thing +away?" he eagerly asked Hsi Jen. + +"What thing?" 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. + +As soon as her answer fell on his ear, Pao-yü clapped his hands. "I've +lost it!" he cried. "Where can I go and look for it!" There and then, +he meant to go and search in person; but Shih Hsiang-yün heard his +inquiries, and concluded that it must be he who had lost the gem. "When +did you too," she promptly smiled, "get a unicorn?" + +"I got it the other day, after ever so much trouble;" rejoined Pao-yü, +"but I can't make out when I can have lost it! I've also become quite +addle-headed." + +"Fortunately," smiled Shih Hsiang-yün, "it's only a sort of a toy! +Still, are you so careless?" While speaking, she flung open her hand. +"Just see," she laughed, "is it this or not?" + +As soon as he saw it, Pao-yü was seized with unwonted delight. But, +reader, if you care to know the cause of his delight, peruse the +explanation contained in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + + Hsi Jen and Hsiang-yün tell their secret thoughts. + Tai-yü is infatuated with the living Pao-yü. + +While trying to conceal her sense of shame and injury Chin Ch'uan is +driven by her impetuous feelings to seek death. + +But to resume our narrative. At the sight of the unicorn, Pao-yü was +filled with intense delight. So much so, that he forthwith put out his +hand and made a grab for it. "Lucky enough it was you who picked it +up!" he said, with a face beaming with smiles. "But when did you find +it?" + +"Fortunately it was only this!" rejoined Shih Hsiang-yün laughing. "If +you by and bye also lose your seal, will you likely banish it at once +from your mind, and never make an effort to discover it?" + +"After all," smiled Pao-yü, "the loss of a seal is an ordinary +occurrence. But had I lost this, I would have deserved to die." + +Hsi Jen then poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shih Hsiang-yün. +"Miss Senior," she remarked smilingly, "I heard that you had occasion +the other day to be highly pleased." + +Shih Hsiang-yün flushed crimson. She went on drinking her tea and did +not utter a single word. + +"Here you are again full of shame!" Hsi Jen smiled. "But do you +remember when we were living, about ten years back, in those warm rooms +on the west side and you confided in me one evening, you didn't feel +any shame then; and how is it you blush like this now?" + +"Do you still speak about that!" exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yün laughingly. +"You and I were then great friends. But when our mother subsequently +died and I went home for a while, how is it you were at once sent to be +with my cousin Secundus, and that now that I've come back you don't +treat me as you did once?" + +"Are you yet harping on this!" retorted Hsi Jen, putting on a smile. +"Why, at first, you used to coax me with a lot of endearing terms to +comb your hair and to wash your face, to do this and that for you. But +now that you've become a big girl, you assume the manner of a young +mistress towards me, and as you put on these airs of a young mistress, +how can I ever presume to be on a familiar footing with you?" + +"O-mi-to-fu," cried Shih Hsiang-yün. "What a false accusation! If I be +guilty of anything of the kind, may I at once die! Just see what a +broiling hot day this is, and yet as soon as I arrived I felt bound to +come and look you up first. If you don't believe me, well, ask Lü Erh! +And while at home, when did I not at every instant say something about +you?" + +Scarcely had she concluded than Hsi Jen and Pao-yü tried to soothe her. +"We were only joking," they said, "but you've taken everything again as +gospel. What! are you still so impetuous in your temperament!" + +"You don't say," argued Shih Hsiang-yün, "that your words are hard +things to swallow, but contrariwise, call people's temperaments +impetuous!" + +As she spoke, she unfolded her handkerchief and, producing a ring, she +gave it to Hsi Jen. + +Hsi Jen did not know how to thank her enough. "When;" she consequently +smiled, "you sent those to your cousin the other day, I got one also; +and here you yourself bring me another to-day! It's clear enough +therefore that you haven't forgotten me. This alone has been quite +enough to test you. As for the ring itself, what is its worth? but it's +a token of the sincerity of your heart!" + +"Who gave it to you?" inquired Shih Hsiang-yün. + +"Miss Pao let me have it." replied Hsi Jen. + +"I was under the impression," remarked Hsiang-yün with a sigh, "that it +was a present from cousin Lin. But is it really cousin Pao, that gave +it to you! When I was at home, I day after day found myself reflecting +that among all these cousins of mine, there wasn't one able to compare +with cousin Pao, so excellent is she. How I do regret that we are not +the offspring of one mother! For could I boast of such a sister of the +same flesh and blood as myself, it wouldn't matter though I had lost +both father and mother!" + +While indulging in these regrets, her eyes got quite red. + +"Never mind! never mind!" interposed Pao-yü. "Why need you speak of +these things!" + +"If I do allude to this," answered Shih Hsiang-yün, "what does it +matter? I know that weak point of yours. You're in fear and trembling +lest your cousin Lin should come to hear what I say, and get angry with +me again for eulogising cousin Pao! Now isn't it this, eh!" + +"Ch'ih!" laughed Hsi Jen, who was standing by her. "Miss Yün," she +said, "now that you've grown up to be a big girl you've become more +than ever openhearted and outspoken." + +"When I contend;" smiled Pao-yü, "that it is difficult to say a word to +any one of you I'm indeed perfectly correct!" + +"My dear cousin," observed Shih Hsiang-yün laughingly, "don't go on in +that strain! You'll provoke me to displeasure. When you are with me all +you are good for is to talk and talk away; but were you to catch a +glimpse of cousin Lin, you would once more be quite at a loss to know +what best to do!" + +"Now, enough of your jokes!" urged Hsi Jen. "I have a favour to crave +of you." + +"What is it?" vehemently inquired Shih Hsiang-yün. + +"I've got a pair of shoes," answered Hsi Jen, "for which I've stuck the +padding together; but I'm not feeling up to the mark these last few +days, so I haven't been able to work at them. If you have any leisure, +do finish them for me." + +"This is indeed strange!" exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yün. "Putting aside all +the skilful workers engaged in your household, you have besides some +people for doing needlework and others for tailoring and cutting; and +how is it you appeal to me to take your shoes in hand? Were you to ask +any one of those men to execute your work, who could very well refuse +to do it?" + +"Here you are in another stupid mood!" laughed Hsi Jen. "Can it be that +you don't know that our sewing in these quarters mayn't be done by +these needleworkers." + +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. There's however one thing. +I'll readily attend to any of yours, but I will have nothing to do with +any for other people." + +"There you are again!" laughed Hsi Jen. "Who am I to venture to trouble +you to make shoes for me? I'll tell you plainly, however, that they are +not mine. But no matter whose they are, it is anyhow I who'll be the +recipient of your favour; that is sufficient." + +"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. The reason +why I refuse on this occasion should be quite evident to you!" + +"I can't nevertheless make it out!" answered Hsi Jen. + +"I heard the other day," continued Shih Hsiang-yün, a sardonic smile on +her lip, "that while the fan-case, I had worked, was being held and +compared with that of some one else, it too was slashed away in a fit +of high dudgeon. This reached my ears long ago, and do you still try to +dupe me by asking me again now to make something more for you? Have I +really become a slave to you people? + +"As to what occurred the other day," hastily explained Pao-yü smiling, +"I positively had no idea that that thing was your handiwork." + +"He never knew that you'd done it," Hsi Jen also laughed. "I deceived +him by telling him that there had been of late some capital hands at +needlework outside, who could execute any embroidery with surpassing +beauty, and that I had asked them to bring a fan-case so as to try them +and to see whether they could actually work well or not. He at once +believed what I said. But as he produced the case and gave it to this +one and that one to look at, he somehow or other, I don't know how, +managed again to put some one's back up, and she cut it into two. On +his return, however, he bade me hurry the men to make another; and when +at length I explained to him that it had been worked by you, he felt, I +can't tell you, what keen regret!" + +"This is getting stranger and stranger!" said Shih Hsiang-yün. "It +wasn't worth the while for Miss Lin to lose her temper about it. But as +she plies the scissors so admirably, why, you might as well tell her to +finish the shoes for you." + +"She couldn't," replied Hsi Jen, "for besides other things our +venerable lady is still in fear and trembling lest she should tire +herself in any way. The doctor likewise says that she will continue to +enjoy good health, so long as she is carefully looked after; so who +would wish to ask her to take them in hand? Last year she managed to +just get through a scented bag, after a whole year's work. But here +we've already reached the middle of the present year, and she hasn't +yet taken up any needle or thread!" + +In the course of their conversation, a servant came and announced 'that +the gentleman who lived in the Hsing Lung Street had come.' "Our +master," he added, "bids you, Mr. Secundus, come out and greet him." + +As soon as Pao-yü heard this announcement, he knew that Chia Yü-ts'un +must have arrived. But he felt very unhappy at heart. Hsi Jen hurried +to go and bring his clothes. Pao-yü, meanwhile, put on his boots, but +as he did so, he gave way to resentment. "Why there's father," he +soliloquised, "to sit with him; that should be enough; and must he, on +every visit he pays, insist upon seeing me!" + +"It is, of course, because you have such a knack for receiving and +entertaining visitors that Mr. Chia Cheng will have you go out," +laughingly interposed Shih Hsiang-yün from one side, as she waved her +fan. + +"Is it father's doing?" Pao-yü rejoined. "Why, it's he himself who asks +that I should be sent for to see him." + +"'When a host is courteous, visitors come often,'" smiled Hsiang-yün, +"so it's surely because you possess certain qualities, which have won +his regard, that he insists upon seeing you." + +"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." + +"Here's again that unchangeable temperament of yours!" laughed +Hsiang-yün. "But you're a big fellow now, and you should at least, if +you be loth to study and go and pass your examinations for a provincial +graduate or a metropolitan graduate, have frequent intercourse with +officers and ministers of state and discuss those varied attainments, +which one acquires in an official career, so that you also may be able +in time to have some idea about matters in general; and that when by +and bye you've made friends, they may not see you spending the whole +day long in doing nothing than loafing in our midst, up to every +imaginable mischief." + +"Miss," exclaimed Pao-yü, after this harangue, "pray go and sit in some +other girl's room, for mind one like myself may contaminate a person +who knows so much of attainments and experience as you do." + +"Miss," ventured Hsi Jen, "drop this at once! Last time Miss Pao too +tendered him this advice, but without troubling himself as to whether +people would feel uneasy or not, he simply came out with an ejaculation +of 'hai,' and rushed out of the place. Miss Pao hadn't meanwhile +concluded her say, so when she saw him fly, she got so full of shame +that, flushing scarlet, she could neither open her lips, nor hold her +own counsel. 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! Yet the very mention of all she had to +tell him is enough to make people look up to Miss Pao with respect. 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! This other party contrariwise became +quite distant to her, little though one would have thought it of him; +and as Miss Pao perceived that he had lost his temper, and didn't +choose to heed her, she subsequently made I don't know how many +apologies to him." + +"Did Miss Lin ever talk such trash!" exclaimed Pao-yü. "Had she ever +talked such stuff and nonsense, I would have long ago become chilled +towards her." + +"What you say is all trash!" Hsi Jen and Hsiang-yün remarked with one +voice, while they shook their heads to and fro and smiled. + +Lin Tai-yü, the fact is, was well aware that now that Shih Hsiang-yün +was staying in the mansion, Pao-yü too was certain to hasten to come +and tell her all about the unicorn he had got, so she thought to +herself: "In the foreign traditions and wild stories, introduced here +of late by Pao-yü, literary persons and pretty girls are, for the most +part, brought together in marriage, through the agency of some trifling +but ingenious nick-nack. These people either have miniature ducks, or +phoenixes, jade necklets or gold pendants, fine handkerchiefs or +elegant sashes; and they have, through the instrumentality of such +trivial objects, invariably succeeded in accomplishing the wishes they +entertained throughout their lives." When she recently discovered, by +some unforeseen way, that Pao-yü had likewise a unicorn she began to +apprehend lest he should make this circumstance a pretext to create an +estrangement with her, and indulge with Shih Hsiang-yün as well in +various free and easy flirtations and fine doings. 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. +Contrary, however, to all her calculations, no sooner did she reach her +destination, than she overheard Shih Hsiang-yün dilate on the topic of +experience, and Pao-yü go on to observe: "Cousin Lin has never indulged +in such stuff and nonsense. Had she ever uttered any such trash, I +would have become chilled even towards her!" This language suddenly +produced, in Lin Tai-yü's mind, both surprise as well as delight; +sadness as well as regret. Delight, at having indeed been so correct in +her perception that he whom she had ever considered in the light of a +true friend had actually turned out to be a true friend. Surprise, +"because," she said to herself: "he has, in the presence of so many +witnesses, displayed such partiality as to speak in my praise, and has +shown such affection and friendliness for me as to make no attempt +whatever to shirk suspicion." Regret, "for since," (she pondered), "you +are my intimate friend, you could certainly well look upon me too as +your intimate friend; and if you and I be real friends, why need there +be any more talk about gold and jade? But since there be that question +of gold and jade, you and I should have such things in our possession. +Yet, why should this Pao-ch'ai step in again between us?" Sad, +"because," (she reflected), "my father and mother departed life at an +early period; and because I have, in spite of the secret engraven on my +heart and imprinted on my bones, not a soul to act as a mentor to me. +Besides, of late, I continuously feel confusion creep over my mind, so +my disease must already have gradually developed itself. The doctors +further state that my breath is weak and my blood poor, and that they +dread lest consumption should declare itself, so despite that sincere +friendship I foster for you, I cannot, I fear, last for very long. You +are, I admit, a true friend to me, but what can you do for my +unfortunate destiny!" + +Upon reaching this point in her reflections, she could not control her +tears, and they rolled freely down her cheeks. So much so, that when +about to enter and meet her cousins, she experienced such utter lack of +zest, that, while drying her tears she turned round, and wended her +steps back in the direction of her apartments. + +Pao-yü, meanwhile, had hurriedly got into his new costume. Upon coming +out of doors, he caught sight of Lin Tai-yü, walking quietly ahead of +him engaged, to all appearances, in wiping tears from her eyes. With +rapid stride, he overtook her. + +"Cousin Lin," he smiled, "where are you off to? How is it that you're +crying again? Who has once more hurt your feelings?" + +Lin Tai-yü turned her head round to look; and seeing that it was +Pao-yü, she at once forced a smile. "Why should I be crying," she +replied, "when there is no reason to do so?" + +"Look here!" observed Pao-yü smilingly. "The tears in your eyes are not +dry yet and do you still tell me a fib?" + +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! Then +why do you knock your hands and kick your feet about in this wise?" + +"While intent upon speaking, I forgot," smiled Pao-yü, "all about +propriety and gesticulated, yet quite inadvertently. But what care I +whether I die or live!" + +"To die would, after all" added Lin Tai-yü, "be for you of no matter; +but you'll leave behind some gold or other, and a unicorn too or other; +and what would they do?" + +This insinuation was enough to plunge Pao-yü into a fresh fit of +exasperation. Hastening up to her: "Do you still give vent to such +language?" he asked. "Why, it's really tantamount to invoking +imprecations on me! What, are you yet angry with me!" + +This question recalled to Lin Tai-yü's mind the incidents of a few days +back, and a pang of remorse immediately gnawed her heart for having +been again so indiscreet in her speech. "Now don't you distress your +mind!" she observed hastily, smiling. "I verily said what I shouldn't! +Yet what is there in this to make your veins protrude, and to so +provoke you as to bedew your whole face with perspiration?" + +While reasoning with him, she felt unable to repress herself, and, +approaching him, she extended her hand, and wiped the perspiration from +his face. + +Pao-yü gazed intently at her for a long time. "Do set your mind at +ease!" he at length observed. + +At this remark, Lin Tai-yü felt quite nervous. "What's there to make my +mind uneasy?" she asked after a protracted interval. "I can't make out +what you're driving at; tell me what's this about making me easy or +uneasy?" + +Pao-yü heaved a sigh. "Don't you truly fathom the depth of my words?" +he inquired. "Why, do you mean to say that I've throughout made such +poor use of my love for you as not to be able to even divine your +feelings? Well, if so, it's no wonder that you daily lose your temper +on my account!" + +"I actually don't understand what you mean by easy or uneasy," Lin +Tai-yü replied. + +"My dear girl," urged Pao-yü, nodding and sighing. "Don't be making a +fool of me! For if you can't make out these words, not only have I ever +uselessly lavished affection upon you, but the regard, with which you +have always treated me, has likewise been entirely of no avail! And +it's mostly because you won't set your mind at ease that your whole +frame is riddled with disease. Had you taken things easier a bit, this +ailment of yours too wouldn't have grown worse from day to day!" + +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. All she therefore did was to gaze at him with +vacant stare. + +Pao-yü fostered innumerable thoughts within himself, but unable in a +moment to resolve from which particular one to begin, he too absently +looked at Tai-yü. Thus it was that the two cousins remained for a long +time under the spell of a deep reverie. + +An ejaculation of "Hai!" was the only sound that issued from Lin +Tai-yü's lips; and while tears streamed suddenly from her eyes, she +turned herself round and started on her way homeward. + +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." + +"What can you have to tell me?" 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. + +He had, in fact, quitted his apartments a few moments back in such +precipitate hurry that he had omitted to take a fan with him: and Hsi +Jen, fearing lest he might suffer from the heat, promptly seized one +and ran to find him and give it to him. But upon casually raising her +head, she espied Lin Tai-yü standing with him. 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 Pao-yü was so lost in thought that as soon as he caught Hsi Jen's +voice, he made a dash and clasped her in his embrace, without so much +as trying to make sure who she was. + +"My dear cousin," he cried, "I couldn't hitherto muster enough courage +to disclose the secrets of my heart; but on this occasion I shall make +bold and give utterance to them. For you I'm quite ready to even pay +the penalty of death. I have too for your sake brought ailments upon my +whole frame. It's in here! But I haven't ventured to breathe it to any +one. My only alternative has been to bear it patiently, in the hope +that when you got all right, I might then perchance also recover. But +whether I sleep, or whether I dream, I never, never forget you." + +These declarations quite dumfoundered Hsi Jen. She gave way to +incessant apprehensions. All she could do was to shout out: "Oh +spirits, oh heaven, oh Buddha, he's compassing my death!" Then pushing +him away from her, "what is it you're saying?" she asked. "May it be +that you are possessed by some evil spirit! Don't you quick get +yourself off?" + +This brought Pao-yü to his senses at once. He then became aware that it +was Hsi Jen, and that she had come to bring him a fan. Pao-yü was +overpowered with shame; his whole face was suffused with scarlet; and, +snatching the fan out of her hands, he bolted away with rapid stride. + +When Hsi Jen meanwhile saw Pao-yü effect his escape, "Lin Tai-yü," she +pondered, "must surely be at the bottom of all he said just now. But +from what one can see, it will be difficult, in the future, to obviate +the occurrence of some unpleasant mishap. It's sufficient to fill one +with fear and trembling!" + +At this point in her cogitations, she involuntarily melted into tears, +so agitated was she; while she secretly exercised her mind how best to +act so as to prevent this dreadful calamity. + +But while she was lost in this maze of surmises and doubts, Pao-ch'ai +unexpectedly appeared from the off side. "What!" she smilingly +exclaimed, "are you dreaming away in a hot broiling sun like this?" + +Hsi Jen, at this question, hastily returned her smiles. "Those two +birds," she answered, "were having a fight, and such fun was it that I +stopped to watch them." + +"Where is cousin Pao off to now in such a hurry, got up in that fine +attire?" asked Pao-ch'ai, "I just caught sight of him, as he went by. I +meant to have called out and stopped him, but as he, of late, talks +greater rubbish than ever, I didn't challenge him, but let him go +past." + +"Our master," rejoined Hsi Jen, "sent for him to go out." + +"Ai-yah!" hastily exclaimed Pao-ch'ai, as soon as this remark reached +her ears. "What does he want him for, on a scalding day like this? +Might he not have thought of something and got so angry about it as to +send for him to give him a lecture!" + +"If it isn't this," added Hsi Jen laughing, "some visitor must, I +presume, have come and he wishes him to meet him." + +"With weather like this," smiled Pao-ch'ai, "even visitors afford no +amusement! Why don't they, while this fiery temperature lasts, stay at +home, where it's much cooler, instead of gadding about all over the +place?" + +"Could you tell them so?" smiled Hsi Jen. + +"What was that girl Hsiang-yün doing in your quarters?" Pao-ch'ai then +asked. + +"She only came to chat with us on irrelevant matters." Hsi Jen replied +smiling. "But did you see the pair of shoes I was pasting the other +day? 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. Seeing that there was no one coming or going: +"How is it," she smiled, "that you, who have so much gumption, don't +ever show any respect for people's feelings? I've been of late keeping +an eye on Miss Yün's manner, and, from what I can glean from the +various rumours afloat, she can't be, in the slightest degree, her own +mistress at home! In that family of theirs, so little can they stand +the burden of any heavy expenses that they don't employ any +needlework-people, and ordinary everyday things are mostly attended to +by their ladies themselves. (If not), why is it that every time she has +come to us on a visit, and she and I have had a chat, she at once +broached the subject of their being in great difficulties at home, the +moment she perceived that there was no one present? Yet, whenever I +went on to ask her a few questions about their usual way of living, her +very eyes grew red, while she made some indistinct reply; but as for +speaking out, she wouldn't. 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." + +"Quite so! Quite so!" observed Hsi Jen, clapping her hands, after +listening to her throughout. "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. What you've told me +now reminds me that, as she had found it difficult to find an excuse +when we appealed to her, she must have had to slave away, who knows how +much, till the third watch in the middle of the night. What a stupid +thing I was! Had I known this sooner, I would never have told her a +word about it." + +"Last time;" continued Pao-ch'ai, "she told me that when she was at +home she had ample to do, that she kept busy as late as the third +watch, and that, if she did the slightest stitch of work for any other +people, the various ladies, belonging to her family, did not like it." + +"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. And as for me, I have +no time to turn my attention to all these things." + +"Why mind him?" laughed Pao-ch'ai. "Simply ask some one to do the work +and finish." + +"How could one bamboozle him?" resumed Hsi Jen. "Why, he'll promptly +find out everything. Such a thing can't even be suggested. The only +thing I can do is to quietly slave away, that's all." + +"You shouldn't work so hard," smiled Pao-ch'ai. "What do you say to my +doing a few things for you?" + +"Are you in real earnest!" ventured Hsi Jen smiling. "Well, in that +case, it is indeed a piece of good fortune for me! I'll come over +myself in the evening." + +But before she could conclude her reply, she of a sudden noticed an old +matron come up to her with precipitate step. "Where does the report +come from," she interposed, "that Miss Chin Ch'uan-erh has gone, for no +rhyme or reason, and committed suicide by jumping into the well?" + +This bit of news startled Hsi Jen. "Which Chin Ch'uan-erh is it," she +speedily inquired. + +"Where are two Chin Ch'uan-erhs to be found!" 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. On her +return home, she raised her groans to the skies and shed profuse tears, +but none of them worried their minds about her, until, who'd have +thought it, they could see nothing of her. A servant, however, went +just now to draw water and he says that 'while he was getting it from +the well in the south-east corner, he caught sight of a dead body, that +he hurriedly called men to his help, and that when they fished it out, +they unexpectedly found that it was she, but that though they bustled +about trying to bring her round, everything proved of no avail'" + +"This is odd!" Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. + +The moment Hsi Jen heard the tidings, she shook her head and moaned. At +the remembrance of the friendship, which had ever existed between them, +tears suddenly trickled down her cheeks. And as for Pao-ch'ai, she +listened to the account of the accident and then hastened to Madame +Wang's quarters to try and afford her consolation. + +Hsi Jen, during this interval, returned to her room. But we will leave +her without further notice, and explain that when Pao-ch'ai reached the +interior of Madame Wang's home, she found everything plunged in perfect +stillness. Madame Wang was seated all alone in the inner chamber +indulging her sorrow. But such difficulties did Pao-ch'ai experience to +allude to the occurrence, that her only alternative was to take a seat +next to her. + +"Where do you come from?" asked Madame Wang. + +"I come from inside the garden," answered Pao-ch'ai. + +"As you come from the garden," Madame Wang inquired, "did you see +anything of your cousin Pao-yü?" + +"I saw him just now," Pao-ch'ai replied, "go out, dressed up in his +fineries. But where he is gone to, I don't know." + +"Have you perchance heard of any strange occurrence?" asked Madame +Wang, while she nodded her head and sighed. "Why, Chin Ch'uan Erh +jumped into the well and committed suicide." + +"How is it that she jumped into the well when there was nothing to make +her do so?" Pao-ch'ai inquired. "This is indeed a remarkable thing!" + +"The fact is," proceeded Madame Wang, "that she spoilt something the +other day, and in a sudden fit of temper, I gave her a slap and sent +her away, simply meaning to be angry with her for a few days and then +bring her in again. But, who could have ever imagined that she had such +a resentful temperament as to go and drown herself in a well! And is +not this all my fault?" + +"It's because you are such a kind-hearted person, aunt," smiled +Pao-ch'ai, "that such ideas cross your mind! But she didn't jump into +the well when she was in a tantrum; so what must have made her do so +was that she had to go and live in the lower quarters. Or, she might +have been standing in front of the well, and her foot slipped, and she +fell into it. While in the upper rooms, she used to be kept under +restraint, so when this time she found herself outside, she must, of +course, have felt the wish to go strolling all over the place in search +of fun. How could she have ever had such a fiery disposition? 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." + +"In spite of what you say," sighed Madame Wang, shaking her head to and +fro, "I really feel unhappy at heart." + +"You shouldn't, aunt, distress your mind about it!" Pao-ch'ai smiled. +"Yet, if you feel very much exercised, just give her a few more taels +than you would otherwise have done, and let her be buried. You'll thus +carry out to the full the feelings of a mistress towards her servant." + +"I just now gave them fifty taels for her," pursued Madame Wang. "I +also meant to let them have some of your cousin's new clothes to +enshroud her in. But, who'd have thought it, none of the girls had, +strange coincidence, any newly-made articles of clothing; and there +were only that couple of birthday suits of your cousin Lin's. 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. So I ordered a +tailor to get a suit for her as soon as possible. Had it been any other +servant-girl, I could have given her a few taels and have finished. But +Chin Ch'uan-erh was, albeit a servant-maid, nearly as dear to me as if +she had been a daughter of mine." + +Saying this, tears unwittingly ran down from her eyes. + +"Aunt!" vehemently exclaimed Pao-ch'ai. "What earthly use is it of +hurrying a tailor just now to prepare clothes for her? I have a couple +of suits I made the other day and won't it save trouble were I to go +and bring them for her? Besides, when she was alive, she used to wear +my old clothes. And what's more our figures are much alike." + +"What you say is all very well," rejoined Madame Wang; "but can it be +that it isn't distasteful to you?" + +"Compose your mind," urged Pao-ch'ai with a smile. "I have never paid +any heed to such things." + +As she spoke, she rose to her feet and walked away. + +Madame Wang then promptly called two servants. "Go and accompany Miss +Pao!" she said. + +In a brief space of time, Pao-ch'ai came back with the clothes, and +discovered Pao-yü seated next to Madame Wang, all melted in tears. +Madame Wang was reasoning with him. At the sight of Pao-ch'ai, she, at +once, desisted. When Pao-ch'ai saw them go on in this way, and came to +weigh their conversation and to scan the expression on their +countenances, she immediately got a pretty correct insight into their +feelings. But presently she handed over the clothes, and Madame Wang +sent for Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother, to take them away. + +But, reader, you will have to peruse the next chapter for further +details. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + + A brother is prompted by ill-feeling to wag his tongue a bit. + A depraved son receives heavy blows with a rattan cane. + +Madame Wang, for we shall now continue our story, sent for Chin +Ch'uan-erh's mother. On her arrival, she gave her several hair-pins and +rings, and then told her that she could invite several Buddhist priests +as well to read the prayers necessary to release the spirit from +purgatory. The mother prostrated herself and expressed her gratitude; +after which, she took her leave. + +Indeed, Pao-yü, on his return from entertaining Yü-ts'un, heard the +tidings that Chin Ch'uan-erh had been instigated by a sense of shame to +take her own life and he at once fell a prey to grief. So much so, +that, when he came inside, and was again spoken to and admonished by +Madame Wang, he could not utter a single word in his justification. But +as soon as he perceived Pao-ch'ai make her appearance in the room, he +seized the opportunity to scamper out in precipitate haste. Whither he +was trudging, he himself had not the least idea. But throwing his hands +behind his back and drooping his head against his chest, he gave way to +sighs, while with slow and listless step he turned towards the hall. +Scarcely, however, had he rounded the screen-wall, which stood in front +of the door-way, when, by a strange coincidence, he ran straight into +the arms of some one, who was unawares approaching from the opposite +direction, and was just about to go towards the inner portion of the +compound. + +"Hallo!" that person was heard to cry out, as he stood still. + +Pao-yü sustained a dreadful start. Raising his face to see, he +discovered that it was no other than his father. At once, he +unconsciously drew a long breath and adopted the only safe course of +dropping his arms against his body and standing on one side. + +"Why are you," exclaimed Chia Cheng, "drooping your head in such a +melancholy mood, and indulging in all these moans? When Yü-ts'un came +just now and he asked to see you, you only put in your appearance after +a long while. But though you did come, you were not in the least +disposed to chat with anything like cheerfulness and animation; you +behaved, as you ever do, like a regular fool. I detected then in your +countenance a certain expression of some hidden hankering and sadness; +and now again here you are groaning and sighing! Does all you have not +suffice to please you? Are you still dissatisfied? You've no reason to +be like this, so why is it that you go on in this way?" + +Pao-yü had ever, it is true, shown a glib tongue, but on the present +occasion he was so deeply affected by Chin Ch'uan-erh's fate, and vexed +at not being able to die that very instant and follow in her footsteps +that although he was now fully conscious that his father was speaking +to him he could not, in fact, lend him an ear, but simply stood in a +timid and nervous mood. Chia Cheng noticed that he was in a state of +trembling and fear, not as ready with an answer as he usually was, and +his sorry plight somewhat incensed him, much though he had not at first +borne him any ill-feeling. 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. +"Hitherto," he secretly mused, "I've never had any dealings with the +Chung Shun mansion, and why is it that some one is despatched here +to-day?" 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. After the exchange of the +salutations prescribed by the rites, they sat down and tea was +presented. But before (Chia Cheng) had had time to start a topic of +conversation, the senior officer anticipated him, and speedily +observed: "Your humble servant does not pay this visit to-day to your +worthy mansion on his own authority, but entirely in compliance with +instructions received, as there is a favour that I have to beg of you. +I make bold to trouble you, esteemed Sir, on behalf of his highness, to +take any steps you might deem suitable, and if you do, not only will +his highness remember your kindness, but even I, your humble servant, +and my colleagues will feel extremely grateful to you." + +Chia Cheng listened to him, but he could not nevertheless get a clue of +what he was driving at. Promptly returning his smile, he rose to his +feet. "You come, Sir," he inquired, "at the instance of his royal +highness, but what, I wonder, are the commands you have to give me? I +hope you will explain them to your humble servant, worthy Sir, in order +to enable him to carry them out effectively." + +The senior officer gave a sardonic smile. + +"There's nothing to carry out," he said. "All you, venerable Sir, have +to do is to utter one single word and the whole thing will be effected. +There is in our mansion a certain Ch'i Kuan, who plays the part of +young ladies. He hitherto stayed quietly in the mansion; but for the +last three or five days or so no one has seen him return home. Search +has been instituted in every locality, yet his whereabouts cannot be +discovered. But throughout these various inquiries, eight out of the +ten tenths of the inhabitants of the city have, with one consent, +asserted that he has of late been on very friendly terms with that +honourable son of yours, who was born with the jade in his mouth. This +report was told your servant and his colleagues, but as your worthy +mansion is unlike such residences as we can take upon ourselves to +enter and search with impunity, we felt under the necessity of laying +the matter before our imperial master. 'Had it been any of the other +actors,' his highness also says, 'I wouldn't have minded if even one +hundred of them had disappeared; but this Ch'i Kuan has always been so +ready with pat repartee, so respectful and trustworthy that he has +thoroughly won my aged heart, and I could never do without him.' He +entreats you, therefore, worthy Sir, to, in your turn, plead with your +illustrious scion, and request him to let Ch'i Kuan go back, in order +that the feelings, which prompt the Prince to make such earnest +supplications, may, in the first place, be satisfied: and that, in the +next, your mean servant and his associates may be spared the fatigue of +toiling and searching." + +At the conclusion of this appeal, he promptly made a low bow. As soon +as Chia Cheng found out the object of his errand, he felt both +astonishment and displeasure. With all promptitude, he issued +directions that Pao-yü should be told to come out of the garden. Pao-yü +had no notion whatever why he was wanted. So speedily he hurried to +appear before his father. + +"What a regular scoundrel you are!" Chia Cheng exclaimed. "It is enough +that you won't read your books at home; but will you also go in for all +these lawless and wrongful acts? That Ch'i Kuan is a person whose +present honourable duties are to act as an attendant on his highness +the Prince of Chung Shun, and how extremely heedless of propriety must +you be to have enticed him, without good cause, to come away, and thus +have now brought calamity upon me?" + +These reproaches plunged Pao-yü in a dreadful state of consternation. +With alacrity he said by way of reply: "I really don't know anything +about the matter! To what do, after all, the two words Ch'i Kuan refer, +I wonder! Still less, besides, am I aware what entice can imply!" + +As he spoke, he started crying. + +But before Chia Cheng could open his month to pass any further remarks, +"Young gentleman," he heard the senior officer interpose with a +sardonic smile: "you shouldn't conceal anything! if he be either hidden +in your home, or if you know his whereabouts, divulge the truth at +once; so that less trouble should fall to our lot than otherwise would. +And will we not then bear in mind your virtue, worthy scion!" + +"I positively don't know." Pao-yü time after time maintained. "There +must, I fear, be some false rumour abroad; for I haven't so much as +seen anything of him." + +The senior officer gave two loud smiles, full of derision. "There's +evidence at hand," he rejoined, "so if you compel me to speak out +before your venerable father, won't you, young man, have to suffer the +consequences? 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?" + +When Pao-yü caught this allusion, he suddenly felt quite out of his +senses. He stared and gaped; while within himself, he argued: "How has +he come to hear anything about this! But since he knows all these +secret particulars, I cannot, I expect, put him off in other points; so +wouldn't it be better for me to pack him off, in order to obviate his +blubbering anything more?" "Sir," he consequently remarked aloud, "how +is it that despite your acquaintance with all these minute details, you +have no inkling of his having purchased a house? Are you ignorant of an +essential point like this? I've heard people say that he's, at present, +staying in the eastern suburbs at a distance of twenty li from the city +walls; at some place or other called Tzu T'an Pao, and that he has +bought there several acres of land and a few houses. So I presume he's +to be found in that locality; but of course there's no saying." + +"According to your version," smiled the senior officer, as soon as he +heard his explanation, "he must for a certainty be there. I shall +therefore go and look for him. 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. + +Chia Cheng was by this time stirred up to such a pitch of indignation +that his eyes stared aghast, and his mouth opened in bewilderment; and +as he escorted the officer out, he turned his head and bade Pao-yü not +budge. "I have," (he said), "to ask you something on my return." +Straightway he then went to see the officer off. 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!" shouted Chia Cheng to the young boys. "I want to beat him." + +Chia Huan, at the sight of his father, was so terrified that his bones +mollified and his tendons grew weak, and, promptly lowering his head, +he stood still." + +"What are you running about for?" Chia Cheng asked. "These menials of +yours do not mind you, but go who knows where, and let you roam about +like a wild horse! Where are the attendants who wait on you at school?" +he cried. + +When Chia Huan saw his father in such a dreadful rage, he availed +himself of the first opportunity to try and clear himself. "I wasn't +running about just now" he said. "But as I was passing by the side of +that well, I caught sight, for in that well a servant-girl was drowned, +of a human head that large, a body that swollen, floating about in +really a frightful way and I therefore hastily rushed past." + +Chia Cheng was thunderstruck by this disclosure. "There's been nothing +up, so who has gone and jumped into the well?" he inquired. "Never has +there been anything of the kind in my house before! Ever since the time +of our ancestors, servants have invariably been treated with clemency +and consideration. But I expect that I must of late have become remiss +in my domestic affairs, and that the managers must have arrogated to +themselves the right of domineering and so been the cause of bringing +about such calamities as violent deaths and disregard of life. Were +these things to reach the ears of people outside, what will become of +the reputation of our seniors? Call Chia Lien and Lai Ta here!" he +shouted. + +The servant-lads signified their obedience, with one voice. They were +about to go and summon them, when Chia Huan hastened to press forward. +Grasping the lapel of Chia Cheng's coat, and clinging to his knees, he +knelt down. "Father, why need you be angry?" he said. "Excluding the +people in Madame Wang's rooms, this occurrence is entirely unknown to +any of the rest; and I have heard my mother mention…." At this point, +he turned his head, and cast a glance in all four quarters. + +Chia Cheng guessed his meaning, and made a sign with his eyes. The +young boys grasped his purpose and drew far back on either side. + +Chia Huan resumed his confidences in a low tone of voice. "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. That as he failed to carry out his +design, he gave her a thrashing, which so exasperated Chin Ch'uan-erh +that she threw herself into the well and committed suicide…." + +Before however he could conclude his account, Chia Cheng had been +incensed to such a degree that his face assumed the colour of silver +paper. "Bring Pao-yü here," he cried. While uttering these orders, he +walked into the study. "If any one does again to-day come to dissuade +me," he vociferated, "I shall take this official hat, and sash, my home +and private property and surrender everything at once to him to go and +bestow them upon Pao-yü; for if I cannot escape blame (with a son like +the one I have), I mean to shave this scanty trouble-laden hair about +my temples and go in search of some unsullied place where I can spend +the rest of my days alone! I shall thus also avoid the crime of +heaping, above, insult upon my predecessors, and, below, of having +given birth to such a rebellious son." + +At the sight of Chia Cheng in this exasperation, the family companions +and attendants speedily realised that Pao-yü must once more be the +cause of it, and the whole posse hastened to withdraw from the study, +biting their fingers and putting their tongues out. + +Chia Cheng panted with excitement. He stretched his chest out and sat +bolt upright on a chair. His whole face was covered with the traces of +tears. "Bring Pao-yü! Bring Pao-yü!" he shouted consecutively. "Fetch a +big stick; bring a rope and tie him up; close all the doors! If any one +does communicate anything about it in the inner rooms, why, I'll +immediately beat him to death." + +The servant-boys felt compelled to express their obedience with one +consent, and some of them came to look after Pao-yü. + +As for Pao-yü, when he heard Chia Cheng enjoin him not to move, he +forthwith became aware that the chances of an unpropitious issue +outnumbered those of a propitious one, but how could he have had any +idea that Chia Huan as well had put in his word? There he still stood +in the pavilion, revolving in his mind how he could get some one to +speed inside and deliver a message for him. But, as it happened, not a +soul appeared. He was quite at a loss to know where even Pei Ming could +be. His longing was at its height, when he perceived an old nurse come +on the scene. The sight of her exulted Pao-yü, just as much as if he +had obtained pearls or gems; and hurriedly approaching her, he dragged +her and forced her to halt. "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." + +But, first and foremost, Pao-yü's excitement was so intense that he +spoke with indistinctness. In the second place, the old nurse was, as +luck would have it, dull of hearing, so that she did not catch the +drift of what he said, and she misconstrued the two words: "it's +urgent," for the two representing jumped into the well. 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?" + +"Go out," pursued Pao-yü, in despair, on discovering that she was deaf, +"and tell my page to come." + +"What's there left unsettled?" rejoined the old nurse. "Everything has +been finished long ago! A tip has also been given them; so how is it +things are not settled?" + +Pao-yü fidgetted with his hands and feet. He was just at his wits' +ends, when he espied Chia Cheng's servant-boys come up and press him to +go out. + +As soon as Chia Cheng caught sight of him, his eyes got quite red. +Without even allowing himself any time to question him about his +gadding about with actors, and the presents he gave them on the sly, +during his absence from home; or about his playing the truant from +school and lewdly importuning his mother's maid, during his stay at +home, he simply shouted: "Gag his mouth and positively beat him till he +dies!" + +The servant-boys did not have the boldness to disobey him. They were +under the necessity of seizing Pao-yü, of stretching him on a bench, +and of taking a heavy rattan and giving him about ten blows. + +Pao-yü knew well enough that he could not plead for mercy, and all he +could do was to whimper and cry. + +Chia Cheng however found fault with the light blows they administered +to him. With one kick he shoved the castigator aside, and snatching the +rattan into his own hands, he spitefully let (Pao-yü) have ten blows +and more. + +Pao-yü had not, from his very birth, experienced such anguish. From the +outset, he found the pain unbearable; yet he could shout and weep as +boisterously as ever he pleased; but so weak subsequently did his +breath, little by little, become, so hoarse his voice, and so choked +his throat that he could not bring out any sound. + +The family companions noticed that he was beaten in a way that might +lead to an unpropitious end, and they drew near with all despatch and +made earnest entreaties and exhortations. But would Chia Cheng listen +to them? + +"You people," he answered, "had better ask him whether the tricks he +has been up to deserve to be overlooked or not! It's you who have all +along so thoroughly spoilt him as to make him reach this degree of +depravity! And do you yet come to advise me to spare him? When by and +bye you've incited him to commit parricide or regicide, you will at +length, then, give up trying to dissuade me, eh?" + +This language jarred on the ears of the whole party; and knowing only +too well that he was in an exasperated mood, they fussed about +endeavouring to find some one to go in and convey the news. + +But Madame Wang did not presume to be the first to inform dowager lady +Chia about it. Seeing no other course open to her, she hastily dressed +herself and issued out of the garden. Without so much as worrying her +mind as to whether there were any male inmates about or not, she +straightway leant on a waiting-maid and hurriedly betook herself into +the library, to the intense consternation of the companions, pages and +all the men present, who could not manage to clear out of the way in +time. + +Chia Cheng was on the point of further belabouring his son, when at the +sight of Madame Wang walking in, his temper flared up with such +increased violence, just as fire on which oil is poured, that the rod +fell with greater spite and celerity. The two servant-boys, who held +Pao-yü down, precipitately loosened their grip and beat a retreat. +Pao-yü had long ago lost all power of movement. Chia Cheng, however, +was again preparing to assail him, when the rattan was immediately +locked tightly by Madame Wang, in both her arms. + +"Of course, of course," Chia Cheng exclaimed, "what you want to do +to-day is to make me succumb to anger!" + +"Pao-yü does, I admit, merit to be beaten," sobbed Madame Wang; "but +you should also, my lord, take good care of yourself! 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?" + +"Better not talk about such things!" observed Chia Cheng with a +listless smile. "By my bringing up such a degenerate child of +retribution I have myself become unfilial! 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. "My lord and master," she said, "it is your duty, of course, to +keep your son in proper order, but you should also regard the +relationship of husband and wife. I'm already a woman of fifty and I've +only got this scapegrace. Was there any need for you to give him such a +bitter lesson? I wouldn't presume to use any strong dissuasion; but +having, on this occasion, gone so far as to harbour the design of +killing him, isn't this a fixed purpose on your part to cut short my +own existence? 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!" + +At the conclusion of these words, she enfolded Pao-yü in her embrace +and raised her voice in loud sobs. + +After listening to her appeal, Chia Cheng could not restrain a deep +sigh; and taking a seat on one of the chairs, the tears ran down his +cheeks like drops of rain. + +But while Madame Wang held Pao-yü in her arms, she noticed that his +face was sallow and his breath faint, and that his green gauze nether +garments were all speckled with stains of blood, so she could not check +her fingers from unloosening his girdle. And realising that from the +thighs to the buttocks, his person was here green, there purple, here +whole, there broken, and that there was, in fact, not the least bit, +which had not sustained some injury, she of a sudden burst out in +bitter lamentations for her offspring's wretched lot in life. But while +bemoaning her unfortunate son, she again recalled to mind the memory of +Chia Chu, and vehemently calling out "Chia Chu," she sobbed: "if but +you were alive, I would not care if even one hundred died!" + +But by this time, the inmates of the inner rooms discovered that Madame +Wang had gone out, and Li Kung-ts'ai, Wang Hsi-feng and Ting Ch'un and +her sisters promptly rushed out of the garden and came to join her. + +While Madame Wang mentioned, with eyes bathed in tears, the name of +Chia Chu, every one listened with composure, with the exception of Li +Kung-ts'ai, who unable to curb her feelings also raised her voice in +sobs. As soon as Chia Cheng heard her plaints, his tears trickled down +with greater profusion, like pearls scattered about. But just as there +seemed no prospect of their being consoled, a servant-girl was unawares +heard to announce: "Our dowager lady has come!" Before this +announcement was ended, her tremulous accents reached their ears from +outside the window. "If you were to beat me to death and then despatch +him," she cried, "won't you be clear of us!" + +Chia Cheng, upon seeing that his mother was coming, felt distressed and +pained. With all promptitude, he went out to meet her. He perceived his +old parent, toddling along, leaning on the arm of a servant-girl, +wagging her head and gasping for breath. + +Chia Cheng drew forward and made a curtsey. "On a hot broiling day like +this," he ventured, forcing a smile, "what made you, mother, get so +angry as to rush over in person? Had you anything to enjoin me, you +could have sent for me, your son, and given me your orders." + +Old lady Chia, at these words, halted and panted. "Are you really +chiding me?" she at the same time said in a stern tone. "It's I who +should call you to task! But as the son, I've brought up, isn't worth a +straw, to whom can I go and address a word?" + +When Chia Cheng heard language so unlike that generally used by her, he +immediately fell on his knees. 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. "I made just one +remark," she added, "and you couldn't stand it, and can Pao-yü likely +put up with that death-working cane? You say that your object in +correcting your son is to reflect lustre on your ancestors and +splendour on your seniors, but in what manner did your father correct +you in days gone by?" + +Saying this, tears suddenly rolled down from her eyes also. + +Chia Cheng forced another smile. "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." + +Dowager lady Chia smiled several loud sneering smiles. "But you +shouldn't get into a huff with me!" she urged. "He's your son, so if +you choose to flog him, you can naturally do so, but I cannot help +thinking that you're sick and tired of me, your mother, of your wife +and of your son, so wouldn't it be as well that we should get out of +your way, the sooner the better, as we shall then be able to enjoy +peace and quiet?" + +So speaking, "Go and look after the chairs." she speedily cried to a +servant. "I and your lady as well as Pao-yü will, without delay, return +to Nanking." + +The servant had no help but to assent. + +Old lady Chia thereupon called Madame Wang over to her. "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? You +mustn't therefore at present lavish too much of your affection upon +him, so that you may by and bye, spare yourself, at least, some +displeasure." + +When these exhortations fell on Chia Cheng's ear, he instantly +prostrated himself before her. "Your remarks mother," he observed, "cut +the ground under your son's very feet." + +"You distinctly act in a way," cynically smiled old lady Chia, +"sufficient to deprive me of any ground to stand upon, and then you, on +the contrary, go and speak about yourself! But when we shall have gone +back, your mind will be free of all trouble. We'll see then who'll +interfere and dissuade you from beating people!" + +After this reply, she went on to give orders to directly get ready the +baggage, carriages, chairs and horses necessary for their return. + +Chia Cheng stiffly and rigidly fell on his knees, and knocked his head +before her, and pleaded guilty. Dowager lady Chia then addressed him +some words, and as she did so, she came to have a look at Pao-yü. Upon +perceiving that the thrashing he had got this time was unlike those of +past occasions, she experienced both pain and resentment. So clasping +him in her arms, she wept and wept incessantly. It was only after +Madame Wang, lady Feng and the other ladies had reasoned with her for a +time that they at length gradually succeeded in consoling her. + +But waiting-maids, married women, and other attendants soon came to +support Pao-yü and take him away. Lady Feng however at once +expostulated with them. "You stupid things," she exclaimed, won't you +open your eyes and see! How ever could he be raised and made to walk in +the state he's in! Don't you yet instantly run inside and fetch some +rattan slings and a bench to carry him out of this on? + +At this suggestion, the servants rushed hurry-scurry inside and +actually brought a bench; and, lifting Pao-yü, they placed him on it. +Then following dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other inmates +into the inner part of the building, they carried him into his +grandmother's apartments. But Chia Cheng did not fail to notice that +his old mother's passion had not by this time yet abated, so without +presuming to consult his own convenience, he too came inside after +them. Here he discovered how heavily he had in reality castigated +Pao-yü. Upon perceiving Madame Wang also crying, with one breath, "My +flesh;" and, with another, saying with tears: "My son, if you had died +sooner, instead of Chu Erh, and left Chu Erh behind you, you would have +saved your father these fits of anger, and even I would not have had to +fruitlessly worry and fret for half of my existence! Were anything to +happen now to make you forsake me, upon whom will you have me depend?" +And then after heaping reproaches upon herself for a time, break out +afresh in lamentations for her, unavailing offspring, Chia Cheng was +much cut up and felt conscious that he should not with his own hand +have struck his son so ruthlessly as to bring him to this state, and he +first and foremost directed his attention to consoling dowager lady +Chia. + +"If your son isn't good," rejoined the old lady, repressing her tears, +"it is naturally for you to exercise control over him. But you +shouldn't beat him to such a pitch! Don't you yet bundle yourself away? +What are you dallying in here for? Is it likely, pray, that your heart +is not yet satisfied, and that you wish to feast your eyes by seeing +him die before you go?" + +These taunts induced Chia Cheng to eventually withdraw out of the room. +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. Hsi Jen's heart was overflowing with grief; but she could +not very well give expression to it. When she saw that a whole company +of people shut him in, some pouring water over him, others fanning him; +and that she herself could not lend a hand in any way, she availed +herself of a favourable moment to make her exit. Proceeding then as far +as the second gate, she bade the servant-boys go and fetch Pei-Ming. 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. It was only after he had given him half the flogging that I +heard what was going on, and lost no time in ascertaining what it was +all about. It's on account of those affairs connected with Ch'i Kuan +and that girl Chin Ch'uan." + +"How did these things come to master's knowledge?" inquired Hsi Jen. + +"As for that affair with Ch'i Kuan," continued Pei Ming, "it is very +likely Mr. Hsüeh P'an who has let it out; for as he has ever been +jealous, he may, in the absence of any other way of quenching his +resentment, have instigated some one or other outside, who knows, to +come and see master and add fuel to his anger. As for Chin Ch'uan-erh's +affair it has presumably been told him by Master Tertius. This I heard +from the lips of some person, who was in attendance upon master." + +Hsi Jen saw how much his two versions tallied with the true +circumstances, so she readily credited the greater portion of what was +told her. Subsequently, she returned inside. Here she found a whole +crowd of people trying to do the best to benefit Pao-yü. 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. Hsi Jen at last entered his room, +and waited upon him with singleness of heart. + +But, reader, if you feel any curiosity to hear what follows, listen to +what you will find divulged in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + + Tai-yü loves Pao-yü with extreme affection; but, on account of this + affection, her female cousin gets indignant. + Hsüeh P'an commits a grave mistake; but Pao-ch'ai makes this mistake + a + pretext to tender advice to her brother. + +When Hsi Jen saw dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other members +of the family take their leave, our narrative says, she entered the +room. and, taking a seat next to Pao-yü, she asked him, while she did +all she could to hide her tears: "How was it that he beat you to such +extremes?" + +Pao-yü heaved a sigh. "It was simply," he replied, "about those +trifles. But what's the use of your asking me about them? The lower +part of my body is so very sore! Do look and see where I'm bruised!" + +At these words, Hsi Jen put out her hand, and inserting it gently under +his clothes, she began to pull down the middle garments. She had but +slightly moved them, however, when Pao-yü ground his teeth and groaned +"ai-ya." Hsi Jen at once stayed her hand. It was after three or four +similar attempts that she, at length, succeeded in drawing them down. +Then looking closely, Hsi Jen discovered that the upper part of his +legs was all green and purple, one mass of scars four fingers wide, and +covered with huge blisters. + +Hsi Jen gnashed her teeth. "My mother!" she ejaculated, "how is it that +he struck you with such a ruthless hand! Had you minded the least bit +of my advice to you, things wouldn't have come to such a pass! Luckily, +no harm was done to any tendon or bone; for had you been crippled by +the thrashing you got, what could we do?" + +In the middle of these remarks, she saw the servant-girls come, and +they told her that Miss Pao-ch'ai had arrived. Hearing this, Hsi Jen +saw well enough that she had no time to put him on his middle garments, +so forthwith snatching a double gauze coverlet, she threw it over +Pao-yü. This done, she perceived Pao-ch'ai walk in, her hands laden +with pills and medicines. + +"At night," she said to Hsi Jen, "take these medicines and dissolve +them in wine and then apply them on him, and, when the fiery virus from +that stagnant blood has been dispelled, he'll be all right again." + +After these directions, she handed the medicines to Hsi Jen. "Is he +feeling any better now?" she proceeded to inquired. + +"Thanks!" 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. + +Pao-ch'ai noticed that he could open his eyes wide, that he could speak +and that he was not as bad as he had been, and she felt considerable +inward relief. But nodding her head, she sighed. "If you had long ago +listened to the least bit of the advice tendered to you by people +things would not have reached this climax to-day," she said. "Not to +speak of the pain experienced by our dear ancestor and aunt Wang, the +sight of you in this state makes even us feel at heart…." + +Just as she had uttered half of the remark she meant to pass, she +quickly suppressed the rest; and smitten by remorse for having spoken +too hastily, she could not help getting red in the face and lowering +her head. + +Pao-yü was realising how affectionate, how friendly and how replete +with deep meaning were the sentiments that dropped from her month, +when, of a sudden, he saw her seal her lips and, flashing crimson, +droop her head, and simply fumble with her girdle. Yet so fascinating +was she in those timid blushes, which completely baffle description, +that his feelings were roused within him to such a degree, that all +sense of pain flew at once beyond the empyrean. "I've only had to bear +a few blows," he reflected, "and yet every one of them puts on those +pitiful looks sufficient to evoke love and regard; so were, after all, +any mishap or untimely end to unexpectedly befall me, who can tell how +much more afflicted they won't be! And as they go on in this way, I +shall have them, were I even to die in a moment, to feel so much for +me; so there will indeed be no reason for regret, albeit the concerns +of a whole lifetime will be thus flung entirely to the winds!" + +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. + +Pao-yü had, in fact, no idea as yet of what had been said by Chia Huan, +and, when he heard Hsi Jen's disclosures, he eventually got to know +what it was; but as it also criminated Hsüeh P'an, he feared lest +Pao-ch'ai might feel unhappy, so he lost no time in interrupting Hsi +Jen. + +"Cousin Hsüeh," he interposed, "has never been like that; you people +mustn't therefore give way to idle surmises!" + +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. But since you can be so considerate, why don't you +take a little more care in greater concerns outside, so that your +father should feel a little happier, and that you also should not have +to suffer such bitter ordeals! But notwithstanding that the dread of my +feeling hurt has prompted you to interrupt Hsi Jen in what she had to +tell me, is it likely that I am blind to the fact that my brother has +ever followed his fancies, allowed his passions to run riot, and never +done a thing to exercise any check over himself? His temperament is +such that he some time back created, all on account of that fellow +Ch'in Chung, a rumpus that turned heaven and earth topsy-turvy; and, as +a matter of course, he's now far worse than he was ever before!" + +"You people," she then observed aloud, at the close of these +cogitations, "shouldn't bear this one or that one a grudge. I can't +help thinking that it's, after all, because of your usual readiness, +cousin Pao-yü, to hobnob with that set that your father recently lost +control over his temper. But assuming that my brother did speak in a +careless manner and did casually allude to you cousin Pao-yü, it was +with no design to instigate any one! In the first place, the remarks he +made were really founded on actual facts; and secondly, he's not one to +ever trouble himself about such petty trifles as trying to guard +against animosities. Ever since your youth up, Miss Hsi, you've simply +had before your eyes a person so punctilious as cousin Pao-yü, but have +you ever had any experience of one like that brother of mine, who +neither fears the powers in heaven or in earth, and who readily blurts +out all he thinks?" + +Hsi Jen, seeing Pao-yü interrupt her, at the bare mention of Hsüeh +P'an, understood at once that she must have spoken recklessly and gave +way to misgivings lest Pao-ch'ai might not have been placed in a false +position, but when she heard the language used by Pao-ch'ai, she was +filled with a keener sense of shame and could not utter a word. Pao-yü +too, after listening to the sentiments, which Pao-ch'ai expressed, +felt, partly because they were so magnanimous and noble, and partly +because they banished all misconception from his mind, his heart and +soul throb with greater emotion then ever before. When, however, about +to put in his word, he noticed Pao-ch'ai rise to her feet. + +"I'll come again to see you to-morrow," she said, "but take good care +of yourself! I gave the medicines I brought just now to Hsi Jen; let +her rub you with them at night and I feel sure you'll get all right." + +With these recommendations, she walked out of the door. + +Hsi Jen hastened to catch her up and escorted her beyond the court. +"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." + +"What's there to thank me for?" 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. If there's anything he fancies to eat or to amuse +himself with, come quietly over to me and fetch it for him. There will +be no use to disturb either our old lady, or Madame Wang, or any of the +others; for in the event of its reaching Mr. Chia Cheng's ear, nothing +may, at the time, come of it; but if by and bye he finds it to be true, +we'll, doubtless, suffer for it!" + +While tendering this advice, she went on her way. + +Hsi Jen retraced her steps and returned into the room, fostering +genuine feelings of gratitude for Pao-ch'ai. But on entering, she +espied Pao-yü silently lost in deep thought, and looking as if he were +asleep, and yet not quite asleep, so she withdrew into the outer +quarters to comb her hair and wash. + +Pao-yü meanwhile lay motionless in bed. His buttocks tingled with pain, +as if they were pricked with needles, or dug with knives; giving him to +boot a fiery sensation just as if fire were eating into them. He tried +to change his position a bit, but unable to bear the anguish, he burst +into groans. The shades of evening were by this time falling. +Perceiving that though Hsi Jen had left his side there remained still +two or three waiting-maids in attendance, he said to them, as he could +find nothing for them to do just then, "You might as well go and comb +your hair and perform your ablutions; come in, when I call you." + +Hearing this, they likewise retired. During this while, Pao-yü fell +into a drowsy state. Chiang Yü-han then rose before his vision and told +him all about his capture by men from the Chung Shun mansion. +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. But Pao-yü, who was half dreaming and half awake, was not able to +give his mind to anything that was told him. Unawares, he became +conscious of some one having given him a push; and faintly fell on his +ear the plaintive tones of some person in distress. Pao-yü was startled +out of his dreams. On opening his eyes, he found it to be no other than +Lin Tai-yü. But still fearing that it was only a dream, he promptly +raised himself, and drawing near her face he passed her features under +a minute scrutiny. 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?" + +Pao-yü meant to continue his scrutiny, but the lower part of his person +gave him such unbearable sharp twitches that finding it a hard task to +keep up, he, with a shout of "Ai-yo," lay himself down again, as he +heaved a sigh. "What do you once more come here for?" he asked. "The +sun, it is true, has set; but the heat remaining on the ground hasn't +yet gone, so you may, by coming over, get another sunstroke. Of course, +I've had a thrashing but I don't feel any pains or aches. If I behave +in this fashion, it's all put on to work upon their credulity, so that +they may go and spread the reports outside in such a way as to reach my +father's ear. Really it's all sham; so you mustn't treat it as a fact!" + +Though Lin Tai-yü was not giving way at the time to any wails or loud +sobs, yet the more she indulged in those suppressed plaints of hers, +the worse she felt her breath get choked and her throat obstructed; so +that when Pao-yü's assurances fell on her ear, she could not express a +single sentiment, though she treasured thousands in her mind. It was +only after a long pause that she at last could observe, with agitated +voice: "You must after this turn over a new leaf." + +At these words, Pao-yü heaved a deep sigh. "Compose your mind," he +urged. "Don't speak to me like this; for I am quite prepared to even +lay down my life for all those persons!" + +But scarcely had he concluded this remark than some one outside the +court was heard to say: "Our lady Secunda has arrived." + +Lin Tai-yü readily concluded that it was lady Feng coming, so springing +to her feet at once, "I'm off," she said; "out by the back-court. I'll +look you up again by and bye." + +"This is indeed strange!" exclaimed Pao-yü as he laid hold of her and +tried to detain her. "How is it that you've deliberately started living +in fear and trembling of her!" + +Lin Tai-yü grew impatient and stamped her feet. "Look at my eyes!" she +added in an undertone. "Must those people amuse themselves again by +poking fun at me?" + +After this response, Pao-yü speedily let her go. + +Lin Tai-yü with hurried step withdrew behind the bed; and no sooner had +she issued into the back-court, than lady Feng made her appearance in +the room by the front entrance. + +"Are you better?" she asked Pao-yü. "If you fancy anything to eat, mind +you send some one over to my place to fetch it for you." + +Thereupon Mrs. Hsüeh also came to pay him a visit. Shortly after, a +messenger likewise arrived from old lady Chia (to inquire after him). + +When the time came to prepare the lights, Pao-yü had a couple of +mouthfuls of soup to eat, but he felt so drowsy and heavy that he fell +asleep. + +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. + +Hsi Jen promptly went out to greet them. "Aunts," she whispered, +smiling, "you've come a little too late; Master Secundus is sleeping." +Saying this, she led them into the room on the opposite side, and, +pressing then to sit down, she poured them some tea. + +After sitting perfectly still for a time, "When Master Secundus awakes" +the dames observed, "do send us word!" + +Hsi Jen assured them that she would, and escorted them out. Just, +however, as she was about to retrace her footsteps, she met an old +matron, sent over by Madame Wang, who said to her: "Our mistress wants +one of Master Secundus attendants to go and see her." + +Upon hearing this message, Hsi Jen communed with her own thoughts. Then +turning round, she whispered to Ch'ing Wen, She Yüeh, Ch'iu Wen, and +the other maids: "Our lady wishes to see one of us, so be careful and +remain in the room while I go. I'll be back soon." + +At the close of her injunctions, she and the matron made their exit out +of the garden by a short cut, and repaired into the drawing-room. + +Madame Wang was seated on the cool couch, waving a banana-leaf fan. +When she became conscious of her arrival: "It didn't matter whom you +sent," she remarked, "any one would have done. But have you left him +again? Who's there to wait on him?" + +At this question, Hsi Jen lost no time in forcing a smile. "Master +Secundus," she replied, "just now fell into a sound sleep. Those four +or five girls are all right now, they are well able to attend to their +master, so please, Madame, dispel all anxious thoughts! I was afraid +that your ladyship might have some orders to give, and that if I sent +any of them, they might probably not hear distinctly, and thus occasion +delay in what there was to be done." + +"There's nothing much to tell you," added Madame Wang. "I only wish to +ask how his pains and aches are getting on now?" + +"I applied on Mr. Secundus," answered Hsi Jen, "the medicine, which +Miss Pao-ch'ai brought over; and he's better than he was. He was so +sore at one time that he couldn't lie comfortably; but the deep sleep, +in which he is plunged now, is a clear sign of his having improved." + +"Has he had anything to eat?" further inquired Madame Wang. + +"Our dowager mistress sent him a bowl of soup," Hsi Jen continued, "and +of this he has had a few mouthfuls. He shouted and shouted that his +mouth was parched and fancied a decoction of sour plums, but +remembering that sour plums are astringent things, that he had been +thrashed only a short time before, and that not having been allowed to +groan, he must, of course, have been so hard pressed that fiery virus +and heated blood must unavoidably have accumulated in the heart, and +that were he to put anything of the kind within his lips, it might be +driven into the cardiac regions and give rise to some serious illness; +and what then would we do? I therefore reasoned with him for ever so +long and at last succeeded in deterring him from touching any. So +simply taking that syrup of roses, prepared with sugar, I mixed some +with water and he had half a small cup of it. But he drank it with +distaste; for, being surfeited with it, he found it neither scented nor +sweet." + +"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Madame Wang. "Why didn't you come earlier and tell +me? Some one sent me the other day several bottles of scented water. I +meant at one time to have given him some, but as I feared that it would +be mere waste, I didn't let him have any. But since he is so sick and +tired of that preparation of roses, that he turns up his nose at it, +take those two bottles with you. If you just mix a teaspoonful of it in +a cup of water, it will impart to it a very strong perfume." + +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. It will come to the +same thing!" + +Having listened to all they had to say, Ts'ai Yün left the room. After +some considerable time, she, in point of fact, returned with only a +couple of bottles, which she delivered to Hsi Jen. + +On examination, Hsi Jen saw two small glass bottles, no more than three +inches in size, with screwing silver stoppers at the top. On the +gosling-yellow labels was written, on one: "Pure extract of _olea +fragrans_," on the other, "Pure extract of roses." + +"What fine things these are!" Hsi Jen smiled. "How many small bottles +the like of this can there be?" + +"They are of the kind sent to the palace," rejoined Madame Wang. +"Didn't you notice that gosling-yellow slip? But mind, take good care +of them for him; don't fritter them away!" + +Hsi Jen assented. She was about to depart when Madame Wang called her +back. "I've thought of something," she said, "that I want to ask you." + +Hsi Jen hastily came back. + +Madame Wang made sure that there was no one in the room. "I've heard a +faint rumour," she then inquired, "to the effect that Pao-yü got a +thrashing on this occasion on account of something or other which +Huan-Erh told my husband. Have you perchance heard what it was that he +said? If you happen to learn anything about it, do confide in me, and I +won't make any fuss and let people know that it was you who told me." + +"I haven't heard anything of the kind," answered Hsi Jen. "It was +because Mr. Secundus forcibly detained an actor, and that people came +and asked master to restore him to them that he got flogged." + +"It was also for this," continued Madame Wang as she nodded her head, +"but there's another reason besides." + +"As for the other reason, I honestly haven't the least idea about it," +explained Hsi Jen. "But I'll make bold to-day, and say something in +your presence, Madame, about which I don't know whether I am right or +wrong in speaking. According to what's proper…." + +She had only spoken half a sentence, when hastily she closed her mouth +again. + +"You are at liberty to proceed," urged Madame Wang. + +"If your ladyship will not get angry, I'll speak out," remarked Hsi +Jen. + +"Why should I get angry?" observed Madame Wang. "Proceed!" + +"According to what's proper," resumed Hsi Jen, "our Mr. Secundus should +receive our master's admonition, for if master doesn't hold him in +check, there's no saying what he mightn't do in the future." + +As soon as Madame Wang heard this, she clasped her hands and uttered +the invocation, "O-mi-to-fu!" Unable to resist the impulse, she drew +near Hsi Jen. "My dear child," she added, "you have also luckily +understood the real state of things. What you told me is in perfect +harmony with my own views! Is it likely that I don't know how to look +after a son? In former days, when your elder master, Chu, was alive, +how did I succeed in keeping him in order? And can it be that I don't, +after all, now understand how to manage a son? But there's a why and a +wherefore in it. The thought is ever present in my mind now, that I'm +already a woman past fifty, that of my children there only remains this +single one, that he too is developing a delicate physique, and that, +what's more, our dear senior prizes him as much as she would a jewel, +that were he kept under strict control, and anything perchance to +happen to him, she might, an old lady as she is, sustain some harm from +resentment, and that as the high as well as the low will then have no +peace or quiet, won't things get in a bad way? So I feel prompted to +spoil him by over-indulgence. Time and again I reason with him. +Sometimes, I talk to him; sometimes, I advise him; sometimes, I cry +with him. But though, for the time being, he's all right, he doesn't, +later on, worry his mind in any way about what I say, until he +positively gets into some other mess, when he settles down again. But +should any harm befall him, through these floggings, upon whom will I +depend by and bye?" + +As she spoke, she could not help melting into tears. + +At the sight of Madame Wang in this disconsolate mood, Hsi Jen herself +unconsciously grew wounded at heart, and as she wept along with her, +"Mr. Secundus," she ventured, "is your ladyship's own child, so how +could you not love him? Even we, who are mere servants, think it a +piece of good fortune when we can wait on him for a time, and all +parties can enjoy peace and quiet. But if he begins to behave in this +manner, even peace and quiet will be completely out of the question for +us. On what day, and at what hour, don't I advise Mr. Secundus; yet I +can't manage to stir him up by any advice! But it happens that all that +crew are ever ready to court his friendship, so it isn't to be wondered +that he is what he is! The truth is that he thinks the advice we give +him is not right and proper! As you have to-day, Madame, alluded to +this subject, I've got something to tell you which has weighed heavy on +my mind. I've been anxious to come and confide it to your ladyship and +to solicit your guidance, but I've been in fear and dread lest you +should give way to suspicion. For not only would then all my +disclosures have been in vain, but I would have deprived myself of even +a piece of ground wherein my remains could be laid." + +Madame Wang perceived that her remarks were prompted by some purpose. +"My dear child," she eagerly urged; "go on, speak out! When I recently +heard one and all praise you secretly behind your back, I simply +fancied that it was because you were careful in your attendance on +Pao-yü; or possibly because you got on well with every one; all on +account of minor considerations like these; (but I never thought it was +on account of your good qualities). As it happens, what you told me +just now concerns, in all its bearings, a great principle, and is in +perfect accord with my ideas, so speak out freely, if you have aught to +say! Only let no one else know anything about it, that is all that is +needed." + +"I've got nothing more to say," proceeded Hsi Jen. "My sole idea was to +solicit your advice, Madame, as to how to devise a plan to induce Mr. +Secundus to move his quarters out of the garden by and bye, as things +will get all right then." + +This allusion much alarmed Madame Wang. Speedily taking Hsi Jen's hand +in hers: "Is it likely," she inquired, "that Pao-yü has been up to any +mischief with any one?" + +"Don't be too suspicious!" precipitately replied Hsi Jen. "It wasn't at +anything of the kind that I was hinting. I merely expressed my humble +opinion. Mr. Secundus is a young man now, and the young ladies inside +are no more children. More than that, Miss Lin and Miss Pao may be two +female maternal first cousins of his, but albeit his cousins, there is +nevertheless the distinction of male and female between them; and day +and night, as they are together, it isn't always convenient, when they +have to rise and when they have to sit; so this cannot help making one +give way to misgivings. Were, in fact, any outsider to see what's going +on, it would not look like the propriety, which should exist in great +families. The proverb appositely says that: 'when there's no trouble, +one should make provision for the time of trouble.' How many concerns +there are in the world, of which there's no making head or tail, mostly +because what persons do without any design is construed by such +designing people, as chance to have their notice attracted to it, as +having been designedly accomplished, and go on talking and talking +till, instead of mending matters, they make them worse! But if +precautions be not taken beforehand, something improper will surely +happen, for your ladyship is well aware of the temperament Mr. Secundus +has shown all along! 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 mouths of that mean lot will shun with any sign +of respect? Why, if their hearts be well disposed, they will maintain +that he is far superior to Buddha himself. But if their hearts be badly +disposed, they will at once knit a tissue of lies to show that he +cannot even reach the standard of a beast! Now, if people by and bye +speak well of Mr. Secundus, we'll all go on smoothly with our lives. +But should he perchance give reason to any one to breathe the slightest +disparaging remark, won't his body, needless for us to say, be smashed +to pieces, his bones ground to powder, and the blame, which he might +incur, be made ten thousand times more serious than it is? These things +are all commonplace trifles; but won't Mr. Secundus' name and +reputation be subsequently done for for life? Secondly, it's no easy +thing for your ladyship to see anything of our master. A proverb also +says: 'The perfect man makes provision beforehand;' so wouldn't it be +better that we should, this very minute, adopt such steps as will +enable us to guard against such things? Your ladyship has much to +attend to, and you couldn't, of course, think of these things in a +moment. And as for us, it would have been well and good, had they never +suggested themselves to our minds; but since they have, we should be +the more to blame did we not tell you anything about them, Madame. Of +late, I have racked my mind, both day and night on this score; and +though I couldn't very well confide to any one, my lamp alone knows +everything!" + +After listening to these words, Madame Wang felt as if she had been +blasted by thunder and struck by lightning; and, as they fitted so +appositely with the incident connected with Chin Ch'uan-erh, her heart +was more than ever fired with boundless affection for Hsi Jen. "My dear +girl," she promptly smiled, "it's you, who are gifted with enough +foresight to be able to think of these things so thoroughly. Yet, did I +not also think of them? But so busy have I been these several times +that they slipped from my memory. What you've told me to-day, however, +has brought me to my senses! It's, thanks to you, that the reputation +of me, his mother, and of him, my son, is preserved intact! I really +never had the faintest idea that you were so excellent! 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. If you preserve him from harm, it will be tantamount to preserving +me from harm, and I shall certainly not be ungrateful to you for it." + +Hsi Jen said several consecutive yes's, and went on her way. She got +back just in time to see Pao-yü awake. Hsi Jen explained all about the +scented water; and, so intensely delighted was Pao-yü, that he at once +asked that some should be mixed and brought to him to taste. In very +deed, he found it unusually fragrant and good. But as his heart was a +prey to anxiety on Tai-yü's behalf, he was full of longings to despatch +some one to look her up. He was, however, afraid of Hsi Jen. Readily +therefore he devised a plan to first get Hsi Jen out of the way, by +despatching her to Pao-ch'ai's, to borrow a book. After Hsi Jen's +departure, he forthwith called Ch'ing Wen. "Go," he said, "over to Miss +Lin's and see what she's up to. Should she inquire about me, all you +need tell her is that I'm all right." + +"What shall I go empty-handed for?" rejoined Ch'ing Wen. "If I were, at +least, to give her a message, it would look as if I had gone for +something." + +"I have no message that you can give her," added Pao-yü. + +"If it can't be that," suggested Ch'ing Wen; "I might either take +something over or fetch something. Otherwise, when I get there, what +excuse will I be able to find?" + +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. "Just tell her that I bade you take them to her." + +"This is strange!" exclaimed Ch'ing Wen. "Will she accept these two +half worn-out handkerchiefs! She'll besides get angry and say that you +were making fun of her." + +"Don't worry yourself about that;" laughed Pao-yü. "She will certainly +know what I mean." + +Ch'ing Wen, at this rejoinder, had no help but to take the +handkerchiefs and to go to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, where she discovered +Ch'un Hsien in the act of hanging out handkerchiefs on the railings to +dry. As soon as she saw her walk in, she vehemently waved her hand. +"She's gone to sleep!" she said. Ch'ing Wen, however, entered the room. +It was in perfect darkness. There was not even so much as a lantern +burning, and Tai-yü was already ensconced in bed. "Who is there?" she +shouted. + +"It's Ch'ing Wen!" promptly replied Ch'ing Wen. + +"What are you up to?" Tai-yü inquired. + +"Mr. Secundus," explained Ch'ing Wen, "sends you some handkerchiefs, +Miss." + +Tai-yü's spirits sunk as soon as she caught her reply. "What can he +have sent me handkerchiefs for?" she secretly reasoned within herself. +"Who gave him these handkerchiefs?" 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're not new," smiled Ch'ing Wen. "They are of an ordinary kind, +and old." + +Hearing this, Lin Tai-yü felt downcast. But after minutely searching +her heart, she at last suddenly grasped his meaning and she hastily +observed: "Leave them and go your way." + +Ch'ing Wen was compelled to put them down; and turning round, she +betook herself back again. But much though she turned things over in +her mind during the whole of her way homewards, she did not succeed in +solving their import. + +When Tai-yü guessed the object of the handkerchief, her very soul +unawares flitted from her. "As Pao-yü has gone to such pains," she +pondered, "to try and probe this dejection of mine, I have, on one +hand, sufficient cause to feel gratified; but as there's no knowing +what my dejection will come to in the future there is, on the other, +enough to make me sad. Here he abruptly and deliberately sends me a +couple of handkerchiefs; and, were it not that he has divined my inmost +feelings, the mere sight of these handkerchiefs would be enough to make +me treat the whole thing as ridiculous. The secret exchange of presents +between us," she went on to muse, "fills me also with fears; and the +thought that those tears, which I am ever so fond of shedding to +myself, are of no avail, drives me likewise to blush with shame." + +And by dint of musing and reflecting, her heart began, in a moment, to +bubble over with such excitement that, much against her will, her +thoughts in their superabundance rolled on incessantly. So speedily +directing that a lamp should be lighted, she little concerned herself +about avoiding suspicion, shunning the use of names, or any other such +things, and set to work and rubbed the ink, soaked the pen, and then +wrote the following stanzas on the two old handkerchiefs: + + Vain in my eyes the tears collect; those tears in vain they flow, + Which I in secret shed; they slowly drop; but for whom though? + The silk kerchiefs, which he so kindly troubled to give me, + How ever could they not with anguish and distress fill me? + +The second ran thus: + + Like falling pearls or rolling gems, they trickle on the sly. + Daily I have no heart for aught; listless all day am I. + As on my pillow or sleeves' edge I may not wipe them dry, + I let them dot by dot, and drop by drop to run freely. + +And the third: + + The coloured thread cannot contain the pearls cov'ring my face. + Tears were of old at Hsiang Chiang shed, but faint has waxed each + trace. + Outside my window thousands of bamboos, lo, also grow, + But whether they be stained with tears or not, I do not know. + +Lin Tai-yü was still bent upon going on writing, but feeling her whole +body burn like fire, and her face scalding hot, she advanced towards +the cheval-glass, and, raising the embroidered cover, she looked in. +She saw at a glance that her cheeks wore so red that they, in very +truth, put even the peach blossom to the shade. Yet little did she +dream that from this date her illness would assume a more serious +phase. Shortly, she threw herself on the bed, and, with the +handkerchiefs still grasped in her hand, she was lost in a reverie. + +Putting her aside, we will now take up our story with Hsi Jen. She went +to pay a visit to Pao-ch'ai, but as it happened, Pao-ch'ai was not in +the garden, but had gone to look up her mother. Hsi Jen, however, could +not very well come back with empty hands so she waited until the second +watch, when Pao-ch'ai eventually returned to her quarters. + +Indeed, so correct an estimate of Hsüeh P'an's natural disposition did +Pao-ch'ai ever have, that from an early moment she entertained within +herself some faint suspicion that it must have been Hsüeh P'an, who had +instigated some person or other to come and lodge a complaint against +Pao-yü. And when she also unexpectedly heard Hsi Jen's disclosures on +the subject, she became more positive in her surmises. 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. + +Hsüeh P'an had always enjoyed this reputation; but on this particular +instance the harm was not, actually, his own doing; yet as every one, +with one consent, tenaciously affirmed that it was he, it was no easy +matter for him, much though he might argue, to clear himself of blame. + +Soon after his return, on this day, from a drinking bout out of doors, +he came to see his mother; but finding Pao-ch'ai in her rooms, they +exchanged a few irrelevant remarks. "I hear," he consequently asked, +"that cousin Pao-yü has got into trouble; why is it?" + +Mrs. Hsüeh was at the time much distressed on this score. As soon +therefore as she caught this question, she gnashed her teeth with rage, +and shouted: "You good-for-nothing spiteful fellow! It's all you who +are at the bottom of this trouble; and do you still have the face to +come and ply me with questions?" + +These words made Hsüeh P'an wince. "When did I stir up any trouble?" he +quickly asked. + +"Do you still go on shamming!" cried Mrs. Hsüeh. "Every one knows full +well that it was you, who said those things, and do you yet +prevaricate?" + +"Were every one," insinuated Hsüeh P'an, "to assert that I had +committed murder, would you believe even that?" + +"Your very sister is well aware that they were said by you." Mrs. Hsüeh +continued, "and is it likely that she would accuse you falsely, pray?" + +"Mother," promptly interposed Pao-ch'ai, "you shouldn't be brawling +with brother just now! If you wait quietly, we'll find out the plain +and honest truth." Then turning towards Hsüeh P'an: "Whether it's you, +who said those things or not," she added, "it's of no consequence. The +whole affair, besides, is a matter of the past, so what need is there +for any arguments; they will only be making a mountain of a mole-hill! +I have just one word of advice to give you; don't, from henceforward, +be up to so much reckless mischief outside; and concern yourself a +little less with other people's affairs! All you do is day after day to +associate with your friends and foolishly gad about! You are a +happy-go-lucky sort of creature! If nothing happens well and good; but +should by and bye anything turn up, every one will, though it be none +of your doing, imagine again that you are at the bottom of it! Not to +speak of others, why I myself will be the first to suspect you!" + +Hsüeh P'an was naturally open-hearted and plain-spoken, and could not +brook anything in the way of innuendoes, so, when on the one side, +Pao-ch'ai advised him not to foolishly gad about, and his mother, on +the other, hinted that he had a foul tongue, and that he was the cause +that Pao-yü had been flogged, he at once got so exasperated that he +jumped about in an erratic manner and did all in his power, by vowing +and swearing, to explain matters. "Who has," he ejaculated, heaping +abuse upon every one, "laid such a tissue of lies to my charge! I'd +like to take the teeth of that felon and pull them out! It's clear as +day that they shove me forward as a target; for now that Pao-yü has +been flogged they find no means of making a display of their zeal. But, +is Pao-yü forsooth the lord of the heavens that because he has had a +thrashing from his father, the whole household should be fussing for +days? The other time, he behaved improperly, and my uncle gave him two +whacks. But our venerable ancestor came, after a time, somehow or +other, I don't know how, to hear about it, and, maintaining that it was +all due to Mr. Chia Chen, she called him before her, and gave him a +good blowing up. 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! But +won't it be better for me to go into the garden, and take Pao-yü and +give him a bit of my mind and kill him? I can then pay the penalty by +laying down my life for his, and one and all will enjoy peace and +quiet!" + +While he clamoured and shouted, he looked about him for the bar of the +door, and, snatching it up, he there and then was running off, to the +consternation of Mrs. Hsüeh, who clutched him in her arms. "You +murderous child of retribution!" she cried. "Whom would you go and +beat? come first and assail me?" + +From excitement Hsüeh P'an's eyes protruded like copper bells. "What +are you up to," he vociferated, "that you won't let me go where I +please, and that you deliberately go on calumniating me? 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?" + +Pao-ch'ai too hurriedly rushed forward. "Be patient a bit!" she +exhorted him. "Here's mamma in an awful state of despair. Not to +mention that it should be for you to come and pacify her, you +contrariwise kick up all this rumpus! Why, saying nothing about her who +is your parent, were even a perfect stranger to advise you, it would be +meant for your good! But the good counsel she gave you has stirred up +your monkey instead." + +"From the way you're now speaking," Hsüeh P'an rejoined, "it must be +you, who said that it was I; no one else but you!" + +"You simply know how to feel displeased with me for speaking," argued +Pao-ch'ai, "but you don't feel displeased with yourself for that +reckless way of yours of looking ahead and not minding what is behind!" + +"You now bear me a grudge," Hsüeh P'an added, "for looking to what is +ahead and not to what is behind; but how is it you don't feel indignant +with Pao-yü for stirring up strife and provoking trouble outside? +Leaving aside everything else, I'll merely take that affair of Ch'i +Kuan-erh's, which occurred the other day, and recount it to you as an +instance. My friends and I came across this Ch'i Kuan-erh, ten times at +least, but never has he made a single intimate remark to me, and how is +it that, as soon as he met Pao-yü the other day, he at once produced +his sash, and gave it to him, though he did not so much as know what +his surname and name were? Now is it likely, forsooth, that this too +was something that I started?" + +"Do you still refer to this?" exclaimed Mrs. Hsüeh and Pao-ch'ai, out +of patience. "Wasn't it about this that he was beaten? This makes it +clear enough that it's you who gave the thing out." + +"Really, you're enough to exasperate one to death!" Hsüeh P'an +exclaimed. "Had you confined yourselves to saying that I had started +the yarn, I wouldn't have lost my temper; but what irritates me is that +such a fuss should be made for a single Pao-yü, as to subvert heaven +and earth!" + +"Who fusses?" shouted Pao-ch'ai. "You are the first to arm yourself to +the teeth and start a row, and then you say that it's others who are up +to mischief!" + +Hsüeh P'an, seeing that every remark, made by Pao-ch'ai, contained so +much reasonableness that he could with difficulty refute it, and that +her words were even harder for him to reply to than were those uttered +by his mother, he was consequently bent upon contriving a plan to make +use of such language as could silence her and compel her to return to +her room, so as to have no one bold enough to interfere with his +speaking; but, his temper being up, he was not in a position to weigh +his speech. "Dear Sister!" he readily therefore said, "you needn't be +flying into a huff with me! I've long ago divined your feelings. Mother +told me some time back that for you with that gold trinket, must be +selected some suitor provided with a jade one; as such a one will be a +suitable match for you. And having treasured this in your mind, and +seen that Pao-yü has that rubbishy thing of his, you naturally now +seize every occasion to screen him…." + +However, before he could finish, Pao-ch'ai trembled with anger, and +clinging to Mrs. Hsüeh, she melted into tears. "Mother," she observed, +"have you heard what brother says, what is it all about?" + +Hsüeh P'an, at the sight of his sister bathed in tears, became alive to +the fact that he had spoken inconsiderately, and, flying into a rage, +he walked away to his own quarters and retired to rest. But we can well +dispense with any further comment on the subject. + +Pao-ch'ai was, at heart, full of vexation and displeasure. She meant to +give vent to her feelings in some way, but the fear again of upsetting +her mother compelled her to conceal her tears. 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. + +As luck would have it, she encountered Tai-yü standing alone under the +shade of the trees, who inquired of her: "Where she was off to?" + +"I'm going home," Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai replied. And as she uttered these +words, she kept on her way. + +But Tai-yü perceived that she was going off in a disconsolate mood; +and, noticing that her eyes betrayed signs of crying, and that her +manner was unlike that of other days, she smilingly called out to her +from behind: "Sister, you should take care of yourself a bit. Were you +even to cry so much as to fill two water jars with tears, you wouldn't +heal the wounds inflicted by the cane." + +But as what reply Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai gave is not yet known to you, reader, +lend an ear to the explanation contained in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + + Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup. + Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets. + +Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but +in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as +turn her head round, but continued straight on her way. + +During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees. Upon +casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed +Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates +wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but +after they had gone past, and company after company of them had +dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come. "How is it," she +cogitated within herself, "that she doesn't come to see Pao-yü? Even +supposing that there was some business to detain her, she should also +have put in an appearance, so as to curry favour with our venerable +senior and Madame Wang. But if she hasn't shown herself at this hour of +the day, there must certainly be some cause or other." + +While preoccupied with conjectures, she raised her head. At a second +glance, she discerned a crowd of people, as thick as flowers in a +bouquet, pursuing their way also into the I Hung court. On looking +fixedly, she recognised dowager lady Chia, leaning on lady Feng's arm, +followed by Mesdames Hsing and Wang, Mrs. Chou and servant-girls, +married women and other domestics. In a body they walked into the +court. At the sight of them, Tai-yü unwittingly nodded her head, and +reflected on the benefit of having a father and mother; and tears +forthwith again bedewed her face. In a while, she beheld Pao-ch'ai, +Mrs. Hsüeh and the rest likewise go in. + +But at quite an unexpected moment she became aware that Tzu Chüan was +approaching her from behind. "Miss," she said, "you had better go and +take your medicine! The hot water too has got cold." + +"What do you, after all, mean by keeping on pressing me so?" inquired +Tai-yü. "Whether I have it or not, what's that to you?" + +"Your cough," smiled Tzu Chüan, "has recently got a trifle better, and +won't you again take your medicine? This is, it's true, the fifth moon, +and the weather is hot, but you should, nevertheless, take good care of +yourself a bit! Here you've been at this early hour of the morning +standing for ever so long in this damp place; so you should go back and +have some rest!" + +This single hint recalled Tai-yü to her senses. She at length realised +that her legs felt rather tired. After lingering about abstractedly for +a long while, she quietly returned into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, +supporting herself on Tzu Chüan. As soon as they stepped inside the +entrance of the court, her gaze was attracted by the confused shadows +of the bamboos, which covered the ground, and the traces of moss, here +thick, there thin, and she could not help recalling to mind those two +lines of the passage in the Hsi Hsiang Chi: + + "In that lone nook some one saunters about, + White dew coldly bespecks the verdant moss." + +"Shuang Wen," she consequently secretly communed within herself, as she +sighed, "had of course a poor fate; but she nevertheless had a widowed +mother and a young brother; but in the unhappy destiny, to which I, +Tai-yü, am at present doomed, I have neither a widowed mother nor a +young brother." + +At this point in her reflections, she was about to melt into another +fit of crying, when of a sudden, the parrot under the verandah caught +sight of Tai-yü approaching, and, with a shriek, he jumped down from +his perch, and made her start with fright. + +"Are you bent upon compassing your own death!" she exclaimed. "You've +covered my head all over with dust again!" + +The parrot flew back to his perch. "Hsüeh Yen," he kept on shouting, +"quick, raise the portiere! Miss is come!" + +Tai-yü stopped short and rapped on the frame with her hand. "Have his +food and water been replenished?" she asked. + +The parrot forthwith heaved a deep sigh, closely resembling, in sound, +the groans usually indulged in by Tai-yü, and then went on to recite: + + "Here I am fain these flowers to inter, but humankind will laugh me + as + a fool." + Who knows who will in years to come commit me to my grave. + +As soon as these lines fell on the ear of Tai-yü and Tzu Chüan, they +blurted out laughing. + +"This is what you were repeating some time back, Miss." Tzu Chüan +laughed, "How did he ever manage to commit it to memory?" + +Tai-yü then directed some one to take down the frame and suspend it +instead on a hook, outside the circular window, and presently entering +her room, she seated herself inside the circular window. She had just +done drinking her medicine, when she perceived that the shade cast by +the cluster of bamboos, planted outside the window, was reflected so +far on the gauze lattice as to fill the room with a faint light, so +green and mellow, and to impart a certain coolness to the teapoys and +mats. But Tai-yü had no means at hand to dispel her ennui, so from +inside the gauze lattice, she instigated the parrot to perform his +pranks; and selecting some verses, which had ever found favour with +her, she tried to teach them to him. + +But without descending to particulars, let us now advert to Hsüeh +Pao-ch'ai. 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?" she speedily inquired when she saw her enter. + +"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. "My child," she +simultaneously exhorted her, "don't feel aggrieved! Wait, and I'll call +that child of wrath to order; for were anything to happen to you, from +whom will I have anything to hope?" + +Hsüeh P'an was outside and happened to overhear their conversation, so +with alacrity he ran over, and facing Pao-ch'ai he made a bow, now to +the left and now to the right, observing the while: "My dear sister, +forgive me this time. 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. It +isn't worth your while, however, losing your temper over such a thing!" + +Pao-ch'ai was, in fact, weeping, as she covered her face, but the +moment this language fell on her ear, she could scarcely again refrain +from laughing. Forthwith raising her head, she sputtered contemptuously +on the ground. "You can well dispense with all this sham!" 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." + +Hsüeh P'an, at these words, hastened to smile. "Sister," he argued, +"what makes you say so? once upon a time, you weren't so suspicious and +given to uttering anything so perverse!" + +Mrs. Hsüeh hurriedly took up the thread of the conversation. "All you +know," she interposed, "is to find fault with your sister's remarks as +being perverse; but can it be that what you said last night was the +proper thing to say? In very truth, you were drunk!" + +"There's no need for you to get angry, mother!" Hsüeh P'an rejoined, +"nor for you sister either; for from this day, I shan't any more make +common cause with them nor drink wine or gad about. What do you say to +that?" + +"That's equal to an acknowledgment of your failings," Pao-ch'ai +laughed. + +"Could you exercise such strength of will," added Mrs. Hsüeh, "why, the +dragon too would lay eggs." + +"If I again go and gad about with them," Hsüeh P'an replied, "and you, +sister, come to hear of it, you can freely spit in my face and call me +a beast and no human being. Do you agree to that? But why should you +two be daily worried; and all through me alone? For you, mother, to be +angry on my account is anyhow excusable; but for me to keep on worrying +you, sister, makes me less then ever worthy of the name of a human +being! If now that father is no more, I manage, instead of showing you +plenty of filial piety, mamma, and you, sister, plenty of love, to +provoke my mother to anger, and annoy my sister, why I can't compare +myself to even a four-footed creature!" + +While from his mouth issued these words, tears rolled down from his +eyes; for he too found it hard to contain them. + +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. + +Pao-ch'ai made an effort to force a smile. "You've already," she said, +"been the cause of quite enough trouble, and do you now provoke mother +to have another cry?" + +Hearing this, Hsüeh P'an promptly checked his tears. As he put on a +smiling expression, "When did I," he asked, "make mother cry? But never +mind; enough of this! let's drop the matter, and not allude to it any +more! Call Hsiang Ling to come and give you a cup of tea, sister!" + +"I don't want any tea." Pao-ch'ai answered. "I'll wait until mother has +finished washing her hands and then go with her into the garden." + +"Let me see your necklet, sister," Hsüeh P'an continued. "I think it +requires cleaning." + +"It is so yellow and bright," rejoined Pao-ch'ai, "and what's the use +of cleaning it again?" + +"Sister," proceeded Hsüeh P'an, "you must now add a few more clothes to +your wardrobe, so tell me what colour and what design you like best." + +"I haven't yet worn out all the clothes I have," Pao-ch'ai explained, +"and why should I have more made?" + +But, in a little time, Mrs. Hsüeh effected the change in her costume, +and hand in hand with Pao-ch'ai, she started on her way to the garden. + +Hsüeh P'an thereupon took his departure. During this while, Mrs. Hsüeh +and Pao-ch'ai trudged in the direction of the garden to look up Pao-yü. +As soon as they reached the interior of the I Hung court, they saw a +large concourse of waiting-maids and matrons standing inside as well as +outside the antechambers and they readily concluded that old lady Chia +and the other ladies were assembled in his rooms. Mrs. Hsüeh and her +daughter stepped in. After exchanging salutations with every one +present, they noticed that Pao-yü was reclining on the couch and Mrs. +Hsüeh inquired of him whether he felt any better. + +Pao-yü hastily attempted to bow. "I'm considerably better;" he said. +"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. "Mind you +tell me whatever may take your fancy!" she proceeded. + +"If I do fancy anything," retorted Pao-yü smilingly, "I shall certainly +send to you, aunt, for it." + +"What would you like to eat," likewise inquired Madame Wang, "so that I +may, on my return, send it round to you?" + +"There's nothing that I care for," smiled Pao-yü, "though the soup made +for me the other day, with young lotus leaves, and small lotus cores +was, I thought, somewhat nice." + +"From what I hear, its flavour is nothing very grand," lady Feng chimed +in laughingly, from where she stood on one side. "It involves, however, +a good deal of trouble to concoct; and here you deliberately go and +fancy this very thing." + +"Go and get it ready!" cried dowager lady Chia several successive +times. + +"Venerable ancestor," urged lady Feng with a smile, "don't you bother +yourself about it! Let me try and remember who can have put the moulds +away!" Then turning her head round, "Go and bid," she enjoined an old +matron, "the chief in the cook-house go and apply for them!" + +After a considerable lapse of time, the matron returned. "The chief in +the cook-house," she explained, "says that the four sets of moulds for +soups have all been handed up." + +Upon hearing this, lady Feng thought again for a while. "Yes, I +remember," she afterwards remarked, "they were handed up, but I can't +recollect to whom they were given. Possibly they're in the tea-room." + +Thereupon, she also despatched a servant to go and inquire of the +keeper of the tea-room about them; but he too had not got them; and it +was subsequently the butler, entrusted with the care of the gold and +silver articles, who brought them round. + +Mrs. Hsüeh was the first to take them and examine them. What, in fact, +struck her gaze was a small box, the contents of which were four sets +of silver moulds. Each of these was over a foot long, and one square +inch (in breadth). On the top, holes were bored of the size of beans. +Some resembled chrysanthemums, others plum blossom. Some were in the +shape of lotus seed-cases, others like water chestnuts. They numbered +in all thirty or forty kinds, and were ingeniously executed. + +"In your mansion," she felt impelled to observe smilingly to old lady +Chia and Madame Wang, "everything has been amply provided for! Have you +got all these things to prepare a plate of soup with! Hadn't you told +me, and I happened to see them, I wouldn't have been able to make out +what they were intended for!" + +Lady Feng did not allow time to any one to put in her word. "Aunt," she +said, "how could you ever have divined that these were used last year +for the imperial viands! They thought of a way by which they devised, +somehow or other, I can't tell how, some dough shapes, which borrow a +little of the pure fragrance of the new lotus leaves. But as all mainly +depends upon the quality of the soup, they're not, after all, of much +use! Yet who often goes in for such soup! It was made once only, and +that at the time when the moulds were brought; and how is it that he +has come to think of it to-day?" So speaking, she took (the moulds), +and handed them to a married woman, to go and issue directions to the +people in the cook-house to procure at once several fowls, and to add +other ingredients besides and prepare ten bowls of soup. + +"What do you want all that lot for?" observed Madame Wang. + +"There's good reason for it," answered lady Feng. "A dish of this kind +isn't, at ordinary times, very often made, and were, now that brother +Pao-yü has alluded to it, only sufficient prepared for him, and none +for you, dear senior, you, aunt, and you, Madame Wang, it won't be +quite the thing! So isn't it better that this opportunity should be +availed of to get ready a whole supply so that every one should partake +of some, and that even I should, through my reliance on your kind +favour, taste this novel kind of relish." + +"You are sharper than a monkey!" Dowager lady Chia laughingly exclaimed +in reply to her proposal. "You make use of public money to confer boons +upon people." + +This remark evoked general laughter. + +"This is a mere bagatelle!" eagerly laughed lady Feng. "Even I can +afford to stand you such a small treat!" Then turning her head round, +"Tell them in the cook-house," she said to a married woman, "to please +make an extra supply, and that they'll get the money from me." + +The matron assented and went out of the room. + +Pao-ch'ai, who was standing near, thereupon interposed with a smile. +"During the few years that have gone by since I've come here, I've +carefully noticed that sister-in-law Secunda, cannot, with all her +acumen, outwit our venerable ancestor." + +"My dear child!" forthwith replied old lady Chia at these words. "I'm +now quite an old woman, and how can there still remain any wit in me! +When I was, long ago, of your manlike cousin Feng's age, I had far more +wits about me than she has! Albeit she now avers that she can't reach +our standard, she's good enough; and compared with your aunt Wang, why, +she's infinitely superior. Your aunt, poor thing, won't speak much! +She's like a block of wood; and when with her father and mother-in-law, +she won't show herself off to advantage. But that girl Feng has a sharp +tongue, so is it a wonder if people take to her." + +"From what you say," insinuated Pao-yü with a smile, "those who don't +talk much are not loved." + +"Those who don't speak much," resumed dowager lady Chia, "possess the +endearing quality of reserve. But among those, with glib tongues, +there's also a certain despicable lot; thus it's better, in a word, not +to have too much to say for one's self." + +"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." + +"With regard to the young ladies," remarked dowager lady Chia, "it +isn't that I have any wish to flatter your aunt Hsüeh in her presence, +but it is a positive and incontestable fact that there isn't, beginning +from the four girls in our household, a single one able to hold a +candle to that girl Pao-ch'ai." + +At these words, Mrs. Hsüeh promptly smiled. "Dear venerable senior!" +she said, "you're rather partial in your verdict." + +"Our dear senior," vehemently put in Madame Wang, also smiling, "has +often told me in private how nice your daughter Pao-ch'ai is; so this +is no lie." + +Pao-yü had tried to lead old lady Chia on, originally with the idea of +inducing her to speak highly of Lin Tai-yü, but when unawares she began +to eulogise Pao-ch'ai instead the result exceeded all his thoughts and +went far beyond his expectations. Forthwith he cast a glance at +Pao-chai, and gave her a smile, but Pao-chai at once twisted her head +round and went and chatted with Hsi Jen. But of a sudden, some one came +to ask them to go and have their meal. Dowager lady Chia rose to her +feet, and enjoined Pao-yü to be careful of himself. She then gave a few +directions to the waiting-maids, and resting her weight on lady Feng's +arm, and pressing Mrs. Hsüeh to go out first, she, and all with her, +left the apartment in a body. But still she kept on inquiring whether +the soup was ready or not. "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." + +"My venerable senior!" rejoined Mrs. Hsüeh, "you do have the happy +knack of putting her on her mettle; but though she has often got things +ready for you, you've, after all, not eaten very much of them." + +"Aunt," smiled lady Feng, "don't make such statements! If our worthy +senior hasn't eaten me up it's purely and simply because she dislikes +human flesh as being sour. Did she not look down upon it as sour, why, +she would long ago have gobbled me up!" + +This joke was scarcely ended, when it so tickled the fancy of old lady +Chia and all the inmates that they broke out with one voice in a +boisterous fit of laughter. Even Pao-yü, who was inside the room, could +not keep quiet. + +"Really," Hsi Jen laughed, "the mouth of our mistress Secunda is enough +to terrify people to death!" + +Pao-yü put out his arm and pulled Hsi Jen. "You've been standing for so +long," he smiled, "that you must be feeling tired." + +Saying this, he dragged her down and made her take a seat next to him. + +"Here you've again forgotten!" laughingly exclaimed Hsi Jen. "Avail +yourself now that Miss Pao-ch'ai is in the court to tell her to kindly +bid their Ying Erh come and plait a few girdles with twisted cords." + +"How lucky it is you've reminded me?" Pao-yü observed with a smile. And +putting, while he spoke, his head out of the window: "Cousin +Pao-ch'ai," he cried, "when you've had your repast, do tell Ying Erh to +come over. I would like to ask her to plait a few girdles for me. Has +she got the time to spare?" + +Pao-ch'ai heard him speak; and turning round: "How about no time?" she +answered. "I'll tell her by and bye to come; it will be all right." + +Dowager lady Chia and the others, however, failed to catch distinctly +the drift of their talk; and they halted and made inquiries of +Pao-ch'ai what it was about. Pao-ch'ai gave them the necessary +explanations. + +"My dear child," remarked old lady Chia, "do let her come and twist a +few girdles for your cousin! 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!" + +"We'll send her to plait them!" Mrs. Hsüeh and Pao-ch'ai observed +smilingly with one consent. "What can we want her for? she also daily +idles her time way and is up to every mischief!" + +But chatting the while, they were about to proceed on their way when +they unexpectedly caught sight of Hsiang-yün, P'ing Erh, Hsiang Lin and +other girls picking balsam flowers near the rocks; who, as soon as they +saw the company approaching, advanced to welcome them. + +Shortly, they all sallied out of the garden. Madame Wang was worrying +lest dowager lady Chia's strength might be exhausted, and she did her +utmost to induce her to enter the drawing room and sit down. Old lady +Chia herself was feeling her legs quite tired out, so she at once +nodded her head and expressed her assent. Madame Wang then directed a +waiting-maid to hurriedly precede them, and get ready the seats. But as +Mrs. Chao had, about this time, pleaded indisposition, there was only +therefore Mrs. Chou, with the matrons and servant-girls at hand, so +they had ample to do to raise the portières, to put the back-cushions +in their places, and to spread out the rugs. + +Dowager lady Chia stepped into the room, leaning on lady Feng's arm. +She and Mrs. Hsüeh took their places, with due regard to the +distinction between hostess and visitors; and Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai and Shih +Hsiang-yün seated themselves below. Madame Wang then came forward, and +presented with her own hands tea to old lady Chia, while Li Kung-ts'ai +handed a cup to Mrs. Hsüeh. + +"You'd better let those young sisters-in law do the honours," +remonstrated old lady Chia, "and sit over there so that we may be able +to have a chat." + +Madame Wang at length sat on a small bench. "Let our worthy senior's +viands," she cried, addressing herself to lady Feng, "be served here. +And let a few more things be brought!" + +Lady Feng acquiesced without delay, and she told a servant to cross +over to their old mistress' quarters and to bid the matrons, employed +in that part of the household, promptly go out and summon the +waiting-girls. The various waiting-maids arrived with all despatch. +Madame Wang directed them to ask their young ladies round. But after a +protracted absence on the errand, only two of the girls turned up: T'an +Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un. Ying Ch'un, was not, in her state of health, equal +to the fatigue, or able to put anything in her mouth, and Lin Tai-yü, +superfluous to add, could only safely partake of five out of ten meals, +so no one thought anything of their non-appearance. Presently the +eatables were brought, and the servants arranged them in their proper +places on the table. + +Lady Feng took a napkin and wrapped a bundle of chopsticks in it. +"Venerable ancestor and you, Mrs. Hsüeh," she smiled, standing the +while below, "there's no need of any yielding! Just you listen to me +and I'll make things all right." + +"Let's do as she wills!" old lady Chia remarked to Mrs. Hsüeh +laughingly. + +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. Madame Wang, Li Kung-ts'ai and +a few others, stood together below and watched the attendants serve the +viands. Lady Feng first and foremost hastily asked for clean utensils, +and drew near the table to select some eatables for Pao-yü. Presently, +the soup _à la_ lotus leaves arrived. After old lady Chia had well +scrutinised it, Madame Wang turned her head, and catching sight of Yü +Ch'uan-erh, she immediately commissioned her to take some over to +Pao-yü. + +"She can't carry it single-handed," demurred lady Feng. + +But by a strange coincidence, Ying Erh then walked into the room along +with Hsi Erh, and Pao-ch'ai knowing very well that they had already had +their meal forthwith said to Ying Erh: "Your Master Secundus, Mr. +Pao-yü, just asked that you should go and twist a few girdles for him; +so you two might as well proceed together!" + +Ying Erh expressed her readiness and left the apartment, in company +with +Yü Ch'uan-erh. + +"How can you carry it, so very hot as it is, the whole way there?" +observed Ying Erh. + +"Don't distress yourself!" rejoined Yü Ch'uan smiling. "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. Here Yü +Ch'uan-erh at length took the things herself, and entered the room in +company with Ying Erh. The trio, Hsi Jen, She Yüeh and Ch'iu Wen were +at the time chatting and laughing with Pao-yü; but the moment they saw +their two friends arrive they speedily jumped to their feet. "How is +it," they exclaimed laughingly, "that you two drop in just the nick of +time? Have you come together?" + +With these words on their lips, they descended to greet them. Yü Ch'uan +took at once a seat on a small stool. Ying Erh, however, did not +presume to seat herself; and though Hsi Jen was quick enough in moving +a foot-stool for her, Ying Erh did not still venture to sit down. + +Ying Erh's arrival filled Pao-yü with intense delight. But as soon as +he noticed Yü Ch'uan-erh, he recalled to memory her sister Chin +Ch'uan-erh, and he felt wounded to the very heart, and overpowered with +shame. And, without troubling his mind about Ying Erh, he addressed his +remarks to Yü Ch'uan-erh. + +Hsi Jen saw very well that Ying Erh failed to attract his attention and +she began to fear lest she felt uncomfortable; and when she further +realised that Ying Erh herself would not take a seat, she drew her out +of the room and repaired with her into the outer apartment, where they +had a chat over their tea. + +She Yüeh and her companions had, in the meantime, got the bowls and +chopsticks ready and came to wait upon (Pao-yü) during his meal. But +Pao-yü would not have anything to eat. "Is your mother all right," he +forthwith inquired of Yü Ch'uan-erh. + +An angry scowl crept over Yü Ch'uan-erh's face. 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. + +Pao-yü discerned the mournful expression, which still beclouded her +countenance and he readily jumped at the conclusion that it must be +entirely occasioned by the fate which had befallen Chin Ch'uan-erh, but +when fain to put on a meek and unassuming manner, and endeavour to +cheer her, he saw how little he could demean himself in the presence of +so many people, and consequently he did his best and discovered the +means of getting every one out of the way. Afterwards, straining +another smile, he plied her with all sorts of questions. + +Yü Ch'uan-erh, it is true, did not at first choose to heed his +advances, yet when she observed that Pao-yü did not put on any airs, +and, that in spite of all her querulous reproaches, he still continued +pleasant and agreeable, she felt disconcerted and her features at last +assumed a certain expression of cheerfulness. Pao-yü thereupon smiled. +"My dear girl," he said, as he gave way to entreaties, "bring that soup +and let me taste it!" + +"I've never been in the habit of feeding people," Yü Ch'uan-erh +replied. +"You'd better wait till the others return; you can have some then." + +"I don't want you to feed me," laughed Pao-yü. "It's because I can't +move about that I appeal to you. Do let me have it! You'll then get +back early and be able, when you've handed over the things, to have +your meal. But were I to go on wasting your time, won't you feel upset +from hunger? 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. At the sight of his anguish, Yü Ch'uan-erh had not the heart to +refuse her help. Springing up, "Lie down!" she cried. "In what former +existence did you commit such evil that your retribution in the present +one is so apparent? Which of my eyes however can brook looking at you +going on in that way?" + +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! When you see our venerable senior and madame, my mother, you +should be a little more even-tempered, for if you still behave like +this, you'll at once get a scolding!" + +"Eat away, eat away!" urged Yü Ch'uan-erh. "There's no need for you to +be so sweet-mouthed and honey-tongued with me. I don't put any faith in +such talk!" + +So speaking, she pressed Pao-yü until he had two mouthfuls of soup. "It +isn't nice, it isn't nice!" Pao-yü purposely exclaimed. + +"Omi-to-fu!" ejaculated Yü Ch'uan-erh. "If this isn't nice, what's +nice?" + +"There's no flavour about it at all," resumed Pao-yü. "If you don't +believe me taste it, and you'll find out for yourself." + +Yü Ch'uan-erh in a tantrum actually put some of it to her lips. + +"Well," laughed Pao-yü, "it is nice!" + +This exclamation eventually enabled Yü Ch'uan to see what Pao-yü was +driving at, for Pao-yü had in fact been trying to beguile her to have a +mouthful. + +"As, at one moment, you say you don't want any," she forthwith +observed, "and now you say it is nice, I won't give you any." + +While Pao-yü returned her smiles, he kept on earnestly entreating her +to let him have some. + +Yü Ch'uan-erh however would still not give him any; and she, at the +same time, called to the servants to fetch what there was for him to +eat. But the instant the waiting-maid put her foot into the room, +servants came quite unexpectedly to deliver a message. + +"Two nurses," they said, "have arrived from the household of Mr. Fu, +Secundus, to present his compliments. They have now come to see you, +Mr. +Secundus." As soon as Pao-yü heard this report, he felt sure that they +must be nurses sent over from the household of Deputy Sub-Prefect, Fu +Shih. + +This Fu Shih had originally been a pupil of Chia Cheng, and had, +indeed, had to rely entirely upon the reputation enjoyed by the Chia +family for the realisation of his wishes. Chia Cheng had, likewise, +treated him with such genuine regard, and so unlike any of his other +pupils, that he (Fu Shih) ever and anon despatched inmates from his +mansion to come and see him so as to keep up friendly relations. + +Pao-yü had at all times entertained an aversion for bold-faced men and +unsophisticated women, so why did he once more, on this occasion, issue +directions that the two matrons should be introduced into his presence? +There was, in fact, a reason for his action. It was simply that Pao-yü +had come to learn that Fu Shih had a sister, Ch'iu-fang by name, a girl +as comely as a magnificent gem, and perfection itself, the report of +outside people went, as much in intellect as in beauty. He had, it is +true, not yet seen anything of her with his own eyes, but the +sentiments, which made him think of her and cherish her, from a +distance, were characterised by such extreme sincerity, that dreading +lest he should, by refusing to admit the matrons, reflect discredit +upon Fu Ch'iu-fang, he was prompted to lose no time in expressing a +wish that they should be ushered in. + +This Fu Shih had really risen from the vulgar herd, so seeing that +Ch'iu-fang possessed several traits of beauty and exceptional +intellectual talents, Fu Shih arrived at the resolution of making his +sister the means of joining relationship with the influential family of +some honourable clan. And so unwilling was he to promise her lightly to +any suitor that things were delayed up to this time. Therefore Fu +Ch'iu-fang, though at present past her twentieth birthday, was not as +yet engaged. But the various well-to-do families, belonging to +honourable clans, looked down, on the other hand, on her poor and mean +extraction, holding her in such light esteem, as not to relish the idea +of making any offer for her hand. So if Fu Shih cultivated intimate +terms with the Chia household, he, needless to add, did so with an +interested motive. + +The two matrons, deputed on the present errand, completely lacked, as +it happened, all knowledge of the world, and the moment they heard that +Pao-yü wished to see them, they wended their steps inside. But no +sooner had they inquired how he was, and passed a few remarks than Yü +Ch'uan-erh, becoming conscious of the arrival of strangers, did not +bandy words with Pao-yü, but stood with the plate of soup in her hands, +engrossed in listening to the conversation. Pao-yü, again, was absorbed +in speaking to the matrons; and, while eating some rice, he stretched +out his arm to get at the soup; but both his and her (Yü Ch'uan-erh's) +eyes were rivetted on the women, and as he thoughtlessly jerked out his +hand with some violence, he struck the bowl and turned it clean over. +The soup fell over Pao-yü's hand. But it did not hurt Yü Ch'uan-erh. +She sustained, however, such a fright that she gave a start. + +"How did this happen!" she smilingly shouted with vehemence to the +intense consternation of the waiting-maids, who rushed up and clasped +the bowl. But notwithstanding that Pao-yü had scalded his own hand, he +was quite unconscious of the accident; so much so, that he assailed Yü +Ch'uan-erh with a heap of questions, as to where she had been burnt, +and whether it was sore or not. + +Yü Ch'uan-erh and every one present were highly amused. + +"You yourself," observed Yü Ch'uan-erh, "have been scalded, and do you +keep on asking about myself?" + +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. But Pao-yü was not inclined to touch any more food. He washed his +hands, drank a cup of tea, and then exchanged a few further sentences +with the two matrons. But subsequently, the two women said good-bye and +quitted the room. Ch'ing Wen and some other girls saw them as far as +the bridge, after which, they retraced their steps. + +The two matrons perceived, that there was no one about, and while +proceeding on their way, they started a conversation. + +"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. Nice +enough a thing to look at but not to put to one's lips; rather idiotic +in fact; for he burns his own hand, and then he asks some one else +whether she's sore or not. Now, isn't this being a regular fool?" + +"The last time I came," the other remarked, also smiling, "I heard that +many inmates of his family feel ill-will against him. In real truth he +is a fool! For there he drips in the heavy downpour like a water fowl, +and instead of running to shelter himself, he reminds other people of +the rain, and urges them to get quick out of the wet. Now, tell me, +isn't this ridiculous, eh? Time and again, when no one is present, he +cries to himself, then laughs to himself. When he sees a swallow, he +instantly talks to it; when he espies a fish, in the river, he +forthwith speaks to it. At the sight of stars or the moon, if he +doesn't groan and sigh, he mutters and mutters. Indeed, he hasn't the +least bit of character; so much so, that he even puts up with the +temper shown by those low-bred maids. If he takes a fancy to a thing, +it's nice enough even though it be a bit of thread. But as for waste, +what does he mind? A thing may be worth a thousand or ten thousand +pieces of money, he doesn't worry his mind in the least about it." + +While they talked, they reached the exterior of the garden, and they +betook themselves back to their home; where we will leave them. + +As soon as Hsi Jen, for we will return to her, saw the women leave the +room, she took Ying Erh by the hand and led her in, and they asked +Pao-yü what kind of girdle he wanted made. + +"I was just now so bent upon talking," Pao-yü smiled to Ying Erh, "that +I forgot all about you. I put you to the trouble of coming, not for +anything else, but that you should also make me a few nets." + +"Nets! To put what in?" Ying Erh inquired. + +Pao-yü, at this question, put on a smile. "Don't concern yourself about +what they are for!" he replied. "Just make me a few of each kind!" + +Ying Erh clapped her hand and laughed. "Could this ever be done!" she +cried, "If you want all that lot, why, they couldn't be finished in ten +years time." + +"My dear girl," smiled Pao-yü, "work at them for me then whenever you +are at leisure, and have nothing better to do." + +"How could you get through them all in a little time?" Hsi Jen +interposed smilingly. "First choose now therefore such as are most +urgently needed and make a couple of them." + +"What about urgently needed?" Ying-Erh exclaimed, "They are merely used +for fans, scented pendants and handkerchiefs." + +"Nets for handkerchiefs will do all right." Pao-yü answered. + +"What's the colour of your handkerchief?" inquired Ying Erh. + +"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. Both these agree with the colour." + +"What goes well with brown?" Pao-yü asked. + +"Peach-red goes well with brown." Ying Erh added. + +"That will make them look gaudy!" Pao-yü observed. "Yet with all their +plainness, they should be somewhat gaudy." + +"Leek-green and willow-yellow are what are most to my taste," Ying Erh +pursued. + +"Yes, they'll also do!" Pao-yü retorted. "But make one of peach-red too +and then one of leek-green." + +"Of what design?" Ying Erh remarked. + +"How many kinds of designs are there?" Pao-yü said. + +"There are 'the stick of incense,' 'stools upset towards heaven,' 'part +of elephant's eyes,' 'squares,' 'chains,' 'plum blossom,' and 'willow +leaves." Ying Erh answered. + +"What was the kind of design you made for Miss Tertia the other day?" +Pao-yü inquired. + +"It was the 'plum blossom with piled cores,'" Ying Erh explained in +reply. + +"Yes, that's nice." Pao-yü rejoined. + +As he uttered this remark, Hsi Jen arrived with the cords. But no +sooner were they brought than a matron cried, from outside the window: +"Girls, your viands are ready!" + +"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?" + +"What makes you say so?" Ying Erh laughed, while adjusting the cords. +"It's only right and proper that you should go and have your food at +once and then return." + +Hearing this, Hsi Jen and her companions went off, leaving behind only +two youthful servant-girls to answer the calls. + +Pao-yü watched Ying Erh make the nets. But, while keeping his eyes +intent on her, he talked at the same time of one thing and then +another, and next went on to ask her how far she was in her teens. + +Ying Erh continued plaiting. "I'm sixteen," she simultaneously +rejoined. + +"What was your original surname?" Pao-yü added. + +"It was Huang;" answered Ying Erh. + +"That's just the thing," Pao-yü smiled; "for in real truth there's the +'Huang Ying-erh;' (oriole)." + +"My name, at one time, consisted of two characters," continued Ying +Erh. "I was called Chin Ying; but Miss Pao-ch'ai didn't like it, as it +was difficult to pronounce, and only called me Ying Erh; so now I've +come to be known under that name." + +"One can very well say that cousin Pao-ch'ai is fond of you!" Pao-yü +pursued. "By and bye, when she gets married, she's sure to take you +along with her." + +Ying Erh puckered up her lips, and gave a significant smile. + +"I've often told Hsi Jen," Pao-yü smiled, "that I can't help wondering +who'll shortly be the lucky ones to win your mistress and yourself." + +"You aren't aware," laughed Ying Erh, "that our young mistress +possesses several qualities not to be found in a single person in this +world; her face is a second consideration." + +Pao-yü noticed how captivating Ying Erh's tone of voice was, how +complaisant she was, and how simpleton-like unaffected in her language +and smiles, and he soon felt the warmest affection for her; and +particularly so, when she started the conversation about Pao-ch'ai. +"Where do her qualities lie?" he readily inquired. "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." + +"This goes without saying," smiled Pao-yü. + +But this answer was still on his lips, when they overheard some one +outside remark: "How is it that everything is so quiet?" + +Both gazed round to see who possibly it could be. They discovered, +strange enough, no one else than Pao-ch'ai herself. + +Pao-yü hastily offered her a seat. Pao-ch'ai seated herself, and then +wanted to know what Ying Erh was busy plaiting. Inquiring the while, +she approached her and scrutinised what she held in her hands, half of +which had by this time been done. "What's the fun of a thing like +this?" she said. "Wouldn't it be preferable to plait a net, and put the +jade in it?" + +This allusion suggested the idea to Pao-yü. Speedily clapping his +hands, he smiled and exclaimed: "Your idea is splendid, cousin. I'd +forgotten all about it! The only thing is what colour will suit it +best?" + +"It will never do to use mixed colours," Pao-ch'ai rejoined. "Deep red +will, on one hand, clash with the colour; while yellow is not pleasing +to the eye; and black, on the other hand, is too sombre. But wait, I'll +try and devise something. Bring that gold cord and use it with the +black beaded cord; and if you twist one of each together, and make a +net with them, it will look very pretty!" + +Upon hearing this, Pao-yü was immeasurably delighted, and time after +time he shouted to the servants to fetch the gold cord. But just at +that moment Hsi Jen stepped in, with two bowls of eatables. "How very +strange this is to-day!" she said to Pao-yü. "Why, a few minutes back, +my mistress, your mother, sent some one to bring me two bowls of +viands." + +"The supply," replied Pao-yü smiling, "must have been so plentiful +to-day, that they've sent some to every one of you." + +"It isn't that," continued Hsi Jen, "for they were distinctly given to +me by name. What's more, I wasn't bidden go and knock my head; so this +is indeed remarkable!" + +"If they're given to you," Pao-yü smiled, "why, you had better go and +eat them. What's there in this to fill you with conjectures?" + +"There's never been anything like this before," Hsi Jen added, "so, it +makes me feel uneasy." + +Pao-ch'ai compressed her lips. "If this," she laughed; "makes you feel +uneasy, there will be by and bye other things to make you far more +uneasy." + +Hsi Jen realised that she implied something by her insinuations, as she +knew from past experience that Pao-ch'ai was not one given to lightly +and contemptuously poking fun at people; and, remembering the notions +entertained by Madame Wang on the last occasion she had seen her, she +dropped at once any further allusions to the subject and brought the +eatables up to Pao-yü for his inspection. "I shall come and hold the +cords," she observed, "as soon as I've rinsed my hands." + +This said, she immediately quitted the apartment. After her meal, she +washed her hands and came inside to hold the gold cords for Ying Erh to +plait the net with. + +By this time, Pao-ch'ai had been called away by a servant, despatched +by Hsüeh P'an. But while Pao-yü was watching the net that was being +made he caught sight, at a moment least expected, of two servant-girls, +who came from the part of Madame Hsing of the other mansion, to bring +him a few kinds of fruits, and to inquire whether he was able to walk. +"If you can go about," they told him, "(our mistress) desires you, Mr. +Pao-yü, to cross over to-morrow and have a little distraction. Her +ladyship really longs to see you." + +"Were I able to walk," Pao-yü answered with alacrity, "I would feel it +my duty to go and pay my respects to your mistress! Anyhow, the pain is +better than before, so request your lady to allay her solicitude." + +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." + +Ch'iu Wen signified her obedience, and was about to start on her +errand, when she heard Tai-yü talking in the court, and Pao-yü eagerly +shout out: "Request her to walk in at once!" + +But should there be any further particulars, which you, reader, might +feel disposed to know, peruse the details given in the following +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + + While Hsi Jen is busy embroidering mandarin ducks, Pao-yü receives, + in + the Chiang Yün Pavilion, an omen from a dream. + Pao-yü apprehends that there is a destiny in affections, when his + feelings are aroused to a sense of the situation in the Pear + Fragrance court. + +Ever since dowager lady Chia's return from Madame Wang's quarters, for +we will now take up the string of our narrative, she naturally felt +happier in her mind as she saw that Pao-yü improved from day to day; +but nervous lest Chia Cheng should again in the future send for him, +she lost no time in bidding a servant summon a head-page, a constant +attendant upon Chia Cheng, to come to her, and in impressing upon him +various orders. "Should," she enjoined him, "anything turn up +henceforward connected with meeting guests, entertaining visitors and +other such matters, and your master mean to send for Pao-yü, you can +dispense with going to deliver the message. Just you tell him that I +say that after the severe thrashing he has had, great care must be +first taken of him during several months before he can be allowed to +walk; and that, secondly, his constellation is unpropitious and that he +could not see any outsider, while sacrifices are being offered to the +stars; that I won't have him therefore put his foot beyond the second +gate before the expiry of the eighth moon." + +The head-page listened patiently to her instructions, and, assenting to +all she had to say, he took his leave. + +Old lady Chia thereupon also sent for nurse Li, Hsi Jen and the other +waiting-maids and recommended them to tell Pao-yü about her injunctions +so that he might be able to quiet his mind. + +Pao-yü had always had a repugnance for entertaining high officials and +men in general, and the greatest horror of going in official hat and +ceremonial dress, to offer congratulations, or express condolences, to +pay calls, return visits, or perform other similar conventionalities, +but upon receipt on the present occasion of this message, he became so +much the more confirmed in his dislikes that not only did he suspend +all intercourse with every single relative and friend, but even went so +far as to study more than he had ever done before, his own caprices in +the fulfilment of those morning and evening salutations due to the +senior members of his family. Day after day he spent in the garden, +doing nothing else than loafing about, sitting down here, or reclining +there. Of a morning, he would, as soon as it was day, stroll as far as +the quarters of dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, to repair back, +however, in no time. Yet ever ready was he every day that went by to +perform menial services for any of the waiting-maids. He, in fact, +wasted away in the most complete _dolce far niente_ days as well as +months. If perchance Pao-ch'ai or any other girl of the same age as +herself found at any time an opportunity to give him advice, he would, +instead of taking it in good part, fly into a huff. "A pure and +spotless maiden," he would say, "has likewise gone and deliberately +imitated those persons, whose aim is to fish for reputation and to seek +praise; that set of government thieves and salaried devils. This result +entirely arises from the fact that there have been people in former +times, who have uselessly stirred up trouble and purposely fabricated +stories with the primary object of enticing the filthy male creatures, +who would spring up in future ages, to follow in their steps! And who +would have thought it, I have had the misfortune of being born a +masculine being! But, even those beautiful girls, in the female +apartments, have been so contaminated by this practice that verily they +show themselves ungrateful for the virtue of Heaven and Earth, in +endowing them with perception, and in rearing them with so much +comeliness." + +Seeing therefore what an insane mania possessed him, not one of his +cousins came forward to tender him one proper word of counsel. Lin +Tai-yü was the only one of them, who, from his very infancy, had never +once admonished him to strive and make a position and attain fame, so +thus it was that he entertained for Tai-yü profound consideration. But +enough of minor details. + +We will now turn our attention to lady Feng. Soon after the news of +Chin Ch'uan-erh's death reached her, she saw that domestics from +various branches of the family paid her frequent visits at most +unexpected hours, and presented her a lot of things, and that they +courted her presence at most unseasonable moments, to pay their +compliments and adulate her, and she begun to harbour suspicions, in +her own mind, as she little knew what their object could possibly be. +On this date, she again noticed that some of them had brought their +gifts, so, when evening arrived, and no one was present, she felt +compelled to inquire jocosely of P'ing Erh what their aim could be. + +"Can't your ladyship fathom even this?" P'ing Erh answered with a +sardonic smile. "Why, their daughters must, I fancy, be servant-girls +in Madame Wang's apartments! For her ladyship's rooms four elderly +girls are at present allotted with a monthly allowance of one tael; the +rest simply receiving several hundreds of cash each month; so now that +Chin Ch'uan-erh is dead and gone, these people must, of course, be +anxious to try their tricks and get this one-tael job!" + +Hearing this, lady Feng smiled a significant smile. "That's it. Yes, +that's it!" she exclaimed. "You've really suggested the idea to my +mind! From all appearances, these people are a most insatiable lot; for +they make quite enough in the way of money! And as for any business +that requires a little exertion, why they are never ready to bear a +share of it! They make use of their girls as so many tools to shove +their own duties upon. Yet one overlooks that. But must they too have +designs upon this job? Never mind! These people cannot easily afford to +spend upon me the money they do. But they bring this upon their own +selves, so I'll keep every bit of thing they send. I've, after all, +resolved how to act in the matter!" + +Having arrived at this decision, lady Feng purely and simply protracted +the delay until all the women had sent her enough to satisfy her, when +she at last suited her own convenience and spoke to Madame Wang (on the +subject of the vacant post). + +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. +"Ever since," she said, "sister Chin Ch'uan-erh's death, there has been +one servant less in your ladyship's service. But you may possibly have +set your choice upon some girl; if so, do let me know who it is, so +that I may be able to pay her her monthly wages." + +This reminder made Madame Wang commune with her own self. "I fancy," +she remarked; "that the custom is that there should be four or five of +them; but as long as there are enough to wait upon me, I don't mind, so +we can really dispense with another." + +"What you say is, properly speaking, perfectly correct," smiled lady +Feng; "but it's an old established custom. There are still a couple to +be found in other people's rooms and won't you, Madame, conform with +the rule? Besides, the saving of a tael is a small matter." + +After this argument, Madame Wang indulged in further thought. "Never +mind," she then observed, "just you bring over this allowance and pay +it to me. And there will be no need to supply another girl. I'll hand +over this tael to her younger sister, Yü Ch'uan-erh, and finish with +it. Her elder sister came to an unpleasant end, after a long term of +service with me; so if the younger sister, she leaves behind in my +employ, receives a double share, it won't be any too excessive." + +Lady Feng expressed her approval and turning round she said smilingly +to +Yü Ch'uan-erh: "I congratulate you, I congratulate you!" + +Yü Ch'uan-erh thereupon crossed over and prostrated herself. + +"I just want to ask you," Madame Wang went on to inquire, "how much +Mrs. +Chao and Mrs. Chou are allowed monthly?" + +"They have a fixed allowance," answered lady Feng, "each of them draws +two taels. But Mrs. Chao gets two taels for cousin Chia Huan, so hers +amounts in all to four taels; besides these, four strings of cash." + +"Are they paid in full month after month?" Madame Wang inquired. + +Lady Feng thought the question so very strange that she hastened to +exclaim by way of reply: "How are they not paid in full?" + +"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. How and why is this?" + +"The monthly allowances of the servant-girls, attached to the secondary +wives," lady Feng hurriedly added with a smile, "amounted originally to +a tiao each, but ever since last year, it was decided, by those people +outside, that the shares of each of those ladies' girls should be +reduced by half, that is, each to five hundred cash; and, as each lady +has a couple of servant-girls, they receive therefore a tiao short. But +for this, they can't bear me a grudge. As far as I'm concerned, I would +only be too glad to let them have it; but our people outside will again +disallow it; so is it likely that I can authorise any increase, pray? +In this matter of payments I merely receive the money, and I've nothing +to do with how it comes and how it goes. I nevertheless recommended, on +two or three occasions, that it would be better if these two shares +were again raised to the old amount; but they said that there's only +that much money, so that I can't very well volunteer any further +suggestions! Now that the funds are paid into my hands, I give them to +them every month, without any irregularity of even so much as a day. +When payments hitherto were effected outside, what month were they not +short of money? And did they ever, on any single instance, obtain their +pay at the proper time and date?" + +Having heard this explanation, Madame Wang kept silent for a while. +Next, she proceeded to ask, how many girls there were with dowager lady +Chia drawing one tael. + +"Eight of them," rejoined lady Feng, "but there are at present only +seven; the other one is Hsi Jen." + +"Quite right," assented Madame Wang. "But your cousin Pao-yü hasn't any +maid at one tael; for Hsi Jen is still a servant belonging to old lady +Chia's household." + +"Hsi Jen," lady Feng smiled, "is still our dear ancestor's servant; +she's only lent to cousin Pao-yü; so that she still receives this tael +in her capacity of maid to our worthy senior. Any proposal, therefore, +that might now be made, that this tael should, as Hsi Jen is Pao-yü's +servant, be curtailed, can, on no account, be entertained. Yet, were it +suggested that another servant should be added to our senior's staff, +then in this way one could reduce the tael she gets. But if this be not +curtailed, it will be necessary to also add a servant in cousin Chia +Huan's rooms, in order that there should be a fair apportionment. In +fact, Ch'ing Wen, She Yüeh and the others, numbering seven senior +maids, receive each a tiao a month; and Chiao Hui and the rest of the +junior maids, eight in all, get each five hundred cash per mensem; and +this was recommended by our venerable ancestor herself; so how can any +one be angry and feel displeasure?" + +"Just listen," laughed Mrs. Hsüeh, "to that girl Feng's mouth! It +rattles and rattles like a cart laden with walnuts, which has turned +topsy-turvy! Yet, her accounts are, from what one can gather, clear +enough, and her arguments full of reason." + +"Aunt," rejoined lady Feng smiling, "was I likely, pray, wrong in what +I said?" + +"Who ever said you were wrong?" Mrs. Hsüeh smiled. "But were you to +talk a little slower, wouldn't it be a saving of exertion for you?" + +Lady Feng was about to laugh, but hastily checking herself, she lent an +ear to what Madame Wang might have to tell her. + +Madame Wang indulged in thought for a considerable time. Afterwards, +facing lady Feng, "You'd better," she said, "select a waiting-maid +tomorrow and send her over to our worthy senior to fill up Hsi Jen's +place. Then, discontinue that allowance, which Hsi Jen draws, and keep +out of the sum of twenty taels, allotted to me monthly, two taels and a +tiao, and give them to Hsi Jen. So henceforward what Mrs. Chao and Mrs. +Chou will get, Hsi Jen will likewise get, with the only difference that +the share granted to Hsi Jen, will be entirely apportioned out of my +own allowance. Mind, therefore, there will be no necessity to touch the +public funds!" + +Lady Feng acquiesced to each one of her recommendations, and, pushing +Mrs. Hsüeh, "Aunt," she inquired, "have you heard her proposal? What +have I all along maintained? Well, my words have actually come out true +to-day!" + +"This should have been accomplished long ago," Mrs. Hsüeh answered. +"For without, of course, making any allusion to her looks, her way of +doing business is liberal; her speech and her relations with people are +always prompted by an even temper, while inwardly she has plenty of +singleness of heart and eagerness to hold her own. Indeed, such a girl +is not easy to come across!" + +Madame Wang made every effort to conceal her tears. "How could you +people ever rightly estimate Hsi Jen's qualities?" she observed. "Why, +she's a hundred times better than my own Pao-yü. How fortunate, in +reality, Pao-yü is! Well would it be if he could have her wait upon him +for the whole length of his life!" + +"In that case," lady Feng suggested, "why, have her face shaved at +once, and openly place her in his room as a secondary wife. Won't this +be a good plan?" + +"This won't do!" Madame Wang retorted. "For first and foremost he's of +tender years. In the second place, my husband won't countenance any +such thing! In the third, so long as Pao-yü sees that Hsi Jen is his +waiting-maid, he may, in the event of anything occurring from his +having been allowed to run wild, listen to any good counsel she might +give him. But were she now to be made his secondary wife, Hsi Jen would +not venture to tender him any extreme advice, even when it's necessary +to do so. It's better, therefore, to let things stand as they are for +the present, and talk about them again, after the lapse of another two +or three years." + +At the close of these arguments, lady Feng could not put in a word, by +way of reply, to refute them, so turning round, she left the room. She +had no sooner, however, got under the verandah, than she discerned the +wives of a number of butlers, waiting for her to report various matters +to her. Seeing her issue out of the room, they with one consent smiled. +"What has your ladyship had to lay before Madame Wang," they remarked, +"that you've been talking away this length of time? Didn't you find it +hot work?" + +Lady Feng tucked up her sleeves several times. Then resting her foot on +the step of the side door, she laughed and rejoined: "The draft in this +passage is so cool, that I'll stop, and let it play on me a bit before +I go on. 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? But from this day +forth," she added with a sarcastic smile, "I shall do several mean +things, and should even (Mrs. Chao and Mrs. Chou) go, out of any +ill-will, and tell Madame Wang, I won't know what fear is for such +stupid, glib-tongued, foul-mouthed creatures as they, who are bound not +to see a good end! It isn't for them to indulge in those fanciful +dreams of becoming primary wives, for there, will come soon a day when +the whole lump sum of their allowance will be cut off! They grumble +against us for having now reduced the perquisites of the servant-maids, +but they don't consider whether they deserve to have so many as three +girls to dance attendance on them!" + +While heaping abuse on their heads, she started homewards, and went all +alone in search of some domestic to go and deliver a message to old +lady Chia. + +But without any further reference to her, we will take up the thread of +our narrative with Mrs. Hsüeh, and the others along with her. During +this interval they finished feasting on melons. 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. Pao-ch'ai then asked Tai-yü to repair +with her to the O Hsiang Arbour. But Tai-yü said that she was just +going to have her bath, so they parted company, and Pao-ch'ai walked +back all by herself. On her way, she stepped into the I Hung Yüan, to +look up Pao-yü and have a friendly hobnob with him, with the idea of +dispelling her mid-day lassitude; but, contrary to her expectations, +the moment she put her foot into the court, she did not so much as +catch the caw of a crow. Even the two storks stood under the banana +trees, plunged in sleep. Pao-ch'ai proceeded along the covered passage +and entered the rooms. Here she discovered the servant-girls sleeping +soundly on the bed of the outer apartment; some lying one way, some +another; so turning round the decorated screen, she wended her steps +into Pao-yü's chamber. Pao-yü was asleep in bed. Hsi Jen was seated by +his side, busy plying her needle. Next to her, lay a yak tail. +Pao-ch'ai advanced up to her. "You're really far too scrupulous," she +said smilingly in an undertone. "Are there still flies or mosquitos in +here? and why do yet use that fly-flap for, to drive what away?" + +Hsi Jen was quite taken by surprise. But hastily raising her head, and +realising that it was Pao-ch'ai, she hurriedly put down her needlework. +"Miss," she whispered with a smile, "you came upon me so unawares that +you gave me quite a start! You don't know, Miss, that though there be +no flies or mosquitoes there is, no one would believe it, a kind of +small insect, which penetrates through the holes of this gauze; it is +scarcely to be detected, but when one is asleep, it bites just like +ants do!" + +"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. These insects grow mostly in the core of flowers, so no sooner +do they scent the smell of any than they at once rush in." + +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. The lotus +flowers were red, the leaves green, the ducks of variegated colours. + +"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Pao-ch'ai, "what very beautiful work! For whom is +this, that it's worth your while wasting so much labour on it?" + +Hsi Jen pouted her lips towards the bed. + +"Does a big strapping fellow like this," Pao-ch'ai laughed, "still wear +such things?" + +"He would never wear any before," Hsi Jen smiled, "that's why such a +nice one was specially worked for him, in order that when he was +allowed to see it, he should not be able to do otherwise than use it. +With the present hot weather, he goes to sleep anyhow, but as he has +been coaxed to wear it, it doesn't matter if even he doesn't cover +himself well at night. You say that I bestow much labour upon this, but +you haven't yet seen the one he has on!" + +"It is a lucky thing," Pao-ch'ai observed, smiling, "that you're gifted +with such patience." + +"I've done so much of it to-day," remarked Hsi Jen, "that my neck is +quite sore from bending over it. My dear Miss," she then urged with a +beaming countenance, "do sit here a little. I'll go out for a turn. +I'll be back shortly." + +With these words, she sallied out of the room. + +Pao-ch'ai was intent upon examining the embroidery, so in her +absentmindedness, she, with one bend of her body, settled herself on +the very same spot, which Hsi Jen had recently occupied. But she found, +on second scrutiny, the work so really admirable, that impulsively +picking up the needle, she continued it for her. At quite an unforeseen +moment—for Lin Tai-yü had met Shih Hsiang-yün and asked her to come +along with her and present her congratulations to Hsi Jen—these two +girls made their appearance in the court. Finding the whole place +plunged in silence, Hsiang-yün turned round and betook herself first +into the side-rooms in search of Hsi Jen. Lin Tai-yü, meanwhile, walked +up to the window from outside, and peeped in through the gauze frame. +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. + +As soon as Lin Tai-yü became conscious of the situation, she +immediately slipped out of sight, and stopping her mouth with one hand, +as she did not venture to laugh aloud, she waved her other hand and +beckoned to Hsiang-yün. 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. At the sight, which opened +itself before her eyes, she also felt inclined to laugh. Yet the sudden +recollection of the kindness, with which Pao-ch'ai had always dealt +towards her, induced her to quickly seal her lips. And knowing well +enough that Tai-yü never spared any one with her mouth, she was seized +with such fear lest she should jeer at them, that she immediately +dragged her past the window. "Come along!" she observed. "Hsi Jen, I +remember, said that she would be going at noon to wash some clothes at +the pond. I presume she's there already so let's go and join her." + +Tai-yü inwardly grasped her meaning, but, after indulging in a couple +of sardonic smiles, she had no alternative but to follow in her +footsteps. + +Pao-ch'ai had, during this while, managed to embroider two or three +petals, when she heard Pao-yü begin to shout abusingly in his dreams. +"How can," he cried, "one ever believe what bonzes and Taoist priests +say? What about a match between gold and jade? My impression is that +it's to be a union between a shrub and a stone!" + +Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai caught every single word uttered by him and fell +unconsciously in a state of excitement. Of a sudden, however, Hsi Jen +appeared on the scene. "Hasn't he yet woke up?" she inquired. + +Pao-ch'ai nodded her head by way of reply. + +"I just came across," Hsi Jen smiled, "Miss Lin and Miss Shih. Did they +happen to come in?" + +"I didn't see them come in," Pao-ch'ai answered. "Did they tell you +anything?" she next smilingly asked of Hsi Jen. + +Hsi Jen blushed and laughed significantly. "They simply came out with +some of those jokes of theirs," she explained. "What decent things +could such as they have had to tell me?" + +"They made insinuations to-day," Pao-ch'ai laughed, "which are anything +but a joke! I was on the point of telling you them, when you rushed +away in an awful hurry." + +But no sooner had she concluded, than she perceived a servant, come +over from lady Feng's part to fetch Hsi Jen. "It must be on account of +what they hinted," Pao-ch'ai smilingly added. + +Hsi Jen could not therefore do otherwise than arouse two servant-maids +and go. She proceeded, with Pao-ch'ai, out of the I Hung court, and +then repaired all alone to lady Feng's on this side. It was indeed to +communicate to her what had been decided about her, and to explain to +her, as well, that though she could go and prostrate herself before +Madame Wang, she could dispense with seeing dowager lady Chia. This +news made Hsi Jen feel very awkward; to such an extent, that no sooner +had she got through her visit to Madame Wang, than she returned in a +hurry to her rooms. + +Pao-yü had already awoke. He asked the reason why she had been called +away, but Hsi Jen temporised by giving him an evasive answer. And only +at night, when every one was quiet, did Hsi Jen at length give him a +full account of the whole matter. Pao-yü was delighted beyond measure. +"I'll see now," he said, with a face beaming with smiles, "whether +you'll go back home or not. On your return, after your last visit to +your people, you stated that your brother wished to redeem you, adding +that this place was no home for you, and that you didn't know what +would become of you in the long run. You freely uttered all that +language devoid of feeling and reason, and enough too to produce an +estrangement between us, in order to frighten me; but I'd like to see +who'll henceforward have the audacity to come and ask you to leave!" + +Hsi Jen, upon hearing this, smiled a smile full of irony. "You +shouldn't say such things!" she replied. "From henceforward I shall be +our Madame Wang's servant, so that, if I choose to go I needn't even +breathe a word to you. All I'll have to do will be to tell her, and +then I shall be free to do as I like." + +"But supposing that I behaved improperly," demurred Pao-yü laughingly, +"and that you took your leave after letting mother know, you yourself +will be placed in no nice fix, when people get wind that you left on +account of my having been improper." + +"What no nice fix!" smiled Hsi Jen. "Is it likely that I am bound to +serve even highway robbers? Well, failing anything else, I can die; for +human beings may live a hundred years, but they're bound, in the long +run, to fall a victim to death! And when this breath shall have +departed, and I shall have lost the sense of hearing and of seeing, all +will then be well!" + +When her rejoinder fell on his ear, Pao-yü promptly stopped her mouth +with both his hands. "Enough! enough! that will do," he shouted. +"There's no necessity for you to utter language of this kind." + +Hsi Jen was well aware that Pao-yü was gifted with such a peculiar +temperament, that he even looked upon flattering or auspicious phrases +with utter aversion, treating them as meaningless and consequently +insincere, so when, after listening to those truths, she had spoken +with such pathos, he, lapsed into another of his melancholy moods, she +blamed herself for the want of consideration she had betrayed. Hastily +therefore putting on a smile, she tried to hit upon some suitable +remarks, with which to interrupt the conversation. Her choice fell upon +those licentious and immodest topics, which had ever been a relish to +the taste of Pao-yü; and from these the conversation drifted to the +subject of womankind. But when, subsequently, reference was made to the +excellency of the weak sex, they somehow or other also came to touch +upon the mortal nature of women, and Hsi Jen promptly closed her lips +in silence. + +Noticing however that now that the conversation had reached a point so +full of zest for him, she had nothing to say for herself, Pao-yü +smilingly remarked: "What human being is there that can escape death? +But the main thing is to come to a proper end! All that those abject +male creatures excel in is, the civil officers, to sacrifice their +lives by remonstrating with the Emperor; and, the military, to leave +their bones on the battlefield. Both these deaths do confer, after life +is extinct, the fame of great men upon them; but isn't it, in fact, +better for them not to die? For as it is absolutely necessary that +there should be a disorderly Emperor before they can afford any +admonition, to what future fate do they thus expose their sovereign, if +they rashly throw away their lives, with the sole aim of reaping a fair +name for themselves? War too must supervene before they can fight; but +if they go and recklessly lay down their lives, with the exclusive idea +of gaining the reputation of intrepid warriors, to what destiny will +they abandon their country by and bye? Hence it is that neither of +these deaths can be looked upon as a legitimate death." + +"Loyal ministers," Hsi Jen argued, "and excellent generals simply die +because it isn't in their power to do otherwise." + +"Military officers," Pao-yü explained, "place such entire reliance upon +brute force that they become lax in their stratagems and faulty in +their plans. It's because they don't possess any inherent abilities +that they lose their lives. Could one therefore, pray, say that they +had no other alternative? Civil officials, on the other hand, can still +less compare with military officers. They read a few passages from +books, and commit them to memory; and, on the slightest mistake made by +the Emperor, they're at once rash enough to remonstrate with him, +prompted by the sole idea of attaining the fame of loyalty and +devotion. But, as soon as their stupid notions have bubbled over, they +forfeit their lives, and is it likely that it doesn't lie within their +power to do otherwise? Why, they should also bear in mind that the +Emperor receives his decrees from Heaven; and, that were he not a +perfect man, Heaven itself would, on no account whatever, confer upon +him a charge so extremely onerous. This makes it evident therefore that +the whole pack and parcel of those officers, who are dead and gone, +have invariably fallen victims to their endeavours to attain a high +reputation, and that they had no knowledge whatever of the import of +the great principle of right! Take me as an instance now. Were really +mine the good fortune of departing life at a fit time, I'd avail myself +of the present when all you girls are alive, to pass away. 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." + +Hsi Jen suddenly awoke to the fact that he was beginning to give vent +to a lot of twaddle, and speedily, pleading fatigue, she paid no +further notice to him. This compelled Pao-yü to at last be quiet and go +to sleep. By the morrow, all recollection of the discussion had +vanished from his mind. + +One day, Pao-yü was feeling weary at heart, after strolling all over +the place, when remembering the song of the "Peony Pavilion," he read +it over twice to himself; but still his spirits continued anything but +joyous. Having heard, however, that among the twelve girls in the Pear +Fragrance Court there was one called Ling Kuan, who excelled in +singing, he purposely issued forth by a side gate and came in search of +her. But the moment he got there, he discovered Pao Kuan, and Yü Kuan +in the court. As soon as they caught sight of Pao-yü, they, with one +consent, smiled and urged him to take a seat. Pao-yü then inquired +where Ling Kuan was. Both girls explained that she was in her room, so +Pao-yü hastened in. Here he found Ling Kuan alone, reclining against a +pillow. Though perfectly conscious of his arrival, she did not move a +muscle. Pao-yü ensconced himself next to her. He had always been in the +habit of playing with the rest of the girls, so thinking that Ling Kuan +was like the others, he felt impelled to draw near her and to entreat +her, with a forced smile, to get up and sing part of the "Niao Ch'ing +Ssu." But his hopes were baffled; for as soon as Ling Kuan perceived +him sit down, she impetuously raised herself and withdrew from his +side. "I'm hoarse," she rejoined with a stern expression on her face. +"The Empress the other day called us into the palace; but I couldn't +sing even then." + +Seeing her sit bolt upright, Pao-yü went on to pass her under a minute +survey. He discovered that it was the girl, whom he had, some time ago +beheld under the cinnamon roses, drawing the character "Ch'iang." But +seeing the reception she accorded him, who had never so far known what +it was to be treated contemptuously by any one, he blushed crimson, +while muttering some abuse to himself, and felt constrained to quit the +room. + +Pao Kuan and her companion could not fathom why he was so red and +inquired of him the reason. Pao-yü told them. "Wait a while," Pao Kuan +said, "until Mr. Ch'iang Secundus comes; and when he asks her to sing, +she is bound to sing." + +Pao-yü at these words felt very sad within himself. "Where's brother +Ch'iang gone to?" 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." + +Pao-yü thought this remark very extraordinary. 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. + +"What kind of bird is that?" Pao-yü asked. "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. + +"How much did you give for it?" Pao-yü continued. + +"A tael and eight mace," replied Chia Ch'iang. + +But while replying to his inquiries, he motioned to Pao-yü to take a +seat, and then went himself into Ling Kuan's apartment. + +Pao-yü had, by this time, lost every wish of hearing a song. His sole +desire was to find what relations existed between his cousin and Ling +Kuan, when he perceived Chia Ch'iang walk in and laughingly say to her, +"Come and see this thing." + +"What's it?" Ling Kuan asked, rising. + +"I've bought a bird for you to amuse yourself with," Chia Ch'iang +added, "so that you mayn't daily feel dull and have nothing to distract +yourself with. But I'll first play with it and let you see." + +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. + +All the girls shouted out: "How nice;" with the sole exception of Ling +Kuan, who gave a couple of apathetic smirks, and went in a huff to lie +down. Again Chia Ch'iang, however, kept on forcing smiles, and +inquiring of her whether she liked it or not. + +"Isn't it enough," Ling Kuan observed, "that your family entraps a fine +lot of human beings like us and coops us up in this hole to study this +stuff and nonsense, but do you also now go and get a bird, which +likewise is, as it happens, up to this sort of thing? You distinctly +fetch it to make fun of us, and mimick us, and do you still ask me +whether I like it or not?" + +Hearing this reproach, Chia Ch'iang of a sudden sprang to his feet with +alacrity and vehemently endeavoured by vowing and swearing to establish +his innocence. "How ever could I have been such a fool to-day," he +proceeded, "as to go and throw away a tael or two to purchase this +bird? I really did it in the hope that it would afford you amusement. I +never for a moment entertained such thoughts as those you credit me +with. But never mind; I'll let it go, and save you all this misery!" + +So saying, he verily gave the bird its liberty; and, with one blow, he +smashed the cage to atoms. + +"This bird," still argued Ling Kuan, "differs, it's true, from a human +being; but it too has a mother and father in its nest, and could you +have had the heart to bring it here to perform these silly pranks? In +coughing to-day, I expectorated two mouthfuls of blood, and Madame Wang +sent some one here to find you so as to tell you to ask the doctor +round to minutely diagnose my complaint, and have you instead brought +this to mock me with? But it so happens that I, who have not a soul to +look after me, or to care for me, also have the fate to fall ill!" + +Chia Ch'iang listened to her. "Yesterday evening," he eagerly +explained, "I asked the doctor about it. He said that it was nothing at +all, that you should take a few doses of medicine, and that he would be +coming again in a day or two to see how you were getting on. But who'd +have thought it, you have again to-day expectorated blood. I'll go at +once and invite him to come round." + +Speaking the while, he was about to go immediately when Ling Kuan cried +out and stopped him. "Do you go off in a tantrum in this hot broiling +sun?" she said. "You may ask him to come, but I won't see him." + +When he heard her resolution, Chia Ch'iang had perforce to stand still. + +Pao-yü, perceiving what transpired between them, fell unwittingly in a +dull reverie. He then at length got an insight into the deep import of +the tracing of the character "Ch'iang." But unable to bear the ordeal +any longer, he forthwith took himself out of the way. So absorbed, +however, was Chia Ch'iang's whole mind with Ling Kuan that he could not +even give a thought to escorting any one; and it was, in fact, the rest +of the singing-girls who saw (Pao-yü) out. + +Pao-yü's heart was gnawed with doubts and conjectures. In an imbecile +frame of mind, he came to the I Hung court. Lin Tai-yü was, at the +moment, sitting with Hsi Jen, and chatting with her. As soon as Pao-yü +entered his quarters, he addressed himself to Hsi Jen, with a long +sigh. "I was very wrong in what I said yesterday evening," he remarked. +"It's no matter of surprise that father says that I am so narrow-minded +that I look at things through a tube and measure them with a +clam-shell. I mentioned something last night about having nothing but +tears, shed by all of you girls, to be buried in. But this was a mere +delusion! So as I can't get the tears of the whole lot of you, each one +of you can henceforward keep her own for herself, and have done." + +Hsi Jen had flattered herself that the words he had uttered the +previous evening amounted to idle talk, and she had long ago dispelled +all thought of them from her mind, but when Pao-yü unawares made +further allusion to them, she smilingly rejoined: "You are verily +somewhat cracked!" + +Pao-yü kept silent, and attempted to make no reply. Yet from this time +he fully apprehended that the lot of human affections is, in every +instance, subject to predestination, and time and again he was wont to +secretly muse, with much anguish: "Who, I wonder, will shed tears for +me, at my burial?" + +Lin Tai-yü, for we will now allude to her, noticed Pao-yü's behaviour, +but readily concluding that he must have been, somewhere or other, once +more possessed by some malignant spirit, she did not feel it advisable +to ask many questions. "I just saw," she consequently observed, "my +maternal aunt, who hearing that to-morrow is Miss Hsüeh's birthday, +bade me come at my convenience to ask you whether you'll go or not, +(and to tell you) to send some one ahead to let them know what you mean +to do." + +"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. On a hot day like this to again don my ceremonial +dress! No, I won't go. Aunt is not likely to feel displeased with me!" + +"What are you driving at?" Hsi Jen speedily ventured. "She couldn't be +put on the same footing as our senior master! She lives close by here. +Besides she's a relative. Why, if you don't go, won't you make her +imagine things? Well, if you dread the heat, just get up at an early +hour and go over and prostrate yourself before her, and come back +again, after you've had a cup of tea. Won't this look well?" + +Before Pao-yü had time to say anything by way of response, Tai-yü +anticipated him. "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. "What about +driving mosquitoes away?" he vehemently inquired. + +Hsi Jen then explained to him how while he was fast asleep the previous +day and no one was about to keep him company, Miss Pao-ch'ai had sat +with him for a while. + +"It shouldn't have been done!" Pao-yü promptly exclaimed, after hearing +her explanations. "But how did I manage to go to sleep and show such +utter discourtesy to her? I must go to-morrow!" he then went on to add. +But while these words were still on his lips, he unexpectedly caught +sight of Shih Hsian-yün walk in in full dress, to bid them adieu, as +she said that some one had been sent from her home to fetch her away. + +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. But +Shih Hsiang-yün would not sit down, so Pao-yü and Tai-yü were compelled +to escort her as far as the front part of the mansion. + +Shih Hsiang-yün's eyes were brimming with tears; but realising that +several people from her home were present, she did not have the courage +to give full vent to her feelings. But when shortly Pao-ch'ai ran over +to find her, she felt so much the more drawn towards them, that she +could not brook to part from them. 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. One and +all then walked with her up to the second gate, and Pao-yü wished to +accompany her still further outside, but Shih Hsiang-yün deterred him. +Presently, they turned to go back. But once more, she called Pao-yü to +her, and whispered to him in a soft tone of voice: "Should our +venerable senior not think of me do often allude to me, so that she +should depute some one to fetch me." + +Pao-yü time after time assured her that he would comply with her +wishes. And having followed her with their eyes, while she got into her +curricle and started, they eventually retraced their steps towards the +inner compound. But, reader, if you like to follow up the story, peruse +the details contained in the chapter below. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + + In the Study of Autumnal Cheerfulness is accidentally formed the + Cydonia Japonica Society. + In the Heng Wu Court, the chrysanthemum is, on a certain night, + proposed as a subject for verses. + +But to continue. After Shih Hsiang-yün's return home, Pao-yü and the +other inmates spent their time, as of old, in rambling about in the +garden in search of pleasure, and in humming poetical compositions. But +without further reference to their doings, let us take up our narrative +with Chia Cheng. + +Ever since the visit paid to her home by the imperial consort, he +fulfilled his official duties with additional zeal, for the purpose of +reverently making requital for the grace shown him by the Emperor. His +correct bearing and his spotless reputation did not escape His +Majesty's notice, and he conferred upon him the special appointment of +Literary Chancellor, with the sole object of singling out his true +merit; for though he had not commenced his career through the arena of +public examinations, he belonged nevertheless to a family addicted to +letters during successive generations. Chia Cheng had, therefore, on +the receipt of the imperial decree, to select the twentieth day of the +eighth moon to set out on his journey. When the appointed day came, he +worshipped at the shrines of his ancestors, took leave of them and of +dowager lady Chia, and started for his post. 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. + +On this special occasion, he experienced more than ever a sense of his +lack of resources, and came to look up his grandmother Chia and Madame +Wang. With them, he whiled away some of his time, after which he +returned into the garden. As soon as he changed his costume, he +perceived Ts'ui Mo enter, with a couple of sheets of fancy notepaper, +in her hand, which she delivered to him. + +"It quite slipped from my mind," Pao-yü remarked. "I meant to have gone +and seen my cousin Tertia; is she better that you come?" + +"Miss is all right," Ts'ui Mo answered. "She hasn't even had any +medicine to-day. It's only a slight chill." + +When Pao-yü heard this reply, he unfolded the fancy notepaper. On +perusal, he found the contents to be: "Your cousin, T'an Ch'un, +respectfully lays this on her cousin Secundus' study-table. When the +other night the blue sky newly opened out to view, the moon shone as if +it had been washed clean! Such admiration did this pure and rare +panorama evoke in me that I could not reconcile myself to the idea of +going to bed. The clepsydra had already accomplished three turns, and +yet I roamed by the railing under the dryandra trees. But such poor +treatment did I receive from wind and dew (that I caught a chill), +which brought about an ailment as severe as that which prevented the +man of old from picking up sticks. You took the trouble yesterday to +come in person and cheer me up. Time after time also did you send your +attendants round to make affectionate inquiries about me. You likewise +presented me with fresh lichees and relics of writings of Chen Ch'ing. +How deep is really your gracious love! As I leant to-day on my table +plunged in silence, I suddenly remembered that the ancients of +successive ages were placed in circumstances, in which they had to +struggle for reputation and to fight for gain, but that they +nevertheless acquired spots with hills and dripping streams, and, +inviting people to come from far and near, they did all they could to +detain them, by throwing the linch-pins of their chariots into wells or +by holding on to their shafts; and that they invariably joined +friendship with two or three of the same mind as themselves, with whom +they strolled about in these grounds, either erecting altars for song, +or establishing societies for scanning poetical works. Their meetings +were, it is true, prompted, on the spur of the moment, by a sudden fit +of good cheer, but these have again and again proved, during many +years, a pleasant topic of conversation. I, your cousin, may, I admit, +be devoid of talent, yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy your +company amidst streams and rockeries, and to furthermore admire the +elegant verses composed by Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai and Lin Tai-yü. When we were +in the breezy hall and the moonlit pavilion, what a pity we never +talked about poets! But near the almond tree with the sign and the +peach tree by the stream, we may perhaps, when under the fumes of wine, +be able to fling round the cups, used for humming verses! Who is it who +opines that societies with any claim to excellent abilities can only be +formed by men? May it not be that the pleasant meetings on the Tung +Shan might yield in merit to those, such as ourselves, of the weaker +sex? Should you not think it too much to walk on the snow, I shall make +bold to ask you round, and sweep the way clean of flowers and wait for +you. Respectfully written." + +The perusal of this note filled Pao-yü unawares with exultation. +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. As soon as +they reached the Hsin Fang pavilion, they espied the matron, on duty +that day at the back door of the garden, advancing towards them with a +note in her hand. The moment she perceived Pao-yü she forthwith came up +to meet him. "Mr. Yün," she said, "presents his compliments to you. He +is waiting for you at the back gate. This is a note he bade me bring +you." + +Upon opening the note, Pao-yü found it to read as follows: "An unfilial +son, Yün, reverently inquires about his worthy father's boundless +happiness and precious health. Remembering the honour conferred upon me +by your recognising me, in your heavenly bounty, as your son, I tried +both day as well as night to do something in evidence of my pious +obedience, but no opportunity could I find to perform anything filial. +When I had, some time back, to purchase flowers and plants, I +succeeded, thanks to your vast influence, venerable senior, in finally +making friends with several gardeners and in seeing a good number of +gardens. As the other day I unexpectedly came across a white begonia, +of a rare species, I exhausted every possible means to get some and +managed to obtain just two pots. If you, worthy senior, regard your son +as your own very son, do keep them to feast your eyes upon! But with +this hot weather to-day, the young ladies in the garden will, I fear, +not be at their ease. I do not consequently presume to come and see you +in person, so I present you this letter, written with due respect, +while knocking my head before your table. Your son, Yün, on his knees, +lays this epistle at your feet. A joke!" + +After reading this note, Pao-yü laughed. "Has he come alone?" he asked. +"Or has he any one else with him?" + +"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. When they saw him drop in upon them, they all burst out +laughing. "Here comes still another!" 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. But who'd +have thought that, as soon as I asked you, you would all come." + +"It's unfortunately late," Pao-yü smilingly observed. "We should have +started this society long ago." + +"You can't call this late!" Tai-yü interposed, "so why give way to +regret! The only thing is, you must form your society, without +including me in the number; for I daren't be one of you." + +"If you daren't," Ying Ch'un smiled, "who can presume to do so?" + +"This is," suggested Pao-yü, "a legitimate and great purpose; and we +should all exert our energies. You shouldn't be modest, and I yielding; +but every one of us, who thinks of anything, should freely express it +for general discussion. So senior cousin Pao-ch'ai do make some +suggestion; and you junior cousin Lin Tai-yü say something." + +"What are you in this hurry for?" Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. "We are not all +here yet." + +This remark was barely concluded, when Li Wan also arrived. As soon as +she crossed the threshold, "It's an excellent proposal," she laughingly +cried, "this of starting a poetical society. I recommend myself as +controller. Some time ago in spring, I thought of this, 'but,' I mused, +'I am unable to compose verses, so what's the use of making a mess of +things?' This is why I dispelled the idea from my mind, and made no +mention about it. But since it's your good pleasure, cousin Tertia, to +start it, I'll help you to set it on foot." + +"As you've made up your minds," Tai-yü put in, "to initiate a poetical +society, every one of us will be poets, so we should, as a first step, +do away with those various appellations of cousin and uncle and aunt, +and thus avoid everything that bears a semblance of vulgarity." + +"First rate," exclaimed Li Wan, "and why should we not fix upon some +new designations by which to address ourselves? This will be a far more +refined way! As for my own, I've selected that of the 'Old farmer of +Tao Hsiang;' so let none of you encroach on it." + +"I'll then call myself the 'resident-scholar of the Ch'iu Shuang,' and +have done," T'an Ch'un observed with a smile. + +"'Resident-scholar or master' is, in fact, not to the point. It's +clumsy, besides," Pao-yü interposed. "The place here is full of +dryandra and banana trees, and if one could possibly hit upon some name +bearing upon the dryandra and banana, it would be preferable." + +"I've got one," shouted T'an Ch'un smilingly. "I'll style myself 'the +guest under the banana trees.'" + +"How uncommon!" they unanimously cried. "It's a nice one!" + +"You had better," laughed Tai-yü, "be quick and drag her away and stew +some slices of her flesh, for people to eat with their wine." + +No one grasped her meaning, "Ch'uang-tzu," Tai-yü proceeded to explain, +smiling, "says: 'The banana leaves shelter the deer,' and as she styles +herself the guest under the banana tree, is she not a deer? So be quick +and make pieces of dried venison of her." + +At these words, the whole company laughed. + +"Don't be in a hurry!" T'an Ch'un remarked, as she laughed. "You make +use of specious language to abuse people; but I've thought of a fine +and most apposite name for you!" Whereupon addressing herself to the +party, "In days gone by," she added, "an imperial concubine, Nü Ying, +sprinkled her tears on the bamboo, and they became spots, so from olden +times to the present spotted bamboos have been known as the 'Hsiang +imperial concubine bamboo.' Now she lives in the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, +and has a weakness too for tears, so the bamboos over there will by and +bye, I presume, likewise become transformed into speckled bamboos; +every one therefore must henceforward call her the 'Hsiao Hsiang +imperial concubine' and finish with it." + +After listening to her, they one and all clapped their hands, and cried +out: "Capital!" Lin Tai-yü however drooped her head and did not so much +as utter a single word. + +"I've also," Li Wan smiled, "devised a suitable name for senior cousin, +Hsüeh Pao-chai. It too is one of three characters." + +"What's it?" eagerly inquired the party. + +"I'll raise her to the rank of 'Princess of Heng Wu,'" Li Wan rejoined. +"I wonder what you all think about this." + +"This title of honour," T'an Ch'un observed, "is most apposite." + +"What about mine?" Pao-yü asked. "You should try and think of one for +me also!" + +"Your style has long ago been decided upon," Pao-ch'ai smiled. "It +consists of three words: 'fussing for nothing!' It's most pat!" + +"You should, after all, retain your old name of 'master of the flowers +in the purple cave,'" Li Wan suggested. "That will do very well." + +"Those were some of the doings of my youth; why rake them up again?" +Pao-yü laughed. + +"Your styles are very many," T'an Ch'un observed, "and what do you want +to choose another for? All you've got to do is to make suitable reply +when we call you whatever takes our fancy." + +"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. What is difficult to +obtain in the world are riches and honours; what is not easy to combine +with them is leisure. 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.'" + +"It won't do; it isn't suitable," Pao-yü laughed. "It's better that you +should call me, at random, whatever you like." + +"What names are to be chosen for Miss Secunda and Miss Quarta?" Li Wan +inquired. + +"We also don't excel in versifying; what's the use consequently of +giving us names, all for no avail?" Ying Ch'un said. + +"In spite of this," argued T'an Ch'un, "it would be well to likewise +find something for you!" + +"She lives in the Tzu Ling Chou, (purple caltrop Isle), so let us call +her 'Ling Chou,'" Pao-ch'ai suggested. "As for that girl Quarta, she +lives in the On Hsiang Hsieh, (lotus fragrance pavilion); she should +thus be called On Hsieh and have done!" + +"These will do very well!" Li Wan cried. "But as far as age goes, I am +the senior, and you should all defer to my wishes; but I feel certain +that when I've told you what they are, you will unanimously agree to +them. We are seven here to form the society, but neither I, nor Miss +Secunda, nor Miss Quarta can write verses; so if you will exclude us +three, we'll each share some special duties." + +"Their names have already been chosen," T'an Ch'un smilingly demurred; +"and do you still keep on addressing them like this? Well, in that +case, won't it be as well for them to have no names? But we must also +decide upon some scale of fines, for future guidance, in the event of +any mistakes." + +"There will be ample time to fix upon a scale of fines after the +society has been definitely established." Li Wan replied. "There's +plenty of room over in my place so let's hold our meetings there. I'm +not, it is true, a good hand at verses, but if you poets won't treat me +disdainfully as a rustic boor, and if you will allow me to play the +hostess, I may certainly also gradually become more and more refined. +As for conceding to me the presidentship of the society, it won't be +enough, of course, for me alone to preside; it will be necessary to +invite two others to serve as vice-presidents; you might then enlist +Ling Chou and Ou Hsieh, both of whom are cultured persons. The one to +choose the themes and assign the metre, the other to act as copyist and +supervisor. We three cannot, however, definitely say that we won't +write verses, for, if we come across any comparatively easy subject and +metre, we too will indite a stanza if we feel so disposed. But you four +will positively have to do so. 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." + +Ying Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un had a natural aversion for verses. What is +more, Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai and Lin Tai-yü were present. As soon therefore as +they heard these proposals, which harmonised so thoroughly with their +own views, they both, with one voice, approved them as excellent. T'an +Ch'un and the others were likewise well aware of their object, but they +could not, when they saw with what willingness they accepted the charge +insist, with any propriety, upon their writing verses, and they felt +obliged to say yes. + +"Your proposals," she consequently said, "may be right enough; but in +my views they are ridiculous. For here I've had the trouble of +initiating this idea of a society, and, instead of my having anything +to say in the matter, I've been the means of making you three come and +exercise control over me." + +"Well then," Pao-yü suggested, "let's go to the Tao Hsiang village." + +"You're always in a hurry!" Li Wan remarked. "We're here to-day to +simply deliberate. So wait until I've sent for you again." + +"It would be well," Pao-ch'ai interposed, "that we should also decide +every how many days we are to meet." + +"If we meet too often," argued T'an Ch'un, "there won't be fun in it. +We should simply come together two or three times in a month." + +"It will be ample if we meet twice or thrice a month," Pao-ch'ai added. +"But when the dates have been settled neither wind nor rain should +prevent us. Exclusive, however, of these two days, any one in high +spirits and disposed to have an extra meeting can either ask us to go +over to her place, or you can all come to us; either will do well +enough! But won't it be more pleasant if no hard-and-fast dates were +laid down?" + +"This suggestion is excellent," they all exclaimed. + +"This idea was primarily originated by me," T'an Ch'un observed, "and I +should be the first to play the hostess, so that these good spirits of +mine shouldn't all go for nothing." + +"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! You'd better therefore choose the +subjects, while Ling Chou can fix the metre, and Ou Hsieh act as +supervisor." + +"According to my ideas," Ying Ch'un chimed in, "we shouldn't yield to +the wishes of any single person in the choice of themes and the +settlement of the rhythm. What would really be fair and right would be +to draw lots." + +"When I came just now," Li Wan pursued, "I noticed them bring in two +pots of white begonias, which were simply beautiful; and why should you +not write some verses on them?" + +"Can we write verses," Ying Ch'un retorted, "before we have as yet seen +anything of the flowers?" + +"They're purely and simply white begonias," Pao-chai answered, "and is +there again any need to see them before you put together your verses? +Men of old merely indited poetical compositions to express their good +cheer and conceal their sentiments; had they waited to write on things +they had seen, why, the whole number of their works would not be in +existence at present!" + +"In that case," Ying Ch'un said, "let me fix the metre." + +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. Then handing it round for general perusal, +everybody had to compose lines with seven words in each. Ying Ch'un +next closed the book of verses and addressed herself to a young +waiting-maid. "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." + +"The rhyme then will be the word 'door,'" Ying Ch'un smiled, "under the +thirteenth character 'Yuan.' The final word of the first line is +therefore '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 +waiting-maid complied with her directions, and picked out four slips, +on which were written "p'en, hun, hen and hun," pot, spirit, traces and +dusk. + +"The two characters pot and door," observed Pao-yü, "are not very easy +to rhyme with." + +But Shih Shu then got ready four lots of paper and pens, share and +share alike, and one and all quietly set to work, racking their brains +to perform their task, with the exception of Tai-yü, who either kept on +rubbing the dryandra flowers, or looking at the autumnal weather, or +bandying jokes as well with the servant-girls; while Ying Ch'un ordered +a waiting-maid to light a "dream-sweet" incense stick. + +This "dream-sweet" stick was, it must be explained, made only about +three inches long and about the thickness of a lamp-wick, in order to +easily burn down. Setting therefore her choice upon one of these as a +limit of time, any one who failed to accomplish the allotted task, by +the time the stick was consumed, had to pay a penalty. + +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. + +"Princess of Heng Wu," she then inquired of Pao-ch'ai, "have you +finished?" + +"As for finishing, I have finished," Pao-ch'ai rejoined; "but they're +worth nothing." + +Pao-yü paced up and down the verandah with his hands behind his back. +"Have you heard?" he thereupon said to Tai-yü, "they've all done!" + +"Don't concern yourself about me!" Tai-yü returned for answer. + +Pao-yü also perceived that Pao-ch'ai had already copied hers out. +"Dreadful!" he exclaimed. "There only remains an inch of the stick and +I've only just composed four lines. The incense stick is nearly burnt +out," he continued, speaking to Tai-yü, "and what do you keep squatting +on that damp ground like that for?" + +But Tai-yü did not again worry her mind about what he said. + +"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. + +"We'll now peruse the verses," Li Wan interposed, "and if by the time +we've done, you haven't as yet handed up your papers, you'll have to be +fined." + +"Old farmer of Tao Hsiang," Pao-yü remarked, "you're not, it is true, a +good hand at writing verses, but you can read well, and, what's more, +you're the fairest of the lot; so you'd better adjudge the good and +bad, and we'll submit to your judgment." + +"Of course!" responded the party with one voice. + +In due course, therefore, she first read T'an Ch'un's draft. It ran as +follows:— + +Verses on the Begonia. + + What time the sun's rays slant, and the grass waxeth cold, close the + double doors. + After a shower of rain, green moss plenteously covers the whole pot. + Beauteous is jade, but yet with thee in purity it cannot ever vie. + Thy frame, spotless as snow, from admiration easy robs me of my wits + Thy fragrant core is like unto a dot, so full of grace, so delicate! + When the moon reacheth the third watch, thy comely shade begins to + show itself. + Do not tell me that a chaste fairy like thee can take wings and pass + away. + How lovely are thy charms, when in thy company at dusk I sing my lay! + +After she had read them aloud, one and all sang their praise for a +time. +She then took up Pao-ch'ai's, which consisted of: + + If thou would'st careful tend those fragrant lovely flowers, close of + a day the doors, + And with thine own hands take the can and sprinkle water o'er the + mossy pots. + Red, as if with cosmetic washed, are the shadows in autumn on the + steps. + Their crystal snowy bloom invites the dew on their spirits to heap + itself. + Their extreme whiteness mostly shows that they're more comely than + all + other flowers. + When much they grieve, how can their jade-like form lack the traces + of + tears? + Would'st thou the god of those white flowers repay? then purity + need'st thou observe. + In silence plunges their fine bloom, now that once more day yields to + dusk. + +"After all," observed Li Wan, "it's the Princess of Heng Wu, who +expresses herself to the point." + +Next they bestowed their attention on the following lines, composed by +Pao-yü:— + + Thy form in autumn faint reflects against the double doors. + So heaps the snow in the seventh feast that it filleth thy pots. + Thy shade is spotless as Tai Chen, when from her bath she hails. + Like Hsi Tzu's, whose hand ever pressed her heart, jade-like thy + soul. + When the morn-ushering breeze falls not, thy thousand blossoms + grieve. + To all thy tears the evening shower addeth another trace. + Alone thou lean'st against the coloured rails as if with sense + imbued. + As heavy-hearted as the fond wife, beating clothes, or her that sadly + listens to the flute, thou mark'st the fall of dusk. + +When they had perused his verses, Pao-yü opined that T'an Ch'un's +carried the palm. Li Wan was, however, inclined to concede to the +stanza, indited by Pao-ch'ai, the credit of possessing much merit. But +she then went on to tell Tai-yü to look sharp. + +"Have you all done?" 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. On perusal, Li Wan and her +companions found her verses to run in this strain:— + + Half rolled the speckled portiere hangs, half closed the door. + Thy mould like broken ice it looks, jade-like thy pot. + +This couplet over, Pao-yü took the initiative and shouted: "Capital." +But he had just had time to inquire where she had recalled them to mind +from, when they turned their mind to the succeeding lines: + + Three points of whiteness from the pear petals thou steal'st; + And from the plum bloom its spirit thou borrowest. + +"Splendid!" every one (who heard) them conned over, felt impelled to +cry. "It is a positive fact," they said, "that her imagination is, +compared with that of others, quite unique." + +But the rest of the composition was next considered. Its text was: + + The fairy in Selene's cavity donneth a plain attire. + The maiden, plunged in autumn grief, dries in her room the prints of + tears. + Winsome she blushes, in silence she's plunged, with none a word she + breathes; + But wearily she leans against the eastern breeze, though dusk has + long + since fall'n. + +"This stanza ranks above all!" they unanimously remarked, after it had +been read for their benefit. + +"As regards beauty of thought and originality, this stanza certainly +deserves credit," Li Wan asserted; "but as regards pregnancy and +simplicity of language, it, after all, yields to that of Heng Wu." + +"This criticism is right." T'an Ch'un put in. "That of the Hsiao Hsiang +consort must take second place." + +"Yours, gentleman of I Hung," Li Wan pursued, "is the last of the lot. +Do you agreeably submit to this verdict?" + +"My stanza," Pao-yü ventured, "isn't really worth a straw. Your +criticism is exceedingly fair. But," he smilingly added, "the two +poems, written by Heng Wu and Hsiao Hsiang, have still to be +discussed." + +"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." + +Pao-yü at this reply found that he had no alternative but to drop the +subject. + +"I decide that from henceforward," Li Wan proceeded, "we should hold +meetings twice every month, on the second and sixteenth. In the +selection of themes and the settlement of the rhymes, you'll all have +then to do as I wish. But any person who may, during the intervals, +feel so disposed, will be at perfect liberty to choose another day for +an extra meeting. What will I care if there's a meeting every day of +the moon? 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." + +"We should, as is but right," Pao-yü suggested, "choose some name or +other for our society." + +"Were an ordinary one chosen, it wouldn't be nice," T'an Ch'un +explained, "and anything too new-fangled, eccentric or strange won't +also be quite the thing! As luck would have it, we've just started with +the poems on the begonia, so let us call it the 'Begonia Poetical +Society.' This title is, it's true, somewhat commonplace; but as it's +positively based on fact, it shouldn't matter." + +After this proposal of hers, they held further consultation; and +partaking of some slight refreshments, each of them eventually retired. +Some repaired to their quarters. Others went to dowager lady Chia's or +Madame Wang's apartments. But we will leave them without further +comment. + +When Hsi Jen, for we will now come to her, perceived Pao-yü peruse the +note and walk off in a great flurry, along with Ts'ui Mo, she was quite +at a loss what to make of it. Subsequently, she also saw the matrons, +on duty at the back gate, bring two pots of begonias. Hsi Jen inquired +of them where they came from. The women explained to her all about +them. As soon as Hsi Jen heard their reply, she at once desired them to +put the flowers in their proper places, and asked them to sit down in +the lower rooms. She then entered the house, and, weighing six mace of +silver, she wrapped it up properly, and fetching besides three hundred +cash, she came over and handed both the amounts to the two matrons. +"This silver," she said, "is a present for the boys, who carried the +flowers; and these cash are for you to buy yourselves a cup of tea +with." + +The women rose to their feet in such high glee that their eyebrows +dilated and their eyes smiled; but, though they waxed eloquent in the +expression of their deep gratitude, they would not accept the money. It +was only after they had perceived how obstinate Hsi Jen was in not +taking it back that they at last volunteered to keep it. + +"Are there," Hsi Jen then inquired, "any servant-boys on duty outside +the back gate?" + +"There are four of them every day," answered one of the matrons. +"They're put there with the sole idea of attending to any orders that +might be given them from inside. But, Miss, if you've anything to order +them to do, we'll go and deliver your message." + +"What orders can I have to give them?" Hsi Jen laughed. "Mr. Pao, our +master Secundus, was purposing to send some one to-day to the young +marquis' house to take something over to Miss Shih. But you come at an +opportune moment so you might, on your way out, tell the servant-boys +at the back gate to hire a carriage; and on its return you can come +here and get the money. But don't let them rush recklessly against +people in the front part of the compound!" + +The matrons signified their obedience and took their leave. Hsi Jen +retraced her steps into the house to fetch a tray in which to place the +presents intended for Shih Hsiang-yün, but she discovered the shelf for +trays empty. Upon turning round, however, she caught sight of Ch'ing +Wen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yüeh and the other girls, seated together, busy +with their needlework. "Where is the white cornelian tray with twisted +threads gone to?" 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. "It was taken to Miss +Tertia's with a present of lichees," she rejoined, "and it hasn't as +yet been returned." + +"There are plenty of articles," Hsi Jen remarked, "for sending over +things on ordinary occasions; and do you deliberately go and carry this +off?" + +"Didn't I maintain the same thing?" Ch'ing Wen retorted. "But so well +did this tray match with the fresh lichees it contained, that when I +took it over, Miss T'an Ch'un herself noticed the fact. 'How splendid,' +she said, and lo, putting even the tray by, she never had it brought +over. But, look! hasn't the pair of beaded vases, which stood on the +very top of that shelf, been fetched as yet?" + +"The mention of these vases," Ch'iu Wen laughed, "reminds me again of a +funny incident. Whenever our Mr. Pao-yü's filial piety is aroused, he +shows himself filial over and above the highest degree! 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. 'These are flowers,' he mused, 'which have newly +opened in our garden, so how can I presume to be the first to enjoy +them?' And actually taking down that pair of vases, he filled them with +water with his own hands, put the flowers in, and, calling a servant to +carry them, he in person took one of the vases into dowager lady +Chia's, and then took the other to Madame Wang's. But, as it happens, +even his attendants reap some benefit, when once his filial feelings +are stirred up! As luck would have it, the one who carried the vases +over on that day was myself. The sight of these flowers so enchanted +our venerable lady that there was nothing that she wouldn't do. +'Pao-yü,' she said to every one she met, 'is the one, after all, who +shows me much attention. So much so, that he has even thought of +bringing me a twig of flowers! And yet, the others bear me a grudge on +account of the love that I lavish on him!' Our venerable mistress, you +all know very well, has never had much to say to me. I have all along +not been much of a favourite in the old lady's eyes. But on that +occasion she verily directed some one to give me several hundreds of +cash. 'I was to be pitied,' she observed, 'for being born with a weak +physique!' This was, indeed, an unforeseen piece of good luck! The +several hundreds of cash are a mere trifle; but what's not easy to get +is this sort of honour! After that, we went over into Madame Wang's. +Madame Wang was, at the time, with our lady Secunda, Mrs. Chao, and a +whole lot of people; turning the boxes topsy-turvey, trying to find +some coloured clothes her ladyship had worn long ago in her youth, so +as to give them to some one or other. Who it was, I don't know. But the +moment she saw us, she did not even think of searching for any clothes, +but got lost in admiration for the flowers. Our lady Secunda was also +standing by, and she made sport of the matter. She extolled our master +Pao, for his filial piety and for his knowledge of right and wrong; and +what with what was true and what wasn't, she came out with two +cart-loads of compliments. These things spoken in the presence of the +whole company so added to Madame Wang's lustre and sealed every one's +mouth, that her ladyship was more and more filled with gratification, +and she gave me two ready-made clothes as a present. These too are of +no consequence; one way or another, we get some every year; but nothing +can come up to this sort of lucky chance!" + +"Psha!" Ch'ing Wen ejaculated with a significant smile, "you are indeed +a mean thing, who has seen nothing of the world! She gave the good ones +to others and the refuse to you; and do you still pat on all this +side?" + +"No matter whether what she gave me was refuse or not," Ch'iu Wen +protested, "it's, after all, an act of bounty on the part of her +ladyship." + +"Had it been myself," Ch'ing Wen pursued, "I would at once have refused +them! It wouldn't have mattered if she had given me what had been left +by some one else; but we all stand on an equal footing in these rooms, +and is there any one, forsooth, so much the more exalted or honorable +than the other as to justify her taking what is good and bestowing it +upon her and giving me what is left? I had rather not take them! I +might have had to give offence to Madame Wang, but I wouldn't have put +up with such a slight!" + +"To whom did she give any in these rooms?" Ch'iu Wen vehemently +inquired. "I was unwell and went home for several days, so that I am +not aware to whom any were given. Dear sister, do tell me who it is so +that I may know." + +"Were I to tell you," Ch'ing Wen rejoined, "is it likely that you would +return them at this hour to Madame Wang?" + +"What nonsense," Ch'iu Wen laughed. "Ever since I've heard about it, +I've been delighted and happy. No matter if she even bestowed upon me +what remained from anything given to a dog in these rooms, I would have +been thankful for her ladyship's kindness. I wouldn't have worried my +mind with anything else!" + +After listening to her, everybody laughed. "Doesn't she know how to +jeer in fine style!" they ejaculated unanimously; "for weren't they +given to that foreign spotted pug dog?" + +"You lot of filthy-tongued creatures!" Hsi Jen laughed, "when you've +got nothing to do, you make me the scapegoat to crack your jokes, and +poke your fun at! But what kind of death will, I wonder, each of you +have!" + +"Was it verily you, sister, who got them?" Ch'iu Wen asked with a +smile. +"I assure you I had no idea about it! I tender you my apologies." + +"You might be a little less domineering!" Hsi Jen remarked smilingly. +"The thing now is, who of you will go and fetch the tray." + +"The vases too," Shih Yüeh suggested, "must be got back when there's +any time to spare; for there's nothing to say about our venerable +mistress' quarters, but Madame Wang's apartments teem with people and +many hands. The rest are all right; but Mrs. Chao and all that company +will, when they see that the vase hails from these rooms, surely again +foster evil designs, and they won't feel happy until they've done all +they can to spoil it! Besides, Madame Wang doesn't trouble herself +about such things. So had we not as well bring it over a moment +sooner?" + +Hearing this, Ch'ing Wen threw down her needlework. "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." Ch'iu Wen cried. "You can go and get that +tray of yours!" + +"You should let me once go for something!" Ch'ing Wen pleaded. +"Whenever any lucky chance has turned up, you've invariably grabbed it; +and can it be that you won't let me have a single turn?" + +"Altogether," She Yüeh said laughingly, "that girl Ch'iu Wen got a few +clothes just once; can such a lucky coincidence present itself again +today that you too should find them engaged in searching for clothes?" + +"Albeit I mayn't come across any clothes," Ch'ing Wen rejoined with a +sardonic smile, "our Madame Wang may notice how diligent I am, and +apportion me a couple of taels out of her public expenses; there's no +saying." Continuing, "Don't you people," she laughed, "try and play +your pranks with me; for is there anything that I don't twig?" + +As she spoke, she ran outside. Ch'iu Wen too left the room in her +company; but she repaired to T'an Ch'un's quarters and fetched the +tray. + +Hsi Jen then got everything ready. Calling an old nurse attached to the +same place as herself, Sung by name, "Just go first and wash, comb your +hair and put on your out-of-door clothes," she said to her, "and then +come back as I want to send you at once with a present to Miss Shih." + +"Miss," urged the nurse Sung, "just give me what you have; and, if you +have any message, tell it me; so that when I've tidied myself I may go +straightway." + +Hsi Jen, at this proposal, brought two small twisted wire boxes; and, +opening first the one in which were two kinds of fresh fruits, +consisting of caltrops and "chicken head" fruit, and afterwards +uncovering the other, containing a tray with new cakes, made of +chestnut powder, and steamed in sugar, scented with the olea, "All +these fresh fruits are newly plucked this year from our own garden," +she observed; "our Mr. Secundus sends them to Miss Shih to taste. 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. (Tell her) that she mustn't +despise it for its coarseness, but make the best of it and turn it to +some account. Present respects to her from our part and inquire after +her health on behalf of Mr. Pao-yü; that will be all there's to say." + +"Has Mr. Pao, I wonder, anything more for me to tell her?" the nurse +Sung added, "Miss, do go and inquire, so that on my return, he mayn't +again say that I forgot." + +"He was just now," Hsi Jen consequently asked Ch'iu Wen, "over there in +Miss Tertia's rooms, wasn't he?" + +"They were all assembled there, deliberating about starting some +poetical society or other," Ch'iu Wen explained, "and they all wrote +verses too. But I fancy he's got no message to give you; so you might +as well start." + +After this assurance, nurse Sung forthwith took the things, and quitted +the apartment. 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. Nurse Sung thereupon set out on +her errand. But we will leave her for the present. + +In a little time Pao-yü came back. After first cursorily glancing at +the begonias for a time, he walked into his rooms, and explained to Hsi +Jen all about the poetical society they had managed to establish, Hsi +Jen then told him that she had sent the nurse Sung along with some +things, to Shih Hsiang-yün. As soon as Pao-yü heard this, he clapped +his hands. "I forgot all about her!" he cried. "I knew very well that I +had something to attend to; but I couldn't remember what it was! +Luckily, you've alluded to her! I was just meaning to ask her to come, +for what fun will there be in this poetical society without her?" + +"Is this of any serious import?" Hsi Jen reasoned with him. "It's all, +for the mere sake of recreation! She's not however able to go about at +her own free will as you people do. Nor can she at home have her own +way. When you therefore let her know, it won't again rest with her, +however willing she may be to avail herself of your invitation. And if +she can't come, she will long and crave to be with you all, so isn't it +better that you shouldn't be the means of making her unhappy?" + +"Never mind!" 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. "She also inquired," the +nurse proceeded, "what you, master Secundus, were up to, and I told her +that you had started some poetical club or other with the young ladies +and that you were engaged in writing verses. Miss Shih wondered why it +was, if you were writing verses, that you didn't even mention anything +to her; and she was extremely distressed about it." + +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. + +"It's too late to-day," dowager lady Chia answered; "they'll go +tomorrow, as soon as it's daylight." + +Pao-yü had no other course but to accede to her wishes. He, however, +retraced his steps back to his room with a heavy heart. On the morrow, +at early dawn, he paid another visit to old lady Chia and brought +pressure to bear on her until she sent some one for her. Soon after +midday, Shih Hsiang-yün arrived. Pao-yü felt at length much relieved in +his mind. Upon meeting her, he recounted to her all that had taken +place from beginning to end. His purpose was likewise to let her see +the poetical composition, but Li Wan and the others remonstrated. +"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. Should what +she writes be good, then she can readily be admitted as a member of the +society; but if not good, she should be further punished by being made +to stand a treat; after which, we can decide what's to be done." + +"You've forgotten to ask me round," Hsiang-yün laughed, "and I should, +after all, fine you people! But produce the metre; for though I don't +excel in versifying, I shall exert myself to do the best I can, so as +to get rid of every slur. If you will admit me into the club, I shall +be even willing to sweep the floors and burn the incense." + +When they all saw how full of fun she was, they felt more than ever +delighted with her and they reproached themselves, for having somehow +or other managed to forget her on the previous day. But they lost no +time in telling her the metre of the verses. + +Shih Hsiang-yün was inwardly in ecstasies. So much so, that she could +not wait to beat the tattoo and effect any alterations. But having +succeeded, while conversing with her cousins, in devising a stanza in +her mind, she promptly inscribed it on the first piece of paper that +came to hand. "I have," she remarked, with a precursory smile, "stuck +to the metre and written two stanzas. Whether they be good or bad, I +cannot say; all I've kept in view was to simply comply with your +wishes." + +So speaking, she handed her paper to the company. + +"We thought our four stanzas," they observed, "had so thoroughly +exhausted everything that could be imagined on the subject that another +stanza was out of the question, and there you've devised a couple more! +How could there be so much to say? These must be mere repetitions of +our own sentiments." + +While bandying words, they perused her two stanzas. They found this to +be their burden: + +No. 1. + + The fairies yesterday came down within the city gates, + And like those gems, sown in the grassy field, planted one pot. + How clear it is that the goddess of frost is fond of cold! + It is no question of a pretty girl bent upon death! + Where does the snow, which comes in gloomy weather, issue from? + The drops of rain increase the prints, left from the previous night. + How the flowers rejoice that bards are not weary of song! + But are they ever left to spend in peace a day or night? + +No. 2. + + The "heng chih" covered steps lead to the creeper-laden door. + How fit to plant by the corner of walls; how fit for pots? + The flowers so relish purity that they can't find a mate. + Easy in autumn snaps the soul of sorrow-wasted man. + The tears, which from the jade-like candle drip, dry in the wind. + The crystal-like portiere asunder rends Selene's rays. + Their private feelings to the moon goddess they longed to tell, + But gone, alas! is the lustre she shed on the empty court! + +Every line filled them with wonder and admiration. What they read, they +praised. "This," they exclaimed, with one consent, "is not writing +verses on the begonia for no purpose! We must really start a Begonia +Society!" + +"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?" + +"This would be far better!" 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. By lamplight, Hsiang-yün +consulted with her how she was to play the hostess and fix upon the +themes; but, after lending a patient ear to all her proposals for a +long time, Pao-ch'ai thought them so unsuitable for the occasion, that +turning towards her, she raised objections. "If you want," she said, +"to hold a meeting, you have to pay the piper. And albeit it's for mere +fun, you have to make every possible provision; for while consulting +your own interests, you must guard against giving umbrage to people. In +that case every one will afterwards be happy and contented. You count +for nothing too in your own home; and the whole lump sum of those few +tiaos, you draw each month, are not sufficient for your own wants, and +do you now also wish to burden yourself with this useless sort of +thing? Why, if your aunt gets wind of it, won't she be more incensed +with you than ever! What's more, even though you might fork out all the +money you can call your own to bear the outlay of this entertainment +with, it won't be anything like enough, and can it possibly be, pray, +that you would go home for the express purpose of requisitioning the +necessary funds? Or will you perchance ask for some from in here?" + +This long tirade had the effect of bringing the true facts of the case +to Hsiang-yün's notice, and she began to waver in a state of +uncertainty. + +"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. Some time back, he sent us a few as a present, and now, +starting from our venerable senior and including the inmates of the +upper quarters, most of them are quite in love with crabs. It was only +the other day that my mother mentioned that she intended inviting our +worthy ancestor into the garden to look at the olea flowers and partake +of crabs, but she has had her hands so full that she hasn't as yet +asked her round. So just you now drop the poetical meeting, and invite +the whole crowd to a show; and if we wait until they go, won't we be +able to indite as many poems as we like? But let me speak to my brother +and ask him to let us have several baskets of the fattest and largest +crabs he can get, and to also go to some shop and fetch several jars of +luscious wine. 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?" + +As soon as Hsiang-yün heard (the alternative proposed by Pao-ch'ai,) +she felt her heart throb with gratitude and in most profuse terms she +praised her for her forethought. + +"The proposal I've made." Pao-ch'ai pursued smilingly; "is prompted +entirely by my sincere feelings for you; so whatever you do don't be +touchy and imagine that I look down upon you; for in that case we two +will have been good friends all in vain. But if you won't give way to +suspicion, I'll be able to tell them at once to go and get things +ready." + +"My dear cousin," eagerly rejoined Hsiang-yün, a smile on her lips, "if +you say these things it's you who treat me with suspicion; for no +matter how foolish a person I may be, as not to even know what's good +and bad, I'm still a human being! Did I not regard you, cousin, in the +same light as my own very sister, I wouldn't last time have had any +wish or inclination to disclose to you every bit of those troubles, +which ordinarily fall to my share at home." + +After listening to these assurances, Pao-ch'ai summoned a matron and +bade her go out and tell her master, Hsüeh P'an, to procure a few +hampers of crabs of the same kind as those which were sent on the +previous occasion. "Our venerable senior," (she said,) "and aunt Wang +are asked to come to-morrow after their meal and admire the olea +flowers, so mind, impress upon your master to please not forget, as +I've already to-day issued the invitations." + +The matron walked out of the garden and distinctly delivered the +message. But, on her return, she brought no reply. + +During this while, Pao-ch'ai continued her conversation with +Hsiang-yün. "The themes for the verses," she advised her, "mustn't also +be too out-of-the-way. Just search the works of old writers, and where +will you find any eccentric and peculiar subjects, or any extra +difficult metre! 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. Nor is it advisable for us to aim at excessive +originality. The first thing for us to do is to have our ideas clear, +as our language will then not be commonplace. In fact, this sort of +thing is no vital matter; spinning and needlework are, in a word, the +legitimate duties of you and me. Yet, if we can at any time afford the +leisure, it's only right and proper that we should take some book, that +will benefit both body and mind, and read a few chapters out of it." + +Hsiang-yün simply signified her assent. "I'm now cogitating in my +mind," she then laughingly remarked, "that as the verses we wrote +yesterday treated of begonias, we should, I think, compose on this +occasion some on chrysanthemums, eh? What do you say?" + +"Chrysanthemums are in season," Pao-ch'ai replied. "The only objection +to them is that too many writers of old have made them the subject of +their poems." + +"I also think so," Hsiang-yün added, "so that, I fear, we shall only be +following in their footsteps." + +After some reflection, Pao-ch'ai exclaimed, "I've hit upon something! +If we take, for the present instance, the chrysanthemums as a secondary +term, and man as the primary, we can, after all, select several themes. +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. And as old writers have not written +much in this style, it will be impossible for us to drift into the +groove of their ideas. Thus in versifying on the scenery and in singing +the objects, we will, in both respects, combine originality with +liberality of thought." + +"This is all very well," smiled Hsiang-yün. "The only thing is what +kind of empty words will, I wonder, be best to use? Just you first +think of one and let me see." + +Pao-ch'ai plunged in thought for a time, after which she laughingly +remarked: "Dream of chrysanthemums is good." + +"It's positively good!" Hsiang-yün smiled. "I've also got one: 'the +Chrysanthemum shadow,' will that do?" + +"Well enough," Pao-ch'ai answered, "the only objection is that people +have written on it; yet if the themes are to be many, we might throw +this in. I've got another one too!" + +"Be quick, and tell it!" Hsiang-yün urged. + +"What do you say to 'ask the Chrysanthemums?'" Pao-ch'ai observed. + +Hsiang-yün clapped her hand on the table. "Capital," she cried. "I've +thought of one also." She then quickly continued, "It is, search for +chrysanthemums; what's your idea about it?" + +Pao-ch'ai thought that too would do very well. "Let's choose ten of +them first," she next proposed; "and afterwards note them down!" + +While talking, they rubbed the ink and moistened the pens. These +preparations over, Hsiang-yün began to write, while Pao-ch'ai +enumerated the themes. In a short time, they got ten of them. + +"Ten don't form a set," Hsiang-yün went on to smilingly suggest, after +reading them over. "We'd better complete them by raising their number +to twelve; they'll then also be on the same footing as people's +pictures and books." + +Hearing this proposal, Pao-ch'ai devised another couple of themes, thus +bringing them to a dozen. "Well, since we've got so far," she pursued, +"let's go one step further and copy them out in their proper order, +putting those that are first, first; and those that come last, last." + +"It would be still better like that," Hsiang-yün acquiesced, "as we'll +be able to make up a 'chrysanthemum book.'" + +"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.' After due search, one finds them, and plants them, so +the third must be: 'planting chrysanthemums.' After they've been +planted, they, blossom, and one faces them and enjoys them, so the +fourth should be 'facing the chrysanthemums.' By facing them, one +derives such excessive delight that one plucks them and brings them in +and puts them in vases for one's own delectation, so the fifth must be +'placing chrysanthemums in vases.' If no verses are sung in their +praise, after they've been placed in vases, it's tantamount to seeing +no point of beauty in chrysanthemums, so the sixth must be 'sing about +chrysanthemums.' After making them the burden of one's song, one can't +help representing them in pictures. The seventh place should therefore +be conceded to 'drawing chrysanthemums.' Seeing that in spite of all +the labour bestowed on the drawing of chrysanthemums, the fine traits +there may be about them are not yet, in fact, apparent, one impulsively +tries to find them out by inquiries, so the eighth should be 'asking +the chrysanthemums.' As any perception, which the chrysanthemums might +display in fathoming the questions set would help to make the inquirer +immoderately happy, the ninth must be 'pinning the chrysanthemums in +the hair.' And as after everything has been accomplished, that comes +within the sphere of man, there will remain still some chrysanthemums +about which something could be written, two stanzas on the 'shadow of +the chrysanthemums,' and the 'dream about chrysanthemums' must be +tagged on as numbers ten and eleven. While the last section should be +'the withering of the chrysanthemums' so as to bring to a close the +sentiments expressed in the foregoing subjects. In this wise the fine +scenery and fine doings of the third part of autumn, will both alike be +included in our themes." + +Hsiang-yün signified her approval, and taking the list she copied it +out clean. 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. +"It's evident enough that we can have good verses without them, so +what's the use of any rhymes to shackle us? Don't let us imitate that +mean lot of people. Let's simply choose our subject and pay no notice +to rhymes. Our main object is to see whether we cannot by chance hit +upon some well-written lines for the sake of fun. It isn't to make this +the means of subjecting people to perplexities." + +"What you say is perfectly right," Hsiang-yün observed. "In this manner +our poetical composition will improve one step higher. But we only +muster five members, and there are here twelve themes. Is it likely +that each one of us will have to indite verses on all twelve?" + +"That would be far too hard on the members!" Pao-ch'ai rejoined. "But +let's copy out the themes clean, for lines with seven words will have +to be written on every one, and stick them to-morrow on the wall for +general perusal. Each member can write on the subject which may be most +in his or her line. Those, with any ability, may choose all twelve. +While those, with none, may only limit themselves to one stanza. Both +will do. Those, however, who will show high mental capacity, combined +with quickness, will be held the best. But any one, who shall have +completed all twelve themes, won't be permitted to hasten and begin +over again; we'll have to fine such a one, and finish." + +"Yes, that will do," assented Hsiang-yün. But after settling everything +satisfactorily, they extinguished the lamp and went to bed. + +Reader, do you want to know what subsequently took place? If you do, +then listen to what is contained in the way of explanation in the +following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + + Lin Hsiao-Hsiang carries the first prize in the poems on + chrysanthemums. + Hsueh Heng-wu chaffs Pao-yü by composing verses in the same style as + his on the crabs. + +After Pao-ch'ai and Hsiang-yün, we will now explain, settled everything +in their deliberations, nothing memorable occurred, the whole night, +which deserves to be put on record. + +The next day, Hsiang-yün invited dowager lady Chia and her other +relatives to come and look at the olea flowers. Old lady Chia and every +one else answered that as she had had the kind attention to ask them, +they felt it their duty to avail themselves of her gracious invitation, +much though they would be putting her to trouble and inconvenience. At +twelve o'clock, therefore, old lady Chia actually took with her Madame +Wang and lady Feng, as well as Mrs. Hsüeh and other members of her +family whom she had asked to join them, and repaired into the garden. + +"Which is the best spot?" old lady Chia inquired. + +"We are ready to go wherever you may like, dear senior," Madame Wang +ventured in response. + +"A collation has already been spread in the Lotus Fragrance Arbour," +lady Feng interposed. "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." + +"Quite right!" assented dowager lady Chia at this suggestion; and while +expressing her approbation, she ushered her train of followers into the +Arbour of Lotus Fragrance. + +This Arbour of Lotus Fragrance had, in fact, been erected in the centre +of the pool. It had windows on all four sides. On the left and on the +right, stood covered passages, which spanned the stream and connected +with the hills. At the back, figured a winding bridge. + +As the party ascended the bamboo bridge, lady Feng promptly advanced +and supported dowager lady Chia. "Venerable ancestor," she said, "just +walk boldly and with confident step; there's nothing to fear; it's the +way of these bamboo bridges to go on creaking like this." + +Presently, they entered the arbour. Here they saw two additional bamboo +tables, placed beyond the balustrade. On the one, were arranged cups, +chopsticks and every article necessary for drinking wine. On the other, +were laid bamboo utensils for tea, a tea-service and various cups and +saucers. On the off side, two or three waiting-maids were engaged in +fanning the stove to boil the water for tea. On the near side were +visible several other girls, who were trying with their fans to get a +fire to light in the stove so as to warm the wines. + +"It was a capital idea," dowager lady Chia hastily exclaimed laughingly +with vehemence, "to bring tea here. What's more, the spot and the +appurtenances are alike so spick and span!" + +"These things were brought by cousin Pao-ch'ai," Hsiang-yün smilingly +explained, "so I got them ready." + +"This child is, I say, so scrupulously particular," old lady Chia +observed, "that everything she does is thoroughly devised." + +As she gave utterance to her feelings, her attention was attracted by a +pair of scrolls of black lacquer, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, +suspended on the pillars, and she asked Hsiang-yün to tell her what the +mottoes were. + +The text she read was: + + Snapped is the shade of the hibiscus by the fragrant oar of a boat + homeward bound. + Deep flows the perfume of the lily and the lotus underneath the + bamboo + bridge. + +After listening to the motto, old lady Chia raised her head and cast a +glance upon the tablet; then turning round: "Long ago, when I was +young," she observed, addressing herself to Mrs. Hsüeh, "we likewise +had at home a pavilion like this called 'the Hall reclining on the +russet clouds,' or some other such name. 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. One day, I, unexpectedly, slipped and fell into +the water, and I had a narrow escape from being drowned; for it was +after great difficulty, that they managed to drag me out safe and +sound. But my head was, after all, bumped about against the wooden +nails; so much so, that this hole of the length of a finger, which you +can see up to this day on my temple, comes from the bruises I +sustained. All my people were in a funk that I'd be the worse for this +ducking and continued in fear and trembling lest I should catch a +chill. 'It was dreadful, dreadful!' they opined, but I managed, little +though every one thought it, to keep in splendid health." + +Lady Feng allowed no time to any one else to put in a word; but +anticipating them: "Had you then not survived, who would now be +enjoying these immense blessings!" she smiled. "This makes it evident +that no small amount of happiness and long life were in store for you, +venerable ancestor, from your very youth up! It was by the agency of +the spirits that this hole was knocked open so that they might fill it +up with happiness and longevity! The old man Shou Hsing had, in fact, a +hole in his head, which was so full of every kind of blessing conducive +to happiness and long life that it bulged up ever so high!" + +Before, however, she could conclude, dowager lady Chia and the rest +were convulsed with such laughter that their bodies doubled in two. + +"This monkey is given to dreadful tricks!" laughed old lady Chia. +"She's always ready to make a scapegoat of me to evoke amusement. But +would that I could take that glib mouth of yours and rend it in +pieces." + +"It's because I feared that the cold might, when you by and bye have +some crabs to eat, accumulate in your intestines," lady Feng pleaded, +"that I tried to induce you, dear senior, to have a laugh, so as to +make you gay and merry. For one can, when in high spirits, indulge in a +couple of them more with impunity." + +"By and bye," smiled old lady Chia, "I'll make you follow me day and +night, so that I may constantly be amused and feel my mind diverted; I +won't let you go back to your home." + +"It's that weakness of yours for her, venerable senior," Madame Wang +observed with a smile, "that has got her into the way of behaving in +this manner, and, if you go on speaking to her as you do, she'll soon +become ever so much the more unreasonable." + +"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. When +we are at home, with no strangers present, we ladies should be on terms +like these, and as long, in fact, as we don't overstep propriety, it's +all right. If not, what would be the earthly use of making them behave +like so many saints?" + +While bandying words, they entered the pavilion in a body. After tea, +lady Feng hastened to lay out the cups and chopsticks. At the upper +table then seated herself old lady Chia, Mrs. Hsüeh, Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yü +and Pao-yü. Round the table, on the east, sat Shih Hsiang-yün, Madame +Wang, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un. At the small table, leaning +against the door on the west side, Li Wan and lady Feng assigned +themselves places. But it was for the mere sake of appearances, as +neither of them ventured to sit down, but remained in attendance at the +two tables, occupied by old lady Chia and Madame Wang. + +"You'd better," lady Feng said, "not bring in too many crabs at a time. +Throw these again into the steaming-basket! Only serve ten; and when +they're eaten, a fresh supply can be fetched!" + +Asking, at the same time, for water, she washed her hands, and, taking +her position near dowager lady Chia, she scooped out the meat from a +crab, and offered the first help to Mrs. Hsüeh. + +"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." + +Lady Feng, therefore, presented it to old lady Chia and handed a second +portion to Pao-yü. + +"Make the wine as warm as possible and bring it in!" 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." + +Shih Hsiang-yün had a crab to bear the others company, but no sooner +had she done than she retired to a lower seat, from where she helped +her guests. When she, however, walked out a second time to give orders +to fill two dishes and send them over to Mrs. Chao, she perceived lady +Feng come up to her again. "You're not accustomed to entertaining," she +said, "so go and have your share to eat. I'll attend to the people for +you first, and, when they've gone, I'll have all I want." + +Hsiang-yün would not agree to her proposal. But giving further +directions to the servants to spread two tables under the verandah on +the off-side, she pressed Yüan Yang, Hu Po, Ts'ai Hsia, Ts'ai Yün and +P'ing Erh to go and seat themselves. + +"Lady Secunda," consequently ventured Yüan Yang, "you're in here doing +the honours, so may I go and have something to eat?" + +"You can all go," replied lady Feng; "leave everything in my charge, +and it will be all right." + +While these words were being spoken, Shih Hsiang-yün resumed her place +at the banquet. Lady Feng and Li Wan then took hurry-scurry something +to eat as a matter of form; but lady Feng came down once more to look +after things. After a time, she stepped out on the verandah where Yüan +Yang and the other girls were having their refreshments in high glee. +As soon as they caught sight of her, Yuan Yang and her companions stood +up. "What has your ladyship come out again for?" they inquired. "Do let +us also enjoy a little peace and quiet!" + +"This chit Yüan Yang is worse than ever!" lady Feng laughed. "Here I'm +slaving away for you, and, instead of feeling grateful to me, you bear +me a grudge! But don't you yet quick pour me a cup of wine?" + +Yüan Yang immediately smiled, and filling a cup, she applied it to lady +Feng's lips. Lady Feng stretched out her neck and emptied it. But Hu Po +and Ts'ai Hsia thereupon likewise replenished a cup and put it to lady +Feng's mouth. Lady Feng swallowed the contents of that as well. P'ing +Erh had, by this time, brought her some yellow meat which she had +picked out from the shell. "Pour plenty of ginger and vinegar!" shouted +lady Feng, and, in a moment, she made short work of that too. "You +people," she smiled, "had better sit down and have something to eat, +for I'm off now." + +"You brazen-faced thing," exclaimed Yüan Yang laughingly, "to eat what +was intended for us!" + +"Don't be so captious with me!" smiled lady Feng. "Are you aware that +your master Secundus, Mr. Lien, has taken such a violent fancy to you +that he means to speak to our old lady to let you be his secondary +wife!" + +Yüan Yang blushed crimson. "Ts'ui!" she shouted. "Are these really +words to issue from the mouth of a lady! But if I don't daub your face +all over with my filthy hands, I won't feel happy!" + +Saying this, she rushed up to her. She was about to besmear her face, +when lady Feng pleaded: "My dear child, do let me off this time!" + +"Lo, that girl Yüan," laughed Hu Po, "wishes to smear her, and that +hussey P'ing still spares her! Look here, she has scarcely had two +crabs, and she has drunk a whole saucerful of vinegar!" + +P'ing Erh was holding a crab full of yellow meat, which she was in the +act of cleaning. As soon therefore as she heard this taunt, she came, +crab in hand, to spatter Hu Po's face, as she laughingly reviled her. +"I'll take you minx with that cajoling tongue of yours" she cried, +"and…." + +But, Hu Po, while also indulging in laughter, drew aside; so P'ing Erh +beat the air, and fell forward, daubing, by a strange coincidence, the +cheek of lady Feng. Lady Feng was at the moment having a little +good-humoured raillery with Yüan Yang, and was taken so much off her +guard, that she was quite startled out of her senses. "Ai-yah!" she +ejaculated. The bystanders found it difficult to keep their +countenance, and, with one voice, they exploded into a boisterous fit +of laughter. Lady Feng as well could not help feeling amused, and +smilingly she upbraided her. "You stupid wench!" she said; "Have you by +gorging lost your eyesight that you recklessly smudge your mistress' +face?" + +P'ing Erh hastily crossed over and wiped her face for her, and then +went in person to fetch some water. + +"O-mi-to-fu," ejaculated Yüan Yang, "this is a distinct retribution!" + +Dowager lady Chia, though seated on the other side, overheard their +shouts, and she consecutively made inquiries as to what they had seen +to tickled their fancy so. "Tell us," (she urged), "what it is so that +we too should have a laugh." + +"Our lady Secunda," Yüan Yang and the other maids forthwith laughingly +cried, "came to steal our crabs and eat them, and P'ing Erh got angry +and daubed her mistress' face all over with yellow meat. So our +mistress and that slave-girl are now having a scuffle over it." + +This report filled dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other inmates +with them with much merriment. "Do have pity on her," dowager lady Chia +laughed, "and let her have some of those small legs and entrails to +eat, and have done!" + +Yuan Yang and her companions assented, much amused. "Mistress Secunda," +they shouted in a loud tone of voice, "you're at liberty to eat this +whole tableful of legs!" + +But having washed her face clean, lady Feng approached old lady Chia +and the other guests and waited upon them for a time, while they +partook of refreshments. + +Tai-yü did not, with her weak physique, venture to overload her +stomach, so partaking of a little meat from the claws, she left the +table. Presently, however, dowager lady Chia too abandoned all idea of +having anything more to eat. The company therefore quitted the banquet; +and, when they had rinsed their hands, some admired the flowers, some +played with the water, others looked at the fish. + +After a short stroll, Madame Wang turned round and remarked to old lady +Chia: "There's plenty of wind here. Besides, you've just had crabs; so +it would be prudent for you, venerable senior, to return home and rest. +And if you feel in the humour, we can come again for a turn to-morrow." + +"Quite true!" acquiesced dowager lady Chia, in reply to this +suggestion. "I was afraid that if I left, now that you're all in +exuberant spirits, I mightn't again be spoiling your fun, (so I didn't +budge). But as the idea originates from yourselves do go as you please, +(while I retire). But," she said to Hsiang-yün, "don't allow your +cousin Secundus, Pao-yü, and your cousin Lin to have too much to eat." +Then when Hsiang-yün had signified her obedience, "You two girls," +continuing, she recommended Hsiang-yün and Pao-ch'ai, "must not also +have more than is good for you. Those things are, it's true, luscious, +but they're not very wholesome; and if you eat immoderately of them, +why, you'll get stomachaches." + +Both girls promised with alacrity to be careful; and, having escorted +her beyond the confines of the garden, they retraced their steps and +ordered the servants to clear the remnants of the banquet and to lay +out a new supply of refreshments. + +"There's no use of any regular spread out!" Pao-yü interposed. "When +you are about to write verses, that big round table can be put in the +centre and the wines and eatables laid on it. Neither will there be any +need to ceremoniously have any fixed seats. Let those who may want +anything to eat, go up to it and take what they like; and if we seat +ourselves, scattered all over the place, won't it be far more +convenient for us?" + +"Your idea is excellent!" Pao-ch'ai answered. + +"This is all very well," Hsiang-yün observed, "but there are others to +be studied besides ourselves!" + +Issuing consequently further directions for another table to be laid, +and picking out some hot crabs, she asked Hsi Jen, Tzu Chüan, Ssu Ch'i, +Shih Shu, Ju Hua, Ying Erh, Ts'ui Mo and the other girls to sit +together and form a party. Then having a couple of flowered rugs spread +under the olea trees on the hills, she bade the matrons on duty, the +waiting-maids and other servants to likewise make themselves +comfortable and to eat and drink at their pleasure until they were +wanted, when they could come and answer the calls. + +Hsiang-yün next fetched the themes for the verses and pinned them with +a needle on the wall. "They're full of originality," one and all +exclaimed after perusal, "we fear we couldn't write anything on them." + +Hsiang-yün then went onto explain to them the reasons that had prompted +her not to determine upon any particular rhymes. + +"Yes, quite right!" put in Pao-yü. "I myself don't fancy hard and fast +rhymes!" + +But Lin Tai-yü, being unable to stand much wine and to take any crabs, +told, on her own account, a servant to fetch an embroidered cushion; +and, seating herself in such a way as to lean against the railing, she +took up a fishing-rod and began to fish. Pao-ch'ai played for a time +with a twig of olea she held in her hand, then resting on the +window-sill, she plucked the petals, and threw them into the water, +attracting the fish, which went by, to rise to the surface and nibble +at them. Hsiang-yün, after a few moments of abstraction, urged Hsi Jen +and the other girls to help themselves to anything they wanted, and +beckoned to the servants, seated at the foot of the hill, to eat to +their heart's content. Tan Ch'un, in company with Li Wan and Hsi Ch'un, +stood meanwhile under the shade of the weeping willows, and looked at +the widgeons and egrets. Ying Ch'un, on the other hand, was all alone +under the shade of some trees, threading double jasmine flowers, with a +needle specially adapted for the purpose. Pao-yü too watched Tai-yü +fishing for a while. At one time he leant next to Pao-ch'ai and cracked +a few jokes with her. And at another, he drank, when he noticed Hsi Jen +feasting on crabs with her companions, a few mouthfuls of wine to keep +her company. At this, Hsi Jen cleaned the meat out of a shell, and gave +it to him to eat. + +Tai-yü then put down the fishing-rod, and, approaching the seats, she +laid hold of a small black tankard, ornamented with silver plum +flowers, and selected a tiny cup, made of transparent stone, red like a +begonia, and in the shape of a banana leaf. A servant-girl observed her +movements, and, concluding that she felt inclined to have a drink, she +drew near with hurried step to pour some wine for her. + +"You girls had better go on eating," Tai-yü remonstrated, "and let me +help myself; there'll be some fun in it then!" + +So speaking, she filled for herself a cup half full; but discovering +that it was yellow wine, "I've eaten only a little bit of crab," she +said, "and yet I feel my mouth slightly sore; so what would do for me +now is a mouthful of very hot distilled spirit." + +Pao-yü hastened to take up her remark. "There's some distilled spirit," +he chimed in. "Take some of that wine," he there and then shouted out +to a servant, "scented with acacia flowers, and warm a tankard of it." + +When however it was brought Tai-yü simply took a sip and put it down +again. + +Pao-ch'ai too then came forward, and picked up a double cup; but, after +drinking a mouthful of it, she lay it aside, and, moistening her pen, +she walked up to the wall, and marked off the first theme: "longing for +chrysanthemums," below which she appended a character "Heng." + +"My dear cousin," promptly remarked Pao-yü. "I've already got four +lines of the second theme so let me write on it!" + +"I managed, after ever so much difficulty, to put a stanza together," +Pao-ch'ai smiled, "and are you now in such a hurry to deprive me of +it?" + +Without so much as a word, Tai-yü took a pen and put a distinctive sign +opposite the eighth, consisting of: "ask the chrysanthemums;" and, +singling out, in quick succession, the eleventh: "dream of +chrysanthemums," as well, she too affixed for herself the word "Hsiao" +below. But Pao-yü likewise got a pen, and marked his choice, the +twelfth on the list: "seek for chrysanthemums," by the side of which he +wrote the character "Chiang." + +T'an Ch'un thereupon rose to her feet. "If there's no one to write on +'Pinning the chrysanthemums'" she observed, while scrutinising the +themes, "do let me have it! It has just been ruled," she continued, +pointing at Pao-yü with a significant smile, "that it is on no account +permissible to introduce any expressions, bearing reference to the +inner chambers, so you'd better be on your guard!" + +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." + +"You too should get a style or other!" T'an Ch'un suggested. + +"In our home," smiled Hsiang-yün, "there exist, it is true, at present +several halls and structures, but as I don't live in either, there'll +be no fun in it were I to borrow the name of any one of them!" + +"Our venerable senior just said," Pao-ch'ai observed laughingly, "that +there was also in your home a water-pavilion called 'leaning on russet +clouds hall,' and is it likely that it wasn't yours? But albeit it +doesn't exist now-a-days, you were anyhow its mistress of old." + +"She's right!" one and all exclaimed. + +Pao-yü therefore allowed Hsiang-yün no time to make a move, but +forthwith rubbed off the character "Hsiang," for her and substituted +that of "Hsia" (russet). + +A short time only elapsed before the compositions on the twelve themes +had all been completed. After they had each copied out their respective +verses, they handed them to Ying Ch'un, who took a separate sheet of +snow-white fancy paper, and transcribed them together, affixing +distinctly under each stanza the style of the composer. Li Wan and her +assistants then began to read, starting from the first on the list, the +verses which follow: + +"Longing for chrysanthemums," by the "Princess of Heng Wu." + + With anguish sore I face the western breeze, and wrapt in grief, I + pine for you! + 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. + With constant yearnings my heart follows you as far as wild geese + homeward fly. + Lonesome I sit and lend an ear, till a late hour to the sound of the + block! + For you, ye yellow flowers, I've grown haggard and worn, but who doth + pity me, + And breathe one word of cheer that in the ninth moon I will soon meet + you again? + +"Search for chrysanthemums," by the "Gentleman of I Hung:" + + When I have naught to do, I'll seize the first fine day to try and + stroll about. + Neither wine-cups nor cups of medicine will then deter me from my + wish. + Who plants the flowers in all those spots, facing the dew and under + the moon's rays? + Outside the rails they grow and by the hedge; but in autumn where do + they go? + With sandals waxed I come from distant shores; my feelings all + exuberant; + But as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song, my spirits get + depressed. + The yellow flowers, if they but knew how comfort to a poet to afford, + Would not let me this early morn trudge out in vain with my + cash-laden + staff. + +"Planting chrysanthemums," by the Gentleman of "I Hung:" + + When autumn breaks, I take my hoe, and moving them myself out of the + park, + I plant them everywhere near the hedges and in the foreground of the + halls. + Last night, when least expected, they got a good shower, which made + them all revive. + This morn my spirits still rise high, as the buds burst in bloom + bedecked with frost. + Now that it's cool, a thousand stanzas on the autumn scenery I sing. + In ecstasies from drink, I toast their blossom in a cup of cold, and + fragrant wine. + With spring water. I sprinkle them, cover the roots with mould and + well tend them, + So that they may, like the path near the well, be free of every grain + of dirt. + +"Facing the chrysanthemums," by the "Old friend of the Hall reclining +on the russet clouds." + + From other gardens I transplant them, and I treasure them like gold. + One cluster bears light-coloured bloom; another bears dark shades. + I sit with head uncovered by the sparse-leaved artemesia hedge, + And in their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my knees, I hum my + lays. + In the whole world, methinks, none see the light as peerless as these + flowers. + From all I see you have no other friend more intimate than me. + Such autumn splendour, I must not misuse, as steadily it fleets. + My gaze I fix on you as I am fain each moment to enjoy! + +"Putting chrysanthemums in vases," by the "Old Friend of the hall +reclining on the russet clouds." + + The lute I thrum, and quaff my wine, joyful at heart that ye are meet + to be my mates. + The various tables, on which ye are laid, adorn with beauteous grace + this quiet nook. + The fragrant dew, next to the spot I sit, is far apart from that by + the three paths. + I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig full of your + autumn + (bloom). + What time the frost is pure, a new dream steals o'er me, as by the + paper screen I rest. + When cold holdeth the park, and the sun's rays do slant, I long and + yearn for you, old friends. + I too differ from others in this world, for my own tastes resemble + those of yours. + The vernal winds do not hinder the peach tree and the pear from + bursting forth in bloom. + +"Singing chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort." + + Eating the bread of idleness, the frenzy of poetry creeps over me + both + night and day. + Round past the hedge I wend, and, leaning on the rock, I intone + verses + gently to myself. + From the point of my pencil emanate lines of recondite grace, so near + the frost I write. + Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth, and, turning to the moon, + I + sing my sentiments. + With self-pitying lines pages I fill, so as utterance to give to all + my cares and woes. + From these few scanty words, who could fathom the secrets of my heart + about the autumntide? + Beginning from the time when T'ao, the magistrate, did criticise the + beauty of your bloom, + Yea, from that date remote up to this very day, your high renown has + ever been extolled. + +"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. + Do I make use of pigments red or green as to involve a task of + toilsome work? + To form clusters of leaves, I sprinkle simply here and there a + thousand specks of ink. + And when I've drawn the semblance of the flowers, some spots I make + to + represent the frost. + The light and dark so life-like harmonise with the figure of those + there in the wind, + That when I've done tracing their autumn growth, a fragrant smell + issues under my wrist. + Do you not mark how they resemble those, by the east hedge, which you + leisurely pluck? + Upon the screens their image I affix to solace me for those of the + ninth moon. + +"Asking the chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort." + + Your heart, in autumn, I would like to read, but know it no one + could! + While humming with my arms behind my back, on the east hedge I rap. + So peerless and unique are ye that who is meet with you to stay? + Why are you of all flowers the only ones to burst the last in bloom? + Why in such silence plunge the garden dew and the frost in the hall? + When wild geese homeward fly and crickets sicken, do you think of me? + Do not tell me that in the world none of you grow with power of + speech? + But if ye fathom what I say, why not converse with me a while? + +"Pinning the chrysanthemums in the hair," by the "Visitor under the +banana trees." + + I put some in a vase, and plant some by the hedge, so day by day I + have ample to do. + I pluck them, yet don't fancy they are meant for girls to pin before + the glass in their coiffure. + My mania for these flowers is just as keen as was that of the squire, + who once lived in Ch'ang An. + I rave as much for them as raved Mr. P'eng Tsê, when he was under the + effects of wine. + Cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened with dew, which + on + it dripped from the three paths. + His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance of the autumn + frost in the ninth moon. + That strong weakness of mine to pin them in my hair is viewed with + sneers by my contemporaries. + They clap their hands, but they are free to laugh at me by the + roadside as much us e'er they list. + +"The shadow of the chrysanthemums," by the "Old Friend of the hall +reclining on the russet clouds." + + In layers upon layers their autumn splendour grows and e'er thick and + thicker. + I make off furtively, and stealthily transplant them from the three + crossways. + The distant lamp, inside the window-frame, depicts their shade both + far and near. + The hedge riddles the moon's rays, like unto a sieve, but the flowers + stop the holes. + As their reflection cold and fragrant tarries here, their soul must + too abide. + The dew-dry spot beneath the flowers is so like them that what is + said + of dreams is trash. + Their precious shadows, full of subtle scent, are trodden down to + pieces here and there. + Could any one with eyes half closed from drinking, not mistake the + shadow for the flowers. + +"Dreaming of chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort." + + What vivid dreams arise as I dose by the hedge amidst those autumn + scenes! + Whether clouds bear me company or the moon be my mate, I can't + discern. + In fairyland I soar, not that I would become a butterfly like Chang. + 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. + The chirp of the cicadas gave me such a start that I bear them a + grudge. + My secret wrongs to whom can I go and divulge, when I wake up from + sleep? + The faded flowers and the cold mist make my feelings of anguish know + no bounds. + +"Fading of the chrysanthemums," by the "Visitor under the banana +trees." + + The dew congeals; the frost waxes in weight; and gradually dwindles + their bloom. + After the feast, with the flower show, follows the season of the + 'little snow.' + The stalks retain still some redundant smell, but the flowers' golden + tinge is faint. + The stems do not bear sign of even one whole leaf; their verdure is + all past. + Naught but the chirp of crickets strikes my ear, while the moon + shines + on half my bed. + Near the cold clouds, distant a thousand li, a flock of wild geese + slowly fly. + When autumn breaks again next year, I feel certain that we will meet + once more. + We part, but only for a time, so don't let us indulge in anxious + thoughts. + +Each stanza they read they praised; and they heaped upon each other +incessant eulogiums. + +"Let me now criticise them; I'll do so with all fairness!" Li Wan +smiled. "As I glance over the page," she said, "I find that each of you +has some distinct admirable sentiments; but in order to be impartial in +my criticism to-day, I must concede the first place to: 'Singing the +chrysanthemums;' the second to: 'Asking the chrysanthemums;' and the +third to: 'Dreaming of chrysanthemums.' The original nature of the +themes makes the verses full of originality, and their conception still +more original. But we must allow to the 'Hsiao Hsiang consort' the +credit of being the best; next in order following: 'Pinning +chrysanthemums in the hair,' 'Facing the chrysanthemums,' 'Putting the +chrysanthemums, in vases,' 'Drawing the chrysanthemums,' and 'Longing +for chrysanthemums,' as second best." + +This decision filled Pao-yü with intense gratification. Clapping his +hands, "Quite right! it's most just," he shouted. + +"My verses are worth nothing!" 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." + +"According to my views," Tai-yü observed, "the best line is: + + "'When cold holdeth the park and the sun's rays do slant, I long and + yearn for you, old friends.' + +"The metonomy: + + "'I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig of autumn.' + +is already admirable! She has dealt so exhaustively with 'putting +chrysanthemums in a vase' that she has left nothing unsaid that could +be said, and has had in consequence to turn her thought back and +consider the time anterior to their being plucked and placed in vases. +Her sentiments are profound!" + +"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." + +"After all," said T'an Ch'un, "we must admit that there's depth of +thought in those of the 'Princess of Heng Wu' with: + + "'…in autumn all trace of you is gone;' + +"and + + "'…my dreams then know something of you!' + +"They really make the meaning implied by the words 'long for' stand out +clearly." + +"Those passages of yours: + + "'Cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened….' + +"and + + "'His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance….;'" + +laughingly observed Puo-ch'ai, "likewise bring out the idea of 'pinning +the chrysanthemums in the hair' so thoroughly that one couldn't get a +loop hole for fault-finding." + +Hsiang-yün then smiled. + +"'…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." + +"Were what you say: + + "'I sit with head uncovered….' + +"and + + "'…clasping my knees, I hum my lays….' + +"as if you couldn't, in fact, tear yourself away for even a moment from +them," Li Wan laughed, "to come to the knowledge of the chrysanthemums, +why, they would certainly be sick and tired of you." + +This joke made every one laugh. + +"I'm last again!" smiled Pao-yü. "Is it likely that: + + "'Who plants the flowers?…. …in autumn where do they go? With sandals + waxed I come from distant shores;…. …and as on this cold day I can't + exhaust my song;….' + +"do not all forsooth amount to searching for chrysanthemums? And that + + "'Last night they got a shower…. + And this morn … bedecked with frost,' + +"don't both bear on planting them? But unfortunately they can't come up +to these lines: + + "'Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth and turning to the moon I + sing my sentiments.' 'In their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my + knees I hum my lays.' '…short hair on his temples….' 'His flaxen + turban…. …golden tinge is faint. …verdure is all past. …in autumn … + all trace of you is gone. …my dreams then know something of you.' + +"But to-morrow," he proceeded, "if I have got nothing to do, I'll write +twelve stanzas my self." + +"Yours are also good," Li Wan pursued, "the only thing is that they +aren't as full of original conception as those other lines, that's +all." + +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 the crabs to-day in one's hand and the olea before one's eyes, +one cannot help inditing verses," Pao-yü smiled. "I've already thought +of a few; but will any of you again have the pluck to devise any?" + +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. + With so much gluttony the prince's grandson eats his crabs that he + should have some wine. + The side-walking young gentleman has no intestines in his frame at + all. + I lose sight in my greediness that in my stomach cold accumulates. + To my fingers a strong smell doth adhere and though I wash them yet + the smell clings fast. + The main secret of this is that men in this world make much of food. + The P'o Spirit has laughed at them that all their lives they only + seek + to eat. + +"I could readily compose a hundred stanzas with such verses in no +time," +Tai-yü observed with a sarcastic smile. + +"Your mental energies are now long ago exhausted," Pao-yü rejoined +laughingly, "and instead of confessing your inability to devise any, +you still go on heaping invective upon people!" + +Tai-yü, upon catching this insinuation, made no reply of any kind; but +slightly raising her head she hummed something to herself for a while, +and then taking up a pen she completed a whole stanza with a few +dashes. + +The company then read her lines. They consisted of— + + E'en after death, their armour and their lengthy spears are never + cast + away. + So nice they look, piled in the plate, that first to taste them I'd + fain be. + In every pair of legs they have, the crabs are full of tender + jade-like meat. + Each piece of ruddy fat, which in their shell bumps up, emits a + fragrant smell. + Besides much meat, they have a greater relish for me still, eight + feet + as well. + Who bids me drink a thousand cups of wine in order to enhance my joy? + 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. + +Pao-yü had just finished conning it over and was beginning to sing its +praise, when Tai-yü, with one snatch, tore it to pieces and bade a +servant go and burn it. + +"As my compositions can't come up to yours," she then observed, "I'll +burn it. Yours is capital, much better than the lines you wrote a +little time back on the chrysanthemums, so keep it for the benefit of +others." + +"I've likewise succeeded, after much effort, in putting together a +stanza," Pao-ch'ai laughingly remarked. "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. When they came to look at +them, they read— + + On this bright beauteous day, I bask in the dryandra shade, with a + cup + in my hand. + When I was at Ch'ang An, with drivelling mouth, I longed for the + ninth + day of the ninth moon. + The road stretches before their very eyes, but they can't tell + between + straight and transverse. + Under their shells in spring and autumn only reigns a vacuum, yellow + and black. + +At this point, they felt unable to refrain from shouting: "Excellent!" +"She abuses in fine style!" Pao-yü shouted. "But my lines should also +be committed to the flames." + +The company thereupon scanned the remainder of the stanza, which was +couched in this wise: + + When all the stock of wine is gone, chrysanthemums then use to scour + away the smell. + So as to counteract their properties of gath'ring cold, fresh ginger + you should take. + Alas! now that they have been dropped into the boiling pot, what good + do they derive? + About the moonlit river banks there but remains the fragrant aroma of + corn. + +At the close of their perusal, they with one voice, explained that this +was a first-rate song on crab-eating; that minor themes of this kind +should really conceal lofty thoughts, before they could be held to be +of any great merit, and that the only thing was that it chaffed people +rather too virulently. + +But while they were engaged in conversation, P'ing Erh was again seen +coming into the garden. What she wanted is not, however, yet known; so, +reader, peruse the details given in the subsequent chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + + The tongue of the village old dame finds as free vent as a river that + has broken its banks. + The affectionate cousin makes up his mind to sift to the very bottom + the story told by old goody Liu. + +Upon seeing, the story explains, P'ing Erh arrive, they unanimously +inquired, "What is your mistress up to? How is it she hasn't come?" + +"How ever could she spare the time to get as far as here?" P'ing Erh +smiled and replied. "But, she said, she hasn't anything good to eat, so +she bade me, as she couldn't possibly run over, come and find out +whether there be any more crabs or not; (if there be), she enjoined me +to ask for a few to take to her to eat at home." + +"There are plenty!" Hsiang-yün rejoined; and directing, with alacrity, +a servant to fetch a present box, she put in it ten of the largest +crabs. + +"I'll take a few more of the female ones," P'ing Erh remarked. + +One and all then laid hands upon P'ing Erh and tried to drag her into a +seat, but P'ing Erh would not accede to their importunities. + +"I insist upon your sitting down," Li Wan laughingly exclaimed, and as +she kept pulling her about, and forcing her to sit next to her, she +filled a cup of wine and put it to her lips. P'ing Erh hastily +swallowed a sip and endeavoured immediately to beat a retreat. + +"I won't let you go," shouted Li Wan. "It's so evident that you've only +got that woman Feng in your thoughts as you don't listen to any of my +words!" + +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." + +A matron presently returned with a box. "Lady Secunda," she reported, +"says that you, lady Chu, and our young mistresses must not make fun of +her for having asked for something to eat; and that in this box you'll +find cakes made of water-lily powder, and rolls prepared with chicken +fat, which your maternal aunt, on the other side, just sent for your +ladyship and for you, young ladies, to taste. That she bids you," (the +matron) continued, turning towards P'ing Erh, "come over on duty, but +your mind is so set upon pleasure that you loiter behind and don't go +back. She advises you, however, not to have too many cups of wine." + +"Were I even to have too much," P'ing Erh smiled, "what could she do to +me?" + +Uttering these words, she went on with her drink; after which she +partook of some more crab. + +"What a pity it is," interposed Li Wan, caressing her, "that a girl +with such good looks as you should have so ordinary a fortune as to +simply fall into that room as a menial! But wouldn't any one, who is +not acquainted with actual facts, take you for a lady and a mistress?" + +While she went on eating and drinking with Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang-yün and +the other girls, P'ing Erh turned her head round. "Don't rub me like +that!" she laughed, "It makes me feel quite ticklish." + +"Ai-yo!" shouted Li Wan. "What's this hard thing?" + +"It's a key," P'ing Erh answered. + +"What fine things have you got that the fear lest people should take it +away, prompts you to carry this about you? I keep on, just for a laugh, +telling people the whole day long that when the bonze T'ang was +fetching the canons, a white horse came and carried him! That when Liu +Chih-yüan was attacking the empire, a melon-spirit appeared and brought +him a coat of mail, and that in the same way, where our vixen Feng is, +there you are to be found! You are your mistress' general key; and what +do you want this other key for?" + +"You've primed yourself with wine, my lady," P'ing Erh smiled, "and +here you once more chaff me and make a laughing-stock of me." + +"This is really quite true," Pao-ch'ai laughed. "Whenever we've got +nothing to do, and we talk matters over, (we're quite unanimous) that +not one in a hundred could be picked out to equal you girls in here. +The beauty is that each one of you possesses her own good qualities!" + +"In every thing, whether large or small, a heavenly principle rules +alike," Li Wan explained. "Were there, for instance, no Yüan Yang in +our venerable senior's apartments, how would it ever do? Commencing +with Madame Wang herself, who is it who could muster sufficient courage +to expostulate with the old lady? Yet she plainly has the pluck to put +in her remonstrances with her; and, as it happens, our worthy ancestor +lends a patient ear to only what she says and no one else. None of the +others can remember what our old senior has in the way of clothes and +head-ornaments, but she can remember everything; and, were she not +there to look after things, there is no knowing how many would not be +swindled away. That child besides is so straightforward at heart, that, +despite all this, she often puts in a good word for others, and doesn't +rely upon her influence to look down disdainfully upon any one!" + +"It was only yesterday," Hsi Ch'un observed with a smile, "that our +dear ancestor said that she was ever so much better than the whole lot +of us!" + +"She's certainly splendid!" P'ing Erh ventured. "How could we rise up +to her standard?" + +"Ts'ai Hsia," Pao-yü put in, "who is in mother's rooms, is a good sort +of girl!" + +"Of course she is!" T'an Ch'un assented. "But she's good enough as far +as external appearances go, but inwardly she's a sly one! Madame Wang +is just like a joss; she does not give her mind to any sort of +business; but this girl is up to everything; and it is she who in all +manner of things reminds her mistress what there is to be done. She +even knows everything, whether large or small, connected with Mr. Chia +Cheng's staying at home or going out of doors; and when at any time +Madame Wang forgets, she, from behind the scenes, prompts her how to +act." + +"Well, never mind about her!" Li Wan suggested. "But were," she +pursued, pointing at Pao-yü, "no Hsi Jen in this young gentleman's +quarters, just you imagine what a pitch things would reach! That vixen +Feng may truly resemble the prince Pa of the Ch'u kingdom; and she may +have two arms strong enough to raise a tripod weighing a thousand +catties, but had she not this maid (P'ing Erh), would she be able to +accomplish everything so thoroughly?" + +"In days gone by," P'ing Erh interposed, "four servant-girls came along +with her, but what with those who've died and those who've gone, only I +remain like a solitary spirit." + +"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? Am I not, +you've seen for yourselves, a person to bear with people? 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. +But had either of them been good for anything and worthy to be kept, I +would, in fact, have now had some one to give me a helping hand!" + +As she spoke, the very balls of her eyes suddenly became quite red. + +"Why need you again distress your mind?" they with one voice, +exclaimed. +"Isn't it better that we should break up?" + +While conversing, they rinsed their hands; and, when they had agreed to +go in a company to dowager lady Chia's and Madame Wang's and inquire +after their health, the matrons and servant-maids swept the pavilion +and collected and washed the cups and saucers. + +Hsi Jen proceeded on her way along with P'ing Erh. "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. + +"This month's allowances," she asked, "haven't yet been issued, not +even to our old mistress and Madame Wang; why is it?" + +Upon catching this inquiry, P'ing Erh hastily retraced her steps and +drew near Hsi Jen. After looking about to see that no one was in the +neighbourhood, she rejoined in a low tone of voice, "Drop these +questions at once! 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?" + +"This month's allowances," P'ing Erh explained to her in a whisper, +"have long ago been obtained in advance by our mistress Secunda and +given to people for their own purposes; and it's when the interest has +been brought from here and there that the various sums will be lumped +together and payment be effected. I confide this to you, but, mind, you +mustn't go and tell any other person about it." + +"Is it likely that she hasn't yet enough money for her own +requirements?" Hsi Jen smiled. "Or is it that she's still not +satisfied? And what's the use of her still going on bothering herself +in this way?" + +"Isn't it so!" laughed P'ing Erh. "From just handling the funds for +this particular item, she has, during these few years, so manipulated +them as to turn up several hundreds of taels profit out of them. Nor +does she spend that monthly allowance of hers for public expenses. But +the moment she accumulates anything like eight or ten taels odd, she +gives them out too. Thus the interest on her own money alone comes up +to nearly a thousand taels a year." + +"You and your mistress take our money," Hsi Jen observed laughingly, +"and get interest on it; fooling us as if we were no better than +idiots." + +"Here you are again with your uncharitable words!" P'ing Erh +remonstrated. "Can it be that you haven't yet enough to meet your own +expenses with?" + +"I am, it's true, not short of money," Hsi Jen replied, "as I have +nowhere to go and spend it; but the thing is that I'm making provision +for that fellow of ours, (Pao-yü)." + +"If you ever find yourself in any great straits and need money," P'ing +Erh resumed, "you're at liberty to take first those few taels I've got +over there to suit your own convenience with, and by and bye I can +reduce them from what is due to you and we'll be square." + +"I'm not in need of any just now," retorted Hsi Jen. "But should I not +have enough, when I want some, I'll send some one to fetch them, and +finish." + +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. Here she encountered a servant despatched from the +other side by lady Feng. She came in search of P'ing Erh. "Our lady," +she said, "has something for you to do, and is waiting for you." + +"What's up that it's so pressing?" P'ing Erh inquired. "Our senior +mistress detained me by force to have a chat, so I couldn't manage to +get away. But here she time after time sends people after me in this +manner!" + +"Whether you go or not is your own look out," the maid replied. "It +isn't worth your while getting angry with me! 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. But +unexpectedly she perceived that the old goody Liu, who had paid them a +visit on a previous occasion for the purpose of obtaining pecuniary +assistance, had come again with Pan Erh, and was seated in the opposite +room, along with Chang Ts'ai's wife and Chou Jui's wife, who kept her +company. But two or three servant-maids were inside as well emptying on +the floor bags containing dates, squash and various wild greens. + +As soon as they saw her appear in the room, they promptly stood up in a +body. Old goody Liu had, on her last visit, learnt what P'ing Erh's +status in the establishment was, so vehemently jumping down, she +enquired, "Miss, how do you do? All at home," she pursued, "send you +their compliments. I meant to have come earlier and paid my respects to +my lady and to look you up, miss; but we've been very busy on the farm. +We managed this year to reap, after great labour, a few more piculs of +grain than usual. But melons, fruits and vegetables have also been +plentiful. These things, you see here, are what we picked during the +first crop; and as we didn't presume to sell them, we kept the best to +present to our lady and the young ladies to taste. The young ladies +must, of course, be surfeited with all the delicacies and fine things +they daily get, but by having some of our wild greens to eat, they will +show some regard for our poor attention." + +"Many thanks for all the trouble you have taken!" Ping Erh eagerly +rejoined. Then pressing her to resume her place, she sat down herself; +and, urging Mrs. Chang and Mrs. Chou to take their seats, she bade a +young waiting-maid go and serve the tea. + +"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. + +"Naturally!" P'ing Erh laughed. "I generally don't take any wine, but +our senior mistress, and our young ladies caught hold of me and +insisted upon pouring it down my throat. I had no alternative therefore +but to swallow two cups full; so my face at once flushed crimson." + +"I have a longing for wine," Chang Ts'ai's wife smiled; "but there's no +one to offer me any. 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. + +"Early this morning," Chou Jui's wife interposed, "I caught a glimpse +of those crabs. Only two or three of them would weigh a catty; so in +those two or three huge hampers, there must have been, I presume, +seventy to eighty catties!" + +"If some were intended for those above as well as for those below;" +Chou Jui's wife added, "they couldn't, nevertheless, I fear, have been +enough." + +"How could every one have had any?" P'ing Erh observed. "Those simply +with any name may have tasted a couple of them; but, as for the rest, +some may have touched them with the tips of their hands, but many may +even not have done as much." + +"Crabs of this kind!" put in old goody Liu, "cost this year five +candareens a catty; ten catties for five mace; five times five make two +taels five, and three times five make fifteen; and adding what was +wanted for wines and eatables, the total must have come to something +over twenty taels. O-mi-to-fu! why, this heap of money is ample for us +country-people to live on through a whole year!" + +"I expect you have seen our lady?" 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. +"We must be going, or else we mayn't be in time to get out of the city +gates; and then we'll be in a nice fix." + +"Quite right," Chou Jui's wife observed. "I'll go and see what she's up +to for you." + +With these words, she straightway left the room. After a long absence, +she returned. "Good fortune has, indeed, descended upon you, old dame!" +she smiled. "Why, you've won the consideration of those two ladies!" + +"What about it?" laughingly inquired P'ing Erh and the others. + +"Lady Secunda," Chou Jui's wife explained with a smile, "was with our +venerable lady, so I gently whispered to her: 'old goody Liu wishes to +go home; it's getting late and she fears she mightn't be in time to go +out of the gates!' 'It's such a long way off!' Our lady Secunda +rejoined, 'and she had all the trouble and fatigue of carrying that +load of things; so if it's too late, why, let her spend the night here +and start on the morrow!' Now isn't this having enlisted our mistress' +sympathies? But not to speak of this! Our old lady also happened to +overhear what we said, and she inquired: 'who is old goody Liu?' Our +lady Secunda forthwith told her all. 'I was just longing,' her +venerable ladyship pursued, 'for some one well up in years to have a +chat with; ask her in, and let me see her!' So isn't this coming in for +consideration, when least unexpected?" + +So speaking, she went on to urge old goody Liu to get down and betake +herself to the front. + +"With a figure like this of mine," old goody Liu demurred, "how could I +very well appear before her? My dear sister-in-law, do tell her that +I've gone!" + +"Get on! Be quick!" P'ing Erh speedily cried. "What does it matter? Our +old lady has the highest regard for old people and the greatest pity +for the needy! She's not one you could compare with those haughty and +overbearing people! But I fancy you're a little too timid, so I'll +accompany you as far as there, along with Mrs. Chou." + +While tendering her services, she and Chou Jui's wife led off old goody +Liu and crossed over to dowager lady Chia's apartments on this side of +the mansion. The boy-servants on duty at the second gate stood up when +they saw P'ing Erh approach. But two of them also ran up to her, and, +keeping close to her heels: "Miss!" they shouted out. "Miss!" + +"What have you again got to say?" P'ing Erh asked. + +"It's pretty late just now," one of the boys smilingly remarked; "and +mother is ill and wants me to go and call the doctor, so I would, dear +Miss, like to have half a day's leave; may I?" + +"Your doings are really fine!" P'ing Erh exclaimed. "You've agreed +among yourselves that each day one of you should apply for furlough; +but instead of speaking to your lady, you come and bother me! 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!" + +"It's quite true that his mother is sick," Chou Jui's wife interceded; +"so, Miss, do say yes to him also, and let him go!" + +"Be back as soon as it dawns to-morrow!" P'ing Erh enjoined. "Wait, +I've got something for you to do, for you'll again sleep away, and only +turn up after the sun has blazed away on your buttocks. As you go now, +give a message to Wang Erh! Tell him that our lady bade you warn him +that if he does not hand over the balance of the interest due by +to-morrow, she won't have anything to do with him. So he'd better let +her have it to meet her requirements and finish." + +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. Here the various young ladies from the Garden of Broad +Vista were at the time assembled paying their respects to their +grandmother. As soon as old goody Liu put her foot inside, she saw the +room thronged with girls (as seductive) as twigs of flowers waving to +and fro, and so richly dressed, as to look enveloped in pearls, and +encircled with king-fisher ornaments. But she could not make out who +they all were. Her gaze was, however, attracted by an old dame, +reclining alone on a divan. Behind her sat a girl, a regular beauty, +clothed in gauze, engaged in patting her legs. Lady Feng was on her +feet in the act of cracking some joke. + +Old goody Liu readily concluded that it must be dowager lady Chia, so +promptly pressing forward, she put on a forced smile and made several +curtseys. "My obeisance to you, star of longevity!" she said. + +Old lady Chia hastened, on her part, to bow and to inquire after her +health. Then she asked Chou Jui's wife to bring a chair over for her to +take a seat. But Pan Erh was still so very shy that he did not know how +to make his obeisance. + +"Venerable relative," dowager lady Chia asked, "how old are you this +year?" + +Old goody Liu immediately rose to her feet. "I'm seventy-five this +year," she rejoined. + +"So old and yet so hardy!" Old lady Chia remarked, addressing herself +to the party. "Why she's older than myself by several years! When I +reach that age, I wonder whether I shall be able to move!" + +"We people have," old goody Liu smilingly resumed, "to put up, from the +moment we come into the world, with ever so many hardships; while your +venerable ladyship enjoys, from your birth, every kind of blessing! +Were we also like this, there'd be no one to carry on that farming +work." + +"Are your eyes and teeth still good?" Dowager lady Chia went on to +inquire. + +"They're both still all right," old goody Liu replied. "The left +molars, however, have got rather shaky this year." + +"As for me, I'm quite an old fossil," dowager lady Chia observed. "I'm +no good whatever. My eyesight is dim; my ears are deaf, my memory is +gone. I can't even recollect any of you, old family connections. When +therefore any of our relations come on a visit, I don't see them for +fear lest I should be ridiculed. All I can manage to eat are a few +mouthfuls of anything tender enough for my teeth; and I can just dose a +bit or, when I feel in low spirits, I distract myself a little with +these grandsons and grand-daughters of mine; that's all I'm good for." + +"This is indeed your venerable ladyship's good fortune!" old goody Liu +smiled. "We couldn't enjoy anything of the kind, much though we may +long for it." + +"What good fortune!" dowager lady Chia exclaimed. "I'm a useless old +thing, no more." + +This remark made every one explode into laughter. + +Dowager lady Chia also laughed. "I heard our lady Feng say a little +while back," she added, "that you had brought a lot of squash and +vegetables, and I told her to put them by at once. I had just been +craving to have newly-grown melons and vegetables; but those one buys +outside are not as luscious as those produced in your farms." + +"This is the rustic notion," old goody Liu laughed, "to entirely +subsist on fresh things! Yet, we long to have fish and meat for our +fare, but we can't afford it." + +"I've found a relative in you to-day," dowager lady Chia said, "so you +shouldn't go empty-handed! If you don't despise this place as too mean, +do stay a day or two before you start! We've also got a garden here; +and this garden produces fruits too; you can taste some of them +to-morrow and take a few along with you home, in order to make it look +like a visit to relatives." + +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. "Our place here," she urged, "isn't, it's true, +as spacious as your threshing-floor; but as we've got two vacant rooms, +you'd better put up in them for a couple of days, and choose some of +your village news and old stories and recount them to our worthy +senior." + +"Now you, vixen Feng," smiled dowager lady Chia, "don't raise a laugh +at her expense! She's only a country woman; and will an old dame like +her stand any chaff from you?" + +While remonstrating with her, she bade a servant go, before attending +to anything else, and pluck a few fruits. These she handed to Pan Erh +to eat. But Pan Erh did not venture to touch them, conscious as he was +of the presence of such a number of bystanders. So old lady Chia gave +orders that a few cash should be given him, and then directed the pages +to take him outside to play. + +After sipping a cup of tea, old goody Liu began to relate, for the +benefit of dowager lady Chia, a few of the occurrences she had seen or +heard of in the country. These had the effect of putting old lady Chia +in a more exuberant frame of mind. But in the midst of her narration, a +servant, at lady Feng's instance, asked goody Liu to go and have her +evening meal. Dowager lady Chia then picked out, as well, several kinds +of eatables from her own repast, and charged some one to take them to +goody Liu to feast on. + +But the consciousness that the old dame had taken her senior's fancy +induced lady Feng to send her back again as soon as she had taken some +refreshments. On her arrival, Yüan Yang hastily deputed a matron to +take goody Liu to have a bath. She herself then went and selected two +pieces of ordinary clothes, and these she entrusted to a servant to +hand to the old dame to change. Goody Liu had hitherto not set eyes +upon any such grand things, so with eagerness she effected the +necessary alterations in her costume. This over, she made her +appearance outside, and, sitting in front of the divan occupied by +dowager lady Chia, she went on to narrate as many stories as she could +recall to mind. Pao-yü and his cousins too were, at the time, assembled +in the room, and as they had never before heard anything the like of +what she said, they, of course, thought her tales more full of zest +than those related by itinerant blind story-tellers. + +Old goody Liu was, albeit a rustic person, gifted by nature with a good +deal of discrimination. She was besides advanced in years; and had gone +through many experiences in her lifetime, so when she, in the first +place, saw how extremely delighted old lady Chia was with her, and, in +the second, how eager the whole crowd of young lads and lasses were to +listen to what fell from her mouth, she even invented, when she found +her own stock exhausted, a good many yarns to recount to them. + +"What with all the sowing we have to do in our fields and the +vegetables we have to plant," she consequently proceeded, "have we ever +in our village any leisure to sit with lazy hands from year to year and +day to day; no matter whether it's spring, summer, autumn or winter, +whether it blows or whether it rains? Yea, day after day all that we +can do is to turn the bare road into a kind of pavilion to rest and +cool ourselves on! But what strange things don't we see! Last winter, +for instance, snow fell for several consecutive days, and it piled up +on the ground three or four feet deep. One day, I got up early, but I +hadn't as yet gone out of the door of our house when I heard outside +the noise of firewood (being moved). I fancied that some one must have +come to steal it, so I crept up to a hole in the window; but, lo, I +discovered that it was no one from our own village." + +"It must have been," interposed dowager lady Chia, "some wayfarers, who +being smitten with the cold, took some of the firewood, they saw ready +at hand, to go and make a fire and warm themselves with! That's highly +probable!" + +"It was no wayfarers at all," old goody Liu retorted smiling, "and +that's what makes the story so strange. Who do you think it was, +venerable star of longevity? It was really a most handsome girl of +seventeen or eighteen, whose hair was combed as smooth as if oil had +been poured over it. She was dressed in a deep red jacket, a white silk +petticoat…." + +When she reached this part of her narrative, suddenly became audible +the voices of people bawling outside. "It's nothing much," they +shouted, "don't frighten our old mistress!" Dowager lady Chia and the +other inmates caught, however, their cries and hurriedly inquired what +had happened. A servant-maid explained in reply that a fire had broken +out in the stables in the southern court, but that there was no danger, +as the flames had been suppressed. + +Their old grandmother was a person with very little nerve. 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. At the sight of the still brilliant +light, shed by the flames, on the south east part of the compound, old +lady Chia was plunged in consternation, and invoking Buddha, she went +on to shout to the servants to go and burn incense before the god of +fire. + +Madame Wang and the rest of the members of the household lost no time +in crossing over in a body to see how she was getting on. "The fire has +been already extinguished," they too assured her, "please, dear +ancestor, repair into your rooms!" + +But it was only after old lady Chia had seen the light of the flames +entirely subside that she at length led the whole company indoors. +"What was that girl up to, taking the firewood in that heavy fall of +snow?" Pao-yü thereupon vehemently inquired of goody Liu. "What, if she +had got frostbitten and fallen ill?" + +"It was the reference made recently to the firewood that was being +abstracted," his grandmother Chia said, "that brought about this fire; +and do you still go on asking more about it? Leave this story alone, +and tell us something else!" + +Hearing this reminder, Pao-yü felt constrained to drop the subject, +much against his wishes, and old goody Liu forthwith thought of +something else to tell them. + +"In our village," she resumed, "and on the eastern side of our +farmstead, there lives an old dame, whose age is this year, over +ninety. She goes in daily for fasting, and worshipping Buddha. Who'd +have thought it, she so moved the pity of the goddess of mercy that she +gave her this message in a dream: 'It was at one time ordained that you +should have no posterity, but as you have proved so devout, I have now +memorialised the Pearly Emperor to grant you a grandson!' The fact is, +this old dame had one son. This son had had too an only son; but he +died after they had with great difficulty managed to rear him to the +age of seventeen or eighteen. And what tears didn't they shed for him! +But, in course of time, another son was actually born to him. He is +this year just thirteen or fourteen, resembles a very ball of flower, +(so plump is he), and is clever and sharp to an exceptional degree! So +this is indeed a clear proof that those spirits and gods do exist!" + +This long tirade proved to be in harmony with dowager lady Chia's and +Madame Wang's secret convictions on the subject. Even Madame Wang +therefore listened to every word with all profound attention. Pao-yü, +however, was so pre-occupied with the story about the stolen firewood +that he fell in a brown study and gave way to conjectures. + +"Yesterday," T'an Ch'un at this point remarked, "We put cousin Shih to +a lot of trouble and inconvenience, so, when we get back, we must +consult about convening a meeting, and, while returning her +entertainment, we can also invite our venerable ancestor to come and +admire the chrysanthemums; what do you think of this?" + +"Our worthy senior," smiled Pao-yü, "has intimated that she means to +give a banquet to return cousin Shih's hospitality, and to ask us to do +the honours. Let's wait therefore until we partake of grandmother's +collation, before we issue our own invitations; there will be ample +time then to do so." + +"The later it gets, the cooler the weather becomes," T'an Ch'un +observed, "and our dear senior is not likely to enjoy herself." + +"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 will be better, won't it? And were +we to recite our verses with snow about us, it will be ever so much +more fun!" + +"To hum verses in the snow," Lin Tai-yü speedily demurred with a smile, +"won't, in my idea, be half as nice as building up a heap of firewood +and then stealing it, with the flakes playing about us. This will be by +far more enjoyable!" + +This proposal made Pao-ch'ai and the others laugh. Pao-yü cast a glance +at her but made no reply. + +But, in a short time, the company broke up. Pao-yü eventually gave old +goody Liu a tug on the sly and plied her with minute questions as to +who the girl was. The old dame was placed under the necessity of +fabricating something for his benefit. "The truth is," she said, "that +there stands on the north bank of the ditch in our village a small +ancestral hall, in which offerings are made, but not to spirits or +gods. There was in former days some official or other…" + +"While speaking, she went on to try and recollect his name and surname. + +"No matter about names or surnames!" Pao-yü expostulated. "There's no +need for you to recall them to memory! Just mention the facts; they'll +be enough." + +"This official," old goody Liu resumed, "had no son. His offspring +consisted of one young daughter, who went under the name of Jo Yü, +(like Jade). She could read and write, and was doated upon by this +official and his consort, just as if she were a precious jewel. But, +unfortunately, when this young lady, Jo Yü, grew up to be seventeen, +she contracted some disease and died." + +When these words fell on Pao-yü's ears, he stamped his foot and heaved +a sigh. "What happened after that?" he then asked. + +Old goody Liu pursued her story. + +"So incessantly," she continued, "did this official and his consort +think of their child that they raised this ancestral hall, erected a +clay image of their young daughter Jo Yü in it, and appointed some one +to burn incense and trim the fires. But so many days and years have now +elapsed that the people themselves are no more alive, the temple is in +decay, and the image itself is become a spirit." + +"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." + +"O-mi-to-fu!" ejaculated old goody Liu; "is it really so! Had you, sir, +not enlightened us, we would have remained under the impression that +she had become a spirit! But she repeatedly transforms herself into a +human being, and there she roams about in every village, farmstead, inn +and roadside. And the one I mentioned just now as having taken the +firewood is that very girl! The villagers in our place are still +consulting with the idea of breaking this clay image and razing the +temple to the ground." + +"Be quick and dissuade them!" eagerly exclaimed Pao-yü. "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. "When I get +back to-morrow, I'll make them relinquish the idea and finish!" + +"Our venerable senior and my mother," Pao-yü pursued, "are both +charitable persons. In fact, all the inmates of our family, whether old +or young, do, in like manner, delight in good deeds, and take pleasure +in distributing alms. Their greatest relish is to repair temples, and +to put up images to the spirits; so to-morrow, I'll make a subscription +and collect a few donations for you, and you can then act as +incense-burner. When sufficient money has been raised, this fane can be +repaired, and another clay image put up; and month by month I'll give +you incense and fire money to enable you to burn joss-sticks; won't +this be A good thing for you?" + +"In that case," old goody Liu rejoined, "I shall, thanks to that young +lady's good fortune, have also a few cash to spend." + +Pao-yü thereupon likewise wanted to know what the name of the place +was, the name of the village, how far it was there and back, and +whereabout the temple was situated. + +Old goody Liu replied to his questions, by telling him every idle +thought that came first to her lips. Pao-yü, however, credited the +information she gave him and, on his return to his rooms, he exercised, +the whole night, his mind with building castles in the air. + +On the morrow, as soon as daylight dawned, he speedily stepped out of +his room, and, handing Pei Ming several hundreds of cash, he bade him +proceed first in the direction and to the place specified by old goody +Liu, and clearly ascertain every detail, so as to enable him, on his +return from his errand, to arrive at a suitable decision to carry out +his purpose. After Pei Ming's departure, Pao-yü continued on pins on +needles and on the tiptoe of expectation. Into such a pitch of +excitement did he work himself, that he felt like an ant in a burning +pan. With suppressed impatience, he waited and waited until sunset. At +last then he perceived Pei Ming walk in, in high glee. + +"Have you discovered the place?" hastily inquired Pao-yü. + +"Master," Pei Ming laughed, "you didn't catch distinctly the directions +given you, and you made me search in a nice way! The name of the place +and the bearings can't be those you gave me, Sir; that is why I've had +to hunt about the whole day long! I prosecuted my inquiries up to the +very ditch on the north east side, before I eventually found a ruined +temple." + +Upon hearing the result of his researches, Pao-yü was much gratified. +His very eyebrows distended. His eyes laughed. "Old goody Liu," he said +with eagerness, "is a person well up in years, and she may at the +moment have remembered wrong; it's very likely she did. But recount to +me what you saw." + +"The door of that temple," Pei Ming explained, "really faces south, and +is all in a tumble-down condition. I searched and searched till I was +driven to utter despair. As soon, however, as I caught sight of it, +'that's right,' I shouted, and promptly walked in. But I at once +discovered a clay figure, which gave me such a fearful start, that I +scampered out again; for it looked as much alive as if it were a real +living being." + +Pao-yü smiled full of joy. "It can metamorphose itself into a human +being," he observed, "so, of course, it has more or less a life-like +appearance." + +"Was it ever a girl?" Pei Ming rejoined clapping his hands. "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. "Haven't you even enough gumption for +such a trifling job as this?" + +"What book, I wonder, have you again been reading, master?" Pei Ming +continued. "Or you may, perhaps, have heard some one prattle a lot of +trash and believed it as true! You send me on this sort of wild goose +chase and make me go and knock my head about, and how can you ever say +that I'm good for nothing?" + +Pao-yü did not fail to notice that he was in a state of exasperation so +he lost no time in trying to calm him. "Don't be impatient!" he urged. +"You can go again some other day, when you've got nothing to attend to, +and institute further inquiries! If it turns out that she has +hood-winked us, why, there will, naturally, be no such thing. But if, +verily, there is, won't you also lay up for yourself a store of good +deeds? I shall feel it my duty to reward you in a most handsome +manner." + +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." + +But as, reader, you are not aware what they were on the look-out to +tell him, the subsequent chapter will explain it for you. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + + The venerable lady Shih attends a second banquet in the garden of + Broad Vista. + Chin Yüan-yang three times promulgates, by means of dominoes, the + order to quote passages from old writers. + +As soon as Pao-yü, we will now explain, heard what the lad told him, he +rushed with eagerness inside. When he came to look about him, he +discovered Hu Po standing in front of the screen. "Be quick and go," +she urged. "They're waiting to speak to you." + +Pao-yü wended his way into the drawing rooms. Here he found dowager +lady Chia, consulting with Madame Wang and the whole body of young +ladies, about the return feast to be given to Shih Hsiang-yün. + +"I've got a plan to suggest," he consequently interposed. "As there are +to be no outside guests, the eatables too should not be limited to any +kind or number. A few of such dishes, as have ever been to the liking +of any of us, should be fixed upon and prepared for the occasion. +Neither should any banquet be spread, but a high teapoy can be placed +in front of each, with one or two things to suit our particular tastes. +Besides, a painted box with partitions and a decanter. Won't this be an +original way?" + +"Capital!" shouted old lady Chia. "Go and tell the people in the cook +house," she forthwith ordered a servant, "to get ready to-morrow such +dishes as we relish, and to put them in as many boxes as there will be +people, and bring them over. We can have breakfast too in the garden." + +But while they were deliberating, the time came to light the lamps. +Nothing of any note transpired the whole night. The next day, they got +up at early dawn. The weather, fortunately, was beautifully clear. Li +Wan turned out of bed at daybreak. She was engaged in watching the old +matrons and servant-girls sweeping the fallen leaves, rubbing the +tables and chairs, and preparing the tea and wine vessels, when she +perceived Feng Erh usher in old goody Liu and Pan Erh. "You're very +busy, our senior lady!" they said. + +"I told you that you wouldn't manage to start yesterday," Li Wan +smiled, "but you were in a hurry to get away." + +"Your worthy old lady," goody Liu replied laughingly, "wouldn't let me +go. She wanted me to enjoy myself too for a day before I went." + +Feng Erh then produced several large and small keys. "Our mistress Lien +says," she remarked, "that she fears that the high teapoys which are +out are not enough, and she thinks it would be as well to open the loft +and take out those that are put away and use them for a day. Our lady +should really have come and seen to it in person, but as she has +something to tell Madame Wang, she begs your ladyship to open the +place, and get a few servants to bring them out." + +Li Wan there and then told Su Yün to take the keys. She also bade a +matron go out and call a few servant-boys from those on duty at the +second gate. When they came, Li Wan remained in the lower story of the +Ta Kuan loft, and looking up, she ordered the servants to go and open +the Cho Chin hall and to bring the teapoys one by one. The young +servant-lads, matrons and servant-maids then set to work, in a body, +and carried down over twenty of them. + +"Be careful with them," shouted Li Wan. "Don't be bustling about just +as if you were being pursued by ghosts! Mind you don't break the +tenons!" Turning her head round, "old dame," she observed, addressing +herself smilingly to goody Liu, "go upstairs too and have a look!" + +Old goody Liu was longing to satisfy her curiosity, so at the bare +mention of the permission, she uttered just one word ("come") and, +dragging Pan Erh along, she trudged up the stairs. On her arrival +inside, she espied, pile upon pile, a whole heap of screens, tables and +chairs, painted lanterns of different sizes, and other similar +articles. She could not, it is true, make out the use of the various +things, but, at the sight of so many colours, of such finery and of the +unusual beauty of each article, she muttered time after time the name +of Buddha, and then forthwith wended her way downstairs. Subsequently +(the servants) locked the doors and every one of them came down. + +"I fancy," cried Li Wan, "that our dowager lady will feel disposed (to +go on the water), so you'd better also get the poles, oars and awnings +for the boats and keep them in readiness." + +The servants expressed their obedience. Once more they unlocked the +doors, and carried down everything required. She then bade a lad notify +the boatwomen go to the dock and punt out two boats. But while all this +bustle was going on, they discovered that dowager lady Chia had already +arrived at the head of a whole company of people. Li Wan promptly went +up to greet them. + +"Dear venerable senior," she smiled, "you must be in good spirits to +have come in here! Imagining that you hadn't as yet combed your hair, I +just plucked a few chrysanthemums, meaning to send them to you." + +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. Old lady Chia selected a cluster of deep red and pinned +it in her hair about her temples. But turning round, she noticed old +goody Liu. "Come over here," she vehemently cried with a smile; "and +put on a few flowers." + +Scarcely was this remark concluded, than lady Feng dragged goody Liu +forward. "Let me deck you up!" 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. Old lady Chia, and the whole party were +greatly amused; so much so, that they could not check themselves. + +"I wonder," shouted goody Liu smiling, "what blessings I have brought +upon my head that such honours are conferred upon it to-day!" + +"Don't you yet pull them away," they all laughed, "and chuck them in +her face! She has got you up in such a way as to make a regular old elf +of you!" + +"I'm an old hag, I admit," goody Liu pursued with a laugh; "but when I +was young, I too was pretty and fond of flowers and powder! But the +best thing I can do now is to keep to such fineries as befit my +advanced age!" + +While they bandied words, they reached the Hsin Fang pavilion. The +waiting maids brought a large embroidered rug and spread it over the +planks of the divan near the balustrade. On this rug dowager lady Chia +sat, with her back leaning against the railing; and, inviting goody Liu +to also take a seat next to her, "Is this garden nice or not?" she +asked her. + +Old goody Liu invoked Buddha several times. "We country-people," she +rejoined, "do invariably come, at the close of each year, into the city +and buy pictures and stick them about. And frequently do we find +ourselves in our leisure moments wondering how we too could manage to +get into the pictures, and walk about the scenes they represent. I +presumed that those pictures were purely and simply fictitious, for how +could there be any such places in reality? But, contrary to my +expectations, I found, as soon as I entered this garden to-day and had +a look about it, that it was, after all, a hundred times better than +these very pictures. But if only I could get some one to make me a +sketch of this garden, to take home with me and let them see it, so +that when we die we may have reaped some benefit!" + +Upon catching the wish she expressed, dowager lady Chia pointed at Hsi +Ch'un. "Look at that young granddaughter of mine!" she smiled. "She's +got the knack of drawing. So what do you say to my asking her to-morrow +to make a picture for you?" + +This suggestion filled goody Liu with enthusiasm and speedily crossing +over, she clasped Hsi Ch'un in her arms. "My dear Miss!" she cried, "so +young in years, and yet so pretty, and so accomplished too! Mightn't +you be a spirit come to life!" + +After old lady Chia had had a little rest, she in person took goody Liu +and showed her everything there was to be seen. 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. The earth below was turfed all over with moss. In the +centre, extended a tortuous road, paved with pebbles. Goody Liu left +dowager lady Chia and the party walk on the raised road, while she +herself stepped on the earth. But Hu Po tugged at her. "Come up, old +dame, and walk here!" she exclaimed. "Mind the fresh moss is slippery +and you might fall." + +"I don't mind it!" answered goody Liu. "We people are accustomed to +walking (on such slippery things)! So, young ladies, please proceed. +And do look after your embroidered shoes! Don't splash them with mud." + +But while bent upon talking with those who kept on the raised road, she +unawares reached a spot, which was actually slippery, and with a sound +of "ku tang" she tumbled over. + +The whole company clapped their hands and laughed boisterously. + +"You young wenches," shouted out dowager lady Chia, "don't you yet +raise her up, but stand by giggling?" + +This reprimand was still being uttered when goody Liu had already +crawled up. She too was highly amused. "Just as my mouth was bragging," +she observed, "I got a whack on the lips!" + +"Have you perchance twisted your waist?" inquired old lady Chia. "Tell +the servant-girls to pat it for you!" + +"What an idea!" retorted goody Liu, "am I so delicate? What day ever +goes by without my tumbling down a couple of times? And if I had to be +patted every time wouldn't it be dreadful!" + +Tzu Chuan had at an early period raised the speckled bamboo portiere. +Dowager lady Chia and her companions entered and seated themselves. Lin +Tai-yü with her own hands took a small tray and came to present a +covered cup of tea to her grandmother. + +"We won't have any tea!" Madame Wang interposed, "so, miss, you needn't +pour any." + +Lin Tai-yü, hearing this, bade a waiting-maid fetch the chair from +under the window where she herself often sat, and moving it to the +lower side, she pressed Madame Wang into it. But goody Liu caught sight +of the pencils and inkslabs, lying on the table placed next to the +window, and espied the bookcase piled up to the utmost with books. +"This must surely," the old dame ejaculated, "be some young gentleman's +study!" + +"This is the room of this granddaughter-in-law of mine," dowager lady +Chia explained, smilingly pointing to Tai-yü. + +Goody Liu scrutinised Lin Tai-yü with intentness for a while. "Is this +anything like a young lady's private room?" she then observed with a +smile. "Why, in very deed, it's superior to any first class library!" + +"How is it I don't see Pao-yü?" his grandmother Chia went on to +inquire. + +"He's in the boat, on the pond," the waiting-maids, with one voice, +returned for answer. + +"Who also got the boats ready?" old lady Chia asked. + +"The loft was open just now so they were taken out," Li Wan said, "and +as I thought that you might, venerable senior, feel inclined to have a +row, I got everything ready." + +After listening to this explanation, dowager lady Chia was about to +pass some remark, but some one came and reported to her that Mrs. Hsüeh +had arrived. No sooner had old lady Chia and the others sprung to their +feet than they noticed that Mrs. Hsüeh had already made her appearance. +While taking a seat: "Your venerable ladyship," she smiled, "must be in +capital spirits to-day to have come at this early hour!" + +"It's only this very minute that I proposed that any one who came late, +should be fined," dowager lady Chia laughed, "and, who'd have thought +it, here you, Mrs. Hsüeh, arrive late!" + +After they had indulged in good-humoured raillery for a time, old lady +Chia's attention was attracted by the faded colour of the gauze on the +windows, and she addressed herself to Madame Wang. "This gauze," she +said, "may have been nice enough when it was newly pasted, but after a +time nothing remained of kingfisher green. In this court too there are +no peach or apricot trees and these bamboos already are green in +themselves, so were this shade of green gauze to be put up again, it +would, instead of improving matters, not harmonise with the +surroundings. I remember that we had at one time four or five kinds of +coloured gauzes for sticking on windows, so give her some to-morrow to +change that on there." + +"When I opened the store yesterday," hastily put in Lady Feng, "I +noticed that there were still in those boxes, made of large planks, +several rolls of 'cicada wing' gauze of silvery red colour. There were +also several rolls with designs of twigs of flowers of every kind, +several with 'the rolling clouds and bats' pattern, and several with +figures representing hundreds of butterflies, interspersed among +flowers. The colours of all these were fresh, and the gauze supple. But +I failed to see anything of the kind you speak of. Were two rolls taken +(from those I referred to), and a couple of bed-covers of embroidered +gauze made out of them, they would, I fancy, be a pretty sight!" + +"Pshaw!" laughed old lady Chia, "every one says that there's nothing +you haven't gone through and nothing you haven't seen, and don't you +even know what this gauze is? Will you again brag by and bye, after +this?" + +Mrs. Hsüeh and all the others smiled. "She may have gone through a good +deal," they remarked, "but how can she ever presume to pit herself +against an old lady like you? So why don't you, venerable senior, tell +her what it is so that we too may be edified." + +Lady Feng too gave a smile. "My dear ancestor," she pleaded, "do tell +me what it is like." + +Dowager lady Chia thereupon proceeded to enlighten Mrs. Hsüeh and the +whole company. "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. But it really bears some resemblance +to it; so much so, indeed, that any one, not knowing the difference, +would imagine it to be the 'cicada wing' gauze. Its true name, however, +is 'soft smoke' silk." + +"This is also a nice sounding name," lady Feng agreed. "But up to the +age I've reached, I have never heard of any such designation, in spite +of the many hundreds of specimens of gauzes and silks, I've seen." + +"How long can you have lived?" old lady Chia added smilingly, "and how +many kinds of things can you have met, that you indulge in this tall +talk? Of this 'soft smoke' silk, there only exist four kinds of +colours. The one is red-blue; the other is russet; the other +pine-green; the other silvery-red; and it's because, when made into +curtains or stuck on window-frames, it looks from far like smoke or +mist, that it is called 'soft smoke' silk. The silvery-red is also +called 'russet shadow' gauze. Among the gauzes used in the present day, +in the palace above, there are none so supple and rich, light and +closely-woven as this!" + +"Not to speak of that girl Feng not having seen it," Mrs. Hsüeh +laughed, "why, even I have never so much as heard anything of it." + +While the conversation proceeded in this strain, lady Feng soon +directed a servant to fetch a roll. "Now isn't this the kind!" dowager +lady Chia exclaimed. "At first, we simply had it stuck on the window +frames, but we subsequently used it for covers and curtains, just for a +trial, and really they were splendid! So you had better to-morrow try +and find several rolls, and take some of the silvery-red one and have +it fixed on the windows for her." + +While lady Feng promised to attend to her commission, the party +scrutinised it, and unanimously extolled it with effusion. Old goody +Liu too strained her eyes and examined it, and her lips incessantly +muttered Buddha's name. "We couldn't," she ventured, "afford to make +clothes of such stuff, much though we may long to do so; and won't it +be a pity to use it for sticking on windows?" + +"But it doesn't, after all, look well, when made into clothes," old +lady +Chia explained. + +Lady Feng hastily pulled out the lapel of the deep-red brocaded gauze +jacket she had on, and, facing dowager lady Chia and Mrs. Hsüeh, "Look +at this jacket of mine," she remarked. + +"This is also of first-rate quality!" old lady Chia and Mrs. Hsüeh +rejoined. "This is nowadays made in the palace for imperial use, but it +can't possibly come up to this!" + +"It's such thin stuff," lady Feng observed, "and do you still say that +it was made in the palace for imperial use? Why, it doesn't, in fact, +compare favourably with even this, which is worn by officials!" + +"You'd better search again!" old lady Chia urged; "I believe there must +be more of it! If there be, bring it all out, and give this old +relative Liu a couple of rolls! Should there be any red-blue, I'll make +a curtain to hang up. What remains can be matched with some lining, and +cut into a few double waistcoats for the waiting-maids to wear. It +would be sheer waste to keep these things, as they will be spoilt by +the damp." + +Lady Feng vehemently acquiesced; after which, she told a servant to +take the gauze away. + +"These rooms are so small!" dowager lady Chia then observed, smiling. +"We had better go elsewhere for a stroll." + +"Every one says," old goody Liu put in, "that big people live in big +houses! When I saw yesterday your main apartments, dowager lady, with +all those large boxes, immense presses, big tables, and spacious beds +to match, they did, indeed, present an imposing sight! Those presses +are larger than our whole house; yea loftier too! But strange to say +there were ladders in the back court. 'They don't also,' I thought, 'go +up to the house tops to sun things, so what can they keep those ladders +in readiness for?' Well, after that, I remembered that they must be +required for opening the presses to take out or put in things. And that +without those ladders, how could one ever reach that height? But now +that I've also seen these small rooms, more luxuriously got up than the +large ones, and full of various articles, all so fascinating and hardly +even known to me by name, I feel, the more I feast my eyes on them, the +more unable to tear myself away from them." + +"There are other things still better than this," lady Feng added. "I'll +take you to see them all!" + +Saying this, they straightway left the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. From a +distance, they spied a whole crowd of people punting the boats in the +lake. + +"As they've got the boats ready," old lady Chia proposed, "we may as +well go and have a row in them!" + +As she uttered this suggestion, they wended their steps along the +persicary-covered bank of the Purple Lily Isle. But before reaching the +lake, they perceived several matrons advancing that way with large +multi-coloured boxes in their hands, made all alike of twisted wire and +inlaid with gold. Lady Feng hastened to inquire of Madame Wang where +breakfast was to be served. + +"Ask our venerable senior," Madame Wang replied, "and let them lay it +wherever she pleases." + +Old lady Chia overheard her answer, and turning her head round: "Miss +Tertia," she said, "take the servants, and make them lay breakfast +wherever you think best! We'll get into the boats from here." + +Upon catching her senior's wishes, lady Feng retraced her footsteps, +and accompanied by Li Wan, T'an Ch'un, Yüan Yang and Hu Po, she led off +the servants, carrying the eatables, and other domestics, and came by +the nearest way, to the Ch'iu Shuang library, where they arranged the +tables in the Hsiao Ts'ui hall. + +"We daily say that whenever the gentlemen outside have anything to +drink or eat, they invariably have some one who can raise a laugh and +whom they can chaff for fun's sake," Yuan Yang smiled, "so let's also +to-day get a female family-companion." + +Li Wan, being a person full of kindly feelings, did not fathom the +insinuation, though it did not escape her ear. Lady Feng, however, +thoroughly understood that she alluded to old goody Liu. "Let us too +to-day," she smilingly remarked, "chaff her for a bit of fun!" + +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! But you're not small children +any more, and are you still up to these pranks? Mind, our venerable +ancestor might call you to task!" + +"That has nothing whatever to do with you, senior lady," Yüan Yang +laughed, "it's my own look out!" + +These words were still on her lips, when she saw dowager lady Chia and +the rest of the company arrive. They each sat where and how they +pleased. First and foremost, a waiting-maid brought two trays of tea. +After tea, lady Feng laid hold of a napkin, made of foreign cloth, in +which were wrapped a handful of blackwood chopsticks, encircled with +three rings, of inlaid silver, and distributed them on the tables, in +the order in which they were placed. + +"Bring that small hard-wood table over," old lady Chia then exclaimed; +"and let our relative Liu sit next to me here!" + +No sooner did the servants hear her order than they hurried to move the +table to where she wanted it. Lady Feng, during this interval, made a +sign with her eye to Yüan Yang. Yüan Yang there and then dragged goody +Liu out of the hall and began to impress in a low tone of voice various +things on her mind. "This is the custom which prevails in our +household," she proceeded, "and if you disregard it we'll have a laugh +at your expense!" + +Having arranged everything she had in view, they at length returned to +their places. Mrs. Hsüeh had come over, after her meal, so she simply +seated herself on one side and sipped her tea. Dowager lady Chia with +Pao-yü, Hsiang-yün, Tai-yü and Pao-ch'ai sat at one table. Madame Wang +took the girls, Ying Ch'un, and her sisters, and occupied one table. +Old goody Liu took a seat at a table next to dowager lady Chia. +Heretofore, while their old mistress had her repast, a young +servant-maid usually stood by her to hold the finger bowl, yak-brush, +napkin and other such necessaries, but Yüan Yang did not of late fulfil +any of these duties, so when, on this occasion, she deliberately seized +the yak-brush and came over and flapped it about, the servant-girls +concluded that she was bent upon playing some tricks upon goody Liu, +and they readily withdrew and let her have her way. + +While Yüan Yang attended to her self-imposed duties, she winked at the +old dame. + +"Miss," goody Liu exclaimed, "set your mind at ease!" Goody Liu sat +down at the table and took up the chopsticks, but so heavy and clumsy +did she find them that she could not handle them conveniently. 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. + +"These forks," shouted goody Liu, after scrutinising them, "are heavier +than the very iron-lever over at my place. How ever can I move them +about?" + +This remark had the effect of making every one explode into a fit of +laughter. But a married woman standing in the centre of the room, with +a box in her hands, attracted their gaze. A waiting-maid went up to her +and removed the cover of the box. Its contents were two bowls of +eatables. Li Wan took one of these and placed it on dowager lady Chia's +table, while lady Feng chose the bowl with pigeon's eggs and put it on +goody Liu's table. + +"Please (commence)," Dowager lady Chia uttered from the near side, +where she sat. + +Goody Liu at this speedily sprung to her feet. "Old Liu, old Liu," she +roared with a loud voice, "your eating capacity is as big as that of a +buffalo! You've gorged like an old sow and can't raise your head up!" +Then puffing out her cheeks, she added not a word. + +The whole party was at first taken quite aback. But, as soon as they +heard the drift of her remarks, every one, both high as well as low, +began to laugh boisterously. Hsiang-yün found it so difficult to +restrain herself that she spurted out the tea she had in her mouth. Lin +Tai-yü indulged in such laughter that she was quite out of breath, and +propping herself up on the table, she kept on ejaculating 'Ai-yo.' +Pao-yü rolled into his grandmother's lap. The old lady herself was so +amused that she clasped Pao-yü in her embrace, and gave way to +endearing epithets. Madame Wang laughed, and pointed at lady Feng with +her finger; but as for saying a word, she could not. 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. T'an Ch'un +threw the contents of the teacup, she held in her hand, over Ying +Ch'un; while Hsi Ch'un quitted her seat, and, pulling her nurse away, +bade her rub her stomach for her. + +Below, among the lower seats, there was not one who was not with bent +waist and doubled-up back. Some retired to a corner and, squatting +down, laughed away. Others suppressed their laughter and came up and +changed the clothes of their young mistresses. Lady Feng and Yuan Yang +were the only ones, who kept their countenance. Still they continued +helping old goody Liu to food. + +Old goody Liu took up the chopsticks. "Even the chickens in this place +are fine," she went on to add, pretending, she did not hear what was +going on; "the eggs they lay are small, but so dainty! How very pretty +they are! Let me help myself to one!" + +The company had just managed to check themselves, but, the moment these +words fell on their ears, they started again with their laughter. Old +lady Chia laughed to such an extent that tears streamed from her eyes. +And so little could she bear the strain any longer that Hu Po stood +behind her and patted her. + +"This must be the work of that vixen Feng!" old lady Chia laughed. "She +has ever been up to tricks like a very imp, so be quick and disbelieve +all her yarns!" + +Goody Liu was in the act of praising the eggs as small yet dainty, when +lady Feng interposed with a smile. "They're one tael each, be quick, +and taste them;" she said; "they're not nice when they get cold!" + +Goody Liu forthwith stretched out the chopsticks with the intent of +catching one; but how could she manage to do so? 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. Extending her neck forward, she +was about to put it in her mouth, when it slipped down again, and +rolled on to the floor. She hastily banged down the chopsticks, and was +going herself to pick it up, when a servant, who stood below, got hold +of it and took it out of the room. + +Old goody Liu heaved a sigh. "A tael!" she soliloquised, "and here it +goes without a sound!" + +Every one had long ago abandoned all idea of eating, and, gazing at +her, they enjoyed the fun. + +"Who has now brought out these chopsticks again?" old lady Chia went on +to ask. "We haven't invited any strangers or spread any large banquet! +It must be that vixen Feng who gave them out! But don't you yet change +them!" + +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. + +"They've taken away the gold ones," old goody Liu shouted, "and here +come silver ones! But, after all, they're not as handy as those we +use!" + +"Should there be any poison in the viands," lady Feng observed, "you +can detect it, as soon as this silver is dipped into them!" + +"If there's poison in such viands as these," old goody Liu added, "why +those of ours must be all arsenic! But though it be the death of me, +I'll swallow every morsel!" + +Seeing how amusing the old woman was and with what relish she devoured +her food, dowager lady Chia took her own dishes and passed them over to +her. + +She then likewise bade an old matron take various viands and put them +in a bowl for Pan Erh. But presently, the repast was concluded, and old +lady Chia and all the other inmates adjoined into T'an Ch'un's bedroom +for a chat. + +The remnants were, meanwhile, cleared away, and fresh tables were laid. + +Old goody Liu watched Li Wan and lady Feng sit opposite each other and +eat. "Putting everything else aside," she sighed, "what most takes my +fancy is the way things are done in your mansion. It isn't to be +wondered at that the adage has it that: 'propriety originates from +great families.'" + +"Don't be too touchy," lady Feng hastily smiled, "we all made fun of +you just now." + +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!" + +"What are you saying, Miss?" old goody Liu rejoined smiling. "We've +coaxed our dowager lady to get a little distraction; and what reason is +there to be angry? From the very first moment you spoke to me, I knew +at once that it was intended to afford merriment to you all! Had I been +angry at heart, I wouldn't have gone so far as to say what I did!" + +Yüan Yang then blew up the servants. "Why," she shouted, "don't you +pour a cup of tea for the old dame?" + +"That sister-in-law," promptly explained old goody Liu, "gave me a cup +a little while back. I've had it already. But you, Miss, must also have +something to eat." + +Lady Feng dragged Yüan Yang into a seat. "Have your meal with us!" she +said. "You'll thus save another fuss by and bye." + +Yüan Yang readily seated herself. The matrons came up and added to the +number of bowls and chopsticks, and the trio went through their meal. + +"From all I see," smiled goody Liu, "you people eat just a little and +finish. It's lucky you don't feel the pangs of hunger! But it isn't +astonishing if a whiff of wind can puff you over!" + +"A good many eatables remained over to-day. Where are they all gone +to?" +Yüan Yang inquired. + +"They haven't as yet been apportioned!" the matrons responded. "They're +kept in here until they can be given in a lump to them to eat!" + +"They can't get through so many things!" Yüan Yang resumed. "You had as +well therefore choose two bowls and send them over to that girl P'ing, +in your mistress Secundus' rooms." + +"She has had her repast long ago." lady Feng put in. "There's no need +to give her any!" + +"With what she can't eat, herself," Yüan Yang continued, "she can feed +the cats." + +At these words, a matron lost no time in selecting two sorts of +eatables, and, taking the box, she went to take them over. + +"Where's Su Yun gone to?" Yüan Yang asked. + +"They're all in here having their meal together." Li Wan replied. "What +do you want her for again?" + +"Well, in that case, never mind," Yüan Yang answered. + +"Hsi Jen isn't here," lady Feng observed, "so tell some one to take her +a few things!" + +Yuan Yang, hearing this, directed a servant to send her also a few +eatables. "Have the partition boxes been filled with wine for by and +bye?" Yüan Yang went on to ask the matrons. + +"They'll be ready, I think, in a little while," a matron explained. + +"Hurry them up a bit!" Yüan Yang added. + +The matron signified her assent. + +Lady Feng and her friends then came into T'an Ch'un's apartments, where +they found the ladies chatting and laughing. + +T'an Ch'un had ever shown an inclination for plenty of room. Hence that +suite of three apartments had never been partitioned. In the centre was +placed a large table of rosewood and Ta li marble. On this table, were +laid in a heap every kind of copyslips written by persons of note. +Several tens of valuable inkslabs and various specimens of tubes and +receptacles for pens figured also about; the pens in which were as +thickly packed as trees in a forest. On the off side, stood a flower +bowl from the 'Ju' kiln, as large as a bushel measure. In it was +placed, till it was quite full, a bunch of white chrysanthemums, in +appearance like crystal balls. In the middle of the west wall, was +suspended a large picture representing vapor and rain; the handiwork of +Mi Nang-yang. On the left and right of this picture was hung a pair of +antithetical scrolls—the autograph of Yen Lü. The lines on these +scrolls were: + + Wild scenes are to the taste of those who leisure love, + And springs and rookeries are their rustic resort. + +On the table, figured a large tripod. On the left, stood on a blackwood +cabinet, a huge bowl from a renowned government kiln. This bowl +contained about ten "Buddha's hands" of beautiful yellow and fine +proportions. 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 to it hung a small hammer. + +Pan Erh had become a little more confident and was about to seize the +hammer and beat the plate, when the waiting-maids hastened to prevent +him. Next, he wanted a "Buddha's hand" to eat. T'an Ch'un chose one and +let him have it. "You may play with it," she said, "but you can't eat +it." + +On the east side stood a sleeping divan. On a movable bed was hung a +leek-green gauze curtain, ornamented with double embroideries, +representing flowers, plants and insects. Pan Erh ran up to have a +look. "This is a green-cicada," he shouted; "this a grasshopper!" + +But old goody Liu promptly gave him a slap. "You mean scamp!" she +cried. "What an awful rumpus you're kicking up! I simply brought you +along with me to look at things; and lo, you put on airs;" and she beat +Pan Erh until he burst out crying. It was only after every one quickly +combined in using their efforts to solace him that he at length +desisted. + +Old lady Chia then looked through the gauze casement into the back +court for some time. "The dryandra trees by the eaves of the covered +passage are growing all right," she remarked. "The only thing is that +their foliage is rather sparse." + +But while she passed this remark, a sudden gust of wind swept by, and +faintly on her ear fell the strains of music. "In whose house is there +a wedding?" old lady Chia inquired. "This place must be very near the +street!" + +"How could one hear what's going on in the street?" Madame Wang and the +others smiled. "It's our twelve girls practising on their wind and +string instruments!" + +"As they're practising," dowager lady Chia eagerly cried, smilingly, +"why not ask them to come in here and practise? They'll be able to have +a stroll also, while we, on our part, will derive some enjoyment." + +Upon hearing this suggestion, lady Feng immediately directed a servant +to go out and call them in. She further issued orders to bring a table +and spread a red cover over it. + +"Let it be put," old lady Chia chimed in, "in the water-pavilion of the +Lotus Fragrance Arbour, for (the music) will borrow the ripple of the +stream and sound ever so much more pleasant to the ear. We can by and +bye drink our wine in the Cho Chin Hall; we'll thus have ample room, +and be able to listen from close!" + +Every one admitted that the spot was well adapted. Dowager lady Chia +turned herself towards Mrs. Hsüeh. "Let's get ahead!" she laughed. "The +young ladies don't like any one to come in here, for fear lest their +quarters should get contaminated; so don't let us show ourselves +disregardful of their wishes! The right thing would be to go and have +our wine aboard one of those boats!" + +As she spoke, one and all rose to their feet. They were making their +way out when T'an Ch'un interposed. "What's this that you're saying?" +she smiled. "Please do seat yourselves, venerable senior, and you, Mrs. +Hsüeh, and Madame Wang! You can't be going yet?" + +"These three girls of mine are really nice! There are only two +mistresses that are simply dreadful." Dowager lady Chia said smilingly. +"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. But they had not proceeded far before they reached the bank +covered with aquatic plants, to which place the boat-women, who had +been brought from Ku Su, had already punted two crab-wood boats. Into +one of these boats, they helped old lady Chia, Madame Wang, Mrs. Hsüeh, +old goody Liu, Yüan Yang, and Yü Ch'uan-Erh. Last in order Li Wan +followed on board. But lady Feng too stepped in, and standing up on the +bow, she insisted upon punting. + +Dowager lady Chia, however, remonstrated from her seat in the bottom of +the boat. "This isn't a joke," she cried, "we're not on the river, it's +true, but there are some very deep places about, so be quick and come +in. Do it for my sake." + +"What's there to be afraid of?" lady Feng laughed. "Compose your mind, +worthy ancestor." + +Saying this, the boat was pushed off with one shove. When it reached +the middle of the lake, lady Feng became nervous, for the craft was +small and the occupants many, and hastily handing the pole to a +boatwoman, she squatted down at last. + +Ying Ch'un, her sisters, their cousins, as well as Pao-yü subsequently +got on board the second boat, and followed in their track; while the +rest of the company, consisting of old nurses and a bevy of +waiting-maids, kept pace with them along the bank of the stream. + +"All these broken lotus leaves are dreadful!" Pao-yü shouted. "Why +don't you yet tell the servants to pull them off?" + +"When was this garden left quiet during all the days of this year?" +Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Why, people have come, day after day, to visit it, +so was there ever any time to tell the servants to come and clean it?" + +"I have the greatest abhorrence," Lin Tai-yü chimed in, "for Li I's +poetical works, but there's only this line in them which I like: + + "'Leave the dry lotus leaves so as to hear the patter of the rain.' + +"and here you people deliberately mean again not to leave the dry lotus +stay where they are." + +"This is indeed a fine line!" Pao-yü exclaimed. "We mustn't hereafter +let them pull them away!" + +While this conversation continued, they reached the shoaly inlet under +the flower-laden beech. They felt a coolness from the shady overgrowth +penetrate their very bones. The decaying vegetation and the withered +aquatic chestnut plants on the sand-bank enhanced, to a greater degree, +the beauty of the autumn scenery. + +Dowager lady Chia at this point observed some spotless rooms on the +bank, so spick and so span. "Are not these Miss Hsüeh's quarters," she +asked. "Eh?" + +"Yes, they are!" everybody answered. + +Old lady Chia promptly bade them go alongside, and wending their way up +the marble steps, which seemed to lead to the clouds, they in a body +entered the Heng Wu court. Here they felt a peculiar perfume come +wafting into their nostrils, for the colder the season got the greener +grew that strange vegetation, and those fairy-like creepers. The +various plants were laden with seeds, which closely resembled red coral +beans, as they drooped in lovely clusters. + +The house, as soon as they put their foot into it, presented the aspect +of a snow cave. There was a total absence of every object of ornament. +On the table figured merely an earthenware vase, in which were placed +several chrysanthemums. A few books and teacups were also conspicuous, +but no further knicknacks. On the bed was suspended a green gauze +curtain, and of equally extreme plainness were the coverlets and +mattresses belonging to it. + +"This child," dowager lady Chia sighed, "is too simple! If you've got +nothing to lay about, why not ask your aunt for a few articles? I would +never raise any objection. I never thought about them. 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 +next went on to call lady Feng to task. + +"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." + +Old lady Chia nodded her head. "It will never do!" she added. "It does, +it's true, save trouble; but were some relative to come on a visit, +she'll find things in an impossible way. In the second place, such +simplicity in the apartments of young ladies of tender age is quite +unpropitious! Why, if you young people go on in this way, we old fogies +should go further and live in stables! You've all heard what is said in +those books and plays about the dreadful luxury, with which young +ladies' quarters are got up. And though these girls of ours could not +presume to place themselves on the same footing as those young ladies, +they shouldn't nevertheless exceed too much the bounds of what +constitutes the right thing. If they have any objects ready at hand, +why shouldn't they lay them out? And if they have any strong +predilection for simplicity, a few things less will do quite as well. +I've always had the greatest knack for titifying a room, but being an +old woman now I haven't the ease and inclination to attend to such +things! These girls are, however, learning how to do things very +nicely. I was afraid that there would be an appearance of vulgarity in +what they did, and that, even had they anything worth having, they'd so +place them about as to spoil them; but from what I can see there's +nothing vulgar about them. But let me now put things right for you, and +I'll wager that everything will look grand as well as plain. I've got a +couple of my own knicknacks, which I've managed to keep to this day, by +not allowing Pao-yü to get a glimpse of them; for had he ever seen +them, they too would have long ago disappeared!" Continuing, she called +Yüan Yang. "Fetch that marble pot with scenery on it," she said to her; +"that gauze screen, and that tripod of transparent stone with black +streaks, which you'll find in there, and lay out all three on this +table. They'll be ample! Bring likewise those ink pictures and white +silk curtains, and change these curtains." + +Yüan Yang expressed her obedience. "All these articles have been put +away in the eastern loft," she smiled. "In what boxes they've been put, +I couldn't tell; I must therefore go and find them quietly and if I +bring them over to-morrow, it will be time enough." + +"To-morrow or the day after will do very well; but don't forget, that's +all," dowager lady Chia urged. + +While conversing, they sat for a while. Presently, they left the rooms +and repaired straightway into the Cho Chin hall. Wen Kuan and the other +girls came up and paid their obeisance. They next inquired what songs +they were to practise. + +"You'd better choose a few pieces to rehearse out of those you know +best," old lady Chia rejoined. + +Wen Kuan and her companions then withdrew and betook themselves to the +Lotus Fragrance Pavilion. But we will leave them there without further +allusion to them. + +During this while, lady Feng had already, with the help of servants, +got everything in perfect order. On the left and right of the side of +honour were placed two divans. These divans were completely covered +with embroidered covers and fine variegated mats. In front of each +divan stood two lacquer teapoys, inlaid, some with designs of +crab-apple flowers; others of plum blossom, some of lotus leaves, +others of sun-flowers. Some of these teapoys were square, others round. +Their shapes were all different. On each was placed a set consisting of +a stove and a bottle, also a box with partitions. The two divans and +four teapoys, in the place of honour, were used by dowager lady Chia +and Mrs. Hsüeh. The chair and two teapoys in the next best place, by +Madame Wang. The rest of the inmates had, all alike, a chair and a +teapoy. On the east side sat old goody Liu. Below old goody Liu came +Madame Wang. On the west was seated Shih Hsiang-yün. The second place +was occupied by Pao-ch'ai; the third by Tai-yü; the fourth by Ying +Ch'un. T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un filled the lower seats, in their proper +order; Pao-yü sat in the last place. The two teapoys assigned to Li Wan +and lady Feng stood within the third line of railings, and beyond the +second row of gauze frames. The pattern of the partition-boxes +corresponded likewise with the pattern on the teapoys. Each inmate had +a black decanter, with silver, inlaid in foreign designs; as well as an +ornamented, enamelled cup. + +After they had all occupied the seats assigned to them, dowager lady +Chia took the initiative and smilingly suggested: "Let's begin by +drinking a couple of cups of wine. But we should also have a game of +forfeits to-day, we'll have plenty of fun then." + +"You, venerable senior, must certainly have a good wine order to +impose," Mrs. Hsüeh laughingly observed, "but how could we ever comply +with it? 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!" + +"Here's Mrs. Hsüeh beginning to be modest again to-day!" old lady Chia +smiled. "But I expect it's because she looks down upon me as being an +old hag!" + +"It isn't modesty!" Mrs. Hsüeh replied smiling. "It's all a dread lest +I shouldn't be able to observe the order and thus incur ridicule." + +"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. "I'll agree to the order," she laughed, +"but, dear senior, you must, after all, do the right thing and have a +cup of wine to start it." + +"This is quite natural!" old lady Chia answered laughingly; and with +these words, she forthwith emptied a cup. + +Lady Feng with hurried steps advanced to the centre of the room. "If we +are to play at forfeits," she smilingly proposed, "we'd better invite +sister Yüan Yang to come and join us." + +The whole company was perfectly aware that if dowager lady Chia had to +give out the rule of forfeits, Yüan Yang would necessarily have to +suggest it, so the moment they heard the proposal they, with common +consent, approved it as excellent. Lady Feng therefore there and then +dragged Yüan Yang over. + +"As you're to take a part in the game of forfeits," Madame Wang +smilingly observed, "there's no reason why you should stand up." And +turning her head round, "Bring over," she bade a young waiting-maid, "a +chair and place it at your Mistress Secunda's table." + +Yüan Yang, half refusing and half assenting, expressed her thanks, and +took the seat. After partaking also of a cup of wine, "Drinking rules," +she smiled, "resemble very much martial law; so irrespective of high or +low, I alone will preside. Any one therefore who disobeys my words will +have to suffer a penalty." + +"Of course, it should be so!" Madame Wang and the others laughed, "so +be quick and give out the rule!" + +But before Yüan Yang had as yet opened her lips to speak, old goody Liu +left the table, and waving her hand: "Don't," she said, "make fun of +people in this way, for I'll go home." + +"This will never do!" One and all smilingly protested. + +Yüan Yang shouted to the young waiting-maids to drag her back to her +table; and the maids, while also indulging in laughter, actually pulled +her and compelled her to rejoin the banquet. + +"Spare me!" old goody Liu kept on crying, "spare me!" + +"Any one who says one word more," Yüan Yang exclaimed, "will be fined a +whole decanter full." + +Old goody Liu then at length observed silence. + +"I'll now give out the set of dominoes." Yüan Yang proceeded. "I'll +begin from our venerable mistress and follow down in proper order until +I come to old goody Liu, when I shall stop. So as to illustrate what I +meant just now by giving out a set, I'll take these three dominoes and +place them apart; you have to begin by saying something on the first, +next, to allude to the second, and, after finishing with all three, to +take the name of the whole set and match it with a line, no matter +whether it be from some stanza or roundelay, song or idyl, set phrases +or proverbs. But they must rhyme. And any one making a mistake will be +mulcted in one cup." + +"This rule is splendid; begin at once!" they all exclaimed. + +"I've got a set," Yüan Yang pursued; "on the left, is the piece +'heaven,' (twelve dots)." + +"Above head stretches the blue heaven," + +dowager lady Chia said. + +"Good!" shouted every one. + +"In the centre is a five and six," Yüan Yang resumed. + + The fragrance of the plum blossom pierces the bones on the bridge + "Six," + +old lady Chia added. + +"There now remains," Yüan Yang explained, "one piece, the six and one." + +"From among the fleecy clouds issues the wheel-like russet sun." + +dowager lady Chia continued. + +"The whole combined," Yuan Yang observed "forms 'the devil with +dishevelled hair.'" + +"This devil clasps the leg of the 'Chung Pa' devil," + +old lady Chia observed. + +At the conclusion of her recitation, they all burst out laughing. +"Capital!" they shouted. Old lady Chia drained a cup. Yüan Yang then +went on to remark, "I've got another set; the one on the left is a +double five." + +"Bud after bud of the plum bloom dances in the wind," + +Mrs. Hsüeh replied. + +"The one on the right is a ten spot," Yüan Yang pursued. + +"In the tenth moon the plum bloom on the hills emits its fragrant +smell," + +Mrs. Hsüeh added. + +"The middle piece is the two and five, making the 'unlike seven;'" Yüan +Yang observed. + + "The 'spinning damsel' star meets the 'cow-herd' on the eve of the + seventh day of the seventh moon," + +Miss Hsüeh said. + +"Together they form: 'Erh Lang strolls on the five mounds;'" Yüan Yang +continued. + +"Mortals cannot be happy as immortals," + +Mrs. Hsüeh rejoined. + +Her answers over, the whole company extolled them and had a drink. +"I've got another set!" Yüan Yang once more exclaimed. "On the left, +are distinctly the distant dots of the double ace." + +"Both sun and moon are so suspended as to shine on heaven and earth," + +Hsiang-yün ventured. + +"On the right, are a couple of spots, far apart, which clearly form a +one and one." Yüan Yang pursued. + + "What time a lonesome flower falls to the ground, no sound is + audible," + +Hsiang-yün rejoined. + +"In the middle, there is the one and four," Yüan Yang added. + +"The red apricot tree is planted by the sun, and leans against the +clouds;" + +Hsiang-yün answered. + +"Together they form the 'cherry fruit ripens for the ninth time,'" Yüan +Yang said. + +"In the imperial garden it is pecked by birds." + +Hsiang-yün replied. + +When she had done with her part, she drank a cup of wine. "I've got +another set," Yüan Yang began, "the one on the left is a double three." + +"The swallows, pair by pair, chatter on the beams;" + +Pao-ch'ai remarked. + +"The right piece is a six," Yüan Yang added. + +"The marsh flower is stretched by the breeze e'en to the length of a +green sash," + +Pao-ch'ai returned. + +"The centre piece is a three and six, making a nine spot," Yüan Yang +pursued. + +"The three hills tower half beyond the azure skies;" + +Pao-ch'ai rejoined. + +"Lumped together they form: a 'chain-bound solitary boat,'" Yüan Yang +resumed. + +"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!" + +Tai-yü replied. + +When this line fell on Pao-chai's ear, she turned her head round and +cast a glance at her, but Tai-yü was so nervous lest she should have to +pay a forfeit that she did not so much as notice her. + +"In the middle there's the 'colour of the embroidered screen, (ten +spots, four and six), is beautiful,'" Yüan Yang proceeded. + +"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. + +"Twice see the jady throne when led in to perform the court ritual," + +Tai-yü replied. + +"Together they form 'a basket suitable for putting plucked flowers +in,'" +Yüan Yang continued. + +"The fairy wand smells nice as on it hangs a peony." + +Tai-yü retorted. + +At the close of her replies, she took a sip of wine. Yüan Yang then +resumed. "On the left," she said, "there's a four and five, making a +'different-combined nine.'" + +"The peach blossoms bear heavy drops of rain;" + +Ying Ch'un remarked. + +The company laughed. "She must be fined!" they exclaimed. "She has made +a mistake in the rhyme. Besides, it isn't right!" + +Ying Ch'un smiled and drank a sip. 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. When it came to Madame Wang's turn, +Yüan Yang recited something for her. Next followed old goody Liu. + +"When we country-people have got nothing to do," old goody Liu said, "a +few of us too often come together and play this sort of game; but the +answers we give are not so high-flown; yet, as I can't get out of it, +I'll likewise make a try!" + +"It's easy enough to say what there is," one and all laughed, "so just +you go on and don't mind!" + +"On the left," Yüan Yang smiled, "there's a double four, i.e. 'man.'" + +Goody Liu listened intently. After considerable reflection, + +"It's a peasant!" + +she cried. + +One and all in the room blurted out laughing. + +"Well-said!" dowager lady Chia observed with a laugh, "that's the way." + +"All we country-people know," old goody Liu proceeded, also laughing, +"is just what comes within our own rough-and-ready wits, so young +ladies and ladies pray don't poke fun at me!" + +"In the centre there's the three and four, green matched with red," +Yüan +Yang pursued. + +"The large fire burnt the hairy caterpillar;" + +old goody Liu ventured. + +"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." + +"A turnip and a head of garlic." + +old goody Liu answered. + +This reply evoked further laughter from the whole company. + +"Altogether, it's a twig of flowers," Yüan Yang added laughing. + +"The flower dropped, and a huge melon formed." + +old goody Liu observed, while gesticulating with both her hands by way +of illustration. + +The party once more exploded in loud merriment. + +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. + + + Chia Pao-yü tastes tea in the Lung Ts'ui monastery. + Old goody Liu gets drunk and falls asleep in the I Hung court. + +Old goody Liu, so the story goes, exclaimed, while making signs with +both hands, + +"The flower dropped and a huge melon formed;" + +to the intense amusement of all the inmates, who burst into a +boisterous fit of laughter. In due course, however, she drank the +closing cup. Then she made another effort to evoke merriment. "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. If you have got +any wooden cups, you'd better produce them. It wouldn't matter then if +even they were to slip out of my hands and drop on the ground!" + +This joke excited some more mirth. But lady Feng, upon hearing this +speedily put on a smile. "Well," she said, "if you really want a wooden +one, I'll fetch you one at once! But there's just one word I'd like to +tell you beforehand. Wooden cups are not like porcelain ones. They go +in sets; so you'll have to do the right thing and drink from every cup +of the set." + +"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. +I've often been to the large households of village gentry on a visit, +and even been to banquets there and seen both gold cups and silver +cups; but never have I beheld any wooden ones about! Ah, of course! +They must, I expect, be the wooden bowls used by the young children. +Their object must be to inveigle me to have a couple of bowlfuls more +than is good for me! 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." + +Bringing this train of thought to a close, "Fetch them!" she said +aloud. +"We'll talk about them by and bye." + +Lady Feng then directed Feng Erh to go and bring the set of ten cups, +made of bamboo roots, from the book-case in the front inner room. Upon +hearing her orders, Feng Erh was about to go and execute them, when +Yüan Yang smilingly interposed. "I know those ten cups of yours," she +remarked, "they're small. What's more, a while back you mentioned +wooden ones, and if you have bamboo ones brought now, it won't look +well; so we'd better get from our place that set of ten large cups, +scooped out of whole blocks of aspen roots, and pour the contents of +all ten of them down her throat?" + +"Yes, that would be much better," lady Feng smiled. + +The cups were then actually brought by a servant, at the direction of +Yüan Yang. At the sight of them, old goody Liu was filled with surprise +as well as with admiration. Surprise, as the ten formed one set going +in gradation from large to small; the largest being amply of the size +of a small basin, the smallest even measuring two of those she held in +her hand. Admiration, as they were all alike, engraved, in perfect +style, with scenery, trees, and human beings, and bore inscriptions in +the 'grass' character as well as the seal of the writer. + +"It will be enough," she consequently shouted with alacrity, "if you +give me that small one." + +"There's no one," lady Feng laughingly insinuated, "with the capacity +to tackle these! Hence it is that not a soul can pluck up courage +enough to use them! 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." + +Old goody Liu was quite taken aback. "I daren't!" she promptly +demurred. +"My dear lady, do let me off!" + +Dowager lady Chia, Mrs. Hsüeh and Madame Wang were quite alive to the +fact that a person advanced in years as she was could not be gifted +with such powers of endurance, and they hastened to smilingly +expostulate. "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." + +"O-mi-to-fu!" ejaculated old goody Liu. "I'll only have a small cupful, +and put this huge fellow away, and take it home and drink at my +leisure." + +At this remark, the whole company once more gave way to laughter. Yüan +Yang had no alternative but to give in and she had to bid a servant +fill a large cup full of wine. Old goody Liu laid hold of it with both +hands and raised it to her mouth. + +"Gently a bit!" old lady Chia and Mrs. Hsüeh shouted. "Mind you don't +choke!" + +Mrs. Hsüeh then told lady Feng to put some viands before her. "Goody +Liu!" smiled lady Feng, "tell me the name of anything you fancy, and +I'll bring it and feed you." + +"What names can I know?" old goody Liu rejoined. "Everything is good!" + +"Bring some egg-plant and salt-fish for her!" dowager lady Chia +suggested with a smile. + +Lady Feng, upon hearing this suggestion, complied with it by catching +some egg-plant and salt-fish with two chopsticks and putting them into +old goody Liu's mouth. "You people," she smiled, "daily feed on +egg-plants; so taste these of ours and see whether they've been nicely +prepared or not." + +"Don't be making a fool of me!" old goody Liu answered smilingly. "If +egg-plants can have such flavour, we ourselves needn't sow any cereals, +but confine ourselves to growing nothing but egg-plants!" + +"They're really egg-plants!" one and all protested. "She's not pulling +your leg!" + +Old goody Liu was amazed. "If these be actually egg-plants," she said, +"I've uselessly eaten them so long! But, my lady, do give me a few +more; +I'd like to taste the next mouthful carefully!" + +Lady Feng brought her, in very deed, another lot, and put it in her +mouth. Old goody Liu munched for long with particular care. "There is, +it's true, something about them of the flavour of egg-plant," she +laughingly remarked, "yet they don't quite taste like egg-plants. But +tell me how they're cooked, so that I may prepare them in the same way +for myself." + +"There's nothing hard about it!" lady Feng answered smiling. "You take +the newly cut egg-plants and pare the skin off. All you want then is +some fresh meat. You hash it into fine mince, and fry it in chicken +fat. Then you take some dry chicken meat, and mix it with mushrooms, +new bamboo shoots, sweet mushrooms, dry beancurd paste, flavoured with +five spices, and every kind of dry fruits, and you chop the whole lot +into fine pieces. You then bake all these things in chicken broth, +until it's absorbed, when you fry them, to finish, in sweet oil, and +adding some oil, made of the grains of wine, you place them in a +porcelain jar, and close it hermetically. 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." + +Old goody Liu a shook her head and put out her tongue. "My Buddha's +ancestor!" she shouted. "One wants about ten chickens to prepare this +dish! It isn't strange then that it has this flavour!" + +Saying this, she quietly finished her wine. But still she kept on +minutely scrutinizing the cup. + +"Haven't you yet had enough to satisfy you?" lady Feng smiled. "If you +haven't, well, then drink another cup." + +"Dreadful!" eagerly exclaimed old goody Liu. "I shall be soon getting +so drunk that it will be the very death of me. I was only looking at it +as I admire pretty things like this! But what a trouble it must have +cost to turn out!" + +"Have you done with your wine?" Yuan Yang laughingly inquired. "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! How ever could you people, who live inside golden +doors and embroidered apartments, know anything of wood! We have the +whole day long the trees in the woods as our neighbours. When weary, we +use them as our pillows and go to sleep on them. When exhausted, we sit +with our backs leaning against them. When, in years of dearth, we feel +the pangs of hunger, we also feed on them. Day after day, we see them +with our eyes; day after day we listen to them with our ears; day after +day, we talk of them with our mouths. I am therefore well able to tell +whether any wood be good or bad, genuine or false. Do let me then see +what it is!" + +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! Any wood that is easily procured, wouldn't even find a +place in here. This feels so heavy, as I weigh it in my hands, that if +it isn't aspen, it must, for a certainty, be yellow cedar." + +Her rejoinder amused every one in the room. But they then perceived an +old matron come up. After asking permission of dowager lady Chia to +speak: "The young ladies," she said, "have got to the Lotus Fragrance +pavilion, and they request your commands, as to whether they should +start with the rehearsal at once or tarry a while." + +"I forgot all about them!" old lady Chia promptly cried with a smile. +"Tell them to begin rehearsing at once!" + +The matron expressed her obedience and walked away. 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. So balmy did the breeze +happen to be and the weather so fine that the strains of music came +wafted across the arbours and over the stream, and, needless to say, +conduced to exhilarate their spirits and to cheer their hearts. Unable +to resist the temptation, Pao-yü was the first to snatch a decanter and +to fill a cup for himself. He quaffed it with one breath. Then pouring +another cup, he was about to drain it, when he noticed that Madame Wang +too was anxious for a drink, and that she bade a servant bring a warm +supply of wine. "With alacrity, Pao-yü crossed over to her, and, +presenting his own cup, he applied it to Madame Wang's lips. His mother +drank two sips while he held it in his hands, but on the arrival of the +warm wine, Pao-yü resumed his seat. Madame Wang laid hold of the warm +decanter, and left the table, while the whole party quitted their +places at the banquet; and Mrs. Hsüeh too rose to her feet. + +"Take over that decanter from her," dowager lady Chia promptly shouted +to Li Wan and lady Feng, "and press your aunt into a seat. We shall all +then feel at ease!" + +Hearing this, Madame Wang surrendered the decanter to lady Feng and +returned to her seat. + +"Let's all have a couple of cups of wine!" old lady Chia laughingly +cried. "It's capital fun to-day!" + +With this proposal, she laid hold of a cup and offered it to Mrs. +Hsüeh. Turning also towards Hsiang-yün and Pao-ch'ai: "You two +cousins!" 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. Hsiang-yün, Pao-ch'ai and +Tai-y ü then had their drink. But about this time old goody Liu caught +the strains of music, and, being already under the influence of liquor, +her spirits became more and more exuberant, and she began to +gesticulate and skip about. Her pranks amused Pao-yü to such a degree +that leaving the table, he crossed over to where Tai-yü was seated and +observed laughingly: "Just you look at the way old goody Liu is going +on!" + +"In days of yore," Tai-yü smiled, "every species of animal commenced to +dance the moment the sounds of music broke forth. She's like a buffalo +now." + +This simile made her cousins laugh. But shortly the music ceased. +"We've all had our wine," Mrs. Hsüeh smilingly proposed, "so let's go +and stroll about for a time; we can after that sit down again!" + +Dowager lady Chia herself was at the moment feeling a strong +inclination to have a ramble. In due course, therefore, they all left +the banquet and went with their old senior, for a walk. Dowager lady +Chia, however, longed to take goody Liu along with her to help her +dispel her ennui, so promptly seizing the old dame's hand in hers, they +threaded their way as far as the trees, which stood facing the hill. +After lolling about with her for a few minutes, "What kind of tree is +this?" she went on to inquire of her. "What kind of stone is this? What +species of flower is that?" + +Old goody Liu gave suitable reply to each of her questions. "Who'd ever +have imagined it," she proceeded to tell dowager lady Chia; "not only +are the human beings in the city grand, but even the birds are grand. +Why, the moment these birds fly into your mansion, they also become +beautiful things, and acquire the gift of speech as well!" + +The company could not make out the drift of her observations. "What +birds get transformed into beautiful things and become able to speak?" +they felt impelled to ask. + +"Those perched on those gold stands, under the verandah, with green +plumage and red beaks are parrots. I know them well enough!" Goody Liu +replied. "But those old black crows in the cages there have crests like +phoenixes! They can talk too!" + +One and all laughed. But not long elapsed before they caught sight of +several waiting-maids, who came to invite them to a collation. + +"After the number of cups of wine I've had," old lady Chia said, "I +don't feel hungry. But never mind, bring the things here. We can nibble +something at our leisure." + +The maids speedily went off and fetched two teapoys; but they also +brought a couple of small boxes with partitions. When they came to be +opened and to be examined, the contents of each were found to consist +of two kinds of viands. In the one, were two sorts of steamed eatables. +One of these was a sweet cake, made of lotus powder, scented with +sun-flower. 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. + +"What stuffing have they put in them?" dowager lady Chia asked. + +"They're with crabs inside," 'hastily rejoined the matrons. + +Their old mistress, at this reply, knitted her eyebrows. "These fat, +greasy viands for such a time!" she observed. "Who'll ever eat these +things?" + +But finding, when she came to inspect the other kind, that it consisted +of small fruits of flour, fashioned in every shape, and fried in +butter, she did not fancy these either. She then however pressed Mrs. +Hsüeh to have something to eat, but Mrs. Hsüeh merely took a piece of +cake, while dowager lady Chia helped herself to a roll; but after +tasting a bit, she gave the remaining half to a servant girl. + +Goody Liu saw how beautifully worked those small flour fruits were, +made as they were in various colours and designs, and she took, after +picking and choosing, one which looked like a peony. "The most +ingenious girls in our village could not, even with a pair of scissors, +cut out anything like this in paper!" she exclaimed. "I would like to +eat it, but I can't make up my mind to! I had better pack up a few and +take them home and give them to them as specimens!" + +Her remarks amused every one. + +"When you start for home," dowager lady Chia said, "I'll give you a +whole porcelain jar full of them; so you may as well eat these first, +while they are hot!" + +The rest of the inmates selected such of the fruits as took their +fancy, but after they had helped themselves to one or two, they felt +satisfied. 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. But what remained of them were then, at the instance of lady +Feng, put into two plates, and sent, together with a partition-box, to +Wen Kuan and the other singing girls as their share. + +At an unexpected moment, they perceived the nurse come in with Ta +Chieh-erh in her arms, and they all induced her to have a romp with +them for a time. But while Ta Chieh-erh was holding a large pumelo and +amusing herself with it, she casually caught sight of Pan Erh with a +'Buddha's hand.' Ta Chieh would have it. A servant-girl endeavoured to +coax (Pan-Erh) to surrender it to her, but Ta Chieh-erh, unable to curb +her impatience, burst out crying. It was only after the pumelo had been +given to Pan-Erh, and that the 'Buddha's hand' had, by dint of much +humouring, been got from Pan Erh and given to her, that she stopped +crying. + +Pan Erh had played quite long enough with the 'Buddha's hand,' and had, +at the moment, his two hands laden with fruits, which he was in the +course of eating. When he suddenly besides saw how scented and round +the pumelo was, the idea dawned on him that it was more handy for play, +and, using it as a ball, he kicked it along and went off to have some +fun, relinquishing at once every thought of the 'Buddha's hand.' + +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. Miao Yü hastened to usher them in. On their arrival in the +interior of the court, they saw the flowers and trees in luxuriant +blossom. + +"Really," smiled old lady Chia, "it's those people, who devote +themselves to an ascetic life and have nothing to do, who manage, by +constant repairs, to make their places much nicer than those of +others!" + +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. "We've +just been filling ourselves with wines and meats," dowager lady Chia +observed, "and with the josses you've got in here, we shall be guilty +of profanity. We'd better therefore sit here! But give us some of that +good tea of yours; and we'll get off so soon as we have had a cup of +it." + +Pao-yü watched Miao Yü's movements intently, when he noticed her lay +hold of a small tea-tray, fashioned in the shape of a peony, made of +red carved lacquer, and inlaid with designs in gold representing a +dragon ensconced in the clouds with the character 'longevity' clasped +in its jaws, a tray, which contained a small multicoloured cup with +cover, fabricated at the 'Ch'eng' Kiln, and present it to his +grandmother. + +"I don't care for 'Liu An' tea!" old lady Chia exclaimed. + +"I know it; but this is old 'Chün Mei,'" Miao Yü answered with a smile. + +Dowager lady Chia received the cup. "What water is this?" she went on +to inquire. + +"It's rain water collected last year;" Miao Yü added by way of reply. + +Old lady Chia readily drank half a cup of the tea; and smiling, she +proffered it to goody Liu. "Just you taste this tea!" she said. + +Goody Liu drained the remainder with one draught. "It's good, of +course," she remarked laughingly, "but it's rather weak! It would be +far better were it brewed a little stronger!" + +Dowager lady Chia and all the inmates laughed. But subsequently, each +of them was handed a thin, pure white covered cup, all of the same +make, originating from the 'Kuan' kiln. Miao Yü, however, soon gave a +tug at Pao-ch'ai's and Tai-yü's lapels, and both quitted the apartment +along with her. But Pao-yü too quietly followed at their heels. Spying +Miao Yü show his two cousins into a side-room, Pao-ch'ai take a seat in +the court, Tai-yü seat herself on Miao Yü's rush mat, and Miao Yü +herself approach a stove, fan the fire and boil some water, with which +she brewed another pot of tea, Pao-yü walked in. "Are you bent upon +drinking your own private tea?" he smiled. + +"Here you rush again to steal our tea," the two girls laughed with one +accord. "There's none for you!" + +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. "Don't put that 'Ch'eng' kiln tea-cup by!" Miao Yü hastily +shouted. "Go and put it outside!" + +Pao-yü understood that it must be because old goody Liu had drunk out +of it that she considered it too dirty to keep. He then saw Miao Yü +produce two other cups. The one had an ear on the side. On the bowl +itself were engraved in three characters: 'calabash cup,' in the plain +'square' writing. 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. Next came a second row of small characters +stating: 'that in the course of the fourth moon of the fifth year of +Yuan Feng, of the Sung dynasty, Su Shih of Mei Shan had seen it in the +'Secret' palace. + +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 replenished this cup and gave it to Tai-yü; and taking +the green jade cup, which she had, on previous occasions, often used +for her own tea, she filled it and presented it to Pao-yü. + +"'The rules observed in the world,' the adage says, 'must be +impartial,'" Pao-yü smiled. "But while my two cousins are handling +those antique and rare gems, here am I with this coarse object!" + +"Is this a coarse thing?" Miao Yü exclaimed. "Why, I'm making no +outrageous statement when I say that I'm inclined to think that it is +by no means certain that you could lay your hand upon any such coarse +thing as this in your home!" + +"'Do in the country as country people do,' the proverb says," Pao-yü +laughingly rejoined. "So when one gets in a place like this of yours, +one must naturally look down upon every thing in the way of gold, +pearls, jade and precious stones, as coarse rubbish!" + +This sentiment highly delighted Miao Yü. So much so, that producing +another capacious cup, carved out of a whole bamboo root, which with +its nine curves and ten rings, with twenty knots in each ring, +resembled a coiled dragon, "Here," she said with a face beaming with +smiles, "there only remains this one! Can you manage this large cup?" + +"I can!" Pao-yü vehemently replied, with high glee. + +"Albeit you have the stomach to tackle all it holds," Miao Yü laughed, +"I haven't got so much tea for you to waste! Have you not heard how +that the first cup is the 'taste'-cup; the second 'the +stupid-thing-for- quenching-one's-thirst,' and the third 'the +drink-mule' cup? 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. But Miao-yü seized the teapot, and poured well-nigh a whole +cupful of tea into the big cup. Pao-yü tasted some carefully, and found +it, in real truth, so exceptionally soft and pure that he extolled it +with incessant praise. + +"If you've had any tea this time," Miao-Yü pursued with a serious +expression about her face, "it's thanks to these two young ladies; for +had you come alone, I wouldn't have given you any." + +"I'm well aware of this," Pao-yü laughingly rejoined, "so I too will +receive no favour from your hands, but simply express my thanks to +these two cousins of mine, and have done!" + +"What you say makes your meaning clear enough!" Miao-yü said, when she +heard his reply. + +"Is this rain water from last year?" Tai-yü then inquired. + +"How is it," smiled Miao Yü sardonically, "that a person like you can +be such a boor as not to be able to discriminate water, when you taste +it? This is snow collected from the plum blossom, five years back, when +I was in the P'an Hsiang temple at Hsüan Mu. All I got was that flower +jar, green as the devil's face, full, and as I couldn't make up my mind +to part with it and drink it, I interred it in the ground, and only +opened it this summer. I've had some of it once before, and this is the +second time. But how is it you didn't detect it, when you put it to +your lips? Has rain water, obtained a year back, ever got such a soft +and pure flavour? and how possibly could it be drunk at all?" + +Tai-yü knew perfectly what a curious disposition she naturally had, and +she did not think it advisable to start any lengthy discussion with +her. Nor did she feel justified to protract her stay, so after sipping +her tea, she intimated to Pao-ch'ai her intention to go, and they +quitted the apartment. + +Pao-yü gave a forced smile to Miao Yü. "That cup," he said, "is, of +course, dirty; but is it not a pity to put it away for no valid reason? +To my idea it would be preferable, wouldn't it? to give it to that poor +old woman; for were she to sell it, she could have the means of +subsistence! What do you say, will it do?" + +Miao Yü listened to his suggestion, and then nodded her head, after +some reflection. "Yes, that will be all right!" she answered. "Lucky +for her I've never drunk a drop out of that cup, for had I, I would +rather have smashed it to atoms than have let her have it! If you want +to give it to her, I don't mind a bit about it; but you yourself must +hand it to her! Now, be quick and clear it away at once!" + +"Of course; quite so!" Pao-yü continued. "How could you ever go and +speak to her? Things would then come to a worse pass. You too would be +contaminated! If you give it to me, it will be all right." + +Miao Yü there and then directed some one to fetch it and to give it to +Pao-yü. When it was brought, Pao-yü took charge of it. "Wait until +we've gone out," he proceeded, "and I'll call a few servant-boys and +bid them carry several buckets of water from the stream and wash the +floors; eh, shall I?" + +"Yes, that would be better!" Miao Yü smiled. "The only thing is that +you must tell them to bring the water, and place it outside the +entrance door by the foot of the wall; for they mustn't come in." + +"This goes without saying!" Pao-yü said; and, while replying, he +produced the cup from inside his sleeve, and handed it to a young +waiting-maid from dowager lady Chia's apartments to hold. "To-morrow," +he told her, "give this to goody Liu to take with her, when she starts +on her way homewards!" + +By the time he made (the girl) understand the charge he entrusted her +with, his old grandmother issued out and was anxious to return home. +Miao Yü did not exert herself very much to induce her to prolong her +visit; but seeing her as far the main gate, she turned round and bolted +the doors. But without devoting any further attention to her, we will +now allude to dowager lady Chia. + +She felt thoroughly tired and exhausted. To such a degree, that she +desired Madame Wang, Ying Ch'un and her sisters to see that Mrs. Hsüeh +had some wine, while she herself retired to the Tao Hsiang village to +rest. Lady Feng immediately bade some servants fetch a bamboo chair. On +its arrival, dowager lady Chia seated herself in it, and two matrons +carried her off hemmed in by lady Feng, Li Wan and a bevy of +servant-girls, and matrons. But let us now leave her to herself, +without any additional explanations. + +During this while, Mrs. Hsüeh too said good bye and departed. Madame +Wang then dismissed Wen Kuan and the other girls, and, distributing the +eatables, that had been collected in the partition-boxes, to the +servant-maids to go and feast on, she availed herself of the leisure +moments to lie off; so reclining as she was, on the couch, which had +been occupied by her old relative a few minutes back, she bade a young +maid lower the portière; after which, she asked her to massage her +legs. + +"Should our old lady yonder send any message, mind you call me at +once," she proceeded to impress on her mind, and, laying herself down, +she went to sleep. + +Pao-yü, Hsiang-yün and the rest watched the servant-girls take the +partition-boxes and place them among the rocks, and seat themselves +some on boulders, others on the turf-covered ground, some lean against +the trees, others squat down besides the pool, and thoroughly enjoy +themselves. But in a little time, they also perceived Yüan Yang arrive. +Her object in coming was to carry off goody Liu for a stroll, so in a +body they followed in their track, with a view of deriving some fun. +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! What! Is there another big temple +here!" + +While speaking, she prostrated herself and knocked her head, to the +intense amusement of the company, who were quite doubled up with +laughter. + +"What are you laughing at?" goody Liu inquired. "I can decipher the +characters on this honorary gateway. Over at our place temples of this +kind are exceedingly plentiful; and they've all got archways like this! +These characters give the name of the temple." + +"Can you make out from those characters what temple this is?" they +laughingly asked. + +Goody Liu quickly raised her head, and, pointing at the inscription, +"Are'nt these," she said, "the four characters 'Pearly Emperor's +Precious Hall?'" + +Everybody laughed. They clapped their hands and applauded. 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. "It won't do in here!" one and all laughingly shouted out to +her, and quickly they directed a matron to lead her away. When they got +at the north-east corner, the matron pointed the proper place out to +her, and in high spirits she walked off and went to have some rest. + +Goody Liu had taken plenty of wine; she could not touch yellow wine; +she had, what is more, drunk and eaten so many fat things that in the +thirst, which supervened, she had emptied several cups of tea; the +result was that she unavoidably got looseness of the bowels. She +therefore squatted for ever so long before she felt any relief. But on +her exit from the private chamber, the wind blew the wine to her head. +Besides, being a woman well up in years, she felt, upon suddenly rising +from a long squatting position, her eyes grow so dim and her head so +giddy that she could not make out the way. She gazed on all four +quarters, but the whole place being covered with trees, rockeries, +towers, terraces, and houses, she was quite at a loss how to determine +her whereabouts, and where each road led to. She had no alternative but +to follow a stone road, and to toddle on her way with leisurely step. +But when she drew near a building, she could not make out where the +door could be. After searching and searching, she accidentally caught +sight of a bamboo fence. "Here's another trellis with flat bean plants +creeping on it!" Goody Liu communed within herself. While giving way to +reflection, she skirted the flower-laden hedge, and discovering a +moonlike, cavelike, entrance, she stepped in. Here she discerned, +stretching before her eyes a sheet of water, forming a pond, which +measured no more than seven or eight feet in breadth. Its banks were +paved with slabs of stone. Its jadelike waves flowed in a limpid stream +towards the opposite direction. At the upper end, figured a slab of +white marble, laid horizontally over the surface. Goody Liu wended her +steps over the slab and followed the raised stone-road; then turning +two bends, in the lake, an entrance into a house struck her gaze. +Forthwith, she crossed the doorway, but her eyes were soon attracted by +a young girl, who advanced to greet her with a smile playing upon her +lips. + +"The young ladies," goody Liu speedily remarked laughing, "have cast me +adrift; they made me knock about, until I found my way in here." + +But seeing, after addressing her, that the girl said nothing by way of +reply, goody Liu approached her and seized her by the hand, when, with +a crash, she fell against the wooden partition wall and bumped her head +so that it felt quite sore. Upon close examination, she discovered that +it was a picture. "Do pictures really so bulge out!" Goody Liu mused +within herself, and, as she exercised her mind with these cogitations, +she scanned it and rubbed her hand over it. It was perfectly even all +over. She nodded her head, and heaved a couple of sighs. But the moment +she turned round, she espied a small door over which hung a soft +portière, of leek-green colour, bestrewn with embroidered flowers. +Goody Liu lifted the portière and walked in. Upon raising her head, and +casting a glance round, she saw the walls, artistically carved in +fretwork. On all four sides, lutes, double-edged swords, vases and +censers were stuck everywhere over the walls; and embroidered covers +and gauze nets, glistened as brightly as gold, and shed a lustre vying +with that of pearls. Even the bricks, on the ground, on which she trod, +were jadelike green, inlaid with designs, so that her eyes got more and +more dazzled. She tried to discover an exit, but where could she find a +doorway? On the left, was a bookcase. On the right, a screen. As soon +as she repaired behind the screen, she faced a door; but, she then +caught sight of another old dame stepping in from outside, and +advancing towards her. Goody Liu was wonderstruck. Her mind was full of +uncertainty as to whether it might not be her son-in-law's mother. "I +expect," she felt prompted to ask with vehemence, "you went to the +trouble of coming to hunt for me, as you didn't see me turn up at home +for several days, eh? But what young lady introduced you in here?" Then +noticing that her whole head was bedecked with flowers, old goody Liu +laughed. "How ignorant of the ways of the world you are!" she said. +"Seeing the nice flowers in this garden, you at once set to work, +forgetful of all consequences, and loaded your pate with them!" + +However, while she derided her, the other old dame simply laughed, +without making any rejoinder. But the recollection suddenly flashed to +her memory that she had often heard of some kind of cheval-glasses, +found in wealthy and well-to-do families, and, "May it not be," (she +wondered), "my own self reflected in this glass!" After concluding this +train of thoughts, she put out her hands, and feeling it and then +minutely scrutinising it, she realised that the four wooden partition +walls were made of carved blackwood, into which mirrors had been +inserted. "These have so far impeded my progress," she consequently +exclaimed, "and how am I to manage to get out?" + +As she soliloquised, she kept on rubbing the mirror. This mirror was, +in fact, provided with some western mechanism, which enabled it to open +and shut, so while goody Liu inadvertently passed her hands, quite at +random over its surface, the pressure happily fell on the right spot, +and opening the contrivance, the mirror flung round, exposing a door to +view. Old goody Liu was full of amazement as well as of admiration. +With hasty step, she egressed. Her eyes unexpectedly fell on a most +handsome set of bed-curtains. But being at the time still seven or +eight tenths in the wind, and quite tired out from her tramp, she with +one jump squatted down on the bed, saying to herself: "I'll just have a +little rest." So little, however, did she, contrary to her +expectations, have any control over herself, that, as she reeled +backwards and forwards, her eyes got quite drowsy, and then the moment +she threw herself in a recumbent position, she dropped into a sound +sleep. + +But let us now see what the others were up to. They waited for her and +waited; but they saw nothing of her. Pan Erh got, in the absence of his +grandmother, so distressed that he melted into tears. "May she not have +fallen into the place?" one and all laughingly observed. "Be quick and +tell some one to go and have a look!" + +Two matrons were directed to go in search of her; but they returned and +reported that she was not to be found. The whole party instituted a +search in every nook and corner, but nothing could be seen of her. + +"She was so drunk," Hsi Jen suggested, "that she's sure to have lost +her way, and following this road, got into our back-rooms. Should she +have crossed to the inner side of the hedge, she must have come to the +door of the backhouse and got in. Nevertheless, the young maids, she +must have come across, must know something about her. If she did not +get inside the hedge, but continued in a south westerly direction, +she's all right, if she made a detour and walked out. But if she hasn't +done so, why, she'll have enough of roaming for a good long while! I +had better therefore go and see what she's up to." + +With these words still on her lips, she retraced her footsteps and +repaired into the I Hung court. She called out to the servants, but, +who would have thought it, the whole bevy of young maids, attached to +those rooms, had seized the opportunity to go and have a romp, so Hsi +Jen straightway entered the door of the house. As soon as she turned +the multicoloured embroidered screen, the sound of snoring as loud as +peals of thunder, fell on her ear. Hastily she betook herself inside, +but her nostrils were overpowered by the foul air of wine and w..d, +which infected the apartment. 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. Hsi Jen sustained no small shock. +With precipitate hurry, she rushed up to her, and, laying hold of her, +lying as she was more dead than alive, she pushed her about until she +succeeded in rousing her to her senses. Old goody Liu was startled out +of her sleep. She opened wide her eyes, and, realising that Hsi Jen +stood before her, she speedily crawled up. "Miss!" she pleaded. "I do +deserve death! I have done what I shouldn't; but I haven't in any way +soiled the bed." + +So saying, she swept her hands over it. But Hsi Jen was in fear and +trembling lest the suspicions of any inmate should be aroused, and lest +Pao-yü should come to know of it, so all she did was to wave her hand +towards her, bidding her not utter a word. Then with alacrity grasping +three or four handfuls of 'Pai Ho' incense, she heaped it on the large +tripod, which stood in the centre of the room, and put the lid back +again; delighted at the idea that she had not been so upset as to be +sick. + +"It doesn't matter!" she quickly rejoined in a low tone of voice with a +smile, "I'm here to answer for this. Come along with me!" + +While old goody Liu expressed her readiness to comply with her wishes, +she followed Hsi Jen out into the quarters occupied by the young maids. +Here (Hsi Jen) desired her to take a seat. "Mind you say," she enjoined +her, "that you were so drunk that you stretched on a boulder and had a +snooze!" + +"All right! I will!" old goody Liu promised. + +Hsi Jen afterwards helped her to two cups of tea, when she, at length, +got over the effects of the wine. "What young lady's room is this that +it is so beautiful?" she then inquired. "It seemed to me just as if I +had gone to the very heavenly palace." + +Hsi Jen gave a faint smile. "This one?" she asked. "Why, it's our +master +Secundus', Mr. Pao's bedroom." + +Old goody Liu was quite taken aback, and could not even presume to +utter a sound. But Hsi Jen led her out across the front compound; and, +when they met the inmates of the family, she simply explained to them +that she had found her fast asleep on the grass, and brought her along. +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. Dowager lady Chia was however quite +listless, and felt so little inclined to eat anything that she +forthwith got into a small open chair, with bamboo seat, and returned +to her suite of rooms to rest. But she insisted that lady Feng and her +companions should go and have their repast, so the young ladies +eventually adjourned once more into the garden. + +But, reader, you do not know the sequel, so peruse the circumstances +given in detail in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + + The Princess of Heng Wu dispels, with sweet words, some insane + suspicions. + The inmate of Hsiao Hsiang puts, with excellent repartee, the final + touch to the jokes made about goody Liu. + +We will now resume our story by adding that, on the return of the young +ladies into the garden, they had their meal. This over, they parted +company, and nothing more need be said about them. We will notice, +however, that old goody Liu took Pan Erh along with her, and came first +and paid a visit to lady Feng. "We must certainly start for home +to-morrow, as soon as it is daylight," she said. "I've stayed here, +it's true, only two or three days, but in these few days I have reaped +experience in everything that I had not seen from old till now. It +would be difficult to find any one as compassionate of the poor and +considerate to the old as your venerable dame, your Madame Wang, your +young ladies, and the girls too attached to the various rooms, have all +shown themselves in their treatment of me! When I get home now, I shall +have no other means of showing how grateful I am to you than by +purchasing a lot of huge joss-sticks and saying daily prayers to Buddha +on your behalf; and if he spares you all to enjoy a long life of a +hundred years my wishes will be accomplished." + +"Don't be so exultant!" lady Feng smilingly replied. "It's all on +account of you that our old ancestor has fallen ill, by exposing +herself to draughts and that she suffers from disturbed sleep; also +that our Ta Chieh-erh has caught a chill and is laid up at home with +fever." + +Goody Liu, at these words, speedily heaved a sigh. "Her venerable +ladyship," she said, "is a person advanced in years and not accustomed +to any intense fatigue!" + +"She has never before been in such high spirits as yesterday!" lady +Feng observed. "As you were here, so anxious was she to let you see +everything, that she trudged over the greater part of the garden. And +Ta Chieh-erh was given a piece of cake by Madame Wang, when I came to +hunt you up, and she ate it, who knows in what windy place, and began +at once to get feverish." + +"Ta Chieh-erh," goody Liu remarked, "hasn't, I fancy, often put her +foot into the garden; and young people like her mustn't really go into +strange places, for she's not like our children, who are able to use +their legs! In what graveyards don't they ramble about! A puff of wind +may, on the one hand, have struck her, it's not at all unlikely; or +being, on the other, so chaste in body, and her eyes also so pure she +may, it is to be feared, have come across some spirit or other. I can't +help thinking therefore that you should consult some book of exorcisms +on her behalf; for mind she may have run up against some evil +influence." + +This remark suggested the idea to lady Feng. There and then she called +P'ing Erh to fetch the 'Jade Box Record.' When brought, she desired +Ts'ai Ming to look over it for her. Ts'ai Ming turned over the pages +for a time, and then read: 'Those who fall ill on the 25th day of the +8th moon have come across, in a due westerly quarter, of some flower +spirit; they feel heavy, with no inclination for drink or food. Take +seven sheets of white paper money, and, advancing forty steps due west, +burn them and exorcise the spirit; recovery will follow at once!'" + +"There's really no mistake about that!" lady Feng smiled. "Are there +not flower spirits in the garden? But what I dread is that our old lady +mayn't have come across one too." + +Saying this, she bade a servant purchase two lots of paper money. On +their arrival, she sent for two proper persons, the one to exorcise the +spirits for dowager lady Chia and the other to expel them from Ta +Chieh-erh; and these observances over, Ta Chieh-erh did, in effect, +drop quietly to sleep. + +"It's verily people advanced in years like you," lady Feng smilingly +exclaimed; "who've gone through many experiences! This Ta Chieh-erh of +mine has often been inclined to ail, and it has quite puzzled me to +make out how and why it was." + +"This isn't anything out of the way!" goody Liu said. "Affluent and +honourable people bring up their offspring to be delicate. So +naturally, they are not able to endure the least hardship! Moreover, +that young child of yours is so excessively cuddled that she can't +stand it. Were you, therefore, my lady, to pamper her less from +henceforth, she'll steadily improve." + +"There's plenty of reason in that too!" lady Feng observed. "But it +strikes me that she hasn't as yet got a name, so do give her one in +order that she may borrow your long life! In the next place, you are +country-people, and are, after all,—I don't expect you'll get angry +when I mention it,—somewhat in poor circumstances. Were a person then +as poor as you are to suggest a name for her, you may, I trust, have +the effect of counteracting this influence for her." + +When old goody Liu heard this proposal, she immediately gave herself up +to reflection. "I've no idea of the date of her birth!" she smiled +after a time. + +"She really was born on no propitious date!" lady Feng replied. "By a +remarkable coincidence she came into the world on the seventh day of +the seventh moon!" + +"This is certainly splendid!" old goody Lin laughed with alacrity. "You +had better name her at once Ch'iao Chieh-erh (seventh moon and +ingenuity). This is what's generally called: combating poison by poison +and attacking fire by fire. If therefore your ladyship fixes upon this +name of mine, she will, for a surety, attain a long life of a hundred +years; and when she by and bye grows up to be a big girl, every one of +you will be able to have a home and get a patrimony! Or if, at any +time, there occur anything inauspicious and she has to face adversity, +why it will inevitably change into prosperity; and if she comes across +any evil fortune, it will turn into good fortune. And this will all +arise from this one word, 'Ch'iao' (ingenuity.)" + +Lady Feng was, needless to say, delighted by what she heard, and she +lost no time in expressing her gratitude. "If she be preserved," she +exclaimed, "to accomplish your good wishes, it will be such a good +thing!" Saying this, she called P'ing Erh. "As you and I are bound to +be busy to-morrow," she said, "and won't, I fear, be able to spare any +leisure moments, you'd better, if you have nothing to do now, get ready +the presents for old goody Liu, so as to enable her to conveniently +start at early dawn to-morrow." + +"How could I presume to be the cause of such reckless waste?" goody Liu +interposed. "I've already disturbed your peace and quiet for several +days, and were I to also take your things away, I'd feel still less at +ease in my heart!" + +"There's nothing much!" lady Feng protested. "They consist simply of a +few ordinary things. But, whether good or bad, do take them along, so +that the people in the same street as yourselves and your next-door +neighbours may have some little excitement, and that it may look as if +you had been on a visit to the city!" + +But while she endeavoured to induce the old dame to accept the +presents, she noticed P'ing Erh approach. "Goody Liu," she remarked, +"come over here and see!" + +Old goody Liu precipitately followed P'ing Erh into the room on the off +side. Here she saw the stove-couch half full with piles of things. +P'ing Erh took these up one by one and let her have a look at them. +"This," she explained, "is a roll of that green gauze you asked for +yesterday. Besides this, our lady Feng gives you a piece of thick +bluish-white gauze to use as lining. These are two pieces of pongee, +which will do for wadded coats and jupes as well. In this bundle are +two pieces of silk, for you to make clothes with, for the end of the +year. This is a box containing various home-made cakes. Among them are +some you've already tasted and some you haven't; so take them along, +and put them in plates and invite your friends; they'll be ever so much +better than any that you could buy! These two bags are those in which +the melons and fruit were packed up yesterday. This one has been filled +with two bushels of fine rice, grown in the imperial fields, the like +of which for congee, it would not be easy to get. This one contains +fruits from our garden and all kinds of dry fruits. In this packet, +you'll find eight taels of silver. These various things are presents +for you from our Mistress Secunda. Each of these packets contains fifty +taels so that there are in all a hundred taels; they're the gift of +Madame Wang. She bids you accept them so as to either carry on any +trade, for which no big capital is required, or to purchase several +acres of land, in order that you mayn't henceforward have any more to +beg favours of relatives, or to depend upon friends." Continuing, she +added smilingly, in a low tone of voice, "These two jackets, two jupes, +four head bands, and a bundle of velvet and thread are what I give you, +worthy dame, as my share. These clothes are, it is true, the worse for +use, yet I haven't worn them very much. But if you disdain them, I +won't be so presuming as to say anything." + +After mention of each article by P'ing Erh, goody Liu muttered the name +of Buddha, so already she had repeated Buddha's name several thousands +of times. But when she saw the heap of presents which P'ing Erh too +bestowed on her, and the little ostentation with which she did it, she +promptly smiled. "Miss!" she said, "what are you saying? Could I ever +disdain such nice gifts as these! Had I even the money, I couldn't buy +them anywhere. The only thing is that I feel overpowered with shame. If +I keep them, it won't be nice, and if I don't accept them, I shall be +showing myself ungrateful for your kind attention." + +"Don't utter all this irrelevant talk!" 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. When the +close of the year comes, select a few of your cabbages, dipped in lime, +and dried in the sun, as well as some lentils, flat beans, tomatoes and +pumpkin strips, and various sorts of dry vegetables and bring them +over. We're all, both high or low, fond of such things. These will be +quite enough! We don't want anything else, so don't go to any useless +trouble!" + +Goody Liu gave utterance to profuse expressions of gratitude and +signified her readiness to comply with her wishes. + +"Just you go to sleep," P'ing Erh urged, "and I'll get the things ready +for you and put them in here. As soon as the day breaks to-morrow, I'll +send the servant-lads to hire a cart and pack them in; don't you +therefore worry yourself in the least on that score!" + +Goody Liu felt more and more ineffably grateful. So crossing over, she +again said, with warm protestations of thankfulness, good bye to lady +Feng; after which, she repaired to dowager lady Chia's quarters on this +side, where she slept, with one sleep, during the whole night. Early +the next day, as soon as she had combed her hair and performed her +ablutions, she asked to go and pay her adieus to lady Chia. But as old +lady Chia was unwell, the various members of the family came to see how +she was getting on. On their reappearance outside, they transmitted +orders that the doctor should be sent for. In a little time, a matron +reported that the doctor had arrived, and an old nurse invited dowager +lady Chia to ensconce herself under the curtain. + +"I'm an old woman!" lady Chia remonstrated. "Am I not aged enough to be +a mother to that fellow? and am I, pray, to still stand on any +ceremonies with him? There's no need to drop the curtain; I'll see him +as I am, and have done." + +Hearing her objections, the matrons fetched a small table, and, laying +a small pillow on it, they directed a servant to ask the doctor in. + +Presently, they perceived the trio Chia Chen, Chia Lien, and Chia Jung, +bringing Dr. Wang. Dr. Wang did not presume to use the raised road, but +confining himself to the side steps, he kept pace with Chia Chen until +they reached the platform. Two matrons, who had been standing, one on +either side from an early hour, raised the portiére. A couple of old +women servants then took the lead and showed the way in. But Pao-yü too +appeared on the scene to meet them. + +They found old lady Chia seated bolt upright on the couch, dressed in a +blue crape jacket, lined with sheep skin, every curl of which resembled +a pearl. 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. Five or six old nurses were also +drawn up on both sides like wings. At the back of the jade-green gauze +mosquito-house were faintly visible several persons in red and green +habiliments, with gems on their heads, and gold trinkets in their +coiffures. + +Dr. Wang could not muster the courage to raise his head. With speedy +step, he advanced and paid his obeisance. Dowager lady Chia noticed +that he wore the official dress of the sixth grade, and she accordingly +concluded that he must be an imperial physician. "How are you noble +doctor?" she inquired, forcing a smile. "What is the worthy surname of +this noble doctor?" she then asked Chia Chen. + +Chia Chen and his companions made prompt reply. "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. "He excelled in feeling the pulse." + +Dr. Wang bent his body, and with alacrity he lowered his head and +returned her smile. "That was," he explained, "my grand uncle." + +"Is it really so!" laughingly pursued dowager lady Chia, upon catching +this reply. "We can then call ourselves old friends!" + +So speaking, she quietly put out her hand and rested it on the small +pillow. A nurse laid hold of a small stool and placed it before the +small table, slightly to the side of it. Dr. Wang bent one knee and +took a seat on the stool. 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. + +"Excuse me for the trouble I've put you to!" dowager lady Chia smiled. +"Chen Erh, escort him outside, and do see that he has a cup of tea." + +Chia Chen, Chia Lien and the rest of their companions immediately +acquiesced by uttering several yes's, and once more they led Dr. Wang +into the outer study. + +"Your worthy senior," Dr. Wang explained, "has nothing else the matter +with her than a slight chill, which she must have inadvertently +contracted. She needn't, after all, take any medicines; all she need do +is to diet herself and keep warm a little; and she'll get all right. +But I'll now write a prescription, in here. Should her venerable +ladyship care to take any of the medicine, then prepare a dose, +according to the prescription, and let her have it. But should she be +loth to have any, well, never mind, it won't be of any consequence." + +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!" + +Upon hearing her appeal, Dr. Wang immediately rose to his feet. While +she was clasped in her nurse's arms, he rested Ta Chieh-erh's hand on +his left hand and felt her pulse with his right, and rubbing her +forehead, he asked her to put out her tongue and let him see it. "Were +I to express my views about Chieh Erh, you would again abuse me! If +she's, however, kept quiet and allowed to go hungry for a couple of +meals, she'll get over this. There's no necessity for her to take any +decocted medicines. I'll just send her some pills, which you'll have to +dissolve in a preparation of ginger, and give them to her before she +goes to sleep; when she has had these, there will be nothing more the +matter with her." + +At the conclusion of these recommendations, he bade them goodbye and +took his departure. Chia Chen and his companions then took the +prescription and came and explained to old lady Chia the nature of her +indisposition, and, depositing on the table, the paper given to them by +the doctor, they quitted her presence. But nothing more need be said +about them. + +Madame Wang and Li Wan, lady Feng, Pao Ch'ai and the other young ladies +noticed, meanwhile, that the doctor had gone, and they eventually +egressed from the back of the mosquito-house. After a short stay, +Madame Wang returned to her quarters. Goody Liu repaired, when she +perceived everything quiet again, into the upper rooms and made her +adieus to dowager lady Chia. + +"When you've got any leisure, do pay us another visit," old lady Chia +urged, and bidding Yuan Yang come to her, "Do be careful," she added, +"and see dame Liu safely on her way out; for not being well I can't +escort you myself." + +Goody Liu expressed her thanks, and saying good bye a second time, she +betook herself, along with Yüan Yang, into the servants' quarters. Here +Yüan Yang pointed at a bundle on the stove-couch. "These are," she +said, "several articles of clothing, belonging to our old mistress; +they were presented to her in years gone by, by members of our family +on her birthdays and various festivals; her ladyship never wears +anything made by people outside; yet to hoard these would be a +downright pity! Indeed, she hasn't worn them even once. It was +yesterday that she told me to get out two costumes and hand them to you +to take along with you, either to give as presents, or to be worn by +some one in your home; but don't make fun of us! In the box you'll find +the flour-fruits, for which you asked. This bundle contains the +medicines to which you alluded the other day. There are +'plum-blossom-spotted-tongue pills,' and 'purple-gold- ingot- pills,' +also 'vivifying-blood-vessels-pills,' as well as 'driving-offspring and +preserving-life pills;' each kind being rolled up in a sheet bearing +the prescription; and the whole lot of them are packed up in here. +While these two are purses for you to wear in the way of ornaments." 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." + +Goody Liu was so overjoyed that she had, from an early period, come out +afresh with several thousands of invocations of Buddha's names. When +she therefore heard Yüan Yang's suggestion, "Miss," she quickly +rejoined, "you're at perfect liberty to keep them!" + +Yüan Yang perceived that her words were believed by her; so smiling she +once more dropped the ingots into the purse. "I was only joking with +you for fun!" she observed. "I've got a good many like these; keep them +therefore and give them, at the close of the year, to your young +children." + +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." + +"Whence could I begin enumerating the things I got!" Goody Liu +exclaimed. "In what previous existence did I accomplish anything so +meritorious as to bring to-day this heap of blessings upon me!" + +With these words, she eagerly took possession of the cup. + +"The clothes I gave you the other day, when I asked you to have a bath, +were my own," Yüan Yang resumed, "and if you don't think them too mean, +I've got a few more, which I would also like to let you have." + +Goody Liu thanked her with vehemence, so Yüan Yang, in point of fact, +produced several more articles of clothing, and these she packed up for +her. Goody Liu thereupon expressed a desire to also go into the garden +and take leave of Pao-yü and the young ladies, Madame Wang and the +other inmates and to thank them for all they did for her, but Yüan Yang +raised objections. "You can dispense with going!" she remarked. "They +don't see any one just now! But I'll deliver the message for you by and +bye! When you've got any leisure, do come again. Go to the second +gate," she went on to direct an old matron, "and call two servant-lads +to come here, and help this old dame to take her things away!" + +After the matron had signified her obedience, Yüan Yang returned with +goody Liu to lady Feng's quarters, on the off part of the mansion, and, +taking the presents as far as the side gate, she bade the servant-lads +carry them out. She herself then saw goody Liu into her curricle and +start on her journey homewards. + +But without commenting further on this topic, let us revert to +Pao-ch'ai and the other girls. 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. Pao-ch'ai then called out to Tai-yü. "P'in Erh!" she +observed, "come with me; I've got a question to ask you." + +Tai-yü wended her steps therefore with Pao-ch'ai into the Heng Wu +court. +As soon as they entered the house, Pao-ch'ai threw herself into a seat. +"Kneel down!" she smiled. "I want to examine you about something!" + +Tai-yü could not fathom her object, and consequently laughed. "Look +here." she cried, "this chit Pao has gone clean off her senses! What do +you want to examine me about?" + +Pao-ch'ai gave a sardonic smile. "My dear, precious girl, my dear +maiden," she exclaimed, "what utter trash fills your mouth! Just speak +the honest and candid truth, and finish!" + +Tai-yü could so little guess her meaning that her sole resource was to +smile. Inwardly, however, she could not help beginning to experience +certain misgivings. "What did I say?" she remarked. "You're bent upon +picking out my faults! Speak out and let me hear what it's all about!" + +"Do you still pretend to be a fool?" Pao-ch'ai laughed. "When we played +yesterday that game of wine-forfeits, what did you say? I really +couldn't make out any head or tail." + +Tai-yü, after a moment's reflection, remembered eventually that she had +the previous day been guilty of a slip of the tongue and come out with +a couple of passages from the 'Peony Pavilion,' and the 'Record of the +West Side-house,' and, of a sudden, her face got scarlet with blushes. +Drawing near Pao-ch'ai she threw her arms round her. "My dear cousin!" +she smiled, "I really wasn't conscious of what I was saying! It just +blurted out of my mouth! But now that you've called me to task, I won't +say such things again." + +"I've no idea of what you were driving at," Pao-ch'ai laughingly +rejoined. "What I heard you recite sounds so thoroughly unfamiliar to +me, that I beg you to enlighten me!" + +"Dear cousin," pleaded Tai-yü, "don't tell anyone else! I won't, in the +future, breathe such things again." + +Pao-ch'ai noticed how from shame the blood rushed to her face, and how +vehement she was in her entreaties, and she felt both to press her with +questions; so pulling her into a seat to make her have a cup of tea, +she said to her in a gentle tone, "Whom do you take me for? I too am +wayward; from my youth up, yea ever since I was seven or eight, I've +been enough trouble to people! Our family was also what one would term +literary. My grandfather's extreme delight was to be ever with a book +in his hand. At one time, we numbered many members, and sisters and +brothers all lived together; but we had a distaste for wholesome books. +Among my brothers, some were partial to verses; others had a weakness +for blank poetical compositions; and there were none of such works as +the 'Western side-House,' and 'the Guitar,' even up to the hundred and +one books of the 'Yüan' authors, which they hadn't managed to get. +These books they stealthily read behind our backs; but we, on our part, +devoured them, on the sly, without their knowing it. Subsequently, our +father came to get wind of it; and some of us he beat, while others he +scolded; burning some of the books, and throwing away others. It is +therefore as well that we girls shouldn't know anything of letters. +Men, who study books and don't understand the right principle, can't, +moreover, reach the standard of those, who don't go in for books; so +how much more such as ourselves? Even versifying, writing and the like +pursuits aren't in the line of such as you and me. Indeed, neither are +they within the portion of men. Men, who go in for study and fathom the +right principles, should cooperate in the government of the empire, and +should rule the nation; this would be a nobler purpose; but one doesn't +now-a-days hear of the very existence of such persons! Hence, the study +of books makes them worse than they ever were before. But it isn't the +books that ruin them; the misfortune is that they make improper use of +books! That is why study doesn't come up to ploughing and sowing and +trading; as these pursuits exercise no serious pernicious influences. +As far, however, as you and I go, we should devote our minds simply to +matters connected with needlework and spinning; for we will then be +fulfilling our legitimate duties. Yet, it so happens that we too know a +few characters. But, as we can read, it behoves us to choose no other +than wholesome works; for these will do us no harm! What are most to be +shirked are those low books, as, when once they pervert the +disposition, there remains no remedy whatever!" + +While she indulged in this long rigmarole, Tai-yü lowered her head and +sipped her tea. And though she secretly shared the same views on the +subject, all the answer she gave her in assent was limited to one +single word 'yes.' But at an unexpected moment, Su Yün appeared in the +room. "Our lady Lien," she said, "requests the presence of both of you, +young ladies, to consult with you in an important matter. Miss Secunda, +Miss Tertia, Miss Quarta, Miss Shih and Mr. Pao, our master Secundus, +are there waiting for you." + +"What's up again?" Pao-ch'ai inquired. + +"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. As soon as Li Wan caught +sight of the two cousins, she smiled. "The society has barely been +started," she observed, "and here's one who wants to give us the slip; +that girl Quarta wishes to apply for a whole year's leave." + +"It's that single remark of our worthy senior's yesterday that is at +the bottom of it!" Tai-yü laughed. "For by bidding her execute some +painting or other of the garden, she has put her in such high feather +that she applies for leave!" + +"Don't be so hard upon our dear ancestor!" Pao-Ch'ai rejoined, a smile +playing on her lips. "It's entirely due to that allusion of grandmother +Liu's." + +Tai-yü speedily took up the thread of the conversation. "Quite so!" she +smiled. "It's all through that remark of hers! But of what branch of +the family is she a grandmother? We should merely address her as the +'female locust;' that's all." + +As she spoke, one and all were highly amused. + +"When any mortal language finds its way into that girl Feng's mouth," +Pao-ch'ai laughed, "she knows how to turn it to the best account! What +a fortunate thing it is that that vixen Feng has no idea of letters and +can't boast of much culture! Her _forte_ is simply such vulgar things +as suffice to raise a laugh! Worse than her is that P'in Erh with that +coarse tongue! She has recourse to the devices of the 'Ch'un Ch'iu'! By +selecting, from the vulgar expressions used in low slang, the most +noteworthy points, she eliminates what's commonplace, and makes, with +the addition of a little elegance and finish, her style so much like +that of the text that each sentence has a peculiar character of its +own! The three words representing 'female locust' bring out clearly the +various circumstances connected with yesterday! The wonder is that she +has been so quick in devising them!" + +After lending an ear to her arguments, they all laughed. "Those +explanations of yours," they cried, "show well enough that you are not +below those two!" + +"Pray, let's consult as to how many days' leave to grant her!" Li Wan +proposed. "I gave her a month, but she thinks it too little. What do +you say about it?" + +"Properly speaking," Tai-yü put in, "one year isn't much! The laying +out of this garden occupied a whole year; and to paint a picture of it +now will certainly need two years' time. She'll have to rub the ink, to +moisten the pencils, to stretch the paper, to mix the pigments, and +to…." + +When she had reached this point, even Tai-yü could not restrain herself +from laughing. "If she goes on so leisurely to work," she exclaimed, +"won't she require two years' time?" + +Those, who caught this insinuation, clapped their hands and indulged in +incessant merriment. + +"Her innuendoes are full of zest!" Pao-ch'ai ventured laughingly. "But +what takes the cake is that last remark about leisurely going to work, +for if she weren't to paint at all, how could she ever finish her task? +Hence those jokes cracked yesterday were, sufficient, of course, to +evoke laughter, but, on second thought, they're devoid of any fun! Just +you carefully ponder over P'in Erh's words! Albeit they don't amount to +much, you'll nevertheless find, when you come to reflect on them, that +there's plenty of gusto about them. 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 hastily smiled and pulled her towards her. "Let me ask you," she +said, "are you only going to paint the garden, or will you insert us in +it as well?" + +"My original idea was to have simply painted the garden," Hsi Ch'un +explained; "but our worthy senior told me again yesterday that a mere +picture of the grounds would resemble the plan of a house, and +recommended that I should introduce some inmates too so as to make it +look like what a painting should. I've neither the knack for the fine +work necessary for towers and terraces, nor have I the skill to draw +representations of human beings; but as I couldn't very well raise any +objections, I find myself at present on the horns of a dilemma about +it!" + +"Human beings are an easy matter!" Tai-yü said. "What beats you are +insects." + +"Here you are again with your trash!" Li Wan exclaimed. "Will there be +any need to also introduce insects in it? As far, however, as birds go, +it may probably be advisable to introduce one or two kinds!" + +"If any other insects are not put in the picture," Tai-yü smiled, "it +won't matter; but without yesterday's female locust in it, it will fall +short of the original?" + +This retort evoked further general amusement. While Tai-yü laughed, she +beat her chest with both hands. "Begin painting at once!" she cried. +"I've even got the title all ready. The name I've chosen is, 'Picture +of a locust brought in to have a good feed.'" + +At these words, they laughed so much the more heartily that at a time +they bent forward, and at another they leant back. But a sound of "Ku +tung" then fell on their ears, and unable to make out what could have +dropped, they anxiously and precipitately looked about. It was, they +found, Shih Hsiang-yün, who had been reclining on the back of the +chair. The chair had, from the very outset, not been put in a sure +place, and while indulging in hearty merriment she threw her whole +weight on the 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. Luckily, the wooden partition-wall +was close enough to arrest her fall, and she did not sprawl on the +ground. The sight of her created more amusement than ever among all her +relatives; so much so, that they could scarcely regain their +equilibrium. It was only after Pao-yü had rushed up to her, and given +her a hand and raised her to her feet again that they at last managed +to gradually stop laughing. + +Pao-yü then winked at Tai-yü. Tai-yü grasped his meaning, and, +forthwith withdrawing into the inner room, she lifted the cover of the +mirror, and looked at her face. She found the hair about her temples +slightly dishevelled, so, promptly opening Li Wan's toilet-case, and +extracting a narrow brush, she stood in front of the mirror, and +smoothed it down with a few touches. Afterwards, laying the brush in +its place she stepped into the outer suite. "Is this," she said +pointing at Li Wan, "doing what you're told and showing us how to do +needlework and teaching us manners? Why, instead of that, you press us +to come here and have a good romp and a hearty laugh!" + +"Just you listen to her perverse talk," Li Wan laughed. "She takes the +lead and kicks up a rumpus, and incites people to laugh, and then she +throws the blame upon me! In real truth, she's a despicable thing! What +I wish is that you should soon get some dreadful mother-in-law, and +several crotchety and abominable older and younger sisters-in-law, and +we'll see then whether you'll still be as perverse or not!" + +Tai-yü at once became quite scarlet in the face, and pulling Pao-ch'ai, +"Let us," she added, "give her a whole year's leave!" + +"I've got an impartial remark to make. Listen to me all of you!" +Pao-ch'ai chimed in. "Albeit the girl, Ou, may have some idea about +painting, all she can manage are just a few outline sketches, so that +unless, now that she has to accomplish the picture of this garden, she +can lay a claim to some ingenuity, will she ever be able to succeed in +effecting a painting? This garden resembles a regular picture. The +rockeries and trees, towers and pavilions, halls and houses are, as far +as distances and density go, neither too numerous, nor too few. Such as +it is, it is fitly laid out; but were you to put it on paper in strict +compliance with the original, why, it will surely not elicit +admiration. In a thing like this, it's necessary to pay due care to the +various positions and distances on paper, whether they should be large +or whether small; and to discriminate between main and secondary; +adding what is needful to add, concealing and reducing what should be +concealed and reduced, and exposing to view what should remain visible. +As soon as a rough copy is executed, it should again be considered in +all its details, for then alone will it assume the semblance of a +picture. In the second place, all these towers, terraces and structures +must be distinctly delineated; for with just a trifle of inattention, +the railings will slant, the pillars will be topsy-turvy, doors and +windows will recline in a horizontal position, steps will separate, +leaving clefts between them, and even tables will be crowded into the +walls, and flower-pots piled on portières; and won't it, instead of +turning out into a picture, be a mere caricature? Thirdly, proper care +must also be devoted, in the insertion of human beings, to density and +height, to the creases of clothing, to jupes and sashes, to fingers, +hands, and feet, as these are most important details; for if even one +stroke be not thoroughly executed, then, if the hands be not swollen, +the feet will be made to look as if they were lame. The colouring of +faces and the drawing of the hair are minor points; but, in my own +estimation, they really involve intense difficulty. Now a year's leave +is, on one hand, too excessive, and a month's is, on the other, too +little; so just give her half a year's leave. Depute, besides, cousin +Pao-yü to lend her a hand in her task. Not that cousin Pao knows how to +give any hints about painting; that in itself would be more of a +drawback; but in order that, in the event of there being anything that +she doesn't comprehend, or of anything perplexing her as to how best to +insert it, cousin Pao may take the picture outside and make the +necessary inquiries of those gentlemen, who excel in painting. Matters +will thus be facilitated for her." + +At this suggestion Pao-yü was the first to feel quite enchanted. "This +proposal is first-rate!" he exclaimed. "The towers and terraces +minutely executed by Chan Tzu-liang are so perfect, and the beauties +painted by Ch'eng Jih-hsing so extremely fine that I'll go at once and +ask them of them!" + +"I've always said that you fuss for nothing!" Pao-ch'ai interposed. "I +merely passed a cursory remark, and there you want to go immediately +and ask for things. Do wait until we arrive at some decision in our +deliberations, and then you can go! But let's consider now what would +be best to use to paint the picture on?" + +"I've got, in my quarters," Pao-yü answered, "some snow-white, wavy +paper, which is both large in size, and proof against ink as well." + +Pao-ch'ai gave a sarcastic smile. "I do maintain," she cried, "that you +are a perfectly useless creature! That snow-white, wavy paper is good +for pictures consisting of characters and for outline drawings. Or +else, those who have the knack of making landscapes, use it for +depicting scenery of the southern Sung era, as it resists ink and is +strong enough to bear coarse painting. But were you to employ this sort +of paper to make a picture of this garden on, it will neither stand the +colours, nor will it be easy to dry the painting by the fire. So not +only won't it be suitable, but it will be a pity too to waste the +paper. I'll tell you a way how to get out of this. When this garden was +first laid out, some detailed plan was used, which although executed by +a mere house-decorator, was perfect with regard to sites and bearings. +You'd better therefore ask for it of your worthy mother, and apply as +well to lady Feng for a piece of thick glazed lustring of the size of +that paper, and hand them to the gentlemen outside, and request them to +prepare a rough copy for you, with any alterations or additions as +might be necessary to make so as to accord with the style of these +grounds. All that will remain to be done will be to introduce a few +human beings; no more. Then when you have to match the azure and green +pigments as well as the ground gold and ground silver, you can get +those people again to do so for you. But you'll also have to bring an +extra portable stove, so as to have it handy for melting the glue, and +for washing your pencils, after you've taken the glue off. You further +require a large table, painted white and covered with a cloth. That lot +of small dishes you have aren't sufficient; your pencils too are not +enough. It will be well consequently for you to purchase a new set of +each." + +"Do I own such a lot of painting materials!" Hsi Ch'un exclaimed. "Why, +I simply use any pencil that first comes under my hand to paint with; +that's all. And as for pigments, I've only got four kinds, ochrey +stone, 'Kuang' flower paint, rattan yellow and rouge. Besides these, +all I have amount to a couple of pencils for applying colours; no +more." + +"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Pao-ch'ai remarked. "I've still got +some of these things remaining. 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 +should, however, keep them for the exclusive purpose of painting fans; +for were you to paint such big things with them it would be a pity! +I'll draw out a list for you to-day to enable you to go and apply to +our worthy senior for the items; as it isn't likely that you people can +possibly know all that's required. I'll dictate them, and cousin Pao +can write them down!" + +Pao-yü had already got a pencil and inkslab ready, for, fearing lest he +might not remember clearly the various necessaries, he had made up his +mind to write a memorandum of them; so the moment he heard Pao-ch'ai's +suggestion, he cheerfully took up his pencil, and listened quietly. + +"Four pencils of the largest size," Pao-ch'ai commenced, "four of the +third size; four of the second size; four pencils for applying colours +on big ground; four on medium ground; four for small ground; ten claws +of large southern crabs; ten claws of small crabs; ten pencils for +painting side-hair and eyebrows; twenty for laying heavy colours; +twenty for light colours; ten for painting faces; twenty willow-twigs; +four ounces of 'arrow head' pearls; four ounces of southern ochre; four +ounces of stone yellow; four ounces of dark green; four ounces of +malachite; four ounces of tube-yellow; eight ounces of 'kuang' flower; +four boxes of lead powder; ten sheets of rouge; two hundred sheets of +thin red-gold leaves; two hundred sheets of lead; four ounces of smooth +glue, from the two Kuang; and four ounces of pure alum. The glue and +alum for sizing the lustring are not included, so don't bother +yourselves about them, but just take the lustring and give it to them +outside to size it with alum for you. You and I can scour and clarify +all these pigments, and thus amuse ourselves, and prepare them for use +as well. I feel sure you'll have an ample supply to last you a whole +lifetime. But you must also get ready four sieves of fine lustring; a +pair of coarse ones; four brush-pencils; four bowls, some large, some +small; twenty large, coarse saucers; ten five-inch plates; twenty +three-inch coarse, white plates; two stoves; four large and small +earthenware pans; two new porcelain jars; four new water buckets; four +one-foot-long bags, made of white cloth; two catties of light charcoal; +one or two catties of willow-wood charcoal; a wooden box with three +drawers; a yard of thick gauze, two ounces of fresh ginger; half a +catty of soy;…" + +"An iron kettle and an iron shovel," hastily chimed in Tai-yü with a +smile full of irony. + +"To do what with them?" Pao-ch'ai inquired. + +"You ask for fresh ginger, soy and all these condiments, so I indent +for an iron kettle for you to cook the paints and eat them." Tai-yü +answered, to the intense merriment of one and all, who gave way to +laughter. + +"What do you, P'in Erh, know about these things?" Pao-ch'ai laughed. "I +am not certain in my mind that you won't put those coarse coloured +plates straightway on the fire. But unless you take the precaution +beforehand of rubbing the bottom with ginger juice, mixed with soy, and +of warming them dry, they're bound to crack, the moment they experience +the least heat." + +"It's really so," they exclaimed with one voice, after this +explanation. + +Tai-yü perused the list for a while. She then smiled and gave T'an +Ch'un a tug. "Just see," she whispered, "we want to paint a picture, +and she goes on indenting for a number of water jars and boxes! But, I +presume, she's got so muddled, that she inserts a list of articles +needed for her trousseau." + +T'an Ch'un, at her remark, laughed with such heartiness, that it was +all she could do to check herself. "Cousin Pao," she observed, "don't +you wring her mouth? Just ask her what disparaging things she said +about you." + +"Why need I ask?" Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Is it likely, pray, that you can +get ivory out of a cur's 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. "My dear cousin," she cried, +"spare me! P'in Erh is young in years; all she knows is to talk at +random; she has no idea of what's proper and what's improper. But you +are my elder cousin, so teach me how to behave. If you, cousin, don't +let me off, to whom can I go and address my entreaties?" + +Little did, however, all who heard her apprehend that there lurked some +hidden purpose in her insinuations. "She's right there," they +consequently pleaded smilingly. "So much is she to be pitied that even +we have been mollified; do spare her and finish!" + +Pao-ch'ai had, at first, meant to play with her, but when she unawares +heard her drag in again the advice she had tendered her the other day, +with regard to the reckless perusal of unwholesome books, she at once +felt as if she could not have any farther fuss with her, and she let +her rise to her feet. + +"It's you, after all, elder cousin," Tai-yü laughed. "Had it been I, I +wouldn't have let any one off." + +Pao-ch'ai smiled and pointed at her. "It is no wonder," she said, "that +our dear ancestor doats on you and that every one loves you. Even I +have to-day felt my heart warm towards you! But come here and let me +put your hair up for you!" + +Tai-yü then, in very deed, swung herself round and crossed over to her. +Pao-ch'ai arranged her coiffure with her hands. Pao-yü, who stood by +and looked on, thought the style, in which her hair was being made up, +better than it was before. But, of a sudden, he felt sorry at what had +happened, as he fancied that she should not have let her brush her side +hair, but left it alone for the time being and asked him to do it for +her. While, however, he gave way to these erratic thoughts, he heard +Pao-ch'ai speak. "We've done with what there was to write," she said, +"so you'd better tomorrow go and tell grandmother about the things. If +there be any at home, well and good; but if not, get some money to buy +them with. I'll then help you both in your preparations." + +Pao-yü vehemently put the list away; after which, they all joined in a +further chat on irrelevant matters; and, their evening meal over, they +once more repaired into old lady Chia's apartments to wish her +good-night. Their grandmother had, indeed, had nothing serious the +matter with her. Her ailment had amounted mainly to fatigue, to which a +slight chill had been super-added, so that having kept in the warm room +for the day and taken a dose or two of medicine, she entirely got over +the effects, and felt, in the evening, quite like own self again. + +But, reader, the occurrences of the next day areas yet a mystery to +you, but the nest chapter will divulge them. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + + Having time to amuse themselves, the Chia inmates raise, when least + expected, funds to celebrate lady Feng's birthday. + In his ceaseless affection for Chin Ch'uen, Pao-yü uses, for the + occasion, a pinch of earth as incense and burns it. + +When Madame Wang saw, for we will now proceed with our narrative, that +the extent of dowager lady Chia's indisposition, contracted on the day +she had been into the garden of Broad Vista, amounted to a simple +chill, that no serious ailment had supervened, and that her health had +improved soon after the doctor had been sent for and she had taken a +couple of doses of medicine, she called lady Feng to her and asked her +to get ready a present of some kind for her to take to her husband, +Chia Cheng. But while they were engaged in deliberation, they perceived +a waiting-maid arrive. She came from their old senior's part to invite +them to go to her. So, with speedy step, Madame Wang led the way for +lady Feng, and they came over into her quarters. + +"Pray, may I ask," Madame Wang then inquired, "whether you're feeling +nearly well again now?" + +"I'm quite all right to-day," old lady Chia replied. "I've tasted the +young-pheasant soup you sent me a little time back and find it full of +relish. I've also had two pieces of meat, so I feel quite comfortable +within me." + +"These dainties were presented to you, dear ancestor, by that girl +Feng," Madame Wang smiled. "It only shows how sincere her filial piety +is. She does not render futile the love, which you, venerable senior, +ever lavish on her." + +Dowager lady Chia nodded her head assentingly. "She's too kind to think +of me!" she answered smiling. "But should there be any more uncooked, +let them fry a couple of pieces; and, if these be thoroughly immersed +in wine, the congee will taste well with them. The soup is, it's true, +good, but it shouldn't, properly speaking, be prepared with fine rice." + +After listening to her wishes, lady Feng expressed with alacrity her +readiness to see them executed, and directed a servant to go and +deliver the message in the cook-house. + +"I sent the servant for you," dowager lady Chia meanwhile said to +Madame Wang with a smile, "not for anything else, but for the birthday +of that girl Feng, which falls on the second. I had made up my mind two +years ago to celebrate her birthday in proper style, but when the time +came, there happened to be again something important to attend to, and +it went by without anything being done. But this year, the inmates are, +on one hand, all here, and there won't, I fancy, be, on the other, +anything to prevent us, so we should all do our best to enjoy ourselves +thoroughly for a day." + +"I was thinking the same thing," Madame Wang rejoined, laughingly, +"and, since it's your good pleasure, venerable senior, why, shouldn't +we deliberate at once and decide upon something?" + +"To the best of my recollection," dowager lady Chia resumed smiling, +"whenever in past years I've had any birthday celebrations for any one +of us, no matter who it was, we have ever individually sent our +respective presents; but this method is common and is also apt, I +think, to look very much as if there were some disunion. But I'll now +devise a new way; a way, which won't have the effect of creating any +discord, and will be productive of good cheer." + +"Let whatever way you may think best, dear ancestor, be adopted." +Madame +Wang eagerly rejoined. + +"My idea is," old lady Chia laughingly continued, "that we too should +follow the example of those poor families and raise a subscription +among ourselves, and devote the whole of whatever we may collect to +meet the outlay for the necessary preparations. What do you say, will +this do or not?" + +"This is a splendid idea!" Madame Wang acquiesced. "But what will, I +wonder, be the way adopted for raising contributions?" + +Old lady Chia was the more inspirited by her reply. There and then she +despatched servants to go and invite Mrs. Hsüeh, Madame Hsing and the +rest of the ladies, and bade others summon the young ladies and Pao-yü. +But from the other mansion, Chia Chen's spouse, Lai Ta's wife, even up +to the wives of such stewards as enjoyed a certain amount of +respectability, were likewise to be asked to come round. + +The sight of their old mistress' delight filled the waiting-maids and +married women with high glee as well; and each hurried with vehemence +to execute her respective errand. Those that were to be invited were +invited, and those that had to be sent for were sent for; and, before +the lapse of such time as could suffice to have a meal in, the old as +well as young, the high as well as low, crammed, in a black mass, every +bit of the available space in the rooms. + +Only Mrs. Hsüeh and dowager lady Chia sat opposite to each other. +Mesdames Hsing and Wang simply seated themselves on two chairs, which +faced the door of the apartment. Pao-ch'ai and her five or six cousins +occupied the stove-couch. Pao-yü sat on his grandmother's lap. Below, +the whole extent of the floor was crowded with inmates on their feet. +But old lady Chia forthwith desired that a few small stools should be +fetched. 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. Hence it was that while Mrs. +Yu, lady Feng and other ladies remained standing below, Lai Ta's mother +and three or four other old nurses had, after excusing themselves for +their rudeness, seated themselves on small stools. + +Dowager lady Chia recounted, with a face beaming with smiles, the +suggestions she had shortly made, for the benefit of the various +inmates present; and one and all, of course, were only too ready to +contribute for the entertainment. More, some of them, were on friendly +terms with lady Feng, so they, of their own free will, adopted the +proposal; others lived in fear and trembling of lady Feng, and these +were only too anxious to make up to her. Every one, besides, could well +afford the means, so that, as soon as they heard of the proposed +subscriptions, they, with one consent, signified their acquiescence. + +"I'll give twenty taels!" old lady Chia was the first to say with a +smile playing round her lips. + +"I'll follow your lead, dear senior," Mrs. Hsüeh smiled, "and also +subscribe twenty taels." + +"We don't presume to place ourselves on an equal footing with your +ladyship," Mesdames Hsing and Wang pleaded. "We, of course, come one +degree lower; each of us therefore will contribute sixteen taels." + +"We too naturally rank one step lower," Mrs. Yu and Li Wan also smiled, +"so we'll each give twelve taels." + +"You're a widow," dowager lady Chia eagerly demurred, addressing +herself to Li Wan, "and have lost all your estate, so how could we drag +you into all this outlay! I'll contribute for you!" + +"Don't be in such high feather dear senior," lady Feng hastily observed +laughing, "but just look to your accounts before you saddle yourself +with this burden! You've already taken upon yourself two portions; and +do you now also volunteer sixteen taels on behalf of my elder +sister-in-law? You may willingly do so, while you speak in the +abundance of your spirits, but when you, by and bye, come to ponder +over what you've done, you'll feel sore at heart again! 'It's all that +girl Feng that's driven me to spend the money,' you'll say in a little +time; and you'll devise some ingenious way to inveigle me to fork out +three or four times as much as your share and thus make up your deficit +in an underhand way; while I will still be as much in the clouds as if +I were in a dream!" + +These words made every one laugh. + +"According to you, what should be done?" dowager lady Chia laughingly +inquired. + +"My birthday hasn't yet come," lady Feng smiled; "and already now I've +been the recipient of so much more than I deserve that I am quite +unhappy. But if I don't contribute a single cash, I shall feel really +ill at ease for the trouble I shall be giving such a lot of people. It +would be as well, therefore, that I should bear this share of my senior +sister-in-law; and, when the day comes, I can eat a few more things, +and thus be able to enjoy some happiness." + +"Quite right!" cried Madame Hsing and the others at this suggestion. So +old lady Chia then signified her approval. + +"There's something more I'd like to add," lady Feng pursued smiling. "I +think that it's fair enough that you, worthy ancestor, should, besides +your own twenty taels, have to stand two shares as well, the one for +cousin Liu, the other for cousin Pao-yü, and that Mrs. Hsüeh should, +beyond her own twenty taels, likewise bear cousin Pao-ch'ai's portion. +But it's somewhat unfair that the two ladies Mesdames Hsing and Wang +should each only give sixteen taels, when their share is small, and +when they don't subscribe anything for any one else. It's you, +venerable senior, who'll be the sufferer by this arrangement." + +Dowager lady Chia, at these words, burst out into a boisterous fit of +laughter. "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!" lady Feng smiled. Just hand over our two cousins to +those two ladies and let each take one under her charge and finish. If +you make each contribute one share, it will be square enough." + +"This is perfectly fair," eagerly rejoined old lady Chia. "Let this +suggestion be carried out!" + +Lai Ta's mother hastily stood up. "This is such a subversion of right," +she smiled, "that I'll put my back up on account of the two ladies. +She's a son's wife, on the other side, and, in here, only a wife's +brother's child; and yet she doesn't incline towards her mother-in-law +and her aunt, but takes other people's part. This son's wife has +therefore become a perfect stranger; and a close niece has, in fact, +become a distant niece!" + +As she said this, dowager lady Chia and every one present began to +laugh. "If the junior ladies subscribe twelve taels each," Lai Ta's +mother went on to ask, "we must, as a matter of course, also come one +degree lower; eh?" + +Upon hearing this, old lady Chia remonstrated. "This won't do!" she +observed. "You naturally should rank one degree lower, but you're all, +I am well aware, wealthy people; and, in spite of your status being +somewhat lower, your funds are more flourishing than theirs. It's only +just then that you should be placed on the same standing as those +people!" + +The posse of nurses expressed with promptness their acceptance of the +proposal their old mistress made. + +"The young ladies," dowager lady Chia resumed, "should merely give +something for the sake of appearances! If each one contributes a sum +proportionate to her monthly allowance, it will be ample!" 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. So +bring them along!" + +Yüan Yang assured her that her desires would be duly attended to and +walked away. But she had not been absent for any length of time, when +she appeared on the scene along with P'ing Erh, Hsi Jen, Ts'ai Hsia and +other girls, and a number of waiting-maids as well. Of these, some +subscribed two taels; others contributed one tael. + +"Can it be," dowager lady Chia then said to P'ing Erh, "that you don't +want any birthday celebrated for your mistress, that you don't range +yourself also among them?" + +"The other money I gave," P'ing Erh smiled, "I gave privately, and is +extra." "This is what I am publicly bound to contribute along with the +lot." + +"That's a good child!" lady Chia laughingly rejoined. + +"Those above as well as those below have all alike given their share," +lady Feng went on to observe with a smile. "But there are still those +two secondary wives; are they to give anything or not? Do go and ask +them! It's but right that we should go to the extreme length and +include them. Otherwise, they'll imagine that we've looked down upon +them!" + +"Just so!" eagerly answered lady Chia, at these words. "How is it that +we forgot all about them? The only thing is, I fear, they've got no +time to spare; yet, tell a servant-girl to go and ask them what they'll +do!" + +While she spoke, a servant-girl went off. After a long absence, she +returned. "Each of them," she reported, "will likewise contribute two +taels." + +Dowager lady Chia was delighted with the result. "Fetch a pen and +inkslab," she cried, "and let's calculate how much they amount to, all +together." + +Mrs. Yu abused lady Feng in a low tone of voice. "I'll take you, you +mean covetous creature, and … ! All these mothers-in-law and +sisters-in-law have come forward and raised money to celebrate your +birthday, and are you yet not satisfied that you must also drag in +those two miserable beings! But what do you do it for?" + +"Try and talk less trash!" lady Feng smiled; also in an undertone. +"We'll be leaving this place in a little time and then I'll square up +accounts with you! But why ever are those two miserable? When they have +money, they uselessly give it to other people; and isn't it better that +we should get hold of it, and enjoy ourselves with it?" + +While she uttered these taunts, they computed that the collections +would reach a sum over and above one hundred and fifty taels. + +"We couldn't possibly run through all this for a day's theatricals and +banquet!" old lady Chia exclaimed. + +"As no outside guests are to be invited," Mrs. Yu interposed, "and the +number of tables won't also be many, there will be enough to cover two +or three days' outlay! First of all, there won't be anything to spend +for theatricals, so we'll effect a saving on that item." + +"Just call whatever troupe that girl Feng may say she likes best," +dowager lady Chia suggested. + +"We've heard quite enough of the performances of that company of ours," +lady Feng said; "let's therefore spend a little money and send for +another, and see what they can do." + +"I leave that to you, brother Chen's wife," old lady Chia pursued, "in +order that our girl Feng should have occasion to trouble her mind with +as little as possible, and be able to enjoy a day's peace and quiet. +It's only right that she should." + +Mrs. Yu replied that she would be only too glad to do what she could. +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. + +After seeing Mesdames Hsing and Wang off, Mrs. Yu and the other ladies +adjourned into lady Feng's rooms to consult with her about the birthday +festivities. + +"Don't ask me!" lady Feng urged. "Do whatever will please our worthy +ancestor." + +"What a fine thing you are to come across such a mighty piece of luck!" +Mrs. Yu smiled. "I was wondering what had happened that she summoned us +all! Why, was it simply on this account? Not to breathe a word about +the money that I'll have to contribute, must I have trouble and +annoyance to bear as well? How will you show me any thanks?" + +"Don't bring shame upon yourself!" lady Feng laughed. "I didn't send +for you; so why should I be thankful to you! If you funk the exertion, +go at once and let our venerable senior know, and she'll depute some +one else and have done." + +"You go on like this as you see her in such excellent spirits, that's +why!" Mrs. Yu smilingly answered. "It would be well, I advise you, to +pull in a bit; for if you be too full of yourself, you'll get your due +reward!" + +After some further colloquy, these two ladies eventually parted +company. + +On the next day, the money was sent over to the Ning Kuo Mansion at the +very moment that Mrs. Yu had got up, and was performing her toilette +and ablutions. "Who brought it?" 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. Mrs. Yu bade her seat herself on the +footstool. While she hurriedly combed her hair and washed her face and +hands, she wanted to know how much the bundle contained in all. + +"This is what's subscribed by us servants." Lin Chih-hsiao's wife +replied, "and so I collected it and brought it over first. As for the +contributions of our venerable mistress, and those of the ladies, they +aren't ready yet." + +But simultaneously with this reply, the waiting-maids announced: "Our +lady of the other mansion and Mrs. Hsüeh have sent over some one with +their portions." + +"You mean wenches!" Mrs. Yu cried, scolding them with a smile. "All the +gumption you've got is to simply bear in mind this sort of nonsense! In +a fit of good cheer, your old mistress yesterday purposely expressed a +wish to imitate those poor people, and raise a subscription. But you at +once treasured it up in your memory, and, when the thing came to be +canvassed by you, you treated it in real earnest! Don't you yet quick +bundle yourselves out, and bring the money in! Be careful and give them +some tea before you see them off." + +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. + +"Whose shares are wanting?" Mrs. Yu asked. + +"Those of our old lady, of Madame Wang, the young ladies, and of our +girls below are still missing," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife explained. + +"There's also that of your senior lady," Mrs. Yu proceeded. + +"You'd better hurry over, my lady," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife said; "for as +this money will be issued through our mistress Secunda, she'll nobble +the whole of it." + +While conversing, Mrs. Yu finished arranging her coiffure and +performing her ablutions; and, giving orders to see that the carriage +was got ready, she shortly arrived at the Jung mansion. First and +foremost she called on lady Feng. Lady Feng, she discovered, had +already put the money into a packet, and was on the point of sending it +over. + +"Is it all there?" Mrs. Yu asked. + +"Yes, it is," lady Feng smiled, "so you might as well take it away at +once; for if it gets mislaid, I've nothing to do with it." + +"I'm somewhat distrustful," Mrs. Yu laughed, "so I'd like to check it +in your presence." + +These words over, she verily checked sum after sum. She found Li Wan's +share alone wanting. "I said that you were up to tricks!" laughingly +observed Mrs. Yu. "How is it that your elder sister-in-law's isn't +here?" + +"There's all that money; and isn't it yet enough?" lady Feng smiled. +"If there's merely a portion short it shouldn't matter! Should the +money prove insufficient, I can then look you up, and give it to you." + +"When the others were present yesterday," Mrs. Yu pursued, "you were +ready enough to act as any human being would; but here you're again +to-day prevaricating with me! I won't, by any manner of means, agree to +this proposal of yours! I'll simply go and ask for the money of our +venerable senior." + +"I see how dreadful you are!" lady Feng laughed. "But when something +turns up by and bye, I'll also be very punctilious; so don't you then +bear me a grudge!" + +"Well, never mind if you don't give your quota!" Mrs. Yu smilingly +rejoined. "Were it not that I consider the dutiful attentions you've +all along shown me would I ever be ready to humour you?" + +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! Should the money +collected turn out to be below what's absolutely required, I'll make up +the sum for you." + +P'ing Erh apprehended her meaning. "My lady," she answered, with a +cheerful countenance, "it would come to the same thing if you were to +first spend what you want and to give me afterwards any balance that +may remain of it." + +"Is your mistress alone to be allowed to do dishonest acts," Mrs. Yu +laughed, "and am I not to be free to bestow a favour?" + +P'ing Erh had no option, but to retain her portion. + +"I want to see," Mrs. Yu added, "where your mistress, who is so +extremely careful, will run through all the money, we've raised! If she +can't spend it, why she'll take it along with her in her coffin, and +make use of it there." + +While still speaking, she started on her way to dowager lady Chia's +suite of rooms. After first paying her respects to her, she made a few +general remarks, and then betook herself into Yüan Yang's quarters +where she held a consultation with Yüan Yang. Lending a patient ear to +all that Yüan Yang; had to recommend in the way of a programme, and as +to how best to give pleasure to old lady Chia, she deliberated with her +until they arrived at a satisfactory decision. When the time came for +Mrs. Yu to go, she took the two taels, contributed by Yüan Yang, and +gave them back to her. "There's no use for these!" she said, and with +these words still on her lips, she straightway quitted her presence and +went in search of Madame Wang. + +After a short chat, Madame Wang stepped into the family shrine reserved +for the worship of Buddha, so she likewise restored Ts'ai Yün's share +to her; and, availing herself of lady Feng's absence, she presently +reimbursed to Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Chao the amount of their respective +contributions. + +These two dames would not however presume to take their money back. +"Your lot, ladies, is a pitiful one!" Mrs. Yu then expostulated. "How +can you afford all this spare money! That hussey Feng is well aware of +the fact. I'm here to answer for you!" + +At these assurances, both put the money away, with profuse expressions +of gratitude. + +In a twinkle, the second day of the ninth moon arrived. The inmates of +the garden came to find out that Mrs. Yu was making preparations on an +extremely grand scale; for not only was there to be a theatrical +performance, but jugglers and women storytellers as well; and they +combined in getting everything ready that could conduce to afford +amusement and enjoyment. + +"This is," Li Wan went on to say to the young ladies, "the proper day +for our literary gathering, so don't forget it. If Pao-yü hasn't +appeared, it must, I presume, be that his mind is so preoccupied with +the fuss that's going on that he has lost sight of all pure and refined +things." + +Speaking, "Go and see what he is up to!" she enjoined a waiting-maid; +"and be quick and tell him to come." + +The waiting-maid returned after a long absence. "Sister Hua says," she +reported, "that he went out of doors, soon after daylight this +morning." + +The result of the inquiries filled every one with surprise. "He can't +have gone out!" they said. "This girl is stupid, and doesn't know how +to speak." They consequently also directed Ts'ui Mo to go and ascertain +the truth. In a little time, Ts'ui Mo returned. "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. "But +whatever there might have been to call him away, it wasn't right of him +to go out on an occasion like the present one! 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. "No matter what he may have had to attend to +to-day," Li Wan and the rest remarked, "he shouldn't have gone out! In +the first place, it's your mistress Secunda's birthday, and our dowager +lady is in such buoyant spirits that the various inmates, whether high +or low, are coming from either mansion to join in the fun; and lo, he +goes off! 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." + +Hsi Jen heaved it sigh. "He said last night," she explained, "that he +had something very important to do this morning; that he was going as +far as Prince Pei Ching's mansion, but that he would hurry back. I +advised him not to go; but, of course, he wouldn't listen to me. When +he got out of bed, at daybreak this morning, he asked for his plain +clothes and put them on, so, I suppose, some lady of note belonging to +the household of Prince Pei Ching must have departed this life; but who +can tell?" + +"If such be truly the case," Li Wan and her companions exclaimed, "it's +quite right that he should have gone over for a while; but he should +have taken care to be back in time !" + +This remark over, they resumed their deliberations. "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. + +Hsi Jen then reported to his grandmother what Pao-yü had done. Old lady +Chia was upset by the news; so much so, that she issued immediate +orders to a few servants to go and fetch him. + +Pao-yü had, in fact, been brooding over some affair of the heart. A day +in advance he therefore gave proper injunctions to Pei Ming. "As I +shall be going out of doors to-morrow at daybreak," he said, "you'd +better get ready two horses and wait at the back door! No one else need +follow as an escort! Tell Li Kuei that I've gone to the Pei mansion. 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! +Let him simply explain that I've been detained in the Pei mansion, but +that I shall surely be back shortly." + +Pei Ming could not make out head or tail of what he was driving at; but +he had no alternative than to deliver his message word for word. At the +first blush of morning of the day appointed, he actually got ready two +horses and remained in waiting at the back gate. When daylight set in, +he perceived Pao-yü make his appearance from the side door; got up, +from head to foot, in a plain suit of clothes. Without uttering a word, +he mounted his steed; and stooping his body forward, he proceeded at a +quick step on his way down the road. Pei Ming had no help but to follow +suit; and, springing on his horse, he smacked it with his whip, and +overtook his master. "Where are we off to?" he eagerly inquired, from +behind. + +"Where does this road lead to?" Pao-yü asked. + +"This is the main road leading out of the northern gate." Pei Ming +replied. "Once out of it, everything is so dull and dreary that there's +nothing worth seeing!" + +Pao-yü caught this answer and nodded his head. "I was just thinking +that a dull and dreary place would be just the thing!" 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. +Pei Ming was more and more at a loss what to think of the whole affair; +yet his only course was to keep pace closely in his master's track. +With one gallop, they covered a distance of over seven or eight lis. +But it was only when human habitations became gradually few and far +between that Pao-yü ultimately drew up his horse. Turning his head +round: "Is there any place here," he asked, "where incense is sold?" + +"Incense!" 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. "We should get sandalwood, conifer and cedar, these three." + +"These three sorts are very difficult to get," Pei Ming smiled. + +Pao-yü was driven to his wits' ends. But Pei Ming noticing his dilemma, +"What do you want incense for?" he felt impelled to ask. "Master +Secundus, I've often seen you wear a small purse, about your person, +full of tiny pieces of incense; and why don't you see whether you've +got it with you?" + +This allusion was sufficient to suggest the idea to Pao-yü's mind. +Forthwith, he drew back his hand and felt the purse suspended on the +lapel of his coat. It really contained two bits of 'Ch'en Su.' At this +discovery, his heart expanded with delight. The only thing that (damped +his spirits) was the notion that there was a certain want of reverence +in his proceedings; but, on second consideration, he concluded that +what he had about him was, after all, considerably superior to any he +could purchase, and, with alacrity, he went on to inquire about a +censer and charcoal. + +"Don't think of such things!" Pei Ming urged. "Where could they be +procured in a deserted and lonely place like this? If you needed them, +why didn't you speak somewhat sooner, and we could have brought them +along with us? Would not this have been more convenient?" + +"You stupid thing!" exclaimed Pao-yü. "Had we been able to bring them +along, we wouldn't have had to run in this way as if for life!" + +Pei Ming indulged in a protracted reverie, after which, he gave a +smile. "I've thought of something," he cried, "but I wonder what you'll +think about it, Master Secundus! You don't, I expect, only require +these things; you'll need others too, I presume. But this isn't the +place for them; so let's move on at once another couple of lis, when +we'll get to the 'Water Spirit' monastery." + +"Is the 'Water Spirit' monastery in this neighbourhood?" Pao-yü eagerly +inquired, upon hearing his proposal. "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. "The nun in this 'Water Spirit' monastery," +he shouted to Pei Ming, "frequently comes on a visit to our house, so +that when we now get there and ask her for the loan of a censer, she's +certain to let us have it." + +"Not to mention that that's a place where our family burns incense," +Pei Ming answered, "she could not dare to raise any objections, to any +appeal from us for a loan, were she even in a temple quite unknown to +us. 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?" + +"I've all along had the keenest contempt for those low-bred persons," +Pao-yü rejoined, "who, without knowing why or wherefore, foolishly +offer sacrifices to the spirits, and needlessly have temples erected. +The reason of it all is, that those rich old gentlemen and +unsophisticated wealthy women, who lived in past days, were only too +ready, the moment they heard of the presence of a spirit anywhere, to +take in hand the erection of temples to offer their sacrifices in, +without even having the faintest notion whose spirits they were. This +was because they readily credited as gospel-truth such rustic stories +and idle tales as chanced to reach their ears. Take this place as an +example. Offerings are presented in this 'Water Spirit' nunnery to the +spirit of the 'Lo' stream; hence the name of 'Water Spirit' monastery +has been given to it. But people really don't know that in past days, +there was no such thing as a 'Lo' spirit! These are, indeed, no better +than legendary yarns invented by Ts'ao Tzu-chien, and who would have +thought it, this sort of stupid people have put up images of it, to +which they offer oblations. It serves, however, my purpose to-day, so +I'll borrow of her whatever I need to use." + +While engaged in talking, they reached the entrance. The old nun saw +Pao-yü arrive, and was thoroughly taken aback. So far was this visit +beyond her expectations, that well did it seem to her as if a live +dragon had dropped from the heavens. With alacrity, she rushed up to +him; and making inquiries after his health, she gave orders to an old +Taoist to come and take his horse. + +Pao-yü stepped into the temple. But without paying the least homage to +the image of the 'Lo' spirit, he simply kept his eyes fixed intently on +it; for albeit made of clay, it actually seemed, nevertheless, to +flutter as does a terror-stricken swan, and to wriggle as a dragon in +motion. It looked like a lotus, peeping its head out of the green +stream, or like the sun, pouring its rays upon the russet clouds in the +early morn. Pao-yü's tears unwittingly trickled down his cheeks. + +The old nun presented tea. Pao-yü then asked her for the loan of a +censer to burn incense in. After a protracted absence, the old nun +returned with some incense as well as several paper horses, which she +had got ready for him to offer. But Pao-yü would not use any of the +things she brought. "Take the censer," he said to Pei Ming, "and go out +into the back garden and find a clean spot!" + +But having been unable to discover one; "What about, the platform round +that well?" Pei Ming inquired. + +Pao-yü nodded his head assentingly. 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. With suppressed tears, he performed half of the ceremony, +and, turning himself round, he bade Pei Ming clear the things away. Pei +Ming acquiesced; but, instead of removing the things, he speedily fell +on his face, and made several prostrations, as his lips uttered this +prayer: "I, Pei Ming, have been in the service of Master Secundus for +several years. Of the secrets of Mr. Secundus' heart there are none, +which I have not known, save that with regard to this sacrifice to-day; +the object of which, he has neither told me; nor have I had the +presumption to ask. But thou, oh spirit! who art the recipient of these +sacrificial offerings, must, I expect, unknown though thy surname and +name be to me, be a most intelligent and supremely beautiful elder or +younger sister, unique among mankind, without a peer even in heaven! As +my Master Secundus cannot give vent to the sentiments, which fill his +heart, allow me to pray on his behalf! Should thou possess +spirituality, and holiness be thy share, do thou often come and look up +our Mr. Secundus, for persistently do his thoughts dwell with thee! And +there is no reason why thou should'st not come! But should'st thou be +in the abode of the dead, grant that our Mr. Secundus too may, in his +coming existence, be transformed into a girl, so that he may be able to +amuse himself with you all! And will not this prove a source of +pleasure to both sides?" + +At the close of his invocation, he again knocked his head several times +on the ground, and, eventually, rose to his feet. + +Pao-yü lent an ear to his utterances, but, before they had been brought +to an end, he felt it difficult to repress himself from laughing. +Giving him a kick, "Don't talk such stuff and nonsense!" he shouted. +"Were any looker-on to overhear what you say, he'd jeer at you!" + +Pei Ming got up and put the censer away. While he walked along with +Pao-yü, "I've already," he said, "told the nun that you hadn't as yet +had anything to eat, Master Secundus, and I bade her get a few things +ready for you, so you must force yourself to take something. I know +very well that a grand banquet will be spread in our mansion to-day, +that exceptional bustle will prevail, and that you have, on account of +this, Sir, come here to get out of the way. 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." + +"I won't be at the theatrical performance to have any wine," Pao-yü +remarked, "so what harm will there be in my having a drink here, as the +fancy takes me?" + +"Quite so!" rejoined Pei Ming. "But there's another consideration. You +and I have run over here; but there must be some whose minds are ill at +ease. Were there no one uneasy about us, well, what would it matter if +we got back into town as late as we possibly could? But if there be any +solicitous on your account, it's but right, Master Secundus, that you +should enter the city and return home. In the first place, our worthy +old mistress and Madame Wang, will thus compose their minds; and +secondly, you'll observe the proper formalities, if you succeed in +doing nothing else. But even supposing that, when once you get home, +you feel no inclination to look at the plays and have anything to +drink, you can merely wait upon your father and mother, and acquit +yourself of your filial piety! 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! You'd better therefore, master, ponder and +see what you think of my words!" + +"I see what you're driving at!" Pao-yü smiled. "You keep before your +mind the thought that you're the only servant, who has followed me as +an attendant out of town, and you give way to fear that you will, on +your return, have to bear the consequences. You hence have recourse to +these grandiloquent arguments to shove words of counsel down my throat! +I've come here now with the sole object of satisfying certain rites, +and then going to partake of the banquet and be a spectator of the +plays; and I never mentioned one single word about any intention on my +part not to go back to town for a whole day! I've, however, already +accomplished the wish I fostered in my heart, so if we hurry back to +town, so as to enable every one to set their solicitude at rest, won't +the right principle be carried out to the full in one respect as well +as another?" + +"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. Pao-yü hurriedly swallowed some refreshment and so did Pei +Ming; after which, they mounted their steeds and retraced their steps +homewards, by the road they had come. + +Pei Ming followed behind. "Master Secundus!" he kept on shouting, "be +careful how you ride! That horse hasn't been ridden very much, so hold +him in tight a bit." + +As he urged him to be careful, they reached the interior of the city +walls, and, making their entrance once more into the mansion by the +back gate, they betook themselves, with all possible despatch, into the +I Hung court. Hsi Jen and the other maids were not at home. Only a few +old women were there to look after the rooms. As soon as they saw him +arrive, they were so filled with gratification that their eyebrows +dilated and their eyes smiled. "O-mi-to-fu!" they said laughingly, +"you've come! You've all but driven Miss Hua mad from despair! In the +upper quarters, they're just seated at the feast, so be quick, Mr. +Secundus, and go and join them." + +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. + +"They're in the newly erected large reception pavilion," the old women +responded. + +Upon catching their reply, Pao-yü straightway started for the +reception-pavilion. From an early moment, the strains of flageolets and +pipes, of song and of wind-instruments faintly fell on his ear. The +moment he reached the passage on the opposite side, he discerned Yü +Ch'uan-erh seated all alone under the eaves of the verandah giving way +to tears. As soon as she became conscious of Pao-yü's arrival, she drew +a long, long breath. Smacking her lips, "Ai!" she cried, "the phoenix +has alighted! go in at once! Hadn't you come for another minute, every +one would have been quite upset!" + +Pao-yü forced a smile. "Just try and guess where I've been?" he +observed. + +Yü Ch'uan-erh twisted herself round, and, paying no notice to him, she +continued drying her tears. Pao-yü had, therefore, no option but to +enter with hasty step. 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. + +"Where have you been," dowager lady Chia was the first to ask, "that +you come back at this hour? Don't you yet go and pay your +congratulations to your cousin?" And smiling she proceeded, addressing +herself to lady Feng, "Your cousin has no idea of what's right and +what's wrong. Even though he may have had something pressing to do, why +didn't he utter just one word, but stealthily bolted away on his own +hook? Will this sort of thing ever do? But should you behave again in +this fashion by and bye, I shall, when your father comes home, feel +compelled to tell him to chastise you." + +Lady Feng smiled. "Congratulations are a small matter?" she observed. +"But, cousin Pao, you must, on no account, sneak away any more without +breathing a word to any one, and not sending for some people to escort +you, for carriages and horses throng the streets. First and foremost, +you're the means of making people uneasy at heart; and, what's more, +that isn't the way in which members of a family such as ours should go +out of doors!" + +Dowager lady Chia meanwhile went on reprimanding the servants, who +waited on him. "Why," she said, "do you all listen to him and readily +go wherever he pleases without even reporting a single word? But where +did you really go?" Continuing, she asked, "Did you have anything to +eat? Or did you get any sort of fright, eh?" + +"A beloved wife of the duke of Pei Ching departed this life," Pao-yü +merely returned for answer, "and I went to-day to express my +condolences to him. I found him in such bitter anguish that I couldn't +very well leave him and come back immediately. That's the reason why I +tarried with him a little longer." + +"If hereafter you do again go out of doors slyly and on your own hook," +dowager lady Chia impressed on his mind, "without first telling me, I +shall certainly bid your father give you a caning!" + +Pao-yü signified his obedience with all promptitude. His grandmother +Chia was then bent upon having the servants, who were on attendance on +him, beaten, but the various inmates did their best to dissuade her. +"Venerable senior!" they said, "you can well dispense with flying into +a rage! He has already promised that he won't venture to go out again. +Besides, he has come back without any misadventure, so we should all +compose our minds and enjoy ourselves a bit!" + +Old lady Chia had, at first, been full of solicitude. She had, as a +matter of course, been in a state of despair and displeasure; but, +seeing Pao-yü return in safety, she felt immoderately delighted, to +such a degree, that she could not reconcile herself to visit her +resentment upon him. She therefore dropped all mention of his escapade +at once. And as she entertained fears lest he may have been unhappy or +have had, when he was away, nothing to eat, or got a start on the road, +she did not punish him, but had, contrariwise, recourse to every sort +of inducement to coax him to feel at ease. But Hsi Jen soon came over +and attended to his wants, so the company once more turned their +attention to the theatricals. The play acted on that occasion was, "The +record of the boxwood hair-pin." Dowager lady Chia, Mrs. Hsüeh and the +others were deeply impressed by what they saw and gave way to tears. +Some, however, of the inmates were amused; others were provoked to +anger; others gave vent to abuse. + +But, reader, do you wish to know the sequel? If so, the next chapter +will explain it. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + + By some inscrutable turn of affairs, lady Feng begins to feel the + pangs of jealousy. + Pao-yü experiences joy, beyond all his expectations, when P'ing Erh + (receives a slap from lady Feng) and has to adjust her hair. + +But to resume our narrative. At the performance of the 'Record of the +boxwood hairpin,' at which all the inmates of the household were +present, Pao-yü and his female cousins sat together. When Lin Tai-yü +noticed that the act called, 'The man offers a sacrifice' had been +reached, "This Wang Shih-p'eng," she said to Pao-ch'ai, "is very +stupid! 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. All waters under the +heavens revert but to one source.' So had he baled a bowlful from any +stream, and given way to his lamentations, while gazing on it, he could +very well have satisfied his feelings." + +Pao-ch'ai however made no reply. + +Pao-yü then turned his head round and asked for some warm wine to drink +to lady Feng's health. 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. She herself, nevertheless, felt too +listless to join the banquet, so simply reclining on a sofa of the +inner room, she looked at the plays in company with Mrs. Hsüeh; and +choosing several kinds of such eatables as were to her taste, she +placed them on a small teapoy, and now helped herself to some, and now +talked, as the fancy took her. Then allotting what viands were served +on the two tables assigned to her to the elder and younger +waiting-maids, for whom no covers were laid, and to those female +servants and other domestics, who were on duty and had to answer calls, +she urged them not to mind but to seat themselves outside the windows, +under the eaves of the verandahs, and to eat and drink at their +pleasure, without any regard to conventionalities. Madame Wang and +Madame Hsing occupied places at the high table below; while round +several tables outside sat the posse of young ladies. + +"Do let that girl Feng have the seat of honour," old lady Chia shortly +told Mrs. Yu and her contemporaries, "and mind be careful in doing the +honours for me, for she is subjected to endless trouble from one year's +end to another!" + +"Very well," said Mrs. Yu. "I fancy," she went on to smile, "that +little used as she is to filling the place of honour, she's bound, if +she takes the high seat, to be so much at a loss how to behave, as to +be loth even to have any wine!" + +Dowager lady Chia was much amused by her reply. "Well, if you can't +succeed," she said, "wait and I'll come and offer it to her." + +Lady Feng with hasty step walked into the inner room. "Venerable +ancestor!" she smiled, "don't believe all they tell you! I've already +had several cups!" + +"Quick, pull her out," old lady Chia laughingly cried to Mrs. Yu, "and +shove her into a chair, and let all of you drink by turns to her +health! If she then doesn't drink, I'll come myself in real earnest and +make her have some!" + +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. "You've got from one year's end to another," +she smiled, "the trouble and annoyance of conferring dutiful attentions +upon our venerable senior, upon Madame Wang and upon myself, so, as +I've nothing to-day, with which to prove my affection for you, have a +sip, from my hand, my own dear, of this cup of wine I poured for you +myself!" + +"If you deliberately wish to present me a glass," lady Feng laughed, +"fall on your knees and I'll drink at once!" + +"What's this you say?" Mrs. Yu replied with a laugh. "And who are you, +I wonder? But let me tell you this once for all and finish that though +we've succeeded, after ever so many difficulties, in getting up this +entertainment to-day, there's no saying whether we shall in the future +be able to have anything more the like of this or not. Let's avail +ourselves then of the present to put our capacity to the strain and +drink a couple of cups!" + +Lady Feng saw very well that she could not advance any excuses, and +necessity obliged her to swallow the contents of two cups. In quick +succession, however, the various young ladies also drew near her, and +lady Feng was constrained again to take a sip from the cup each held. +But nurse Lai Ta too felt compelled, at the sight of dowager lady Chia +still in buoyant spirits, to come forward and join in the merriment, so +putting herself at the head of a number of nurses, she approached and +proffered wine to lady Feng who found it once more so difficult to +refuse that she had to swallow a few mouthfuls. But Yüan Yang and her +companions next appeared, likewise, on the scene to hand her their +share of wine; but lady Feng felt, in fact, so little able to comply +with their wishes, that she promptly appealed to them entreatingly. +"Dear sisters," she pleaded, "do spare me! I'll drink some more +to-morrow!" + +"Quite so! we're a mean lot," Yüan Yang laughed. "But now that we stand +in the presence of your ladyship, do condescend to look upon us +favourably! We've always enjoyed some little consideration, and do you +put on the airs of a mistress on an occasion like the present, when +there's such a crowd of people standing by? 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. "Dear sister," she cried, "I'll +drink some and have done!" + +So saying, she took the wine and filled a cup to the very brim, and +drained it. Yüan Yang then at length gave her a smile, (and she and her +friends) dispersed. + +Subsequently, the company resumed their places at the banquet. But lady +Feng was conscious that the wine she had primed herself with was +mounting to her head, so abruptly staggering to the upper end, she +meant to betake herself home to lie down, when seeing the jugglers +arrive, "Get the tips ready!" she shouted to Mrs. Yu. "I'm off to wash +my face a bit." + +Mrs. Yu nodded her head assentingly; and lady Feng, noticing that the +inmates were off their guard, left the banquet, and wended her steps +beneath the eaves towards the back entrance of the house. P'ing Erh +had, however, been keeping her eye on her, so hastily she followed in +her footsteps. Lady Feng at once propped herself on her arm. But no +sooner did they reach the covered passage than she discerned a young +maid, attached to her quarters, standing under it. (The girl), the +moment she perceived them, twisted herself round and beat a retreat. +Lady Feng forthwith began to give way to suspicion; and she immediately +shouted out to her to halt. The maid pretended at first not to hear, +but, as, while following her they called out to her time after time, +she found herself compelled to turn round. Lady Feng was seized with +greater doubts than ever. Quickly therefore entering the covered +passage with P'ing Erh, she bade the maid go along with them. Then +opening a folding screen, lady Feng stated herself on the steps leading +to the small courtyard, and made the girl fall on her knees. "Call two +boy-servants from among those on duty at the second gate," she cried +out to P'ing Erh, "to bring a whip of twisted cords, and to take this +young wench, who has no regard for her mistress, and beat her to +shreds." + +The servant-maid fell into a state of consternation, and was scared out +of her very wits. Sobbing the while, she kept on bumping her head on +the ground and soliciting for grace. + +"I'm really no ghost! So you must have seen me! Don't you know what +good manners mean and stand still?" lady Feng asked. "Why did you +instead persist in running on?" + +"I truly did not see your ladyship coming," the maid replied with tears +in her eyes. "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?" lady +Feng inquired. "And didn't you see me, together with P'ing Erh, at your +heels, stretching out our necks and calling out to you about ten times? +But the more we shouted, the faster you ran! You weren't far off from +us either, so is it likely that you got deaf? And are you still bent +upon bandying words with me?" + +So speaking, she raised her hand and administered her a slap on the +face. But, while the girl staggered from the blow, she gave her a +second slap on the other side of the face, so both cheeks of the maid +quickly began to get purple and to swell. + +P'ing Erh hastened to reason with her mistress. "My lady!" she said, +"be careful you'll be hurting your hand!" + +"Go on, pommel her," urged lady Feng, "and ask her what made her run! +and, if she doesn't tell you, just you take her mouth and tear it to +pieces for her!" + +At the outset, the girl obstinately prevaricated, but when she +eventually heard that lady Feng intended to take a red-hot +branding-iron and burn her mouth with, she at last sobbingly spoke out. +"Our Master Secundus, Mr. Lien, is at home," she remarked, "and he sent +me here to watch your movements, my lady; bidding me go ahead, when I +saw you leave the banquet, and convey the message to him. But, contrary +to his hopes, your ladyship came back just now!" + +Lady Feng saw very well that there lurked something behind all she +said. "What did he ask you to watch me for?" she therefore eagerly +asked. "Can it be, pray, that he dreaded to see me return home? There +must be some other reason; so be quick and tell it to me and I shall +henceforward treat you with regard. If you don't minutely confess all +to me, I shall this very moment take a knife and pare off your flesh!" + +Threatening her the while, she turned her head round, and, extracting a +hairpin from her coiffure, she stuck it promiscuously about the maid's +mouth. This so frightened the girl that, as she made every effort to +get out of her way, she burst out into tears and entreaties. "I'll tell +your ladyship everything," she cried, "but you mustn't say that it was +I who told you." + +Ping Erh, who stood by, exhorted her to obey; but she at the same time +impressed on her mind to speak out without delay. + +"Mr. Secundus himself arrived only a few minutes back," the maid began. +"The moment, however, he came, he opened a bog, and, taking two pieces +of silver, two hairpins, and a couple of rolls of silk, he bade me +stealthily take them to Pao Erh's wife and tell her to come in. As soon +as she put the things away, she hurried to our house, and Master +Secundus ordered me to keep an eye on your ladyship; but of what +happened after that, I've no idea whatever." + +When these disclosures fell on lady Feng's ears, she flew into such a +rage that her whole person felt quite weak; and, rising immediately, +she straightway repaired home. The instant she reached the gate of the +courtyard, she espied a waiting-maid peep out of the entrance. Seeing +lady Feng, she too drew in her head, and tried at once to effect her +escape. But lady Feng called her by name, and made her stand still. +This girl had ever been very sharp, so when she realised that she could +not manage to beat a retreat, she went so far as to run out to her. "I +was just going to tell your ladyship," she smiled, "and here you come! +What a strange coincidence!" + +"Tell me what?" lady Feng exclaimed. + +"That Mr. Secundus is at home," the girl replied, "and has done so and +so." She then recounted to her all the incidents recorded a few minutes +back. + +"Ts'ui!" ejaculated lady Feng. "What were you up to before? Now, that +I've seen you, you come and try to clear yourself!" + +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. Lady Feng then drew near the window. Lending an ear to what was +going on inside, she heard some one in the room laughingly observe: +"When that queen-of-hell sort of wife of yours dies, it will be a good +riddance!" + +"When she's gone," Chia Lien rejoined, "and I marry another, the like +of her, what will I again do?" + +"When she's dead and gone," the woman resumed, "just raise P'ing Erh to +the rank of primary wife. I think she'll turn out considerably better +than she has." + +"At present," Chia Lien put in, "she won't even let me enjoy P'ing +Erh's society! P'ing Erh herself is full of displeasure; yet she dares +not speak. How is it that it has been my fate to bring upon myself the +influence of this evil star?" + +Lady Feng overheard these criticisms and flew into a fit of anger, +which made her tremble violently. When she, however, also caught the +praise heaped by both of them upon P'ing Erh, she harboured the +suspicion that P'ing Erh too must, as a matter of course, have all +along employed the sly resentful language against her. And, as the wine +bubbled up more and more into her head, she did not so much as give the +matter a second thought, but, twisting round, she first and foremost +gave P'ing Erh a couple of whacks, and, with one kick, she banged the +door open, and walked in. Then, without allowing her any time to give +any explanation in her own defence, she clutched Pao Erh's wife, and, +tearing her about, she belaboured her with blows. But the dread lest +Chia Lien should slip out of the room, induced her to post herself in +such a way as to obstruct the doorway. "What a fine wench!" she shouted +out abusingly. "You make a paramour of your mistress' husband, and then +you wish to compass your master's wife's death, for P'ing Erh to +transfer her quarters in here! You base hirelings! You're all of the +same stamp, thoroughly jealous of me; you try to cajole me by your +outward display!" + +While abusing them, she once more laid hold of P'ing Erh and beat her +several times. 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. Such resentment overpowered her feelings that she sobbed without +a sign of a tear. "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. Yet when he saw P'ing Erh also start a +rumpus, the liquor he had had aroused his ire. The sight of the assault +committed by lady Feng on Pao Erh's wife had already incensed him and +put him to shame, but he had not been able with any consistency to +interfere; but the instant he espied P'ing Erh herself lay hands on +her, he vehemently jumped forward and gave her a kick. "What a vixen!" +he cried. "Are you likewise going to start knocking people about?" + +P'ing Erh was of a timid disposition. At once, therefore, she withheld +her hands, and melted into tears. "Why do you implicate me," she said, +"in things you say behind my back?" + +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. But +the company of old matrons, who stood outside, hastened to place +impediments in her way, and to argue with her. + +Lady Feng, meanwhile, realised that P'ing Erh had gone to take her +life, and rolling, head foremost, into Chia Lien's embrace, "You put +your heads together to do me harm," she said, "and, when I overhear +your designs, you people conspire to frighten me! But strangle me and +have done." + +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. "I too am thoroughly exasperated, so I'll +kill the whole lot of you and pay the penalty with my own life! We'll +all then be free from further trouble!" + +The bustle had just reached a climax beyond the chance of a settlement, +when they perceived Mrs. Yu and a crowd of inmates make their +appearance in the room. "What's the matter?" they asked. "There was +nothing up just now, so why is all this row for?" + +At the sight of the new arrivals, Chia Lien more than ever made the +three parts of intoxication, under which he laboured, an excuse to +assume an air calculated to intimidate them, and to pretend, in order +to further his own ends, that he was bent upon despatching lady Feng. + +But lady Feng, upon seeing her relatives appear, got into a mood less +perverse than the one she had been in previous to their arrival; and, +leaving the whole company of them, she scampered, all in tears, over to +the off side, into dowager lady Chia's quarters. + +By this time, the play was over. Lady Feng rushed consequently into the +old lady's presence and fell into her lap. "Venerable ancestor! help +me!" she exclaimed. "Mr. Chia Lien wishes to kill me." + +"What's up?" precipitately inquired dowager lady Chia, Mesdames Hsing +and Wang and the rest. + +"I was just going to my rooms to change my dress," lady Feng wept, +"when I unexpectedly found Mr. Chia Lien at home, talking with some +one. Fancying that visitors had come, I was quite taken aback, and not +presuming to enter, I remained outside the window and listened. It +turned out, in fact, to be Pao Erh's wife holding council with him. She +said that I was dreadful, and that she meant to poison me so as to get +me out of the way and enable P'ing Erh to be promoted to be first wife. +At this, I lost my temper. But not venturing, none the less, to have a +row with him, I simply gave P'ing Erh two slaps; and then I asked him +why he wished to do me harm. But so stricken did he get with shame that +he tried there and then to despatch me." + +Dowager lady Chia treated every word that fell on her ear as truth. +"Dreadful!" she ejaculated. "Bring here at once that low-bred +offspring!" + +Barely was, however, this exclamation out of her lips, than they +perceived Chia Lien, a sword in hand, enter in pursuit of his wife, +followed closely by a bevy of inmates. 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. When Mesdames Hsing and Wang saw him, +they got into a passion, and, with all despatch, they endeavoured to +deter him from his purpose. "You mean thing!" they shouted, abusing +him. "Your crime is more heinous, for our venerable senior is in here!" + +"It's all because our worthy ancestor spoils her," cried Chia Lien, +with eyes awry, "that she behaved as she did and took upon herself to +rate even me!" + +Madame Hsing was full of resentment. Snatching the sword from his +grasp, she kept on telling him to quit the room at once. But Chia Lien +continued to prattle foolish nonsense in a drivelling and maudlin way. +His manner exasperated dowager lady Chia. "I'm well aware," she +observed, "that you haven't the least consideration for any one of us. +Tell some one to go and call his father here and we'll see whether he +doesn't clear out." + +When Chia Lien caught these words, he eventually tottered out of the +apartment. But in such a state of frenzy was he that he did not return +to his quarters, but betook himself into the outer study. + +During this while, Mesdames Hsing and Wang also called lady Feng to +task. + +"Why, what serious matter could it ever have been?" old lady Chia +remarked. "But children of tender years are like greedy kittens, and +how can one say for certain that they won't do such things? Human +beings have, from their very infancy, to go through experiences of this +kind! It's all my fault, however, for pressing you to have a little +more wine than was good for you. But you've also gone and drunk the +vinegar of jealousy!" + +This insinuation made every one laugh. + +"Compose your mind!" proceeded dowager lady Chia. "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!" Continuing, she also went on to abuse +P'ing Erh. "I've always thought highly of that wench," she said, "and +how is it that she's turned out to be secretly so bad?" + +"P'ing Erh isn't to blame!" Mrs. Yu and the others smiled. "It's lady +Feng who makes people her tools to give vent to her spite! Husband and +wife could not very well come to blows face to face, so they combined +in using P'ing Erh as their scapegoat! What injuries haven't fallen to +P'ing Erh's lot! And do you, venerable senior, still go on blowing her +up?" + +"Is it really so!" exclaimed old lady Chia. "I always said that that +girl wasn't anything like that artful shrew! Well, in that case, she is +to be pitied, for she has had to bear the brunt of her anger, and all +through no fault of hers!" Calling Hu Po to her, "Go," she added, "and +tell P'ing Erh all I enjoin you; 'that I know that she has been +insulted and that to-morrow I'll send for her mistress to make amends, +but that being her mistress' birthday to-day, I won't have her give +rise to any reckless fuss'!" + +P'ing Erh had, we may explain, from an early hour, been dragged by Li +Wan into the garden of Broad Vista. Here P'ing Erh gave way to bitter +tears. So much so, that her throat choked with sobs, and could not give +utterance to speech. + +"You are an intelligent person," exhorted her Pao-ch'ai, "and how +considerately has your lady treated you all along! It was simply +because she has had a little too much wine that she behaved as she did +to-day! But had she not made you the means of giving vent to her spite, +is it likely that she could very well have aired her grievances upon +any one else? Besides, any one else would have laughed at her for +acting in a sham way!" + +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. + +After a little rest, Pao Ch'ai and her companions came and paid a visit +to old lady Chia and lady Feng, while Pao-yü pressed P'ing Erh to come +to the I Hung court. Hsi Jen received her with alacrity. "I meant," she +said, "to be the first to ask you, but as our senior lady, Chia Chu, +and the young ladies invited you, I couldn't very well do so myself." + +P'ing Erh returned her smile. "Many thanks!" she rejoined. "How words +ever commenced between us;" she then went on, "when there was no +provocation, I can't tell! But without rhyme or reason, I came in for a +spell of resentment." + +"Our lady Secunda has always been very good to you," laughingly +remarked +Hsi Jen, "so she must have done this in a sudden fit of exasperation!" + +"Our lady Secunda did not, after all, say anything to me," P'ing Erh +explained. "It was that wench that blew me up. And she deliberately +made a laughing-stock of me. But that fool also of a master of ours +struck me!" + +While recounting her experiences, she felt a keener sense of injustice +than before, and she found it hard to restrain her tears from trickling +down her cheeks. + +"My dear sister," Pao-yü hastily advised her, "don't wound your heart! +I'm quite ready to express my apologies on behalf of that pair!" + +"What business is that of yours?" P'ing Erh smiled. + +"We cousins, whether male or female, are all alike." Pao-yü smilingly +argued. "So when they hurt any one's feelings, I apologise for them; +it's only right that I should do so. What a pity;" he continued, "these +new clothes too have been stained! But you'll find your sister Hua's +costumes in here, and why don't you put one on, and take some hot wine +and spurt it over yours and iron them out? You might also remake your +coiffure." + +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. But Pao-yü had so far been +loth, seeing that P'ing Erh was Chia Lien's beloved secondary wife, and +lady Feng's confidante, to indulge in any familiarities with her. And +being precluded from accomplishing the desire upon which his heart was +set, he time and again gave way to vexation. When P'ing Erh, however, +remarked his conduct towards her on this occasion, she secretly +resolved within herself that what was said of him was indeed no idle +rumour. But as he had anticipated every one of her wants, and she saw +moreover that Hsi Jen had, for her special benefit, opened a box and +produced two articles of clothing, not much worn by her, she speedily +drew near and washed her face. + +Pao-yü stood by her side. "You must, dear girl, also apply a little +cosmetic and powder," she smiled; "otherwise you'll look as if you were +angry with lady Feng. It's her birthday, besides; and our old ancestor +has sent some one again to come and cheer you up." + +Hearing how reasonable his suggestions were, P'ing Erh readily went in +search of powder; but she failed to notice any about, so Pao-yü +hurriedly drew up to the toilet-table, and, removing the lid of a +porcelain box made at the "Hsüan" kiln, which contained a set of ten +small ladles, tuberose-like in shape, (for helping one's self to powder +with), he drew out one of them and handed it to P'ing Erh. "This isn't +lead powder," he smiled. "This is made of the seeds of red jasmine, +well triturated, and compounded with suitable first class ingredients." + +P'ing Erh emptied some on the palm of her hand. On examination, she +really found that it was light, clear, red and scented; perfect in all +four properties; that it was easy to apply evenly to the face, that it +kept moist, and that it differed from other kinds of powder, ordinarily +so rough. She subsequently noticed that the cosmetic too was not spread +on a sheet, but that it was contained in a tiny box of white jade, the +contents of which bore the semblance of rose-paste. + +"The cosmetic one buys in the market isn't clean;" Pao-yü remarked +smilingly. "Its colour is faint as well. But this is cosmetic of +superior quality. The juice was squeezed out, strained clear, mixed +with perfume of flowers and decocted. All you need do is to take some +with that hair-pin and rub it on your lips, that will be enough; and if +you dissolve some in a little water, and rub it on the palm of your +hand, it will be ample for you to cover your whole face with." + +P'ing Erh followed his directions and performed her toilette. She +looked exceptionally fresh and beautiful. A sweet fragrance pervaded +her cheeks. Pao-yü then cut, with a pair of bamboo scissors, a stalk, +with two autumn orchids, which had blossomed in a flower pot, and he +pinned it in her side-hair. But a maid was unexpectedly seen to enter +the room, sent by Li Wan to come and call her, so she quitted his +quarters with all possible despatch. + +Pao-yü had not so far been able to have his wishes to revel in P'ing +Erh's society gratified. 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. + +The present occasion had been the anniversary of Chin Ch'uan-erh's +birth, and he had remained, in consequence, plunged in a disconsolate +frame of mind throughout the whole day. But, contrary to his +expectations, the incident eventually occurred, which afforded him, +after all, an opportunity to dangle in P'ing Erh's society and to +gratify to some small degree a particle of his wish. This had been a +piece of good fortune he so little expected would fall to his share +during the course of his present existence, that as he reclined on his +bed, his heart swelled with happiness and contentment. Suddenly, he +reflected that Chia Lien's sole thought was to make licentious +pleasures the means of gratifying his passions, and that he had no idea +how to show the least regard to the fair sex; and he mused that P'ing +Erh was without father or mother, brothers or sisters, a solitary being +destined to dance attendance upon a couple such as Chia Lien and his +wife; that Chia Lien was vulgar, and lady Feng haughty, but that she +was gifted nevertheless with the knack of splendidly managing things; +and that (P'ing Erh) had again to-day come across bitter sorrow, and +that her destiny was extremely unfortunate. + +At this stage of his reverie, he began to feel wounded and distressed. +When he rose once more to his feet, he noticed that the wine, which she +had spurted on the clothes, she had a few minutes back divested herself +of, had already half dried, and, taking up the iron, he smoothed them +and folded them nicely for her. He then discovered that she had left +her handkerchief behind, and that it still bore traces of tears, so +throwing it into the basin, he rinsed it and hung it up to dry, with +feelings bordering on joy as well as sadness. 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. Lady Feng slept +with dowager lady Chia, while Chia Lien returned at a late hour to his +home. He found it however very lonely. Yet unable to go and call his +wife over, he had no alternative but to sleep as best he could for that +night. On the morrow, he remembered, as soon as he opened his eyes, the +occurrence of the previous day, and he fell a prey to such extreme +unhappiness that he could not be conscience-stricken enough. + +Madame Hsing pondered with solicitude on Chia Lien's drunken fit the +day before. The moment therefore it was light, she hastily crossed +over, and sent for Chia Lien to repair to dowager lady Chia's +apartments. Chia Lien was thus compelled to suppress all timidity and +to repair to the front part of the mansion and fall on his knees at the +feet of his old senior. + +"What was the matter?" inquired old lady Chia. + +"I really had too much wine yesterday," Chia Lien promptly answered +with a forced smile. "I must have given you a fright, worthy ancestor, +so I come to-day to receive condign punishment." + +"You mean fellow!" shouted dowager lady Chia, spitting at him +disdainfully. "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! But that vixen Feng brags +away the whole day long, as if she were a human being as valiant as any +tyrant, and yet yesterday she got into such a funk that she presented a +woeful sight! Had it not been for me, you would have done her bodily +harm; and what would you feel like now?" + +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. The only +course open to him was therefore to make a confession of fault. + +"Don't lady Feng and P'ing Erh possess the charms of handsome women?" +dowager lady Chia resumed. "And aren't you yet satisfied with them that +you must, of a day, go slyly prowling and gallavanting about, dragging +indiscriminately into your rooms frowsy and filthy people? Is it for +the sake of this sort of wenches that you beat your wife and belabour +the inmates of your quarters? You've nevertheless had the good fortune +of starting in life as the scion of a great family; and do you, with +eyes wide open, bring disgrace upon your own head? If you have any +regard for me, well, then get up and I'll spare you! 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. Espying +besides lady Feng standing opposite to him in undress, her eyes swollen +from crying, and her face quite sallow, without cosmetic or powder, he +thought her more lovable and charming than ever. "Wouldn't it be well," +he therefore mused, "that I should make amends, so that she and I may +be on friendly terms again and that I should win the good pleasure of +my old ancestor?" + +At the conclusion of his reflections, he forthwith put on a smile. +"After your advice, venerable senior," he said, "I couldn't be so bold +as not to accede to your wishes! But this is shewing her more +indulgence than ever!" + +"What nonsense!" exclaimed dowager lady Chia laughingly. "I am well +aware that with her extreme decorum she couldn't hurt any one's +susceptibilities. But should she, in the future, wrong you in any way, +I shall, of course, take the law into my own hands and bid you make her +submit to your authority and finish." + +Chia Lien, at this assurance, crawled up and made a bow to lady Feng. +"It was really my fault, so don't be angry, lady Secunda," he said. + +Every one in the room laughed. + +"Now, my girl Feng," lady Chia laughingly observed, "you are not to +lose your temper; for if you do, I'll lose mine too!" + +Continuing, she directed a servant to go and call P'ing Erh; and, on +her arrival, she advised lady Feng and Chia Lien to do all they could +to reconcile her. At the sight of P'ing Erh, Chia Lien showed less +regard than ever for the saying that 'a primary wife differs from a +secondary wife,' and the instant he heard old lady Chia's exhortation +he drew near her. "The injuries," he remarked, "to which you were +subjected yesterday, Miss, were entirely due to my shortcoming. If your +lady hurt your feelings, it was likewise all through me that the thing +began. So I express my regret; but, besides this, I tender my apologies +as well on behalf of your mistress." + +Saying this, he made another bow. This evoked a smile from dowager lady +Chia. Lady Feng, however, also laughed. Their old ancestor then desired +lady Feng to come and console P'ing Erh, but P'ing Erh hastily advanced +and knocked her head before lady Feng. "I do deserve death," she urged, +"for provoking your ladyship to wrath on the day of your birthday!" + +Lady Feng was at the moment pricked by shame and remorse for having so +freely indulged in wine the previous day as to completely have lost +sight of longstanding friendships, and for allowing her temper to so +thoroughly flare up as to lend a patient ear to the gossip of +outsiders, and unjustly put P'ing Erh out of countenance, so when she +contrariwise now saw her make advances, she felt both abashed and +grieved, and, promptly extending her arms, she dragged her up and gave +way to tears. + +"I've waited upon your ladyship for all these years," P'ing Erh +pleaded, "and you've never so much as given me a single fillip; and +yet, you beat me yesterday. But I don't bear you any grudge, my lady, +for it was that wench, who was at the bottom of it all. Nor do I wonder +that your ladyship lost control over your temper." + +As she spoke, tears trickled down her cheeks too. + +"Escort those three home!" dowager lady Chia shouted to the servants. +"If any one of them makes the least allusion to the subject, come at +once and tell me of it; for without any regard as to who it may be, I +shall take my staff and give him or her a sound flogging." + +The trio then prostrated themselves before dowager lady Chia and the +two ladies, Mesdames Hsing and Wang. And assenting to her old mistress' +injunctions, an old nurse accompanied the three inmates to their +quarters. + +When they got home, lady Feng assured herself that there was no one +about. "How is it," she next asked, "that I'm like a queen of hell, or +like a 'Yakcha' demon? That courtesan swore at me and wished me dead; +and did you too help her to curse me? If I'm not nice a thousand days, +why, I must be nice on some one day! But if, poor me, I'm so bad as not +even to compare with a disorderly woman, how can I have the face to +come and spend my life with you here?" + +So speaking, she melted into tears. + +"Aren't you yet gratified?" cried Chia Lien. "Just reflect carefully +who was most to blame yesterday! 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? Can it be that you'd like to make me kneel at your +feet before you let matters rest? 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. + +"She's all right again!" Chia Lien smiled. "But I'm really quite at a +loss what to do with this one." + +These words were still on his lips, when they saw a married woman walk +in. "Pao Erh's wife has committed suicide by hanging herself," she +said. + +This announcement plunged both Chia Lien and lady Feng into great +consternation. Lady Feng, however, lost no time in putting away every +sign of excitement. "Dead, eh? What a riddance!" she shouted instead. +"What's the use of making such a fuss about a mere trifle?" + +But not long elapsed before she perceived Lin Chih-hsiao's wife make +her appearance in the room. "Pao Erh's wife has hung herself," she +whispered to lady Feng in a low tone of voice, "and her mother's +relatives want to take legal proceedings." + +Lady Feng gave a sardonic smile. "That's all right!" she observed. "I +myself was just thinking about lodging a complaint!" + +"I and the others tried to dissuade them," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife +continued. "And by having recourse to intimidation as well as to +promises of money, they, at last, agreed to our terms." + +"I haven't got a cash," lady Feng replied. "Had I even any money, I +wouldn't let them have it; so just let them go and lodge any charge +they fancy. You needn't either dissuade them or intimidate them. Let +them go and complain as much as they like. But if they fail to +establish a case against me, they'll, after all, be punished for trying +to make the corpse the means of extorting money out of me!" + +Lin Chih-hsiao's wife was in a dilemma, when she espied Chia Lien wink +at her. Comprehending his purpose, she readily quitted the apartment +and waited for him outside. + +"I'll go out and see what they're up to!" Chia Lien remarked. + +"Mind, I won't have you give them any money!" shouted lady Feng. + +Chia Lien straightway made his exit. He came and held consultation with +Lin Chih-hsiao, and then directed the servants to go and use some fair +means, others harsh. The matter was, however, not brought to any +satisfactory arrangement until he engaged to pay two hundred taels for +burial expenses. But so apprehensive was Chia Lien lest something might +occur to make the relatives change their ideas, that he also despatched +a messenger to lay the affair before Wang Tzu-t'eng, who bade a few +constables, coroners and other official servants come and help him to +effect the necessary preparations for the funeral. The parties +concerned did not venture, when they saw the precautions he had +adopted, to raise any objections, disposed though they may have been to +try and bring forward other arguments. Their sole alternative therefore +was to suppress their resentment, to refrain from further importunities +and let the matter drop into oblivion. + +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." When +Pao Erh, therefore, came in for a share of credit as well as of hard +cash, he could not possibly do otherwise than practise contentment; and +forthwith, needless to dilate on this topic, he began to pay court to +Chia Lien as much as ever. + +In the inner rooms, lady Feng was, it is true, much cut up at heart; +but she strained every nerve to preserve an exterior of total +indifference. Noticing that there was no one present in the apartment, +she drew P'ing Erh to her. "I drank yesterday," she smiled, "a little +more wine than was good for me, so don't bear me a grudge. Where did I +strike you, let me see?" + +"You didn't really strike me hard!" P'ing Erh said by way of reply. + +But at this stage they heard some one remark that the ladies and young +ladies had come in. + +If you desire, reader, to know any of the subsequent circumstances, +peruse the account given in the following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + + Friends interchange words of friendship. + Tai-yü feels dull on a windy and rainy evening, and indites verses on + wind and rain. + +Lady Feng, we will now go on to explain, was engaged in comforting +P'ing Erh, when upon unawares perceiving the young ladies enter the +room, she hastened to make them sit down while P'ing Erh poured the +tea. + +"So many of you come to-day," lady Feng smiled, "that it looks as if +you'd been asked to come by invitation." + +T'an Ch'un was the first to speak. "We have," she smilingly rejoined, +"two objects in view, the one concerns me; the other cousin Quarta; but +among these are, besides, certain things said by our venerable senior." + +"What's up?" inquired lady Feng with a laugh. "Is it so urgent?" + +"Some time ago," T'an Ch'un proceeded laughingly, "we started a rhyming +club; but the first meeting was not quite a success. Every one of us +proved so soft-hearted! The rules therefore were set at naught. So I +can't help thinking that we must enlist your services as president of +the society and superintendent; for what is needed to make the thing +turn out well is firmness and no favour. The next matter is: cousin +Quarta explained to our worthy ancestor that the requisites for +painting the picture of the garden were short of one thing and another, +and she said: 'that there must still be,' she fancied, 'in the lower +story of the back loft some articles, remaining over from previous +years, and that we should go and look for them. That if there be any, +they should be taken out, but that in the event of their being none, +some one should be commissioned to go and purchase a supply of them.'" + +"I'm not up to doing anything wet or dry, (play on word 'shih,' +verses)," lady Feng laughed, "and would you have me, pray, come and +gorge?" + +"You may, it's possible, not be up to any of these things," T'an Ch'un +replied, "but we don't expect you to do anything! All we want you for +is to see whether there be among us any remiss or lazy, and to decide +how they should be punished, that's all." + +"You shouldn't try and play your tricks upon me!" lady Feng smiled, "I +can see through your little game! Is it that you wish me to act as +president and superintendent? No! it's as clear as day that your object +is that I should play the part of that copper merchant, who put in +contributions in hard cash. You have, at every meeting you hold, to +each take turn and pay the piper; but, as your funds are not +sufficient, you've invented this plan to come and inveigle me into your +club, in order to wheedle money out of me! This must be your little +conspiracy!" + +These words evoked general laughter. "You've guessed right!" they +exclaimed. + +"In very truth," Li Wan smiled, "you're a creature with an intellect as +transparent as crystal, and with wits as clear as glass!" + +"You've got the good fortune of being their elder sister-in-law," lady +Feng smilingly remarked, "so the young ladies asked you to take them in +hand, and teach them how to read, and make them learn good manners and +needlework; and it's for you to guide and direct them in everything! +But here they start a rhyming society, for which not much can be +needed, and don't you concern yourself about them? We'll leave our +worthy ancestor and our Madame Wang aside; they are old people, but you +receive each moon an allowance of ten taels, which is twice as much as +what any one of us gets. More, our worthy ancestor and Madame Wang +maintain that being a widow, and having lost your home, you haven't, +poor thing, enough to live upon, and that you have a young child as +well to bring up; so they added with extreme liberality another ten +taels to your original share. Your allowance therefore is on a par with +that of our dear senior. But they likewise gave you a piece of land in +the garden, and you also come in for the lion's share of rents, +collected from various quarters, and of the annual allowances, +apportioned at the close of each year. Yet, you and your son don't +muster, masters and servants, ten persons in all. What you eat and what +your wear comes, just as ever, out of the general public fund, so that, +computing everything together, you get as much as four to five hundred +taels. 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? They'll very soon be getting married, and, are they likely +then to still expect you to make any contributions? So loth are you, +however, at present to fork out any cash that you've egged them on to +come and worry me! I'm quite prepared to spend away until we've drained +our chest dry! Don't I know that the money isn't mine?" + +"Just you listen to her," Li Wan laughed. "I simply made one single +remark, and out she came with two cartloads of nonsensical trash! +You're as rough a diamond as a leg made of clay! All you're good for is +to work the small abacus, to divide a catty and to fraction an ounce, +so finicking are you! A nice thing you are, and yet, you've been lucky +enough to come to life as the child of a family of learned and high +officials. You've also made such a splendid match; and do you still +behave in the way you do? Had you been a son or daughter born in some +poverty-stricken, humble and low household, there's no saying what a +mean thing you wouldn't have been! Every one in this world has been +gulled by you; and yesterday you went so far as to strike P'ing Erh! +But it wasn't the proper thing for you to stretch out your hand on her! +Was all that liquor, forsooth, poured down a cur's stomach? My monkey +was up, and I meant to have taken upon myself to avenge P'ing Erh's +grievance; but, after mature consideration, I thought to myself, 'her +birthday is as slow to come round as a dog's tail grows to a point.' I +also feared lest our venerable senior might be made to feel unhappy; so +I did not come forward. Anyhow, my resentment isn't yet spent; and do +you come to-day to try and irritate me? You aren't fit to even pick up +shoes for P'ing Erh! You two should therefore change your respective +places!" + +These taunts created merriment among the whole party. + +"Oh!" hastily exclaimed lady Feng, laughingly, "I know everything! You +don't at all come to look me up on account of verses or paintings, but +simply to take revenge on P'ing Erh's behalf! I never had any idea that +P'ing Erh had such a backer as yourself to bolster her up! Had I known +it, I wouldn't have ventured to strike her, even though a spirit had +been tugging my arm! Miss P'ing come over and let me tender my +apologies to you, in the presence of your senior lady and the young +ladies. Do bear with me for having proved so utterly wanting in virtue, +after I had had a few drinks!" + +Every one felt amused by her insinuations. + +"What do you say?" Li Wan asked P'ing Erh smiling. "As for me, I think +it my bounden duty to vindicate your wrongs, before we let the matter +drop!" + +"Your remarks, ladies, may be spoken in jest," P'ing Erh smiled, "but I +am not worthy of such a fuss!" + +"What about worthy and unworthy?" Li Wan observed. "I'm here for you! +Quick, get the key, and let your mistress go and open the doors and +hunt up the things!" + +"Dear sister-in-law," lady Feng said with a smile, "you'd better go +along with them into the garden. I'm about to take the rice accounts in +hand and square them up with them. Our senior lady, Madame Hsing, has +also sent some one to call me; what she wants to tell me again, I can't +make out; but I must need go over for a turn. There are, besides, all +those extra clothes for you people to wear at the end of the year, and +I must get them ready and give them to be made!" + +"These matters are none of my business!" Li Wan laughingly answered. +"First settle my concerns so as to enable me to retire to rest, and +escape the bother of having all these girls at me!" + +"Dear sister-in-law," vehemently smiled lady Feng, "be good enough to +give me a little time! You've ever been the one to love me best, and +how is it that you have, on P'ing Erh's account, ceased to care for me? +Time and again have you impressed on my mind that I should, despite my +manifold duties, take good care of my health, and manage things in such +a way as to find a little leisure for rest, and do you now contrariwise +come to press the very life out of me? There's another thing besides. +Should such clothes as will be required at the end of the year by any +other persons be delayed, it won't matter; but, should those of the +young ladies be behind time, let the responsibility rest upon your +shoulders! And won't our old lady bear you a grudge, if you don't mind +these small things? 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!" + +"Listen to her!" Li Wan smiled. "Hasn't she got the gift of the gab? +But let me ask you. Will you, after all, assume the control of this +rhyming society or not?" + +"What's this nonsense you're talking?" lady Feng laughed. "Were I not +to enter the society, and spend a little money, won't I be treated as a +rebel in this garden of Broad Vista? And will I then still think of +tarrying here to eat my head off? So soon as the day dawns to-morrow, +I'll arrive at my post, dismount from my horse, and, after kneeling +before the seals, my first act will be to give fifty taels for you to +quietly cover the expenses of your meetings. Yet after a few days, I +shall neither indite any verses, nor write any compositions, as I am +simply a rustic boor, nothing more! But it will be just the same +whether I assume the direction or not; for after you pocket my money, +there's no fear of your not driving me out of the place!" + +As these words dropped from her lips, one and all laughed again. + +"I'll now open the loft," proceeded lady Feng. "Should there be any of +the articles you want, you can tell the servants to bring them out for +you to look at them! If any will serve your purpose, keep them and use +them. If any be short, I'll bid a servant go and purchase them +according to your list. I'll go at once and cut the satin for the +painting. As for the plan, it isn't with Madame Wang; it's still over +there, at Mr. Chia Chen's. I tell you all this so that you should avoid +going over to Madame Wang's and getting into trouble! But I'll go and +depute some one to fetch it. I'll direct also a servant to take the +satin and give it to the gentlemen to size with alum; will this be all +right?" + +Li Wan nodded her head by way of assent and smiled. "This will be +putting you to much trouble and inconvenience," she said. "But we must +really act as you suggest. 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." + +Li Wan overheard her remark and hastily turned herself round. "We did, +in fact, come over," she smiled, "on account of Pao-yü, and we forgot, +instead all about him! The first meeting was deferred through him; but +we are too soft-hearted, so tell us what penalty to inflict on him!" + +Lady Feng gave herself to reflection. "There's only one thing to do," +she then remarked. "Just punish him by making him sweep the floor of +each of your rooms. This will do!" + +"Your verdict is faultless!" they laughed with one accord. + +While they conversed they were on the point of starting on their way +back, when they caught sight of a young maid walk in, supporting nurse +Lai. Lady Feng and her companions immediately rose to their feet, their +faces beaming with smiles. "Venerable mother!" 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. "I'm to be congratulated," she rejoined, "but you, +mistresses, are to be congratulated as well; for had it had not been +for the bountiful grace displaced by you, mistresses, whence would this +joy of mine have come? Your ladyship sent Ts'ai Ko again yesterday to +bring me presents, but my grandson _kotowed_ at the door, with his face +turned towards the upper quarters." + +"When is he going to his post?" Li Wan inquired, with a smile. + +Nurse Lai heaved a sigh. "How can I interfere with them?" she answered. +"Why, I let them have their own way and start when they like! The other +day, they were at my house, and they prostrated themselves before me; +but I could find no complimentary remark to make to him, so, 'Sir!' I +said, 'putting aside that you're an official, you've lived in a +reckless and dissolute way, for now thirty years. You should, it's +true, have been people's bond-servant, but from the moment you came out +of your mother's womb, your master graciously accorded you your +liberty. Thanks, above, to the boundless blessings showered upon you by +your lord, and, below, to the favour of your father and mother, you're +like a noble scion and a gentleman, able to read and to write; and you +have been carried about by maids, old matrons, and nurses, just as if +you had been a very phoenix! But now that you've grown up and reached +this age, do you have the faintest notion of what the two words +'bond-servant' imply? All you think of is to enjoy your benefits. But +what hardships your grandfather and father had to bear, in slaving away +for two or three generations, before they succeeded, after ever so many +ups and downs, in raising up a thing like you, you don't at all know! +From your very infancy, you ever ailed from this, or sickened for that, +so that the money that was expended on your behalf, would suffice to +fuse into a lifelike silver image of you! At the age of twenty, you +again received the bounty of your master in the shape of a promise to +purchase official status for you. But just mark, how many inmates of +the principal branch and main offspring have to endure privation, and +suffer the pangs of hunger! So beware you, who are the offshoot of a +bond-servant, lest you snap your happiness! After enjoying so many good +things for a decade, by the help of what spirits, and the agency of +what devils have you, I wonder, managed to so successfully entreat your +master as to induce him to bring you to the fore again and select you +for office? Magistrates may be minor officials, but their functions are +none the less onerous. In whatever district they obtain a post, they +become the father and mother of that particular locality. If you +therefore don't mind your business, and look after your duties in such +a way as to acquit yourself of your loyal obligations, to prove your +gratitude to the state and to show obedience and reverence to your +lord, heaven, I fear, will not even bear with you!'" + +Li Wan and lady Feng laughed. "You're too full of misgivings!" they +observed. "From what we can see of him, he's all right! Some years +back, he paid us a visit or two; but it's many years now that he hasn't +put his foot here. At the close of each year, and on birthdays, we've +simply seen his name brought in, that's all. 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. +Now that he has got this post, you should be quite happy; instead of +that you worry and fret about this and that! If he does get bad, why, +he has his father and mother yet to take care of him, so all you need +do is to be cheerful and content! 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? +Why, were you go to your home, you'd also have there houses and halls, +and who is there who would not hold you in high respect? You're +certainly, what one would call, a venerable old dame!" + +P'ing Erh poured a cup of tea and brought it to her. Nurse Lai speedily +stood up. "You could have asked any girl to do this for me; it wouldn't +have mattered! But here I'm troubling you again!" + +Apologising, she resumed, sipping her tea the while: "My lady you're +not aware that young girls of this age must be in everything kept +strictly in hand. In the event of any license, they're sure to find +time to kick up trouble, and annoy their elders. Those, who know (how +well they are supervised), will then say that children are always up to +mischief. But those, who don't, will maintain that they take advantage +of their wealthy position to despise people; to the detriment as well +of their mistresses' reputation. How I regret that there's nothing that +I can do with him. Time after time, have I had to send for his father; +and he has been the better, after a scolding from him." Pointing at +Pao-yü, "I don't mind whether you feel angry with me for what I'm going +to say," she proceeded, "but if your father were to attempt now to +exercise ever so little control over you, your venerable grandmother is +sure to try and screen you. Yet, when in days gone by your worthy +father was young, he used to be beaten by your grandfather. Who hasn't +seen him do it? But did your father, in his youth resemble you, who +have neither fear for God or man? There was also our senior master, on +the other side, Mr. Chia She. He was, I admit, wild; but never such a +crossgrained fellow as yourself; and yet he too had his daily dose of +the whip. There was besides the father of your elder cousin Chen, of +the eastern mansion. He had a disposition that flared up like a fire +over which oil is poured. If anything was said, and he flew into a +rage, why, talk about a son, it was really as if he tortured a robber. +From all I can now see and hear, Mr. Chen keeps his son in check just +as much as was the custom in old days among his ancestors; the only +thing is that he abides by it in some respects, but not in others. +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? If you've got any sense about you, you'll only be too glad that I +speak to you in this wise; but if you haven't, you mayn't be very well +able to say anything openly to me, but you'll inwardly abuse me, who +knows to what extent!" + +As she reproved him, they saw Lai Ta's wife arrive. In close succession +came Chou Jui's wife along with Chang Ts'ai's wife to report various +matters. + +"A wife," laughed lady Feng, "has come to fetch her mother-in-law!" + +"I haven't come to fetch our old dame," Lai Ta's wife smilingly +rejoined, "but to inquire whether you, my lady and the young ladies, +will confer upon us the honour of your company?" + +When nurse Lai caught this remark, she smiled. "I've really grown quite +idiotic!" "What," she exclaimed, "was right and proper for me to say, I +didn't say, but I went on talking instead a lot of rot and rubbish! As +our relatives and friends are presenting their congratulations to our +grandson for having been selected to fill up that office of his, we +find ourselves under the necessity of giving a banquet at home. But I +was thinking that it wouldn't do, if we kept a feast going the whole +day, and we invited this one, and not that one. Reflecting also that it +was thanks to our master's vast bounty that we've come in for this +unforeseen glory and splendour, I felt quite agreeable to do anything, +even though it may entail the collapse of our household. I therefore +advised his father to give banquets on three consecutive days. That he +should, on the first, put up several tables, and a stage in our mean +garden, and invite your venerable dowager lady, the senior ladies, +junior ladies, and young ladies to come and have some distraction +during the day, and that he should have several tables laid on the +stage in the main pavilion outside, and request the senior and junior +gentlemen to confer upon us the lustre of their presence. That for the +second day, we should ask our relatives and friends; and that for the +third, we should invite our companions from the two mansions. 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." + +"When is it to be?" Li Wan and lady Feng inquired, smilingly. "As far +as we are concerned, we'll feel it our duty to come. And we hope that +our worthy senior may feel in the humour to go. But there's no saying +for certain!" + +"The day chosen is the fourteenth," Lai Ta's wife eagerly replied. +"Just come for the sake of our old mother-in-law!" + +"I can't tell about the others," lady Feng explained with a laugh, "but +as for me I shall positively come. I must however tell you beforehand +that I've no congratulatory presents to give you. Nor do I know +anything about tips to players or others. As soon as I shall have done +eating, I shall bolt, so don't laugh at me." + +"Fiddlesticks!" Lai Ta's wife laughed. "Were your ladyship disposed, +you could well afford to give us twenty and thirty thousand taels." + +"I'm off now to invite our venerable mistress," nurse Lai smilingly +remarked. "And if her ladyship also agrees to come, I shall deem it a +greater honour than ever conferred upon me." + +Having said this, she went on to issue some injunctions; after which, +she got up to go, when the sight of Chou Jui's wife reminded her of +something. + +"Of course!" she consequently observed. "I've got one more question to +ask you, my lady. What did sister-in-law Chou's son do to incur blame, +that he was packed off, and his services dispensed with?" + +"I was just about to tell your daughter-in-law," lady Feng answered +smilingly, after listening to her question, "but with so many things to +preoccupy me, it slipped from my memory! When you get home, +sister-in-law Lai, explain to that old husband of yours that we won't +have his, (Chou Jui's), son kept in either of the mansions; and that he +can tell him to go about his own business!" + +Lai Ta's wife had no option but to express her acquiescence. Chou Jui's +wife however speedily fell on her knees and gave way to urgent +entreaties. + +"What is it all about?" nurse Lai shouted. "Tell me and let me +determine the right and wrong of the question." + +"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. Even the presents he wouldn't carry inside. And it was only +after the two girls had come indoors that he eventually got the +servant-lads and brought them in. Those lads were however careful +enough in what they did, but as for him, he let the box, he held, slip +from his hands, and bestrewed the whole courtyard with cakes. When +every one had left, I deputed Ts'ai Ming to go and talk to him; but he +then turned round and gave Ts'ai Ming a regular scolding. So what's the +use of not bundling off a disorderly rascal like him, who neither shows +any regard for discipline or heaven?" + +"I was wondering what it could be!" nurse Lai ventured. "Was it really +about this? My lady, listen to me! If he has done anything wrong, +thrash him and scold him, until you make him mend his ways, and finish +with it! But to drive him out of the place, will never, by any manner +of means, do. He isn't, besides, to be treated like a child born in our +household. He is at present employed as Madame Wang's attendant, so if +you carry out your purpose of expelling him, her ladyship's face will +be put to the blush. My idea is that you should, my lady, give him a +lesson by letting him have several whacks with a cane so as to induce +him to abstain from wine in the future. If you then retain him in your +service as hitherto he'll be all right! If you don't do it for his +mother's sake; do it at least for that of Madame Wang!" + +After lending an ear to her arguments, lady Feng addressed herself to +Lai Ta's wife. "Well, in that case," she said, "call him over to-morrow +and give him forty blows; and don't let him after this touch any more +wine!" + +Lai Ta's wife promised to execute her directions. Chou Jui's wife then +kotowed and rose to her feet. But she also persisted upon prostrating +herself before nurse Lai; and only desisted when Lai Ta's wife pulled +her up. But presently the trio took their departure, and Li Wan and her +companions sped back into the garden. + +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. +Pao-ch'ai and her friends then selected such as they deemed suitable. +But as they only had as yet half the necessaries they required, they +drew out a list of the other half and sent it to lady Feng, who, +needless for us to particularise, had the different articles purchased, +according to the specimens supplied. + +By a certain day, the silk had been sized outside, a rough sketch +drawn, and both returned into the garden. Pao-yü therefore was day +after day to be found over at Hsi Ch'un's, doing his best to help her +in her hard work. But T'an Ch'un, Li Wan, Ying Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai and the +other girls likewise congregated in her quarters, and sat with her when +they were at leisure, as they could, in the first place, watch the +progress of the painting, and as secondly they were able to +conveniently see something of each other. + +When Pao-ch'ai perceived how cool and pleasant the weather was getting, +and how the nights were beginning again to gradually draw out, she came +and found her mother, and consulted with her, until they got some +needlework ready. Of a day, she would cross over to the quarters of +dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, and twice pay her salutations, but, +she could not help as well amusing them and sitting with them to keep +them company. When free, she would come and see her cousins in the +garden, and have, at odd times, a chat with them, so having, during +daylight no leisure to speak of, she was wont, of a night, to ply her +needle by lamplight, and only retire to sleep after the third watch had +come and gone. + +As for Tai-yü, she had, as a matter of course, a relapse of her +complaint regularly every year, soon after the spring equinox and +autumn solstice. But she had, during the last autumn, also found her +grandmother Chia in such buoyant spirits, that she had walked a little +too much on two distinct occasions, and naturally fatigued herself more +than was good for her. Recently, too, she had begun to cough and to +feel heavier than she had done at ordinary times, so she never by any +chance put her foot out of doors, but remained at home and looked after +her health. When at times, dullness crept over her, she longed for her +cousins to come and chat with her and dispel her despondent feelings. +But whenever Pao-ch'ai or any of her cousins paid her a visit, she +barely uttered half a dozen words before she felt quite averse to any +society. Yet one and all made every allowance for her illness. And as +she had ever been in poor health and not strong enough to resist any +annoyance, they did not find the least fault with her, despite even any +lack of propriety she showed in playing the hostess with them, or any +remissness on her part in observing the prescribed rules of etiquette. + +Pao-ch'ai came, on this occasion to call on her. The conversation +started on the symptoms of her ailment. "The various doctors, who visit +this place," Pao-ch'ai consequently remarked, "may, it's true, be all +very able practitioners; but you take their medicines and don't reap +the least benefit! Wouldn't it be as well therefore to ask some other +person of note to come and see you? And could he succeed in getting you +all right, wouldn't it be nice? Here you year by year ail away +throughout the whole length of spring and summer; but you're neither so +old nor so young, so what will be the end of it? Besides, it can't go +on for ever." + +"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!" + +Pao-ch'ai shook her head. "Quite so!" she ventured. "An old writer +says: 'Those who eat, live.' But what you've all along eaten hasn't +been enough to strengthen your energies and physique. This isn't a good +thing!" + +Tai-yü heaved a sigh. "Whether I'm to live or die is all destiny!" she +said. "Riches and honours are in the hands of heaven; and human +strength cannot suffice to forcibly get even them! But my complaint +this year seems to be far worse than in past years, instead of any +better." + +While deploring her lot, she coughed two or three times. "It struck +me," Pao-ch'ai said, "that in that prescription of yours I saw +yesterday there was far too much ginseng and cinnamon. They are +splendid tonics, of course, but too many heating things are not good. I +think that the first urgent thing to do is to ease the liver and give +tone to the stomach. When once the fire in the liver is reduced, it +will not be able to overcome the stomach; and, when once the digestive +organs are free of ailment, drink and food will be able to give +nutriment to the human frame. As soon as you get out of bed, every +morning, take one ounce of birds' nests, of superior quality, and five +mace of sugar candy and prepare congee with them in a silver kettle. +When once you get into the way of taking this decoction, you'll find it +far more efficacious than medicines; for it possesses the highest +virtue for invigorating the vagina and bracing up the physique." + +"You've certainly always treated people with extreme consideration," +sighed Tai-yü, "but such a supremely suspicious person am I that I +imagined that you inwardly concealed some evil design! Yet ever since +the day on which you represented to me how unwholesome it was to read +obscene books, and you gave me all that good advice, I've felt most +grateful to you! I've hitherto, in fact, been mistaken in my opinion; +and the truth of the matter is that I remained under this misconception +up to the very present. But you must carefully consider that when my +mother died, I hadn't even any sisters or brothers; and that up to this +my fifteenth year there has never been a single person to admonish me +as you did the other day. Little wonder is it if that girl Yün speaks +well of you! Whenever, in former days, I heard her heap praise upon +you, I felt uneasy in my mind, but, after my experiences of yesterday, +I see how right she was. When you, for instance, began to tell me all +those things, I didn't forgive you at the time, but, without worrying +yourself in the least about it you went on, contrariwise, to tender me +the advice you did. This makes it evident that I have laboured under a +mistaken idea! Had I not made this discovery the other day, I wouldn't +be speaking like this to your very face to-day. You told me a few +minutes back to take bird's nest congee; but birds' nests are, I admit, +easily procured; yet all on account of my sickly constitution and of +the relapses I have every year of this complaint of mine, which amounts +to nothing, doctors have had to be sent for, medicines, with ginseng +and cinnamon, have had to be concocted, and I've given already such +trouble as to turn heaven and earth topsy-turvey; so were I now to +start again a new fad, by having some birds' nests congee or other +prepared, our worthy senior, Madame Wang, and lady Feng, will, all +three of them, have no objection to raise; but that posse of matrons +and maids below will unavoidably despise me for my excessive fussiness! +Just notice how every one in here ogles wildly like tigers their prey; +and stealthily says one thing and another, simply because they see how +fond our worthy ancestor is of both Pao-yü and lady Feng, and how much +more won't they do these things with me? What's more, I'm not a pucker +mistress. I've really come here as a mere refugee, for I had no one to +sustain me and no one to depend upon. They already bear me considerable +dislike; so much so, that I'm still quite at a loss whether I should +stay or go; and why should I make them heap execrations upon me?" + +"Well, in that case," Pao-ch'ai observed, "I'm too in the same plight +as yourself!" + +"How can you compare yourself with me?" Tai-yü exclaimed. "You have a +mother; and a brother as well! 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. Neither are you in anything whether large or small, in their debt +for one single cash or even half a one; and when you want to go, you're +at liberty to go. But I, have nothing whatever that I can call my own. +Yet, in what I eat, wear, and use, I am, in every trifle, entirely on +the same footing as the young ladies in their household, so how ever +can that mean lot not despise me out and out?" + +"The only extra expense they'll have to go to by and bye," Pao-ch'ai +laughed, "will be to get one more trousseau, that's all. And for the +present, it's too soon yet to worry yourself about that!" + +At this insinuation, Tai-yü unconsciously blushed scarlet. "One treats +you," she smiled, "as a decent sort of person, and confides in you the +woes of one's heart, and, instead of sympathising with me, you make me +the means of raising a laugh!" + +"Albeit I raise a laugh at your expense," Pao-ch'ai rejoined, a smile +curling her lips, "what I say is none the less true! But compose your +mind! I'll try every day that I'm here to cheer you up; so come to me +with every grievance or trouble, for I shall, needless to say, dispel +those that are within my power. Notwithstanding that I have a brother, +you yourself know well enough what he's like! All I have is a mother, +so I'm just a trifle better off than you! We can therefore well look +upon ourselves as being in the same boat, and sympathise with each +other. You have, besides, plenty of wits about you, so why need you +give way to groans, as did Ssu Ma-niu? What you said just now is quite +right; but, you should worry and fret about as little and not as much +as you can. On my return home, to-morrow, I'll tell my mother; and, as +I think there must be still some birds' nests in our house, we'll send +you several ounces of them. You can then tell the servant-maids to +prepare some for you at whatever time you want every day; and you'll +thus be suiting your own convenience and be giving no trouble or +annoyance to any one." + +"The things are, of themselves, of little account," eagerly responded +Tai-yü laughingly. "What's difficult to find is one with as much +feeling as yourself." + +"What's there in this worth speaking about?" Pao-ch'ai said. "What +grieves me is that I fail to be as nice as I should be with those I +come across. 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." + +While assuring her that she would come, Pao-ch'ai walked out, so let us +leave her alone for the present. + +Tai-yü, meanwhile, drank a few sips of thin congee, and then once more +lay herself down on her bed. But before the sun set, the weather +unexpectedly changed, and a fine drizzling rain set in. So gently come +the autumn showers that dull and fine are subject to uncertain +alternations. The shades of twilight gradually fell on this occasion. +The heavens too got so overcast as to look deep black. Besides the +effect of this change on her mind, the patter of the rain on the bamboo +tops intensified her despondency, and, concluding that Pao-ch'ai would +be deterred from coming, she took up, in the lamp light, the first book +within her reach, which turned out to be the 'Treasury of Miscellaneous +Lyrics.' Finding among these 'the Pinings of a maiden in autumn,' 'the +Anguish of Separation,' and other similar poems, Tai-yü felt unawares +much affected; and, unable to restrain herself from giving vent to her +feelings in writing, she, there and then, improvised the following +stanza, in the same strain as the one on separation; complying with the +rules observed in the 'Spring River-Flower' and 'Moonlight Night.' +These verses, she then entitled 'the Poem on the Autumn evening, when +wind and rain raged outside the window.' Their burden was: + + In autumn, flowers decay; herbage, when autumn comes, doth yellow + turn. + On long autumnal nights, the autumn lanterns with bright radiance + burn. + As from my window autumn scenes I scan, autumn endless doth seem. + This mood how can I bear, when wind and rain despondency enhance? + How sudden break forth wind and rain, and help to make the + autumntide! + Fright snaps my autumn dreams, those dreams which under my lattice I + dreamt. + A sad autumnal gloom enclasps my heart, and drives all sleep away! + In person I approach the autumn screen to snuff the weeping wick. + The tearful candles with a flickering flame consume on their short + stands. + They stir up grief, dazzle my eyes, and a sense of parting arouse. + In what family's courts do not the blasts of autumn winds intrude? + And where in autumn does not rain patter against the window-frames? + The silken quilt cannot ward off the nipping force of autumn winds. + The drip of the half drained water-clock impels the autumn rains. + 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. + With quick drip drops the rain on the distant bamboos and vacant + sills. + What time, I wonder, will the wind and rain their howl and patter + cease? + The tears already I have shed have soakèd through the window gauze. + +After scanning her verses, she flung the pen aside, and was just on the +point of retiring to rest, when a waiting-maid announced that 'master +Secundus, Mr. Pao-yü, had come.' Barely was the announcement out of her +lips, than Pao-yü appeared on the scene with a large bamboo hat on his +head, and a wrapper thrown over his shoulders. Of a sudden, a smile +betrayed itself on Tai-yü's lips. "Where does this fisherman come +from?" she exclaimed. + +"Are you better to-day?" Pao-yü inquired with alacrity. "Have you had +any medicines? How much rice have you had to eat to-day?" + +While plying her with questions, he took off the hat and divested +himself of the wrapper; and, promptly raising the lamp with one hand, +he screened it with the other and threw its rays upon Tai-yü's face. +Then straining his eyes, he scrutinised her for a while. "You look +better to-day," he smiled. + +As soon as he threw off his wrapper, Tai-yü noticed that he was clad in +a short red silk jacket, the worse for wear; that he was girded with a +green sash, and that, about his knees, his nether garments were +visible, made of green thin silk, brocaded with flowers. Below these, +he wore embroidered gauze socks, worked all over with twisted gold +thread, and a pair of shoes ornamented with butterflies and clusters of +fallen flowers. + +"Above, you fight shy of the rain," Tai-yü remarked, "but aren't these +shoes and socks below afraid of rain? Yet they're quite clean!" + +"This suit is complete!" Pao-yü smiled. "I've got a pair of crab-wood +clogs, I put on to come over; but I took them off under the eaves of +the verandah." + +Tai-yü's attention was then attracted by the extreme fineness and +lightness of the texture of his wrapper and hat, which were unlike +those sold in the market places. "With what grass are they plaited?" +she consequently asked. "It would be strange if you didn't, with this +sort of things on, look like a very hedgehog!" + +"These three articles are a gift from the Prince of Pei Ching," Pao-yü +answered. "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. +There's nothing peculiar about the other things, but this hat is funny! +The crown at the top is movable; so if you want to wear a hat, during +snowy weather in wintertime, you pull off the bamboo pegs, and remove +the crown, and there you only have the circular brim. This is worn, +when it snows, by men and women alike. I'll give you one therefore to +wear in the wintry snowy months." + +"I don't want it!" laughed Tai-yü. "Were I to wear this sort of thing, +I'd look like one of those fisherwomen, one sees depicted in pictures +or represented on the stage!" + +Upon reaching this point, she remembered that there was some connection +between her present remarks and the comparison she had some time back +made with regard to Pao-yü, and, before she had time to indulge in +regrets, a sense of shame so intense overpowered her that the colour +rushed to her face, and, leaning her head on the table, she coughed and +coughed till she could not stop. Pao-yü, however, did not detect her +embarrassment; but catching sight of some verses lying on the table, he +eagerly snatched them up and conned them from beginning to end. +"Splendid!" he could not help crying. But the moment Tai-yü heard his +exclamation, she speedily jumped to her feet, and clutched the verses +and burnt them over the lamp. + +"I've already committed them sufficiently to memory!" Pao-yü laughed. + +"I want to have a little rest," Tai-yü said, "so please get away; come +back again to-morrow." + +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. +The hand pointed between eight and nine p.m.; so hastily putting it +away, "You should certainly retire to rest!" he replied. "My visit has +upset you. I've quite tired you out this long while." 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. "Is +there anything you fancy to eat?" 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. Won't I explain things clearer than any of the old matrons could?" + +"Let me," rejoined Tai-yü smiling, "think in the night. I'll let you +know early to-morrow. But harken, it's raining harder than it did; so +be off at once! Have you got any attendants, or no?" + +"Yes!" interposed the two matrons. "There are servants to wait on him. +They're outside holding his umbrella and lighting the lanterns." + +"Are they lighting lanterns with this weather?" laughed Tai-yü. + +"It won't hurt them!" Pao-yü answered. "They're made of sheep's horn, +so they don't mind the rain." + +Hearing this, Tai-yü put back her hand, and, taking down an ornamented +glass lantern in the shape of a ball from the book case, she asked the +servants to light a small candle and bring it to her; after which, she +handed the lantern to Pao-yü. "This," she said, "gives out more light +than the others; and is just the thing for rainy weather." + +"I've also got one like it." Pao-yü replied. "But fearing lest they +might slip, fall down and break it, I did not have it lighted and +brought round." + +"What's of more account," Tai-yü inquired, "harm to a lantern or to a +human being? You're not besides accustomed to wearing clogs, so tell +them to walk ahead with those lanterns. This one is as light and handy +as it is light-giving; and is really adapted for rainy weather, so +wouldn't it be well if you carried it yourself? You can send it over to +me to-morrow! But, were it even to slip from your hand, it wouldn't +matter much. How is it that you've also suddenly developed this +money-grabbing sort of temperament? It's as bad as if you ripped your +intestines to secrete pearls in." + +After these words, Pao-yü approached her and took the lantern from her. +Ahead then advanced two matrons, with umbrellas and sheep horn +lanterns, and behind followed a couple of waiting-maids also with +umbrellas. Pao-yü handed the glass lantern to a young maid to carry, +and, supporting himself on her shoulder, he straightway wended his +steps on his way back. + +But presently arrived an old servant from the Heng Wu court, provided +as well with an umbrella and a lantern, to bring over a large bundle of +birds' nests, and a packet of foreign sugar, pure as powder, and white +as petals of plum-blossom and flakes of snow. "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!" Tai-yü returned for answer; +and then asked her to go and sit outside and have a cup of tea. + +"I won't have any tea," the old servant smiled. "I've got something +else to attend to." + +"I'm well aware that you've all got plenty in hand," Tai-yü resumed +with a smiling countenance. "But the weather being cool now and the +nights long, it's more expedient than ever to establish two things: a +night club and a gambling place." + +"I won't disguise the fact from you, miss," the old servant laughingly +observed, "that I've managed this year to win plenty of money. Several +servants have, under any circumstances, to do night duty; and, as any +neglect in keeping watch wouldn't be the right thing, isn't it as well +to have a night club, as one can sit on the look-out and dispel +dullness as well? But it's again my turn to play the croupier to-day, +so I must be getting along to the place, as the garden gate, will, by +this time, be nearly closing!" + +This rejoinder evoked a laugh from Tai-yü. "I've given you all this +bother," she remarked, "and made you lose your chances of getting +money, just to bring these things in the rain." And calling a servant +she bade her present her with several hundreds of cash to buy some wine +with, to drive the damp away. + +"I've uselessly put you again, miss, to the expense of giving me a tip +for wine," the old servant smiled. But saying this she knocked her +forehead before her; and issuing outside, she received the money, after +which, she opened her umbrella, and trudged back. + +Tzu Chüan meanwhile put the birds' nests away; and removing afterwards +the lamps, she lowered the portières and waited upon Tai-yü until she +lay herself down to sleep. + +While she reclined all alone on her pillow, Tai-yü thought gratefully +of Pao-ch'ai. At one moment, she envied her for having a mother and a +brother; and at another, she mused that with the friendliness Pao-yü +had ever shown her they were bound to be the victims of suspicion. But +the pitter-patter of the rain, dripping on the bamboo tops and banana +leaves, fell on her ear; and, as a fresh coolness penetrated the +curtain, tears once more unconsciously trickled down her cheeks. In +this frame of mind, she continued straight up to the fourth watch, when +she at last gradually dropped into a sound sleep. + +For the time, however, there is nothing that we can add. So should you, +reader, desire to know any subsequent details, peruse what is written +in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + + An improper man with difficulty keeps from improprieties. + The maid, Yüan Yang, vows to break off the marriage match. + +Lin Tai-yü, to resume our story, dropped off gradually to sleep about +the close of the fourth watch. As there is therefore nothing more that +we can for the present say about her, let us take up the thread of our +narrative with lady Feng. + +Upon hearing that Madame Hsing wanted to see her, she could not make +out what it could be about, so hurriedly putting on some extra things +on her person and head, she got into a carriage and crossed over. + +Madame Hsing at once dismissed every attendant from her suite of +apartments. "I sent for you," she began, addressing herself to lady +Feng, in a confidential tone, "not for anything else, but on account of +something which places me on the horns of a dilemma. My husband has +entrusted me with a job; and being quite at my wits' ends how to act, +I'd like first to consult with you. My husband has taken quite a fancy +to Yüan Yang, who is in our worthy senior's rooms; so much so, that +he's desirous to get her into his quarters as a secondary wife. He has +deputed me therefore to ask her of our venerable ancestor. I know that +this is quite an ordinary matter. Yet I can't help fearing that our +worthy senior may refuse to give her. But do you perchance see your way +to bring this concern about?" + +Lady Feng listened to her. "You shouldn't, I say, go and bang your head +against a nail!" she then vehemently exclaimed. "Were our old ancestor +separated from Yüan Yang, she wouldn't even touch her rice! How ever +could she reconcile herself to part from her? Besides, our worthy +senior has time and again said, in the course of a chat, 'that she +can't see the earthly use of a man well up in years, as your lord and +master is, having here one concubine, and there another? That cooping +them up in his rooms, is a mere waste of human beings. That he neglects +his constitution and doesn't husband it; and that he doesn't either +attend diligently to his official duties, but spends his whole days in +boozing with his young concubines. When your ladyship hears these nice +doings of his, don't you feel enamoured with that fine gentleman of +ours? Were he even to try, at this juncture, to beat a retreat, he +couldn't, I fear, effectively do so. Yet, instead of (making an effort +to turn tail), he wants to go and dig the tiger's nostrils with a blade +of straw. Don't, my lady, be angry with me; but I daren't undertake the +errand. It's clear as day that it will be a wild goose chase. What's +more, it will do him no good; but will, contrariwise, heap disgrace +upon his own head! Our Mr. Chia She is now so stricken in years, that +in all his actions he unavoidably behaves somewhat as a dotard. It +would be well therefore for your ladyship to advise him what to do. It +isn't as if he were in the prime of life to be able to do all these +things with impunity! He's got at present a whole array of brothers, +nieces, sons, and grandsons; and should he still go on in this wild +sort of way, how will he be able to face any of them?" + +Madame Hsing gave a sardonic smile. "There are endless wealthy families +with three and four concubines," she said, "and is it in ours that such +a thing won't do? But were I even to tender him as much advice as I +can, it isn't at all likely that he'll abide by it! Even though that +maid be one beloved by our venerable senior, it doesn't follow that +she'll very well be able to give a rebuff to a hoary-bearded elderly +son, and, erewhile, an official, were he to express a wish to have her +as an inmate of his household! I sent for you for no other purpose than +to deliberate with you, and here you take the initiative and enumerate +a whole array of shortcomings. But is there any reason why I should +commission you to go? Of course I'll go and speak to her! You make a +bold statement that I don't give him any good counsel; but don't you +yet know that with a disposition, such as his, he rushes, before I can +very well open my lips to advise him, into a tantrum with me?" + +Lady Feng was well alive to the fact that Madame Hsing was, by nature, +simple and weak-minded, and that all she knew was to adulate Chia She +so as to ensure her own safety. That she was, in the next place, ever +ready, so greedy was she, to grasp as much hard cash and as many +effects, as she could lay hold of, for her own private gain. That she +left all family matters, irrespective of important or unimportant, +under the sole control of Chia She; but that, whenever anything turned +up, involving any receipts or payments, she extorted an unusual +percentage, the moment the money passed through her clutches, giving +out as a pretence: 'Well Chia She is so extravagant that I have to +interfere and effect sufficient economies to enable us to make up our +deficits.' And that she would not trust any one, whether son, daughter +or servant, nor lend an ear to a single word of remonstrance. When she +therefore now heard Madame Hsing speak as she did, she concluded that +she must be in another of her perverse moods, and that any admonitions +would be of no avail. So hastily forcing a smile: "My lady," she +observed, "you're perfectly right in your remarks! But how long can I +have lived, and what discrimination can I boast of? It seems to me that +if a father and mother do not bestow, not a mere servant-girl like she +is, but a living jewel of the size of her, on one like Mr. Chia She, to +whom are they likely to give her? How can one give faith to words +spoken behind one's back? So what a fool I was (in cramming what I +heard down my throat)! Just take our Mr. Secundus, (my husband), as an +instance. If ever he does anything to incur blame, Mr. Chia She and +you, my lady, feel so wrath with him as to only wish you could lay +hands upon him there and then and give him such a blow as would kill +him downright, but the moment you set eyes on his face, your whole +resentment vanishes, and lo, you again let him have, as of old, +everything, and anything, much though both of you might relish it in +your hearts! Our worthy ancestor will certainly therefore behave in the +present instance, with equal liberality, towards Mr. Chia She! So if +her ladyship feels in the humour to-day, she'll let him have her, I +fancy, at once this very day, if he makes the proper advances. But I'll +go ahead and coax our venerable senior; and, when your ladyship comes +over, I'll find some pretence to get out of the way, and take along +with me those too who may be present in her rooms, so as to make it +convenient for you to broach the subject. If she gives her, so much the +better. But if even she doesn't, it won't matter; for none of the +inmates will have any idea what the object of your mission could have +been." + +After listening to her suggestion, Madame Hsing began again to feel in +a happier frame of mind. "My idea is," she observed, "that I shouldn't +start by mentioning anything to our venerable senior, for were she to +say that she wouldn't give her, the matter would be simply quashed on +the head. I can't help thinking that I should first and foremost +quietly approach Yüan Yang on the subject. She will, of course, feel +extremely ashamed, but when I explain everything minutely to her, +she'll certainly have nothing to say against the proposal, and +everything will be all right. I can then speak to our old senior; and, +despite any desire on her part not to accede to our wishes, she won't +be able to put the girl off, provided she herself be willing; for as +the adage says: 'If a person wishes to go, it's no use trying to keep +him.' Thus needless to say, the whole thing will be satisfactorily +settled!" + +"You're really shrewd in your devices, my lady!" lady Feng smilingly +ejaculated. "This is perfect in every respect! For without taking Yüan +Yang into account, what girl does not long to rise high, or hope to +exalt herself, or think of pushing herself forward above the rest as to +cast away the chances of becoming half a mistress, and prefer instead +being a maid, and merely becoming by and bye the mate of some +servant-lad?" + +"Quite so!" Madame Hsing smiled. "But let's put Yüan Yang aside. Who is +there, even among the various elderly waiting-maids, who look after the +house, who wouldn't be only too willing to step into these shoes? You'd +better then go ahead. But, mind, don't let the cat out of the bag! I'll +join you as soon as I can finish my evening meal." + +"Yüan Yang," thereupon secretly reflected lady Feng, "has always been +an extremely shrewd-minded girl; to such a degree, that there is +notwithstanding all our arguments, no saying positively whether she'll +accept or refuse. So were I to go ahead, and Madame Hsing to follow me +by and bye, there won't be any occasion for her to grumble or complain, +so long as she assents; but, if she doesn't, why, Madame Hsing, who is +so suspicious a creature, will possibly imagine that I've been gassing +with her, and been the means of making her put on side and assume high +airs. When Madame Hsing finds then that my conjectures have turned out +true again, her shame will be converted into anger, and she'll so vent +her spite upon me that I shall, after all, be put in a false position. +Would it not be better then that she and I should go together; for, if +she says 'yes,' I'll be all right; and, if she replies 'no,' I'll be on +the safe side; and no suspicion, of any kind, will fall upon me!" + +At the close of her reflections, "As I was about to cross over here," +she remarked laughingly, "our aunt yonder sent us two baskets of +quails, and I gave orders that they should be fried, with the idea that +they should be brought to your ladyship, in time for you to have some +at your evening repast. Just as I was stepping inside the main +entrance, I saw the servant-boys carrying your curricle; they said that +it was your ladyship's vehicle, that it had cracked, and that they were +taking it to be repaired. Wouldn't it be as well then that you should +now come in my carriage, for it will be better for you and me to get +there together?" + +At this suggestion, Madame Hsing directed her servants to come and +change her costume. Lady Feng quickly waited upon her, and in a while +the two ladies got into one and the same curricle and drove over. + +"My lady," lady Feng went on to say, "it would be well for you to look +up our worthy senior, for were I to accompany you, and her ladyship to +ask me what was the object of my visit, it would be rather awkward. The +best way is for your ladyship to go first, and I'll join you, as soon +as I divest myself of my fine clothes." + +Madame Hsing noticed how reasonable her proposal was, and she readily +betook herself to old lady Chia's quarters. 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. Here she saw Yüan Yang +sitting, hard at work at some needlework. The moment she caught sight +of Madame Hsing, she rose to her feet. + +"What are you up to?" Madame Hsing laughingly inquired. "Let me see! +How much nicer you embroider artificial flowers now!" + +So speaking, she entered, and, taking the needlework from her hands, +she scrutinised it, while extolling its beauty. Then laying down the +work, and scanning her again from head to foot, she observed that her +costume consisted of a half-new, grey thin silk jacket, and a bluish +satin waistcoat with scollops; that below this came a water-green jupe; +that her waist was slim as that of a wasp; that her shoulders sloped as +if pared; that her face resembled a duck's egg; that her hair was black +and shiny; that her nose was very high, and that on both her cheeks +were slightly visible several small flat moles. + +Yüan Yang realised how intently she was being passed under scrutiny, +and began to feel inwardly uneasy; while utter astonishment prevailed +in her mind. "Madame," she felt impelled to ask, "what do you come for +at this impossible hour?" + +At a wink from Madame Hsing, her attendants withdrew from the room. +Madame Hsing forthwith seated herself, and grasped Yüan Yang's hand in +hers. "I've come," she smiled, "with the special purpose of presenting +you my congratulations." + +This reply enabled Yüan Yang at once to form within herself some +surmise more or less correct of the object of her errand, and suddenly +blushing crimson, she lowered her head, and uttered not a word. + +"You know well enough," she next heard Madame Hsing resume, "that +there's not a single reliable person with my husband; but much though +we'd like to purchase some other girl we fear that such as might come +out of a broker's household wouldn't be quite spotless and taintless. +Nor would one be able to get any idea what her failings are, until +after she has been purchased and brought home; when she too will be +sure, in two or three days, to behave like an imp and play some monkey +tricks! 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. +Hence it is that after repeatedly choosing with dispassionate eye, +during half a year, (he finds) that there's only you among that whole +bevy of girls, who's worth anything; that in looks, behaviour and +deportment, you're gentle, trustworthy, and perfection itself in every +respect. His intention therefore is to ask your hand of our old lady +and take you over and attach you to his quarters. You won't be treated +as one newly-purchased, or newly-sought for outside; for the moment you +put your foot into our house, you'll at once have your face shaved and +be promoted to a secondary wife; so you'll thus attain as much dignity +as honour. More, you're one who is anxious to excel; and, as the +proverb says, 'gold will still be exchanged for gold.' My husband has, +who'd have thought it, taken a fancy to you, so when you now enter our +threshold, you'll fulfil the wish you've cherished all along with such +high purpose and lofty aim, and stop the mouths of those persons, who +are envious of your lot. Follow me therefore and let's go and lay the +matter before our venerable ancestor." + +Arguing the while, she dragged her by the hand with the idea of +hurrying her off there and then. Yüan Yang, however, blushed to her +very ears, and, snatching her hand out of her grip she refused to +budge. + +Madame Hsing was conscious that she was under the spell of intense +shame. "What's there in this to be ashamed?" she continued, "You +needn't besides breathe a word! All you have to do is to follow me, +that's all." + +Yüan Yang continued to droop her head and to decline to go with her. +Madame Hsing, perceiving her behaviour, went on to exhort her. "Is it +likely, pray," she said, "that you still hesitate? If you actually +don't feel inclined to accept the offer, you're, in real truth, a +foolish girl; for here you let go the chances of becoming the secondary +consort of a master, and choose instead to continue a servant-girl. +You'll be united, in two or three years, to no one higher than some +young domestic, and remain as much a bond-servant as ever! If you come +along with us, you know that my disposition too is gentle; that I'm not +one of those persons, who don't show any regard for any one; that my +husband will also treat you as well as he does every one else, and that +when, in the course of a year or so, you give birth to a son or +daughter, you'll be placed on the same footing as myself. And of all +the servants at home, will any you may wish to employ not deign to move +to execute your orders? If now that you have a chance of becoming a +mistress, you don't choose to, why, you'll miss the opportunity, and +then you may repent it, but it will be too late!" + +Yüan Yang still kept her head bent against her chest and spake not a +syllable by way of reply. + +"How is it," added Madame Hsing, "that you, who've ever been so quick +have now too begun to be so infirm of purpose? What is there that +doesn't fall in with your wishes? Just tell me; and I can safely assure +you that you'll have everything done to satisfy you." + +Yüan Yang observed, as hitherto, perfect silence. + +"I suppose," laughed Madame Hsing, "that having a father and mother, +you yourself don't wish to speak, for fear of being put to the blush, +and that you want to wait until such time as they consult you about it, +eh? This is quite right! But you'd better let me go and make the +proposal to them and tell them to come and ascertain your wishes; and +whatever your answer then may be just entrust it to them." + +This said, she sped into lady Feng's suite of rooms. + +Lady Feng had long ago changed her attire, and availed herself of the +absence of any bystander in her apartments to confide the whole matter +to P'ing Erh. + +P'ing Erh nodded her head and smiled. "According to my views, success +is not so certain," she observed. "She and I have often secretly talked +this matter over, and the arguments I heard her propound don't make it +the least probable that she'll consent. But all we can say now is: +'We'll see!'" + +"Madame Hsing," lady Feng remarked, "is sure to come over here to +consult with me. If she has assented, well and good; but, if she +hasn't, she'll bring displeasure upon her own self, and won't she feel +out of countenance, if all of you are present? So tell the others to +fry several quails, and get anything nice, that goes well with them, +and prepare it for our repast, while you can go and stroll about in +some other spot, and return when you fancy she has gone." + +Hearing this, P'ing Erh transmitted her wishes word for word to the +matrons; after which, she sauntered leisurely all alone, into the +garden. + +When Yüan Yang saw Madame Hsing depart, she concluded that she was +bound to go into lady Feng's rooms to consult with her, and that some +one was sure to come and ask her about the proposal, so thinking it +advisable to cross over to this side of the mansion to get out of the +way, she consequently repaired in quest of Hu Po. + +"Should our old mistress," she said to her, "ask for me, just say that +I was so unwell that I couldn't even have any breakfast; that I've gone +into the garden for a stroll, but that I will be back at once." + +Hu Po undertook to tell her so, and Yüan Yang then betook herself too +into the garden. While lolling all over the place, she, contrary to her +expectations, encountered P'ing Erh. P'ing Erh looked round to see that +there was no one about. "Here comes the new secondary wife!" she +smilingly exclaimed. + +Yüan Yang caught this greeting, and promptly the colour rose to her +face. "How strange it is," she rejoined, "that you've all colluded +together to come, with one accord, and scheme against me! But wait +until I've had it out with your mistress, and then I'll set things all +right." + +When P'ing Erh observed the angry look on Yüan Yang's countenance, her +conscience was so stricken with remorse, on account of the +inconsiderate remark she had passed, that drawing her under the maple +tree, she made her sit on the same boulder as herself, and then went so +far as to recount to her, from beginning to end, all that transpired, +and everything that was said on lady Feng's return, a short while back, +from the off mansion. + +Blushes flew to Yüan Yang's cheeks. Facing P'ing Erh, she gave a +sardonic smile. "We've all ever been friends," she said, "that is: Hsi +Jen, Hu Po, Su Yün, Tzu Chüan, Ts'ai Hsia, Yü Ch'uan, She Yüeh, Ts'ui +Mo, Ts'ui Lü, who was in Miss Shih's service and is now gone, K'o Jen +and Chin Ch'uan, now deceased, Hsi Hsüeh, who left, and you and I. Ever +since our youth up, how many chats have the ten or dozen of us not had, +and what have we not been up to together? But now that we've grown up, +each of us has gone her own way! Yet, my heart is just what it was in +days gone by. Whenever there's anything for me to say or do, I don't +try to impose upon any of you; so just first treasure in your heart the +secret I'm going to tell you, and don't mention it to our lady Secunda! +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. "You +most barefaced girl!" a voice cried. "It's well you're not afraid of +your teeth falling when you utter such things!" + +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. They found no one else than Hsi +Jen, who presented herself before them, with a smiling countenance, and +asked: "What's up? 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. + +"Properly speaking, we shouldn't pass such judgments," Hsi Jen +remarked, after listening to her confidences, "but this senior master +of ours is really a most licentious libertine. So much so, that +whenever he comes across a girl with any good looks about her, he won't +let her out of his grasp." + +"Since you don't like to entertain his offer," P'ing Erh suggested, +"I'll put you up to a plan." + +"What plan is it?" Yüan Yang inquired. + +"Just simply tell our old mistress," P'ing Erh laughed, "this answer: +that you've already been promised to our master Secundus, Mr. Lien. Our +senior master then won't very well be able to be importunate.'" + +"Ts'ui!" ejaculated Yüan Yang. "What a thing you are! Do you still make +such suggestions? Didn't your mistress the other day utter this silly +nonsense! Who'd have thought it, her words have now come true!" + +"If you won't have either of them," Hsi Jen smiled, "my idea is that +you should tell our old lady point blank and ask her to give out that +she promised you long ago to our master, number two, Pao-yü. Our senior +master will then banish this fad from his mind." + +Yüan Yang was overcome with anger, shame and exasperation. "What +dreadful vixens both of you are!" she shouted. "You don't deserve a +natural death! I find myself in a fix, and treat you as decent sort of +persons and confide in you so that you should arrange matters for me; +and not to say that you don't bother yourselves a rap about me, you +take turn and turn about to poke fun at me! You're under the +impression, in your own minds, that your fates are sealed, and that +both of you are bound by and bye to become secondary wives; but I can't +help thinking that affairs under the heavens don't so certainly fall in +always with one's wishes and expectations! So you'd better now pull up +a bit, and not be cheeky to such an excessive degree!" + +Both her companions then realised in what state of despair she was, and +promptly forcing a smile, "Dear sister," they said, "don't be so +touchy! We've been, ever since we were little mites, like very sisters! +All we've done is to spontaneously indulge in a little fun in a spot +where there's no one present. But tell us what you've decided to do, so +that we too should know, and set our minds at ease." + +"Decided what?" Yüan Yang cried. "All I know is that I won't go; that's +finished." + +P'ing Erh shook her head. "You mightn't go," she interposed, "but it +isn't likely that the matter will drop. You're well aware what sort of +temperament that of our senior master's is. It's true that you're +attached to our old mistress' rooms, and that he can't, just at +present, presume to do the least thing to you; but can it be, forsooth, +that you'll be with the old dame for your whole lifetime? You'll also +have to leave to get married, and if you then fall into his hands, it +won't go well with you." + +Yüan Yang smiled ironically. "I won't leave this place so long as my +old lady lives!" Yüan Yang protested. "In the event of her ladyship +departing this life, he'll have, under any circumstances, to also go +into mourning for three years; for there's no such thing as starting by +marrying a concubine, soon after a mother's death! And while he waits +for three years to expire, can one say what may not happen? It will be +time enough to talk about it when that date comes. But should I be +driven to despair from being hard pressed, I'll cut my hair off and +become a nun. If not, there's yet another thing: death! And as for a +whole life time I shall not join myself to a man, what joy will not +then be mine, for having managed to preserve my purity?" + +"In very truth," P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen laughed, "this vixen has no +sense of shame! She has now more than ever spoken whatever came +foremost to her lips!" + +"What matters a moment's shame," Yüan Yang rejoined, "when things have +reached this juncture? But if you don't believe my words, well, you'll +be able to see by and bye; then you'll feel convinced. Madame Hsing +said a short while back that she was going to look up my father and +mother, but I'd like to see whether she'll proceed to Nanking to find +them." + +"Your parents are in Nanking looking after the houses," P'ing Erh said, +"and they can't come up; yet, in the long run, they can be found out. +Your elder brother and your sister-in-law are besides in here at +present. You, poor thing, are a child born in this establishment. +You're not like us two, who are solitary creatures here." + +"What does it matter whether I be born here or not?" Yüan Yang +exclaimed. "'You can lead a horse to a fountain, but you can't make him +drink!' So if I don't listen to any proposals, is it likely, may I ask, +that they'll kill my father and mother?" While the words were still on +her lips, they caught sight of her sister-in-law, advancing from the +opposite side. "As they couldn't at once get at your parents," Hsi Jen +remarked, "they've, for a certainty, told your sister-in-law." + +"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." + +But while she spoke, her sister-in-law approached them. "Where didn't I +look for you?" her sister-in-law smilingly observed. "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." + +Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh feigned perfect ignorance. "What can it be that +it's so pressing?" they said with a smile. "We were engaged in guessing +puns here, so let's find out this, before you go." + +"What do you want to tell me?" Yuan Yang inquired. "Speak out!" + +"Follow me!" her sister-in-law laughed. "When we get over there, I'll +tell you. It's really some good tidings!" + +"Is it perchance what Madame Hsing has told you?" Yüan Yang asked. + +"Since you, miss, know what it's all about," her sister-in-law added +smilingly, "what else remains for me to do? Be quick and come with me +and I'll explain everything. Verily, it's a piece of happiness as large +as the heavens!" + +Yüan Yang, at these words, rose to her feet and spat contemptuously +with all her might in her sister-in-law's face. Pointing at her: "Be +quick," she cried abusively, "and stop that filthy tongue of yours! It +would be ever so much better, were you to bundle yourself away from +this! What good tidings and what piece of happiness! Little wonder is +it that you long and crave the whole day long to see other people's +daughter turned into a secondary wife as one and all of your family +would rely upon her to act contrary to reason and right! A whole +household has been converted into secondary wives! But the sight fills +you with such keen jealousy that you would like to also lay hold of me +and throw me into the pit-fire! If any honours fall to my share, all of +you outside will do everything disorderly and improper, and raise +yourselves, in your own estimations, to the status of uncles (and +aunts). But if I don't get any, and come to grief, you'll draw in your +foul necks, and let me live or die as I please!" + +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. + +Her sister-in-law felt quite out of countenance. "Whether you mean to +accept the proposal, or not," she consequently said, "you can anyhow +speak nicely. It isn't worth the while dragging this one in and +involving that one! The proverb adequately says: 'In the presence of a +dwarf one mustn't speak of dwarfish things!' Here you've been heaping +insult upon me, but I didn't presume to retaliate. 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!" Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh quickly remonstrated. +"She didn't allude to us; so don't be implicating others! Have you +heard of any ladies or gentlemen who'd like to raise us to the rank of +secondary wives? What's more, we two have neither father nor mother, +nor brothers, within these doors, to avail themselves of our positions +to act in a way contrary to right and reason! If she abuses people, let +her do so; it isn't worth our while to be touchy!" + +"Seeing," Yüan Yang resumed, "that the abuse I've heaped upon her head +has put her to such shame that she doesn't know where to go and screen +her face, she tries to egg you two on! But you two have, fortunately, +your wits about you! Though quite impatient, I never started arguing +the question; she it was who chose to speak just now." + +Her sister-in-law felt inwardly much disconcerted, and beat a retreat +in high dudgeon. But Yüan Yang so lost her temper that she still went +on to abuse her; and it was only after P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen had +admonished her for ever so long that she let the matter drop. + +"What were you hiding there for?" P'ing Erh then asked Hsi Jen. "We +couldn't see anything of you." + +"I went," Hsi Jen explained, "into Miss Quarta's rooms to see our Mr. +Pao-yü, but, who'd have thought it, I got there a little too late, and +they told me that he had gone home. But my suspicions were, however, +aroused as I couldn't make out how it was that I hadn't come across +him, and I was about to go and hunt him up in Miss Lin's apartments, +when I met one of her servants who said that he hadn't been there +either. Then just as I was surmising that he must have gone out of the +garden, behold, you came, as luck would have it, from the opposite +direction. But I dodged you, so you didn't see anything of me. +Subsequently, she too appeared on the scene; but I got behind the +boulder, from the back of these trees. I, however, saw that you two had +come to have a chat. Strange to say, though you have four eyes between +you, you never caught a glimpse of me." + +Scarcely had she concluded this remark, than they heard some one else +from behind, laughingly exclaim, "Four eyes never saw you, but your six +eyes haven't as yet found me out!" + +The three girls received quite a shock from fright; but turning round, +they perceived that it was no other person than Pao-yü. + +Hsi Jen smiled, and was the first to speak. "You've made me have a good +search," she said. "Where do you hail from?" + +"I was just leaving cousin Quarta's," Pao-yü laughed, "when I noticed +you coming along, just in front of me; and knowing well enough that you +were bent upon finding me, I concealed myself to have a lark with you. +I saw you then go by, with uplifted head, enter the court, walk out +again, and ask every one you met on your way; but there I stood +convulsed with laughter. I was only waiting to rush up to you and +frighten you, when I afterwards realised that you too were prowling +stealthily about, so I readily inferred that you also were playing a +trick upon some one. Then when I put out my head and looked before me, +I saw that it was these two girls, so I came behind you, by a +circuitous way; and as soon as you left, I forthwith sneaked into your +hiding place." + +"Let's go and look behind there," P'ing Erh suggested laughingly; "we +may possibly discover another couple; there's no saying." + +"There's no one else!" Pao-yü laughed. + +Yüan Yang had long ago concluded that every word of their conversation +had been overheard by Pao-yü; but leaning against the rock, she +pretended to be fast asleep. + +Pao-yü gave her a push. "This stone is cold!" he smiled. "Let's go and +sleep in our rooms. Won't it be better there?" + +Saying this, he made an attempt to pull Yüan Yang to her feet. Then +hastily pressing P'ing Erh to repair to his quarters and have some tea, +he united his efforts with those of Hsi Jen, and tried to induce Yüan +Yang to come away. Yüan Yang, at length, got up, and the quartet betook +themselves, after all, into the I Hung court. + +Pao-yü had caught every word that had fallen from their lips a few +minutes back, and felt, indeed, at heart so much distressed on Yüan +Yang's behalf, that throwing himself silently on his bed, he left the +three girls in the outer rooms to prosecute their chat and laugh. + +On the other side of the compound, Madame Hsing about this time +inquired of lady Feng who Yüan Yang's father was. + +"Her father," lady Feng replied, "is called Chin Ts'ai. He and his wife +are in Nanking; they have to look after our houses there, so they can't +pay frequent visits to the capital. Her brother is the Wen-hsiang, who +acts at present as our senior's accountant; but her sister-in-law too +is employed in our worthy ancestor's yonder as head washerwoman." + +Madame Hsing thereupon despatched a servant to go and call Yüan Yang's +sister-in-law. On Mrs. Chin Wen-hsiang's arrival, she told her all. +Mrs. Chin was naturally pleased and left in capital spirits to find +Yüan Yang, in the hope that the moment she communicated the offer to +her, the whole thing would be satisfactorily arranged. But contrary to +all her anticipations, she had to bear a good blowing up from Yüan +Yang, and to be told several unpleasant things by Hsi Jen and P'ing +Erh, so that she was filled with as much shame as indignation. She then +came and reported the result to Madame Hsing. "It's no use," she said, +"she gave me a scolding." But as lady Feng was standing by, she could +not summon up courage enough to allude to P'ing Erh, so she added: "Hsi +Jen too helped her to rate me, and they told me a whole lot of improper +words, which could not be breathed in a mistress' ears. It would thus +be better to arrange with our master to purchase a girl and have done; +for from all I see, neither can that mean vixen enjoy such great good +fortune, nor we such vast propitious luck!" + +"What's that again to do with Hsi Jen? How came they to know anything +about it?" Madame Hsing exclaimed upon learning the issue. "Who else +was present?" she proceeded to inquire. + +"There was Miss P'ing!" was Chin's wife's reply. + +"Shouldn't you have given her a slap on the mouth?" lady Feng +precipitately shouted. "As soon as I ever put my foot outside the door, +she starts gadding about; and I never see so much as her shadow, when I +get home. She too is bound to have had a hand in telling you something +or other!" + +"Miss P'ing wasn't present," Chin's wife protested. "Looking from a +distance it seemed to me like her; but I couldn't see distinctly. It +was a mere surmise on my part that it was she at all." + +"Go and fetch her at once!" lady Feng shouted to a servant. "Tell her +that I've come home, and that Madame Hsing is also here and wants her +to help her in her hurry." + +Feng Erh quickly came up to her. "Miss Lin," she observed, "despatched +a messenger for her, and asked her in writing three and four times +before she at last went. I advised her to get back so soon as your +ladyship stepped inside the gate, but 'tell your mistress,' Miss Lin +said, 'that I've put her to the inconvenience of coming round, as I've +got something for her to do for me.'" + +This explanation satisfied lady Feng and she let the matter drop. "What +has she got to do," she purposely went on to ask, "that she will +trouble her day after day?" + +Madame Hsing was driven to her wits' ends. As soon as the meal was +over, she returned home; and, in the evening, she communicated to Chia +She the result of her errand. 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. So a coffin and money were allowed from +the other mansion. Whether he be dead or alive now, I don't know. But +even if alive, he must have lost all consciousness. It would therefore +be a fruitless errand to send for him. His wife, on the other hand, is +quite deaf." + +Hearing this, Chia She gave vent to an exclamation of reproof, and next +launched into abuse. "You stupid and unreasonable rascal!" he shouted. +"Is it you of all people, who are up to those things? Don't you yet +bundle yourself off from my presence?" + +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. Chia Lien +(meanwhile) remained in the outer study, for as he neither ventured to +go home, nor presumed to face his father, his only alternative was to +tarry behind. 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. In the course of the +evening lady Feng told him the whole story. Then, at last, he +understood the meaning of the excitement. + +But to revert to Yüan Yang. She did not get, the whole night, a wink of +sleep. On the morrow, her brother reported to dowager lady Chia that he +would like to take her home on a visit. Dowager lady Chia accorded her +consent and told her she could go and see her people. Yüan Yang, +however, would have rather preferred to stay where she was, but the +fear lest her old mistress should give way to suspicion, placed her +under the necessity of going, much against her own inclinations though +it was. Her brother then had no course but to lay before her Chia She's +proposal, and all his promises that she would occupy an honourable +position, and that she would be a secondary wife, with control in the +house; but Yüan Yang was so persistent in her refusal that her brother +was quite nonplussed and he was compelled to return, and inform Chia +She. + +Chia She flew into a dreadful passion. "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! If she fosters these affections, warn her to at once set them at +rest; for should she not come, when I'm ready to have her, who will by +and bye venture to take her? This is the first thing. Should she +imagine, in the next place, that because our venerable senior is fond +of her, she may, in the future, be engaged to be married in the +orthodox way, tell her to consider carefully that she won't very well +be able to escape my grip, no matter in what family she may marry. That +it's only in case of her dying or of her not wedding any one throughout +her life that I shall submit to her decision. Under other +circumstances, urge her to seize the first opportunity and change her +mind, as she'll come in for many benefits.'" + +To every remark that Chia She uttered, Chin Wen-hsiang acquiesced. +"Yes!" he said. + +"Mind you don't humbug me!" Chia She observed. "I shall to-morrow send +again your mistress round to ask Yüan Yang. If you two have spoken to +her, and she hasn't given a favorable answer, well, then, no blame will +fall on you. But if she does assent, when she broaches the subject with +her, look out for your heads!" + +Chin Wen-hsiang eagerly expressed his obedience over and over again, +and withdrawing out of the room, he retraced his footsteps homeward. +Nor did he have the patience to wait until he could commission his +womankind to speak to her. Indeed he went in person and told her face +to face the injunctions entrusted to him. Yüan Yang was incensed to +such a degree that she was at a loss what reply to make. "I'm quite +ready to go," she rejoined, after some cogitation, "but you people must +take me before my old mistress first and let me tell her something +about it." + +Her brother and sister-in-law flattered themselves that reflection had +induced her to alter her previous decision, and they were both +immeasurably delighted. Her sister-in-law there and then led her into +the upper quarters and ushered her into the presence of old lady Chia. +As luck would have it, Madame Wang, Mrs. Hsüeh, Li Wan, lady Feng, +Pao-ch'ai and the other girls were, together with several respectable +outside married women who acted as housekeepers, having some fun with +old lady Chia. Yüan Yang observed where her mistress was seated, and +hastily dragging her sister-in-law before her, she fell on her knees, +and explained to her, with tears in her eyes, what proposal Madame +Hsing had made to her, what her sister-in-law, who lived in the garden, +had told her, and what message her brother had recently conveyed to +her. "As I would not accept his advances," (she continued), "our senior +master has just now gone so far as to insinuate 'that I was violently +attached to Pao-yü; or if that wasn't the case, my object was to gain +time so as to espouse some one outside. That were I even to go up to +the very heavens, I couldn't, during my lifetime, escape his clutches, +and that he would, in the long run, wreak his vengeance on me.' I have +obstinately made up my mind, so I may state in the presence of all of +you here, that I'll, under no circumstances, marry, as long as I live, +any man whatsoever, not to speak of his being a Pao-yü, (precious +jade); but even a Pao Chin, (precious gold), a Pao Yin, (precious +silver); a Pao T'ien Wang, (precious lord of heaven); or a Pao Huang +Ti, (precious Emperor); and have done! Were even your venerable +ladyship to press me to take such a step, I couldn't comply with your +commands, though you may threaten to cut my throat with a sword. I'm +quite prepared to wait upon your ladyship, till you depart this life; +but go with my father, mother, or brother, I won't! I'll either commit +suicide, or cut my hair off, and go and become a nun. If you fancy that +I'm not in earnest, and that I'm temporarily using this language to put +you off, may, as surely as heaven, earth, the spirits, the sun and moon +look upon me, my throat be covered with boils!" + +Yüan Yang had, in fact, upon entering the room, brought along a pair of +scissors, concealed in her sleeve, and, while she spoke, she drew her +hand back, and, dishevelling her tresses, she began to clip them. When +the matrons and waiting-maids saw what she was up to, they hurriedly +did everything they could to induce her to desist from her purpose; but +already half of her locks had gone. And when they found on close +inspection, that with the thick crop of hair she happily had, she had +not succeeded in cutting it all, they immediately dressed it up for +her. + +Upon hearing of Chia She's designs, dowager lady Chia was provoked to +displeasure. Her whole body trembled and shook. "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!" Noticing +then Madame Wang standing close to her, she turned herself towards her. +"All you people really know is to impose upon me!" 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. +What's left to me is this low waiting-maid, but as you see that she +serves me faithfully, you naturally can't stand it, and you're doing +your utmost to estrange her from me so as to be the better able to play +your tricks upon me." + +Madame Wang quickly rose to her feet. 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. Li Wan, the moment she heard Yüan Yang speak +in the strain she did, seized an early opportunity to lead the young +ladies out of the room. T'an Ch'un was a girl with plenty of common +sense, so reflecting within herself that Madame Wang could not, in +spite of the insult heaped upon her, very well presume to say any thing +to exculpate herself, that Mrs. Hsüeh could not, of course, in her +position of sister, bring forward any arguments, that Pao-ch'ai was +unable to explain things on behalf of her maternal aunt, and that Li +Wan, lady Feng or Pao-yü could, still less, take upon themselves the +right of censorship, she thought the opportunity rendered necessary the +services of a daughter; but, as Ying Ch'un was so quiet, and Hsi Ch'un +so young, she consequently walked in, no sooner did she overhear from +outside the window what was said inside, and forcing a smile, she +addressed herself to her grandmother. "How does this matter concern +Madame Wang, my mother?" she interposed. "Venerable senior, just +consider! This is a matter affecting her husband's eldest brother; and +how could she, a junior sister-in-law, know anything about it?…" + +But before she had exhausted all her arguments, dowager lady Chia's +countenance thawed into a smile. "I've really grown stupid from old +age!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Hsüeh, don't make fun of me! This eldest +sister of yours is most reverent to me; and so unlike that senior lady +of mine, who only knows how to regard her lord and master and to simply +do things for the mere sake of appearances when she deals with her +mother-in-law. I've therefore done her a wrong!" + +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. "Pao-yü," she then +proceeded, "I unjustly found fault with your mother; but, how was it +that even you didn't tell me anything, but that you looked on, while +she was having her feelings trampled upon?" + +"Could I," smiled Pao-yü, "have taken my mother's part, and run down my +senior uncle and aunt? If my mother did not bear the whole blame, upon +whom could she throw it? And had I admitted that it was I who was +entirely at fault, you, venerable ancestor, wouldn't have believed me." + +"What you say is quite reasonable," his grandmother laughed. "So be +quick and fall on your knees before your mother and tell her: 'mother, +don't feel aggrieved! Our old lady is so advanced in years. Do it for +Pao-yü's sake!'" + +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! This won't do at all! Is +it likely, pray, that you would tender apologies to me on behalf of our +venerable ancestor?" + +Hearing this, Pao-yü promptly stood up. + +"Even that girl Feng didn't call me to my senses," dowager lady Chia +smiled again. + +"I don't lay a word to your charge, worthy senior," lady Feng remarked +smilingly, "and yet you brand me with reproach!" + +This rejoinder amused dowager lady Chia. "This is indeed strange!" she +said to all around. "But I'd like to listen to these charges." + +"Who told you, dear senior," lady Feng resumed, "to look after your +attendants so well, and lavish such care on them as to make them plump +and fine as water onions? How ever can you therefore bear people a +grudge, if they ask for her hand? I'm, lucky for you, your grandson's +wife; for were I your grandson, I would long ere this have proposed to +her. Would I have ever waited up to the present?" + +"Is this any fault of mine?" dowager lady Chia laughed. + +"Of course, it's your fault, venerable senior!" lady Feng retorted with +a smile. + +"Well, in that case, I too don't want her," old lady Chia proceeded +laughing. "Take her away, and have done!" + +"Wait until I go through this existence," lady Feng responded, "and, in +the life to come, I'll assume the form of a man and apply for her +hand." + +"Take her along," dowager lady Chia laughed, "and give her to Lien-Erh +to attach to his apartments; and we'll see whether that barefaced +father-in-law of yours will still wish to have her or not." + +"Lien-Erh is not a match for her!" lady Feng added. "He's only a fit +mate for such as myself and P'ing Erh. A pair of loutish bumpkins like +us to have anything to do with such a one as herself!" + +At this rejoinder, they all exploded into a hearty fit of laughter. But +a waiting-maid thereupon announced: "Our senior lady has come." So +Madame Wang immediately quitted the room to go and meet her. + +But any further particulars, which you, reader may like to know, will +be given in the following chapter; so listen to it. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + + An idiotic bully tries to be lewd and comes in for a sound thrashing. + A cold-hearted fellow is prompted by a dread of trouble to betake + himself to a strange place. + +As soon as Madame Wang, so runs our narrative, heard of Madame Hsing's +arrival, she quickly went out to welcome her. Madame Hsing was not yet +aware that dowager lady Chia had learnt everything connected with Yüan +Yang's affair, and she was coming again to see which way the wind blew. +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. First and foremost, she paid her respects to dowager lady +Chia, but old lady Chia did not address her a single remark, so she +felt within herself smitten with shame and remorse. + +Lady Feng soon gave something or other as an excuse and withdrew. Yüan +Yang then returned also quite alone to her chamber to give vent to her +resentment; and Mrs. Hsüeh, Madame Wang and the other inmates, one by +one, retired in like manner, for fear of putting Madame Hsing out of +countenance. Madame Hsing, however, could not muster courage to beat a +retreat. Dowager lady Chia noticed that there was no one but themselves +in her apartments. "I hear," she remarked, "that you had come to play +the part of a go-between for your lord and master! You can very well +observe the three obediences and four virtues, but this softness of +yours is a work of supererogation! You people have also got now a whole +lot of grandchildren and sons. Do you still live in fear and trembling +lest he should put his monkey up? Rumour has it that you yet let that +disposition of your husband's run riot!" + +Madame Hsing's whole face got suffused with blushes. "I advised him +time and again," she explained, "but he wouldn't listen to me. How is +it, venerable senior, that you don't yet know that he turns a deaf ear +to me? That's why I had no choice in the matter!" + +"Would you go and kill any one," dowager lady Chia asked, "that he +might instigate you to? But consider now. Your brother's wife is +naturally a quiet sort of person, and is born with many ailments; but +is there anything, whether large or small, that she doesn't go to the +trouble of looking after? And notwithstanding that that daughter-in-law +of yours lends her a helping hand, she is daily so busy that she 'no +sooner puts down the pick than she has to take up the broom.' So busy, +that I have myself now curtailed a hundred and one things. But whenever +there's anything those two can't manage, there's Yüan Yang to come to +their assistance. She is, it's true, a mere child, but nevertheless +very careful; and knows how to concern herself about my affairs a bit; +indenting for anything that need be indented, and availing herself of +an opportunity to tell them to supply every requisite. Were Yüan Yang +not the kind of girl she is, how could those two ladies not neglect a +whole or part of those matters, both important as well as unimportant, +connected with the inner and outer quarters? Would I not at present +have to worry my own mind, instead of leaving things to others? Why, +I'd daily have to rack my brain and go and ask them to give me whatever +I might need! Of those girls, who've come to my quarters and those +who've gone, there only remains this single one. She's, besides other +respects, somewhat older in years, and has as well a slight conception +of my ways of doing things, and of my tastes. In the second place, she +has managed to win her mistresses' hearts, for she never tries to +extort aught from me, or to dun this lady for clothes or that one for +money. Hence it is that beginning from your sister-in-law and +daughter-in-law down to the servants in the house, irrespective of old +or young, there isn't a soul, who doesn't readily believe every single +word she says in anything, no matter what it is! Not only do I thus +have some one upon whom I can rely, but your young sister-in-law and +your daughter-in-law are both as well spared much trouble. With a +person such as this by me, should even my daughter-in-law and +granddaughter-in-law not have the time to think of anything, I am not +left without it; nor am I given occasion to get my temper ruffled. But +were she now to go, what kind of creature would they hunt up again to +press into my service? Were you even to bring me a person made of real +pearls, she'd be of no use; if she doesn't know how to speak! I was +just about to send some one to go and explain to your husband that +'I've got money in here enough to buy any girl he fancies,' and to tell +him that 'he's at liberty to give for her purchase from eight to ten +thousand taels; that, if he has set his heart upon this girl, he can't +however have her; and that by leaving her behind to attend to me, +during the few years to come, it will be just the same as if he tried +to acquit himself of his filial duties by waiting upon me day and +night,' so you come at a very opportune moment. Were you therefore to +go yourself at once and deliver him my message, it will answer the +purpose far better!" + +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. + +"I've only now returned," she observed to the waiting-maid, "and what +shall I go again for? Just tell her that I'm fast asleep!" + +"Dearest Mrs. Hsüeh!" the waiting-maid pleaded, "my worthy senior! our +old mistress will get angry. If you, venerable lady, don't appear +nothing will appease her; so do it for the love of us! Should you +object to walking, why I'm quite ready to carry you on my back." + +"You little imp!" Mrs. Hsüeh laughed. "What are you afraid of? All +she'll do will be to scold you a little; and it will all be over soon!" + +While replying, she felt that she had no course but to retrace her +footsteps, in company with the waiting-maid. + +Dowager lady Chia at once motioned her into a seat. "Let's have a game +of cards!" she then smilingly proposed. "You, Mrs. Hsüeh, are not a +good hand at them; so let's sit together, and see that lady Feng +doesn't cheat us!" + +"Quite so," laughed Mrs. Hsüeh. "But it will be well if your venerable +ladyship would look over my hand a bit! Are we four ladies to play, or +are we to add one or two more persons to our number?" + +"Naturally only four!" Madame Wang smiled. + +"Were one more player let in," lady Feng interposed, "it would be +merrier!" + +"Call Yüan Yang here," old lady Chia suggested, "and make her take this +lower seat; for as Mrs. Hsüeh's eyesight is rather dim, we'll charge +her to look over our two hands a bit." + +"You girls know how to read and write," lady Feng remarked with a +smile, addressing herself to T'an Ch'un, "and why don't you learn +fortune-telling?" + +"This is again strange!" T'an Ch'un exclaimed. "Instead of bracing up +your energies now to rook some money out of our venerable senior, you +turn your thoughts to fortune-telling!" + +"I was just wishing to consult the fates," lady Feng proceeded, "as to +how much I shall lose to-day. Can I ever dream of winning? Why, look +here. We haven't commenced playing, and they have placed themselves in +ambush on the left and right." + +This remark amused dowager lady Chia and Mrs. Hsüeh. But presently Yüan +Yang arrived, and seated herself below her old mistress. After Yüan +Yang sat lady Feng. The red cloth was then spread; the cards were +shuffled; the dealer was decided upon and the quintet began to play. +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. Lady Feng was about to +lead, but purposely lingered for a few moments. "This card will, for a +certainty, be snatched by Mrs. Hsüeh," she smiled, "yet if I don't play +this one, I won't be able later to come out with what I want." + +"I haven't got any cards you want in my hand," Mrs. Hsüeh remarked. + +"I mean to see by and bye," lady Feng resumed. + +"You're at liberty to see," Mrs. Hsüeh said. "But go on, play now! Let +me look what card it is." + +Lady Feng threw the card in front of Mrs. Hsüeh. At a glance, Mrs. +Hsüeh perceived that it was the two spot. "I don't fancy this card," +she smiled. "What I fear is that our dear senior will get a full hand." + +"I've played wrong!" lady Feng laughingly exclaimed at these words. + +Dowager lady Chia laughed, and throwing down her cards, "If you dare," +she shouted, "take it back! Who told you to play the wrong card?" + +"Didn't I want to have my fortune told?" lady Feng observed. "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. Then facing Mrs. Hsüeh, "I'm not a +niggard, fond of winning money," she went on to say, "but it was my +good luck!" + +"Don't we too think as much?" Mrs. Hsüeh smiled. "Who's there stupid +enough to say that your venerable ladyship's heart is set upon money?" + +Lady Feng was busy counting the cash, but catching what was said, she +restrung them without delay. "I've got my share," she said, laughingly +to the company. "It isn't at all that you wish to win. It's your good +luck that made you come out a winner! 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." + +Dowager lady Chia usually made Yüan Yang shuffle the cards for her, but +being engaged in chatting and joking with Mrs. Hsüeh, she did not +notice Yüan Yang take them in hand. "Why is it you're so huffed," old +lady Chia asked, "that you don't even shuffle for me?" + +"Lady Feng won't let me have the money!" Yüan Yang replied, picking up +the cards. + +"If she doesn't give the money," dowager lady Chia observed, "it will +be a turning-point in her luck. Take that string of a thousand cash of +hers," she accordingly directed a servant, "and bring it bodily over +here!" + +A young waiting-maid actually fetched the string of cash and deposited +it by the side of her old mistress. + +"Let me have them," lady Feng eagerly cried smiling, "and I'll square +all that's due, and finish." + +"In very truth, lady Feng, you're a miserly creature!" Mrs. Hsüeh +laughed. "It's simply for mere fun, nothing more!" + +Lady Feng, at this insinuation, speedily stood up, and, laying her hand +on Mrs. Hsüeh, she turned her head round, and pointed at a large wooden +box, in which old lady Chia usually deposited her money. "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! This tiao will be +wheedled by the cash in it, before we've played for half an hour! All +we've got to do is to give them sufficient time to lure this string in +as well; we needn't trouble to touch the cards. Your temper, worthy +ancestor, will thus calm down. If you've also got any legitimate thing +for me to do, you might bid me go and attend to it!" + +This joke had scarcely been concluded than it evoked incessant laughter +from dowager lady Chia and every one else. But while she was bandying +words, P'ing Erh happened to bring her another string of cash prompted +by the apprehension that her capital might not suffice to meet her +wants. + +"It's useless putting them in front of me!" lady Feng cried. "Place +these too over there by our old lady and let them be wheedled in along +with the others! It will thus save trouble, as there won't be any need +to make two jobs of them, to the inconvenience of the cash already in +the box." + +Dowager lady Chia had a hearty laugh, so much so, that the cards, she +held in her hand, flew all over the table; but pushing Yüan Yang. "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. "Where's +your Madame Hsing?" he inquired. "Mr. Chia She told me to ask her to go +round." + +"She's been standing in there with our old mistress," P'ing Erh hastily +laughed, "for ever so long, and yet she isn't inclined to budge! Seize +the earliest opportunity you can get to wash your hands clean of this +business! Our old lady has had a good long fit of fuming and raging. +Luckily, our lady Secunda cracked an endless stock of jokes, so she, at +length, got a bit calmer!" + +"I'll go over," Chia Lien said. "All I have to do is to find out our +venerable senior's wishes, as to whether she means to go to Lai Ta's +house on the fourteenth, so that I might have time to get the chairs +ready. As I'll be able to tell Madame Hsing to return, and have a share +of the fun, won't it be well for me to go?" + +"My idea is," P'ing Erh suggested laughingly, "that you shouldn't put +your foot in there! Every one, even up to Madame Wang, and Pao-yü, have +alike received a rap on the knuckles, and are you also going now to +fill up the gap?" + +"Everything is over long ago," Chia Lien observed, "and can it be that +she'll cap the whole thing by blowing me up too? What's more, it's no +concern of mine. In the next place, Mr. Chia She enjoined me that I was +to go in person, and ask his wife round, so, if I at present depute +some one else, and he comes to know about it, he really won't feel in a +pleasant mood, and he'll take advantage of this pretext to give vent to +his spite on me." + +These words over, he quickly marched off. And P'ing Erh was so +impressed with the reasonableness of his arguments, that she followed +in his track. + +As soon as Chia Lien reached the reception hall, he trod with a light +step. Then peeping in he saw Madame Hsing standing inside. Lady Feng, +with her eagle eye, was the first to espy him. But she winked at him +and dissuaded him from coming in, and next gave a wink to Madame Hsing. +Madame Hsing could not conveniently get away at once, and she had to +pour a cup of tea, and place it in front of dowager lady Chia. But old +lady Chia jerked suddenly round, and took Chia Lien at such a +disadvantage that he found it difficult to beat a retreat. "Who is +outside?" exclaimed old lady Chia. "It seemed to me as if some +servant-boy had poked his head in." + +Lady Feng sprung to her feet without delay. "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. Forcing a smile, "I wanted to ask," he remarked, +"whether you, venerable senior, are going out on the fourteenth, so +that the chairs may be got ready." + +"In that case," dowager lady Chia rejoined, "why didn't you come +straight in; but behaved again in that mysterious way?" + +"I saw that you were playing at cards, dear ancestor," Chia Lien +explained with a strained laugh, "and I didn't venture to come and +disturb you. I therefore simply meant to call my wife out to find out +from her." + +"Is it anything so very urgent that you had to say it this very +moment?" old lady Chia continued. "Had you waited until she had gone +home, couldn't you have asked her any amount of questions you may have +liked? When have you been so full of zeal before? I'm puzzled to know +whether it isn't as an eavesdropping spirit that you appear on the +scene; nor can I say whether you don't come as a spy. But that impish +way of yours gave me quite a start! What a low-bred fellow you are! +Your wife will play at cards with me for a good long while more, so +you'd better bundle yourself home, and conspire again with Chao Erh's +wife how to do away with your better half." + +Her remarks evoked general merriment. + +"It's Pao Erh's wife," Yüan Yang put in laughingly, "and you, worthy +senior, have dragged in again Chao Erh's wife." + +"Yes!" assented old lady Chia, likewise with a laugh. "How could I +remember whether he wasn't (pao) embracing her, or (pei) carrying her +on his back. The bare mention of these things makes me lose all +self-control and provokes me to anger! Ever since I crossed these doors +as a great grandson's wife, I have never, during the whole of these +fifty-four years, seen anything like these affairs, albeit it has been +my share to go through great frights, great dangers, thousands of +strange things and hundred and one remarkable occurrences! Don't you +yet pack yourself off from my presence?" + +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. "I gave you due warning in a gentle +tone, but you wouldn't hear; you've, after all, rushed into the very +meshes of the net!" + +These reproaches were still being heaped on him when he caught sight of +Madame Hsing, as she likewise made her appearance outside. "My father," +Chia Lien ventured, "is at the bottom of all this trouble; and the +whole +blame now is shoved upon your shoulders as well as mine, mother." + +"I'll take you, you unfilial thing and…" Madame Hsing shouted. "People +lay down their lives for their fathers; and you are prompted by a few +harmless remarks to murmur against heaven and grumble against earth! +Won't you behave in a proper manner? He's in high dudgeon these last +few days, so mind he doesn't give you a pounding!" + +"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. Madame Hsing gave (her husband) nothing beyond a +general outline of all that had been recently said; but Chia She found +himself deprived of the means of furthering his ends. Indeed, so +stricken was he with shame that from that date he pleaded illness. And +so little able was he to rally sufficient pluck to face old lady Chia, +that he merely commissioned Madame Hsing and Chia Lien to go daily and +pay their respects to her on his behalf. He had no help too but to +despatch servants all over the place to make every possible search and +inquiry for a suitable concubine for him. After a long time they +succeeded in purchasing, for the sum of eighty taels, a girl of +seventeen years of age, Yen Hung by name, whom he introduced as +secondary wife into his household. + +But enough of this subject. In the rooms on the near side, they +protracted for a long time their noisy game of cards, and only broke up +after they had something to eat. Nothing worthy of note, however, +occurred during the course of the following day or two. In a twinkle, +the fourteenth drew near. At an early hour before daybreak, Lai Ta's +wife came again into the mansion to invite her guests. Dowager lady +Chia was in buoyant spirits, so taking along Madame Wang, Mrs. Hsüeh, +Pao-yü and the various young ladies, she betook herself into Lai Ta's +garden, where she sat for a considerable time. + +This garden was not, it is true, to be compared with the garden of +Broad Vista; but it also was most beautifully laid out, and consisted +of spacious grounds. 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. In the main hall outside, +were assembled Hsüeh P'an, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Jung and several +close relatives. But Lai Ta had invited as well a number of officials, +still in active service, and numerous young men of wealthy families, to +keep them company. Among that party figured one Liu Hsiang-lien, whom +Hsüeh P'an had met on a previous occasion and kept ever since in +constant remembrance. Having besides discovered that he had a +passionate liking for theatricals, and that the parts he generally +filled were those of a young man or lady, in fast plays, he had +unavoidably misunderstood the object with which he indulged in these +amusements, to such a degree as to misjudge him for a young rake. About +this time, he had been entertaining a wish to cultivate intimate +relations with him, but he had, much to his disgust, found no one to +introduce him, so when he, by a strange coincidence, came to be thrown +in his way, on the present occasion, he revelled in intense delight. +But Chia Chen and the other guests had heard of his reputation, so as +soon as wine had blinded their sense of shame, they entreated him to +sing two short plays; and when subsequently they got up from the +banquet, they ensconced themselves near him, and, pressing him with +questions, they carried on a conversation on one thing and then +another. + +This Liu Hsiang-lien was, in fact, a young man of an old family; but he +had been unsuccessful in his studies, and had lost his father and +mother. He was naturally light-hearted and magnanimous; not particular +in minor matters; immoderately fond of spear-exercise and fencing, of +gambling and boozing; even going to such excesses as spending his +nights in houses of easy virtue; playing the fife, thrumming the harp, +and going in for everything and anything. Being besides young in years, +and of handsome appearance, those who did not know what his standing +was, invariably mistook him for an actor. But Lai Ta's son had all +along been on such friendly terms with him, that he consequently +invited him for the nonce to help him do the honours. + +Of a sudden, while every one was, after the wines had gone round, still +on his good behaviour, Hsüeh P'an alone got another fit of his old +mania. From an early stage, his spirits sunk within him and he would +fain have seized the first convenient moment to withdraw and consummate +his designs but for Lai Shang-jung, who then said: "Our Mr. Pao-yü told +me again just now that although he saw you, as he walked in, he +couldn't speak to you with so many people present, so he bade me ask +you not to go, when the party breaks up, as he has something more to +tell you. But as you insist upon taking your leave, you'd better wait +until I call him out, and when you've seen each other, you can get +away; I'll have nothing to say then." + +While delivering the message, "Go inside," he directed the +servant-boys, "and get hold of some old matron and tell her quietly to +invite Mr. Pao-yü to come out." + +A servant-lad went on the errand, and scarcely had time enough elapsed +to enable one to have a cup of tea in, than Pao-yü, actually, made his +appearance outside. + +"My dear sir," Lai Shang-jung smilingly observed to Pao-yü, "I hand him +over to you. I'm going to entertain the guests!" + +With these words, he was off. + +Pao-yü pulled Lia Hsiang-lien into a side study in the hall, where they +sat down. + +"Have you been recently to Ch'in Ch'ung's grave?" he inquired of him. + +"How could I not go?" Hsiang-lien answered. "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. I found it again slightly damaged; but when I got back home, I +speedily raised a few hundreds of cash, and issued early on the third +day, and hired two men, who put it right." + +"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. On his return, I also inquired of him: whether it had been +damaged by the water or not; and he explained that not only had it not +sustained any harm, but that it looked better than when last he'd seen +it. Several of his friends, I argued, must have had it put in proper +repair; and I felt it irksome that I should, day after day, be so caged +at home as to be unable to be my own master in the least thing, and +that if even I move, and any one comes to know of it, this one is sure +to exhort me, if that one does not restrain me. I can thus afford to +brag, but can't manage to act! And though I've got plenty of money, I'm +not at liberty to spend any of it!" + +"There's no use your worrying in a matter like this!" Liu Hsiang-lien +said. "I am outside, so all you need do is to inwardly foster the wish; +that's all. But as the first of the tenth moon will shortly be upon us, +I've already prepared the money necessary for going to the graves. You +know well enough that I'm as poor as a rat; I've no hoardings at home; +and when a few cash find their way into my pocket, I soon remain again +quite empty-handed. But I'd better make the best of this opportunity, +and keep the amount I have, in order that, when the time comes, I +mayn't find myself without a cash." + +"It's exactly about this that I meant to send Pei Ming to see you," +Pao-yü added. "But it isn't often that one can manage to find you at +home. I'm well aware how uncertain your movements are; one day you are +here, and another there; you've got no fixed resort." + +"There's no need sending any one to hunt me up!" Liu Hsiang-lien +replied. "All that each of us need do in this matter is to acquit +ourselves of what's right. But in a little while, I again purpose going +away on a tour abroad, to return in three to five years' time." + +When Pao-yü heard his intention, "Why is this?" he at once inquired. + +Liu Hsiang-lien gave a sardonic smile. "When my wish is on a fair way +to be accomplished," he said, "you'll certainly hear everything. I must +now leave you." + +"After all the difficulty we've had in meeting," Pao-yü remarked, +"wouldn't it be better were you and I to go away together in the +evening?" + +"That worthy cousin of yours," Hsiang-lien rejoined, "is as bad as +ever, and were I to stay any longer, trouble would inevitably arise. So +it's as well that I should clear out of his way." + +Pao-yü communed with himself for a time. "In that case," he then +observed, "it's only right, that you should retire. 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. + +"I shall, of course, say good-bye to you," Liu Hsiang-lien rejoined. +"But you must not let any one know anything about it!" + +While uttering these words, he stood up to get away. "Go in at once," +he urged, "there's no need to see me off!" + +Saying this, he quitted the study. As soon as he reached the main +entrance, he came across Hsüeh P'an, bawling out boisterously, "Who let +young Liu-erh go?" + +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. But on second consideration, he +pondered that a fight after the present festive occasion would be an +insult to Lai Shang-jung, and he perforce felt bound to stifle his +indignation. + +When Hsüeh P'an suddenly espied him walking out, he looked as delighted +as if he had come in for some precious gem. With staggering step he +drew near him. Clutching him with one grip, "My dear brother," he +smirked. "where are you off to?" + +"I'm going somewhere, but will be back soon," Hsiang-lien said by way +of response. + +"As soon as you left," Hsüeh P'an smiled, "all the fun went. But pray +sit a while! If you do so, it will be a proof of your regard for me! +Don't flurry yourself. With such a senior brother as myself to stand by +you, it will be as easy a job for you to become an official as to reap +a fortune." + +The sight of his repulsive manner filled the heart of Hsiang-lien with +disgust and shame. But speedily devising a plan, he drew him to a +secluded spot. "Is your friendship real," he smiled, "or is it only a +sham?" + +This question sent Hsüeh P'an into such raptures that he found it +difficult to check himself from gratifying his longings. But glancing +at him with the corner of his eye, "My dear brother," he smiled, "what +makes you ask me such a thing? If my friendship for you is a sham, may +I die this moment, before your very eyes." + +"Well, if that be so," Hsiang-lien proceeded, "it isn't convenient in +here, so sit down and wait a bit. I'll go ahead, but come out of this +yourself by and bye, and follow me to my place, where we can drink the +whole night long. I've also got there two first-rate young fellows who +never go out of doors. But don't bring so much as a single follower +with you, as you'll find, when you get there, plenty of people ready at +hand to wait on you." + +So high did this assignation raise Hsüeh P'an's spirits that he +recovered, to a certain extent, from the effects of wine. "Is it really +so?" he asked. + +"How is it," Hsiang-lien laughed, "that when people treat you with a +sincere heart, you don't, after all, believe them?" + +"I'm no fool," eagerly exclaimed Hsüeh P'an, "and how could I not +believe you? But since this be the case, how am I, who don't even know +the way, to find your whereabouts if you are to go ahead of me?" + +"My place is outside the northern gate." Hsiang-lien explained. "But +can you tear yourself away from your home to spend the night outside +the city walls?" + +"As long as you're there," Hsüeh P'an said, "what will I want my home +for?" + +"If that be so," Hsiang-lien resumed, "I'll wait for you on the bridge +outside the northern gate. 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!" shouted Hsüeh P'an with alacrity as he acquiesced to the +proposal. + +The two young fellows thereupon returned to the feast, and drank for a +time. Hsüeh Pan, however, could with difficulty endure the suspense. He +kept his gaze intent upon Hsiang-lien; and the more he pondered within +himself upon what was coming, the more exuberance swelled in his heart. +Now he emptied one wine-kettle; now another; and, without waiting for +any one to press him, he, of his own accord, gulped down one drink +after another, with the result that he unconsciously made himself +nearly quite tipsy. Hsiang-lien then got up and quitted the room, and +perceiving every one off his guard, he egressed out of the main +entrance. "Go home ahead," he directed his page Hsing Nu. "I'm going +out of town, but I'll be back at once." + +By the time he had finished giving him these directions, he had already +mounted his horse, and straightway he proceeded to the bridge beyond +the northern gate, and waited for Hsüeh P'an. A long while elapsed, +however, before he espied Hsüeh P'an in the distance, hurrying along +astride of a high steed, with gaping mouth, staring eyes, and his head, +banging from side to side like a pedlar's drum. Without intermission, +he glanced confusedly about, sometimes to the left, and sometimes to +the right; but, as soon as he got where he had to pass in front of +Hsiang-lien's horse, he kept his gaze fixed far away, and never +troubled his mind with the immediate vicinity. + +Hsiang-lien felt amused and angry with him, but forthwith giving his +horse also the rein, he followed in his track, while Hsüeh P'an +continued to stare ahead. + +Little by little the habitations got scantier and scantier, so pulling +his horse round, (Hsüeh P'an) retraced his steps. 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!" Hsiang-lien smilingly urged. "Mind people +might notice us and follow us. It won't then be nice!" + +While instigating him, he took the lead, and letting his horse have the +rein, he wended his way onwards, followed closely by Hsüeh P'an. But +when Hsiang-lien perceived that the country ahead of them was already +thinly settled and saw besides a stretch of water covered with a growth +of weeds, he speedily dismounted, and tied his horse to a tree. Turning +then round; "Get down!" he said, laughingly, to Hsüeh P'an. "You must +first take an oath, so that in the event of your changing your mind in +the future, and telling anything to anyone, the oath might be +accomplished." + +"You're quite right!" Hsüeh P'an smiled; and jumping down with all +despatch, he too made his horse fast to a tree, and then crouched on +his knees. + +"If I ever in days to come," he exclaimed, "know any change in my +feelings and breathe a word to any living soul, may heaven blast me and +earth annihilate me!" + +Scarcely had he ended this oath, when a crash fell on his ear, and lo, +he felt as if an iron hammer had been brought down to bear upon him +from behind. A black mist shrouded his eyes, golden stars flew wildly +about before his gaze; and losing all control over himself, he sprawled +on the ground. + +Hsiang-lien approached and had a look at him; and, knowing how little +he was accustomed to thrashings, he only exerted but little of his +strength, and struck him a few blows on the face. But about this time a +fruit shop happened to open, and Hsüeh P'an strained at first every +nerve to rise to his feet, when another slight kick from Hsiang-lien +tumbled him over again. + +"Both parties should really be agreeable," he shouted. "But if you were +not disposed to accept my advances, you should have simply told me in a +proper way. And why did you beguile me here to give me a beating?" + +So speaking, he went on boisterously to heap invective upon his head. + +"I'll take you, you blind fellow, and show you who Mr. Liu is," +Hsiang-lien cried. "You don't appeal to me with solicitous entreaties, +but go on abusing me! To kill you would be of no use, so I'll merely +give you a good lesson!" + +With these words, he fetched his whip, and administered him, thirty or +forty blows from his back down to his shins. + +Hsüeh P'an had sobered down considerably from the effects of wine, and +found the stings of pain so intolerable, that little able to restrain +himself, he gave way to groans. + +"Do you go on in this way?" Hsiang-lien said, with an ironical smile. +"Why, I thought you were not afraid of beatings." + +While uttering this taunt, he seized Hsüeh P'an by the left leg, and +dragging him several steps into a miry spot among the reeds, he rolled +him about till he was covered with one mass of mud. "Do you now know +what stuff I'm made of?" he proceeded to ask. + +Hsüeh P'an made no reply. But simply lay prostrate, and moaned. Then +throwing away his whip Hsiang-lien gave him with his fist several +thumps all over the body. + +Hsüeh P'an began to wriggle violently and vociferate wildly. "Oh, my +ribs are broken!" he shouted. "I know you're a proper sort of person! +It's all because I made the mistake of listening to other people's +gossip!" + +"There's no need for you to drag in other people!" Hsiang-lien went on. +"Just confine yourself to those present!" + +"There's nothing up at present!" Hsüeh P'an cried. "From what you say, +you're a person full of propriety. So it's I who am at fault." + +"You'll have to speak a little milder," Hsiang-lien added, "before I +let you off." + +"My dear younger brother," Hsüeh P'an pleaded, with a groan. + +Hsiang-lien at this struck him another blow with his fist. + +"Ai!" ejaculated Hsüeh P'an. "My dear senior brother!" he exclaimed. + +Hsiang-lien then gave him two more whacks, one after the other. + +"Ai Yo!" Hsüeh P'an precipitately screamed. "My dear Sir, do spare me, +an eyeless beggar; and henceforth I'll look up to you with veneration; +I'll fear you!" + +"Drink two mouthfuls of that water!" shouted Hsiang-lien. + +"That water is really too foul," Hsüeh P'an argued, in reply to this +suggestion, wrinkling his eyebrows the while; "and how could I put any +of it in my mouth?" + +Hsiang-lien raised his fist and struck him. + +"I'll drink it, I'll drink it!" quickly bawled Hsüeh P'an. + +So saying, he felt obliged to lower his head to the very roots of the +reeds and drink a mouthful. Before he had had time to swallow it, a +sound of 'ai' became audible, and up came all the stuff he had put into +his mouth only a few seconds back. + +"You filthy thing!" exclaimed Hsiang-lien. "Be quick and finish +drinking; and I'll let you off." + +Upon hearing this, Hsüeh P'an bumped his head repeatedly on the ground. +"Do please," he cried, "lay up a store of meritorious acts for yourself +and let me off! I couldn't take that were I even on the verge of +death!" + +"This kind of stench will suffocate me!" Hsiang-lien observed, and, +with this remark, he abandoned Hsüeh Pan to his own devices; and, +pulling his horse, he put his foot to the stirrup, and rode away. + +Hsüeh Pan, meanwhile, became aware of his departure, and felt at last +relieved in his mind. Yet his conscience pricked him for he saw that he +should not misjudge people. He then made an effort to raise himself, +but the racking torture he experienced all over his limbs was so sharp +that he could with difficulty bear it. + +Chia Chen and the other guests present at the banquet became, as it +happened, suddenly alive to the fact that the two young fellows had +disappeared; but though they extended their search everywhere, they saw +nothing of them. Some one insinuated, in an uncertain way, that they +had gone outside the northern gate; but as Hsüeh P'an's pages had ever +lived in dread of him, who of them had the audacity to go and hunt him +up after the injunctions, he had given them, that they were not to +follow him? But waxing solicitous on his account, Chia Chen +subsequently bade Chia Jung take a few servant-boys and go and discover +some clue of him, or institute inquiries as to his whereabouts. +Straightway therefore they prosecuted their search beyond the northern +gate, to a distance of two li below the bridge, and it was quite by +accident that they discerned Hsüeh P'an's horse made fast by the side +of a pit full of reeds. + +"That's a good sign!" they with one voice exclaimed; "for if the horse +is there, the master must be there too!" + +In a body, they thronged round the horse, when, from among the reeds, +they caught the sound of human groans, so hurriedly rushing forward to +ascertain for themselves, they, at a glance, perceived Hsüeh P'an, his +costume all in tatters, his countenance and eyes so swollen and bruised +that it was hard to make out the head and face, and his whole person, +inside as well as outside his clothes, rolled like a sow in a heap of +mud. + +Chia Jung surmised pretty nearly the truth. Speedily dismounting, he +told the servants to prop him up. "Uncle Hsüeh," he laughed, "you daily +go in for lewd dalliance; but have you to-day come to dissipate in a +reed-covered pit? The King of the dragons in this pit must have also +fallen in love with your charms, and enticed you to become his +son-in-law that you've come and gored yourself on his horns like this!" + +Hsüeh P'an was such a prey to intense shame that he would fain have +grovelled into some fissure in the earth had he been able to detect +any. But so little able was he to get on his horse that Chia Jung +directed a servant to run to the suburbs and fetch a chair. Ensconced +in this, Hsüeh P'an entered town along with the search party. + +Chia Jung still insisted upon carrying him to Lai Ta's house to join +the feast, so Hsüeh P'an had to make a hundred and one urgent appeals +to him to tell no one, before Chia Jung eventually yielded to his +solicitations and allowed him to have his own way and return home. + +Chia Jung betook himself again to Lai Ta's house, and narrated to Chia +Chen their recent experiences. When Chia Chen also learnt of the +flogging (Hsüeh P'an) had received from Hsiang-lien, he laughed. "It's +only through scrapes," he cried, "that he'll get all right!" + +In the evening, after the party broke up, he came to inquire after him. +But Hsüeh P'an, who was lying all alone in his bedroom, nursing +himself, refused to see him, on the plea of indisposition. + +When dowager lady Chia and the other inmates had returned home, and +every one had retired into their respective apartments, Mrs. Hsüeh and +Pao-ch'ai observed that Hsiang Ling's eyes were quite swollen from +crying, and they questioned her as to the reason of her distress. (On +being told), they hastily rushed to look up Hsüeh P'an; but, though +they saw his body covered with scars, they could discover no ribs +broken, or bones dislocated. + +Mrs. Hsüeh fell a prey to anguish and displeasure. At one time, she +scolded Hsüeh P'an; at another, she abused Liu Hsiang-lien. Her wish +was to lay the matter before Madame Wang in order that some one should +be despatched to trace Liu Hsiang-lien and bring him back, but +Pao-ch'ai speedily dissuaded her. "It's nothing to make a fuss about," +she represented. "They were simply drinking together; and quarrels +after a wine bout are ordinary things. And for one who's drunk to get a +few whacks more or less is nothing uncommon! Besides, there's in our +home neither regard for God nor discipline. Every one knows it. If it's +purely out of love, mother, that you desire to give vent to your spite, +it's an easy matter enough. Have a little patience for three or five +days, until brother is all right and can go out. Mr. Chia Chen and Mr. +Chia Lien over there are not people likely to let the affair drop +without doing anything! They'll, for a certainty, stand a treat, and +ask that fellow, and make him apologise and admit his wrong in the +presence of the whole company, so that everything will be properly +settled. But were you now, ma, to begin making much of this occurrence, +and telling every one, it would, on the contrary, look as if you had, +in your motherly partiality and fond love for him, indulged him to stir +up a row and provoke people! He has, on this occasion, had unawares to +eat humble pie, but will you, ma, put people to all this trouble and +inconvenience and make use of the prestige enjoyed by your relatives to +oppress an ordinary person?" + +"My dear child," Mrs. Hsüeh rejoined, "after listening to the advice +proffered by her, you've, after all, been able to foresee all these +things! As for me, that sudden fit of anger quite dazed me!" + +"All will thus be square," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "for, as he's neither +afraid of you, mother, nor gives an ear to people's exhortations, but +gets wilder and wilder every day that goes by, he may, if he gets two +or three lessons, turn over a new leaf." + +While Hsüeh P'an lay on the stovecouch, he reviled Hsiang-lien with all +his might. Next, he instigated the servant-boys to go and demolish his +house, kill him and bring a charge against him. But Mrs. Hsüeh hindered +the lads from carrying out his purpose, and explained to her son: "that +Liu Hsiang-lien had casually, after drinking, behaved in a disorderly +way, that now that he was over the effects of wine, he was exceedingly +filled with remorse, and that, prompted by the fear of punishment, he +had effected his escape." + +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. + + + A sensual-minded man gets into such trouble through his sensuality + that he entertains the idea of going abroad. + 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. But notwithstanding that his pains +and aches completely disappeared, in three or five days' time, the +scars of his wounds were not yet healed and shamming illness, he +remained at home; so ashamed was he to meet any of his relations or +friends. + +In a twinkle, the tenth moon drew near; and as several among the +partners in the various shops, with which he was connected, wanted to +go home, after the settlement of the annual accounts, he had to give +them a farewell spread at home. In their number was one Chang Te-hui, +who from his early years filled the post of manager in Hsüeh P'an's +pawnshop; and who enjoyed in his home a living of two or three thousand +taels. His purpose too was to visit his native place this year, and to +return the following spring. + +"Stationery and perfumery have been so scarce this year," he +consequently represented, "that prices will next year inevitably be +high; so when next year comes, what I'll do will be to send up my elder +and younger sons ahead of me to look after the pawnshop, and when I +start on my way back, before the dragon festival, I'll purchase a stock +of paper, scents and fans and bring them for sale. And though we'll +have to reduce the duties, payable at the barriers, and other expenses, +there will still remain for us a considerable percentage of profit." + +This proposal set Hsüeh P'an musing, "With the dressing I've recently +had," he pondered, "I cannot very well, at present, appear before any +one. Were the fancy to take me to get out of the way for half a year or +even a year, there isn't a place where I can safely retire. 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. It's true I call myself a merchant; but I've +never in point of fact handled the scales or the abacus. Nor do I know +anything about our territories, customs and manners, distances and +routes. So wouldn't it be advisable that I should also get ready some +of my capital, and go on a tour with Chang Te-hui for a year or so? +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." + +This resolution once arrived at in his mind, he waited until they rose +from the banquet, when he, with calmness and equanimity, brought his +plans to Chang Te-hui's cognizance, and asked him to postpone his +departure for a day or two so that they should proceed on the journey +together. + +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. "You have," she reasoned with +him, "to take proper care of me, so that I may be able to live in +peace. Another thing is, that you can well dispense with all this +buying and selling, for you are in no need of the few hundreds of +taels, you may make." + +Hsüeh P'an had long ago thoroughly resolved in his mind what to do and +he did not therefore feel disposed to listen to her remonstrances. "You +daily tax me," he pleaded, "with being ignorant of the world, with not +knowing this, and not learning that, and now that I stir up my good +resolution, with the idea of putting an end to all trifling, and that I +wish to become a man, to do something for myself, and learn how to +carry on business, you won't let me! But what would you have me do? +Besides I'm not a girl that you should coop me up at home! And when is +this likely to come to an end? Chang Te-hui is, moreover, a man well up +in years; and he is an old friend of our family, so if I go with him, +how ever will I be able to do anything that's wrong? Should I at any +time be guilty of any impropriety, he will be sure to speak to me, and +to exhort me. He even knows the prices of things and customs of trade; +and as I shall, as a matter of course, consult him in everything, what +advantage won't I enjoy? 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. + +"If brother," Pao-ch'ai smilingly rejoined, "were in real earnest about +gaining experience in some legitimate concerns, it would be well and +good. But though he speaks, now that he is at home, in a plausible +manner, the moment he gets abroad, his old mania will break out again, +and it will be hard to exercise any check over him. Yet, it isn't worth +the while distressing yourself too much about him! If he does actually +mend his ways, it will be the happiness of our whole lives. But if he +doesn't change, you won't, mother, be able to do anything more; for +though, in part, it depends on human exertion, it, in part, depends +upon the will of heaven! If you keep on giving way to fears that, with +his lack of worldly experience, he can't be fit to go abroad and can't +be up to any business, and you lock him up at home this year, why next +year he'll be just the same! Such being the case, you'd better, +ma,—since his arguments are right and specious enough,—make up your +mind to sacrifice from eight hundred to a thousand taels and let him +have them for a try. He'll, at all events, have one of his partners to +lend him a helping hand, one who won't either think it a nice thing to +play any of his tricks upon him. In the second place, there will be, +when he's gone, no one to the left of him or to the right of him, to +stand by him, and no one upon whom to rely, for when one goes abroad, +who cares for any one else? Those who have, eat; and those who haven't +starve. When he therefore casts his eyes about him and realises that +there's no one to depend upon, he may, upon seeing this, be up to less +mischief than were he to stay at home; but of course, there's no +saying." + +Mrs. Hsüeh listened to her, and communed within herself for a moment. +"What you say is, indeed, right and proper!" she remarked. "And could +one, by spending a small sum, make him learn something profitable, it +will be well worth!" + +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. Then appearing, in person, outside the window of the covered +back passage, she made thousand of appeals to Chang Te-hui to look +after her son and take good care of him. + +Chang Te-hui assented to her solicitations with profuse assurances, and +took his leave after the collation. + +"The fourteenth," he went on to explain to Hsüeh P'an. "is a propitious +day to start. So, worthy friend, you'd better be quick and pack up your +baggage, and hire a mule, for us to begin our long journey as soon as +the day dawns on the fourteenth." + +Hsüeh P'an was intensely gratified, and he communicated their plans to +Mrs. Hsüeh. 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. She fixed upon the +husband of Hsüeh P'an's nurse an old man with hoary head, two old +servants with ample experience and long services, and two young pages, +who acted as Hsüeh P'an's constant attendants, to go with him as his +companions, so the party mustered, inclusive of master and followers, +six persons in all. Three large carts were hired for the sole purpose +of carrying the baggage and requisites; and four mules, suitable for +long journeys, were likewise engaged. A tall, dark brown, home-bred +mule was selected for Hsüeh P'an's use; but a saddle horse, as well, +was provided for him. + +After the various preparations had been effected, Mrs. Hsüeh, Pao-ch'ai +and the other inmates tendered him, night after night, words of advice. +But we can well dispense with dilating on this topic. On the arrival of +the thirteenth, Hsüeh P'an went and bade good-bye to his maternal +uncles. After which, he came and paid his farewell visit to the members +of the Chia household. Chia Chen and the other male relatives +unavoidably prepared an entertainment to speed him off. But to these +festivities, there is likewise little need to allude with any +minuteness. + +On the fourteenth, at break of day, Mrs. Hsüeh, Pao-ch'ai and the other +members of the family accompanied Hsüeh P'an beyond the ceremonial +gate. Here his mother and her daughter stood and watched him, their +four eyes fixed intently on him, until he got out of sight, when they, +at length, retraced their footsteps into the house. + +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. Then +bidding the wives of the two male attendants, who had gone with Hsüeh +P'an, likewise move their quarters inside, along with the other women, +she went on to impress upon Hsiang Ling to put everything carefully +away in her own room as well, and to lock the doors; "for," (she said), +"you must come at night and sleep with me." + +"Since you've got all these people to keep you company, ma," Pao-ch'ai +remarked, "wouldn't it be as well to tell sister Ling to come and be my +companion? Our garden is besides quite empty and the nights are so +long! And as I work away every night, won't it be better for me to have +an extra person with me?" + +"Quite so!" smiled Mrs. Hsüeh, "I forgot that! I should have told her +to go with you; it's but right. It was only the other day that I +mentioned to your brother that: 'Wen Hsing too was young, and not fit +to attend to everything that turns up, that Ying Erh could not alone do +all the waiting, and that it was necessary to purchase another girl for +your service.'" + +"If we buy one, we won't know what she's really like!" Pao-ch'ai +demurred. "If she gives us the slip, the money we may have spent on her +will be a mere trifle, so long as she hasn't been up to any pranks! So +let's quietly make inquiries, and, when we find one with well-known +antecedents, we can purchase her, and, we'll be on the safe side then!" + +While speaking, she told Hsiang Ling to collect her bedding and +clothes; +and desiring an old matron and Ch'in Erh to take them over to the Heng +Wu Yüan, Pao-ch'ai returned at last into the garden in company with +Hsiang Ling. + +"I meant to have proposed to my lady," Hsiang Ling said to Pao-ch'ai, +"that, when master left, I should be your companion, miss; but I feared +lest her ladyship should, with that suspicious mind of hers, have +maintained that I was longing to come into the garden to romp. But +who'd have thought it, it was you, after all, who spoke to her about +it!" + +"I am well aware," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "that you've been inwardly +yearning for this garden, and that not for a day or two, but with the +little time you can call your own, you would find it no fun, were you +even able to run over once in a day, so long as you have to do it in a +hurry-scurry! Seize therefore this opportunity of staying, better +still, for a year; as I, on my side, will then have an extra companion; +and you, on yours, will be able to accomplish your wishes." + +"My dear miss!" laughingly observed Hsiang Ling, "do let's make the +best of this time, and teach me how to write verses!" + +"I say," Pao-ch'ai laughed, "'you no sooner, get the Lung state than +you long for the Shu'! I advise you to wait a bit. 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. But you +needn't make it a point of telling them that you've moved into the +garden. If anyone does allude to the reason why you've shifted your +quarters, you can simply explain cursorily that I've brought you in as +a companion, and then drop the subject. On your return by and bye into +the garden, you can pay a visit to the apartments of each of the young +ladies." + +Hsiang Ling signified her acquiescence, and was about to start when she +saw P'ing Erh rush in with hurried step. Hsiang Ling hastened to ask +after her health, and P'ing Erh felt compelled to return her smile, and +reciprocate her inquiry. + +"I've brought her in to-day," Pao-ch'ai thereupon smilingly said to +P'ing Erh, "to make a companion of her. She was just on the point of +going to tell your lady about it!" + +"What is this that you're saying, Miss?" P'ing Erh rejoined, with a +smile. "I really am at a loss what reply to make to you!" + +"It's the right thing!" Pao-ch'ai answered. "' In a house, there's the +master, and in a temple there's the chief priest.' It's true, it's no +important concern, but something must, in fact, be mentioned, so that +those, who sit up on night duty in the garden, may be aware that these +two have been added to my rooms, and know when to close the gates and +when to wait. When you get back therefore do mention it, so that I +mayn't have to send some one to tell them." + +P'ing Erh promised to carry out her wishes. "As you're moved in here," +she said to Hsiang Ling, "won't you go and pay your respects to your +neighbours?" + +"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." + +Hsiang Ling assented and went off, passing first and foremost by +dowager lady Chia's apartments. But without devoting any of our +attention to her, we will revert to P'ing Erh. + +Seeing Hsiang Ling walk out of the room, she drew Pao-ch'ai near her. +"Miss! have you heard our news?" she inquired in a low tone of voice. + +"I haven't heard any news," Pao-ch'ai responded. "We've been daily so +busy in getting my brother's things ready for his voyage abroad, that +we know nothing whatever of any of your affairs in here. I haven't even +seen anything of my female cousins these last two days." + +"Our master, Mr. Chia She, has beaten our Mr. Secundus to such a degree +that he can't budge," P'ing Erh smiled. "But is it likely, miss, that +you've heard nothing about it?" + +"This morning," Pao-ch'ai said by way of reply, "I heard a vague report +on the subject, but I didn't believe it could be true. I was just about +to go and look up your mistress, when you unexpectedly arrived. But why +did he beat him again?" + +P'ing Erh set her teeth to and gave way to abuse. "It's all on account +of some Chia Yü-ts'un or other; a starved and half-dead boorish +bastard, who went yonder quite unexpectedly. It isn't yet ten years, +since we've known him, and he has been the cause of ever so much +trouble! In the spring of this year, Mr. Chia She saw somewhere or +other, I can't tell where, a lot of antique fans; so, when on his +return home, he noticed that the fine fans stored away in the house, +were all of no use, he at once directed servants to go everywhere and +hunt up some like those he had seen. Who'd have anticipated it, they +came across a reckless creature of retribution, dubbed by common +consent the 'stone fool,' who though so poor as to not even have any +rice to put to his mouth, happened to have at home twenty antique fans. +But these he utterly refused to take out of his main door. Our Mr. +Secundus had thus a precious lot of bother to ask ever so many favours +of people. But when he got to see the man, he made endless appeals to +him before he could get him to invite him to go and sit in his house; +when producing the fans, he allowed him to have a short inspection of +them. From what our Mr. Secundus says, it would be really difficult to +get any the like of them. They're made entirely of spotted black +bamboo, and the stags and jadelike clusters of bamboo on them are the +genuine pictures, drawn by men of olden times. When he got back, he +explained these things to Mr. Chia She, who readily asked him to buy +them, and give the man his own price for them. The 'stone fool,' +however, refused. 'Were I even to be dying from hunger,' he said, 'or +perishing from frostbites, and so much as a thousand taels were offered +me for each single fan, I wouldn't part with them.' Mr. Chia She could +do nothing, but day after day he abused our Mr. Secundus as a +good-for-nothing. Yet he had long ago promised the man five hundred +taels, payable cash down in advance, before delivery of the fans, but +he would not sell them. 'If you want the fans,' he had answered, 'you +must first of all take my life.' 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. Well, when he came to hear of it, he at once devised a plan to +lay hold of these fans, so fabricating the charge against him of +letting a government debt drag on without payment, he had him arrested +and brought before him in the Yamên; when he adjudicated that his +family property should be converted into money to make up the amount +due to the public chest; and, confiscating the fans in question, he set +an official value on them and sent them over here. And as for that +'stone fool,' no one now has the faintest idea whether he be dead or +alive. Mr. Chia She, however, taunted Mr. Secundus. 'How is it,' he +said, 'that other people can manage to get them?' Our master simply +rejoined 'that to bring ruin upon a person in such a trivial matter +could not be accounted ability.' But, at these words, his father +suddenly rushed into a fury, and averred that Mr. Secundus had said +things to gag his mouth. This was the main cause. But several minor +matters, which I can't even recollect, also occurred during these last +few days. So, when all these things accumulated, he set to work and +gave him a sound thrashing. He didn't, however, drag him down and +strike him with a rattan or cane, but recklessly assaulted him, while +he stood before him, with something or other, which he laid hold of, +and broke his face open in two places. We understand that Mrs. Hsüeh +has in here some medicine or other for applying on wounds, so do try, +miss, and find a ball of it and let me have it!" + +Hearing this, Pao-ch'ai speedily directed Ying Erh to go and look for +some, and, on discovering two balls of it, she brought them over and +handed them to P'ing Erh. + +"Such being the case," Pao-ch'ai said, "do make, on your return, the +usual inquiries for me, and I won't then need to go." + +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. + +After Hsiang Ling, for we will take up the thread of our narrative with +her, completed her visits to the various inmates, she had her evening +meal. Then when Pao-ch'ai and every one else went to dowager lady +Chia's quarters, she came into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. By this time +Tai-yü had got considerably better. Upon hearing that Hsiang Ling had +also moved into the garden, she, needless to say, was filled with +delight. + +"Now, that I've come in here," Hsiang Ling then smiled and said, "do +please teach me, at your leisure, how to write verses. It will be a bit +of good luck for me if you do." + +"Since you're anxious to learn how to versify," Tai-yü answered with a +smile, "you'd better acknowledge me as your tutor; for though I'm not a +good hand at poetry, yet I know, after all, enough to be able to teach +you." + +"Of course you do!" Hsiang Ling laughingly remarked. "I'll readily +treat you as my tutor. But you mustn't put yourself to any trouble!" + +"Is there anything so difficult about this," Tai-yü pursued, "as to +make it necessary to go in for any study? Why, it's purely and simply a +matter of openings, elucidations, embellishments and conclusions. The +elucidations and embellishments, which come in the centre, should form +two antithetical sentences, the even tones must pair with the uneven. +Empty words must correspond with full words; and full words with empty +words. 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." + +"Strange though it may appear," smiled Hsiang Ling, "I often handle +books with old poems, and read one or two stanzas, whenever I can steal +the time; and some among these I find pair most skilfully, while others +don't. I have also heard that the first, third and fifth lines are of +no consequence; and that the second, fourth and sixth must be clearly +distinguished. But I notice that there are in the poetical works of +ancient writers both those which accord with the rules, as well as +those whose second, fourth and sixth lines are not in compliance with +any rule. Hence it is that my mind has daily been full of doubts. But +after the hints you've given me, I really see that all these formulas +are of no account, and that the main requirement is originality of +diction." + +"Yes, that's just the principle that holds good," Tai-yü answered. "But +diction is, after all, a last consideration. The first and foremost +thing is the choice of proper sentiments; for when the sentiments are +correct, there'll even be no need to polish the diction; it's certain +to be elegant. This is called versifying without letting the diction +affect the sentiments." + +"What I admire," Hsiang Ling proceeded with a smile; "are the lines by +old Lu Fang; + + "The double portière, when not raised, retains the fragrance long. + An old inkslab, with a slight hole, collects plenty of ink. + +"Their language is so clear that it's charming." + +"You must on no account," Tai-yü observed, "read poetry of the kind. +It's because you people don't know what verses mean that you, no sooner +read any shallow lines like these, than they take your fancy. But when +once you get into this sort of style, it's impossible to get out of it. +Mark my words! If you are in earnest about learning, I've got here Wang +Mo-chieh's complete collection; so you'd better take his one hundred +stanzas, written in the pentameter rule of versification, and carefully +study them, until you apprehend them thoroughly. Afterwards, look over +the one hundred and twenty stanzas of Lao T'u, in the heptameter rule; +and next read a hundred or two hundred of the heptameter four-lined +stanzas by Li Ch'ing-lieu. When you have, as a first step, digested +these three authors, and made them your foundation, you can take T'ao +Yuan-ming, Ying, Liu, Hsieh, Yüan, Yü, Pao and other writers and go +through them once. And with those sharp and quick wits of yours, I've +no doubt but that you will become a regular poet before a year's time." + +"Well, in that case," Hsiang Ling smiled, after listening to her, +"bring me the book, my dear miss, so that I may take it along. 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. "Only +peruse those marked with red circles" she said. "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." + +Hsiang Ling took the poems and repaired back to the Heng Wu-yüan. And +without worrying her mind about anything she approached the lamp and +began to con stanza after stanza. Pao-ch'ai pressed her, several +consecutive times, to go to bed; but as even rest was far from her +thoughts, Pao-ch'ai let her, when she perceived what trouble she was +taking over her task, have her own way in the matter. + +Tai-yü had one day just finished combing her hair and performing her +ablutions, when she espied Hsiang Ling come with smiles playing about +her lips, to return her the book and to ask her to let her have T'u's +poetical compositions in exchange. + +"Of all these, how many stanzas can you recollect?" Tai-yü asked, +smiling. + +"I've read every one of those marked with a red circle," Hsiang Ling +laughingly rejoined. + +"Have you caught the ideas of any of them, yes or no?" Tai-yü inquired. + +"Yes, I've caught some!" Hsiang Ling smiled. "But whether rightly or +not +I don't know. Let me tell you." + +"You must really," Tai-yü laughingly remarked, "minutely solicit +people's opinions if you want to make any progress. But go on and let +me hear you." + +"From all I can see," Hsiang Ling smiled, "the beauty of poetry lies in +certain ideas, which though not quite expressible in words are, +nevertheless, found, on reflection, to be absolutely correct. Some may +have the semblance of being totally devoid of sense, but, on second +thought, they'll truly be seen to be full of sense and feeling." + +"There's a good deal of right in what you say," Tai-yü observed. "But I +wonder how you arrived at this conclusion?" + +"I notice in that stanza on 'the borderland,' the antithetical couplet: + + "In the vast desert reigns but upright mist. + In the long river setteth the round sun. + +"Consider now how ever can mist be upright? The sun is, of course, +round. But the word 'upright' would seem to be devoid of common sense; +and 'round' appears far too commonplace a word. But upon throwing the +whole passage together, and pondering over it, one fancies having seen +the scenery alluded to. Now were any one to suggest that two other +characters should be substituted for these two, one would verily be +hard pressed to find any other two as suitable. Besides this, there's +also the couplet: + + "When the sun sets, rivers and lakes are white; + When the mist falls, the heavens and earth azure. + +"Both 'white' and 'azure', apparently too lack any sense; but +reflection will show that these two words are absolutely necessary to +bring out thoroughly the aspect of the scenery. And in conning them +over, one feels just as if one had an olive, weighing several thousands +of catties, in one's mouth, so much relish does one derive from them. +But there's this too: + + "At the ferry stays the setting sun, + O'er the mart hangs the lonesome mist. + +"And how much trouble must these words 'stay,' and 'over, have caused +the author in their conception! When the boats made fast, in the +evening of a certain day of that year in which we came up to the +capital, the banks were without a trace of human beings; and there were +only just a few trees about; in the distance loomed the houses of +several families engaged in preparing their evening meal, and the mist +was, in fact, azure like jade, and connected like clouds. So, when I, +as it happened, read this couplet last night, it actually seemed to me +as if I had come again to that spot!" + +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. + +"Seeing that you know so much," Pao-yü remarked with a smiling face, +"you can dispense with reading poetical works, for you're not far off +from proficiency. To hear you expatiate on these two lines, makes it +evident to my mind that you've even got at their secret meaning." + +"You say," argued Tai-yü with a significant smile, "that the line: + + "'O'er (the mart) hangs the lonesome mist,' + +"is good; but aren't you yet aware that this is only plagiarised from +an ancient writer? But I'll show you the line I'm telling you of. +You'll find it far plainer and clearer than this." + +While uttering these words, she turned up T'ao Yüan-ming's, + + Dim in the distance lies a country place; + Faint in the hamlet-market hangs the mist; + +and handed it to Hsiang Ling. + +Hsiang Ling perused it, and, nodding her head, she eulogised it. +"Really," she smiled, the word 'over' is educed from the two characters +implying 'faint.' + +Pao-yü burst out into a loud fit of exultant laughter. "You've already +got it!" he cried. "There's no need of explaining anything more to you! +Any further explanations will, in lieu of benefiting you, make you +unlearn what you've learnt. 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?" Hsiang Ling laughingly ejaculated. "It's +merely that mania of mine that made me apply my mind to this subject at +all; just for fun and no other reason." + +T'an Ch'un and Tai-yü both smiled. "Who doesn't go in for these things +for fun?" they asked. "Is it likely that we improvise verses in real +earnest? Why, if any one treated our verses as genuine verses, and took +them outside this garden, people would have such a hearty laugh at our +expense that their very teeth would drop." + +"This is again self-violence and self-abasement!" Pao-yü interposed. +The other day, I was outside the garden, consulting with the gentlemen +about paintings, and, when they came to hear that we had started a +poetical society, they begged of me to let them have the rough copies +to read. So I wrote out several stanzas, and gave them to them to look +over, and who did not praise them with all sincerity? They even copied +them and took them to have the blocks cut." + +"Are you speaking the truth?" T'an Ch'un and Tai-yü eagerly inquired. + +"If I'm telling a lie," Pao-yü laughed, "I'm like that cockatoo on that +frame!" + +"You verily do foolish things!" Tai-yü and T'an Ch'un exclaimed with +one voice, at these words. "But not to mention that they were doggerel +lines, had they even been anything like what verses should be, our +writings shouldn't have been hawked about outside." + +"What's there to fear?" Pao-yü smiled. "Hadn't the writings of women of +old been handed outside the limits of the inner chambers, why, there +would, at present, be no one with any idea of their very existence." + +While he passed this remark, they saw Ju Hua arrive from Hsi Ch'un's +quarters to ask Pao-yü to go over; and Pao-yü eventually took his +departure. + +Hsiang Ling then pressed (Tai-yü) to give her T'u's poems. "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). You're at +liberty to make use of whatever words you fancy." + +Hearing this, Hsiang Ling was simply delighted, and taking the poems, +she went back. After considerable exertion, she succeeded in devising a +couplet, but so little able was she to tear herself away from the 'T'u' +poems, that she perused another couple of stanzas, until she had no +inclination for either tea or food, and she felt in an unsettled mood, +try though she did to sit or recline. + +"Why," Pao-ch'ai remonstrated, "do you bring such trouble upon +yourself? It's that P'in Erh, who has led you on to it! But I'll settle +accounts with her! You've all along been a thick-headed fool; but now +that you've burdened yourself with all this, you've become a greater +fool." + +"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. + +"This isn't good!" Pao-ch'ai smilingly said. "This isn't the way to do +it! 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. When Tai-yü came to read them, she found their text +to be: + + The night grows cool, what time Selene reacheth the mid-heavens. + Her radiance pure shineth around with such a spotless sheen. + Bards oft for inspiration raise on her their thoughts and eyes. + The rustic daren't see her, so fears he to enhance his grief. + Jade mirrors are suspended near the tower of malachite. + An icelike plate dangles outside the gem-laden portière. + The eve is fine, so why need any silvery candles burn? + A clear light shines with dazzling lustre on the painted rails. + +"There's a good deal of spirit in them," Tai-yü smiled, "but the +language is not elegant. It's because you've only read a few poetical +works that you labour under restraint. Now put this stanza aside and +write another. Pluck up your courage and go and work away." + +After listening to her advice, Hsiang Ling quietly wended her way back, +but so much the more (preoccupied) was she in her mind that she did not +even enter the house, but remaining under the trees, planted by the +side of the pond, she either seated herself on a rock and plunged in a +reverie, or squatted down and dug the ground, to the astonishment of +all those, who went backwards and forwards. Li wan, Pao-ch'ai, T'an +Ch'un, Pao-yü and some others heard about her; and, taking their +position some way off on the mound, they watched her, much amused. At +one time, they saw her pucker up her eyebrows; and at another smile to +herself. + +"That girl must certainly be cracked!" Pao-ch'ai laughed. "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. In a while, +however, she returned; and, after acting like an idiot the whole day, +she managed to put together a stanza. But it wasn't after all, good, so +she's, of course, now trying to devise another." + +"This indeed shows," Pao-yü laughingly remarked, "that the earth is +spiritual, that man is intelligent, and that heaven does not in the +creation of human beings bestow on them natural gifts to no purpose. +We've been sighing and lamenting that it was a pity that such a one as +she, should, really, be so unpolished; but who could ever have +anticipated that things would, in the long run, reach the present pass? +This is a clear sign that heaven and earth are most equitable!" + +"If only," smiled Pao-ch'ai, at these words, "you could be as +painstaking as she is, what a good thing it would be. And would you +fail to attain success in anything you might take up?" + +Pao-yü made no reply. But realising that Hsiang Ling had crossed over +in high spirits to find Tai-yü again, T'an Ch'un laughed and suggested, +"Let's follow her there, and see whether her composition is any good." + +At this proposal, they came in a body to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. Here +they discovered Tai-yü holding the verses and explaining various things +to her. + +"What are they like?" they all thereupon inquired of Tai-yü. + +"This is naturally a hard job for her!" Tai-yü rejoined. "They're not +yet as good as they should be. This stanza is far too forced; you must +write another." + +One and all however expressed a desire to look over the verses. On +perusal, they read: + + 'Tis not silver, neither water that on the windows shines so cold. + 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. + 'Tis the remains of powder which methinks besmear the golden steps. + Her lustrous rays enshroud like light hoar-frost the jadelike + balustrade. + When from my dreams I wake, in the west tower, all human trace is + gone. + Her slanting orb can yet clearly be seen across the bamboo screen. + +"It doesn't sound like a song on the moon," Pao-ch'ai smilingly +observed. "Yet were, after the word 'moon', that of 'light' supplied, +it would be better; for, just see, if each of these lines treated of +the moonlight, they would be all right. But poetry primarily springs +from nonsensical language. In a few days longer, you'll be able to do +well." + +Hsiang Ling had flattered herself that this last stanza was perfect, +and the criticisms, that fell on her ear, damped her spirits again. She +was not however disposed to relax in her endeavours, but felt eager to +commune with her own thoughts, so when she perceived the young ladies +chatting and laughing, she betook herself all alone to the bamboo-grove +at the foot of the steps; where she racked her brain, and ransacked her +mind with such intentness that her ears were deaf to everything around +her and her eyes blind to everything beyond her task. + +"Miss Ling," T'an Ch'un presently cried, smiling from inside the +window, "do have a rest!" + +"The character 'rest;'" Hsiang Ling nervously replied, "comes from lot +N.° 15, under 'shan', (to correct); so it's the wrong rhyme." + +This rambling talk made them involuntarily burst out laughing. + +"In very fact," Pao-sh'ai laughed, "she's under a poetical frenzy, and +it's all P'in Erh who has incited her." + +"The holy man says," Tai-yü smilingly rejoined, "that 'one must not be +weary of exhorting people'; and if she comes, time and again, to ask me +this and that how can I possibly not tell her?" + +"Let's take her to Miss Quarta's rooms," Li Wan smiled, "and if we +could coax her to look at the painting, and bring her to her senses, it +will be 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. Hsi Ch'un was tired and languid, and was lying +on the window, having a midday siesta. The painting was resting against +the partition-wall, and was screened with a gauze cover. 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. But their attention was attracted by the representation +of several beautiful girls, inserted in the picture, so pointing at +Hsiang Ling: "Every one who can write verses is to be put here," they +said, "so be quick and learn." + +But while conversing, they played and laughed for a time, after which, +each went her own way. + +Hsiang Ling was meanwhile preoccupied about her verses, so, when +evening came, she sat facing the lamp absorbed in thought. And the +third watch struck before she got to bed. But her eyes were so wide +awake, that it was only after the fifth watch had come and gone, that +she, at length, felt drowsy and fell fast asleep. + +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. It cannot be that this stanza too +won't be worth anything." + +"How sad and ridiculous!" Pao-ch'ai soliloquised with a smile. And, +calling her by name, she woke her up. "What have you got?" she asked. +"With that firmness of purpose of yours, you could even become a +spirit! But before you can learn how to write poetry, you'll be getting +some illness." + +Chiding her the while, she combed her hair and washed; and, this done, +she repaired, along with her cousins, into dowager lady Chia's +quarters. + +Hsiang Ling made, in fact, such desperate efforts to learn all about +poetry that her system got quite out of order. But although she did not +in the course of the day hit upon anything, she quite casually +succeeded in her dreams in devising eight lines; so concluding her +toilette and her ablutions, she hastily jotted them down, and betook +herself into the Hsin Fang pavilion. Here she saw Li Wan and the whole +bevy of young ladies, returning from Madame Wang's suite of apartments. + +Pao-ch'ai was in the act of telling them of the verses composed by +Hsiang Ling, while asleep, and of the nonsense she had been talking, +and every one of them was convulsed with laughter. But upon raising +their heads, and perceiving that she was approaching, they vied with +each other in pressing her to let them see her composition. + +But, reader, do you wish to know any further particulars? If you do; +read those given in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + + White snow and red plum blossom in the crystal world. + The pretty girl, fragrant with powder, cuts some meat and eats it. + +Hsiang Ling, we will now proceed, perceived the young ladies engaged in +chatting and laughing, and went up to them with a smiling countenance. +"Just you look at this stanza!" she said. "If it's all right, then I'll +continue my studies; but if it isn't worth any thing, I'll banish at +once from my mind all idea of going in for versification." + +With these words, she handed the verses to Tai-yü and her companions. +When they came to look at them, they found this to be their burden: + + If thou would'st screen Selene's beauteous sheen, thou'lt find it + hard. + Her shadows are by nature full of grace, frigid her form. + A row of clothes-stones batter, while she lights a thousand li. + 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. + While in the tower the red-sleeved maid leans on the rails at night. + She feels also constrained to ask of the goddess Ch'ang O: + 'Why it is that she does not let the moon e'er remain round?' + +"This stanza is not only good," they with one voice exclaimed, after +perusing it, "but it's original, it's charming. It bears out the +proverb: 'In the world, there's nothing difficult; the only thing hard +to get at is a human being with a will.' We'll certainly ask you to +join our club." + +Hsiang Ling caught this remark; but so little did she credit it that +fancying that they were making fun of her, she still went on to press +Tai-yü, Pao-ch'ai and the other girls to give her their opinions. But +while engaged in speaking, she spied a number of young waiting-maids, +and old matrons come with hurried step. "Several young ladies and +ladies have come," they announced smilingly, "but we don't know any of +them. So your ladyship and you, young ladies, had better come at once +and see what relatives they are." + +"What are you driving at?" Li Wan laughed. "You might, after all, state +distinctly whose relatives they are." + +"Your ladyship's two young sisters have come," the matrons and maids +rejoined smiling. "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. We are now off to ask Mrs. Hsüeh to meet them. But your +ladyship and the young ladies might go in advance and greet them." As +they spoke, they straightway took their leave. + +"Has our Hsüeh K'o come along with his sisters?" Pao-ch'ai inquired, +with a smile. + +"My aunt has probably also come to the capital," Li Wan laughed. "How +is it they've all arrived together? This is indeed a strange thing!" +Then adjourning in a body into Madame Wang's drawing rooms, they saw +the floor covered with a black mass of people. + +Madame Hsing's sister-in-law was there as well. She had entered the +capital with her daughter, Chou Yen, to look up madame Hsing. But lady +Feng's brother, Wang Jen, had, as luck would have it, just been +preparing to start for the capital, so the two family connexions set +out in company for their common destination. After accomplishing half +their journey, they encountered, while their boats were lying at +anchor, Li Wan's widowed sister-in-law, who also was on her way to the +metropolis, with her two girls, the elder of whom was Li Wen and the +younger Li Ch'i. They all them talked matters over, and, induced by the +ties of relationship, the three families prosecuted their voyage +together. But subsequently, Hsüeh P'an's cousin Hsüeh K'o,—whose father +had, when on a visit years ago to the capital, engaged his uterine +sister to the son of the Han-lin Mei, whose residence was in the +metropolis,—came while planning to go and consummate the marriage, to +learn of Wang Jen's departure, so taking his sister with him, he kept +in his track till he managed to catch him up. Hence it happened that +they all now arrived in a body to look up their respective relatives. +In due course, they exchanged the conventional salutations; and these +over, they had a chat. + +Dowager lady Chia and madame Wang were both filled with ineffable +delight. + +"Little wonder is it," smiled old lady Chia, "if the snuff of the lamp +crackled time and again; and if it formed and reformed into a head! 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. + +Li Wan and Pao-ch'ai descanted, of course, with their aunts and cousins +on the events that had transpired since their separation. But Tai-yü, +though when they first met, continued in cheerful spirits, could not +again, when the recollection afterwards flashed through her mind that +one and all had their relatives, and that she alone had not a soul to +rely upon, avoid withdrawing out of the way, and giving vent to tears. + +Pao-yü, however, read her feelings, and he had to do all that lay in +his power to exhort her and to console her for a time before she +cheered up. Pao-yü then hurried into the I Hung court. Going up to Hsi +Jen, She Yüeh and Chi'ng Wen: "Don't you yet hasten to go and see +them?" he smiled. "Who'd ever have fancied that cousin Pao-ch'ai's own +cousin would be what he is? That cousin of hers is so unique in +appearance and in deportment. He looks as if he were cousin Pao-ch'ai's +uterine younger brother. But what's still more odd is, that you should +have kept on saying the whole day long that cousin Pao-ch'ai is a very +beautiful creature. You should now see her cousin, as well as the two +girls of her senior sister-in-law. I couldn't adequately tell you what +they're like. Good heavens! Good heavens! What subtle splendour and +spiritual beauty must you possess to produce beings like them, so +superior to other human creatures! How plain it is that I'm like a frog +wallowing at the bottom of a well! I've throughout every hour of the +day said to myself that nowhere could any girls be found to equal those +at present in our home; but, as it happens, I haven't had far to look! +Even in our own native sphere, one would appear to eclipse the other! +Here I have now managed to add one more stratum to my store of +learning! But can it possibly be that outside these few, there can be +any more like them?" + +As he uttered these sentiments, he smiled to himself. But Hsi Jen +noticed how much under the influence of his insane fits he once more +was, and she promptly abandoned all idea of going over to pay her +respects to the visitors. + +Ch'ing Wen and the other girls had already gone and seen them and come +back. Putting on a smile, "You'd better," they urged Hsi Jen, "be off +at once and have a look at them. Our elder mistress' niece, Miss Pao's +cousin, and our senior lady's two sisters resemble a bunch of four +leeks so pretty are they!" + +But scarcely were these words out of their lips, than they perceived +T'an Ch'un too enter the room, beaming with smiles. She came in quest +of +Pao-yü. + +"Our poetical society is in a flourishing way," she remarked. + +"It is," smiled Pao-yü. "Here no sooner do we, in the exuberance of our +spirits, start a poetical society, than the devils and gods bring +through their agency, all these people in our midst! There's only one +thing however. Have they, I wonder, ever learnt how to write poetry or +not?" + +"I just now asked every one of them," T'an Ch'un replied. "Their ideas +of themselves are modest, it's true, yet from all I can gather there's +not one who can't versify. But should there even be any who can't, +there's nothing hard about it. Just look at Hsiang Ling. Her case will +show you the truth of what I say." + +"Of the whole lot," smiled Ch'ing Wen, "Miss Hsüeh's cousin carries the +palm. What do you think about her, Miss Tertia?" + +"It's really so!" T'an Ch'un responded. "In my own estimation, even her +elder cousin and all this bevy of girls are not fit to hold a candle to +her!" + +Hsi Jen felt much surprise at what she heard. "This is indeed odd!" she +smiled. "Whence could one hunt up any better? We'd like to go and have +a peep at her." + +"Our venerable senior," T'an Ch'un observed, "was at the very first +sight of her so charmed with her that there's nothing she wouldn't do. +She has already compelled our Madame Hsing to adopt her as a godchild. +Our dear ancestor wishes to bring her up herself; this point was +settled a little while back." + +Pao-yü went into ecstasies. "Is this a fact?" he eagerly inquired. + +"How often have I gone in for yarns?" T'an Ch'un said. "Now that our +worthy senior," continuing, she laughed, "has got this nice +granddaughter, she has banished from her mind all thought of a grandson +like you!" + +"Never mind," answered Pao-yü smiling. "It's only right that girls +should be more doated upon. But to-morrow is the sixteenth, so we +should have a meeting." + +"That girl Lin Tai-yü is no sooner out of bed," T'an Ch'un remarked, +"than cousin Secunda falls ill again. Everything is, in fact, up and +down!" + +"Our cousin Secunda," Pao-yü explained, "doesn't also go in very much +for verses, so, what would it matter if she were left out?" + +"It would be well to wait a few days," T'an Ch'un urged, "until the new +comers have had time to see enough of us to become intimate. We can +then invite them to join us. Won't this be better? Our senior +sister-in-law and cousin Pao have now no mind for poetry. Besides, +Hsiang-yün has not arrived. P'in Erh is just over her sickness. The +members are not all therefore in a fit state, so wouldn't it be +preferable if we waited until that girl Yün came? The new arrivals will +also have a chance of becoming friendly. P'in Erh will likewise recover +entirely. Our senior sister-in-law and cousin Pao will have time to +compose their minds; and Hsiang Ling to improve in her verses. We shall +then be able to convene a full meeting; and won't it be better? You and +I must now go over to our worthy ancestor's, on the other side, and +hear what's up. But, barring cousin Pao-ch'ai's cousin,—for we needn't +take her into account, as it's sure to have been decided that she +should live in our home,—if the other three are not to stay here with +us, we should entreat our grandmother to let them as well take up their +quarters in the garden. And if we succeed in adding a few more to our +number, won't it be more fun for us?" + +Pao-yü at these words was so much the more gratified that his very +eyebrows distended, and his eyes laughed. "You've got your wits about +you!" he speedily exclaimed. "My mind is ever so dull! I've vainly +given way to a fit of joy. But to think of these contingencies was +beyond me!" + +So saying the two cousins repaired together to their grandmother's +suite of apartments; where, in point of fact, Madame Wang had already +gone through the ceremony of recognizing Hsüeh Pao-ch'in as her +godchild. Dowager lady Chia's fascination for her, however, was so much +out of the common run that she did not tell her to take up her quarters +in the garden. Of a night, she therefore slept with old lady Chia in +the same rooms; while Hsüeh K'o put up in Hsüeh P'an's study. + +"Your niece needn't either return home," dowager lady Chia observed to +Madame Hsing. "Let her spend a few days in the garden and see the place +before she goes." + +Madame Hsing's brother and sister-in-law were, indeed, in straitened +circumstances at home. So much so that they had, on their present visit +to the capital, actually to rely upon such accommodation as Madame +Hsing could procure for them and upon such help towards their +travelling expenses as she could afford to give them. 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. But lady Feng, bethinking herself of the +number of young ladies already in the garden, of their divergent +dispositions and, above all things, of the inconvenience of starting a +separate household, deemed it advisable to send her to live along with +Ying Ch'un; for in the event, (she thought), of Hsing Chou-yen meeting +afterwards with any contrarieties, she herself would be clear of all +responsibility, even though Madame Hsing came to hear about them. +Deducting, therefore any period, spent by Hsing Chou-yen on a visit +home, lady Feng allowed Hsing Chou-yen as well, if she extended her +stay in the garden of Broad Vista for any time over a month, an amount +equal to that allotted to Ying Ch'un. + +Lady Feng weighed with unprejudiced eye Hsing Chou-yen's temperament +and deportment. She found in her not the least resemblance to Madame +Hsing, or even to her father and mother; but thought her a most genial +and love-inspiring girl. This consideration actuated lady Feng (not to +deal harshly with her), but to pity her instead for the poverty, in +which they were placed at home, and for the hard lot she had to bear, +and to treat her with far more regard than she did any of the other +young ladies. Madame Hsing, however, did not lavish much attention on +her. + +Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the rest had all along been fond of +Li Wan for her virtuous and benevolent character. Besides, her +continence in remaining a widow at her tender age commanded general +esteem. When they therefore now saw her husbandless sister-in-law come +to pay her a visit, they would not allow her to go and live outside the +mansion. Her sister-in-law was, it is true, extremely opposed to the +proposal, but as dowager lady Chia was firm in her determination, she +had no other course but to settle down, along with Li Wen and Li Ch'i, +in the Tao Hsiang village. + +They had by this time assigned quarters to all the new comers, when, +who would have thought it, Shih Ting, Marquis of Chung Ching, was once +again appointed to a high office in another province, and he had +shortly to take his family and proceed to his post. But so little could +old lady Chia brook the separation from Hsiang-yün that she kept her +behind and received her in her own home. Her original idea was to have +asked lady Feng to have separate rooms arranged for her, but Shih +Hsiang-yün was so obstinate in her refusal, her sole wish being to put +up with Pao-ch'ai, that the idea had, in consequence, to be abandoned. + +At this period, the garden of Broad Vista was again much more full of +life than it had ever been before. Li Wan was the chief inmate. The +rest consisted of Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yü, +Hsiang-yün, Li Wen, Li Ch'i, Pao Ch'in and Hsing Chou-yen. In addition +to these, there were lady Feng and Pao-yü, so that they mustered +thirteen in all. As regards age, irrespective of Li Wan, who was by far +the eldest, and lady Feng, who came next, the other inmates did not +exceed fourteen, sixteen or seventeen. But the majority of them had +come into the world in the same year, though in different months, so +they themselves could not remember distinctly who was senior, and who +junior. Even dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the matrons and maids +in the household were unable to tell the differences between them with +any accuracy, given as they were to the simple observance of addressing +themselves promiscuously and quite at random by the four words +representing 'female cousin' and 'male cousin.' + +Hsiang Ling was gratifying her wishes to her heart's content and +devoting her mind exclusively to the composition of verses, not +presuming however to make herself too much of a nuisance to Pao-ch'ai, +when, by a lucky coincidence, Shih Hsiang-yün came on the scene. But +how was it possible for one so loquacious as Hsiang-yün to avoid the +subject of verses, when Hsiang Ling repeatedly begged her for +explanations? This inspirited her so much the more, that not a day went +by, yea not a single night, on which she did not start some loud +argument and lengthy discussion. + +"You really," Pao-ch'ai felt impelled to laugh, "kick up such a din, +that it's quite unbearable! Fancy a girl doing nothing else than +turning poetry into a legitimate thing for raising an argument! Why, +were some literary persons to hear you, they would, instead of praising +you, have a laugh at your expense, and say that you don't mind your own +business. We hadn't yet got rid of Hsiang Ling with all her rubbish, +and here we have a chatterbox like you thrown on us! But what is it +that that mouth of yours keeps on jabbering? What about the bathos of +Tu Kung-pu; and the unadorned refinement of Wei Su-chou? What also +about Wen Pa-ch'a's elegant diction; and Li I-shan's abstruseness? A +pack of silly fools that you are! Do you in any way behave like girls +should?" + +These sneers evoked laughter from both Hsiang Ling and Hsiang-yün. But +in the course of their conversation, they perceived Pao-ch'in drop in, +with a waterproof wrapper thrown over her, so dazzling with its gold +and purplish colours, that they were at a loss to make out what sort of +article it could be. + +"Where did you get this?" Pao-ch'ai eagerly inquired. + +"It was snowing," Pao-ch'in smilingly replied, "so her venerable +ladyship turned up this piece of clothing and gave it to me." + +Hsiang Ling drew near and passed it under inspection. "No wonder," she +exclaimed, "it looks so handsome! It's verily woven with peacock's +feathers." + +"What about peacock's feathers?" Hsiang-yün laughed. "It's made of the +feathers plucked from the heads of wild ducks. 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." + +"Truly does the proverb say: 'that every human being has his respective +lot.'" Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Nothing ever was further from my thoughts +than that she would, at this juncture, drop on the scene! 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. You may romp and laugh and eat and drink as much as +you like in these two places. 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. But should she not +be in, don't put your foot inside; for the inmates are many in those +rooms and their hearts are evil. All they're up to is to do us harm." + +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. But despite your having a heart, +your tongue is, in fact, a little too outspoken! You should really +to-day acknowledge this Ch'in Erh of ours as your own sister!" + +"This article of clothing," Hsiang-yün laughed, casting another glance +at Pao-ch'in, "is only meet for her to wear. It wouldn't verily look +well on any one else." + +Saying this, she espied Hu Po enter the room. "Our old mistress," she +put in smiling, "bade me tell you, Miss Pao-ch'ai, not to keep too +strict a check over Miss Ch'in, for she's yet young; that you should +let her do as she pleases, and that whatever she wants you should ask +for, and not be afraid." + +Pao-ch'ai hastily jumped to her feet and signified her obedience. +Pushing Pao-ch'in, she laughed. "Even you couldn't tell whence this +piece of good fortune hails from," she said. "Be off now; for mind, we +might hurt your feelings. I can never believe myself so inferior to +you!" + +As she spoke, Pao-yü and Tai-yü walked in. But as Pao-ch'ai continued +to indulge in raillery to herself, "Cousin Pao," Hsiang-yün smilingly +remonstrated, "you may, it's true, be jesting, but what if there were +any one to entertain such ideas in real earnest?" + +"If any one took things in earnest," Hu Po interposed laughing, "why, +she'd give offence to no one else but to him." Pointing, as she uttered +this remark, at Pao-yü. + +"He's not that sort of person!" Pao-ch'ai and Hsiang-yün simultaneously +ventured, with a significant smile. + +"If it isn't he," Hu Po proceeded still laughing, "it's she." Turning +again her finger towards Tai-yü. + +Hsiang-yün expressed not a word by way of rejoinder. + +"That's still less likely," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "for my cousin is like +her own sister; and she's far fonder of her than of me. How could she +therefore take offence? Do you credit that nonsensical trash uttered by +Yün-erh! Why what good ever comes out of that mouth of hers?" + +Pao-yü was ever well aware that Tai-yü was gifted with a somewhat mean +disposition. He had not however as yet come to learn anything of what +had recently transpired between Tai-yü and Pao-ch'ai. He was therefore +just giving way to fears lest his grandmother's fondness for Pao-ch'in +should be the cause of her feeling dejected. But when he now heard the +remarks passed by Hsiang-yün, and the rejoinders made, on the other +hand, by Pao-ch'ai, and, when he noticed how different Tai-yü's voice +and manner were from former occasions, and how they actually bore out +Pao-ch'ai's insinuation, he was at a great loss how to solve the +mystery. "These two," he consequently pondered, "were never like this +before! From all I can now see, they're, really, a hundred times far +more friendly than any others are!" But presently he also observed Lin +Tai-yü rush after Pao-ch'in, and call out 'Sister,' and, without even +making any allusion to her name or any mention to her surname, treat +her in every respect, just as if she were her own sister. + +This Pao-ch'in was young and warm-hearted. She was naturally besides of +an intelligent disposition. She had, from her very youth up, learnt how +to read and how to write. After a stay, on the present occasion, of a +couple of days in the Chia mansion, she became acquainted with nearly +every inmate. And as she saw that the whole bevy of young ladies were +not of a haughty nature, and that they kept on friendly terms with her +own cousin, she did not feel disposed to treat them with any +discourtesy. But she had likewise found out for herself that Lin Tai-yü +was the best among the whole lot, so she started with Tai-yü, more than +with any one else, a friendship of unusual fervour. This did not escape +Pao-yü's notice; but all he could do was to secretly give way to +amazement. + +Shortly, however, Pao-ch'ai and her cousin repaired to Mrs. Hsüeh's +quarters. Hsiang-yün then betook herself to dowager lady Chia's +apartments, while Lin Tai-yü returned to her room and lay down to rest. + +Pao-yü thereupon came to look up Tai-yü. + +"Albeit I've read the 'Record of the Western Side-room,'" he smiled, +"and understood a few passages of it, yet when I quoted some in order +to make you laugh, you flew into a huff! But I now remember that there +is, indeed, a passage, which is not intelligible to me; so let me quote +it for you to explain it for me!" + +Hearing this, Tai-yü immediately concluded that his words harboured +some secret meaning, so putting on a smile, "Recite it and let me hear +it," she said. + +"In the 'Confusion' chapter," Pao-yü laughingly began, "there's a line +couched in most beautiful language. It's this: 'What time did Meng +Kuang receive Liang Hung's candlestick?' (When did you and Pao-ch'ai +get to be such friends?) These five characters simply bear on a stock +story; but to the credit of the writer be it, the question contained in +the three empty words representing, 'What time' is set so charmingly! +When did she receive it? 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. "But +though the writer sets it gracefully, you ask it likewise with equal +grace!" + +"At one time," Pao-yü. observed, "all you knew was to suspect that I +(was in love with Pao-ch'ai); and have you now no faults to find?" + +"Who ever could have imagined her such a really nice girl!" Tai-yü +smiled. "I've all along thought her full of guile!" And seizing the +occasion, she told Pao-yü with full particulars how she had, in the +game of forfeits, made an improper quotation, and what advice Pao-ch'ai +had given her on the subject; how she had even sent her some birds' +nests, and what they had said in the course of the chat they had had +during her illness. + +Pao-yü then at length came to see why it was that such a warm +friendship had sprung up between them. "To tell you the truth," he +consequently remarked smilingly, "I was just wondering when Meng Kuang +had received Liang Hung's candlestick; and, lo, you, indeed, got it, +when a mere child and through some reckless talk, (and your friendship +was sealed)." + +As the conversation again turned on Pao-ch'in, Tai-yü recalled to mind +that she had no sister, and she could not help melting once more into +tears. + +Pao-yü hastened to reason with her. "This is again bringing trouble +upon yourself!" he argued. "Just see how much thinner you are this year +than you were last; and don't you yet look after your health? You +deliberately worry yourself every day of your life. And when you've had +a good cry, you feel at last that you've acquitted yourself of the +duties of the day." + +"Of late," Tai-yü observed, drying her tears, "I feel sore at heart. +But my tears are scantier by far than they were in years gone by. With +all the grief and anguish, which gnaw my heart, my tears won't fall +plentifully." + +"This is because weeping has become a habit with you," Pao-yü added. +"But though you fancy to yourself that it is so, how can your tears +have become scantier than they were?" + +While arguing with her, he perceived a young waiting-maid, attached to +his room, bring him a red felt wrapper. "Our senior mistress, lady Chia +Chu," she went on, "has just sent a servant to say that, as it snows, +arrangements should be made for inviting people to-morrow to write +verses." + +But hardly was this message delivered, than they saw Li Wan's maid +enter, and invite Tai-yü to go over. Pao-yü then proposed to Tai-yü to +accompany him, and together they came to the Tao Hsiang village. Tai-yü +changed her shoes for a pair of low shoes made of red scented sheep +skin, ornamented with gold, and hollowed clouds. She put on a deep red +crape cloak, lined with white fox fur; girdled herself with a +lapis-lazuli coloured sash, decorated with bright green double rings +and four sceptres; and covered her head with a hat suitable for rainy +weather. After which, the two cousins trudged in the snow, and repaired +to this side of the mansion. Here they discovered the young ladies +assembled, dressed all alike in deep red felt or camlet capes, with the +exception of Li Wan, who was clad in a woollen jacket, buttoning in the +middle. + +Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai wore a pinkish-purple twilled pelisse, lined with +foreign 'pa' fur, worked with threads from abroad, and ornamented with +double embroidery. Hsing Chou-yen was still attired in an old costume, +she ordinarily used at home, without any garment for protection against +the rain. Shortly, Shih Hsiang-yün arrived. She wore the long pelisse, +given her by dowager lady Chia, which gave warmth both from the inside +and outside, as the top consisted of martin-head fur, and the lining of +the long-haired coat of the dark grey squirrel. On her head, she had a +deep red woollen hood, made _á la_ Chao Chün, with designs of clouds +scooped out on it. This was lined with gosling-yellow, gold-streaked +silk. Round her neck, she had a collar of sable fur. + +"Just see here!" Tai-yü was the first to shout with a laugh. "Here +comes Sun Hsing-che the 'monkey-walker!' Lo, like him, she holds a snow +cloak, and purposely puts on the air of a young bewitching ape!" + +"Look here, all of you!" Hsiang-yün laughed. "See what I wear inside!" + +So saying, she threw off her cloak. This enabled them to notice that +she wore underneath a half-new garment with three different coloured +borders on the collar and cuffs, consisting of a short pelisse of +russet material lined with ermine and ornamented with dragons +embroidered in variegated silks whose coils were worked with golden +threads. The lapel was narrow. The sleeves were short. The folds +buttoned on the side. Under this, she had a very short light-red +brocaded satin bodkin, lined with fur from foxes' ribs. Round her waist +was lightly attached a many-hued palace sash, with butterfly knots and +long tassels. 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. + +"Her weak point," they laughed unanimously, "is to get herself up to +look like a young masher. But she does, there's no denying, cut a much +handsomer figure like this, than when she's dressed up like a girl!" + +"Lose no time," Hsiang-yün smiled, "in deliberating about writing +verses, for I'd like to hear who is to stand treat." + +"According to my idea," Li Wan chimed in, "I think that as the +legitimate day, which was yesterday, has gone by, it would be too long +to wait for another proper date. As luck would have it, it's snowing +again to-day, so won't it be well to raise contributions among +ourselves and have a meeting? We'll thus be able to give the visitors a +greeting; and to get an opportunity of writing a few verses. But what +are your views on the subject?" + +"This proposal is excellent!" Pao-yü was the first to exclaim. "The +only thing is that it's too late to-day; and if it clears up by +to-morrow, there will be really no fun." + +"It isn't likely," cried out the party with one voice, "that this snowy +weather will clear up. But even supposing it does, the snow which will +fall during this night will be sufficient for our enjoyment." + +"This place of mine is nice enough, it's true," Li Wan added, "yet it +isn't up to the Lu Hsüeh Pavilion. I've already therefore despatched +workmen to raise earthen couches, so that we should all be able to sit +round the fire and compose our verses. Our venerable senior, I fancy, +is not sure about caring to join us. Besides, this is only a small +amusement between ourselves so if we just let that hussy Feng know +something about it, it will be quite enough. A tael from each of you +will be ample, but send your money to me here! As regards Hsiang Ling, +Pao-ch'in, Li Wen, Li Ch'i and Chou-yen, the five of them, we needn't +count them. Neither need we include the two girls of our number, who +are ill; nor take into account the four girls who've asked for leave. +If you will let me have your four shares, I'll undertake to see that +five or six taels be made to suffice." + +Pao-ch'ai and the others without exception signified their +acquiescence. They consequently proceeded to propose the themes and to +fix upon the rhymes. + +"I've long ago," smiled Li Wan, "settled them in my own mind, so +tomorrow at the proper time you'll really know all about them." + +At the conclusion of this remark, they indulged in another chat on +irrelevant topics; and this over, they came into old lady Chia's +quarters. + +Nothing of any note transpired during the course of that day. At an +early hour on the morrow, Pao-yü—for he had been looking forward with +such keen expectation to the coming event that he had found it +impossible to have any sleep during the night,—jumped out of bed with +the first blush of dawn. Upon raising his curtain and looking out, he +observed that, albeit the doors and windows were as yet closed, a +bright light shone on the lattice sufficient to dazzle the eyes, and +his mind began at once to entertain misgivings, and to feel regrets, in +the assurance that the weather had turned out fine, and that the sun +had already risen. In a hurry, he simultaneously sprung to his feet, +and flung the window-frame open, then casting a glance outside, from +within the glass casement, he realised that it was not the reflection +of the sun, but that of the snow, which had fallen throughout the night +to the depth of over a foot, and that the heavens were still covered as +if with twisted cotton and unravelled floss. Pao-yü got, by this time, +into an unusual state of exhilaration. Hastily calling up the servants, +and completing his ablutions, he robed himself in an egg-plant-coloured +camlet, fox-fur lined pelisse; donned a short-sleeved falconry surtout +ornamented with water dragons; tied a sash round his waist; threw over +his shoulders a fine bamboo waterproof; covered his head with a golden +rattan rain-hat; put on a pair of 'sha t'ang' wood clogs, and rushed +out with precipitate step towards the direction of the Lu Hsüeh +Pavilion. + +As soon as he sallied out of the gate of the courtyard, he gazed on all +four quarters. No trace whatever of any other colour (but white) struck +his eye. In the distance stood the green fir-trees and the +kingfisherlike bamboos. They too looked, however, as if they were +placed in a glass bowl. + +Forthwith he wended his way down the slope and trudged along the foot +of the hill. But the moment he turned the bend, he felt a whiff of cold +fragrance come wafted into his nostrils. Turning his head, he espied +ten and more red plum trees, over at Miao Yü's in the Lung Ts'ui +monastery. They were red like very rouge. And, reflecting the white +colour of the snow, they showed off their beauty to such an +extraordinary degree as to present a most pleasing sight. + +Pao-yü quickly stood still, and gazed, with all intentness, at the +landscape for a time. 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. This +Lu Hsüeh (Water-rush snow) pavilion was, we might explain, situated on +a side hill, in the vicinity of a stream and spanned the rapids formed +by it. The whole place consisted of several thatched roofs, mud walls, +side fences, bamboo lattice windows and pushing windows, out of which +fishing-lines could be conveniently dropped. On all four sides +flourished one mass of reeds, which concealed the single path out of +the pavilion. Turning and twisting, he penetrated on his way through +the growth of reeds until he reached the spot where stretched the +bamboo bridge leading to the Lotus Fragrance Arbour. + +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! The young ladies are coming after their breakfast; you're in +too impatient a mood!" + +At these words, Pao-yü had no help but to retrace his footsteps. As +soon as he reached the Hsin Tang pavilion, he perceived T'an Ch'un, +issuing from the Ch'iu Shuang Study, wrapped in a deep red woollen +waterproof, and a 'Kuan Yin' hood on her head, supporting herself on +the arm of a young maid. Behind her, followed a married woman, holding +a glazed umbrella made of green satin. + +Pao-yü knew very well that she was on her way to his grandmother's, so +speedily halting by the side of the pavilion, he waited for her to come +up. The two cousins then left the garden together, and betook +themselves to the front part of the mansion. Pao-ch'in was at the time +in the inner apartments, combing her hair, washing her hands and face +and changing her apparel. Shortly, the whole number of girls arrived. +"I feel peckish!" Pao-yü shouted; and again and again he tried to hurry +the meal. It was with great impatience that he waited until the +eatables could be laid on the table. + +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. +"They're things that haven't seen the light! The pity is that you young +people can't have any. There's some fresh venison to-day as an extra +course, so you'd better wait and eat some of that!" + +One and all expressed their readiness to wait. Pao-yü however could not +delay having something to eat. Seizing a cup of tea, he soaked a +bowlful of rice, to which he added some meat from a pheasant's leg, and +gobbled it down in a scramble. + +"I'm well aware," dowager lady Chia said, "that as you're up to +something again to-day, you people have no mind even for your meal. Let +them keep," she therefore cried, "that venison for their evening +repast!" + +"What an idea!" lady Feng promptly put in. "We'll have enough with what +remains of it." + +Shih Hsiang-yün thereupon consulted with Pao-yü. "As there's fresh +venison," she said, "wouldn't it be nice to ask for a haunch and take +it into the garden and prepare it ourselves? We'll thus be able to sate +our hunger, and have some fun as well." + +At this proposal, Pao-yü actually asked lady Feng to let them have a +haunch, and he bade a matron carry it into the garden. + +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. But Hsiang-yün and Pao-yü were +the only two of whom nothing was seen. + +"Those two," Tai-yü observed, "can't get together! The moment they +meet, how much trouble doesn't arise! They must surely have now gone to +hatch their plans over that haunch of venison." + +These words were still on her lips when she saw 'sister-in-law' Li +coming also to see what the noise was all about. "How is it," she then +inquired of Li Wan, "that that young fellow, with the jade, and that +girl, with the golden unicorn round her neck, both of whom are so +cleanly and tidy, and have besides ample to eat, are over there +conferring about eating raw meat? There they are chatting, saying this +and saying that; but I can't see how meat can be eaten raw!" + +This remark much amused the party. "How dreadful!" they exclaimed, "Be +quick and bring them both here!" + +"All this fuss," Tay-yü smiled, "is the work of that girl Yün. I'm not +far off again in my surmises." + +Li Wan went out with precipitate step in search of the cousins. "If you +two are bent upon eating raw meat," she cried, "I'll send you over to +our old senior's; you can do so there. What will I care then if you +have a whole deer raw and make yourselves ill over it? It won't be any +business of mine. But it's snowing hard and it's bitterly cold, so be +quick and go and write some verses for me and be off!" + +"We're doing nothing of the kind," Pao-yü hastily rejoined. "We're +going to eat some roasted meat." + +"Well, that won't matter!" Li Wan observed. And seeing the old matrons +bring an iron stove, prongs and a gridiron of iron wire, "Mind you +don't cut your hands," Li Wan resumed, "for we won't have any crying!" + +This remark concluded, she walked in. + +Lady Feng had sent P'ing Erh from her quarters to announce that she was +unable to come, as the issue of the customary annual money gave her +just at present, plenty to keep her busy. + +Hsiang-yün caught sight of P'ing Erh and would not let her go on her +errand. But P'ing Erh too was fond of amusement, and had ever followed +lady Feng everywhere she went, so, when she perceived what fun was to +be got, and how merrily they joked and laughed, she felt impelled to +take off her bracelets (and to join them). The trio then pressed round +the fire; and P'ing Erh wanted to be the first to roast three pieces of +venison to regale themselves with. + +On the other side, Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yü had, even in ordinary times, +seen enough of occasions like the present. They did not therefore think +it anything out of the way; but Pao-ch'in and the other visitors, +inclusive of 'sister-in-law' Li, were filled with intense wonder. + +T'an Ch'un had, with the help of Li Wan, and her companions, succeeded +by this time in choosing the subjects and rhymes. "Just smell that +sweet fragrance," T'an Ch'un remarked. "One can smell it even here! I'm +also going to taste some." + +So speaking, she too went to look them up. But Li Wan likewise followed +her out. "The guests are all assembled," she observed. "Haven't you +people had enough as yet?" + +While Hsiang-yün munched what she had in her month, she replied to her +question. "Whenever," she said, "I eat this sort of thing, I feel a +craving for wine. It's only after I've had some that I shall be able to +rhyme. Were it not for this venison, I would to-day have positively +been quite unfit for any poetry." 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." + +"It's too filthy!" Pao-ch'in replied smiling. + +"You go and try it." Pao-ch'ai added with a laugh. "It's capital! 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." + +Upon hearing this, Pao-ch'in readily crossed over and put a piece in +her mouth; and so good did she find it that she likewise started eating +some of it. + +In a little time, however, lady Feng sent a young maid to call P'ing +Erh. + +"Miss Shih," P'ing Erh explained, "won't let me go. So just return +ahead of me." + +The maid thereupon took her leave; but shortly after they saw lady Feng +arrive; she too with a wrapper over her shoulders. + +"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. + +"Where has this crowd of beggars turned up from?" Tai-yü put in with a +laugh. "But never mind, never mind! Here's the Lu Hsüeh pavilion come +in for this calamity to-day, and, as it happens, it's that chit Yün by +whom it has been polluted! But I'll have a good cry for the Lu Hsüeh +pavilion." + +Hsiang-yün gave an ironical smile. "What do you know?" she exclaimed. +"A genuine man of letters is naturally refined. But as for the whole +lot of you, your poor and lofty notions are all a sham! You are most +loathsome! We may now be frowzy and smelly, as we munch away lustily +with our voracious appetites, but by and bye we'll prove as refined as +scholars, as if we had cultured minds and polished tongues." + +"If by and bye," Pao-ch'ai laughingly interposed, "the verses you +compose are not worth anything, I'll tug out that meat you've eaten, +and take some of these snow-buried weeds and stuff you up with. I'll +thus put an end to this evil fortune!" + +While bandying words, they finished eating. For a time, they busied +themselves with washing their hands. But when P'ing Erh came to put on +her bracelets, she found one missing. She looked in a confused manner, +at one time to the left, at another to the right; now in front of her, +and then behind her for ever so long, but not a single vestige of it +was visible. One and all were therefore filled with utter astonishment. + +"I know where this bracelet has gone to;" lady Feng suggested +smilingly. "But just you all go and attend to your poetry. 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. What verses are you +writing to-day?" continuing she went on to inquire. "Our worthy senior +says that the end of the year is again nigh at hand, and that in the +first moon some more conundrums will have to be devised to be affixed +on lanterns, for the recreation of the whole family." + +"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. Pao-yü and Hsiang-yün hastened to examine what was +written. They saw that they had to take for a theme something on the +present scenery and indite a stanza with antithetical pentameter lines; +that the word 'hsiao,' second (in the book of metre), had been fixed +upon as a rhyme; but that there was, below that, no mention, as yet, +made of any precedence. + +"I can't write verses very well," Li Wan pleaded, "so all I'll do will +be to devise three lines, and the one, who'll finish the task first, +we'll have afterwards to pair them." + +"We should, after all," Pao-ch'ai urged, "make some distinction with +regard to order." + +But, reader, if you entertain any desire to know the sequel, peruse the +particulars recorded in the chapter that follows. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + + In the Lu Hsüeh pavilion, they vie with each other in pairing verses + on the scenery. + In the Nuan Hsiang village, they compose, in beautiful style, riddles + for the spring lanterns. + +But to continue. "We should, after all," Pao-ch'ai suggested, "make +some distinction as to order. Let me write out what's needful." + +After uttering this proposal, she urged every one to draw lots and +determine the precedence. The first one to draw was Li Wan. After her, +a list of the respective names was made in the order in which they came +out. + +"Well, in that case," lady Feng rejoined, "I'll also give a top line." + +The whole party laughed in chorus. "It will be ever so much better like +this," they said. + +Pao-ch'ai supplied above 'the old labourer of Tao Hsiang' the word +'Feng,' whereupon Li Wan went on to explain the theme to her. + +"You musn't poke fun at me!" lady Feng smiled, after considerable +reflection. "I've only managed to get a coarse line. 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. "Out +with it! You can then go and attend to your legitimate business!" + +"I fancy," lady Feng observed, "that when it snows there's bound to be +northerly wind, for last night I heard the wind blow from the north the +whole night long. I've got a line, it's: + + "'The whole night long the northern wind was high;' + +"but whether it will do or not, I am not going to worry my mind about +it." + +One and all, upon hearing this, exchanged looks. "This line is, it's +true, coarse," they smiled, "and gives no insight into what comes +below, but it's just the kind of opening that would be used by such as +understand versification. It's not only good, but it will afford to +those, who come after you, inexhaustible scope for writing. In fact, +this line will take the lead, so 'old labourer of Tao Hsiang' be quick +and indite some more to tag on below." + +Lady Feng, 'sister-in-law' Li, and P'ing Erh had then another couple of +glasses, after which each went her own way. During this while Li Wan +wrote down: + +The whole night long the northern wind was high; + +and then she herself subjoined the antithetical couplet: + + The door I ope, and lo the flakes of snow are still toss'd by the + wind, + And drop into the slush. Oh, what a pity they're so purely white! + +Hsiang Ling recited: + + All o'er the ground is spread, alas, this bright, refulgent gem; + But with an aim; for it is meant dry herbage to revive. + +T'an Ch'un said: + + Without design the dying sprouts of grain it nutrifies. + But in the villages the price of mellow wine doth rise. + +Li Ch'i added: + + In a good year, grain in the house is plentiful. + The bulrush moves and the ash issues from the tube. + +Li Wen continued: + + What time spring comes the handle of the Dipper turns. + The bleaky hills have long ago their verdure lost. + +Chou-yen proceeded: + + On a frost-covered stream, no tide can ever rise. + Easy the snow hangs on the sparse-leaved willow twigs. + +Hsiang-yün pursued: + + Hard 'tis for snow to pile on broken plantain leaves. + The coal, musk-scented, burns in the precious tripod. + +Pao-ch'in recited: + + Th' embroidered sleeve enwraps the golden sable in its folds. + The snow transcends the mirror by the window in lustre. + +Pao-yü suggested: + + The fragrant pepper clings unto the wall. + The side wind still in whistling gusts doth blow. + +Tai-yü added: + + A quiet dream becomes a cheerless thing. + Where is the fife with plum bloom painted on? + +Pao-ch'ai continued: + + In whose household is there a flute made of green jade? + The fish fears lest the earth from its axis might drop. + +"I'll go and see that the wine is warm for you people," Li Wan smiled. + +But when Pao-ch'ai told Pao-ch'in to connect some lines, she caught +sight of Hsiang-yün rise to her feet and put in: + + What time the dragon wages war, the clouds dispel. + Back to the wild shore turns the man with single scull. + +Pao-ch'in thereupon again appended the couplet: + + The old man hums his lines, and with his whip he points at the 'Pa' + bridge. + Fur coats are, out of pity, on the troops at the frontiers bestowed. + +But would Hsiang-yün allow any one to have a say? The others could not +besides come up to her in quickness of wits so that, while their eyes +were fixed on her, she with eyebrows uplifted and figure outstretched +proceeded to say: + + More cotton coats confer, for bear in memory th' imperial serfs! + The rugged barbarous lands are (on account of snow) with dangers + fraught. + +Pao-ch'ai praised the verses again and again, and next contributed the +distich: + + The twigs and branches live in fear of being tossed about. + With what whiteness and feath'ry step the flakes of snow descend! + +Tai-yü eagerly subjoined the lines: + + The snow as nimbly falls as moves the waist of the 'Sui' man when + brandishing the sword. + The tender leaves of tea, so acrid to the taste, have just been newly + brewed and tried. + +As she recited this couplet, she gave Pao-yü a shove and urged him to +go on. Pao-yü was, at the moment, enjoying the intense pleasure of +watching the three girls Pao-ch'ai, Pao-ch'in and Tai-yü make a joint +onslaught on Hsiang-yün, so that he had of course not given his mind to +tagging any antithetical verses. But when he now felt Tai-yü push him +he at length chimed in with: + + The fir is the sole tree which is decreed for ever to subsist. + The wild goose follows in the mud the prints and traces of its steps. + +Pao-ch'in took up the clue, adding: + + In the forest, the axe of the woodcutter may betimes be heard. + With (snow) covered contours, a thousand peaks their heads jut in the + air. + +Hsiang-yün with alacrity annexed the verses: + + The whole way tortuous winds like a coiled snake. + The flowers have felt the cold and ceased to bud. + +Pao-ch'ai and her companions again with one voice eulogised their fine +diction. + +T'an Ch'un then continued: + + Could e'er the beauteous snow dread the nipping of frost? + In the deep court the shivering birds are startled by its fall. + +Hsiang-yün happened to be feeling thirsty and was hurriedly swallowing +a cup of tea, when her turn was at once snatched by Chou-yen, who gave +out the lines, + + On the bare mountain wails the old man Hsiao. + The snow covers the steps, both high and low. + +Hsiang-yün immediately put away the tea-cup and added: + + On the pond's surface, it allows itself to float. + At the first blush of dawn with effulgence it shines. + +Tai-yü recited with alacrity the couplet: + + In confused flakes, it ceaseless falls the whole night long. + Troth one forgets that it implies three feet of cold. + +Hsiang-yün hastened to smilingly interpose with the distich: + + Its auspicious descent dispels the Emperor's grief. + There lies one frozen-stiff, but who asks him a word? + +Pao-ch'in too speedily put on a smile and added: + Glad is the proud wayfarer when he's pressed to drink. + Snapped is the weaving belt in the heavenly machine. + +Hsiang-yün once again eagerly quoted the line: + +In the seaside market is lost a silk kerchief. + +But Lin Tai-yü would not let her continue, and taking up the thread, +she forthwith said: + +With quiet silence, it enshrouds the raiséd kiosque. + +Hsiang-yün vehemently gave the antithetical verse: + +The utter poor clings to his pannier and his bowl. + +Pao-ch'in too would not give in as a favour to any one, so hastily she +exclaimed: + +The water meant to brew the tea with gently bubbles up. + +Hsiang-yün saw how excited they were getting and she thought it +naturally great fun. Laughing, she eagerly gave out: + +When wine is boiled with leaves 'tis not easy to burn. + +Tai-yü also smiled while suggesting: + +The broom, with which the bonze sweepeth the hill, is sunk in snow. + +Pao-ch'in too smilingly cried: + +The young lad takes away the lute interred in snow. + +Hsiang-yün laughed to such a degree that she was bent in two; and she +muttered a line with such rapidity that one and all inquired of her: +"What are you, after all, saying?" + +In the stone tower leisurely sleeps the stork. + +Hsiang-yün repeated. + +Tai-yü clasped her breast so convulsed was she with laughter. With loud +voice she bawled out: + +Th' embroidered carpet warms the affectionate cat. + +Pao-ch'in quickly, again laughingly, exclaimed: + +Inside Selene's cave lo, roll the silvery waves. + +Hsiang-yün added, with eager haste: + +Within the city walls at eve was hid a purple flag. + +Tai-yü with alacrity continued with a smile: + +The fragrance sweet, which penetrates into the plums, is good to eat. + +Pao-ch'ai smiled. "What a fine line!" 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. + +Pao-ch'in likewise made haste to add: + +Betimes, the hymeneal girdle it moistens. + +Hsiang-yün eagerly paired it with: + +Oft, it freezeth on the kingfisher shoes. + +Tai-yü once more exclaimed with vehemence: + +No wind doth blow, but yet there is a rush. + +Pao-ch'in promptly also smiled, and strung on: + +No rain lo falls, but still a patter's heard. + +Hsiang-yün was leaning over, indulging in such merriment that she was +quite doubled up in two. But everybody else had realised that the trio +was struggling for mastery, so without attempting to versify they kept +their gaze fixed on them and gave way to laughter. + +Tai-yü gave her another push to try and induce her to go on. "Do you +also sometimes come to your wits' ends; and run to the end of your +tether?" she went on to say. "I'd like to see what other stuff and +nonsense you can come out with!" + +Hsiang-yün however simply fell forward on Pao-ch'ai's lap and laughed +incessantly. + +"If you've got any gumption about you," Pao-ch'ai exclaimed, shoving +her up, "take the second rhymes under 'Hsiao' and exhaust them all, and +I'll then bend the knee to you." + +"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. + +T'an Ch'un had long ago determined in her mind that there could be no +other antithetical sentences that she herself could possibly propose, +and she forthwith set to work to copy out the verses. 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. + +Li Ch'i then suggested as a finale the line: + +By these verses, I'd fain sing th' Emperor's praise. + +"That's enough, that will do!" Li Wan cried. "The rhymes haven't, I +admit, been exhausted, but any outside words you might introduce, will, +if used in a forced sense, be worth nothing at all." + +While continuing their arguments, the various inmates drew near and +kept up a searching criticism for a time. + +Hsiang-yün was found to be the one among them, who had devised the +largest number of lines. + +"This is mainly due," they unanimously laughed, "to the virtue of that +piece of venison!" + +"Let's review them line by line as they come," Li Wan smilingly +proposed, "but yet as if they formed one continuous poem. Here's Pao-yü +last again!" + +"I haven't, the fact is, the knack of pairing sentences," Pao-yü +rejoined with a smile. "You'd better therefore make some allowance for +me!" + +"There's no such thing as making allowances for you in meeting after +meeting," Li Wan demurred laughing, "that you should again after that +give out the rhymes in a reckless manner, waste your time and not show +yourself able to put two lines together. You must absolutely bear a +penalty today. I just caught a glimpse of the red plum in the Lung +Ts'ui monastery; and how charming it is! I meant to have plucked a twig +to put in a vase, but so loathsome is the way in which Miao Yü goes on, +that I won't have anything to do with her! But we'll punish him by +making him, for the sake of fun, fetch a twig for us to put in water." + +"This penalty," they shouted with one accord, "is both excellent as +well as pleasant." + +Pao-yü himself was no less delighted to carry it into execution, so +signifying his readiness to comply with their wishes, he felt desirous +to be off at once. + +"It's exceedingly cold outside," Hsiang-yün and Tai-yü simultaneously +remarked, "so have a glass of warm wine before you go." + +Hsiang-yün speedily took up the kettle, and Tai-yü handed him a large +cup, filled to the very brim. + +"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." + +Pao-yü gulped down hurry-scurry the whole contents of the cup and +started on his errand in the face of the snow. + +"Follow him carefully." Li Wan enjoined the servants. + +Tai-yü, however, hastened to interfere and make her desist. "There's no +such need," she cried. "Were any one to go with him, he'll contrariwise +not get the flowers." + +Li Wan nodded her head. "Yes!" she assented, and then went on to direct +a waiting-maid to bring a vase, in the shape of a beautiful girl with +high shoulders, to fill it with water, and get it ready to put the plum +blossom in. "And when he comes back," she felt induced to add, "we must +recite verses on the red plum." + +"I'll indite a stanza in advance," eagerly exclaimed Hsiang-yün. + +"We'll on no account let you indite any more to-day," Pao-ch'ai +laughed. "You beat every one of us hollow; so if we sit with idle +hands, there won't be any fun. 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." + +"This is a capital idea!" Tai-yü smiled. "But I've got another +proposal. As the lines just paired are not sufficient, won't it be well +to pick out those who've put together the fewest distiches, and make +them versify on the red plum blossom?" + +"An excellent proposal!" Pao-ch'ai ventured laughing. "The three girls +Hsing Chou-yen, Li Wen and Li Ch'i, failed just now to do justice to +their talents; besides they are visitors; and as Ch'in Erh, P'in Erh +and Yün Erh got the best of us by a good deal, it's only right that +none of us should compose any more, and that that trio should only do +so." + +"Ch'i Erh," Li Wan thereupon retorted, "is also not a very good hand at +verses, let therefore cousin Ch'in have a try!" + +Pao-ch'ai had no alternative but to express her acquiescence. + +"Let the three words 'red plum blossom,'" she then suggested, "be used +for rhymes; and let each person compose an heptameter stanza. Cousin +Hsing to indite on the word 'red;' your elder cousin Li on 'plum;' and +Ch'in Erh on 'blossom.'" + +"If you let Pao-yü off," Li Wan interposed, "I won't have it!" + +"I've got a capital theme," Hsiung-yün eagerly remarked, "so let's make +him write some!" + +"What theme is it?" one and all inquired. + +"If we made him," Hsiang-yün resumed, "versify on: 'In search of Miao +Yü to beg for red plum blossom,' won't it be full of fun?" + +"That will be full of zest," the party exclaimed, upon hearing the +theme propounded by her. But hardly had they given expression to their +approval than they perceived Pao-yü come in, beaming with smiles and +glee, and holding with both hands a branch of red plum blossom. The +maids hurriedly relieved him of his burden and put the branch in the +vase, and the inmates present came over in a body to feast their eyes +on it. + +"Well, may you look at it now," Pao-yü smiled. "You've no idea what an +amount of trouble it has cost me!" + +As he uttered these words, T'an Ch'un handed him at once another cup of +warm wine; and the maids approached, and took his wrapper and hat, and +shook off the snow. + +But the servant-girls attached to their respective quarters then +brought them over extra articles of clothing. Hsi Jen, in like manner, +despatched a domestic with a pelisse, the worse for wear, lined with +fur from foxes' ribs, so Li Wan, having directed a servant to fill a +plate with steamed large taros, and to make up two dishes with +red-skinned oranges, yellow coolie oranges, olives and other like +things, bade some one take them over to Hsi Jen. + +Hsiang-yün also communicated to Pao-yü the subject for verses they had +decided upon a short while back. But she likewise urged Pao-yü to be +quick and accomplish his task. + +"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. + +This bough of plum blossom was, in fact, only two feet in height; but +from the side projected a branch, crosswise, about two or three feet in +length the small twigs and stalks on which resembled coiled dragons, or +crouching earthworms; and were either single and trimmed pencil-like, +or thick and bushy grove-like. Indeed, their appearance was as if the +blossom spurted cosmetic. This fragrance put orchids to the blush. So +every one present contributed her quota of praise. + +Chou-yen, Li Wen and Pao-ch'in had, little though it was expected, all +three already finished their lines and each copied them out for +herself, so the company began to peruse their compositions, subjoined +below, in the order of the three words: 'red plum blossom.' + +Verses to the red plum blossom by Hsing Chou-yen. + + The peach tree has not donned its fragrance yet, the almond is not + red. + What time it strikes the cold, it's first joyful to smile at the east + wind. + When its spirit to the Yü Ling hath flown, 'tis hard to say 'tis + spring. + The russet clouds across the 'Lo Fu' lie, so e'en to dreams it's + closed. + The green petals add grace to a coiffure, when painted candles burn. + The simple elf when primed with wine doth the waning rainbow + bestride. + Does its appearance speak of a colour of ordinary run? + Both dark and light fall of their own free will into the ice and + snow. + +The next was the production of Li Wen, and its burden was: + + To write on the white plum I'm not disposed, but I'll write on the + red. + Proud of its beauteous charms, 'tis first to meet the opening drunken + eye. + On its frost-nipped face are marks; and these consist wholly of + blood. + Its heart is sore, but no anger it knows; to ashes too it turns. + By some mistake a pill (a fairy) takes and quits her real frame. + 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. + Send word to bees and butterflies that they need not give way to + fears! + +This stanza came next from the pen of Hsüeh Pao-ch'in, + + Far distant do the branches grow; but how beauteous the blossom + blooms! + The maidens try with profuse show to compete in their spring + head-dress. + No snow remains on the vacant pavilion and the tortuous rails. + Upon the running stream and desolate hills descend the russet clouds. + When cold prevails one can in a still dream follow the lass-blown + fife. + 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. + No doubt need 'gain arise as to its beauty differing from then. + +The perusal over, they spent some time in heaping, smiling the while, +eulogiums upon the compositions. And they pointed at the last stanza as +the best of the lot; which made it evident to Pao-yü that Pao-ch'in, +albeit the youngest in years, was, on the other hand, the quickest in +wits. + +Tai-yü and Hsiang-yün then filled up a small cup with wine and +simultaneously offered their congratulations to Pao-ch'in. + +"Each of the three stanzas has its beauty," Pao-ch'ai remarked, a smile +playing round her lips. "You two have daily made a fool of me, and are +you now going to fool her also?" + +"Have you got yours ready?" Li Wan went on to inquire of Pao-yü. + +"I'd got them," Pao-yü promptly answered, "but the moment I read their +three stanzas, I once more became so nervous that they quite slipped +from my mind. But let me think again." + +Hsiang-yün, at this reply, fetched a copper poker, and, while beating +on the hand-stove, she laughingly said: "I shall go on tattooing. Now +mind if when the drumming ceases, you haven't accomplished your task, +you'll have to bear another fine." + +"I've already got them!" Pao-yü rejoined, smilingly. + +Tai-yü then picked up a pencil. "Recite them," she smiled, "and I'll +write them down." + +Hsiang-yün beat one stroke (on the stove). "The first tattoo is over," +she laughed. + +"I'm ready," Pao-yü smiled. "Go on writing." + +At this, they heard him recite: + +The wine bottle is not opened, the line is not put into shape. + +Tai-yü noted it down, and shaking her head, "They begin very smoothly," +she said, as she smiled. + +"Be quick!" Hsiang-yün again urged. + +Pao-yü laughingly continued: + +To fairyland I speed to seek for spring, and the twelfth moon to find. + +Tai-yü and Hsiang-yün both nodded. "It's rather good," they smiled. + +Pao-yü resumed, saying: + + I will not beg the high god for a bottle of the (healing) dew, + But pray Shuang O to give me some plum bloom beyond the rails. + +Tai-yü jotted the lines down and wagged her head to and fro. "They're +ingenious, that's all," she observed. + +Hsiang-yün gave another rap with her hand. + +Pao-yü thereupon smilingly added: + + I come into the world and, in the cold, I pick out some red snow. + I leave the dusty sphere and speed to pluck the fragrant purple + clouds. + I bring a jagged branch, but who in pity sings my shoulders thin? + On my clothes still sticketh the moss from yon Buddhistic court. + +As soon as Tai-yü had done writing, Hsiang-yün and the rest of the +company began to discuss the merits of the verses; but they then saw +several servant-maids rush in, shouting: "Our venerable mistress has +come." + +One and all hurried out with all despatch to meet her. "How comes it +that she is in such good cheer?" 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. Yüan +Yang, Hu Po and some other girls, mustering in all five or six, held +each an umbrella and pressed round the chair, as they advanced. + +Li Wan and her companions went up to them with hasty step; but dowager +lady Chia directed the servants to make them stop; explaining that it +would be quite enough if they stood where they were. + +On her approach, old lady Chia smiled. "I've given," she observed, +"your Madame Wang and that girl Feng the slip and come. What deep snow +covers the ground! For me, I'm seated in this, so it doesn't matter; +but you mustn't let those ladies trudge in the snow." + +The various followers rushed forward to take her wrapper and to support +her, and as they did so, they expressed their acquiescence. + +As soon as she got indoors old lady Chia was the first to exclaim with +a beaming face: "What beautiful plum blossom! You well know how to make +merry; but I too won't let you off!" + +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. After therefore playing at dominoes for a time, I +bethought myself of you people, and likewise came to join the fun." + +Li Wan soon also presented her a hand-stove, while T'an Ch'un brought +an extra set of cups and chopsticks, and filling with her own hands, a +cup with warm wine, she handed it to her grandmother Chia. Old lady +Chia swallowed a sip. "What's there in that dish?" she afterwards +inquired. + +The various inmates hurriedly carried it over to her, and explained +that 'they were pickled quails.' + +"These won't hurt me," dowager lady Chia said, "so cut off a piece of +the leg and give it to me." + +"Yes!" promptly acquiesced Li Wan, and asking for water, she washed her +hands, and then came in person to carve the quail. + +"Sit down again," dowager lady Chia said, pressing them, "and go on +with your chatting and laughing. Let me hear you, and feel happy. Just +you also seat yourself," continuing, she remarked to Li Wan, "and +behave as if I were not here. If you do so, well and good. Otherwise, I +shall take myself off at once." + +But it was only when they heard how persistent she was in her +solicitations that they all resumed the seats, which accorded with +their age, with the exception of Li Wan, who moved to the furthest +side. + +"What were you playing at?" old lady Chia thereupon asked. + +"We were writing verses," answered the whole party. + +"Wouldn't it be well for those who are up to poetry," dowager lady Chia +suggested; "to devise a few puns for lanterns so that the whole lot of +us should be able to have some fun in the first moon?" + +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. Where it's +nice and warm is in your cousin Quarta's over there, so let's all go +and see how she is getting on with her painting, and whether it will be +ready or not by the end of the year." + +"How could it be completed by the close of the year?" they smiled. "She +could only, we fancy, get it ready by the dragon boat festival next +year." + +"This is dreadful!" old lady Chia exclaimed. "Why, she has really +wasted more labour on it than would have been actually required to lay +out this garden!" + +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. Over these doorways on the inside as well +as outside were inserted alike tablets made of stone. The door they +went in by, on this occasion, lay on the west. On the tablet facing +outwards, were cut out the two words representing: 'Penetrating into +the clouds.' On that inside, were engraved the two characters meaning: +'crossing to the moon.' On their arrival at the hall, they walked in by +the main entrance, which looked towards the south. Dowager lady Chia +then alighted from her chair. Hsi Ch'un had already made her appearance +out of doors to welcome her, so taking the inner covered passage, they +passed over to the other side and reached Hsi Ch'un's bedroom; on the +door posts of which figured the three words: 'Warm fragrance isle.' +Several servants were at once at hand; and no sooner had they raised +the red woollen portière, than a soft fragrance wafted itself into +their faces. The various inmates stepped into the room. Old lady Chia, +however, did not take a seat, but simply inquired where the painting +was. + +"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." + +"I must have it by the close of the year," dowager lady Chia laughed, +"so don't idle your time away. Produce it at once and go on painting +for me, as quick as you can." + +But scarcely had she concluded her remark, than she unexpectedly +perceived lady Feng arrive, smirking and laughing, with a purple +pelisse, lined with deer fur, thrown over her shoulders. "Venerable +senior!" she shouted, "You don't even so much as let any one know +to-day, but sneak over stealthily. I've had a good hunt for you!" + +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. You're really as sharp as a spirit to +have, at last, been able to trace my whereabouts! But according to +strict etiquette, you shouldn't show filial piety to such a degree!" + +"Is it out of any idea of filial piety that I came after you? Not at +all!" lady Feng added with a laugh. "But when I got to your place, +worthy senior, I found everything so quiet that not even the caw of a +crow could be heard, and when I asked the young maids where you'd gone, +they wouldn't let me come and search in the garden. So I began to give +way to surmises. Suddenly also arrived two or three nuns; and then, at +length, I jumped at the conclusion that these women must have come to +bring their yearly prayers, or to ask for their annual or incense +allowance, and that, with the amount of things you also, venerable +ancestor, have to do for the end of the year, you had for certain got +out of the way of your debts. Speedily therefore I inquired of the nuns +what it was that brought them there, and, for a fact, there was no +mistake in my surmises. So promptly issuing the annual allowances to +them, I now come to report to you, worthy senior, that your creditors +have gone, and that there's no need for you to skulk away. But I've had +some tender pheasant prepared; so please come, and have your evening +meal; for if you delay any longer, it will get quite stale." + +As she spoke, everybody burst out laughing. But lady Feng did not allow +any time to dowager lady Chia to pass any observations, but forthwith +directed the servants to bring the chair over. Old lady Chia then +smilingly laid hold of lady Feng's hand and got again into her chair; +but she took along with her the whole company of relatives for a chat +and a laugh. + +Upon issuing out of the gate on the east side of the narrow passage, +the four quarters presented to their gaze the appearance of being +adorned with powder, and inlaid with silver. Unawares, they caught +sight of Pao-ch'in, in a duck down cloak, waiting at a distance at the +back of the hill slope; while behind her stood a maid, holding a vase +full of red plum blossoms. + +"Strange enough," they all exclaimed laughingly, "two of us were +missing! But she's waiting over there. She's also been after some +plum-blossom." + +"Just look," dowager lady Chia eagerly cried out joyfully, "that human +creature has been put there to match with the snow-covered hill! But +with that costume, and the plum-blossom at the back of her, to what +does she bear a resemblance?" + +"She resembles," one and all smiled, "Chou Shih-ch'ou's beautiful snow +picture, suspended in your apartments, venerable ancestor." + +"Is there in that picture any such costume?" Old lady Chia demurred, +nodding her head and smiling. "What's more the persons represented in +it could never be so pretty!" + +Hardly had this remark dropped from her mouth, than she discerned some +one else, clad in a deep red woollen cloak, appear to view at the back +of Pao-ch'in. "What other girl is that?" dowager lady Chia asked. + +"We girls are all here." they laughingly answered. "That's Pao-yü." + +"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. + +"I've just been again to the Lung Ts'ui monastery," Pao-yü smiled to +Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yü and his other cousins, "and Miao Yü gave me for each +of you a twig of plum blossom. I've already sent a servant to take them +over." + +"Many thanks for the trouble you've been put to," they, with one voice, +replied. + +But speaking the while, they sallied out of the garden gate, and +repaired to their grandmother Chia's suite of apartments. Their meal +over, they joined in a further chat and laugh, when unexpectedly they +saw Mrs. Hsüeh also arrive. + +"With all this snow," she observed, "I haven't been over the whole day +to see how you, venerable senior, were getting on. Your ladyship +couldn't have been in a good sort of mood to-day, for you should have +gone and seen the snow." + +"How not in a good mood?" old lady Chia exclaimed. "I went and looked +up these young ladies and had a romp with them for a time." + +"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. But had I known sooner the real state of affairs, I would +have felt it my bounden duty to have asked you round." + +"This is," rejoined dowager lady Chia with a smile, "only the first +fall of snow in the tenth moon. We'll have, after this, plenty of snowy +days so there will be ample time to put your ladyship to wasteful +expense." + +"Verily in that case," Mrs. Hsüeh laughingly added, "my filial +intentions may well be looked upon as having been accomplished." + +"Mrs. Hsüeh," interposed lady Feng smiling, "mind you don't forget it! +But you might as well weigh fifty taels this very moment, and hand them +over to me to keep, until the first fall of snow, when I can get +everything ready for the banquet. In this way, you will neither have +anything to bother you, aunt, nor will you have a chance of +forgetting." + +"Well, since that be so," old lady Chia remarked with a laugh, "your +ladyship had better give her fifty taels, and I'll share it with her; +each one of us taking twenty-five taels; and on any day it might snow, +I'll pretend I don't feel in proper trim and let it slip by. You'll +have thus still less occasion to trouble yourself, and I and lady Feng +will reap a substantial benefit." + +Lady Feng clapped her hands. "An excellent idea," she laughed. "This +quite falls in with my views." + +The whole company were much amused. + +"Pshaw!" dowager lady Chia laughingly ejaculated. "You barefaced thing! +(You're like a snake, which) avails itself of the rod, with which it is +being beaten, to crawl up (and do harm)! You don't try to convince us +that it properly devolves upon us, as Mrs. Hsüeh is our guest and +receives such poor treatment in our household, to invite her; for with +what right could we subject her ladyship to any reckless outlay? but +you have the impudence, of impressing upon our minds to insist upon the +payment, in advance, of fifty taels! Are you really not thoroughly +ashamed of yourself?" + +"Oh, worthy senior," lady Feng laughed, "you're most sharp-sighted! You +try to see whether Mrs. Hsüeh will be soft enough to produce fifty +taels for you to share with me, but fancying now that it's of no avail, +you turn round and begin to rate me by coming out with all these grand +words! I won't however take any money from you, Mrs. Hsüeh. I'll, in +fact, contribute some on your ladyship's account, and when I get the +banquet ready and invite you, venerable ancestor, to come and partake +of it, I'll also wrap fifty taels in a piece of paper, and dutifully +present them to you, as a penalty for my officious interference in +matters that don't concern me. Will this be all right or not?" + +Before these words were brought to a close, the various inmates were so +convulsed with hearty laughter that they reeled over on the +stove-couch. + +Dowager lady Chia then went on to explain how much nicer Pao-ch'in was, +plucking plum blossom in the snow, than the very picture itself; and +she next minutely inquired what the year, moon, day and hour of her +birth were, and how things were getting on in her home. + +Mrs. Hsüeh conjectured that the object she had in mind was, in all +probability, to seek a partner for her. In the secret recesses of her +heart, Mrs. Hsüeh on this account fell in also with her views. +(Pao-ch'in) had, however, already been promised in marriage to the Mei +family. But as dowager lady Chia had made, as yet, no open allusion to +her intentions, (Mrs. Hsüeh) did not think it nice on her part to come +out with any definite statement, and she accordingly observed to old +lady Chia in a vague sort of way: "What a pity it is that this girl +should have had so little good fortune as to lose her father the year +before last. But ever since her youth up, she has seen much of the +world, for she has been with her parent to every place of note. Her +father was a man fond of pleasure; and as he had business in every +direction, he took his family along with him. After tarrying in this +province for a whole year, he would next year again go to that +province, and spend half a year roaming about it everywhere. Hence it +is that he had visited five or six tenths of the whole empire. The +other year, when they were here, he engaged her to the son of the +Hanlin Mei. But, as it happened, her father died the year after, and +here is her mother too now ailing from a superfluity of phlegm." + +Lady Feng gave her no time to complete what she meant to say. "Hai!" +she exclaimed, stamping her foot. "What you say isn't opportune! I was +about to act as a go-between. But is she too already engaged?" + +"For whom did you mean to act as go-between?" old lady Chia smiled. + +"My dear ancestor," lady Feng remarked, "don't concern yourself about +it! I had determined in my mind that those two would make a suitable +match. But as she has now long ago been promised to some one, it would +be of no use, were I even to speak out. Isn't it better that I should +hold my peace, and drop the whole thing?" + +Dowager lady Chia herself was cognizant of lady Feng's purpose, so upon +hearing that she already had a suitor, she at once desisted from making +any further reference to the subject. The whole company then continued +another chat on irrelevant matters for a time, after which, they broke +up. + +Nothing of any interest transpired the whole night. 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. If you can't absolutely finish +it by the end of the year, it won't much matter! The main thing is that +you must at once introduce in it Ch'in Erh and the maid with the plum +blossom, as we saw them yesterday, in strict accordance with the +original and without the least discrepancy of so much as a stroke." + +Hsi Ch'un listened to her and felt it her duty to signify her assent, +in spite of the task being no easy one for her to execute. + +After a time, a number of her relatives came, in a body, to watch the +progress of the painting. But they discovered Hsi Ch'un plunged in a +reverie. "Let's leave her alone," Li Wan smilingly observed to them +all, "to proceed with her meditations; we can meanwhile have a chat +among ourselves. Yesterday our worthy senior bade us devise a few +lantern-conundrums, so when we got home, I and Ch'i Erh and Wen Erh did +not turn in (but set to work). I composed a couple on the Four Books; +but those two girls also managed to put together another pair of them." + +"We should hear what they're like," they laughingly exclaimed in +chorus, when they heard what they had done. "Tell them to us first, and +let's have a guess!" + +"The goddess of mercy has not been handed down by any ancestors." + +Li Ch'i smiled. "This refers to a passage in the Four Books." + +"In one's conduct, one must press towards the highest benevolence." + +Hsiang-yün quickly interposed; taking up the thread of the +conversation. + +"You should ponder over the meaning of the three words implying: +'handed down by ancestors'," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "before you venture a +guess." + +"Think again!" Li Wan urged with a smile. + +"I've guessed it!" Tai-yü smiled. "It's: + + "'If, notwithstanding all that benevolence, there be no outward + visible sign…'" + +"That's the line," one and all unanimously exclaimed with a laugh. + +"'The whole pond is covered with rush.'" + +"Now find the name of the rush?" Li Wan proceeded. + +"This must certainly be the cat-tail rush!" hastily again replied +Hsiang-yün. "Can this not be right?" + +"You've succeeded in guessing it," Li Wan smiled. "Li Wen's is: + + "'Cold runs the stream along the stones;' + +"bearing on the name of a man of old." + +"Can it be Shan T'ao?" T'an Ch'un smilingly asked. + +"It is!" answered Li Wan. + +"Ch'i Erh's is the character 'Yung' (glow-worm). It refers to a single +word," Li Wan resumed. + +The party endeavoured for a long time to hit upon the solution. + +"The meaning of this is certainly deep," Pao-ch'in put in. "I wonder +whether it's the character, 'hua,' (flower) in the combination, 'hua +ts'ao, (vegetation)." + +"That's just it!" Li Ch'i smiled. + +"What has a glow-worm to do with flowers?" one and all observed. + +"It's capital!" Tai-yü ventured with a smile. "Isn't a glow-worm +transformed from plants?" + +The company grasped the sense; and, laughing the while, they, with one +consent, shouted out, "splendid!" + +"All these are, I admit, good," Pao-ch'ai remarked, "but they won't +suit our venerable senior's taste. Won't it be better therefore to +compose a few on some simple objects; some which all of us, whether +polished or unpolished, may be able to enjoy?" + +"Yes," they all replied, "we should also think of some simple ones on +ordinary objects." + +"I've devised one on the 'Tien Chiang Ch'un' metre," Hsiang-yün +pursued, after some reflection. "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. + In truth how funny it is! + But renown and gain are still vain; + Ever hard behind it is its fate. + +A conundrum. + +None of those present could fathom what it could be. After protracted +thought, some made a guess, by saying it was a bonze. Others maintained +that it was a Taoist priest. Others again divined that it was a +marionette. + +"All your guesses are wrong," Pao-yü chimed in, after considerable +reflection. "I've got it! It must for a certainty be a performing +monkey." + +"That's really it!" Hsiang-yün laughed. + +"The first part is all right," the party observed, "but how do you +explain the last line?" + +"What performing monkey," Hsiang-yün asked, "has not had its tail cut +off?" + +Hearing this, they exploded into a fit of merriment. "Even," they +argued, "the very riddles she improvises are perverse and strange!" + +"Mrs. Hsüeh mentioned yesterday that you, cousin Ch'in, had seen much +of the world," Li Wan put in, "and that you had also gone about a good +deal. It's for you therefore to try your hand at a few conundrums. +What's more your poetry too is good. So why shouldn't you indite a few +for us to guess?" + +Pao-ch'in, at this proposal, nodded her head, and while repressing a +smile, she went off by herself to give way to thought. + +Pao-ch'ai then also gave out this riddle: + + Carved sandal and cut cedar rise layer upon layer. + Have they been piled and fashioned by workmen of skill! + In the mid-heavens it's true, both wind and rain fleet by; + But can one hear the tingling of the Buddhists' bell? + +While they were giving their mind to guessing what it could be, Pao-yü +too recited: + + Both from the heavens and from the earth, it's indistinct to view. + What time the 'Lang Ya' feast goes past, then mind you take great + care. + When the 'luan's' notes you catch and the crane's message thou'lt + look + up: + It is a splendid thing to turn and breathe towards the vault of + heaven, (a kite) + +Tai-yü next added: + + Why need a famous steed be a with bridle e'er restrained? + Through the city it speeds; the moat it skirts; how fierce it looks. + The master gives the word and wind and clouds begin to move. + On the 'fish backs' and the 'three isles' it only makes a name, (a + rotating lantern). + +T'an Ch'un had also one that she felt disposed to tell them, but just +as she was about to open her lips, Pao-ch'in walked up to them. "The +relics of various places I've seen since my youth," she smiled, "are +not few, so I've now selected ten places of historic interest, on which +I've composed ten odes, treating of antiquities. The verses may +possibly be coarse, but they bear upon things of the past, and secretly +refer as well to ten commonplace articles. So, cousins, please try and +guess them!" + +"This is ingenious!" 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. + + + The young maiden Hsüeh Pao-ch'in devises, in novel style, odes + bearing + on antiquities. + A stupid doctor employs, in reckless manner, drugs of great strength. + +When the party heard, the story goes, that Pao-ch'in had made the old +places of interest she had, in days gone by, visited in the various +provinces, the theme of her verses, and that she had composed ten +stanzas with four lines in each, which though referring to relics of +antiquity, bore covertly on ten common objects, they all opined that +they must be novel and ingenious, and they vied with each other in +examining the text. On perusal, they read: + +On the relics of Ch'ih Pi: + + Deep in Ch'ih Pi doth water lie concealed which does not onward flow. + There but remains a name and surname contained in an empty boat. + When with a clamorous din the fire breaks out, the sad wind waxes + cold. + An endless host of eminent spirits wander about inside. + +On the ancient remains in Chiao Chih: + + Posts of copper and walls of gold protect the capital. + Its fame is spread beyond the seas, scattered in foreign lands. + How true it is that Ma Yüan's achievements have been great. + The flute of iron need not trouble to sing of Tzu Fang. + +On the vestiges of former times in Chung Shan: + + Renown and gain do they, at any time, fall to a woman's share? + For no reason have I been bidden come into the mortal world. + How hard a task, in point of fact, it is to stop solicitude! + Don't bear a grudge against such people as may oft times jeer at you! + +On things of historic interest in Huai Yin: + + The sturdy man must ever mind the insults of the vicious dog. + Th' official's rank in San Ch'i was but fixed when his coffin was + closed + Tell all people that upon earth do dwell to look down upon none. + The bounty of one single bowl of rice should be treasured till death. + +On events of old in Kuang Lin: + + Cicadas chirp; crows roost; but, in a twinkle, they are gone. + How fares these latter days the scenery in Sui T'i? + It's all because he has so long enjoyed so fine a fame, + That he has given rise around to so many disputes. + +On the ancient remains of the T'ao Yeh ferry: + + Dry grass and parchèd plants their reflex cast upon the shallow pond. + The peach tree branches and peach leaves will bid farewell at last. + What a large number of structures in Liu Ch'ao raise their heads. + A small picture with a motto hangs on the hollow wall. + +On the antique vestiges of Ch'ing Chung: + + The black stream stretches far and wide, but hindered is its course. + What time were no more thrummed the frozen cords, the songs waxed + sad. + The policy of the Han dynasty was in truth strange! + A worthless officer must for a thousand years feel shame. + +On things of historic renown in Ma Wei: + + Quiet the spots of rouge with sweat pile up and shine. + Gentleness in a moment vanishes and goes. + It is because traces remain of his fine looks, + That to this day his clothes a fragrance still emit. + +On events of the past connected with the Pu Tung temple: + + The small red lamp is wholly made of thin bone, and is light. + Furtively was it brought along but by force was it stol'n. + Oft was it, it is true, hung by the mistress' own hands, + But long ere this has she allured it to speed off with her. + +On the scenery about the Mei Hua (Plum Bloom) monastery. + + If not by the plum trees, then by the willows it must be. + Has any one picked up in there the likeness of a girl? + Don't fret about meeting again; in spring its scent returns. + Soon as it's gone, and west winds blow, another year has flown. + +When the party had done reading the verses, they with perfect unanimity +extolled their extraordinary excellence. Pao-ch'ai was, however, the +first to raise any objections. "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. Besides, we +don't quite fathom their meaning. Wouldn't it be better then if two +other stanzas were written?" + +Tai-yü hastened to interrupt her. "The lines composed by cousin Pao +ch'in are indeed devised in a too pigheaded and fast-and-loose sort of +way," she observed. "The two stanzas are, I admit, not to be traced in +the historical works, but though we've never read such outside +traditions, and haven't any idea what lies at the bottom of them, have +we not likely seen a couple of plays? What child of three years old +hasn't some notion about them, and how much more such as we?" + +"What she says is perfectly correct," T'an Ch'un chimed in. + +"She has besides," Li Wan then remarked, "been to these places herself. +But though there be no mention anywhere of these two references, +falsehoods have from old till now been propagated, and busybodies have, +in fact, intentionally invented such relics of ancient times with a +view of bamboozling people. That year, for instance, in which we +travelled up here to the capital, we came across graves raised to Kuan, +the sage, in three or four distinct places. Now the circumstances of +the whole existence of Kuan the sage are established by actual proof, +so how could there again in his case exist a lot of graves? This must +arise from the esteem in which he is held by posterity for the way he +acquitted himself of his duties during his lifetime. And it is +presumably to this esteem that this fiction owes its origin. This is +quite possible enough. Even in the 'Kuang Yü Chi', you will see that +not only are numerous tombs of the sage Kuan spoken of, but that bygone +persons of note are assigned tombs not few in number. But there are +many more relics of antiquity, about which no testimony can be +gathered. The matter treated in the two stanzas, now in point, is, of +course, not borne out by any actual record; yet in every story, that is +told, in every play, that is sung, and on the various slips as well +used for fortune telling, it is invariably to be found. Old and young, +men and women, do all understand it and speak of it, whether in +proverbs or in their everyday talk. They don't resemble, besides, the +ballads encountered in the 'Hsi Hsiang Chi,' and 'Mou Tan T'ing,' to +justify us to fear that we might be setting eyes upon some corrupt +text. They are quite harmless; so we'd better keep them!" + +Pao-ch'ai, after these arguments, dropped at length all discussion. +They thereupon tried for a time to guess the stanzas. None, however, of +their solutions turned out to be correct. But as the days in winter are +short, and they saw that it was time for their evening meal, they +adjourned to the front part of the compound for their supper. + +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. As +soon as Madame Wang heard the news, she dilated for a while upon +people's mothers and daughters, and of course she did not withhold her +consent. Sending therefore at the same time for lady Feng, she +communicated the tidings to her, and enjoined her to deliberate, and +take suitable action. + +Lady Feng signified her willingness to do what was necessary, and, +returning to her quarters, she there and then commissioned Chou Jui's +wife to go and break the news to Hsi Jen. "Send also," she went on to +direct Mrs. Chou, "for one of the married-women, who are in attendance +when we go out-of-doors, and let you two, together with a couple of +young maids, follow Hsi Jen home. But despatch four cart attendants, +well up in years, to look everywhere for a spacious curricle for you as +well as her, and a small carriage for the maids." + +"All right!" acquiesced Chou Jui's wife. But just as she was about to +start, lady Feng continued her injunctions. "Hsi Jen," she added; "is a +person not fond of any fuss, so tell her that it's I who have given the +orders; and impress upon her that she must put on several nice, +coloured clothes, and pack up a large valise full of wearing apparel. +Her valise, must be a handsome one; and she must take a decent +hand-stove. Bid her too first come and look me up here when she's about +to start." + +Mrs. Chou promised to execute her directions and went on her way. + +After a long interval, (lady Feng) actually saw Hsi Jen arrive, got up +in full costume and head-gear, and with her two waiting-maids and Chou +Jui's wife, who carried the hand-stove and the valise packed up with +clothes. Lady Feng's eye was attracted by several golden hairpins and +pearl ornaments of great brilliancy and beauty, which Hsi Jen wore in +her coiffure. Her gaze was further struck by the peach-red stiff silk +jacket she had on, brocaded with all sorts of flowers and lined with +ermine, by her leek-green wadded jupe, artistically ornamented with +coils of gold thread, and by the bluish satin and grey squirrel pelisse +she was wrapped in. + +"These three articles of clothing, given to you by our dowager lady," +lady Feng smiled, "are all very nice; but this pelisse is somewhat too +plain. If you wear this, you'll besides feel cold, so put on one with +long fur." + +"Our Madame Wang," Hsi Jen laughingly rejoined, "gave me this one with +the grey squirrel. I've also got one with ermine. She says that when +the end of the year draws nigh, she'll let me have one with long fur." + +"I've got one with long fur," lady Feng proceeded with a smile. "I +don't fancy it much as the fringe does not hang with grace. I was on +the point of having it changed; but, never mind, I'll let you first use +it; and, when at the close of the year, Madame Wang has one made for +you, I can then have mine altered, and it will come to the same thing +as if you were returning it like that to me." + +One and all laughed. "That's the way of talking into which her ladyship +has got!" they observed. "There she is the whole year round recklessly +carelessly and secretly making good, on Madame Wang's account, ever so +many things; how many there is no saying; for really the things for +which compensation is made, cannot be so much as enumerated; and does +she ever go, and settle scores with Madame Wang? and here she comes, on +this occasion, and gives vent again to this mean language, in order to +poke fun at people!" + +"How could Madame Wang," lady Feng laughed, "ever give a thought to +such trifles as these? They are, in fact, matters of no consequence. +Yet were I not to look after them, it would be a disgrace to all of us, +and needless to say, I would myself get into some scrape. It's far +better that I should dress you all properly, and so get a fair name and +finish; for were each of you to cut the figure of a burnt cake, people +would first and foremost ridicule me, by saying that in looking after +the household I have, instead of doing good, been the means of making +beggars of you!" + +After hearing her out, the whole party heaved a sigh. "Who could ever +be," they exclaimed, "so intuitively wise as you, to show, above, such +regard for Madame Wang, and below, such consideration for her +subordinates?" + +In the course of these remarks, they noticed lady Feng bid P'ing Erh +find the dark green stiff silk cloak with white fox, she had worn the +day before, and give it to Hsi Jen. But perceiving, also, that in the +way of a valise, she only had a double one made of black spotted, +figured sarcenet, with a lining of light red pongee silk, and that its +contents consisted merely of two wadded jackets, the worse for wear, +and a pelisse, lady Feng went on to tell P'ing Erh to fetch a woollen +wrapper, lined with jade-green pongee. But she ordered her besides to +pack up a snow-cloak for her. + +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. + +"I don't deserve so much as a single one of these," Hsi Jen said. + +"Keep this felt one for yourself," P'ing Erh smiled, "and take this one +along with you and tell some one to send it to that elderly girl, who +while every one, in that heavy fall of snow yesterday, was rolled up in +soft satin, if not in felt, and while about ten dark red dresses were +reflected in the deep snow and presented such a fine sight, was the +only one attired in those shabby old clothes. She seems more than ever +to raise her shoulders and double her back. She is really to be pitied; +so take this now and give it to her!" + +"She surreptitiously wishes to give my things away!" lady Feng laughed. +"I haven't got enough to spend upon myself and here I have you, better +still, to instigate me to be more open-handed!" + +"This comes from the filial piety your ladyship has ever displayed +towards Madame Wang," every one laughingly remarked, "and the fond love +for those below you. For had you been mean and only thought of making +much of things and not cared a rap for your subordinates, would that +girl have presumed to behave in this manner?" + +"If any one therefore has read my heart, it's she," lady Feng rejoined +with a laugh, "but yet she only knows it in part." + +At the close of this rejoinder, she again spoke to Hsi Jen. "If your +mother gets well, all right," she said; "but if anything happens to +her, just stay over, and send some one to let me know so that I may +specially despatch a servant to bring you your bedding. But whatever +you do, don't, use their bedding, nor any of their things to comb your +hair with. As for you people," continuing, she observed to Mrs. Chou +Jui, "you no doubt are aware of the customs, prevailing in this +establishment, so that I can dispense with giving you any injunctions." + +"Yes, we know them all," Mrs. Chou Jui assented. "As soon as we get +there, we'll, of course, request their male inmates to retire out of +the way. 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. Then directing the servant-boys to prepare the lanterns, +they, in due course, got into their curricle, and came to Hua +Tzu-fang's quarters, where we will leave them without any further +comment. + +Lady Feng, meanwhile, sent also for two nurses from the I Hung court. +"I am afraid," she said to them, "that Hsi Jen won't come back, so if +there be any elderly girl, who has to your knowledge, so far, had her +wits about her, depute her to come and keep night watch in Pao-yü's +rooms. But you nurses must likewise take care and exercise some +control, for you mustn't let Pao-yü recklessly kick up any trouble!" + +"Quite so," answered the two nurses, agreeing to her directions, after +which, they quitted her presence. But not a long interval expired +before they came to report the result of their search. "We've set our +choice upon Ch'ing Wen and She Yüeh to put up in his rooms," they +reported. "We four will take our turn and look after things during the +night." + +When lady Feng heard these arrangements, she nodded her head. "At +night," she observed, "urge him to retire to bed soon; and in the +morning press him to get up at an early hour." + +The nurses replied that they would readily carry out her orders and +returned alone into the garden. + +In a little time Chou Jui's wife actually brought the news, which she +imparted to lady Feng, that: "as her mother was already beyond hope, +Hsi Jen could not come back." + +Lady Feng then explained things to Madame Wang, and sent, at the same +time, servants to the garden of Broad Vista to fetch (Hsi Jen's) +bedding and toilet effects. + +Pao-yü watched Ch'ing Wen and She Yüeh get all her belongings in proper +order. After the things had been despatched, Ch'ing Wen and She Yüeh +divested themselves of their remaining fineries and changed their jupes +and jackets. Ch'ing Wen seated herself round a warming-frame. + +"Now," She Yüeh smiled, "you're not to put on the airs of a young lady! +I advise you to also move about a bit." + +"When you're all clean gone," Ch'ing Wen returned for answer, "I shall +have ample time to budge. 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. + +"Hai!" ejaculated Ch'ing Wen smiling, "one just sits down to warm one's +self, and here you come and disturb one!" + +Pao-yü had at this time been sitting, plunged in a despondent mood. The +thought of Hsi Jen's mother had crossed through his mind and he was +wondering whether she could be dead or alive, when unexpectedly +overhearing Ch'ing Wen pass the remarks she did, he speedily sprung up, +and came out himself and dropped the cover of the glass, and fastened +the contrivance, after which he walked into the room. "Warm +yourselves," he smiled, "I've done all there was to be done." + +"I can't manage," Ch'ing Wen rejoined smiling, "to get warm at all. It +just also strikes me that the warming-pan hasn't yet been brought." + +"You've had the trouble to think of it!" She Yüeh observed. "But you've +never wanted a chafing-dish before. It's so warm besides on that +warming-frame of ours; not like the stove-couch in that room, which is +so cold; so we can very well do without it to-day." + +"If both of you are to sleep on that," Pao-yü smiled, "there won't be a +soul with me outside, and I shall be in an awful funk. Even you won't +be able to have a wink of sleep during the whole night!" + +"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." + +But while they kept up this conversation, the first watch drew near, +and She Yüeh at once lowered the mosquito-curtain, removed the lamp, +burnt the joss-sticks, and waited upon Pao-yü until he got into bed. +The two maids then retired to rest. Ch'ing Wen reclined all alone on +the warming-frame, while She Yüeh lay down outside the winter +apartments. + +The third watch had come and gone, when Pao-yü, in the midst of a +dream, started calling Hsi Jen. He uttered her name twice, but no one +was about to answer him. And it was after he had stirred himself out of +sleep that he eventually recalled to mind that Hsi Jen was not at home, +and he had a hearty fit laughter to himself. + +Ch'ing Wen however had been roused out of her sleep, and she called She +Yüeh. "Even I," she said, "have been disturbed, fast asleep though I +was; and, lo, she keeps a look-out by his very side and doesn't as yet +know anything about his cries! In very deed she is like a stiff +corpse!" + +She Yüeh twisted herself round and yawned. "He calls Hsi Jen," she +smilingly rejoined, "so what's that to do with me? What do you want?" +proceeding, she then inquired of him. + +"I want some tea," Pao-yü replied. + +She Yüeh hastily jumped out of bed, with nothing on but a short wadded +coat of red silk. + +"Throw my pelisse over you;" Pao-yü cried; "for mind it's cold!" + +She Yüeh at these words put back her hands, and, taking the warm +pelisse, lined even up to the lapel, with fur from the neck of the +sable, which Pao-yü had put on on getting up, she threw it over her +shoulders and went below and washed her hands in the basin. Then +filling first a cup with tepid water, she brought a large cuspidor for +Pao-yü to wash his mouth. Afterwards, she drew near the tea-case, and +getting a cup, she first rinsed it with lukewarm water, and pouring +half a cup of tea from the warm teapot, she handed it to Pao-yü. After +he had done, she herself rinsed her mouth, and swallowed half a cupful +of tea. + +"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. What do you say to that?" + +Hearing this, She Yüeh had no help but to attend to her as well, while +she washed her mouth, and to pour a cup of tea and give it to her to +drink. + +"Won't you two go to sleep," She Yüeh laughed, "but keep on chatting? +I'll go out for a time; I'll be back soon." + +"Are there any evil spirits waiting for you outside?" Ch'ing Wen +smiled. + +"It's sure to be bright moonlight out of doors," Pao-yü observed, "so +go, while we continue our chat." + +So speaking, he coughed twice. + +She Yüeh opened the back-door, and raising the woollen portière and +looking out, she saw what a beautiful moonlight there really was. + +Ch'ing Wen allowed her just time enough to leave the room, when she +felt a wish to frighten her for the sake of fun. But such reliance did +she have in her physique, which had so far proved better than that of +others, that little worrying her mind about the cold, she did not even +throw a cloak over her, but putting on a short jacket, she descended, +with gentle tread and light step, from the warming-frame and was making +her way out to follow in her wake, when "Hallo!" cried Pao-yü warning +her. "It's freezing; it's no joke!" + +Ch'ing Wen merely responded with a wave of the hand and sallied out of +the door to go in pursuit of her companion. The brilliancy of the moon, +which met her eye, was as limpid as water. But suddenly came a slight +gust of wind. She felt it penetrate her very flesh and bore through her +bones. So much so, that she could not help shuddering all over. "Little +wonder is it," she argued within herself, "if people say 'that one +mustn't, when one's body is warm, expose one's self to the wind.' This +cold is really dreadful!" She was at the same time just on the point of +giving (She Yüeh) a start, when she heard Pao-yü shout from inside, +"Ch'ing Wen has come out." + +Ch'ing Wen promptly turned back and entered the room. "How could I ever +frighten her to death?" she laughed. "It's just your way; you're as +great a coward as an old woman!" + +"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. +So, in the event of rousing any of the others out of their sleep, they +won't say that we are up to jokes, but maintain instead that just as +Hsi Jen is gone, you two behave as if you'd come across ghosts or seen +evil spirits. Come and tuck in the coverlets on this side!" + +When Ch'ing Wen heard what he wanted done she came accordingly and +tucked in the covers, and, putting out her hands, she inserted them +under them, and set to work to warm the bedding. + +"How cold your hand is!" Pao-yü laughingly exclaimed. "I told you to +look out or you'd freeze!" + +Noticing at the same time that Ch'ing Wen's cheeks were as red as +rouge, he rubbed them with his hands. But as they felt icy cold to his +touch, "Come at once under the cover and warm yourself!" Pao-yü urged. + +Hardly, however, had he concluded these words, than a sound of 'lo +teng' reached their ears from the door, and She Yüeh rushed in all in a +tremor, laughing the while. + +"I've had such a fright," she smiled, as she went on speaking. +"Goodness me! I saw in the black shade, at the back of the boulders on +that hill, some one squatting, and was about to scream, when it turned +out to be nothing else than that big golden pheasant. As soon as it +caught sight of a human being, it flew away. But it was only when it +reached a moonlit place that I at last found out what it was. Had I +been so heedless as to scream, I would have been the means of getting +people out of their beds!" + +Recounting her experiences, she washed her hands. + +"Ch'ing Wen, you say, has gone out," she proceeded laughing, "but how +is it I never caught a glimpse of her? She must certainly have gone to +frighten me!" + +"Isn't this she?" Pao-yü inquired with a smile. "Is she not here +warming herself? 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. "This hussy has frightened her own self." + +With these words she ensconced herself again under her own coverlet. +"Did you forsooth go out," She Yüeh remarked, "in this smart dress of a +circus-performer?" + +"Why, of course, she went out like this!" Pao-yü smiled. + +"You wouldn't know, for the life of you, how to choose a felicitous +day!" She Yüeh added. "There you go and stand about on a fruitless +errand. Won't your skin get chapped from the frost?" + +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. She then re-covered the brasier, and repairing to the +back of the screen, she gave the lamp a thorough trimming to make it +throw out more light; after which, she once more laid herself down. + +As Ch'ing Wen had some time before felt cold, and now began to get warm +again, she unexpectedly sneezed a couple of times. + +"How about that?" sighed Pao-yü. "There you are; you've after all +caught a chill!" + +"Early this morning," She Yüeh smiled, "she shouted that she wasn't +feeling quite herself. Neither did she have the whole day a proper bowl +of food. And now, not to speak of her taking so little care of herself, +she is still bent upon playing larks upon people! But if she falls ill +by and bye, we'll let her suffer what she will have brought upon +herself." + +"Is your head hot?" Pao-yü asked. + +"It's nothing at all!" Ch'ing Wen rejoined, after coughing twice. "When +did I get so delicate?" + +But while she spoke, they heard the striking clock, suspended on the +partition wall in the outer rooms, give two sounds of 'tang, tang,' and +the matron, on the night watch outside, say: "Now, young girls, go to +sleep. To-morrow will be time enough for you to chat and laugh!" + +"Don't let's talk!" Pao-yü then whispered, "for, mind, we'll also +induce them to start chattering." After this, they at last went to +sleep. + +The next day, they got up at an early hour. Ch'ing Wen's nose was +indeed considerably stopped. Her voice was hoarse; and she felt no +inclination to move. + +"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. So isn't it better here? Go and lie down in +the inner rooms, and I'll give orders to some one to send for the +doctor to come quietly by the back door and have a look at you. You'll +then get all right again." + +"In spite of what you say," Ch'ing Wen demurred, "you must really say +something about it to our senior lady, Mrs. Chia Chu; otherwise the +doctor will be coming unawares, and people will begin to ask questions; +and what answer could one give them?" + +Pao-yü found what she said so full of reason that he called an old +nurse. "Go and deliver this message to your senior mistress," he +enjoined her. "Tell her that Ch'ing Wen got a slight chill yesterday. +That as it's nothing to speak of, and Hsi Jen is besides away, there +would be, more than ever, no one here to look after things, were she to +go home and attend to herself, so let her send for a doctor to come +quietly by the back entrance and see what's the matter with her; but +don't let her breathe a word about it to Madame Wang, my mother." + +The old nurse was away a considerable time on the errand. On her +return, "Our senior mistress," she reported, "has been told everything. +She says that: 'if she gets all right, after taking a couple of doses +of medicine, it will be well and good. But that in the event of not +recovering, it would, really, be the right thing for her to go to her +own home. That the season isn't healthy at present, and that if the +other girls caught her complaint it would be a small thing; but that +the good health of the young ladies is a vital matter.'" + +Ch'ing Wen was lying in the winter apartment, coughing and coughing, +when overhearing (Li Wan's) answer, she lost control over her temper. +"Have I got such a dreadful epidemic," she said, "that she fears that I +shall bring it upon others? I'll clear off at once from this place; for +mind you don't get any headaches and hot heads during the course of +your lives." + +"While uttering her grievances, she was bent upon getting up +immediately, when Pao-yü hastened to smile and to press her down. + +"Don't lose your temper," he advised her. "This is a responsibility +which falls upon her shoulders, so she is afraid lest Madame Wang might +come to hear of it, and call her to task. She only made a harmless +remark. But you've always been prone to anger, and now, as a matter of +course your spleen is larger than ever." + +But in the middle of his advice to her, a servant came and told him +that the doctor had arrived. Pao-yü accordingly crossed over to the off +side, and retired behind the bookcase; from whence he perceived two or +three matrons, whose duty it was to keep watch at the back door, usher +the doctor in. + +The waiting-maids, meanwhile, withdrew out of the way. Three or four +old nurses dropped the deep-red embroidered curtain, suspended in the +winter apartment. Ch'ing Wen then simply stretched out her hand from +among the folds of the curtain. But the doctor noticed that on two of +the fingers of her hand, the nails, which measured fully two or three +inches in length, still bore marks of the pure red dye from the China +balsam, and forthwith he turned his head away. An old nurse speedily +fetched a towel and wiped them for her, when the doctor set to work and +felt her pulse for a while, after which he rose and walked into the +outer chamber. + +"Your young lady's illness," he said to the old nurses, "arises from +external sources, and internal obstructive influences, caused by the +unhealthiness of the season of late. Yet it's only a slight chill, +after all. Fortunately, the young lady has ever been moderate in her +drinking and eating. The cold she has is nothing much. It's mainly +because she has a weak constitution that she has unawares got a bit of +a chill. 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. + +Li Wan had, by this time, sent word to the various female domestics at +the back entrance, as well as to the young maids in the different parts +of the establishment to keep in retirement. All therefore that the +doctor perceived as he went along was the scenery in the garden. But +not a single girl did he see. + +Shortly, he made his exit out of the garden gate, and taking a seat in +the duty-lodge of the servant-lads, who looked after the +garden-entrance, he wrote a prescription. + +"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." + +"Wasn't the one I saw just now a young lady," the doctor exclaimed with +eagerness, "but a young man, eh? Yet the rooms were such as are +occupied by ladies. The curtains were besides let down. So how could +the patient I saw have ever been a young man?" + +"My dear sir," laughed the old nurse, "it isn't strange that a +servant-girl said just now that a new doctor had been sent for on this +occasion, for you really know nothing about our family matters. That +room is that of our young master, and that is a girl attached to the +apartments; but she's really a servant-maid. How ever were those a +young lady's rooms? Had a young lady fallen ill, would you ever have +penetrated inside with such ease?" + +With these words, she took the prescription and wended her way into the +garden. + +When Pao-yü came to peruse it, he found, above, such medicines +mentioned as sweet basil, platycodon, carraway seeds, mosla dianthera, +and the like; and, below, citrus fusca and sida as well. + +"He deserves to be hanged! He deserves death!" Pao-yü shouted. "Here he +treats girls in the very same way as he would us men! How could this +ever do? No matter what internal obstruction there may be, how could +she ever stand citrus and sida? Who asked him to come? 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. But we'll now tell a servant-lad to +go and ask Dr. Wang round. It's easy enough! The only thing is that as +this doctor wasn't sent for through the head manager's office his fee +must be paid to him." + +"How much must one give him?" Pao-yü inquired. + +"Were one to give him too little, it wouldn't look nice," a matron +ventured. "He should be given a tael. This would be quite the thing +with such a household as ours." + +"When Dr. Wang comes," Pao-yü asked, "how much is he given?" + +"Whenever Dr. Wang and Dr. Chang come," a matron smilingly explained, +"no money is ever given them. At the four seasons of each year however +presents are simply sent to them in a lump. This is a fixed annual +custom. But this new doctor has come only this once so he should be +given a tael." + +After this explanation, Pao-yü readily bade She Yüeh go and fetch the +money. + +"I can't make out where sister Hua put it;" She Yüeh rejoined. + +"I've often seen her take money out of that lacquered press, ornamented +with designs made with shells;" Pao-yü added; "so come along with me, +and let's go and search." + +As he spoke, he and She Yüeh came together into what was used as a +store-room by Hsi Jen. Upon opening the shell-covered press, they found +the top shelf full of pens, pieces of ink, fans, scented cakes, various +kinds of purses, handkerchiefs and other like articles, while on the +lower shelf were piled several strings of cash. But, presently they +pulled out the drawer, when they saw, in a small wicker basket, several +pieces of silver, and a steelyard. + +She Yüeh quickly snatched a piece of silver. Then raising the +steelyard, +"Which is the one tael mark?" she asked. + +Pao-yü laughed. "It's amusing that you should appeal to me!" he said. +"You really behave as if you had only just come!" + +She Yüeh also laughed, and was about to go and make inquiries of some +one else, when Pao-yü interfered. "Choose a piece out of those big ones +and give it to him, and have done," he said. "We don't go in for buying +and selling, so what's the use of minding such trifles!" + +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. But it would be better to let him have a little +more. Don't let's give too little as those poor brats will have a laugh +at our expense. They won't say that we know nothing about the +steelyard; but that we are designedly mean." + +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. But there are no sycee +shears at hand, so, miss, put this piece aside and choose a smaller +one." + +She Yüeh had already closed the press and walked out. "Who'll go and +fumble about again?" 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." + +The matron received the money and marched off to go and settle matters. + +Presently, Dr. Wang actually arrived, at the invitation of Pei Ming. +First and foremost he felt the pulse and then gave the same diagnosis +of the complaint (as the other doctor did) in the first instance. The +only difference being that there was, in fact, no citrus or sida or +other similar drugs, included in the prescription. It contained, +however, false sarsaparilla roots, dried orange peel, peonia albifora, +and other similar medicines. But the quantities were, on the other +hand, considerably smaller, as compared with those of the drugs +mentioned in the former prescription. + +"These are the medicines," Pao-yü ejaculated exultingly, "suitable for +girls! They should, it's true, be of a laxative nature, but never over +and above what's needful. When I fell ill last year, I suffered from a +chill, but I got such an obstruction in the viscera that I could +neither take anything liquid or substantial, yet though he saw the +state I was in, he said that I couldn't stand sida, ground gypsum, +citrus and other such violent drugs. You and I resemble the +newly-opened white begonia, Yün Erh sent me in autumn. And how could +you resist medicines which are too much for me? We're like the lofty +aspen trees, which grow in people's burial grounds. To look at, the +branches and leaves are of luxuriant growth, but they are hollow at the +core." + +"Do only aspen trees grow in waste burial grounds?" She Yüeh smiled. +"Is it likely, pray, that there are no fir and cypress trees? What's +more loathsome than any other is the aspen. For though a lofty tree, it +only has a few leaves; and it makes quite a confused noise with the +slightest puff of wind! If you therefore deliberately compare yourself +to it, you'll also be ranging yourself too much among the common herd!" + +"I daren't liken myself to fir or cypress;" Pao-yü laughingly retorted. +"Even Confucius says: 'after the season waxes cold, one finds that the +fir and cypress are the last to lose their foliage,' which makes it +evident that these two things are of high excellence. Thus it's those +only, who are devoid of every sense of shame, who foolishly liken +themselves to trees of the kind!" + +While engaged in this colloquy, they perceived the old matron bring the +drugs, so Pao-yü bade her fetch the silver pot, used for boiling +medicines in, and then he directed her to prepare the decoction on the +brasier. + +"The right thing would be," Ch'ing Wen suggested, "that you should let +them go and get it ready in the tea-room; for will it ever do to fill +this room with the smell of medicines?" + +"The smell of medicines," Pao-yü rejoined, "is far nicer than that +emitted by the whole lot of flowers. Fairies pick medicines and prepare +medicines. Besides this, eminent men and cultured scholars gather +medicines and concoct medicines; so that it constitutes a most +excellent thing. I was just thinking that there's everything and +anything in these rooms and that the only thing that we lack is the +smell of medicines; but as luck would have it, everything is now +complete." + +Speaking, he lost no time in giving orders to a servant to put the +medicines on the fire. Next, he advised She Yüeh to get ready a few +presents and bid a nurse take them and go and look up Hsi Jen, and +exhort her not to give way to excessive grief. And when he had settled +everything that had to be seen to, he repaired to the front to dowager +lady Chia's and Madame Wang's quarters, and paid his respects and had +his meal. + +Lady Feng, as it happened, was just engaged in consulting with old lady +Chia and Madame Wang. "The days are now short as well as cold," she +argued, "so wouldn't it be advisable that my senior sister-in-law, Mrs. +Chia Chu, should henceforward have her repasts in the garden, along +with the young ladies? When the weather gets milder, it won't at all +matter, if they have to run backward and forward." + +"This is really a capital idea!" Madame Wang smiled. "It will be so +convenient during windy and rainy weather. To inhale the chilly air +after eating isn't good. And to come quite empty, and begin piling up a +lot of things in a stomach full of cold air isn't quite safe. It would +be as well therefore to select two cooks from among the women, who +have, anyhow, to keep night duty in the large five-roomed house, inside +the garden back entrance, and station them there for the special +purpose of preparing the necessary viands for the girls. Fresh +vegetables are subject to some rule of distribution, so they can be +issued to them from the general manager's office. Or they might +possibly require money or be in need of some things or other. 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. "The +only thing I feared was that with the extra work that would again be +thrown upon the cook-house, they mightn't have too much to do." + +"There'll be nothing much to do," lady Feng replied. "The same +apportionment will continue as ever. 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. If the girls were exposed to the +cold wind, every one else might stand it with impunity; but how could +cousin Lin, first and foremost above all others, resist anything of the +kind? 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." + +What rejoinder old lady Chia made to lady Feng, at the close of her +representations, is not yet ascertained; so, reader, listen to the +explanations you will find given in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + + + The beautiful P'ing Erh endeavours to conceal the loss of the + bracelet, made of work as fine as the feelers of a shrimp. + The brave Ch'ing Wen mends the down-cloak during her indisposition. + +But let us return to our story. + +"Quite so!" was the reply with which dowager lady Chia (greeted lady +Feng's proposal). "I meant the other day to have suggested this +arrangement, but I saw that every one of you had so many urgent matters +to attend to, (and I thought) that although you would not presume to +bear me a grudge, were several duties now again superadded, you would +unavoidably imagine that I only regarded those young grandsons and +granddaughters of mine, and had no consideration for any of you, who +have to look after the house. But since you make this suggestion +yourself, it's all right." + +And seeing that Mrs. Hsüeh, and 'sister-in-law' Li were sitting with +her, and that Madame Hsing, and Mrs. Yu and the other ladies, who had +also crossed over to pay their respects, had not as yet gone to their +quarters, old lady Chia broached the subject with Madame Wang, and the +rest of the company. "I've never before ventured to give utterance to +the remarks that just fell from my lips," she said, "as first of all I +was in fear and trembling lest I should have made that girl Feng more +presumptuous than ever, and next, lest I should have incurred the +displeasure of one and all of you. But since you're all here to-day, +and every one of you knows what brothers' wives and husbands' sisters +mean, is there (I ask) any one besides her as full of forethought?" + +Mrs. Hsüeh, 'sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Yu smiled with one consent. +"There are indeed but few like her!" they cried. "That of others is +simply a conventional 'face' affection, but she is really fond of her +husband's sisters and his young brother. In fact, she's as genuinely +filial with you, venerable senior." + +Dowager lady Chia nodded her head. "Albeit I'm fond of her," she +sighed, "I can't, on the other hand, help distrusting that excessive +shrewdness of hers, for it isn't a good thing." + +"You're wrong there, worthy ancestor," lady Feng laughed with alacrity. +"People in the world as a rule maintain that 'too shrewd and clever a +person can't, it is feared, live long.' Now what people of the world +invariably say people of the world invariably believe. But of you +alone, my dear senior, can no such thing be averred or believed. For +there you are, ancestor mine, a hundred times sharper and cleverer than +I; and how is it that you now enjoy both perfect happiness and +longevity? But I presume that I shall by and bye excel you by a +hundredfold, and die at length, after a life of a thousand years, when +you venerable senior shall have departed from these mortal scenes!" + +"After every one is dead and gone," dowager lady Chia laughingly +observed, "what pleasure will there be, if two antiquated elves, like +you and I will be, remain behind?" + +This joke excited general mirth. + +But so concerned was Pao-yü about Ch'ing Wen and other matters that he +was the first to make a move and return into the garden. On his arrival +at his quarters, he found the rooms full of the fragrance emitted by +the medicines. Not a soul did he, however, see about. Ch'ing Wen was +reclining all alone on the stove-couch. Her face was feverish and red. +When he came to touch it, his hand experienced a scorching sensation. +Retracing his steps therefore towards the stove, he warmed his hands +and inserted them under the coverlet and felt her. Her body as well was +as hot as fire. + +"If the others have left," he then remarked, "there's nothing strange +about it, but are She Yüeh and Ch'iu Wen too so utterly devoid of +feeling as to have each gone after her own business?" + +"As regards Ch'iu Wen," Ch'ing Wen explained, "I told her to go and +have her meal. And as for She Yüeh, P'ing Erh came just now and called +her out of doors and there they are outside confabbing in a mysterious +way! What the drift of their conversation can be I don't know. 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. I fancy her object was to +look up She Yüeh to hobnob with her, but finding unexpectedly that you +were not up to the mark, she readily said that she had come on purpose +to find what progress you were making. This was quite a natural thing +for a person with so wily a disposition to say, for the sake of +preserving harmony. But if you don't go home, it's none of her +business. You two have all along been, irrespective of other things, on +such good terms that she could by no means entertain any desire to +injure the friendly relations which exist between you, all on account +of something that doesn't concern her." + +"Your remarks are right enough," Ch'ing Wen rejoined, "but I do suspect +her, as why did she too start, all of a sudden, imposing upon me?" + +"Wait, I'll walk out by the back door," Pao-yü smiled, "and go to the +foot of the window, and listen to what she's saying. I'll then come and +tell you." + +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. + +"How did you manage to get it?" She Yueh inquired with gentle voice. + +"When I lost sight of it on that day that I washed my hands," P'ing Erh +answered, "our lady Secunda wouldn't let us make a fuss. But the moment +she left the garden, she there and then sent word to the nurses, +stationed in the various places, to institute careful search. Our +suspicions, however, fell upon Miss Hsing's maid, who has ever also +been poverty-stricken; surmising that a young girl of her age, who had +never set eyes upon anything of the kind, may possibly have picked it +up and taken it. But never did we positively believe that it could be +some one from this place of yours! Happily, our lady Secunda wasn't in +the room, when that nurse Sung who is with you here went over, and +said, producing the bracelet, 'that the young maid, Chui Erh, had +stolen it, and that she had detected her, and come to lay the matter +before our lady Secunda. I promptly took over the bracelet from her; +and recollecting how imperious and exacting Pao-yü is inclined to be, +fond and devoted as he is to each and all of you; how the jade which +was prigged the other year by a certain Liang Erh, is still, just as +the matter has cooled down for the last couple of years, canvassed at +times by some people eager to serve their own ends; how some one has +now again turned up to purloin this gold trinket; how it was filched, +to make matters worse, from a neighbour's house; how as luck would have +it, she took this of all things; and how it happened to be his own +servant to give him a slap on his mouth, I hastened to enjoin nurse +Sung to, on no account whatever, let Pao-yü know anything about it, but +simply pretend that nothing of the kind had transpired, and to make no +mention of it to any single soul. In the second place,' (I said), 'our +dowager lady and Madame Wang would get angry, if they came to hear +anything. Thirdly, Hsi Jen as well as yourselves would not also cut a +very good figure.' Hence it was that in telling our lady Secunda, I +merely explained 'that on my way to our senior mistress,' the bracelet +got unclasped, without my knowing it; that it fell among the roots of +the grass; that there was no chance of seeing it while the snow was +deep, but that when the snow completely disappeared to-day there it +glistened, so yellow and bright, in the rays of the sun, in precisely +the very place where it had dropped, and that I then picked it up.' Our +lady Secunda at once credited my version. So here I come to let you all +know so as to be henceforward a little on your guard with her, and not +get her a job anywhere else. Wait until Hsi Jen's return, and then +devise means to pack her off, and finish with her." + +"This young vixen has seen things of this kind before," She Yüeh +ejaculated, "and how is it that she was so shallow-eyed?" + +"What could, after all, be the weight of this bracelet?" P'ing Erh +observed. "It was once our lady Secunda's. She says that this is called +the 'shrimp-feeler'-bracelet. But it's the pearl, which increases its +weight. That minx Ch'ing Wen is as fiery as a piece of crackling +charcoal, so were anything to be told her, she may, so little able is +she to curb her temper, flare up suddenly into a huff, and beat or +scold her, and kick up as much fuss as she ever has done before. 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. He felt delighted, on +account of the consideration shown by P'ing Erh for his own feelings. +Vexed, because Chui Erh had turned out a petty thief. Grieved, that +Chui Erh, who was otherwise such a smart girl, should have gone in for +this disgraceful affair. Returning consequently into the house, he told +Ch'ing Wen every word that P'ing Erh had uttered. "She says," he went +on to add, "that you're so fond of having things all your own way that +were you to hear anything of this business, now that you are ill, you +would get worse, and that she only means to broach the subject with +you, when you get quite yourself again." + +Upon hearing this, Ch'ing Wen's ire was actually stirred up, and her +beautiful moth-like eyebrows contracted, and her lovely phoenix eyes +stared wide like two balls. So she immediately shouted out for Chui +Erh. + +"If you go on bawling like that," Pao-yü hastily remonstrated with her, +"won't you show yourself ungrateful for the regard with which P'ing Erh +has dealt with you and me? Better for us to show ourselves sensible of +her kindness and by and bye pack the girl off, and finish." + +"Your suggestion is all very good," Ch'ing Wen demurred, "but how could +I suppress this resentment?" + +"What's there to feel resentment about?" Pao-yü asked. "Just you take +good care of yourself; it's the best thing you can do." + +Ch'ing Wen then took her medicine. When evening came, she had another +couple of doses. But though in the course of the night, she broke out +into a slight perspiration, she did not see any change for the better +in her state. Still she felt feverish, her head sore, her nose stopped, +her voice hoarse. The next day, Dr. Wang came again to examine her +pulse and see how she was getting on. Besides other things, he +increased the proportions of certain medicines in the decoction and +reduced others; but in spite of her fever having been somewhat brought +down, her head continued to ache as much as ever. + +"Go and fetch the snuff," Pao-yü said to She Yüeh, "and give it to her +to sniff. She'll feel more at ease after she has had several strong +sneezes." + +She Yüeh went, in fact, and brought a flat crystal bottle, inlaid with +a couple of golden stars, and handed it to Pao-yü. + +Pao-yü speedily raised the cover of the bottle. Inside it, he +discovered, represented on western enamel, a fair-haired young girl, in +a state of nature, on whose two sides figured wings of flesh. This +bottle contained some really first-rate foreign snuff. + +Ch'ing Wen's attention was fixedly concentrated on the representation. + +"Sniff a little!" Pao-yü urged. "If the smell evaporates, it won't be +worth anything." + +Ch'ing Wen, at his advice, promptly dug out a little with her nail, and +applied it to her nose. But with no effect. So digging out again a good +quantity of it, she pressed it into her nostrils. Then suddenly she +experienced a sensation in her nose as if some pungent matter had +penetrated into the very duct leading into the head, and she sneezed +five or six consecutive times, until tears rolled down from her eyes +and mucus trickled from her nostrils. + +Ch'ing Wen hastily put the bottle away. "It's dreadfully pungent!" she +laughed. "Bring me some paper, quick!" + +A servant-girl at once handed her a pile of fine paper. + +Ch'ing Wen extracted sheet after sheet, and blew her nose. + +"Well," said Pao-yü smiling, "how are you feeling now?" + +"I'm really considerably relieved." Ch'ing Wen rejoined laughing. "The +only thing is that my temples still hurt me." + +"Were you to treat yourself exclusively with western medicines, I'm +sure you'd get all right," Pao-yü added smilingly. Saying this, "Go," +he accordingly desired She Yüeh, "to our lady Secunda, and ask her for +some. Tell her that I spoke to you about them. My cousin over there +often uses some western plaster, which she applies to her temples when +she's got a headache. It's called 'I-fo-na.' So try and get some of +it!" + +She Yüeh expressed her readiness. After a protracted absence, she, in +very deed, came back with a small bit of the medicine; and going +quickly for a piece of red silk cutting, she got the scissors and slit +two round slips off as big as the tip of a finger. After which, she +took the medicine, and softening it by the fire, she spread it on them +with a hairpin. + +Ch'ing Wen herself laid hold of a looking-glass with a handle and stuck +the bits on both her temples. + +"While you were lying sick," She Yüeh laughed, "you looked like a +mangy-headed devil! But with this stuff on now you present a fine +sight! As for our lady Secunda she has been so much in the habit of +sticking these things about her that they don't very much show off with +her!" + +This joke over, "Our lady Secunda said," she resumed, addressing +herself to Pao-yü, "'that to-morrow is your maternal uncle's birthday, +and that our mistress, your mother, asked her to tell you to go over. +That whatever clothes you will put on to-morrow should be got ready +to-night, so as to avoid any trouble in the morning.'" + +"Anything that comes first to hand," Pao-yü observed, "will do well +enough! There's no getting, the whole year round, at the end of all the +fuss of birthdays!" + +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. As +soon as he got outside the door of the court-yard, he unexpectedly +spied Pao-ch'in's young maid, Hsiao Lo by name, crossing over from the +opposite direction. Pao-yü, with rapid step, strode up to her, and +inquired of her whither she was going. + +"Our two young ladies," Hsiao Lo answered with a smile, "are in Miss +Lin's rooms; so I'm also now on my way thither." + +Catching this answer, Pao-yü wheeled round and came at once with her to +the Hsiao Hsiang Lodge. Here not only did he find Pao-ch'ai and her +cousin, but Hsing Chou-yen as well. The quartet was seated in a circle +on the warming-frame; carrying on a friendly chat on everyday domestic +matters; while Tzu Chüan was sitting in the winter apartment, working +at some needlework by the side of the window. + +The moment they caught a glimpse of him, their faces beamed with +smiles. "There comes some one else!" they cried. "There's no room for +you to sit!" + +"What a fine picture of beautiful girls, in the winter chamber!" Pao-yü +smiled. "It's a pity I come a trifle too late! This room is, at all +events, so much warmer than any other, that I won't feel cold if I +plant myself on this chair." + +So saying, he made himself comfortable on a favourite chair of Tai-yü's +over which was thrown a grey squirrel cover. But noticing in the winter +apartment a jadestone bowl, full of single narcissi, in clusters of +three or five, Pao-yü began praising their beauty with all the language +he could command. "What lovely flowers!" he exclaimed. "The warmer the +room gets, the stronger is the fragrance emitted by these flowers! How +is it I never saw them yesterday?" + +"These are," Tai-yü laughingly explained, "from the two pots of +narcissi, and two pots of allspice, sent to Miss Hsüeh Secunda by the +wife of Lai Ta, the head butler in your household. Of these, she gave +me a pot of narcissi; and to that girl Yün, a pot of allspice. I didn't +at first mean to keep them, but I was afraid of showing no +consideration for her kind attention. But if you want them, I'll, in my +turn, present them to you. Will you have them; eh?" + +"I've got two pots of them in my rooms," Pao-yü replied, "but they're +not up to these. How is it you're ready to let others have what cousin +Ch'in has given you? This can on no account do!" + +"With me here," Tai-yü added, "the medicine pot never leaves the fire, +the whole day long. I'm only kept together by medicines. So how could I +ever stand the smell of flowers bunging my nose? It makes me weaker +than ever. Besides, if there's the least whiff of medicines in this +room, it will, contrariwise, spoil the fragrance of these flowers. So +isn't it better that you should have them carried away? These flowers +will then breathe a purer atmosphere, and won't have any mixture of +smells to annoy them." + +"I've also got now some one ill in my place," Pao-yü retorted with a +smile, "and medicines are being decocted. How comes it you happen to +know nothing about it?" + +"This is strange!" Tai-yü laughed. "I was really speaking quite +thoughtlessly; for who ever knows what's going on in your apartments? +But why do you, instead of getting here a little earlier to listen to +old stories, come at this moment to bring trouble and vexation upon +your own self?" + +Pao-yü gave a laugh. "Let's have a meeting to-morrow," he proposed, +"for we've also got the themes. Let's sing the narcissus and allspice." + +"Never mind, drop that!" Tai-yü rejoined, upon hearing his proposal. "I +can't venture to write any more verses. Whenever I indite any, I'm +mulcted. So I'd rather not be put to any great shame." + +While uttering these words she screened her face with both hands. + +"What's the matter?" Pao-yü smiled. "Why are you again making fun of +me? +I'm not afraid of any shame, but, lo, you screen your face." + +"The next time," Pao-ch'ai felt impelled to interpose laughingly, "I +convene a meeting, we'll have four themes for odes and four for songs; +and each one of us will have to write four odes and four roundelays. +The theme of the first ode will treat of the plan of the great extreme; +the rhyme fixed being 'hsien,' (first), and the metre consisting of +five words in each line. We'll have to exhaust every one of the rhymes +under 'hsien,' and mind, not a single one may be left out." + +"From what you say," Pao-ch'in smilingly observed, "it's evident that +you're not in earnest, cousin, in setting the club on foot. It's clear +enough that your object is to embarrass people. 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? When I was eight years of age, I went with my father to the +western seaboard to purchase foreign goods. Who'd have thought it, we +came across a girl from the 'Chen Chen' kingdom. She was in her +eighteenth year, and her features were just like those of the beauties +one sees represented in foreign pictures. She had also yellow hair, +hanging down, and arranged in endless plaits. Her whole head was +ornamented with one mass of cornelian beads, amber, cats' eyes, and +'grandmother-green-stone.' On her person, she wore a chain armour +plaited with gold, and a coat, which was up to the very sleeves, +embroidered in foreign style. In a belt, she carried a Japanese sword, +also inlaid with gold and studded with precious gems. In very truth, +even in pictures, there is no one as beautiful as she. Some people said +that she was thoroughly conversant with Chinese literature, and could +explain the 'Five classics,' that she was able to write odes and devise +roundelays, and so my father requested an interpreter to ask her to +write something. She thereupon wrote an original stanza, which all, +with one voice, praised for its remarkable beauty, and extolled for its +extraordinary merits." + +"My dear cousin," eagerly smiled Pao-yü, "produce what she wrote, and +let's have a look at it." + +"It's put away in Nanking;" Pao-ch'in replied with a smile. "So how +could I at present go and fetch it?" + +Great was Pao-yü's disappointment at this rejoinder. "I've no luck," he +cried, "to see anything like this in the world." + +Tai-yü laughingly laid hold of Pao-ch'in. "Don't be humbugging us!" 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 must have +brought them along. Yet here you are now again palming off a fib on us +by saying that you haven't got them with you. You people may believe +what she says, but I, for my part, don't." + +Pao-ch'in got red in the face. Drooping her head against her chest, she +gave a faint smile; but she uttered not a word by way of response. + +"Really P'in Erh you've got into the habit of talking like this!" +Pao-ch'ai laughed. "You're too shrewd by far." + +"Bring them along," Tai-yü urged with a smile, "and give us a chance of +seeing something and learning something; it won't hurt them." + +"There's a whole heap of trunks and baskets," Pao-ch'ai put in +laughing, "which haven't been yet cleared away. And how could one tell +in which particular one, they're packed up? Wait a few days, and when +things will have been put straight a bit, we'll try and find them: and +every one of us can then have a look at them; that will be all right. +But if you happen to remember the lines," she pursued, speaking to +Pao-ch'in, "why not recite them for our benefit?" + +"I remember so far that her lines consisted of a stanza with five +characters in each line," Pao-ch'ai returned for answer. "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." + +After this remark, she called Hsiao Lo to her. "Go to my place," she +observed, "and tell her that a foreign beauty has come over, who's a +splendid hand at poetry. 'You, who have poetry on the brain,' (say to +her), 'are invited to come and see her,' and then lay hold of this +verse-maniac of ours and bring her along." + +Hsiao Lo gave a smile, and went away. After a long time, they heard +Hsiang-yün laughingly inquire, "What foreign beauty has come?" But +while +asking this question, she made her appearance in company with Hsiang +Ling. + +"We heard your voices long before we caught a glimpse of your persons!" +the party laughed. + +Pao-ch'in and her companions motioned to her to sit down, and, in due +course, she reiterated what she had told them a short while back. + +"Be quick, out with it! Let's hear what it is!" Hsiang-yün smilingly +cried. + +Pao-ch'in thereupon recited: + + Last night in the Purple Chamber I dreamt. + This evening on the 'Shui Kuo' Isle I sing. + The clouds by the isle cover the broad sea. + The zephyr from the peaks reaches the woods. + The moon has never known present or past. + From shallow and deep causes springs love's fate. + When I recall my springs south of the Han, + Can I not feel disconsolate at heart? + +After listening to her, "She does deserve credit," they unanimously +shouted, "for she really is far superior to us, Chinese though we be." + +But scarcely was this remark out of their lips, when they perceived She +Yüeh walk in. "Madame Wang," she said, "has sent a servant to inform +you, Master Secundus, that 'you are to go at an early hour to-morrow +morning to your maternal uncle's, and that you are to explain to him +that her ladyship isn't feeling quite up to the mark, and that she +cannot pay him a visit in person.'" + +Pao-yü precipitately jumped to his feet (out of deference to his +mother), and signified his assent, by answering 'Yes.' He then went on +to inquire of Pao-ch'ai and Pao-ch'in, "Are you two going?" + +"We're not going," Pao-ch'ai rejoined. "We simply went there yesterday +to take our presents over but we left after a short chat." + +Pao-yü thereupon pressed his female cousins to go ahead and he then +followed them. But Tai-yü called out to him again and stopped him. +"When is Hsi Jen, after all, coming back?" she asked. + +"She'll naturally come back after she has accompanied the funeral," +Pao-yü retorted. + +Tai-yü had something more she would have liked to tell him, but she +found it difficult to shape it into words. After some moments spent in +abstraction, "Off with you!" she cried. + +Pao-yü too felt that he treasured in his heart many things he would +fain confide to her, but he did not know what to bring to his lips, so +after cogitating within himself for a time, he likewise observed +smilingly: "We'll have another chat to-morrow," and, as he said so, he +wended his way down the stairs. Lowering his head, he was just about to +take a step forward, when he twisted himself round again with alacrity. +"Now that the nights are longer than they were, you're sure to cough +often and wake several times in the night; eh?" he asked. + +"Last night," Tai-yü answered, "I was all right; I coughed only twice. +But I only slept at the fourth watch for a couple of hours and then I +couldn't close my eyes again." + +"I really have something very important to tell you," Pao-yü proceeded +with another smile. "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. + +Tai-yü readily guessed that this was an attention extended to her +merely as she had, on her way back from T'an Ch'un's quarters, to pass +by her door, so speedily smiling a forced smile, she offered her a +seat. + +"Many thanks, dame Chao," she said, "for the trouble of thinking of me, +and for coming in person in this intense cold." + +Hastily also bidding a servant pour the tea, she simultaneously winked +at Pao-yü. + +Pao-yü grasped her meaning, and forthwith quitted the apartment. As +this happened to be about dinner time, and he had been enjoined as well +by Madame Wang to be back at an early hour, Pao-yü returned to his +quarters, and looked on while Ch'ing Wen took her medicine. Pao-yü did +not desire Ch'ing Wen this evening to move into the winter apartment, +but stayed with Ch'ing Wen outside; and, giving orders to bring the +warming-frame near the winter apartment, She Yueh slept on it. + +Nothing of any interest worth putting on record transpired during the +night. On the morrow, before the break of day, Ch'ing Wen aroused She +Yueh. + +"You should awake," she said. "The only thing is that you haven't had +enough sleep. 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 Yueh immediately jumped up and threw something over her. "Let's +call him to get up and dress in his fine clothes." she said. "We can +summon them in, after this fire-box has been removed. The old nurses +told us not to allow him to stay in this room for fear the virus of the +disease should pass on to him; so now if they see us bundled up +together in one place, they're bound to kick up another row." + +"That's my idea too," Ch'ing Wen replied. + +The two girls were then about to call him, when Pao-yü woke up of his +own accord, and speedily leaping out of bed, he threw his clothes over +him. + +She Yüeh first called a young maid into the room and put things +shipshape before she told Ch'in Wen and the other servant-girls to +enter; and along with them, she remained in waiting upon Pao-yü while +he combed his hair, and washed his face and hands. This part of his +toilet over, She Yüeh remarked: "It's cloudy again, so I suppose it's +going to snow. You'd better therefore wear a woollen overcoat!" + +Pao-yü nodded his head approvingly; and set to work at once to effect +the necessary change in his costume. A young waiting-maid then +presented him a covered bowl, in a small tea tray, containing a +decoction made of Fu-kien lotus and red dates. After Pao-yü had had a +couple of mouthfuls, She Yüeh also brought him a small plateful of +brown ginger, prepared according to some prescription. Pao-yü put a +piece into his mouth, and, impressing some advice on Ch'ing 'Wen, he +crossed over to dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. + +His grandmother had not yet got out of bed. But she was well aware that +Pao-yü was going out of doors so having the entrance leading into her +bedroom opened she asked Pao-yü to walk in. Pao-yü espied behind the +old lady, Pao-ch'in lying with her face turned towards the inside, and +not awake yet from her sleep. + +Dowager lady Chia observed that Pao-yü was clad in a deep-red felt +fringed overcoat, with woollen lichee-coloured archery-sleeves and with +an edging of dark green glossy satin, embroidered with gold rings. +"What!" old lady Chia inquired, "is it snowing?" + +"The weather is dull," Pao-yü replied, "but it isn't snowing yet." + +Dowager lady Chia thereupon sent for Yüan Yang and told her to fetch +the peacock down pelisse, finished the day before, and give it to him. +Yüan Yang signified her obedience and went off, and actually returned +with what was wanted. + +When Pao-yü came to survey it, he found that the green and golden hues +glistened with bright lustre, that the jadelike variegated colours on +it shone with splendour, and that it bore no resemblance to the +duck-down coat, which Pao-ch'in had been wearing. + +"This," he heard his grandmother smilingly remark, "is called 'bird +gold'. 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. + +Pao-yü assented, and quitted her apartments, when he caught sight of +Yüan Yang standing below rubbing her eyes. Ever since the day on which +Yüan Yang had sworn to have done with the match, she had not exchanged +a single word with Pao-yü. Pao-yü was therefore day and night a prey to +dejection. So when he now observed her shirk his presence again, Pao-yü +at once advanced up to her, and, putting on a smile, "My dear girl," he +said, "do look at the coat I've got on. Is it nice or not?" + +Yüan Yang shoved his hand away, and promptly walked into dowager lady +Chia's quarters. + +Pao-yü was thus compelled to repair to Madame Wang's room, and let her +see his coat. Retracing afterwards his footsteps into the garden, he +let Ch'ing Wen and She Yüeh also have a look at it, and then came and +told his grandmother that he had attended to her wishes. + +"My mother," he added, "has seen what I've got on. But all she said +was: 'what a pity!' and then she went on to enjoin me to be 'careful +with it and not to spoil it.'" + +"There only remains this single one," old lady Chia observed, "so if +you spoil it you can't have another. Even did I want to have one made +for you like it now, it would be out of the question." + +At the close of these words, she went on to advise him. "Don't," she +said, "have too much wine and come back early." Pao-yü acquiesced by +uttering several yes's. + +An old nurse then followed him out into the pavilion. Here they +discovered six attendants, (that is), Pao-yü's milk-brother Li Kuei, +and Wang Ho-jung, Chang Jo-chin, Chao I-hua, Ch'ien Ch'i, and Chou Jui, +as well as four young servant-lads: Pei Ming, Pan Ho, Chu Shao and Sao +Hung; some carrying bundles of clothes on their backs, some holding +cushions in their hands, others leading a white horse with engraved +saddle and variegated bridles. They had already been waiting for a good +long while. The old nurse went on to issue some directions, and the six +servants, hastily expressing their obedience by numerous yes's, quickly +caught hold of the saddle and weighed the stirrup down while Pao-yü +mounted leisurely. Li Kuei and Wang Ho-jung then led the horse by the +bit. Two of them, Ch'ien Ch'i and Chou Jui, walked ahead and showed the +way. Chang Jo-chin and Chao I-hua followed Pao-yü closely on each side. + +"Brother Chou and brother Ch'ien," Pao-yü smiled, from his seat on his +horse, "let's go by this side-gate. It will save my having again to +dismount, when we reach the entrance to my father's study." + +"Mr. Chia Cheng is not in his study," Chou Jui laughed, with a curtsey. +"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." + +"You're quite right in what you say, master;" both Ch'ien Ch'i and Li +Kuei chimed in laughingly; "but pretend you're lazy and don't get down. +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. You can also tell them that we had not +explained to you what was the right thing to do." + +Chou Jui and Ch'ien Ch'i accordingly wended their steps straight for +the side-gate. But while they were keeping up some sort of +conversation, they came face to face with Lai Ta on his way in. + +Pao-yü speedily pulled in his horse, with the idea of dismounting. But +Lai Ta hastened to draw near and to clasp his leg. Pao-yü stood up on +his stirrup, and, putting on a smile, he took his hand in his, and made +several remarks to him. + +In quick succession, he also perceived a young servant-lad make his +appearance inside leading the way for twenty or thirty servants, laden +with brooms and dust-baskets. 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. It was only when the horse +had well gone past, that the lad eventually led the bevy of servants +off, and that they went after their business. + +Presently, they egressed from the side-gate. Outside, stood the +servant-lads of the six domestics, Li Kuei and his companions, as well +as several grooms, who had, from an early hour, got ready about ten +horses and been standing, on special duty, waiting for their arrival. +As soon as they reached the further end of the side-gate, Li Kuei and +each of the other attendants mounted their horses, and pressed ahead to +lead the way. Like a streak of smoke, they got out of sight, without +any occurrence worth noticing. + +Ch'ing Wen, meanwhile, continued to take her medicines. But still she +experienced no relief in her ailment. Such was the state of +exasperation into which she worked herself that she abused the doctor +right and left. "All he's good for," she cried, "is to squeeze people's +money. But he doesn't know how to prescribe a single dose of +efficacious medicine for his patients." + +"You have far too impatient a disposition!" She Yüeh said, as she +advised her, with a smile. "'A disease,' the proverb has it, 'comes +like a crumbling mountain, and goes like silk that is reeled.' Besides, +they're not the divine pills of 'Lao Chün'. How ever could there be +such efficacious medicines? The only thing for you to do is to quietly +look after yourself for several days, and you're sure to get all right. +But the more you work yourself into such a frenzy, the worse you get!" + +Ch'ing Weng went on to heap abuse on the head of the young-maids. +"Where have they gone? Have they bored into the sand?" 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?" + +"Is it likely that the rest are all dead and gone, and that there only +remains but you?" Ch'ing Wen exclaimed. + +But while she spoke, she saw Chui Erh also slowly enter the room. + +"Look at this vixen!" Ch'ing Wen shouted. "If I don't ask for her, she +won't come. Had there been any monthly allowances issued and fruits +distributed here, you would have been the first to run in! But approach +a bit! Am I tigress to gobble you up?" + +Chui Erh was under the necessity of advancing a few steps nearer to +her. But, all of a sudden, Ch'ing Wen stooped forward, and with a dash +clutching her hand, she took a long pin from the side of her pillow, +and pricked it at random all over. + +"What's the use of such paws?" she railed at her. "They don't ply a +needle, and they don't touch any thread! All you're good for is to prig +things to stuff that mouth of yours with! The skin of your phiz is +shallow and those paws of yours are light! But with the shame you bring +upon yourself before the world, isn't it right that I should prick you, +and make mincemeat of you?" + +Chui Erh shouted so wildly from pain that She Yueh stepped forward and +immediately drew them apart. She then pressed Ch'ing Wen, until she +induced her to lie down. + +"You're just perspiring," she remarked, "and here you are once more +bent upon killing yourself. Wait until you are yourself again! Won't +you then be able to give her as many blows as you may like? What's the +use of kicking up all this fuss just now?" + +Ch'ing Wen bade a servant tell nurse Sung to come in. "Our master +Secundus, Mr. Pao-yü, recently asked me to tell you," she remarked on +her arrival, "that Chui Erh is very lazy. He himself gives her orders +to her very face, but she is ever ready to raise objections and not to +budge. Even when Hsi Jen bids her do things, she vilifies her behind +her back. She must absolutely therefore be packed off to-day. And if +Mr. Pao himself lays the matter to-morrow before Madame Wang, things +will be square." + +After listening to her grievances, nurse Sung readily concluded in her +mind that the affair of the bracelet had come to be known. "What you +suggest is well and good, it's true," she consequently smiled, "but +it's as well to wait until Miss Hua (flower) returns and hears about +the things. We can then give her the sack." + +"Mr. Pao-yü urgently enjoined this to-day," Ch'ing Wen pursued, "so +what about Miss Hua (flower) and Miss Ts'ao (grass)? We've, of course, +gob rules of propriety here, so you just do as I tell you; and be quick +and send for some one from her house to come and fetch her away!" + +"Well, now let's drop this!" She Yüeh interposed. "Whether she goes +soon or whether she goes late is one and the same thing; so let them +take her away soon; we'll then be the sooner clear of her." + +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. But why banish her from this place? You should, +indeed, leave us a little face!" + +"As regards what you say," Ch'ing Wen put in, "wait until Pao-yü comes, +and then we can ask him. It's nothing to do with us." + +The woman gave a sardonic smile. "Have I got the courage to ask him?" +she answered. "In what matter doesn't he lend an ear to any settlement +you, young ladies, may propose? He invariably agrees to all you say! +But if you, young ladies, aren't agreeable, it's really of no avail. +When you, for example, spoke just now,—it's true it was on the sly,—you +called him straightway by his name, miss. This thing does very well +with you, young ladies, but were we to do anything of the kind, we'd be +looked upon as very savages!" + +Ch'ing Wen, upon hearing her remark, became more than ever exasperated, +and got crimson in the face. "Yes, I called him by his name," she +rejoined, "so you'd better go and report me to our old lady and Madame +Wang. Tell them I'm a rustic and let them send me too off." + +"Sister-in-law," urged She Yüeh, "just you take her away; and if you've +got aught to say, you can say it by and bye. Is this a place for you to +bawl in and to try and explain what is right? Whom have you seen +discourse upon the rules of propriety with us? Not to speak of you, +sister-in-law, even Mrs. Lai Ta and Mrs. Lin treat us fairly well. And +as for calling him by name, why, from days of yore to the very present, +our dowager mistress has invariably bidden us do so. You yourselves are +well aware of it. So much did she fear that it would be a difficult job +to rear him that she deliberately wrote his infant name on slips of +paper and had them stuck everywhere and anywhere with the design that +one and all should call him by it. And this in order that it might +exercise a good influence upon his bringing up. Even water-coolies and +scavenger-coolies indiscriminately address him by his name; and how +much more such as we? So late, in fact, as yesterday Mrs. Lin gave him +but once the title of 'Sir,' and our old mistress called even her to +task. This is one side of the question. In the next place, we all have +to go and make frequent reports to our venerable dowager lady and +Madame Wang, and don't we with them allude to him by name in what we +have to say? Is it likely we'd also style him 'Sir?' What day is there +that we don't utter the two words 'Pao-yü' two hundred times? And is it +for you, sister-in-law, to come and pick out this fault? But in a day +or so, when you've leisure to go to our old mistress' and Madame +Wang's, you'll hear us call him by name in their very presence, and +then you'll feel convinced. You've never, sister-in-law, had occasion +to fulfil any honourable duties by our old lady and our lady. From one +year's end to the other, all you do is to simply loaf outside the third +door. So it's no matter of surprise, if you don't happen to know +anything of the customs which prevail with us inside. But this isn't a +place where you, sister-in-law, can linger for long. In another moment, +there won't be any need for us to say anything; for some one will be +coming to ask you what you want, and what excuse will you be able to +plead? So take her away and let Mrs. Lin know about it; and commission +her to come and find our Mr. Secundus and tell him all. There are in +this establishment over a thousand inmates; one comes and another +comes, so that though we know people and inquire their names, we can't +nevertheless imprint them clearly on our minds." + +At the close of this long rigmarole, she at once told a young maid to +take the mop and wash the floors. + +The woman listened patiently to her arguments, but she could find no +words to say anything to her by way of reply. Nor did she have the +audacity to protract her stay. So flying into a huff, she took Chui Erh +along with her, and there and then made her way out. + +"Is it likely," nurse Sung hastily observed, "that a dame like you +doesn't know what manners mean? Your daughter has been in these rooms +for some time, so she should, when she is about to go, knock her head +before the young ladies. She has no other means of showing her +gratitude. Not that they care much about such things. Yet were she to +simply knock her head, she would acquit herself of a duty, if nothing +more. But how is it that she says I'm going, and off she forthwith +rushes?" + +Chui Erh overheard these words, and felt under the necessity of turning +back. Entering therefore the apartment, she prostrated herself before +the two girls, and then she went in quest of Ch'iu Wen and her +companions, but neither did they pay any notice whatever to her. + +"Hai!" ejaculated the woman, and heaving a sigh—for she did not venture +to utter a word,—she walked off, fostering a grudge in her heart. + +Ch'ing Wen had, while suffering from a cold, got into a fit of anger +into the bargain, so instead of being better, she was worse, and she +tossed and rolled until the time came for lighting the lamps. But the +moment she felt more at ease, she saw Pao-yü come back. As soon as he +put his foot inside the door, he gave way to an exclamation, and +stamped his foot. + +"What's the reason of such behaviour?" She Yüeh promptly asked him. + +"My old grandmother," Pao-yü explained, "was in such capital spirits +that she gave me this coat to-day; but, who'd have thought it, I +inadvertently burnt part of the back lapel. Fortunately however the +evening was advanced so that neither she nor my mother noticed what had +happened." + +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." + +Immediately she called a servant to her. "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. "And by no means let our +old lady or Madame Wang know anything about it." + +The matron brought it back again, after a protracted absence. "Not +only," she explained; "have weavers, first-class tailors, and +embroiderers, but even those, who do women's work, been asked about it, +and they all have no idea what this is made of. None of them therefore +will venture to undertake the job." + +"What's to be done?" She Yüeh inquired. "But it won't matter if you +don't wear it to-morrow." + +"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. Now isn't this +enough to throw a damper over my good cheer?" + +Ch'ing Wen lent an ear to their conversation for a long time, until +unable to restrain herself, she twisted herself round. "Bring it here," +she chimed in, "and let me see it! You haven't been lucky in wearing +this; but never mind!" + +These words were still on Ch'ing Wen's lips, when the coat was handed +to her. The lamp was likewise moved nearer to her. With minute care she +surveyed it. "This is made," Ch'ing Wen observed, "of gold thread, spun +from peacock's feathers. So were we now to also take gold thread, +twisted from the feathers of the peacock, and darn it closely, by +imitating the woof, I think it will pass without detection." + +"The peacock-feather-thread is ready at hand," She Yüeh remarked +smilingly. "But who's there, exclusive of you, able to join the +threads?" + +"I'll, needless to say, do my level best to the very cost of my life +and finish," Ch'ing Wen added. + +"How ever could this do?" Pao-yü eagerly interposed. "You're just +slightly better, and how could you take up any needlework?" + +"You needn't go on in this chicken-hearted way!" Ch'ing Wen cried. "I +know my own self well enough." + +With this reply, she sat up, and, putting her hair up, she threw +something over her shoulders. Her head felt heavy; her body light. +Before her eyes, confusedly flitted golden stirs. In real deed, she +could not stand the strain. But when inclined to give up the work, she +again dreaded that Pao-yü would be driven to despair. She therefore had +perforce to make a supreme effort and, setting her teeth to, she bore +the exertion. All the help she asked of She Yüeh was to lend her a hand +in reeling the thread. + +Ch'ing Wen first took hold of a thread, and put it side by side (with +those in the pelisse) to compare the two together. "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. "Could one also go and hunt up a +Russian tailor?" + +Ch'ing Wen commenced by unstitching the lining, and, inserting under +it, a bamboo bow, of the size of the mouth of a tea cup, she bound it +tight at the back. She then turned her mind to the four sides of the +aperture, and these she loosened by scratching them with a golden +knife. Making next two stitches across with her needle, she marked out +the warp and woof; and, following the way the threads were joined, she +first and foremost connected the foundation, and then keeping to the +original lines, she went backwards and forwards mending the hole; +passing her work, after every second stitch, under further review. But +she did not ply her needle three to five times, before she lay herself +down on her pillow, and indulged in a little rest. + +Pao-yü was standing by her side. Now he inquired of her: "Whether she +would like a little hot water to drink." Later on, he asked her to +repose herself. Now he seized a grey-squirrel wrapper and threw it over +her shoulders. Shortly after, he took a pillow and propped her up. (The +way he fussed) so exasperated Ch'ing Wen that she begged and entreated +him to leave off. + +"My junior ancestor!" she exclaimed, "do go to bed and sleep! If you +sit up for the other half of the night, your eyes will to-morrow look +as if they had been scooped out, and what good will possibly come out +of that?" + +Pao-yü realised her state of exasperation and felt compelled to come +and lie down anyhow. But he could not again close his eyes. + +In a little while, she heard the clock strike four, and just managing +to finish she took a small tooth-brush, and rubbed up the pile. + +"That will do!" She Yüeh put in. "One couldn't detect it, unless one +examined it carefully." + +Pao-yü asked with alacrity to be allowed to have a look at it. +"Really," he smiled, "it's quite the same thing." + +Ch'ing Wen coughed and coughed time after time, so it was only after +extreme difficulty that she succeeded in completing what she had to +patch. "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!" + +As she shouted 'Ai-ya,' she lost control over herself, and dropped down +upon the bed. + +But, reader, if you choose to know anything more of her state, peruse +the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + + + In the Ning Kuo mansion sacrifices are offered to their ancestors on + the last night of the year. + In the Jung Kuo mansion, a banquet is given on the evening of the + 15th + of the first moon. + +But to resume our story. When Pao-yü saw that Ch'ing Wen had in her +attempt to finish mending the peacock-down cloak exhausted her strength +and fatigued herself, he hastily bade a young maid help him massage +her; and setting to work they tapped her for a while, after which, they +retired to rest. But not much time elapsed before broad daylight set +in. He did not however go out of doors, but simply called out that they +should go at once and ask the doctor round. + +Presently, Dr. Wang arrived. After feeling her pulse, his suspicions +were aroused. "Yesterday," he said, "she was much better, so how is it +that to-day she is instead weaker, and has fallen off so much? She must +surely have had too much in the way of drinking or eating! Or she must +have fatigued herself. A complaint arising from outside sources is, +indeed, a light thing. But it's no small matter if one doesn't take +proper care of one's self, as she has done after perspiring." + +As he passed these remarks, he walked out of the apartment, and, +writing a prescription, he entered again. + +When Pao-yü came to examine it, he perceived that he had eliminated the +laxatives, and all the drugs, whose properties were to expel noxious +influences, but added pachyma cocos, rhubarb, arolia edulis, and other +such medicines, which could stimulate the system and strengthen her +physique. + +Pao-yü, on one hand, hastened to direct a servant to go and decoct +them, and, on the other, he heaved a sigh. "What's to be done?" he +exclaimed. "Should anything happen to her, it will all be through the +evil consequences of my shortcomings!" + +"Hai!" cried Ch'ing Wen, from where she was reclining on her pillow. +"Dear Mr. Secundus, go and mind your own business! Have I got such a +dreadful disease?" + +Pao-yü had no alternative but to get out of the way. But in the +afternoon, he gave out that he was not feeling up to the mark, and +hurried back to her side again. + +The symptoms of Ch'ing Wen's illness were, it is true, grave; yet +fortunately for her she had ever had to strain her physical strength, +and not to tax the energies of her mind. Furthermore, she had always +been frugal in her diet, so that she had never sustained any harm from +under or over-eating. The custom in the Chia mansion was that as soon +as any one, irrespective of masters or servants, contracted the +slightest chill or cough, quiet and starving should invariably be the +main things observed, the treatment by medicines occupying only a +secondary place. Hence it was that when the other day she unawares felt +unwell, she at once abstained from food during two or three days, while +she carefully also nursed herself by taking proper medicines. And +although she recently taxed her strength a little too much, she +gradually succeeded, by attending with extra care to her health for +another few days, in bringing about her complete recovery. + +Of late, his female cousins, who lived in the garden, had been having +their meals in their rooms, so with the extreme convenience of having a +fire to prepare drinks and eatables, Pao-yü himself was able, needless +for us to go into details, to ask for soups and order broths for +(Ch'ing Wen), with which to recoup her health. + +Hsi Jen returned soon after she had followed the funeral of her mother. +She Yüeh then minutely told Hsi Jen all about Chui Erh's affair, about +Ch'ing Wen having sent her off, and about Pao-yü having been already +informed of the fact, and so forth, yet to all this Hsi Jen made no +further comment than: "what a very hasty disposition (that girl Ch'ing +Wen has!)." + +But consequent upon Li Wan being likewise laid up with a cold, she got +through the inclemency of the weather; Madame Hsing suffering so much +from sore eyes that Ying Ch'un and Chou-yen had to go morning and +evening and wait on her, while she used such medicines as she had; Li +Wan's brother, having also taken her sister-in-law Li, together with Li +Wen and Li Ch'i, to spend a few days at his home, and Pao-yü seeing, on +one hand, Hsi Jen brood without intermission over the memory of her +mother, and give way to secret grief, and Ch'ing Wen, on the other, +continue not quite convalescent, there was no one to turn any attention +to such things as poetical meetings, with the result that several +occasions, on which they were to have assembled, were passed over +without anything being done. By this time, the twelfth moon arrived. +The end of the year was nigh at hand, so Madame Wang and lady Feng were +engaged in making the necessary annual preparations. But, without +alluding to Wang Tzu-t'eng, who was promoted to be Lord High +Commissioner of the Nine Provinces; Chia Yü-ts'un, who filled up the +post of Chief Inspector of Cavalry, Assistant Grand Councillor, and +Commissioner of Affairs of State, we will resume our narrative with +Chia Chen, in the other part of the establishment. After having the +Ancestral Hall thrown open, he gave orders to the domestics to sweep +the place, to get ready the various articles, and bring over the +ancestral tablets. Then he had the upper rooms cleaned, so as to be +ready to receive the various images that were to be hung about. In the +two mansions of Ning and Jung, inside as well as outside, above as well +as below, everything was, therefore, bustle and confusion. As soon as +Mrs. Yu, of the Ning mansion, put her foot out of bed on this day, she +set to work, with the assistance of Chia Jung's wife, to prepare such +needlework and presents as had to be sent over to dowager lady Chia's +portion of the establishment, when it so happened that a servant-girl +broke in upon them with a tea-tray in hand, containing ingots of silver +of the kind given the evening before new year. + +"Hsing Erh," she said, "informs your ladyship that the pieces of gold +in that bundle of the other day amount in all to one hundred and +fifty-three taels, one mace and seven candareens; and that the ingots +of pure metal and those not, contained in here, number all together two +hundred and twenty." + +With these words, she presented the tray. Mrs. Yu passed the ingots +under survey. She found some resembling plum-blossom; others peonies. +Among them were some with pens and 'as you like,' (importing "your +wishes are bound to be fulfilled);" and others representing the eight +precious things linked together, for use in spring-time. + +Mrs. Yu directed that the silver ingots should be made up into a +parcel, and then she bade Hsing Erh take them and deliver them +immediately inside. + +The servant-girl signified her obedience, and went away. But shortly +Chia Chen arrived for his meal, and Chia Jung's wife withdrew. + +"Have we received," thereupon inquired Chia Chen, "the bounty conferred +(by His Majesty) for our spring sacrifices or not?" + +"I've sent Jung Erh to-day to go and receive it," Mrs. Yu rejoined. + +"Albeit," continued Chia Chen, "our family can well do without those +paltry taels, yet they are, whatever their amount may be, an imperial +gift to us so take them over as soon as you can, and send them to our +old lady, on the other side, to get ready the sacrifices to our +ancestors. Above, we shall then receive the Emperor's bounty; below, we +shall enjoy the goodwill of our progenitors. For no matter if we went +so far as to spend ten thousand ounces of silver to present offerings +to our forefathers with, they could not, in the long run, come up this +gift in high repute. Added to this, we shall be the participators of +grace and the recipients of blessings. Putting one or two households +such as our own aside, what resources would those poverty-stricken +families of hereditary officials have at their command wherewith to +offer their sacrifices and celebrate the new year, if they could not +rely upon this money? In very truth, therefore, the imperial favour is +vast, and allproviding!" + +"Your arguments are quite correct!" Mrs. Yu ventured. + +But while these two were indulging in this colloquy, they caught sight +of a messenger, who came and announced: "Our young master has arrived." + +Chia Chen accordingly enjoined that he should be told to enter; +whereupon they saw Chia Jung step into the room and present with both +hands a small bag made of yellow cloth. + +"How is it you've been away the whole day?" Chia Chen asked. + +Chia Jung strained a smile. "I didn't receive the money to-day from the +Board of Rites," he replied. "The issue was again made at the treasury +of the Kuang Lu temple; so I had once more to trudge away to the Kuang +Lu temple before I could get it. The various officials in the Kuang Lu +temple bade me present their compliments to you, father. (They asked me +to tell you) that they had not seen you for many days, and that they +are really longing for your company." + +"What an idea! Do they care to see me?" Chia Chen laughed. "Why, here's +the end of the year drawing nigh again; so if they don't hanker after +my presents, they must long and crave for my entertainments." + +While he spoke his eye espied a slip of paper affixed to the yellow +cloth bag, bearing the four large characters, 'the imperial favour is +everlasting.' On the other side figured also a row of small characters +with the seal of the Director of Ancestral Worship in the Board of +Rites. These testified that the enclosed consisted of two shares, +conferred upon the Ning Kuo duke, Chia Yen, and the Jung Kuo duke, Chia +Fa, as a bounty (from the Emperor), for sacrifices to them every spring +in perpetuity, (and gave) the number of taels, computed in pure silver, +and the year, moon and day, on which they were received in open hall by +Chia Jung, Controller in the Imperial Prohibited City and Expectant +Officer of the Guards. The signature of the official in charge of the +temple for that year was appended below in purple ink. + +After Chia Chen had perused the inscription, he finished his meal, +rinsed his mouth and washed his hands. This over, he changed his shoes +and hat, and bidding Chia Jung follow him along with the money, he went +and informed dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang (of the receipt of the +imperial bounty), and repairing back to the near side, he communicated +the fact to Chia She and Madame Hsing; after which, he, at length, +betook himself to his quarters. He then emptied the money and gave +orders that the bag should be taken and burnt in the large censer in +the Ancestral Hall. + +"Go and ask your aunt Tertia, yonder," he further enjoined Chia Jung, +"whether the day on which the new year wine is to be drunk has been +fixed or not? If it has been determined upon, timely notice should be +given in the library to draw out a proper list in order that when we +again issue our invitations, there should be no chance of two +entertainments coming off on the same day. Last year, not sufficient +care was exercised, and several persons were invited to both mansions +on the very same occasion. And people didn't say that we hadn't been +careful enough, but that, as far as appearances went, the two +households had made up their minds among themselves to show an empty +attention, prompted by the fear of trouble." + +Chia Jung immediately replied that he would attend to his injunctions, +and not much time elapsed before he brought a list mentioning the days +on which the inmates were to be invited to partake of the new year +wine. + +Chia Chen examined it. "Go," he then said, "and give it to Lai Sheng so +that he may see its contents and invite the guests. But mind he doesn't +fix anything else for the dates specified in here." + +But while watching from the pavilion the servant-boys carrying the +enclosing screens and rubbing the tables and the gold and silver +sacrificial utensils, he perceived a lad appear on the scene holding a +petition and a list, and report that 'Wu, the head-farmer in the Hei +Shan village, had arrived.' "What does this old executioner come for +to-day?" Chia Chen exclaimed. + +Chia Jung took the petition and the list, and, unfolding them with all +despatch, he held them up (to his father). Chia Chen however glanced at +the papers, as they were held by Chia Jung, keeping the while both +hands behind his back. The petition on red paper ran as follows: "Your +servant, the head farmer, Wu Chin-hsiao, prostrates himself before his +master and mistress and wishes them every kind of happiness and good +health, as well as good health to their worthy scion and daughter. May +great joy, great blessings, brilliant honours and peace be their share +in this spring, which is about to dawn! May official promotion and +increase of emoluments be their lot! May they see in everything the +accomplishment of their wishes." + +Chia Chen smiled. "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. The articles mentioned were, +on examination, found to consist of: "Thirty big deer; five thousand +musk deer; fifty roebuck deer; twenty Siamese pigs; twenty boiled pigs; +twenty 'dragon' pigs; twenty wild pigs; twenty home-salted pigs; twenty +wild sheep; twenty grey sheep; twenty home-boiled sheep; twenty +home-dried sheep; two hundred sturgeon; two hundred catties of mixed +fish; live chickens, ducks and geese, two hundred of each; two hundred +dried chickens, ducks and geese; two hundred pair of pheasants and +hares; two hundred pair of bears' paws; twenty catties of deer tendons; +fifty catties of bêche-de-mer; fifty deer tongues; fifty ox tongues; +twenty catties of dried clams; filberts, fir-cones, peaches, apricots +and squash, two hundred bags of each; fifty pair of salt prawns; two +hundred catties of dried shrimps; a thousand catties of superfine, +picked charcoal; two thousand catties of medium charcoal; twenty +thousand catties of common charcoal; two piculs of red rice, grown in +the imperial grounds; fifty bushels of greenish, glutinous rice; fifty +bushels of white glutinous rice; fifty bushels of pounded non-glutinous +rice; fifty bushels of various kinds of corn and millet; a thousand +piculs of ordinary common rice. Exclusive of a cartload of every sort +of vegetables, and irrespective of two thousand five hundred taels, +derived from the sale of corn and millet and every kind of domestic +animals, your servant respectfully presents, for your honour's +delectation, two pair of live deer, four pair of white rabbits, four +pair of black rabbits, two pair of live variegated fowls, and two pair +of duck, from western countries." + +When Chia Chen had exhausted the list, "Bring him in!" he cried. In a +little time, he perceived Wu Chin-hsiao make his appearance inside. But +simply halting in the court, he bumped his head on the ground and paid +his respects. + +Chia Chen desired a servant to raise him up. "You're still so hale!" he +smiled. + +"I don't deceive you, Sir," Wu Chin-hsiao observed, "when I say that +yours servants are so accustomed to walking, that had we not come, we +wouldn't have felt exceedingly dull. Isn't the whole crowd of them keen +upon coming to see what the world is like at the feet of the son of +heaven? Yet they're, after all, so young in years, that there's the +fear of their going astray on the way. But, in a few more years, I +shall be able to appease my solicitude on their account." + +"How many days have you been on the way?" Chia Chen inquired. + +"To reply to your question, Sir," Wu Chin-hsiao ventured, "so much snow +has fallen this year that it's everywhere out of town four and five +feet in depth. 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. Yet albeit we've been a month and two days +in accomplishing the journey; it isn't anything excessive. But as I +feared lest you, Sir, would be giving way to anxiety, didn't I hurry +along to arrive in good time?" + +"How is it, I said, that he's come only to-day!" Chia Chen observed. + +"But upon looking over the list just now it seemed to me that you, old +fossil, had come again to make as much as fun of me, as if you were +putting up a stage for a boxing-match." + +Wu Chin-hsiao hastily drew near a couple of steps. "I must tell you, +Sir," he remarked, "that the harvest this year hasn't really been good. +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. In the ninth moon, there came a storm +of hail, each stone of which was about the size of a saucer. And over +an area of the neighbouring two or three hundred li, the men and +houses, animals and crops, which sustained injury, numbered over +thousands and ten thousands. Hence it is that the things we've brought +now are what they are. Your servant would not have the audacity to tell +a lie." + +Chia Chen knitted his eyebrows. "I had computed," he said, "that the +very least you would have brought would have been five thousand taels. +What's this enough for? There are only now eight or nine of you +farmers, and from two localities reports have contrariwise reached us +during the course of this very year of the occurrence of droughts; and +do you people come again to try your larks with us? Why, verily these +aren't sufficient to see the new year in with." + +"And yet," Wu Chin-hsiao argued, "your place can be looked upon as +having fared well; for my brother, who's only over a hundred li away +from where I am, has actually fallen in with a vastly different lot! He +has at present eight farms of that mansion under his control, and these +considerably larger than those of yours, Sir; and yet this year they +too have only produced but a few things. So nothing beyond two or three +thousand taels has been realised. What's more, they've had to borrow +money." + +"Quite so!" Chia Chen exclaimed. "The state of things in my place here +is passable. I've got no outside outlay. The main thing I have to mind +is to make provision for a year's necessary expenses. If I launch out +into luxuries, I have to suffer hardships, so I must try a little +self-denial and manage to save something. It's the custom, besides, at +the end of the year to send presents to people and invite others; but +I'll thicken the skin of my face a bit, (and dispense with both), and +have done. I'm not like the inmates in that mansion, who have, during +the last few years, added so many items of expenditure, that it's, of +course, a matter of impossibility for them to avoid loosening their +purse strings. But they haven't, on the other hand, made any addition +to their funds and landed property. 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?" + +Wu Chin-hsiao laughed. "It's true," he said, "that in that mansion many +items have been added, but money goes out and money comes in. And won't +the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor bestow their favour?" + +At these words, Chia Chen smilingly faced Chia Jung and the other +inmates. "Just you listen to his arguments!" he exclaimed. "Aren't they +ridiculous, eh?" + +Chia Jung and the rest promptly smiled. "Among your hills and seaboard +can anything," they observed, "be known with regard to this principle? +Is it likely, pray, that the Empress will ever make over to us the +Emperor's treasury? Why, even supposing she may at heart entertain any +such wish, she herself cannot possibly adopt independent action. Of +course, she does confer her benefits on them, but this is at stated +times and fixed periods, and they merely consist of a few coloured +satins, antiquities, and bric-a-brac. In fact, when she does bestow +hard cash on them, it doesn't exceed a hundred ounces of silver. But +did she even give them so much as a thousand and more taels, what would +these suffice for? During which of the two last years have they not had +to fork out several thousands of taels? In the first year, the imperial +consort paid a visit to her parents; and just calculate how much they +must have run through in laying out that park, and you'll then know how +they stand! Why, if in another couple of years, the Empress comes and +pays them a second visit, they'll be, I'm inclined to fancy, regular +paupers." + +"That's why," urged Chia Chen smiling, "country people are such +unsophisticated creatures, that though they behold what lies on the +surface, they have no idea of what is inside hidden from view. They're +just like a piece of yellow cedar made into a mallet for beating the +sonorous stones with. The exterior looks well enough; but it's all +bitter inside." + +"In very truth," Chia Jung added, laughing also the while, as he +addressed himself to Chia Chen, "that mansion is impoverished. The +other day, I heard a consultation held on the sly between aunt Secunda +and Yüan Yang. What they wanted was to filch our worthy senior's things +and go and pawn them in order to raise money." + +"This is just another devilish trick of that minx Feng!" Chia Chen +smiled. "How ever could they have reached such straits? She's certain +to have seen that expenses were great, and that heavy deficits had to +be squared, so wishing again to curtail some item or other, who knows +which, she devised this plan as a preparatory step, in order that when +it came to be generally known, people should say that they had been +reduced to such poverty. But from the result of the calculations I have +arrived at in my mind, things haven't as yet attained this climax:" + +Continuing, he issued orders to a servant to take Wu Chin-hsiao +outside, and to treat him with every consideration. But no further +mention need be made of him. + +During this while, Chia Chen gave directions to keep from the various +perquisites just received such as would prove serviceable for the +sacrifices to their ancestors, and, selecting a few things of each +kind, he told Chia Jung to have them taken to the Jung mansion. After +this, he himself kept what was required for his own use at home; and +then allotting the rest, with due compliance to gradation, he had share +after share piled up at the foot of the moon-shaped platform, and +sending servants to summon the young men of the clan, he distributed +them among them. + +In quick succession, numerous contributions for the ancestral +sacrifices were likewise sent from the Jung mansion; also presents for +Chia Chen. Chia Chen inspected the things, and having them removed, he +completed preparing the sacrificial utensils. Then putting on a pair of +slip-shod shoes and throwing over his shoulders a long pelisse with +'She-li-sun' fur, he bade the servants spread a large wolf-skin rug in +a sunny place on the stone steps below the pillars of the pavilion, and +with his back to the warm sun, he leisurely watched the young people +come and receive the new year gifts. Perceiving that Chia Ch'in had +also come to fetch his share, Chia Chen called him over. "How is it +that you've come too?" he asked. "Who told you to come?" + +Chia Ch'in respectfully dropped his arms against his sides. "I heard," +he replied, "that you, senior Sir, had sent for us to appear before you +here and receive our presents; so I didn't wait for the servants to go +and tell me, but came straightway." + +"These things," Chia Chen added, "are intended for distribution among +all those uncles and cousins who have nothing to do and who enjoy no +source of income. Those two years you had no work, I gave you plenty of +things too. But you're entrusted at present with some charge in the +other mansion, and you exercise in the family temples control over the +bonzes and taoist priests, so that you as well derive every month your +share of an allowance. Irrespective of that, the allowances and money +of the Buddhist priests pass through your hands. And do you still come +to fetch things of this kind? You're far too greedy. Just you look at +the fineries you wear. Why, they look like the habiliments of one who +has money to spend, of a regular man of business. You said some time +back that you had nothing which could bring you in any money, but how +is it that you've got none again now? You really don't look as if you +were in the same plight that you were in once upon a time." + +"I have in my home a goodly number of inmates," Chia Ch'in explained, +"so my expenses are great." + +Chia Chen gave a saturnine laugh. "Are you trying again to excuse +yourself with me?" he cried. "Do you flatter yourself that I have no +idea of your doings in the family temples? When you get there, you, of +course, play the grand personnage and no one has the courage to run +counter to your wishes. Then you've also got the handling of money. +Besides you're far away from us, so you're arrogant and audacious. +Night after night, you get bad characters together; you gamble for +money; and you keep women and young boys. And though you now fling away +money with such a high hand, do you still presume to come and receive +gifts? But as you can't manage to filch anything to take along with +you, it will do you good to get beans, with the pole used for carrying +water. Wait until the new year is over, and then I'll certainly report +you to your uncle Secundus." + +Chia Ch'in got crimson in the face, and did not venture to utter a +single word by way of extenuation. A servant, however, then announced +that the Prince from the Pei mansion had sent a pair of scrolls and a +purse. + +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." + +Chia Jung went on his way. Chia Chen, meanwhile, dismissed Chia Ch'in; +and, seeing the things taken away, he returned to his quarters and +finished his evening meal with Mrs. Yu. But nothing of any note +occurred during that night. + +The next day, he had, needless to say, still more things to give his +mind to. Soon arrived the twenty ninth day of the twelfth moon, and +everything was in perfect readiness. In the two mansions alike, the +gate guardian gods and scrolls were renovated. The hanging tablets were +newly varnished. The peach charms glistened like new. In the Ning Kuo +mansion, every principal door, starting from the main entrance, the +ceremonial gates, the doors of the large pavilions, of the winter +apartments, and inner pavilions, the inner three gates, the inner +ceremonial gates and the inner boundary gates, straight up to the doors +of the main halls, was flung wide open. At the bottom of the steps, +were placed on either side large and lofty vermilion candles, of +uniform colour; which when lit presented the appearance of a pair of +golden dragons. + +On the morrow, dowager lady Chia and those with any official status, +donned the court dress consistent with their grade, and taking first +and foremost a retinue of inmates with them, they entered the palace in +eight bearer state chairs, and presented their congratulations. After +acquitting themselves of the ceremonial rites, and partaking of a +banquet, they betook themselves back, and alighted from their chairs on +their arrival at the winter hall of the Ning mansion. The young men, +who had not followed the party to court, waited, arranged in their +proper order, in front of the entrance the King mansion, and +subsequently led the way into the ancestral temple. + +But to return to Pao-ch'in. This was the first occasion, on which she +put her foot inside to look at the inner precincts of the Chia +ancestral temple, and as she did so, she scrutinized with minute +attention all the details that met her gaze in the halls dedicated to +their forefathers. These consisted, in fact, of a distinct courtyard on +the west side of the Ning mansion. Within the balustrade, painted +black, stood five apartments. Over the main entrance to these was +suspended a flat tablet with the inscription in four characters: +'Ancestral hall of the Chia family.' On the side of these was recorded +the fact that it had been the handiwork of Wang Hsi-feng, specially +promoted to the rank of Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and formerly +Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. On either side, was one of a pair +of scrolls, bearing the motto: + + Besmear the earth with your liver and brains, all ye people, out of + gratitude for the bounty of (the Emperor's) protection! + The reputation (of the Chia family) reaches the very skies. Hundred + generations rejoice in the splendour of the sacrifices accorded + them. + +This too had been executed by Wang, the Grand Tutor. + +As soon as the court was entered, a raised road was reached, paved with +white marble, on both sides of which were planted deep green fir trees, +and kingfisher-green cypress trees. On the moon-shaped platform were +laid out antiquities, tripods, libation-vases, and other similar +articles. In front of the antechamber was hung a gold-coloured flat +tablet, with nine dragons, and the device: + +Like a dazzling star is the statesman, who assists the Emperor. + +This was the autograph of a former Emperor. + +On both sides figured a pair of antithetical scrolls, with the motto: + + Their honours equal the sun and moon in lustre. + Their fame is without bounds. It descends to their sons and + grandsons. + +These lines were likewise from the imperial pencil. Over the +five-roomed main hall was suspended a tablet, inlaid with green, +representing wriggling dragons. The sentiments consisted of: + +Mindful of the remotest and heedful of the most distant ancestors. + +A pair of antithetical scrolls was hung on the sides; on which was +written: + + After their death, their sons and grandsons enjoy their beneficent + virtues. + Up to the very present the masses think of the Jung and Ning + families. + +Both these mottoes owed their origin to the imperial pencil. + +Inside, lanterns and candles burnt with resplendent brightness. +Embroidered curtains and decorated screens were hung in such profusion +that though a large number of ancestral tablets were placed about they +could not be clearly discerned. The main thing that struck the eye was +the inmates of the Chia mansion standing about, on the left and right, +disposed in their proper order. Chia Ching was overseer of the +sacrifices. Chia She played the part of assistant. Chia Chen presented +the cups for libations. Chia Lien and Chia Tsung offered up the strips +of paper. Pao-yü held the incense. Chia Ch'ang and Chia Ling +distributed the hassocks and looked after the receptacles for the ashes +of joss-sticks. The black clad musicians discoursed music. The +libation-cups were offered thrice in sacrifice. 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. The +whole company then pressed round dowager lady Chia, and repaired to the +main hall, where the images were placed. The embroidered curtains were +hung high up. The variegated screens shut in the place from view. The +fragrant candles burnt with splendour. In the place of honour, of the +main apartment, were suspended the portraits of two progenitors of the +Ning and Jung, both of whom were attired in costumes, ornamented with +dragons, and clasped with belts of jade. On the right and left of them, +were also arrayed the likenesses of a number of eminent ancestors. + +Chia Heng, Chia Chih and the others of the same status stood according +to their proper grades in a row extending from the inner ceremonial +gate straight up to the verandah of the main hall. Outside the +balustrade came at last Chia Ching and Chia She. Inside the balustrade +figured the various female members of the family. The domestics and +pages were arrayed beyond the ceremonial gate. As each set of eatables +arrived, they transmitted them as far as the ceremonial gate, where +Chia Heng, Chia Chih and his companions were ready to receive them. +From one to another, they afterwards reached the bottom of the steps +and found their way into Chia Ching's hands. + +Chia Jung, being the eldest grandson of the senior branch, was the only +person, who penetrated within the precincts of the balustrade reserved +for the female inmates. So whenever Chia Ching had any offerings to +pass on, he delivered them to Chia Jung, and Chia Jung gave them to his +wife; who again handed them to lady Feng, Mrs. Yu, and the several +ladies. And when these offerings reached the sacrificial altar, they +were at length surrendered to Madame Wang. Madame Wang thereupon placed +them in dowager lady Chia's hands, and old lady Chia deposited them on +the altar. + +Madame Hsing stood on the west-east side of the sacrificial altar, and +along with old lady Chia, she offered the oblations and laid them in +their proper places. After the vegetables, rice, soup, sweets, wine and +tea had been handed up, Chia Jung eventually retired outside and +resumed his position above Chia Ch'in. + +Of the male inmates, whose names were composed with the radical 'wen,' +'literature,' Chia Ching was at the time the head. Below followed those +with the radical 'Yü,' 'gem,' led by Chia Chen. Next to these, came the +inmates with the radical 'ts'ao,' 'grass,' headed by Chia Jung. These +were arranged in proper order, with due regard to left and right. The +men figured on the east; the women on the west. + +When dowager lady Chia picked up a joss-stick and prostrated herself to +perform her devotions, one and all fell simultaneously on their knees, +packing up the five-roomed principal pavilion, the inside as well as +outside of the three antechambers, the verandahs, the top and bottom of +the stairs, the interior of the two vermilion avenues so closely with +all their fineries and embroideries that not the slightest space +remained vacant among them. Not so much as the caw of a crow struck the +ear. All that was audible was the report of jingling and tinkling, and +the sound of the gold bells and jade ornaments slightly rocked to and +fro. Besides these, the creaking noise made by the shoes of the +inmates, while getting up and kneeling down. + +In a little time, the ceremonies were brought to a close. Chia Ching, +Chia She and the rest hastily retired and adjourned to the Jung +mansion, where they waited with the special purpose of paying their +obeisance to dowager lady Chia. + +Mrs. Yu's drawing rooms were entirely covered with red carpets. In the +centre stood a large gold cloisonné brasier, with three legs, in +imitation of rhinoceros tusks, washed with gold. On the stove-couch in +the upper part was laid a new small red hair rug. On it were placed +deep red back-cushions with embroidered representations of dragons, +which were embedded among clouds and clasped the character longevity, +as well as reclining-pillows and sitting-rugs. Covers made of black fox +skin were moreover thrown over the couch, along with skins of pure +white fox for sitting-cushions. + +Dowager lady Chia was invited to place herself on the couch; and on the +skin-rugs spread, on either side, two or three of the sisters-in-law, +of the same standing as old lady Chia, were urged to sit down. + +After the necessary arrangements had been concluded, skin rugs were +also put on the small couch, erected in a horizontal position on the +near portion of the apartments, and Madame Hsing and the other ladies +of her age were motioned to seat themselves. On the two sides stood, +face to face on the floor, twelve chairs carved and lacquered, over +which were thrown antimacassars and small grey-squirrel rugs, of +uniform colour. At the foot of each chair was a large copper +foot-stove. On these chairs, Pao-ch'in and the other young ladies were +asked to sit down. + +Mrs. Yu took a tray and with her own hands she presented tea to old +lady Chia. Chia Jung's wife served the rest of their seniors. +Subsequently, Mrs. Yu helped Madame Hsing too and her contemporaries; +and Chia Jung's wife then gave tea to the various young ladies; while +lady Feng, Li Wan and a few others simply remained below, ready to +minister to their wants. After their tea, Madame Hsing and her compeers +were the first to rise and come and wait on dowager lady Chia, while +she had hers. Dowager lady Chia chatted for a time with her old +sisters-in-law and then desired the servants to look to her chair. + +Lady Feng thereupon speedily walked up and supported her to rise to her +feet. + +"The evening meal has long ago been got ready for you, venerable +ancestor," Mrs. Yu smiled. "You've year by year shown no desire to +honour us with your presence, but tarry a bit on this occasion and +partake of some refreshment before you cross over. Is it likely, in +fact, that we can't come up to that girl Feng?" + +"Go on, worthy senior!" laughed lady Feng, as she propped old lady +Chia. +"Let's go home and eat our own. Don't heed what she says!" + +"In what bustle and confusion aren't you in over here," smiled dowager +lady Chia, "with all the sacrifices to our ancestors, and how could you +stand all the trouble I'm putting you to? I've never, furthermore, had +every year anything to eat with you; but you've always been in the way +of sending me things. So isn't it as well that you should again let me +have a few? And as I'll keep for the next day what I shan't be able to +get through, won't I thus have a good deal more?" + +This remark evoked general laughter. + +"Whatever you do," she went on to enjoin her, "mind you depute some +reliable persons to sit up at night and look after the incense fires; +but they mustn't let their wits go wool-gathering." + +Mrs. Yu gave her to understand that she would see to it, and they +sallied out, at the same time, into the fore part of the +winter-apartments. And when Mrs. Yu and her friends went past the +screen, the pages introduced the bearers, who shouldered the sedan and +walked out by the main entrance. Then following too in the track of +Madame Hsing and the other ladies, Mrs. Yu repaired in their company +into the Jung mansion. + +(Dowager lady Chia's) chair had, meanwhile, got beyond the principal +gateway. Here again were deployed, on the east side of the street, the +bearers of insignia, the retinue and musicians of the duke of Ning Kuo. +They crammed the whole extent of the street. Comers and goers were +alike kept back. No thoroughfare was allowed. Shortly, the Jung mansion +was reached. The large gates and main entrances were also thrown open +straight up to the very interior of the compound. On the present +occasion, however, the bearers did not put the chair down by the winter +quarters, but passing the main hall, and turning to the west, they +rested it on their arrival at the near side of dowager lady Chia's +principal pavilion. The various attendants pressed round old lady Chia +and followed her into her main apartment, where decorated mats and +embroidered screens had also been placed about, and everything looked +as if brand-new. + +In the brasier, deposited in the centre of the room, burnt fir and +cedar incense, and a hundred mixed herbs. 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." + +Old lady Chia rose with alacrity to her feet to go and greet them, when +she perceived that two or three of her old sisters-in-law had already +stepped inside, so clasping each other's hands, they now laughed, and +now they pressed each other to sit down. After tea, they took their +departure; but dowager lady Chia only escorted them as far as the inner +ceremonial gate, and retracing her footsteps, she came and resumed the +place of honour. Chia Ching, Chia She and the other seniors then +ushered the various junior male members of the household into her +apartments. + +"I put you," smiled old lady Chia, "to ever so much trouble and +inconvenience from one year's end to another; so don't pay any +obeisance." + +But while she spoke, the men formed themselves into one company, and +the women into another, and performed their homage, group by group. +This over, arm-chairs were arranged on the left and on the right; and +on these chairs they too subsequently seated themselves, according to +their seniority and gradation, to receive salutations. The men and +women servants, and the pages and maids employed in the two mansions +then paid, in like manner, the obeisance consonant with their +positions, whether high, middle or low; and this ceremony observed, the +new year money was distributed, together with purses, gold and silver +ingots, and other presents of the same description. A 'rejoicing +together' banquet was spread. The men sat on the east; the women on the +west. 'T'u Su,' new year's day, wine was served; also 'rejoicing +together' soup, 'propitious' fruits, and 'as you like' cakes. At the +close of the banquet, dowager lady Chia rose and penetrated into the +inner chamber with the purpose of effecting a change in her costume, so +the several inmates present could at last disperse and go their own +way. + +That night, incense was burnt and offerings presented at the various +altars to Buddha and the kitchen god. In the courtyard of Madame Wang's +main quarters paper horses and incense for sacrifices to heaven and +earth were all ready. At the principal entrance of the garden of Broad +Vista were suspended horn lanterns, which from their lofty places cast +their bright rays on either side. Every place was hung with street +lanterns. Every inmate, whether high or low, was got up in gala dress. +Throughout the whole night, human voices resounded confusedly. The din +of talking and laughing filled the air. Strings of crackers and rockets +were let off incessantly. + +The morrow came. At the fifth watch, dowager lady Chia and the other +senior members of the family donned the grand costumes, which accorded +with their status, and with a complete retinue they entered the palace +to present their court congratulations; for that day was, in addition, +the anniversary of Yüan Ch'un's birth. After they had regaled +themselves at a collation, they wended their way back, and betaking +themselves also into the Ning mansion, they offered their oblations to +their ancestors, and then returned home and received the conventional +salutations, after which they put off their fineries and retired to +rest. + +None of the relatives and friends, who came to wish their compliments +of the season, were admitted into (old lady Chia's) presence, but +simply had a friendly chat with Mrs. Hsüeh and 'sister-in-law' Li, and +studied their own convenience. Or along with Pao-yü, Pao-ch'ai and the +other young ladies, they amused themselves by playing the game of war +or dominoes. + +Madame Wang and lady Feng had one day after another their hands full +with the invitations they had to issue for the new year wine. In the +halls and courts of the other side theatricals and banquets succeeded +each other and relations and friends dropped in in an incessant string. +Bustle reigned for seven or eight consecutive days, before things +settled down again. + +But presently the festival of the full moon of the first month drew +near, and both mansions, the Ning as well as the Jung, were everywhere +ornamented with lanterns and decorations. On the eleventh, Chia She +invited dowager lady Chia and the other inmates. On the next day, Chia +Chen also entertained his old senior and Madame Wang and lady Feng. But +for us to record on how many consecutive days invitations were extended +to them to go and, drink the new year wine, would be an impossible +task. + +The fifteenth came. On this evening dowager lady Chia gave orders to +have several banqueting tables laid in the main reception hall, to +engage a company of young actors, to have every place illuminated with +flowered lanterns of various colours, and to assemble at a family +entertainment all the sons, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and +grandchildren's wives and other members of the two mansions of Ning and +Jung. As however Chia Ching did not habitually have any wine or take +any ordinary food, no one went to press him to come. + +On the seventeenth, he hastened, at the close of the ancestral +sacrifices, out of town to chasten himself. In fact, even during the +few days he spent at home, he merely frequented retired rooms and +lonely places, and did not take the least interest in any single +concern. But he need not detain us any further. + +As for Chia She, after he had received dowager lady Chia's presents, he +said good-bye and went away. But old lady Chia herself was perfectly +aware that she could not conveniently tarry any longer on this side so +she too followed his example and took her departure. + +When Chia She got home, he along with all the guests feasted his eyes +on the illuminations and drank wine with them, Music and singing +deafened the ear. Embroidered fineries were everywhere visible. For his +way of seeking amusement was unlike that customary in this portion of +the establishment. + +In dowager lady Chia's reception hall, ten tables were meanwhile +arranged. By each table was placed a teapoy. On these teapoys stood +censers and bottles; three things in all. (In the censers) was burnt +'Pai ho' palace incense, a gift from his Majesty the Emperor. But small +pots, about eight inches long, four to five inches broad and two or +three inches high, adorned with scenery in the shape of rockeries, were +also placed about. All of which contained fresh flowers. Small foreign +lacquer trays were likewise to be seen, laden with diminutive painted +tea-cups of antique ware. Transparent gauze screens with frames of +carved blackwood, ornamented with a fringe representing flowers and +giving the text of verses, figured too here and there. In different +kinds of small old vases were combined together the three friends of +winter (pine, bamboo and plum,) as well as 'jade-hall,' 'happiness and +honour,' and other fresh flowers. + +At the upper two tables sat 'sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsüeh. On the +east was only laid a single table. But there as well were placed carved +screens, covered with dragons, and a short low-footed couch, with a +full assortment of back-cushions, reclining-cushions and skin-rugs. On +the couch stood a small teapoy, light and handy, of foreign lacquer, +inlaid with gold. On the teapoy were arrayed cups, bowls, foreign cloth +napkins and such things. But on it spectacle case was also conspicuous. + +Dowager lady Chia was reposing on the couch. At one time, she chatted +and laughed with the whole company; at another, she took up her +spectacles and looked at what was going on on the stage. + +"Make allowances," she said, "for my old age. My bones are quite sore; +so if I be a little out of order in my conduct bear with me, and let us +entertain each other while I remain in a recumbent position." +Continuing, she desired Hu Po to make herself comfortable on the couch, +and take a small club and tap her legs. No table stood below the couch, +but only a high teapoy. On it were a high stand with tassels, +flower-vases, incense-burners and other similar articles. But, a small, +high table, laden with cups and chopsticks, had besides been got ready. +At the table next to this, the four cousins, Pao-ch'in, Hsiang-yün, +Tai-yü and Pao-yü were told to seat themselves. The various viands and +fruits that were brought in were first presented to dowager lady Chia +for inspection. 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. We could therefore safely say that none but the four +cousins sat along with their old grandmother. + +The seats occupied by Madame Hsing and Madame Wang were below. Lower +down came Mrs. Yu, Li Wan, lady Feng and Chia Jung's wife. On the west +sat Pao-ch'ai, Li Wen, Li Ch'i, Chou Yen, Ying Ch'un, and the other +cousins. On the large pillars, on either side, were suspended, in +groups of three and five, glass lanterns ornamented with fringes. In +front of each table stood a candlestick in the shape of drooping lotus +leaves. The candlesticks contained coloured candles. These lotus leaves +were provided with enamelled springs, of foreign make, so they could be +twisted outward, thus screening the rays of the lights and throwing +them (on the stage), enabling one to watch the plays with exceptional +distinctness. The window-frames and doors had all been removed. In +every place figured coloured fringes, and various kinds of court +lanterns. Inside and outside the verandahs, and under the roofs of the +covered passages, which stretched on either side, were hung lanterns of +sheep-horn, glass, embroidered gauze or silk, decorated or painted, of +satin or of paper. + +Round different tables sat Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Huan, Chia Tsung, +Chia Jung, Chia Yün, Chia Ch'in, Chia Ch'ang, Chia Ling and other male +inmates of the family. + +Dowager lady Chia had at an early hour likewise sent servants to invite +the male and female members of the whole clan. But those advanced in +years were not disposed to take part in any excitement. Some had no one +at the time to look after things; others too were detained by +ill-health; and much though these had every wish to be present, they +were not, after all, in a fit state to come. Some were so envious of +riches, and so ashamed of their poverty, that they entertained no +desire to avail themselves of the invitation. Others, what is more, +fostered such a dislike for, and stood in such awe of, lady Feng that +they felt bitter towards her and would not accept. Others again were +timid and shy, and so little accustomed to seeing people, that they +could not muster sufficient courage to come. Hence it was that despite +the large number of female relatives in the clan, none came but Chia +Lan's mother, née Lou, who brought Chia Lan with her. 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. The managers, at present under lady +Feng's control, were however among those who accepted. But albeit there +was not a complete gathering of the inmates on this occasion, yet, for +a small family entertainment, sufficient animation characterised the +proceedings. + +About this time, Lin Chih-hsiao's wife also made her appearance, with +half a dozen married women who carried three divan tables between them. +Each table was covered with a red woollen cloth, on which lay a lot of +cash, picked out clean and of equal size, and recently issued from the +mint. These were strung together with a deep-red cord. Each couple +carried a table, so there were in all three tables. + +Lin Chih-hsiao's wife directed that two tables should be placed below +the festive board, round which were seated Mrs. Hsüeh and +'sister-in-law' Li, and that one should be put at the foot of dowager +lady Chia's couch. + +"Place it in the middle!" old lady Chia exclaimed. "These women have +never known what good manners mean. 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 reunion in the western chamber' was just being sung. The play was +drawing to a close. They had reached a part where Yü Shu runs off at +night in high dudgeon, and Wen Pao jokingly cried out: "You go off with +your monkey up; but, as luck would have it, this is the very day of the +fifteenth of the first moon, and a family banquet is being given by the +old lady in the Jung Kuo mansion, so wait and I'll jump on this horse +and hurry in and ask for something to eat. I must look sharp!" The joke +made old lady Chia, and the rest of the company laugh. + +"What a dreadful, impish child!" Mrs. Hsüeh and the others exclaimed. +"Yet poor thing!" + +"This child is only just nine years of age," lady Feng interposed. + +"He has really made a clever hit!" dowager lady Chia laughed. "Tip +him!" she shouted. + +This shout over, three married women, who has previously got ready +several small wicker baskets, came up, as soon as they heard the word +'tip', and, taking the heaps of loose cash piled on the table, they +each filled a basket full, and, issuing outside, they approached the +stage. "Dowager lady Chia, Mrs. Hsüeh, and the family relative, Mrs. +Li, present Wen Pao this money to purchase something to eat with," they +said. + +At the end of these words, they flung the contents of the baskets upon +the stage. So all then that fell on the ear was the rattle of the cash +flying in every direction over the boards. + +Chia Chen and Chia Lien had, by this time, enjoined the pages to fetch +big baskets full of cash and have them in readiness. But as, reader, +you do not know as yet in what way these presents were given, listen to +the circumstances detailed in the subsequent chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + + + Dowager lady Chia, née Shih, does away with rotten old customs. + Wang Hsi-feng imitates in jest (the dutiful son), by getting herself + up in gaudy theatrical clothes. + +Chia Chen and Chia Lien had, we will now explain, secretly got ready +large baskets of cash, so the moment they heard old lady Chia utter the +word 'tip,' they promptly bade the pages be quick and fling the money. +The noise of the cash, running on every side of the stage, was all that +fell on the ear. Dowager lady Chia thoroughly enjoyed it. + +The two men then rose to their feet. The pages hastened to lay hold of +a silver kettle, newly brought in with fresh wine, and to deposit it in +Chia Lien's hands, who followed Chia Chen with quick step into the +inner rooms. Chia Chen advanced first up to 'sister-in-law' Li's table, +and curtseying, he raised her cup, and turned round, whereupon Chia +Lien quickly filled it to the brim. 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. What's +the use of standing on such ceremonies?" + +But presently every one, with the exception of the two ladies Mesdames +Hsing and Wang, quitted the banquet and dropping their arms against +their bodies they stood on one side. Chia Chen and his companion then +drew near dowager lady Chia's couch. But the couch was so low that they +had to stoop on their knees. Chia Chen was in front, and presented the +cup. Chia Lien was behind, and held the kettle up to her. But +notwithstanding that only these two offered her wine, Chia Tsung and +the other young men followed them closely in the order of their age and +grade; so the moment they saw them kneel, they immediately threw +themselves on their knees. Pao-yü too prostrated himself at once. + +Hsiang-yün stealthily gave him a push. "What's the use of your now +following their lead again and falling on your knees?" she said. "But +since you behave like this, wouldn't it be well if you also went and +poured wine all round?" + +Pao-yü laughed. "Hold on a bit," he rejoined in a low tone, "and I'll +go and do so." + +So speaking, he waited until his two relatives had finished pouring the +wine and risen to their feet, when he also went and replenished the +cups of Mesdames Wang and Hsing. + +"What about the young ladies?" Chia Chen smilingly asked. + +"You people had better be going," old lady Chia and the other ladies +unanimously observed. "They'll, then, be more at their ease." + +At this hint Chia Chen and his companions eventually withdrew. The +second watch had not, at the time, yet gone. The play that was being +sung was: 'The eight worthies look at the lanterns,' consisting of +eight acts; and had now reached a sensational part. + +Pao-yü at this stage left the feast and was going out. "Where are you +off to?" inquired his grandmother Chia. "The crackers outside are +dreadful. 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." + +Dowager lady Chia directed the matrons to "be careful and escort him." + +Pao-yü forthwith sallied out; with no other attendants however than She +Yüeh, Ch'iu Wen and several youthful maids. + +"How is it," his grandmother Chia felt obliged so ask, "that I don't +see anything of Hsi Jen? Is she too now putting on high and mighty airs +that she only sends these juvenile girls here?" + +Madame Wang rose to her feet with all haste. "Her mother," she +explained, "died the other day; so being in deep mourning, she couldn't +very well present herself." + +Dowager lady Chia nodded her head assentingly. "When one is in +service," she smilingly remarked, "there should be no question of +mourning or no mourning. Is it likely that, if she were still in my +pay, she wouldn't at present be here? All these practices have quite +become precedents!" + +Lady Feng crossed over to her. "Had she even not been in mourning +to-night," she chimed in with a laugh, "she would have had to be in the +garden and keep an eye over that pile of lanterns, candles, and +fireworks, as they're most dangerous things. For as soon as any +theatricals are set on foot in here, who doesn't surreptitiously sneak +out from the garden to have a look? But as far as she goes, she's +diligent, and careful of every place. Moreover, when the company +disperses and brother Pao-yü retires to sleep, everything will be in +perfect readiness. But, had she also come, that bevy of servants +wouldn't again have cared a straw for anything; and on his return, +after the party, the bedding would have been cold, the tea-water +wouldn't have been ready, and he would have had to put up with every +sort of discomfort. That's why I told her that there was no need for +her to come. But should you, dear senior, wish her here, I'll send for +her straightway and have done." + +Old lady Chia lent an ear to her arguments. "What you say," she +promptly put in, "is perfectly right. You've made better arrangements +than I could. Quick, don't send for her! But when did her mother die? +How is it I know nothing about it?" + +"Some time ago," lady Feng laughed, "Hsi Jen came in person and told +you, worthy ancestor, and how is it you've forgotten it?" + +"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. "How could your venerable +ladyship," they said, "recollect so many matters?" + +Dowager lady Chia thereupon heaved a sigh. "How I remember," she added, +"the way she served me ever since her youth up; and how she waited upon +Yün Erh also; how at last she was given to that prince of devils, and +how she has slaved away with that imp for the last few years. She is, +besides, not a slave-girl, born or bred in the place. Nor has she ever +received any great benefits from our hands. When her mother died, I +meant to have given her several taels for her burial; but it quite +slipped from my mind." + +"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. "Yuan Yang's mother also died, as it happens, the +other day; but taking into consideration that both her parents lived in +the south, I didn't let her return home to observe a period of +mourning. But as both these girls are now in mourning, why not allow +them to live together? They'll thus be able to keep each other company. +Take a few fruits, eatables, and other such things," continuing she +bade a matron, "and give them to those two girls to eat." + +"Would she likely wait until now?" Hu Po laughingly interposed. "Why, +she joined (Hsi Jen) long ago." + +In the course of this conversation, the various inmates partook of some +more wine, and watched the theatricals. + +But we will now turn our attention to Pao-yü. He made his way straight +into the garden. The matrons saw well enough that he was returning to +his rooms, but instead of following him in, they ensconced themselves +near the fire in the tea-room situated by the garden-gate, and made the +best of the time by drinking and playing cards with the girls in charge +of the tea. Pao-yü entered the court. The lanterns burnt brightly, yet +not a human voice was audible. "Have they all, forsooth, gone to +sleep?" She Yüeh ventured. "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. On the opposite side sat two or three old +nurses nodding, half asleep. Pao-yü conjectured that both the girls +were plunged in sleep, and was just about to enter, when of a sudden +some one was heard to heave a sigh and to say: "How evident it is that +worldly matters are very uncertain! Here you lived all alone in here, +while your father and mother tarried abroad, and roamed year after year +from east to west, without any fixed place of abode. I ever thought +that you wouldn't have been able to be with them at their last moments; +but, as it happened, (your mother) died in this place this year, and +you could, after all, stand by her to the end." + +"Quite so!" rejoined Hsi Jen. "Even I little expected to be able to see +any of my parents' funeral. When I broke the news to our Madame Wang, +she also gave me forty taels. This was really a kind attention on her +part. I hadn't nevertheless presumed to indulge in any vain hopes." + +Pao-yü overheard what was said. Hastily twisting himself round, he +remarked in a low voice, addressing himself to She Yüeh and her +companions: "Who would have fancied her also in here? But were I to +enter, she'll bolt away in another tantrum! Better then that we should +retrace our steps, and let them quietly have a chat together, eh? 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. She Yüeh and Ch'iu Wen stood still, and turned their faces +away. "Stoop," they smiled, "and then loosen your clothes! Be careful +that the wind doesn't blow on your stomach!" + +The two young maids, who followed behind, surmised that he was bent +upon satisfying a natural want, and they hurried ahead to the tea-room +to prepare the water. + +Just, however, as Pao-yü was crossing over, two married women came in +sight, advancing from the opposite direction. "Who's there?" 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." + +The women promptly laughed. "We had no idea," they said, "that we were +coming, at a great festive time like this, to bring trouble upon +ourselves! What a lot of hard work must day after day fall to your +share, young ladies." + +Speaking the while, they drew near. She Yüeh and her friends then asked +them what they were holding in their hands. + +"We're taking over," they replied, "some things to the two girls: Miss +Chin and Miss Hua." + +"They're still singing the 'Eight Worthies' outside," She Yüeh went on +to observe laughingly, "and how is it you're running again to Miss +Chin's and Miss Hua's before the 'Trouble-first moon-box' has been gone +through?" + +"Take the lid off," Pao-yü cried, "and let me see what there's inside." + +Ch'in Wen and She Yüeh at once approached and uncovered the boxes. The +two women promptly stooped, which enabled Pao-yü to see that the +contents of the two boxes consisted alike of some of the finest fruits +and tea-cakes, which had figured at the banquet, and, nodding his head, +he walked off, while She Yüeh and her friend speedily threw the lids +down anyhow, and followed in his track. + +"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. But such of them +as don't know what good manners mean are ignorant to a degree of all +propriety." + +"You, who know what's what," Pao-yü added, "should make allowances for +that kind of rustic people. You should pity them; that's all." + +Speaking, he made his exit out of the garden gate. The matrons had, +though engaged in drinking and gambling, kept incessantly stepping out +of doors to furtively keep an eye on his movements, so that the moment +they perceived Pao-yü appear, they followed him in a body. On their +arrival in the covered passage of the reception-hall, they espied two +young waiting-maids; the one with a small basin in her hand; the other +with a towel thrown over her arm. They also held a bowl and small +kettle, and had been waiting in that passage for ever so long. + +Ch'iu Wen was the first to hastily stretch out her hand and test the +water. "The older you grow," she cried, "the denser you get! How could +one ever use this icy-cold water?" + +"Miss, look at the weather!" the young maid replied. "I was afraid the +water would get cold. It was really scalding; is it cold now?" + +While she made this rejoinder, an old matron was, by a strange +coincidence, seen coming along, carrying a jug of hot water. "Dear +dame," shouted the young maid, "come over and pour some for me in +here!" + +"My dear girl," the matron responded, "this is for our old mistress to +brew tea with. I'll tell you what; you'd better go and fetch some +yourself. Are you perchance afraid lest your feet might grow bigger by +walking?" + +"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." + +The old matron turned her head; and, catching sight of Ch'iu Wen, she +there and then raised the jug and poured some of the water. + +"That will do!" exclaimed Ch'iu Wen. "With all your years, don't you +yet know what's what? Who isn't aware that it's for our old mistress? +But would one presume to ask for what shouldn't be asked for?" + +"My eyes are so dim," the matron rejoined with a smile, "that I didn't +recognise this young lady." + +When Pao-yü had washed his hands, the young maid took the small jug and +filled the bowl; and, as she held it in her hand, Pao-yü rinsed his +mouth. But Ch'iu Wen and She Yüeh availed themselves likewise of the +warm water to have a wash; after which, they followed Pao-yü in. + +Pao-yü at once asked for a kettle of warm wine, and, starting from +sister-in-law Li, he began to replenish their cups. (Sister-in-law Li +and his aunt Hsüeh) pressed him, however, with smiling faces, to take a +seat; but his grandmother Chia remonstrated. "He's only a youngster," +she said, "so let him pour the wine! We must all drain this cup!" + +With these words, she quaffed her own cup, leaving no heel-taps. +Mesdames Hsing and Wang also lost no time in emptying theirs; so Mrs. +Hsüeh and 'sister-in-law' Li had no alternative but to drain their +share. + +"Fill the cups too of your female cousins, senior or junior," dowager +lady Chia went on to tell Pao-yü. "And you mayn't pour the wine anyhow. +Each of you must swallow every drop of your drinks." + +Pao-yü upon hearing her wishes, set to work, while signifying his +assent, to replenish the cups of the several young ladies in their +proper gradation. But when he got to Tai-yü, she raised the cup, for +she would not drink any wine herself, and applied it to Pao-yü's lips. +Pao-yü drained the contents with one breath; upon which Tai-yü gave him +a smile, and said to him: "I am much obliged to you." + +Pao-yü next poured a cup for her. But lady Feng immediately laughed and +expostulated. "Pao-yü!" she cried, "you mustn't take any cold wine. +Mind, your hand will tremble, and you won't be able to-morrow to write +your characters or to draw the bow." + +"I'm not having any cold wine," Pao-yü replied. + +"I know you're not," lady Feng smiled, "but I simply warn you." + +After this, Pao-yü finished helping the rest of the inmates inside, +with the exception of Chia Jung's wife, for whom he bade a maid fill a +cup. Then emerging again into the covered passage, he replenished the +cups of Chia Chen and his companions; after which, he tarried with them +for a while, and at last walked in and resumed his former seat. + +Presently, the soup was brought, and soon after that the 'feast of +lanterns' cakes were handed round. + +Dowager lady Chia gave orders that the play should be interrupted for a +time. "Those young people," (she said) "are be to pitied! Let them too +have some hot soup and warm viands. They then can go on again. Take of +every kind of fruit," she continued, "'feast of lanterns' cakes, and +other such dainties and give them a few." + +The play was shortly stopped. The matrons ushered in a couple of blind +singing-girls, who often came to the house, and put two benches, on the +opposite side, for them. Old lady Chia desired them to take a seat, and +banjos and guitars were then handed to them. + +"What stories would you like to hear?" old lady Chia inquired of +'sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsüeh. + +"We don't care what they are;" both of them rejoined with one voice. +"Any will do!" + +"Have you of late added any new stories to your stock?" old lady Chia +asked. + +"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." + +"What's its title?" old lady Chia inquired. + +"It's called: 'A Feng seeks a Luan in marriage': (the male phoenix asks +the female phoenix in marriage)," one of the girls answered. + +"The title is all very well," dowager lady Chia proceeded, "but why I +wonder was it ever given to it. 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. His name was Wang Chun. He had +been minister under two reigns. 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." + +When the company heard so far, they began to laugh. + +"Now isn't this a duplicate of our girl Feng's name?" old lady Chia +laughingly exclaimed. + +A married woman hurried up and pushed (the girl). "That's the name of +your lady Secunda," she said, "so don't use it quite so heedlessly!" + +"Go on with your story!" dowager lady Chia shouted. + +The girl speedily stood up, smiling the while. "We do deserve death!" +she observed. "We weren't aware that it was our lady's worthy name." + +"Why should you be in such fear and trembling?" lady Feng laughed. "Go +on! There are many duplicate names and duplicate surnames." + +The girl then proceeded with her story. "In a certain year," she +resumed, "his honour old Mr. Wang saw his son Mr. Wang off for the +capital to be in time for the examinations. One day, he was overtaken +by a heavy shower of rain and he betook himself into a village for +shelter. Who'd have thought it, there lived in this village, one of the +gentry, of the name of Li, who had been an old friend of his honour old +Mr. Wang, and he kept Mr. Wang junior to put up in his library. This +Mr. Li had no son, but only a daughter. This young daughter's worthy +name was Ch'u Luan. She could perform on the lute; she could play +chess; and she had a knowledge of books and of painting. There was +nothing that she did not understand." + +Old lady Chia eagerly chimed in. "It's no wonder," she said, "that the +story has been called: 'A Feng seeks a Luan in marriage,' '(a male +phoenix seeks a female phoenix in marriage).' But you needn't proceed. +I've already guessed the denouement. There's no doubt that Wang +Hsi-feng asks for the hand of this Miss Ch'u Luan." + +"Your venerable ladyship must really have heard the story before," the +singing-girl smiled. + +"What hasn't our worthy senior heard?" they all exclaimed. "But she's +quick enough in guessing even unheard of things." + +"All these stories run invariably in one line," old lady Chia +laughingly rejoined. "They're all about pretty girls and scholars. +There's no fun in them. They abuse people's daughters in every possible +way, and then they still term them nice pretty girls. They're so +concocted that there's not even a semblance of truth in them. From the +very first, they canvass the families of the gentry. If the +paterfamilias isn't a president of a board; then he's made a minister. +The heroine is bound to be as lovable as a gem. This young lady is sure +to understand all about letters, and propriety. She knows every thing +and is, in a word, a peerless beauty. At the sight of a handsome young +man, she pays no heed as to whether he be relation or friend, but +begins to entertain thoughts of the primary affair of her life, and +forgets her parents and sets her books on one side. She behaves as +neither devil nor thief would: so in what respect does she resemble a +nice pretty girl? Were even her brain full of learning, she couldn't be +accounted a nice pretty girl, after behaving in this manner! Just like +a young fellow, whose mind is well stored with book-lore, and who goes +and plays the robber! Now is it likely that the imperial laws would +look upon him as a man of parts, and that they wouldn't bring against +him some charge of robbery? From this it's evident that those, who +fabricate these stories, contradict themselves. Besides, they may, it's +true, say that the heroines belong to great families of official and +literary status, that they're conversant with propriety and learning +and that their honourable mothers too understand books and good +manners, but great households like theirs must, in spite of the parents +having pleaded old age and returned to their natives places, contain a +great number of inmates; and the nurses, maids and attendants on these +young ladies must also be many; and how is it then that, whenever these +stories make reference to such matters, one only hears of young ladies +with but a single close attendant? What can, think for yourselves, all +the other people be up to? Indeed, what is said before doesn't accord +with what comes afterwards. Isn't it so, eh?" + +The party listened to her with much glee. "These criticisms of yours, +venerable ancestor," they said, "have laid bare every single +discrepancy." + +"They have however their reasons," old lady Chia smilingly resumed. +"Among the writers of these stories, there are some, who begrudge +people's wealth and honours, or possibly those, who having solicited a +favour (of the wealthy and honorable), and not obtained the object, +upon which their wishes were set, have fabricated lies in order to +disparage people. There is moreover a certain class of persons, who +become so corrupted by the perusal of such tales that they are not +satisfied until they themselves pounce upon some nice pretty girl. +Hence is it that, for fun's sake, they devise all these yarns. But how +could such as they ever know the principle which prevails in official +and literary families? Not to speak of the various official and +literary families spoken about in these anecdotes, take now our own +immediate case as an instance. We're only such a middle class +household, and yet we've got none of those occurrences; so don't let +her go on spinning these endless yarns. We must on no account have any +of these stories told us! Why, even the maids themselves don't +understand any of this sort of language. I've been getting so old the +last few years, that I felt unawares quite melancholy whenever the +girls went to live far off, so my wont has been to have a few passages +recounted to me; but as soon as they got back, I at once put a stop to +these things." + +'Sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsüeh both laughed. "This is just the +rule," they said, "which should exist in great families. Not even in +our homes is any of this confused talk allowed to reach the ears of the +young people." + +Lady Feng came forward and poured some wine. "Enough, that will do!" +she laughed. "The wine has got quite cold. My dear ancestor, do take a +sip and moisten your throat with, before you begin again to dilate on +falsehoods. What we've been having now can well be termed 'Record of a +discussion on falsehoods.' 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, venerable senior, you've only got one mouth, so you couldn't very +well simultaneously speak of two families. 'When two flowers open +together,' the proverb says, 'one person can only speak of one.' But +whether the stories 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. Dear senior, do let these two relatives have a glass of +wine and see a couple of plays; and you can then start arguing about +one dynasty after another. Eh, what do you say?" + +Saying this, she poured the wine, laughing the while. But she had +scarcely done speaking before the whole company were convulsed with +laughter. The two singing girls were themselves unable to keep their +countenance. + +"Lady Secunda," they both exclaimed, "what a sharp tongue you have! +Were your ladyship to take to story-telling, we really would have +nowhere to earn our rice." + +"Don't be in such overflowing spirits," Mrs. Hsüeh laughed. "There are +people outside; this isn't like any ordinary occasion." + +"There's only my senior brother-in-law Chen outside," lady Feng smiled. +"And we've been like brother and sister from our youth up. We've romped +and been up to every mischief to this age together. But all on account +of my marriage, I've had of late years to stand on ever so many +ceremonies. Why besides being like brother and sister from the time we +were small kids, he's anyhow my senior brother-in-law, and I his junior +sister-in-law. (One among) those twenty four dutiful sons, travestied +himself in theatrical costume (to amuse his parents), but those fellows +haven't sufficient spirit to come in some stage togs and try and make +you have a laugh, dear ancestor. I've however succeeded, after ever so +much exertion, in so diverting you as to induce you to eat a little +more than you would, and in putting everybody in good humour; and I +should be thanked by one and all of you; it's only right that I should. +But can it be that you will, on the contrary, poke fun at me?" + +"I've truly not had a hearty laugh the last few days," old lady Chia +smiled, "but thanks to the funny things she recounted just now, I've +managed to get in somewhat better spirits in here. So I'll have another +cup of wine." Then having drunk her wine, "Pao-yü," she went on to say, +"come and present a cup to your sister-in-law!" + +Lady Feng gave a smile. "There's no use for him to give me any wine," +she ventured. "(I'll drink out of your cup,) so as to bring upon myself +your longevity, venerable ancestor." + +While uttering this response, she raised dowager lady Chia's cup to her +lips, and drained the remaining half of the contents; after which, she +handed the cup to a waiting-maid, who took one from those which had +been rinsed with tepid water, and brought it to her. But in due course, +the cups from the various tables were cleared, and clean ones, washed +in warm water, were substituted; and when fresh wine had been served +round, (lady Feng and the maid) resumed their seats. + +"Venerable lady," a singing-girl put in, "you don't like the stories we +tell; but may we thrum a song for you?" + +"You two," remarked old lady Chia, "had better play a duet of the +'Chiang Chün ling' song: 'the general's command.'" + +Hearing her wishes, the two girls promptly tuned their cords, to suit +the pitch of the song, and struck up on their guitars. + +"What watch of the night is it?" old lady Chia at this point inquired. + +"It's the third watch," the matrons replied with alacrity. + +"No wonder it has got so chilly and damp!" old lady Chia added. + +Extra clothes were accordingly soon fetched by the servants and maids. + +Madame Wang speedily rose to her feet and forced a smile. "Venerable +senior," she said, "wouldn't it be prudent for you to move on to the +stove couch in the winter apartments? It would be as well. These two +relatives are no strangers. And if we entertain them, it will be all +right." + +"Well, in that case," dowager lady Chia smilingly rejoined, "why +shouldn't the whole company adjourn inside? Wouldn't it be warmer for +us all?" + +"I'm afraid there isn't enough sitting room for every one of us," +Madame +Wang explained. + +"I've got a plan," old lady Chia added. "We can now dispense with these +tables. All we need are two or three, placed side by side; we can then +sit in a group, and by bundling together it will be both sociable as +well as warm." + +"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. Then placing three large tables +lengthways side by side in the inner rooms, they went on to properly +arrange the fruits and viands, some of which had been replenished, +others changed. + +"You must none of you stand on any ceremonies!" dowager lady Chia +observed. "If you just listen while I allot you your places, and sit +down accordingly, it will be all right!" + +Continuing, she motioned to Mrs. Hsüeh and 'sister-in-law' Li to take +the upper seats on the side of honour, and, making herself comfortable +on the west, she bade the three cousins Pao-ch'in, Tai-yü and Hsian-yün +sit close to her on the left and on the right. "Pao-yü," she proceeded +"you must go next to your mother." So presently she put Pao-yü, and +Pao-ch'ai and the rest of the young ladies between Mesdames Hsing and +Wang. On the west, she placed, in proper gradation, dame Lou, along +with Chia Lan, and Mrs. Yu and Li Wan, with Chia Lan, (number two,) +between them. While she assigned a chair to Chia Jung's wife among the +lower seats, put crosswise. "Brother Chen," old lady Chia cried, "take +your cousins and be off! I'm also going to sleep in a little time." + +Chia Chen and his associates speedily expressed their obedience, and +made, in a body, their appearance inside again to listen to any +injunctions she might have to give them. + +"Bundle yourself away at once!" shouted dowager lady Chia. "You needn't +come in. We've just sat down, and you'll make us get up again. Go and +rest; be quick! To-morrow, there are to be some more grand doings!" +Chia Chen assented with alacrity. "But Jung Erh should remain to +replenish the cups," he smiled; "it's only fair that he should." + +"Quite so!" answered old lady Chia laughingly. "I forgot all about +him." + +"Yes!" acquiesced Chia Chen. Then twisting himself round, he led Chia +Lien and his companions out of the apartment. + +(Chia Chen and Chia Lien) were, of course, both pleased at being able +to get away. So bidding the servants see Chia Tsung and Chia Huang to +their respective homes, (Chia Chen) arranged with Chia Lien to go in +pursuit of pleasure and in quest of fun. But we will now leave them to +their own devices without another word. + +"I was just thinking," meanwhile dowager lady Chia laughed, "that it +would be well, although you people are numerous enough to enjoy +yourselves, to have a couple of great-grandchildren present at this +banquet, so Jung Erh now makes the full complement. But Jung Erh sit +near your wife, for she and you will then make the pair complete." + +The wife of a domestic thereupon presented a play-bill. + +"We, ladies," old lady Chia demurred, "are now chatting in high glee, +and are about to start a romp. Those young folks have, also, been +sitting up so far into the night that they must be quite cold, so let +the plays alone. Tell them then to have a rest. Yet call our own girls +to come and sing a couple of plays on this stage. They too will thus +have a chance of watching us a bit." + +After lending an ear to her, the married women assented and quitted the +room. And immediately finding some servant to go to the garden of Broad +Vista and summon the girls, they betook themselves, at the same time, +as far as the second gate and called a few pages to wait on them. + +The pages went with hurried step to the rooms reserved for the players, +and taking with them the various grown-up members of the company, they +only left the more youthful behind. Then fetching, in a little time, +Wen Kuan and a few other girls, twelve in all, from among the novices +in the Pear Fragrance court, they egressed by the corner gate leading +out of the covered passage. The matrons took soft bundles in their +arms, as their strength was not equal to carrying boxes. And under the +conviction that their old mistress would prefer plays of three or five +acts, they had put together the necessary theatrical costumes. + +After Wen Kuan and the rest of the girls had been introduced into the +room by the matrons, they paid their obeisance, and, dropping their +arms against their sides, they stood reverentially. + +"In this propitious first moon," old lady Chia smiled, "won't your +teacher let you come out for a stroll? What are you singing now? The +eight acts of the 'Eight worthies' recently sung here were so noisy, +that they made my head ache; so you'd better let us have something more +quiet. You must however bear in mind that Mrs. Hsüeh and Mrs. Li are +both people, who give theatricals, and have heard I don't know how many +fine plays. The young ladies here have seen better plays than our own +girls; and they have heard more beautiful songs than they. These +actresses, you see here now, formed once, despite their youth, part of +a company belonging to renowned families, fond of plays; and though +mere children, they excel any troupe composed of grown-up persons. So +whatever we do, don't let us say anything disparaging about them. But +we must now have something new. Tell Fang Kuan to sing us the 'Hsün +Meng' ballad; and let only flutes and Pandean pipes be used. The other +instruments can be dispensed with." + +"Your venerable ladyship is quite right," Wen Kuan smiled. "Our acting +couldn't, certainly, suit the taste of such people as Mrs. Hsüeh, Mrs. +Li and the young ladies. Nevertheless, let them merely heed our +enunciation, and listen to our voices; that's all." + +"Well said!" dowager lady Chia laughed. + +'Sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsüeh were filled with delight. "What a +sharp girl!" they remarked smilingly. "But do you also try to imitate +our old lady by pulling our leg?" + +"They're intended to afford us some ready-at-hand recreation," old lady +Chia smiled. "Besides, they don't go out to earn money. That's how it +is they are not so much up to the times." At the close of this remark, +she also desired K'uei Kuan to sing the play: 'Hui Ming sends a +letter.' "You needn't," she added, "make your face up. Just sing this +couple of plays so as to merely let both those ladies hear a kind of +parody of them. But if you spare yourselves the least exertion, I shall +be unhappy." + +When they heard this, Wen Kuan and her companions left the apartment +and promptly apparelled themselves and mounted the stage. First in +order, was sung the 'Hsün Meng;' next, '(Hui Ming) sends a letter;' +during which, everybody observed such perfect silence that not so much +as the caw of a crow fell on the ear. + +"I've verily seen several hundreds of companies," Mrs. Hsüeh smiled, +"but never have I come across any that confined themselves to flutes." + +"There are some," dowager lady Chia answered. "In fact, in that play +acted just now called: 'Love in the western tower at Ch'u Ch'iang,' +there's a good deal sung by young actors in unison with the flutes. But +lengthy unison pieces of this description are indeed few. This too, +however, is purely a matter of taste; there's nothing out of the way +about it. When I was of her age," resuming, she pointed at Hsiang-yün, +"her grandfather kept a troupe of young actresses. There was among them +one, who played the lute so efficiently that she performed the part +when the lute is heard in the 'Hsi Hsiang Chi,' the piece on the lute +in the 'Yü Ts'an Chi,' and that in the supplementary 'P'i Pa Chi,' on +the Mongol flageolet with the eighteen notes, in every way as if she +had been placed in the real circumstances herself. Yea, far better than +this!" + +"This is still rarer a thing!" the inmates exclaimed. + +Old lady Chia then shortly called the married women, and bade them tell +Wen Kúan and the other girls to use both wind and string instruments +and render the piece; 'At the feast of lanterns, the moon is round.' + +The women servants received her orders and went to execute them. Chia +Jung and his wife meanwhile passed the wine round. + +When lady Feng saw dowager lady Chia in most exuberant spirits, she +smiled. "Won't it be nice," she said, "to avail ourselves of the +presence of the singing girls to pass plum blossom round and have the +game of forfeits: 'Spring-happy eyebrow-corners-go-up,' eh?" + +"That's a fine game of forfeits!" Old lady Chia cried, with a smile. +"It just suits the time of the year." + +Orders were therefore given at once to fetch a forfeit drum, varnished +black, and ornamented with designs executed with copper tacks. When +brought, it was handed to the singing girls to put on the table and rap +on it. A twig of red plum blossom was then obtained. "The one in whose +hand it is when the drum stops," dowager lady Chia laughingly proposed, +"will have to drink a cup of wine, and to say something or other as +well." + +"I'll tell you what," lady Feng interposed with a smile. "Who of us can +pit herself against you, dear ancestor, who have ever ready at hand +whatever you want to say? With the little use we are in this line, +won't there be an absolute lack of fun in our contributions? My idea is +that it would be nicer were something said that could be appreciated +both by the refined as well as the unrefined. So won't it be preferable +that the person, in whose hands the twig remains, when the drum stops, +should crack some joke or other?" + +Every one, who heard her, was fully aware what a good hand she had +always been at witty things, and how she, more than any other, had an +inexhaustible supply of novel and amusing rules of forfeits, ever +stocked in her mind, so her suggestion not only gratified the various +inmates of the family seated at the banquet, but even filled the whole +posse of servants, both old and young, who stood in attendance below, +with intense delight. The young waiting-maids rushed with eagerness in +search of the young ladies and told them to come and listen to their +lady Secunda, who was on the point again of saying funny things. A +whole crowd of servant-girls anxiously pressed inside and crammed the +room. In a little time, the theatricals were brought to a close, and +the music was stopped. Dowager lady Chia had some soup, fine cakes and +fruits handed to Wen Kuan and her companions to regale themselves with, +and then gave orders to sound the drum. The singing-girls were both +experts, so now they beat fast; and now slow. Either slow like the +dripping of the remnants of water in a clepsydra. Or quick, as when +beans are being sown. Or with the velocity of the pace of a scared +horse, or that of the flash of a swift lightning. The sound of the drum +came to a standstill abruptly. The twig of plum blossom had just +reached old lady Chia, when by a strange coincidence, the rattle +ceased. Every one blurted out into a boisterous fit of laughter. Chia +Jung hastily approached and filled a cup. "It's only natural," they +laughingly cried, "that you venerable senior, should be the first to +get exhilarated; for then, thanks to you, we shall also come in for +some measure of good cheer." + +"To gulp down this wine is an easy job," dowager lady smiled, "but to +crack jokes is somewhat difficult." + +"Your jokes, dear ancestor, are even wittier than those of lady Feng," +the party shouted, "so favour us with one, and let's have a laugh!" + +"I've nothing out of the way to evoke laughter with," old lady Chia +smilingly answered. "Yet all that remains for me to do is to thicken +the skin of my antiquated phiz and come out with some joke. In a +certain family," she consequently went on to narrate, "there were ten +sons; these married ten wives. The tenth of these wives was, however, +so intelligent, sharp, quick of mind, and glib of tongue, that her +father and mother-in-law loved her best of all, and maintained from +morning to night that the other nine were not filial. These nine felt +much aggrieved and they accordingly took counsel together. 'We nine,' +they said, 'are filial enough at heart; the only thing is that that +shrew has the gift of the gab. That's why our father and mother-in-law +think her so perfect. But to whom can we go and confide our grievance?' +One of them was struck with an idea. 'Let's go to-morrow,' she +proposed, 'to the temple of the King of Hell and burn incense. We can +then tell the King our grudge and ask him how it was that, when he bade +us receive life and become human beings, he only conferred a glib +tongue on that vixen and that we were only allotted such blunt mouths?' +The eight listened to her plan, and were quite enraptured with it. +'This proposal is faultless!' they assented. On the next day, they sped +in a body to the temple of the God of Hell, and after burning incense, +the nine sisters-in-law slept under the altar, on which their offerings +were laid. Their nine spirits waited with the special purpose of seeing +the carriage of the King of Hell arrive; but they waited and waited, +and yet he did not come. They were just giving way to despair when they +espied Sun Hsing-che, (the god of monkeys), advancing on a rolling +cloud. He espied the nine spirits, and felt inclined to take a golden +rod and beat them. The nine spirits were plunged in terror. Hastily +they fell on their knees, and pleaded for mercy." + +"'What are you up to?' Sun Hsing-che inquired." + +"The nine women, with alacrity, told him all." + +"After Sun Hsing-che had listened to their confidences, he stamped his +foot and heaved a sigh. 'Is that the case?' he asked. 'Well, it's lucky +enough you came across me, for had you waited for the God of Hell, he +wouldn't have known anything about it.'" + +"At these assurances, the nine women gave way to entreaties. 'Great +saint,' they pleaded, 'if you were to display some commiseration, we +would be all right.'" + +"Sun Hsing-che smiled. 'There's no difficulty in the way,' he observed. +'On the day on which you ten sisters-in-law came to life, I was, as +luck would have it, on a visit to the King of Hell's place. 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. If I too were therefore to do something, and you +to drink it, the desired effect will be attained.'" + +At the close of her story, the company roared with laughter. + +"Splendid!" shouted lady Feng. "But luckily we're all slow of tongue +and dull of intellect, otherwise, we too must have had the water of +monkeys to drink." + +"Who among us here," Mrs. Yu and dame Lou smilingly remarked, +addressing themselves to Li Wan, "has tasted any monkey's water. So +don't sham ignorance of things!" + +"A joke must hit the point to be amusing," Mrs. Hsüeh ventured. + +But while she spoke, (the girls) began again to beat the drum. The +young maids were keen to hear lady Feng's jokes. They therefore +explained to the singing girls, in a confidential tone, that a cough +would be the given signal (for them to desist). In no time (the +blossom) was handed round on both sides. As soon as it came to lady +Feng, the young maids purposely gave a cough. The singing-girl at once +stopped short. "Now we've caught her!" shouted the party laughingly; +"drink your wine, be quick! And mind you tell something nice! But don't +make us laugh so heartily as to get stomachaches." + +Lady Feng was lost in thought. Presently, she began with a smile. "A +certain household," she said, "was celebrating the first moon festival. +The entire family was enjoying the sight of the lanterns, and drinking +their wine. In real truth unusual excitement prevailed. There were +great grandmothers, grandmothers, daughters-in-law, grandsons' wives, +great grandsons, granddaughters, granddaughters-in-law, aunts' +granddaughters, cousins' granddaughters; and ai-yo-yo, there was verily +such a bustle and confusion!" + +While minding her story, they laughed. "Listen to all this mean mouth +says!" they cried. "We wonder what other ramifications she won't +introduce!" + +"If you want to bully me," Mrs. Yu smiled, "I'll tear that mouth of +yours to pieces." + +Lady Feng rose to her feet and clapped her hands. + +"One does all one can to rack one's brain," she smiled, "and here you +combine to do your utmost to confuse me! Well, if it is so, I won't go +on." + +"Proceed with your story," old lady Chia exclaimed with a smile. "What +comes afterwards?" + +Lady Feng thought for a while. "Well, after that," she continued +laughingly, "they all sat together and crammed the whole room. They +primed themselves with wine throughout the hours of night and then they +broke up." + +The various inmates noticed in what a serious and sedate manner she +narrated her story, and none ventured to pass any further remarks, but +waited anxiously for her to go on, when they became aware that she +coldly and drily came to a stop. + +Shih Hsiang-yün stared at her for ever so long. + +"I'll tell you another," lady Feng laughingly remarked. "At the first +moon festival, several persons carried a cracker as large as a room and +went out of town to let it off. Over and above ten thousand persons +were attracted, and they followed to see the sight. One among them was +of an impatient disposition. He could not reconcile himself to wait; so +stealthily he snatched a joss-stick and set fire to it. A sound of +'pu-ch'ih' was heard. The whole number of spectators laughed +boisterously and withdrew. The persons, who carried the cracker, felt a +grudge against the cracker-seller for not having made it tight, (and +wondered) how it was that every one had left without hearing it go +off." + +"Is it likely that the men themselves didn't hear the report?" +Hsiang-yün insinuated. + +"Why, the men themselves were deaf," lady Feng rejoined. + +After listening to her, they pondered for a while, and then suddenly +they laughed aloud in chorus. But remembering that her first story had +been left unfinished, they inquired of her: "What was, after all, the +issue of the first story? You should conclude that too." + +Lady Feng gave a rap on the table with her hand. "How vexatious you +are!" she exclaimed. "Well, the next day was the sixteenth; so the +festivities of the year were over, and the feast itself was past and +gone. I see people busy putting things away, and fussing about still, +so how can I make out what will be the end of it all?" + +At this, one and all indulged in renewed merriment. + +"The fourth watch has long ago been struck outside," lady Feng +smilingly said. "From what I can see, our worthy senior is also tired +out; and we should, like when the cracker was let off in that story of +the deaf people, be bundling ourselves off and finish!" + +Mrs. Yu and the rest covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and +laughed. Now they stooped forward; and now they bent backward. And +pointing at her, "This thing," they cried, "has really a mean tongue." + +Old lady Chia laughed. "Yes," she said, "this vixen Feng has, in real +truth, developed a meaner tongue than ever! But she alluded to +crackers," she added, "so let's also let off a few fireworks so as to +counteract the fumes of the wine." + +Chia Jung overheard the suggestion. Hurriedly leaving the room, he took +the pages with him, and having a scaffolding erected in the court, they +hung up the fireworks, and got everything in perfect readiness. These +fireworks were articles of tribute, sent from different states, and +were, albeit not large in size, contrived with extreme ingenuity. The +representations of various kinds of events of antiquity were perfect, +and in them were inserted all sorts of crackers. + +Lin Tai-yü was naturally of a weak disposition, so she could not stand +the report of any loud intonation. Her grandmother Chia therefore +clasped her immediately in her embrace. Mrs. Hsüeh, meanwhile, took +Hsiang-yün in her arms. + +"I'm not afraid," smiled Hsiang-yün. + +"Nothing she likes so much as letting off huge crackers," Pao-ch'ai +smilingly interposed, "and could she fear this sort of thing?" + +Madame Wang, thereupon, laid hold of Pao-yü, and pulled him in her lap. + +"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. "I'll embrace you. +There you're again behaving like a spoilt child. You've heard about +crackers, and you comport yourself as if you'd had honey to eat! You're +quite frivolous again to-day!" + +"Wait till we break up," lady Feng answered laughing, "and we'll go and +let some off in our garden. I can fire them far better than any of the +young lads!" + +While they bandied words, one kind of firework after another was +lighted outside, and then later on some more again. Among these figured +'fill-heaven-stars;' 'nine dragons-enter-clouds;' 'over-whole-land-a- +crack-of-thunder;' 'fly-up-heavens;' 'sound-ten shots,' and other such +small crackers. + +The fireworks over, the young actresses were again asked to render the +'Lotus-flowers-fall,' and cash were strewn upon the stage. The young +girls bustled all over the boards, snatching cash and capering about. + +The soup was next brought. "The night is long," old lady Chia said, +"and somehow or other I feel peckish." + +"There's some congee," lady Feng promptly remarked, "prepared with +duck's meat." + +"I'd rather have plain things," dowager lady Chia answered. + +"There's also some congee made with non-glutinous rice and powder of +dates. It's been cooked for the ladies who fast." + +"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. One and all then partook of some of these +refreshments, at their pleasure, and rinsing their mouths with tea, +they afterwards parted. + +On the seventeenth, they also repaired, at an early hour, to the Ning +mansion to present their compliments; and remaining in attendance, +while the doors of the ancestral hall were closed and the images put +away, they, at length, returned to their quarters. + +Invitations had been issued on this occasion to drink the new year wine +at Mrs. Hsüeh's residence. But dowager lady Chia had been out on +several consecutive days, and so tired out did she feel that she +withdrew to her rooms, after only a short stay. + +After the eighteenth, relatives and friends arrived and made their +formal invitations; or else they came as guests to the banquets given. +But so little was old lady Chia in a fit state to turn her mind to +anything that the two ladies, Madame Hsing and lady Feng, had to attend +between them to everything that cropped up. But Pao-yü as well did not +go anywhere else than to Wang Tzu-t'eng's, and the excuse he gave out +was that his grandmother kept him at home to dispel her ennui. + +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. + + + The stupid secondary wife, dame Chao, needlessly loses her temper and + insults her own daughter, T'an Ch'un. + The perverse servant-girls are so full of malice that they look down + contemptuously on their youthful mistresses. + +We will now resume our narration with the Jung Mansion. Soon after the +bustle of the new year festivities, lady Feng who, with the most +arduous duties she had had to fulfil both before and after the new +year, had found little time to take proper care of herself, got a +miscarriage and could not attend to the management of domestic affairs. +Day after day two and three doctors came and prescribed for her. But +lady Feng had ever accustomed herself to be hardy, so although unable +to go out of doors, she nevertheless devised the ways and means for +everything, and made the various arrangements she deemed necessary, and +whatever concern suggested itself to her mind, she entrusted to P'ing +Erh to lay before Madame Wang. But however much people advised her to +be careful, she would not lend an ear to them. Madame Wang felt as if +she had been deprived of her right arm. And as she alone had not +sufficient energy to see to everything, she bestowed her own attention +upon such important affairs, as turned up, and entrusted, for the time +being, all miscellaneous domestic matters to the co-operation of Li +Wan. + +Li Wan had at all times held virtue at a high price, and set but little +value on talents of any kind, so that she, as a matter of course, +displayed leniency to those who were placed under her. Madame Wang +accordingly bade T'an Ch'un combine with Li Wan in the management of +the household. "In a month," she argued, "lady Feng will be getting all +right again, and then you can once more hand over charge to her." + +Little, however, though one would think it, lady Feng was endowed with +a poor physique. From her youth up, moreover, she had not known how to +husband her health; and emulation and contentiousness had, more than +anything else, combined to undermine her vital energies. Hence it was +that although her complaint was a simple miscarriage, it had really, +after all, been the outcome of loss of vigour. After a month symptoms +of emissions of blood began also to show themselves. And +notwithstanding her reluctance to utter what she felt every one, at the +sight of her sallow and emaciated face, readily concluded that she was +not nursing herself as well as she should. + +Madame Wang therefore enjoined her merely to take her medicines and +look to herself with due care; and she would not allow her to disquiet +her mind about the least thing. But (lady Feng) herself also gave way +to misgivings lest her illness should assume some grave phase, and much +though she laughed with one and all, she was ever mindful to steal time +to attend to her health, feeling inwardly vexed at not being able to +soon get back her old strength again. But she had, as it happened, to +dose herself with medicines and to nurse herself for three whole +months, before she gradually began to rally and before the discharges +stopped by degrees. But we will abstain from any reference to these +details which pertain to the future, suffice it now to add that though +Madame Wang noticed her improved state, (she thought it) impossible for +the time being for T'an Ch'un and Li Wan to resign their charge. But so +fidgetty was she lest with the large number of inmates in the garden +proper control should not be exercised that she specially sent for +Pao-ch'ai and begged of her to keep an eye over every place, explaining +to her that the old matrons were of no earthly use, for whenever they +could obtain any leisure, they drank and gambled; and slept during +broad daylight, while they played at cards during the hours of night. +"I know all about their doings," (she said). "When that girl Feng is +well enough to go out, they have some little fear. But they're bound at +present to consult again their own convenience. Yet you, dear child, +are one in whom I can repose complete trust. Your brother and your +female cousins are, on the one hand, young; and I can, on the other, +afford no spare time; so do exert yourself on my behalf for a couple of +days, and exercise proper supervision. And should anything unexpected +turn up, just come and tell it to me. Don't wait until our old lady +inquires about it, as I shall then find myself in a corner with nothing +to say in my defence. If those servants aren't on their good behaviour, +mind you blow them up; and if they don't listen to you, come and lay +your complaint before me; for it will be best not to let anything +assume a serious aspect." + +Pao-ch'ai listened to her appeal and felt under the necessity of +volunteering to undertake the charge. + +The season was about the close of spring, so Tai-yü got her cough back +again. But Hsiang-yün was likewise laid up in the Heng Wu Yüan, as she +too was affected by the weather, and day after day she saw numberless +doctors and took endless medicines. + +T'an Ch'un and Li Wan lived apart, but as they had of late assumed +joint management of affairs, it was, unlike former years, extremely +inconvenient even for the servants to go backwards and forwards to make +their reports. They consequently resolved that they should meet early +every day in the small three-roomed reception-hall, at the south side +of the garden gate, to transact what business there was, and that their +morning meal over, they should after noon return again to their +quarters. + +This three-roomed hall had originally been got ready at the time of the +visit of the imperial consort to her parents, to accommodate the +attendants and eunuchs. This visit over, it proved, therefore, no +longer of use, and the old matrons simply came to it every night to +keep watch. But mild weather had now set in, and any complete fittings +were quite superfluous. All that could be seen about amounted to a few +small pieces of furniture just sufficient for them to make themselves +comfortable with. Over this hall was likewise affixed a placard, with +the inscription in four characters: + +"Perfected philanthropy, published virtue!" + +Yet the place was generally known among the domestics as 'the +discuss-matters-hall.' To this hall, (Li Wan and T'an Ch'un) would +daily adjourn at six in the morning, and leave it at noon, and the +wives of the managers and other servants, who had any matters to lay +before them, came and went in incessant strings. + +When the domestics heard that Li Wan would assume sole control, each +and all felt secretly elated; for as Li Wan had always been +considerate, forbearing and loth to inflict penalties, she would be, of +course, they thought, easier to put off than lady Feng. Even when T'an +Ch'un was added, they again remembered that she was only a youthful +unmarried girl and that she too had ever shown herself goodnatured and +kindly to a degree, so none of them worried their minds about her, and +they became considerably more indolent than when they had to deal with +lady Feng. 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. By a remarkable +coincidence, princes, dukes, marquises, earls, and hereditary officials +arrived for consecutive days from various parts; all of whom were, if +not the relatives of the Jung and Ning mansions, at least their old +friends. There were either those who had obtained transfers on +promotion, or others who had been degraded; either those, who had +married, or those who had gone into mourning, and Madame Wang had so +much congratulating and condoling, receiving and escorting to do that +she had no time to attend to any entertaining. There was therefore less +than ever any one in the front part to look after things. So while +(T'an Ch'un and Li Wan) spent their whole days in the hall, Pao-ch'ai +tarried all day in the drawing-rooms, to keep an eye over what was +going on; and they only betook themselves back to their quarters after +Madame Wang's return. Of a night, they whiled away their leisure hours +by doing needlework; but they would, previous to retiring to sleep, get +into their chairs, and, taking along with them the servants, whose duty +it was to be on night watch in the garden, and other domestics as well, +they visited each place on their round. Such was the control exercised +by these three inmates that signs were not wanting to prove that +greater severity was observed than in the days when the management +devolved on lady Feng. To this reason must be assigned the fact that +all the servants attached inside as well as outside cherished a secret +grudge against them. "No sooner," they insinuated, "has one patrolling +ogre come than they add three more cerberean sort of spring josses so +that even at night we've got less time than ever to sip a cup of wine +and indulge in a romp!" + +On the day that Madame Wang was going to a banquet at the mansion of +the Marquis of Chin Hsiang, Li Wan and T'an Ch'un arranged their +coiffure and performed their ablutions at an early hour; and after +waiting upon her until she went out of doors, they repaired into the +hall and installed themselves in their seats. But just as they were +sipping their tea, they espied Wu Hsin-teng's wife walk in. "Mrs. +Chao's brother, Chao Kuo-chi," she observed, "departed this life +yesterday; the tidings have already been reported to our old mistress +and our lady, who said that it was all right, and bade me tell you, +Miss." + +At the close of this announcement, she respectfully dropped her arms +against her body, and stood aloof without adding another word. The +servants, who came at this season to lay their reports before (T'an +Ch'un and Li Wan), mustered no small number. But they all endeavoured +to find out how their two new mistresses ran the household; for as long +they managed things properly, one and all willingly resolved to respect +them, but in the event of the least disagreement or improper step, not +only did they not submit to them, but they also spread, the moment they +put their foot outside the second gate, numberless jokes on their +account and made fun of them. Wu Hsin-teng's wife had thus devised an +experiment in her own mind. Had she had to deal with lady Feng, she +would have long ago made an attempt to show off her zeal by proposing +numerous alternatives and discovering various bygone precedents, and +then allowed lady Feng to make her own choice and take action; but, in +this instance, she looked with such disdain on Li Wan, on account of +her simplicity, and on T'an Ch'un, on account of her youthfulness, that +she volunteered only a single sentence, in order to put both these +ladies to the test, and see what course they would be likely to adopt. + +"What shall we do?" T'an Ch'un asked Li Wan. + +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. So now give +her forty taels as well and have done!" + +Upon hearing this proposal, Wu Hsin-teng's wife eagerly expressed her +acquiescence, by uttering a yes; and taking over the permit she was +going on her way at once. + +"Come back," shouted T'an Ch'un. + +"Wu Hsing-teng's wife had perforce to retrace her footsteps. + +"Wait, don't get the money yet," T'an Ch'un remarked. "I want to ask +you something. Some of the old secondary wives, attached years back to +our venerable senior's rooms, lived inside the establishment; others +outside; there were these two distinctions between them. Now if any of +them died at home, how much was allowed them? And how much was allotted +to such as died outside? Tell us what was given in either case for our +guidance." + +As soon as Wu Hsin-teng's wife was asked this question, every detail +bearing on the subject slipped from her memory. Hastily forcing a +smile, "This is," she replied, "nothing of any such great consequence. +Whether much or little be allowed, who'll ever venture to raise a +quarrel about it?" + +T'an Ch'un then smiled. "This is all stuff and nonsense!" she +exclaimed. "My idea is that it would be better to give a hundred taels. +For if we don't comply with what's right, we shall, not to speak of +your ridiculing us, find it also a hard job by and bye to face your +mistress Secunda." + +"Well, in that case," laughed Wu Hsin-teng's wife, "I'll go and look up +the old accounts. I can't recollect anything about them just at this +moment." + +"You're quite an old hand in the management of affairs," T'an Ch'un +observed with a significant smile, "and can't you remember, but come +instead to perplex us? Whenever you've had anything of the kind to lay +before your lady Secunda, have you also had to go first and look it up? +But if this has been the practice, lady Feng can't be looked upon as +being such a dreadful creature. One could very well call her lenient +and kind. Yet don't you yet hurry to go and hunt them up and bring them +to me to see? If we dilly-dally another day, they won't run you people +down for your coarse-mindedness, but we will seem to have been driven +to our wits' ends!" + +Wu Hsin-teng's wife got quite scarlet in the face. Promptly twisting +herself round, she quitted the hall; while the whole bevy of married +women stretched out their tongues significantly. + +During her absence, other matters were reported. But in a little while, +Wu Hsin-teng's wife returned with the old accounts. On inspection, T'an +Ch'un found that for a couple of secondary wives, who had lived in the +establishment, twenty-four taels had been granted, and that for two, +whose quarters had been outside, forty taels had in each case been +allowed. Besides these two, others were mentioned, who had lived +outside the mansion; to one of whom a hundred taels had been given, and +to the other, sixty taels. Under these two records, the reasons were +assigned. In the one case, the coffins of father and mother had had to +be removed from another province, and sixty taels extra had +consequently been granted. In the other, an additional twenty taels had +been allowed, as a burial-place had to be purchased at the time. + +T'an Ch'un handed the accounts to Li Wan for her perusal. + +"Give her twenty taels," readily suggested T'an Ch'un. "Leave these +accounts here for us to examine minutely." + +Wu Hsin-teng's wife then walked away. But unexpectedly Mrs. Chao +entered the hall. Li Wan and T'an Ch'un speedily pressed her to take a +seat. + +Mrs. Chao then broke the silence. "All the inmates of these rooms have +trampled me under heel," she said, "but never mind! Yet, my child, just +ponder, it is only fair that you should take my part." + +While ventilating her grievances, her eyes got moist, her nose watered, +and she began to sob. + +"To whom are you alluding Mrs. Chao?" T'an Ch'un hastily inquired. "I +can't really make out what you're driving at. Who tramples you under +foot? Speak out and I'll take up your cudgels." + +"You're now trampling me down yourself, young lady," Mrs. Chao +observed. +"And to whom can I go and tell my grievance?" + +T'an Ch'un, at these words, jumped up with alacrity. "I never would +presume to do any such thing," she protested. + +Li Wan too vehemently sprung to her feet to proffer her some good +counsel. + +"Pray seat yourselves, both of you," Mrs. Chao cried, "and listen to +what I have to say. I've had, like simmering oil, to consume away in +these rooms to this advanced age. There's also your brother besides. +Yet I can't compare myself now even to Hsi Jen, and what credit do I +enjoy? But you haven't as well any face, so don't let's speak of +myself." + +"It was really on account of this," T'an Ch'un smiled, "that I said +that +I didn't presume to disregard right and to violate propriety." + +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. "These are old customs," she proceeded, +"enforced by the seniors of the family, and every one complies with +them, and could I ever, pray, have changed them? These will hold good +not only with Hsi Jen; but even when by and bye Huan-erh takes a +concubine, the same course will naturally be adopted as in the case of +Hsi Jen. This is no question for any large quarrels or small disputes, +and no mention should be made about face or no face. She's our Madame +Wang's servant-girl, and I've dealt with her according to a +long-standing precedent. Those who say that I've taken suitable action +will come in for our ancestors' bounty and our lady's bounty as well. +But should any one uphold that I've adopted an unfair course, that +person is devoid of all common sense and totally ignorant of what a +blessing means. The only thing she can do is to foster as much +resentment as she chooses. Our lady, Madame Wang, may even give a +present of a house to any one; what credit is that to me? Again, she +may not give a single cash, but even that won't imply any loss of face, +as far as I am concerned. What I have to say is that as Madame Wang is +away from home, you should quietly look after yourself a bit. What's +the good of worrying and fretting? Our lady is extremely fond of me; +and, if, at different times, a chilliness has sprung up on her part, +it's because you, Mrs. Chao, have again and again been officious. Had I +been a man and able to have gone abroad, I would long ago have run away +and started some business. I would then have had something of my own to +attend to. But, as it happens, I am a girl, so that I can't even +recklessly utter so much as a single remark. Madame Wang is well aware +of it in her heart. And it's now because she entertains a high opinion +of me that she recently bade me assume the charge of domestic affairs. +But before I've had time enough to do a single good act, here you come, +Mrs. Chao, to lay down the law. If this reaches Madame Wang's ear, I +fear I shall get into trouble. She won't let me exercise any control, +and then I shall, in real earnest, come in for no face. But even you, +Mrs. Chao, will then actually lose countenance." + +Reasoning with her, she so little could repress her tears that they +rolled down her cheeks. + +Mrs. Chao had not a word more to say to refute her arguments with. "If +Madame Wang loves you," she simply responded, "there's still more +reason why you should have drawn us into her favour. (Instead of that), +all you think about is to try and win Madame Wang's affections, and you +forget all about us." + +"How ever did I forget you?" T'an Ch'un exclaimed. "How would you have +me drag you into favour? Go and ask every one of them, and you'll see +what mistress is indifferent to any one, who exerts her energies and +makes herself useful, and what worthy person requires being drawn into +favour?" + +Li Wan, who stood by, did her best to pacify them with her advice. +"Mrs. Chao," she argued, "don't lose your temper! Neither should you +feel any ill-will against this young lady of yours. Had she even at +heart every good intention to lend you a hand, how could she put it +into words?" + +"This worthy senior dame," T'an Ch'un impatiently interposed, "has also +grown quite dense! Whom could I drag into favour? Why, in what family, +do the young ladies give a lift to slave-girls? Their qualities as well +as defects should all alike be well known to you people. And what have +they got to do with me?" + +Mrs. Chao was much incensed. "Who tells you," she asked, "to give a +lift to any one? Were it not that you looked after the house, I +wouldn't have come to inquire anything of you. But anything you may +suggest is right; so had you, now that your maternal uncle is dead, +granted twenty or thirty taels in excess, is it likely that Madame Wang +would not have given you her consent? It's evident that our Madame Wang +is a good woman and that it's you people who are mean and stingy. +Unfortunately, however, her ladyship has with all her bounty no +opportunity of exercising it. You could, my dear girl, well set your +mind at ease. You wouldn't, in this instance, have had to spend any of +your own money; and at your marriage by and bye, I would still have +borne in mind the exceptional regard you had shown the Chao family. But +now that you've got your full plumage, you've forgotten your +extraction, and chosen a lofty branch to fly to." + +Before T'an Ch'un had heard her to the end, she flew into such a rage +that her face blanched; and choking for breath, she gasped and panted. +Sobbing, she asked the while: "Who's my maternal uncle? My maternal +uncle was at the end of the year promoted to be High Commissioner of +the Nine Provinces! How can another maternal uncle have cropped up? +It's because I've ever shown that reverence enjoined by the rites that +other relatives have now more than ever turned up. If what you say be +the case, how is it that every day that Huan-erh goes out, Chao Kuo-chi +too stands up, and follows him to school? Why doesn't he put on the +airs of an uncle? What's the reason that he doesn't? Who isn't aware of +the fact that I'm born of a concubine? Would it require two or three +months' time to trace my extraction? But the fact is you've come to +kick up all this hullaballoo for fear lest people shouldn't be alive to +the truth; and with the express design of making it public all over the +place! But I wonder who of us two will make the other lose face? +Luckily, I've got my wits about me; for had I been a stupid creature +ignorant of good manners, I would long ago have lost all patience." + +Li Wan was much concerned, but she had to continue to exhort them to +desist. But Mrs. Chao proceeded with a long rigmarole until a servant +was unexpectedly heard to report that lady Secunda had sent Miss Ping +to deliver a message. Mrs. Chao caught the announcement, and eventually +held her peace, when they espied P'ing erh making her appearance. Mrs. +Chao hastily forced a saturnine smile, and motioned to her to take a +seat. "Is your lady any better?" she went on to inquire with vehemence. +"I was just thinking of going to look her up; but I could find no +leisure!" + +Upon seeing P'ing Erh enter, Li Wan felt prompted to ask her the object +of her visit. + +"My lady says," P'ing Erh smilingly responded, "that she apprehends, +now that Mrs. Chao's brother is dead, that your ladyship and you, miss, +are not aware of the existence of an old precedent. According to the +ordinary practice no more need be given than twenty taels; but she now +requests you, miss, to consider what would be best to do; if even you +add a good deal more, it will do well enough." + +T'an Ch'un at once wiped away all traces of tears. "What's the use of +another addition, when there's no valid reason for it?" she promptly +demurred. "Who has again been twenty months in the womb? Or is it +forsooth any one who's gone to the wars, and managed to escape with his +life, carrying his master on his back? Your mistress is certainly very +ingenious! She tells me to disregard the precedent, in order that she +should pose as a benefactress! She wishes to take the money, which +Madame Wang spurns, so as to reap the pleasure of conferring favours! +Just you tell her that I could not presume to add or reduce anything, +or even to adopt any reckless decision. Let her add what she wants and +make a display of bounty. 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. But perceiving an angry look about +T'an Ch'un's face, she did not have the temerity to behave towards her +as she would, had she found her in the high spirits of past days. All +she did therefore was to stand aloof with her arms against her sides +and to wait in rigid silence. Just at that moment, however, Pao-ch'ai +dropped in, on her return from the upper rooms. T'an Ch'un quickly rose +to her feet, and offered her a seat. But before they had had time to +exchange any words, a married woman likewise came to report some +business. + +But as T'an Ch'un had been having a good cry, three or four young maids +brought her a basin, towel, and hand-glass and other articles of +toilette. T'an Ch'un was at the moment seated cross-legged, on a low +wooden couch, so the maid with the basin had, when she drew near, to +drop on both her knees and lift it high enough to bring it within +reach. 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. But P'ing Erh noticed that Shih Shu +was not in the room, and approaching T'an Ch'un with hasty step, she +tucked up her sleeves for her and unclasped her bracelets. Seizing also +a large towel from the hands of one of the maids, she covered the lapel +on the front part of T'an Ch'un's dress; whereupon T'an Ch'un put out +her hands, and washed herself in the basin. + +"My lady and miss," the married woman observed, "may it please you to +pay what has been spent in the family school for Mr. Chia Huan and Mr.. +Chia Lan during the year." + +P'ing Erh was the first to speak. "What are you in such a hurry for?" +she cried. "You've got your eyes wide open, and must be able to see our +young lady washing her face; instead of coming forward to wait on her, +you start talking! Do you also behave in this blind sort of way in the +presence of your lady Secunda? This young lady is, it's true, generous +and lenient, but I'll go and report you to your mistress. I'll simply +tell her that you people have no eye for Miss T'an Ch'un. But when you +find yourselves in a mess, don't bear me any malice." + +At this hint the woman took alarm, and hastily forcing a smile, she +pleaded guilty. "I've been rude," she exclaimed. With these words, she +rushed with all despatch out of the room. + +T'an Ch'un smoothed her face. 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. "You weren't in time to see something +laughable! Even sister Wu, an old hand at business though she be, +failed to look up clearly an old custom and came to play her tricks on +us. But when we plied her with questions, she luckily had the face to +admit that it had slipped from her memory. 'Do you,' I insinuated, +'also forget, when you've got anything to report to lady Secunda? and +have you subsequently to go and hunt up all about it?' Your mistress +can't, I fancy, be so patient as to wait while she goes and institutes +proper search." + +P'ing Erh laughed. "Were she to have behaved but once in this wise," +she observed, "I feel positive that a couple of the tendons of her legs +would have long ago been snapped. But, Miss, don't credit all they say. +It's because they see that our senior mistress is as sweet-tempered as +a 'P'u-sa,' and that you, miss, are a modest young lady, that they, +naturally, shirk their duties and come and take liberties with you. +Your mind is set upon playing the giddy dogs," continuing, she added; +speaking towards those beyond the doorway; "but when your mistress gets +quite well again, we'll tell her all." + +"You're gifted with the greatest perspicacity, miss," the married +women, standing outside the door, smiled in chorus. "The proverb says: +'the person who commits a fault must be the one to suffer.' We don't in +any way presume to treat any mistress with disdain. Our mistress at +present is in delicate health, and if we intentionally provoke her, may +we, when we die, have no place to have our corpses interred in." + +P'ing Erh laughed a laugh full irony. "So long as you're aware of this, +it's well and good," she said. And smiling a saturnine smile, she +resumed, addressing herself to T'an Ch'un: "Miss, you know very well +how busy our lady has been and how little she could afford the time to +keep this tribe of people in order. Of course, they couldn't therefore, +be prevented from becoming remiss. The adage has it: 'Lookers-on are +clear of sight!' During all these years that you, have looked on +dispassionately, there have possibly been instances on which, though +additions or reductions should have been made, our lady Secunda has not +been able to effect them, so, miss, do add or curtail whatever you may +deem necessary, in order that, first, Madame Wang may be benefited, and +that, secondly, you mayn't too render nugatory the kindness with which +you ever deal towards our mistress." + +But scarcely had she finished, than Pao-ch'ai and Li Wan smilingly +interposed. "What a dear girl!" they ejaculated. "One really can't feel +angry with that hussy Feng for being partial to her and fond of her. We +didn't, at first, see how we could very well alter anything by any +increase or reduction, but after what you've told us, we must hit upon +one or two things and try and devise means to do something, with a view +of not showing ourselves ungrateful of the advice you've tendered us." + +"My heart was swelling with indignation," T'an Ch'un observed laughing, +"and I was about to go and give vent to my temper with her mistress, +but now that she (P'ing Erh) has happened to come, she has, with a few +words, quite dissuaded me from my purpose." + +While she spoke, she called the woman, who had been with them a few +minutes back, to return into the room. "For what things for Mr. Chia +Huan and Mr. Chia Lau was the money expended during the year in the +family school?" she inquired of her. + +"For cakes," replied the woman, "they ate during the year at school; or +for the purchase of paper and pens. Each one of them is allowed eight +taels." + +"The various expenses on behalf of the young men," T'an Ch'un added, +"are invariably paid in monthly instalments to the respective +households. For cousin Chia Huan's, Mrs. Chao receives two taels. For +Pao-yü's, Hsi Jen draws two taels from our venerable senior's suite of +apartments. For cousin Chia Lan's, some one, in our senior lady's +rooms, gets the proper allowance. So how is it that these extra eight +taels have to be disbursed at school for each of these young fellows? +Is it really for these eight taels that they go to school? But from +this day forth I shall put a stop to this outlay. So P'ing Erh, when +you get back, tell your mistress that I say that this item must +absolutely be done away with." + +"This should have been done away with long ago," P'ing Erh smiled. +"Last year our lady expressed her intention to eliminate it, but with +the endless things that claimed her attention about the fall of the +year, she forgot all about it." + +The woman had no other course than to concur with her views and to walk +away. But the married women thereupon arrived from the garden of Broad +Vista with the boxes of eatables. So Shih Shu and Su Yün at once +brought a small dining-table, and P'ing Erh began to fuss about laying +the viands on it. + +"If you've said all you had," T'an Ch'un laughed, "you'd better be off +and attend to your business. What's the use of your bustling about +here?" + +"I've really got nothing to do," P'ing Erh answered smiling. "Our lady +Secunda sent me first, to deliver a message; and next, because she +feared that the servants in here weren't handy enough. The fact is, she +bade me come and help the girls wait on you, my lady, and on you, +miss." + +"Why don't you bring Mrs. Pao's meal so that she should have it along +with us?" T'an Ch'un then inquired. + +As soon as the waiting-maids heard her inquiry, they speedily rushed +out and went under the eaves. "Go," they cried, directing the married +women, "and say that Miss Pao-ch'ai would like to have her repast just +now in the hall along with the others, and tell them to send the +eatables here." + +T'an Ch'un caught their directions. "Don't be deputing people to go on +reckless errands!" she vociferated. "Those are dames, who manage +important matters and look after the house, and do you send them to ask +for eatables and inquire about tea? You haven't even the least notion +about gradation. 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. But the married women stealthily pulled her back. +"How could you, miss, be made to go and tell them?" they smiled. "We've +got some one here, who can do so!" + +So saying, they dusted one of the stone steps with their handkerchiefs. +"You've been standing so long," they observed, "that you must feel +quite tired. Do sit in this sunny place and have a little rest." + +P'ing Erh took a seat on the step. Two matrons attached to the tea-room +then fetched a rug and spread it out for her. "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. + +Another matron next brought her a cup of fine new tea. "This isn't the +tea we ordinarily drink," she quietly smiled. "This is really for +entertaining the young ladies with. Miss, pray moisten your mouth with +some." + +P'ing Erh lost no time in bending her body forward and taking the cup. +Then pointing at the company of married women, she observed in a low +voice: "You're all too fond of trouble! The way you're going on won't +do at all! She (T'an Ch'un) is only a young girl, so she is loth to +show any severity, or display any temper. This is because she's full of +respect. Yet you people look down on her and insult her. Should she, +however, be actually provoked into any violent fit of anger, people +will simply say that her behaviour was rather rough, and all will be +over. But as for you, you'll get at once into endless trouble. Even +though she might show herself somewhat wilful, Madame Wang treats her +with considerable forbearance, and lady Secunda too hasn't the courage +to meddle with her; and do you people have such arrogance as to look +down on her? This is certainly just as if an egg were to go and bang +itself against a stone!" + +"When were we ever so audacious?" the servants exclaimed with one +voice. +"This fuss is all the work of Mrs. Chao!" + +"Never mind about that!" P'ing Erh urged again in an undertone. "My +dear ladies, 'when a wall falls, every one gives it a shove.' That Mrs. +Chao has always been rather topsy-turvey in her ways, and done things +by halves; so whenever there has been any rumpus, you've invariably +shoved the blame on to her shoulders. Never have you had any regard for +any single person. Your designs are simply awful! Is it likely that all +these years that I've been here, I haven't come to know of them? Had +our lady Secunda mismanaged things just a little bit, she would have +long ago been run down by every one of you, ladies! Even such as she +is, you would, could you only get the least opportunity, be ready to +place her in a fix! And how many, many times hasn't she been abused by +you?" + +"She's dreadful," one and all of them rejoined. "You all live in fear +and trembling of her. But we know well enough that no one could say +that she too does not in the depths of her heart entertain some little +dread for the lot of you. 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. Miss Tertia is, it's +true, a mere girl, and you've always treated her with little +consideration, but out of that company of senior and junior young +ladies, she is the only soul whom our lady Secunda funks to some +certain extent. And yet you people now won't look up to her." + +So speaking Ch'iu Wen appeared to view. The married women ran up to her +and inquired after her health. "Miss," they said, "do rest a little. +They've had their meal served in there, so wait until things have been +cleared away, before you go and deliver your message." + +"I'm not like you people," Ch'iu Wen smiled. "How can I afford to +wait?" + +With these words on her lips, she was about to go into the hall, when +P'ing Erh quickly called her back. Ch'iu Wen, upon turning her head +round, caught sight of P'ing Erh. "Have you too," she remarked with a +smile, "come here to become something like those guardians posted +outside the enclosing walls?" + +Retracing, at the same time, her footsteps, she took a seat on the rug, +occupied by P'ing Erh. + +"What message have you got to deliver?" P'ing Erh gently asked. + +"I've got to ask when we can get Pao-yü's monthly allowance and our own +too," she responded. + +"Is this any such pressing matter?" P'ing Erh answered. "Go back quick, +and tell Hsi Jen that my advice is that no concern whatever should be +brought to their notice to-day. That every single matter reported is +bound to be objected to; and that even a hundred will just as surely be +vetoed." + +"Why is it?" vehemently inquired Ch'iu Wen, upon hearing this +explanation. + +P'ing Erh and the other servants then promptly told her the various +reasons. "She's just bent," they proceeded, "upon finding a few weighty +concerns in order to establish, at the expense of any decent person who +might chance to present herself, a precedent of some kind or other so +as to fix upon a mode of action, which might help to put down expenses +to their proper level, and afford a lesson to the whole household; and +why are you people the first to come and bump your heads against the +nails? If you went now and told them your errand, it would also reflect +discredit upon our venerable old mistress and Madame Wang, were they to +pounce upon one or two matters to make an example of you. But if they +complied with one or two of your applications, others will again +maintain 'that they are inclined to favour this one and show partiality +to that one; that as you had your old mistress' and Madame Wang's +authority to fall back upon, they were afraid and did not presume to +provoke their displeasure; that they only avail themselves of +soft-natured persons to make scapegoats of.' Just mark my words! She +even means to raise objections in one or two matters connected with our +lady Secunda, in order to be the better able to shut up people's +mouths." + +Ch'iu Wen listened to her with patient ear; and then stretching out her +tongue, "It's lucky enough you were here, sister P'ing," she smiled; +"otherwise, I would have had my nose well rubbed on the ground. I shall +seize the earliest opportunity and give the lot of them a hint." + +While replying, she immediately rose to her feet and took leave of +them. Soon after her departure, Pao-ch'ai's eatables arrived, and P'ing +Erh hastened to enter and wait on her. By that time Mrs. Chao had left, +so the three girls seated themselves on the wooden bed, and went +through their repast. Pao-ch'ai faced the south. T'an Ch'un the west. +Li Wan the east. The company of married women stood quietly under the +verandah ready to answer any calls. Within the precincts of the +chamber, only such maids remained in waiting as had ever been their +closest attendants. None of the other servants ventured, of their own +accord, to put their foot anywhere inside. + +The married women (meanwhile) discussed matters in a confidential +whisper. "Let's do our downright best to save trouble," they argued. +"Don't let us therefore harbour any evil design, for even dame Wu will, +in that case, be placed in an awkward fix. And can we boast of any +grand honours to expect to fare any better?" + +While they stood on one side, and held counsel together, waiting for +the meal to be over to make their several reports, they could not catch +so much as the caw of a crow inside the rooms. Neither did the clatter +of bowls and chopsticks reach their ears. But presently, they discerned +a maid raise the frame of the portiere as high as she could, and two +other girls bring the table out. 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. Shih Shu, Su Yün and Ying Erh +thereupon entered with three covered cups of tea, placed in trays. +Shortly however these three girls also made their exit. Shih Shu then +recommended a young maid to be careful and attend to the wants (of +their mistresses). "When we've had our rice," she added, "we'll come +and relieve you. But don't go stealthily again and sit down!" + +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. + +"I've got something of moment," she then observed to P'ing Erh, "about +which I would like to consult your mistress. Happily, I remembered it +just now, so come back as soon as you've had your meal. Miss Pao-ch'ai +is also here at present, so, after we four have deliberated together, +you can carefully ask your lady whether action is to be taken +accordingly or not." + +P'ing Erh acquiesced and returned to her quarters. "How is it," +inquired lady Feng, "that you've been away such an age?" + +P'ing Erh smiled and gave her a full account of what had recently +transpired. + +"What a fine, splendid girl Miss Tertia is!" she laughingly ejaculated. +"What I said was quite right! The only pity is that she should have had +such a miserable lot as not to have been born of a primary wife." + +"My lady, you're also talking a lot of trash!" P'ing Erh smiled. "She, +mayn't be Madame Wang's child, but is it likely that any one would be +so bold as to point the finger of scorn at her, and not treat her like +the others?" + +Lady Feng sighed. "How could you know everything?" she remarked. "She +is, of course, the offspring of a concubine, but as a mere girl, she +can't be placed on the same footing as a man! By and bye, when any one +aspires to her hand, the sort of supercilious parties, who now tread +the world, will, as a first step, ask whether this young lady is the +child of a No. 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. But really people +haven't any idea that, not to speak of her as the offspring of a +secondary wife, she would be, even as a mere servant-girl of ours, far +superior than the very legitimate daughter of any family. Who, I +wonder, will in the future be so devoid of good fortune as to break off +the match; just because he may be inclined to pick and choose between a +wife's child and a concubine's child? And who, I would like to know, +will be that lucky fellow, who'll snatch her off without any regard to +No. 1 and No. 2?" + +Continuing, she resumed, turning smilingly towards P'ing Erh, "You know +well enough how many ways and means I've had all these years to devise +in order to effect retrenchment, and how there isn't, I may safely +aver, a single soul in the whole household, who doesn't detest me +behind my back. But now that I'm astride on the tiger's back, (I must +go on; for if I put my foot on the ground, I shall be devoured). It's +true, my tactics have been more or less seen through, but there's no +help for it; I can't very well become more open-handed in a moment! In +the second place, much goes out at home, and little comes in; and the +hundred and one, large and small, things, which turn up, are still +managed with that munificence so characteristic of our old ancestors. +But the funds, that come in throughout the year, fall short of the +immense sums of past days. And if I try again to effect any savings +people will laugh at me, our venerable senior and Madame Wang suffer +wrongs, and the servants abhor me for my stinginess. Yet, if we don't +seize the first opportunity to think of some plan for enforcing +retrenchment, our means will, in the course of a few more years, be +completely exhausted." + +"Quite so!" assented P'ing Erh. "By and bye, there will be three or +four daughters and two or three more sons added; and our old mistress +won't be able, singlehanded, to meet all this heavy outlay." + +"I myself entertain fears on the same score," lady Feng smiled. "But, +after all, there will be ample. For when Pao-yü and cousin Lin get +married, there won't be any need to touch a cent of public money, as +our old lady has her own private means, and she can well fork out some. +Miss Secunda is the child of your senior master yonder, and she too +needn't be taken into account. So there only remain three or four, for +each of whom one need only spend, at the utmost, ten thousand taels. +Cousin Huan will marry in the near future; and if an outlay of three +thousand taels prove insufficient, we will be able, by curtailing the +bandoline, used in those rooms for smoothing the hair with, make both +ends meet. And should our worthy senior's end come about, provision for +everything is already made. All that we'll have to do will be to spend +some small sum for a few miscellaneous trifles; and three to five +thousand taels will more than suffice. So with further economies at +present, there will be plenty for all our successive needs. The only +fear is lest anything occur at an unforeseen juncture; for then it will +be dreadful! But don't let us give way to apprehensions with regard to +the future! You'd better have your rice; and when you've done, be quick +and go and hear what they mean to treat about in their deliberations. I +must now turn this opportunity to the best account. I was only this +very minute lamenting that I had no help at my disposal. There's +Pao-yü, it's true, but he too is made of the same stuff as the rest of +them in here. Were I even to get him under my thumb, it would be of no +earthly use whatever. Senior lady is as good-natured as a joss; and she +likewise is no good. Miss Secunda is worse than useless. Besides, she +doesn't belong to this place. Miss Quarta is only a child. That young +fellow Lan and Huan-erh are, more than any of the others, like frozen +kittens with frizzled coats. They only wait to find some warm hole in a +stove into which they may poke themselves! Really from one and the same +womb have been created two human beings (T'an Ch'un and Chia Huan) so +totally unlike each other as the heavens are distant from the earth. +But when I think of all this, I feel quite angry! Again, that girl Lin +and Miss Pao are both deserving enough, but as they also happen to be +our connexions, they couldn't very well be put in charge of our family +affairs. What's more, the one resembles a lantern, decorated with nice +girls, apt to spoil so soon as it is blown by a puff of wind. The other +has made up her mind not to open her month in anything that doesn't +concern her. When she's questioned about anything, she simply shakes +her head, and repeats thrice: 'I don't know,' so that it would be an +extremely difficult job to go and ask her to lend a helping hand. +There's only therefore Miss Tertia, who is as sharp of mind as of +tongue. She's besides a straightforward creature in this household of +ours and Madame Wang is attached to her as well. It's true that she +outwardly makes no display of her feelings for her, but it's all that +old thing Mrs. Chao, who has done the mischief, for, in her heart, she +actually holds her as dear as she does Pao-yü. She's such a contrast to +Huan-erh! He truly makes it hard for any one to care a rap for him. +Could I have had my own way, I would long ere this have packed him out +of the place. But since she (T'au Ch'un) has now got this idea into her +mind, we must cooperate with her. For if we can afford each other a +helping hand, I too won't be single-handed and alone. And as far as +every right principle, eternal principle, and honesty of purpose go, we +shall with such a person as a helpmate, be able to save ourselves +considerable anxiety, and Madame Wang's interests will, on the other +hand, derive every advantage. But, as far as unfairness and bad faith +go, I've run the show with too malicious a hand, and I must turn tail +and draw back from my old ways. When I review what I've done, I find +that if I still push my tyrannical rule to the bitter end, people will +hate me most relentlessly; so much so, that under their smiles they'll +harbour daggers, and much though we two may then be able to boast of +having four eyes and two heads between us, they'll compass our ruin, +when they can at any moment find us off our guard. We should therefore +make the best of this crisis, so that as soon as she takes the +initiative and sets things in order, all that tribe of people may for a +time lose sight of the bitter feelings they cherish against us, for the +way we've dealt with them in the past. But there's another thing +besides. I naturally know the great talents you possess, but I feel +mistrust lest you should, by your own wits, not be able to bring things +round. I enjoin these things then on you, now, for although a mere girl +she has everything at her fingers' ends. The only thing is that she +must try and be wary in speech. She's besides so much better read than +I am that she's a harder nut to crack. Now the proverb says: 'in order +to be able to catch the rebels, you must first catch their chief.' So +if she's at present disposed to mature some plan and set to work to put +it into practice, she'll certainly have to first and foremost make a +start with me. In the event consequently of her raising objections to +anything I've done, mind you don't begin any dispute with her. The more +virulent she is in her censure of me, the more deferential you should +be towards her. That's your best plan. And whatever you do, don't +imagine that I'm afraid of any loss of face. But the moment you flare +up with her, things won' go well……" + +P'ing Erh did not allow her time to conclude her argument. "You're too +much disposed to treat us as simpletons!" she smiled. "I've already +carried out your wishes, and do you now enjoin all these things on me?" + +Lady Feng smiled. "It's because," she resumed, "I feared lest you, who +have your eyes and mouth so full of me, and only me, might be inclined +to show no regard whatever for her, that's why. I couldn't, therefore, +but tender you the advice I did. But since you've already done what I +wanted you to do, you've shown yourself far sharper than I am. There's +nothing in this to drive you into another tantrum, and to make that +mouth of yours begin to chatter away so much about 'you and I,' 'you +and I' !" + +"I've actually addressed you as 'you' ;" P'ing Erh rejoined; "but if +you be displeased at it, isn't this a case of a slap on the mouth? You +can very well give me another one, for is it likely that this phiz of +mine hasn't as yet tasted any, pray?" + +"What a vixen you are!" lady Feng said smilingly. "How many faults will +you go on picking out, before you shut up? You see how ill I am, and +yet you come to rub me the wrong way. Come and sit down; for you and I +can at all events have our meal together when there is no one to break +in upon us. It's only right that we should." + +While these remarks dropped from her lips, Feng Erh and some three or +four other maids entered the room and laid the small stove-couch table. +Lady Feng only ate some birds' nests' soup and emptied two small plates +of some recherché light viands; for she had long ago temporarily +reduced her customary diet. + +Feng Erh placed the four kinds of eatables allotted to P'ing Erh on the +table. After which, she filled a bowl of rice for her. Then with one +leg bent on the edge of the stove-couch, while the other rested on the +ground, P'ing Erh kept lady Feng company during her repast; and waiting +on her, afterwards, until she finished rinsing her mouth, she issued +certain directions to Feng Erh, and crossed over at length to T'an +Ch'un's quarters. Here she found the courtyard plunged in perfect +stillness, for the various inmates, who had been assembled there, had +already taken their leave. + +But, reader, do you wish to follow up the story? If so, listen to the +circumstances detailed in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + + + The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes + long-standing + abuses. + The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little + intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family. + +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. Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close +attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the +alert to obey any calls. P'ing Erh stepped into the hall. The two +cousins and their sister-in-law were all three engaged in discussing +some domestic affairs. They were talking about the feast, to which they +had been invited during the new year festivities by Lai Ta's wife, and +various details in connection with the garden she had in her place. But +as soon as she (P'ing Erh) appeared on the scene, T'an Ch'un desired +her to seat herself on her footstool. + +"What was exercising my mind," she thereupon observed, "confines itself +to this. I was computing that the head-oil, and rouge and powder, we +use during the course of a month, are also a matter of a couple of +taels; and I was thinking that what with the sum of two taels, already +allotted us every month, and the extra monthly amount given as well to +the maids, allowances are, with the addition again of that of eight +taels for school expenses, we recently spoke about, piled to be sure +one upon another. The thing is, it's true, a mere trifle, and the +amount only a bagatelle, but it doesn't seem to be quite proper. But +how is it that your mistress didn't take this into account?" + +P'ing Erh smiled. "There's a why and a wherefore," she answered. "All +the things required by you, young ladies, must absolutely be subject to +a fixed rule; for the different compradores have to lay in a stock of +each every month; and to send them to us by the maids to take charge +of; but purely and simply to keep in readiness for you to use. No such +thing could ever be tolerated as that each of us should have to get +money every day and try and hunt up some one to go and buy these +articles for us! That's how it is that the compradores outside receive +a lump sum, and that they send us, month by month, by the female +servants the supplies allotted for the different rooms. As regards the +two taels monthly allowed you, young ladies, they were not originally +intended that you should purchase any such articles with, but that you +should, if at any time the ladies in charge of the household affairs +happened to be away from home or to have no leisure, be saved the +trouble of having to go in search of the proper persons, in the event +of your suddenly finding yourselves in need of money. This was done +simply because it was feared that you would be subjected to +inconvenience. But an unprejudiced glance about me now shows me that at +least half of our young mistresses in the various quarters invariably +purchase these things with ready money of their own; so I can't help +suspecting that, if it isn't a question of the compradores shirking +their duties, it must be that what they buy is all mere rubbish." + +T'an Ch'un and Li Wan laughed. "You must have kept a sharp lookout to +have managed to detect these things!" they said. "But as for shirking +the purchases, they don't actually do so. It's simply that they're +behind time by a good number of days. Yet when one puts on the screw +with them, they get some articles from somewhere or other, who knows +where? These are however only a sham; for, in reality, they aren't fit +for use. But as they're now as ever obtained with cash down, a couple +of taels could very well be given to the brothers or sons of some of +the other people's nurses to purchase them with. They'll then be good +for something! Were we however to employ any of the public domestics in +the establishment, the things will be just as bad as ever. I wonder how +they do manage to get such utter rot as they do?" + +"The purchases of the compradores may be what they are," P'ing Erh +smiled; "but were anyone else to buy any better articles, the +compradores themselves won't ever forgive them. Besides other things, +they'll aver that they harbour evil designs, and that they wish to +deprive them of their post. That's how it comes about that the servants +would much rather give offence to you all inside, (by getting inferior +things), and that they have no desire to hurt the feelings of the +managers outside, (by purchasing anything of superior quality). But if +you, young ladies, requisition the services of the nurses, these men +won't have the arrogance to make any nonsensical remarks." + +"This accounts for the unhappy state my heart is in," T'an Ch'un +observed. "But as we're called upon to squander money right and left, +and as the things purchased are half of them uselessly thrown away, +wouldn't it, after all, be better for us to eliminate this monthly +allowance to the compradores? This is the first thing. The next I'd +like to ask you is this. When they went, during the new year +festivities, to Lai Ta's house, you also went with them; and what do +think of that small garden as compared with this of ours?" + +"It isn't half as big as ours," P'ing Erh laughingly explained. "The +trees and plants are likewise fewer by a good deal." + +"When I was having a chat with their daughter," T'an Ch'un proceeded, +"she said that, besides the flowers they wear, and the bamboo shoots, +vegetables, fish and shrimps they eat from this garden of theirs, +there's still enough every year for people to take over under contract, +and that at the close of each year there's a surplus in full of two +hundred taels. Ever since that day is it that I've become alive to the +fact that even a broken lotus leaf, and a blade of withered grass are +alike worth money." + +"This is, in very truth, the way wealthy and well-to-do people talk!" +Pao-ch'ai laughed. "But notwithstanding your honourable position, young +ladies, you really understand nothing about these concerns. Yet, +haven't you, with all your book-lore, seen anything of the passage in +the writing of Chu Fu-tzu: 'Throw not thyself away?'" + +"I've read it, it's true," T'an Ch'un smiled, "but its object is simply +to urge people to exert themselves; it's as much empty talk as any +random arguments, and how could it be bodily treated as gospel?" + +"Chu-tzu's work all as much empty talk as any random arguments?" +Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. "Why every sentence in it is founded on fact. +You've only had the management of affairs in your hands for a couple of +days, and already greed and ambition have so beclouded your mind that +you've come to look upon Chu-tzu as full of fraud and falsehood. But +when you by and bye go out into the world and see all those mighty +concerns reeking with greed and corruption, you'll even go so far as to +treat Confucius himself as a fraud!" + +"Haven't you with all your culture read a book like that of Chi-tzu's?" +Pan Ch'un laughed. "Chi-tzu said in bygone days 'that when one descends +into the arena where gain and emoluments are to be got, and enters the +world of planning and plotting, one makes light of the injunctions of +Yao and Shun, and disregards the principles inculcated by Confucius and +Mencius.'" + +"What about the next line?" Pao-ch'ai insinuated with a significant +smile. + +"I now cut the text short," T'an Ch'un smilingly rejoined, "in order to +adapt the sense to what I want to say. Would I recite the following +sentence, and heap abuse upon my own self; is it likely I would; eh?" + +"There's nothing under the heavens that can't be turned to some use," +Pao-ch'ai added. "And since everything can be utilised, everything must +be worth money. But can it be that a person gifted with such +intelligence as yours can have had no experience in such great matters +and legitimate concerns as these?" + +"You send for a person," Li Wan laughingly interposed, 'and you don't +speak about what's right and proper, but you start an argument on +learning." + +"Learning is right and proper," Pao-ch'ai answered. "If we made no +allusion to learning, we'd all soon enough drift among the rustic +herd!" + +The trio bandied words for a while, after which they turned their +attention again to pertinent affairs. + +T'an Ch'un took up once more the thread of the conversation. "This +garden of ours," she argued, "is only half as big as theirs, so if you +double the income they derive, you will see that we ought to reap a net +profit of four hundred taels a year. But were we also now to secure a +contract for our surplus products, the money, we'd earn, would, of +course, be a mere trifle and not one that a family like ours should +hanker after. And were we to depute two special persons (to attend to +the garden), the least permission given by them to any one to turn +anything to improper uses, would, since there be so many things of +intrinsic value, be tantamount to a reckless destruction of the gifts +of heaven. So would it not be preferable to select several quiet, +steady and experienced old matrons, out of those stationed in the +grounds, and appoint them to put them in order and look after things? +Neither will there be any need then to make them pay any rent, or give +any taxes in kind. All we can ask them is to supply the household with +whatever they can afford during the year. In the first place, the +garden will, with special persons to look after the plants and trees, +naturally so improve from year to year that there won't be any bustle +or confusion, whenever the time draws nigh to utilise the grounds. +Secondly, people won't venture to injure or uselessly waste anything. +In the third place, the old matrons themselves will, by availing +themselves of these small perquisites, not labour in the gardens year +after year and day after day all for no good. Fourthly, it will in like +manner be possible to effect a saving in the expenditure for gardeners, +rockery-layers, sweepers and other necessary servants. And this excess +can be utilised for making up other deficiencies. I don't see any +reason why this shouldn't be practicable!" + +Pao-ch'ai was standing below contemplating the pictures with characters +suspended on the walls. Upon hearing these suggestions, she readily +nodded her head assentingly and smiled. "Excellent!" she cried. +"'Within three years, there will be no more famines and dearths.'" + +"What a first-rate plan!" Li Wan chimed in. "This, if actually adopted, +will delight the heart of Madame Wang. Pecuniary economies are of +themselves a paltry matter; but there will be then in the garden those +to sweep the grounds, and those whose special charge will be to look +after them. Besides, were the persons selected allowed to turn up an +honest cash by selling part of the products, they will be so impelled +by a sense of their responsibilities, and prompted by a desire of gain +that there won't any longer be any who won't acquit themselves of their +duties to the fullest measure." + +"It remained for you, miss, to put these suggestions in words," P'ing +Erh remarked. "Our mistress may have entertained the idea, but it is by +no means certain that she thought it nice on her part to give utterance +to it. For as you, young ladies, live at present in the garden, she +could not possibly, unable as she is to supply such additional +ornaments as will make it more showy, contrariwise depute people to +exercise authority in it, and to keep it in order, with a view of +effecting a reduction in expenses. Such a proposal could never have +dropped from her lips." + +Pao-ch'ai advanced up to her with alacrity. Rubbing her face: "Open +that mouth of yours wide," she laughed, "and let me see of what stuff +your teeth and tongue are made! Ever since you put your foot out of bed +this morning you've jabbered away up to this very moment! And your song +has all been in one strain. For neither have you been very +complimentary to Miss Tertia, nor have you admitted that your mistress +is, as far as wits go, so much below the mark as to be unable to effect +suitable provision. Yet whenever Miss Tertia advanced any arguments, +you've at once made use of endless words to join issue with her. This +is because the plan devised by Miss Tertia was also hit upon by your +lady Feng. But there must surely have been a reason why she couldn't +carry it into execution. Again, as the young ladies have now their +quarters in the garden, she couldn't, with any decency, direct any one +to go and rule over it, for the mere sake of saving a few cash. Just +consider this. If the garden is actually handed to people to make +profit out of it, the parties interested will, of course, not even +permit a single spray of flowers to be plucked, and not a single fruit +to be taken away. With such as come within the category of senior young +ladies, they won't naturally have the audacity to be particular; but +they'll daily have endless rows with the junior girls. (Lady Feng) has, +with her fears about the future and her misgivings about the present, +shown herself neither too overbearing nor too servile. This mistress of +theirs is not friendly disposed towards us, but when she hears of her +various proposals, shame might induce her to turn over a new leaf." + +"Early this morning," T'an Ch'un laughingly observed, "I was very +cross, but as soon as I heard of her (P'ing Erh's) arrival, I casually +remembered that her mistress employed, during her time, such domestics +as were up to all kinds of larks, and at the sight of her, I got more +cross than ever. But, little though one would have thought it, she +behaved from the moment she came, like a rat that tries to get out of +the way of a cat. And as she had had to stand for ever so long, I +pitied her very much; but she took up the thread of the conversation, +and went on to spin that long yarn of hers. Yet, instead of mentioning +that her mistress treats me with every consideration, she, on the +contrary, observed: 'The kindness with which you have all along dealt +with our lady miss, has not been to no purpose.' This remark therefore +not only dispelled my anger, but filled me with so much shame that I +began to feel sore at heart. And, when I came to think carefully over +the matter, I failed to see how I, a mere girl, who had personally done +so much mischief that not a soul cared a straw for me and not a soul +took any interest in me, could possess any such good qualities as to +treat any one kindly…." + +When she reached this point, she could not check her tears from +brimming over. Li Wan and her associates perceived how pathetically she +spoke; and, recalling to mind how Mrs. Chao had always run her down, +and how she had ever been involved in some mess or other with Madame +Wang, on account of this Mrs. Chao, they too found it difficult to +refrain from melting into sobs. But they then used their joint efforts +to console her. + +"Let's avail ourselves of this quiet day," they suggested, "to try and +find out how we could increase our revenue and remove abuses, so as not +to render futile the charge laid on us by Madame Wang. What use or +purpose is it to allude to such trivial matters?" + +"I've already grasped your object," P'ing Erh hastily ventured. "Miss, +speak out; who do you consider fit? And as soon as the proper persons +have been fixed upon, everything will be square enough." + +"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. It has never been +the proper thing for us in here to scrape together any small profits. +But as your mistress is full of gumption, I adopted the course I did. +Had she been at all narrowminded, with many prejudices and many +jealousies, I wouldn't have shown the least willingness in the matter. +But, as it will look as if I were bent upon pulling her to pieces, how +can I take action without consulting her?" + +"In that case," P'ing Erh smiled, "I'll go and tell her something about +it." + +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. How ever could our lady not readily accede to an +excellent proposal like this?" + +Hearing this, T'an Ch'un forthwith joined Li Wan in directing a servant +to ask for the roll, containing the names of the matrons in the garden, +and bring it to them. When produced, they all held council together, +and fixing cursorily upon several persons, they summoned them to appear +before them. Li Wan then explained to them the general outline of their +duties; and not one was there among the whole company, who listened to +her, who would not undertake the charge. One said: "If you confide that +bamboo tree for twelve months to my care, it will again next year be a +single tree, but besides the shoots, which will have been eaten at +home, I shall be able, in the course of the year, to also pay in some +money." "Hand me over," another one remarked, "that portion of paddy +field, and there will, during the year, be no need to touch any public +funds on account of the various birds, large and small, which are kept +for mere fun. Besides that, I shall be in a position to give in +something more." + +T'an Ch'un was about to pass a remark when a servant reported that the +doctor had come; and that he had entered the garden to see Miss Shih. +So the matrons were obliged to go and usher the doctor in. + +"Were there a hundred of you here," promptly expostulated P'ing Erh, +"you wouldn't know what propriety means! Are there perchance no couple +of housekeepers about to push themselves forward and see the doctor +in?" + +"There's dame Wu and dame T'an," the servant, who brought the message, +replied. "The two are on duty at the south-west corner at the +'accumulated splendour' gate." + +At this answer, P'ing Erh allowed the subject to drop. + +After the departure of the matrons, T'an Ch'un inquired of Pao-ch'ai +what she thought of them. + +"Such as are diligent at the outset," Pao-ch'ai answered smiling, +"become remiss in the end; and those who have a glib tongue have an eye +to gain." + +T'an Ch'un listened to her reply; and nodding her head, she extolled +its wisdom. Then showing them with her finger several names on the +list, she submitted them for the perusal of the trio. P'ing Erh +speedily went and fetched a pen and inkslab. + +"This old mother Chu," the trio observed, "is a trustworthy woman. +What's more, this old dame and her sons have generation after +generation done the sweeping of the bamboo groves. So let's now place +the various bamboo trees under her control. This old mother T'ien was +originally a farmer, and everything in the way of vegetables and rice, +in and about the Tao Hsiang village, should, albeit they couldn't, +planted as they are as a mere pastime, be treated in such earnest as to +call for large works and extensive plantations, be entrusted to her +care; for won't they fare better if she can be on the spot and tend +them with extra diligence at the proper times and seasons?" + +"What a pity it is," T'an Ch'un proceeded smilingly, "that two places +so spacious as the Heng Wu garden and the I Hung court bring no grit to +the mill." + +"Things in the Heng Wu garden are in a worse state," Li Wan hastily +interposed. "Aren't the scented wares and scented herbs sold at present +everywhere in perfumery shops, large fairs and great temples the very +counterpart of these things here? So if you reckon up, you will find +how much greater a return these articles will give than any other kind +of product. 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? Besides these, +we've got along the whole hedge, cinnamon roses and monthly roses, +stock roses, honey-suckle and westeria. Were these various flowers +dried and sold to the tea and medicine shops, they'd also fetch a good +deal of money." + +"Quite so!" T'an Ch'un acquiesced with a smile. "The thing is that +there's no one with any notion how to deal with scented herbs." + +"There's Ying Erh who waits on Miss Pao-ch'ai," P'ing Erh promptly +smiled. "Her mother is well-versed in these things. It was only the +other day that she plucked a few, and plaited them, after drying them +well in the sun, into a flower-basket and a gourd, and gave them to me +to play with. But miss can you have forgotten all about it?" + +"I was this very minute speaking in your praise," Pao-ch'ai observed +smiling, "and do you come to chaff me?" + +"What makes you say so?" exclaimed the trio, in utter astonishment. + +"It will on no account do," Pao-ch'ai added. "You employ such a lot of +people in here that they all lead a lazy life and have nothing to put a +hand to, and were I also now to introduce some more, that tribe will +look even upon me with utter contempt. But let me think of some one for +you. There's in the I Hung court, an old dame Yeh; she's Pei Ming's +mother. That woman is an honest old lady; and is furthermore on the +best of terms with our Ying Erh's mother. So wouldn't it be well were +this charge given to this dame Yeh? Should there even be anything that +she doesn't know, there'll be no necessity for us to tell her. She can +go straightway and consult with Ying Erh's mother. And if she can't +attend to everything herself, it won't matter to whom she relegates +some of her duties. These will be purely private favours. In the event +too of any one making any mean insinuations, the blame won't fall on +our shoulders. By adopting this course, you'll be managing things in +such a way as to do extreme justice to all; and the trust itself will +also be placed on a most satisfactory footing." + +"Excellent!" ejaculated Li Wan and P'ing Erh simultaneously. + +"This may be well and good," T'an Ch'un laughed, "but the fear is that +at the sight of gain, they'll forget all about propriety." + +"That's nothing to do with us!" P'ing Erh rejoined a smile playing, +about her lips. "It was only the other day that Ying Erh recognised +dame Yeh as her adopted mother, and invited her to eat and drink with +them, so that the two families are on the most intimate terms." + +At this assurance, T'an Ch'un relinquished the topic of conversation, +and, holding council together, they selected several persons, all of +whom the four had ever viewed with impartial favour and they marked off +their names, by dotting them with a pen. + +In a little while, the matrons came to report that 'the doctor had +gone;' and they handed the prescription. Their three mistresses then +perused its contents. On the one hand, they despatched domestics to +take it outside, so that the drugs should be got, and to superintend +their decoction. On the other, T'an Ch'un and Li Wan explicitly +explained to the various servants chosen what particular place each had +to look after. "Exclusive," they added, "of what fixed custom requires +for home consumption during the four seasons, you are still at liberty +to pluck whatever remains and have it taken away. As for the profits, +we'll settle accounts at the close of the year." + +"I've also bethought myself of something," T'an Ch'un smiled. "If the +settlement of accounts takes place at the end of the year, the money +will, at the time of delivery, be naturally paid into the accountancy. +Those high up will then as usual add a whole lot of controllers; and +these will, on their part, fleece their own share as soon as the money +gets into the palms of their hand. But as by this system, we've now +initiated, you've been singled out for appointment, you've already +ridden so far above their heads, that they foster all sorts of +animosity against you. They don't, however, give vent to their +feelings; but if they don't seize the close of the year, when you have +to deliver your accounts, to play their tricks on you, for what other +chances will they wait? Moreover, they obtain, in everything that comes +under their control during the year, half of every share their masters +get. This is an old custom. Every one is aware of its existence. But +this is a new regime I now introduce in this garden, so don't let the +money find its way into their hands! Whenever the annual settling of +accounts arrives, bring them in to us." + +"My idea is," Pao-ch'ai smilingly suggested, "that no accounts need be +handed even inside. This one will have a surplus, that one a deficit, +so that it will involve no end of trouble; wouldn't it be better +therefore if we were to find out who of them would take over this or +that particular kind and let them purvey the various things? These are +for the exclusive use of the inmates of the garden; and I've already +made an estimate of them for you. They amount to just a few sorts, and +simply consist of head-oil, rouge, powder and scented paper; in all of +which, the young ladies and maids are subject to a fixed rule. Then, +besides these, there are the brooms, dust-baskets and poles, wanted in +different localities, and the food for the large and small animals and +birds, and the deer and rabbits. These are the only kinds of things +required. And if they contract for them, there'll be little need for +any one to go to the accountancy for money. But just calculate what a +saving will thus be effected!" + +"All these items are, I admit, mere trifles," P'ing Erh smiled, "but if +you lump together what's used during a year, you will find that a +saving of four hundred taels will be effected." + +"Again!" smilingly remarked Pao-ch'ai, "it would be four hundred taels +in one year; but eight hundred taels in two years; and with these, we +could purchase a few more houses and let them; and in the way of poor, +sandy land we could also add several acres to those we've already got. +'There will, of course, still remain a surplus; but as they will have +ample trouble and inconvenience to put up with during the year, they +should also be allowed some balance in hand so as to make up what's +wanted for themselves. The main object is, of course, to increase +profits and curtail expenses, yet we couldn't be stingy to any +excessive degree. In fact, were we even able to make any further +economy of over two or three hundred taels, it would never be the +proper thing; should this involve a breach of the main principles of +decorum. With this course duly put into practice, outside, the +accountancy will issue in one year four or five hundred taels less, +without even the semblance of any parsimony; while, inside, the matrons +will obtain, on the other hand, some little thing to supply their wants +with; the nurses, who have no means of subsistence, will likewise be +placed in easy circumstances; and the plants and trees in the garden +will year by year increase in strength and grow more abundantly. In +this wise, you too will have such articles as will be fit for use. So +that this plan will, to some extent, not constitute a breach of the +high principles of propriety. And if ever we want to retrench a little +more from where won't we be able to get money? But if the whole +balance, if any, be put to the credit of the public fund, every one, +inside as well as outside, will fill the streets with the din of +murmurings! And won't this be then a slur upon the code of honour of a +household such as yours? So were any charge to be entrusted to this +one, out of the several tens of old nurses at present employed in the +garden, and not to that one, the remainder will naturally resent such +injustice. As I said a while back all that these women will have to +provide among themselves amounts to a few articles, so they will +unavoidably have ample means. Hence each should be told to contribute, +beyond the articles that fall to her share during the year, a certain +number of tiaos, whether she may or may not realise any balance, and +then jointly lump these sums together, and distribute them among those +nurses only on service in the garden. For although they may not have +anything to do with the control of these things, they themselves will +have to stay in the grounds, to keep an eye over the servants on duty, +to shut the doors, to close the windows and to get up early and retire +late. Whenever it rains in torrents or it snows hard and chairs have to +be carried, for you, young ladies, to go out and come in; or boats have +to be punted, and sledges drawn, these rough and arduous duties come +alike within their sphere of work. They have to labour in the garden +from one year's end to the other, and though, they earn something in +those grounds, it's only right that they should able to get some small +benefits in the discharge of their legitimate duties. But there's +another most trivial point that I would broach with less reserve. If +you only think of your ease, and don't share the profits with them, +they will, of course, never presume to show their displeasure, but in +their hearts they won't cherish you any good feeling. What they'll do +will be to make public business a pretext to serve their own private +ends with; they'll pluck more of your fruits than they should; and cut +greater quantities of your flowers than they ought. And you people will +have a grievance, but you won't have anywhere to go and confide it. But +should they too reap some gain, they'll readily look after such things +on your behalf as you won't have the time to attend to." + +The matrons listened to her explanations; (and finding that) they would +be removed from the control of the accountancy, that they would not be +compelled to go and settle accounts with lady Feng, and that all that +they would be called upon to do every year would be to supply a few +more tiaos, were each and all delighted to an exceptional degree. So +much so, that every one of them exclaimed in a chorus that they were +quite prepared to agree to the terms. "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." + +Those too not entrusted with the care of any portion of land were also +highly elated, when they heard that at the close of each year they +would, though they had no valid claim, come in for some share of hard +cash. + +"They'll have to bear the trouble," they however argued, "to keep +things in order, so it's only right that they should be left with a few +cash to meet their various wants with; and how could we very well +gobble our three meals without doing a stroke of work?" + +"Worthy dames," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "you mustn't decline. These duties +are within your province and you should fulfil them. All you need do is +to exert yourselves a bit by day and night, and not be so remiss and +careless as to suffer any of the servants to drink and gamble; that's +all. Otherwise, I myself must have nothing to do with the control. But +you, yourselves, know well enough that it's my aunt who appealed to me +with her own lips three and five times to do it as a favour to her. +'Your eldest sister-in-law,' she represented, 'has at present no +leisure, and the other girls are young,' and then she asked me to look +after things. So if I now don't accede, it's as clear as day that I +shall be the cause of much worry to my aunt. Our lady Feng herself is +seriously ill, and our domestic affairs can't hang fire. I'm really +with nothing to do, so were even a mere neighbour to solicit my help, I +would also feel bound to lend her a hand in her pressure of work. How +much more therefore when it's my own aunt, who invokes my aid? Setting +aside the way I'm execrated by one and all, how would I ever be able to +stare my aunt in the face, if, while I gave my sole mind to winning +fame and fishing for praise, any one got so intoxicated and lost so +much in gambling as to stir up trouble? At such a juncture remorse on +your part will be too late! Even the old reputation you have ever +enjoyed will entirely be lost and gone. Those young ladies and girls +and this vast garden are alike placed under your supervision, purely +and simply because one takes into account that you have been nurses to +three or four generations and that you have most scrupulously observed +the rules of etiquette and propriety. It's but fair that you should +try, with one mind, and show some little regard for what's right and +proper. But if you contrariwise behave with such laxity as to let +people gratify their wishes by guzzling and gambling, and my aunt comes +to hear of these nice doings, a little scolding from her will be of +little consequence. But if the various women, who attend to the +household, get scent of the state of affairs, they will haul you over +the coals, without even so much as breathing one single word beforehand +to my aunt. And venerable people, though you are, you will then, +instead of tendering advice to young people, be called to account by +them. As housekeepers, they exercise, it's true, authority over you; +but why shouldn't you yourselves observe a certain amount of decorum? +And if you do so, will they have any occasion to bully you? The reason +why I've now bethought myself of this special boon for you is that you +should unanimously strain every nerve to diligently attend to the +garden, in order that the powers that be may, at the sight of your +unrelenting care and zeal, have no cause to give way to solicitude. And +won't they inwardly look up to you with regard? Neither will you render +of no effect the various benefits devised for them. But go now and +minutely ponder over all my advice!" + +All the women received her words with gratification. "What you say is +quite right," they replied. "From this time forth you, miss, and you, +our lady, can well compose your minds. With the interest both of you +feel on our behalf, may heaven and earth not spare us, if we do not +display a full amount of gratitude for all your kindnesses." + +These assurances were still being uttered when they saw Lin +Chih-hsiao's wife walk in. "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. But they've now +sent messengers ahead to come and bring presents and pay their +respects." + +While she spoke, she produced the list of presents and handed it up. +T'an Ch'un took it over from her. "They consist," she said, perusing +it, "of twelve rolls of brocades and satins embroidered with dragons, +such as are for imperial use; twelve rolls of satins of various +colours, of the kind worn by the Emperor; twelve rolls of every sort of +imperial gauze; twelve rolls of palace silks of the quality used by his +majesty; and twenty rolls of satins, gauzes, silks and thin silks of +different colours, generally worn by officials." + +After glancing over the list, Li Wan and T'an Ch'un suggested that a +first-class tip should be given to the messengers who brought them, +after which, they went on to direct a servant to convey the tidings to +dowager lady Chia. + +Old lady Chia gave orders to call Li Wan, T'an Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai and the +other girls. On their arrival, the presents were passed under review; +and this over, Li Wan put them aside. "You must wait," she said to the +servants of the inner store-room, "until Madame Wang comes back and +sees them; you can then lock them up." + +"This Chen family too," old lady Chia thereupon added, "isn't like any +other family; the highest tips should therefore be conferred upon the +men. But as in a twinkle, they may also send some of their womankind to +come and make their obeisance, silks should be got ready in +anticipation." + +Scarcely was this remark concluded before a domestic actually +announced: 'that four ladies of the Chen mansion had come to pay their +respects.' + +Upon hearing this, dowager lady Chia hastily directed that they should +be introduced into her presence. The four women ranged from forty years +and over. Their clothing and head-gear were not, in any material +degree, different from those of mistresses. As soon as they presented +their compliments and inquired about their healths, old lady Chia +desired that four footstools should be moved forward. But though the +four women thanked her for bidding them sit down, they only occupied +the stools, after Pao-ch'ai had seated herself. + +"When did you enter the capital?" old lady Chia inquired. + +The four women jumped to their feet with alacrity. "We entered the +capital yesterday," they answered. "Our lady has taken our young lady +today into the palace to pay their homage. That's why she bade us come +and give you their compliments, and see how the young ladies are +getting on." + +"You hadn't paid a visit to the capital for ever so many years," +dowager lady Chia smilingly observed, "and here you appear now quite +unexpectedly!" + +The four women simultaneously smiled again. "Quite so!" they said. "We +received this year imperial orders, summoning us to the capital!" + +"Has the whole family come?" old lady Chia asked. + +"Our old mistress, our young master, the two young ladies and the other +ladies haven't come up," the four women explained. "Only our lady has +come, together with Miss Tertia." + +"Is she engaged to any one?" old lady Chia asked. + +"Not yet," rejoined the quartet. + +"The two families, that of your senior married lady and that of your +lady Secunda are both on most intimate terms with ours," dowager lady +Chia smilingly added. + +"Yes, they are," replied the four women with a smile. "The letters +received each year from our young ladies, assure us that they're +entirely dependent upon the kindness bestowed upon them, in your worthy +mansion, for their well-being." + +"What kindness?" old lady Chia exclaimed laughingly. "These two +families are really friends of long standing. In addition to this, +they're old relatives. So what we do is our simple bounden duty. What's +more in the favour of your two young ladies is, that they're not full +of their own importance. That's how it is that we've come to be on such +close terms." + +The four women smiled. "This is mainly due to your venerable ladyship's +excessive humility," they answered. + +"Is that young gentleman of yours too with your old mistress?" old lady +Chia went on to inquire. + +"Yes, he has also come with our old mistress," the four women retorted. + +"How old is he?" old lady Chia then asked. "Does he go to school?" she +afterwards inquired. + +"He's thirteen this year," the four women said by way of response. "But +all through those good looks of his, our old mistress cherishes him so +fondly that from his youth up, he has been wayward to the extreme, and +that he now daily plays the truant. But our master and mistress as well +don't keep any great check over him." + +"Yet, he can't resemble that young fellow of ours," old lady Chia +laughed. "What's the name of your young gentleman?" + +"As our old mistress treats him just like a real precious gem," the +quartet explained, "and as his complexion is naturally so white, her +ladyship calls him Pao-yü." + +"Here's another one with the name of Pao-yü!" old lady Chia laughingly +said to Li Wan. + +Li Wan and her companions hastily made a curtsey. "There have been, +from old times to the present," they smiled, "very many among +contemporaries and persons of different generations as well, who have +borne duplicate names." + +The four women also smiled. "After the selection of this infant name," +they proceeded, "we all, both high or low, began to give way to +surmises, as we could not make out in what relative's or friend's +family there was a lad also called by the same name. But as we hadn't +come to the capital for ten years or so, we couldn't remember." + +"That young fellow is my grandson," dowager lady Chia remarked. "Hallo! +some one come here!" + +The married women and maids assented and approached several steps. + +"Go into the garden," old lady Chia smilingly said, "and call our +Pao-yü here, so that these four housekeeping dames should see how he +compares with their own Pao-yü." + +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. "He has +given us such a start!" they exclaimed smilingly. "Had we not come into +your worthy mansion, and perchance, met him, elsewhere, we would have +taken him for our own Pao-yü, and followed him as far as the capital." + +While speaking they came forward and took hold of his hands and +assailed him with questions. + +Pao-yü however also put on a smile and inquired after their healths. + +"How do his looks compare with those of your young gentleman?" dowager +lady Chia asked as she smiled. + +"The way the four dames ejaculated just now," Li Wan and her companions +explained, "was sufficient to show how much they resemble in looks." + +"How could there ever he such a coincidence?" old lady Chia laughed. +"Yet, the children of wealthy families are so delicately nurtured that +unless their faces are so deformed as to make them downright ugly, +they're all equally handsome, as far as general appearances go. So +there's nothing strange in this!" + +"As we gaze at his features," the quartet added, with smiling faces, +"we find him the very image of him; and from what we gather from your +venerable ladyship, he's also like him in waywardness. But, as far as +we can judge, this young gentleman's disposition is ever so much better +than that of ours." + +"What makes you think so?" old lady Chia precipitately inquired. + +"We saw it as soon as we took hold of the young gentleman's hands," the +four women laughingly rejoined, "and when he spoke to us. 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." + +Before the four dames had time to conclude what they had to say, Li Wan +and the rest found it so hard to check themselves that with one voice +they burst into loud laughter. + +Old lady Chia also laughed. "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. But don't you know that children +of families such as yours and mine are bound, notwithstanding their +numerous perverse and strange defects, to return the orthodox +civilities, when they come across any strangers. But should they not +return the proper civilities, they should, by no manner of means, be +suffered to behave with such perverseness. It's the way that grown-up +people doat on them that makes them what they are. And as they can, +first and foremost, boast of bewitching good looks and they comport +themselves, secondly, towards visitors with all propriety—, in fact, +with less faulty deportment than their very seniors—, they manage to +win the love and admiration of such as only get a glimpse of them. +Hence it is that they're secretly indulged to a certain degree. But if +they don't show the least regard to any one inside or outside, and so +reflect no credit upon their parents, they deserve, with all their +handsome looks, to be flogged to death." + +These sentiments evoked a smile from the four dames. "Your words +venerable lady," they exclaimed, "are quite correct. But though our +Pao-yü be wilful and strange in his ways, yet, whenever he meets any +visitors, he behaves with courteousness and good manners; so much so, +that he's more pleasing to watch than even grown-up persons. There is +no one, therefore, who sees him without falling in love with him. But +you'll say: 'why is he then beaten?' You really aren't aware that at +home he has no regard either for precept or for heaven; that he comes +out with things that never suggest themselves to the imagination of +grown-up people, and that he does everything that takes one by +surprise. The result is that his father and mother are driven to their +wits' ends. But wilfulness is natural to young children. Reckless +expenditure is a common characteristic of young men. Antipathy to +school is a common feeling with young people. Yet there are ways and +means to bring him round. The worse with him is that his disposition is +so crotchety and whimsical. Can this ever do?…." + +This reply was barely ended when a servant informed them that their +mistress had returned. Madame Wang entered the room, and saluted the +women. The four dames paid their obeisance to her. But they had just +had sufficient time to pass a few general observations, when dowager +lady Chia bade them go and rest. Madame Wang then handed the tea in +person and withdrew from the apartment. But when the four dames got up +to say good-bye, old lady Chia adjourned to Madame Wang's quarters. +After a chat with her on domestic affairs, she however told the women +to go back; so let us put them by without any further allusion to them. + +During this while, old lady Chia's spirits waxed so high, that she told +every one and any one she came across that there was another Pao-yü, +and that he was, in every respect, the very image of her grandson. + +But as each and all bore in mind that there were many inmates among the +large households of those officials with official ancestors, called by +the same names, that it was an ordinary occurrence for a grandmother to +be passionately fond of her grandson, and that there was nothing +out-of-the-way about it, they treated the matter as of no significance. +Pao-yü alone however was such a hair-brained simpleton that he +conjectured that the statements made by the four dames had been +intended to flatter his grandmother Chia. + +But subsequently he betook himself into the garden to see how Shih +Hsiang-yün was getting on. + +"Compose your mind now," Shih Hsiang-yün then said to him, "and go on +with your larks! Once, you were as lonely as a single fibre, which +can't be woven into thread, and like a single bamboo, which can't form +a grove, but now you've found your pair. When you exasperate your +parents, and they give you beans, you'll be able to bolt to Nanking in +quest of the other Pao-yü." + +"What utter rubbish!" Pao-yü exclaimed. "Do you too believe that +there's another Pao-yü?" + +"How is it," Hsiang-yün asked, "that there was some one in the Lieh +state called Lin Hsiang-ju, and that during the Han dynasty there lived +again another person, whose name was Ssu Ma Hsiang-ju?" + +"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. Such a thing could never be!" + +"How is it," Hsiang-yün inquired, "that when the K'uang people saw +Confucius, they fancied it was Yang Huo?" + +"Confucius and Yang Huo," Pao-yü smilingly argued, "may have been alike +in looks, but they hadn't the same names. Lin and Ssu were again, +notwithstanding their identical names, nothing like each other in +appearances. But can it ever be possible that he and I should resemble +each other in both respects?" + +Hsiang-yün was at a loss what reply to make to his arguments. "You +may," she consequently remarked smiling, "propound any rubbish you +like, I'm not in the humour to enter into any discussion with you. +Whether there be one or not is quite immaterial to me. It doesn't +concern me at all." + +Saying this, she lay herself down. + +Pao-yü however began again to exercise his mind with further surmises. +"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." + +Sad and dejected he returned therefore to his quarters, and reclining +on his couch, he silently communed with his own thoughts until he +unconsciously became drowsy and fell fast asleep. + +Finding himself (in his dream) in some garden or other, Pao-yü was +seized with astonishment. "Besides our own garden of Broad Vista," he +reflected, "is there another such garden?" But while indulging in these +speculations, several girls, all of whom were waiting-maids, suddenly +made their appearance from the opposite direction. Pao-yü was again +filled with surprise. "Besides Yüan Yang, Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh," he +pondered, "are there verily such maidens as these?" + +"Pao-yü!" he heard that company of maids observe, with faces beaming +with smiles, "how is it you find yourself in here?" + +Pao-yü laboured under the impression that they were addressing him. +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." + +The maids smiled with one consent. "Really!" they exclaimed, "this +isn't our Pao-yü. But his looks too are spruce and nice; and he is as +precocious too with his tongue." + +Pao-yü caught their remarks. "Sisters!" he eagerly cried, "is there +actually a second Pao-yü in here?" + +"As for the two characters 'Pao-yü,'" the maids speedily explained, +"every one in our house has received our old mistress' and our +mistress' injunctions to use them as a spell to protract his life for +many years and remove misfortune from his path, and when we call him by +that name, he simply goes into ecstasies, at the very mention of it. +But you, young brat, from what distant parts of the world do you hail +that you've recklessly been also dubbed by the same name? But beware +lest we pound that frowzy flesh of yours into mincemeat." + +"Let's be off at once!" urged another maid, as she smiled. "Don't let +our Pao-yü see us here and say again that by hobnobbing with this +stinking young fellow, we've been contaminated by all his pollution." + +With these words on her lips, they straightway walked off. + +Pao-yü fell into a brown study. "There's never been," he mused, "any +one to treat me with such disdain before! But what is it, in fact, that +induces them to behave towards me in this manner? May it not be true +that there lives another human being the very image of myself?" + +While lost in reverie, he advanced with heedless step, until he reached +a courtyard. Pao-yü was struck with wonder. "Is there actually," he +cried, "besides the I Hung court another court like it?" Spontaneously +then ascending the steps, he entered an apartment, in which he +discerned some one reclining on a couch. On the off side sat several +girls, busy at needlework; now laughing joyfully; now practising their +jokes; when he overheard the young person on the couch heave a sigh. + +"Pao-yü," smilingly inquired a maid, "what, aren't you asleep? What are +you once more sighing for? I presume it's because your sister is ill +that you abandon yourself again to idle fears and immoderate anguish!" + +These words fell on Pao-yü's ears, and took him quite aback. + +"I've heard grandmother say," he overheard the young person on the +couch observe, "that there lives at Ch'ang An, the capital, another +Pao-yü endowed with the same disposition as myself. I never believed +what she told me; but I just had a dream, and in this dream I found +myself in a garden of the metropolis where I came across several +maidens; all of whom called me a 'stinking young brat,' and would have +nothing whatever to do with me. But after much difficulty, I succeeded +in penetrating into his room. He happened to be fast asleep. There he +lay like a mere bag of bones. His real faculties had flown somewhere or +other; whither it was hard for me to say." + +Hearing this, "I've come here," Pao-yü said with alacrity, "in search +of +Pao-yü; and are you, indeed, that Pao-yü?" + +The young man on the couch jumped down with all haste and enfolded him +in his arms. "Are you verily Pao-yü?" he laughingly asked. "This isn't +by any means such stuff as dreams are made of!" + +"How can you call this a dream?" Pao-yü rejoined. "It's reality, yea, +nothing but reality!" + +But scarcely was this rejoinder over, than he heard some one come, and +say: "our master, your father, wishes to see you, Pao-yü." + +The two lads started with fear. One Pao-yü rushed off with all +despatch. The other promptly began to shout, "Pao-yü! come back at +once! Pao-yü; be quick and return!" + +Hsi Jen, who stood by (Pao-yü), heard him call out his own name, in his +dreams, and immediately gave him a push and woke him up. "Where is +Pao-yü gone to?" she laughed. + +Although Pao-yü was by this time aroused from sleep, his senses were as +yet dull, so pointing towards the door, "He's just gone out," he +replied, "he's not far off." + +Hsi Jen laughed. "You're under the delusion of a dream," she said. "Rub +your eyes and look carefully! It's your reflection in the mirror." + +Pao-yü cast a glance in front of him, and actually caught sight of the +large inlaid mirror, facing him quite opposite, so he himself burst out +laughing. But, presently, a maid handed him a rince-bouche and tea and +salt, and he washed his mouth. + +"Little wonder is it," She Yüeh ventured, "if our old mistress has +repeatedly enjoined that it isn't good to have too many mirrors about +in young people's rooms, for as the spirit of young persons is not +fully developed there is every fear, with mirrors casting their +reflections all over the place, of their having wild dreams in their +sleep. And is a bed now placed before that huge mirror there? When the +covers of the mirrors are let down, no harm can befall; but as the +season advances, and the weather gets hot, one feels so languid and +tired, that is one likely to think of dropping them? Just as it +happened a little time back; it slipped entirely from your memory. Of +course, when he first got into bed, he must have played with his face +towards the glass; but upon shortly closing his eyes, he must naturally +have fallen into such confused dreams, that they thoroughly upset his +rest. Otherwise, how is it possible that he should have started +shouting his own name? Would it not be as well if the bed were moved +inside to-morrow? That's the proper place for it." + +Hardly had she, however, done, before they perceived a servant, sent by +Madame Wang to call Pao-yü. But what she wanted to tell him is not yet +known, so, reader, listen to the circumstances recorded in the +subsequent chapter. + +END OF BOOK II. + +[transcriber's note: The second volume of this translation ends thus, +and no more of it was ever published.] + +ERRATA + + +[original book lists no errata; these were found during Project +Gutenberg proofreading. The format is imitated from the list actually +appearing at the end of volume I. If a word is split across a line or +page then the line or page given is that on which the erroneous part of +the word appears. + +On several occasions the book uses nested double quotes. One person, +speaking, quotes another person, speaking. "This example," the +proofreader said, "is of when my friend told me, "Don't take any wooden +nickels." So I have always been careful." When these were found, the +inner quotes were changed to single quotes for increased clarity. Such +changes are not noted in the errata. A few other corrections to +punctuation are noted below, but most are not. + +The following are not misspellings: "dumfoundered" "parricide" "nobble" +"finicking". "shewing" was very moldy at the time this was written but +still not deceased. The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, was +used as the authority for spellings. I don't know about "per mensem" +Chapter XXXVI page 180, line 18. I don't know about "titify" Chapter XL +page 258, line 21. ] + + Chap. XXV Page 8 Line 29: doesn't _not_ does'nt + + XXVII " 37 " 10: peccadilloes _not_ peccadiloes + + XXVIII " 64 " 6: on _not_ ou + + XXVIII " 67 " 19: enumeration _not_ enuneration + + XXX " 95 " 29: them," _not_ them." + + XXX " 100 " 24: mustn't _not_ musn't + + XXXI " 109 " 32: needn't _not_ need'nt + + XXXII " 119 " 40: eh!" _not_ eh! + + XXXII " 120 " 30: "Who _not_ Who + + XXXII " 128 " 13: stitch _not_ stich + + XXXIII " 137 " 2: fidgetted _not_ figetted + + XXXIV " 147 " 28: promptly _not_ promply + + XXXIV " 155 " 32: questions?" _not_ questions? + + XXXIV " 157 " 7: contrariwise _not_ contrarivise + + XXXV " 163 " 4: eat," _not_ eat" + + XXXV " 163 " 13: successive _not_ succcessive + + XXXV " 163 " 35: forty _not_ fourty + + XXXV " 171 " 12: birthday _not_ brithday + + XXXVI " 180 " 2: tael. _not_ tael." + + XXXVI " 190 " 20: birthday _not_ brithday + + XXXVII " 194 " 18: comes _not_ come's + + XXXVII " 198 " 10: To-morrow _not_ To-morow + + XXXVII " 199 " 32: "Well," _not_ "Well", + + XXXVII " 199 " 33: done." _not_ done? + + XXXVII " 199 " 40: fairest _not_ fairiest + + XXXVII " 206 " 13: mustn't _not_ musn't + + XXXVII " 207 " 36: get _not_ ged + + XXXVII " 211 " 16: do?" _not_ do? + + XXXVIII " 219 " 6: stomachaches." _not_ + + stomachaches. + + XXXVIII " 228 " 13: while _not_ whily + + XXXIX " 232 " 5: with?" _not_ with?,' + + XXXIX " 237 " 9: conscious _not_ concious + + XXXIX " 242 " 1: temple." _not_ temple. + + XL " 245 " 38: little _not_ litte + + XL " 248 " 11: silk." _not_ silk?" + + XL " 254 " 12: They're _not_ The're + + XL " 255 " 8: autograph _not_ authograph + + XL " 257 " 16: mustn't _not_ musn't + + XL " 258 " 13: fogies _not_ foggies + + XL " 258 " 20: predilection _not_ predeliction + + XL " 258 " 35: curtains." _not_ curtains. + + XL " 258 " 39: enough." _not_ enough. + + XL " 263 " 8: peony _not_ peone + + XLI " 278 " 11: haven't _not_ have'nt + + XLII " 282 " 4: haven't _not_ have'nt + + XLII " 282 " 19: haven't _not_ have'nt + + XLII " 283 " 14: ensconce _not_ ensconse + + XLII " 284 " 26: medicine _not_ medecine + + XLII " 284 " 39: medicines _not_ medecines + + XLII " 285 " 27: medicines _not_ medecines + + XLII " 288 " 5: aren't _not_ are'nt + + XLII " 290 " 27: locust _not_ lucust + + XLII " 290 " 27: feed.'" _not_ feed.' + + XLIII " 309 " 31: grandiloquent _not_ grandeloquent + + XLIV " 314 " 12: shouldn't _not_ should'nt + + XLIV " 316 " 4: mustn't _not_ must'nt + + XLIV " 317 " 6: employed the _not_ employed on + + the + + XLIV " 322 " 3: differed _not_ differred + + XLIV " 322 " 31: swelled _not_ swole + + XLIV " 323 " 15: unhappiness _not_ uuhappiness + + XLV " 337 " 30: ginseng _not_ ginsing + + XLV " 338 " 22: medicines _not_ medecines + + XLV " 343 " 30: uselessly _not_ uselesly + + XLVI " 352 " 26: mightn't _not_ mighn't + + XLVII " 372 " 32: friendship _not_ frienship + + XLVII " 378 " 3: proffered _not_ proferred + + XLVIII " 380 " 21: worldly _not_ wordly + + XLVIII " 386 " 4: antithetical _not_ antetithical + + XLVIII " 386 " 23: Ling _not_ Ling, + + XLVIII " 386 " 23: smile _not_ smiled + + XLVIII " 386 " 35: stanzas _not_ stanaas + + XLVIII " 389 " 24: cockatoo _not_ cuckatoo + + XLVIII " 391 " 27: 'Tis _not_ T'is + + XLVIII " 391 " 31: 'Tis _not_ T'is + + XLIX " 393 " 34: would'st _not_ woulds't + + XLIX " 393 " 37: 'tis _not_ t'is + + XLIX " 401 " 1: simultaneously _not_ + + simultaneouly + + L " 411 " 25: 'tis _not_ t'is + + L " 413 " 17: 'tis _not_ t'is + + L " 415 " 35: But by and bye _not_ But and bye + + L " 417 " 17: 'tis _not_ t'is + + L " 417 " 17: 'tis _not_ 't'is + + [yes twice in the same line] + + L " 417 " 25: 'tis _not_ t'is + + L " 418 " 10: haven't _not_ have'nt + + L " 423 " 38: blossom _not_ blosson + + LI " 437 " 37: matter.'" _not_ matter." + + LII " 446 " 21: medicine _not_ medecine + + LII " 446 " 27: medicines _not_ medecines + + LII " 449 " 5: medicines _not_ medecines + + LII " 460 " 3: anniversary _not_ anniversay + + LIII " 462 " 13: perspiring _not_ prespiring + + LIII " 464 " 7: peonies _not_ peones + + LIII " 468 " 23: haven't _not_ have'nt + + LIII " 471 " 39: Apparent _not_ Apparrent + + LIII " 476 " 9: homage _not_ hommage + + LIII " 476 " 14: consonant _not_ consonnant + + LIV " 487 " 5: trod _not_ trode + + LIV " 487 " 12: "This _not_ This + + LIV " 488 " 36: Isn't _not_ Is'nt + + LIV " 490 " 15: me?" _not_ me? + + LIV " 490 " 19: say, _not_ say," + + LIV " 491 " 23: comfortable _not_ confortable + + LIV " 495 " 12: exhilarated _not_ exhilerated + + LIV " 495 " 19: smilingly _not_ similingly + + LV " 503 " 10: and _not_ aud + + LV " 507 " 32: Mrs. _not_ "Mrs. + + LV " 507 " 33: making _not_ make + + LVI " 525 " 27: Aren't _not_ Are'nt + + LVI " 529 " 18: mustn't _not_ musn't + + LVI " 535 " 20: notwithstanding _not_ + + nothwithstanding + + LVI " 536 " 36: aren't _not_ are'nt + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hung Lou Meng, Book II, by Cao Xueqin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HUNG LOU MENG, BOOK II *** + +***** This file should be named 9604-0.txt or 9604-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/6/0/9604/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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