Hong lou meng. English

by Xueqin Cao

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  Pai Yue-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-yue's sneer, butin her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much asturn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

  During this time, Lin Tai-yue halted under the shadow of the trees. Uponcasting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yuean, she observedLi Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmateswending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; butafter they had gone past, and company after company of them haddispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come. "How is it," shecogitated within herself, "that she doesn't come to see Pao-yue? Evensupposing that there was some business to detain her, she should alsohave put in an appearance, so as to curry favour with our venerablesenior and Madame Wang. But if she hasn't shown herself at this hour ofthe day, there must certainly be some cause or other."

  While preoccupied with conjectures, she raised her head. At a secondglance, she discerned a crowd of people, as thick as flowers in abouquet, pursuing their way also into the I Hung court. On lookingfixedly, 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-yue unwittingly nodded her head, and reflectedon the benefit of having a father and mother; and tears forthwith againbedewed her face. In a while, she beheld Pao-ch'ai, Mrs. Hsueeh and therest likewise go in.

  But at quite an unexpected moment she became aware that Tzu Chuean wasapproaching her from behind. "Miss," she said, "you had better go andtake your medicine! The hot water too has got cold."

  "What do you, after all, mean by keeping on pressing me so?" inquiredTai-yue. "Whether I have it or not, what's that to you?"

  "Your cough," smiled Tzu Chuean, "has recently got a trifle better, andwon'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 ofyourself a bit! Here you've been at this early hour of the morningstanding for ever so long in this damp place; so you should go back andhave some rest!"

  This single hint recalled Tai-yue to her senses. She at length realisedthat her legs felt rather tired. After lingering about abstractedly fora long while, she quietly returned into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge,supporting herself on Tzu Chuean. As soon as they stepped inside theentrance of the court, her gaze was attracted by the confused shadows ofthe bamboos, which covered the ground, and the traces of moss, herethick, there thin, and she could not help recalling to mind those twolines 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 shesighed, "had of course a poor fate; but she nevertheless had a widowedmother and a young brother; but in the unhappy destiny, to which I,Tai-yue, am at present doomed, I have neither a widowed mother nor ayoung brother."

  At this point in her reflections, she was about to melt into another fitof crying, when of a sudden, the parrot under the verandah caught sightof Tai-yue approaching, and, with a shriek, he jumped down from hisperch, and made her start with fright.

  "Are you bent upon compassing your own death!" she exclaimed. "You'vecovered my head all over with dust again!"

  The parrot flew back to his perch. "Hsueeh Yen," he kept on shouting,"quick, raise the portiere! Miss is come!"

  Tai-yue stopped short and rapped on the frame with her hand. "Have hisfood and water been replenished?" she asked.

  The parrot forthwith heaved a deep sigh, closely resembling, in sound,the groans usually indulged in by Tai-yue, 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-yue and Tzu Chuean, theyblurted out laughing.

  "This is what you were repeating some time back, Miss." Tzu Chueanlaughed, "How did he ever manage to commit it to memory?"

  Tai-yue then directed some one to take down the frame and suspend itinstead on a hook, outside the circular window, and presently enteringher room, she seated herself inside the circular window. She had justdone drinking her medicine, when she perceived that the shade cast bythe cluster of bamboos, planted outside the window, was reflected so faron the gauze lattice as to fill the room with a faint light, so greenand mellow, and to impart a certain coolness to the teapoys and mats.But Tai-yue had no means at hand to dispel her ennui, so from inside thegauze lattice, she instigated the parrot to perform his pranks; andselecting some verses, which had ever found favour with her, she triedto teach them to him.

  But without descending to particulars, let us now advert to HsueehPao-ch'ai. On her return home, she found her mother alone combing herhair and having a wash. "Why do you run over at this early hour of themorning?" 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 moretrouble or not?"

  As she spoke, she sat by her mother's side, but unable to curb hertears, she began to weep.

  Seeing her sobbing, Mrs. Hsueeh herself could not check her feelings, andshe, too, burst out into a fit of crying. "My child," she simultaneouslyexhorted her, "don't feel aggrieved! Wait, and I'll call that child ofwrath to order; for were anything to happen to you, from whom will Ihave anything to hope?"

  Hsueeh P'an was outside and happened to overhear their conversation, sowith alacrity he ran over, and facing Pao-ch'ai he made a bow, now tothe 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; Icame back late, as I met a few friends on the way. On my return home, Ihadn't as yet got over the fumes, so I unintentionally talked a lot ofnonsense. But I don't so much as remember anything about all I said. Itisn'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 momentthis language fell on her ear, she could scarcely again refrain fromlaughing. Forthwith raising her head, she sputtered contemptuously onthe 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 todevise some way of inducing us to part company with you, so that you maybe at liberty."

  Hsueeh 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 andgiven to uttering anything so perverse!"

  Mrs. Hsueeh hurriedly took up the thread of the conversation. "All youknow," she interposed, "is to find fault with your sister's remarks asbeing perverse; but can it be that what you said last night was theproper thing to say? In very truth, you were drunk!"

  "There's no need for you to get angry, mother!" Hsueeh P'an rejoined,"nor for you sister either; for from this day, I shan't any more makecommon cause with them nor drink wine or gad about. What do you say tothat?"

  "That's equal to an acknowledgment of your failings," Pao-ch'ai laughed.

  "Could you exercise such strength of will," added Mrs. Hsueeh, "why, thedragon too would lay eggs."

  "If I again go and gad about with them," Hsueeh P'an replied, "and you,sister, come to hear of it, you can freely spit in my face and call me abeast and no human being. Do you agree to that? But why should you twobe daily worried; and all through me alone? For you, mother, to be angryon 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! Ifnow that father is no more, I manage, instead of showing you plenty offilial piety, mamma, and you, sister, plenty of love, to provoke mymother to anger, and annoy my sister, why I can't compare myself to evena f
our-footed creature!"

  While from his mouth issued these words, tears rolled down from hiseyes; for he too found it hard to contain them.

  Mrs. Hsueeh had not at first been overcome by her feelings; but themoment his utterances reached her ear, she once more began to experiencethe 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 motherto have another cry?"

  Hearing this, Hsueeh P'an promptly checked his tears. As he put on asmiling expression, "When did I," he asked, "make mother cry? But nevermind; enough of this! let's drop the matter, and not allude to it anymore! 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 hasfinished washing her hands and then go with her into the garden."

  "Let me see your necklet, sister," Hsueeh P'an continued. "I think itrequires cleaning."

  "It is so yellow and bright," rejoined Pao-ch'ai, "and what's the use ofcleaning it again?"

  "Sister," proceeded Hsueeh P'an, "you must now add a few more clothes toyour 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. Hsueeh effected the change in her costume,and hand in hand with Pao-ch'ai, she started on her way to the garden.

  Hsueeh P'an thereupon took his departure. During this while, Mrs. Hsueehand Pao-ch'ai trudged in the direction of the garden to look up Pao-yue.As soon as they reached the interior of the I Hung court, they saw alarge concourse of waiting-maids and matrons standing inside as well asoutside the antechambers and they readily concluded that old lady Chiaand the other ladies were assembled in his rooms. Mrs. Hsueeh and herdaughter stepped in. After exchanging salutations with every onepresent, they noticed that Pao-yue was reclining on the couch and Mrs.Hsueeh inquired of him whether he felt any better.

  Pao-yue 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. Hsueeh lost no time in supporting and laying him down. "Mind youtell me whatever may take your fancy!" she proceeded.

  "If I do fancy anything," retorted Pao-yue smilingly, "I shall certainlysend to you, aunt, for it."

  "What would you like to eat," likewise inquired Madame Wang, "so that Imay, on my return, send it round to you?"

  "There's nothing that I care for," smiled Pao-yue, "though the soup madefor me the other day, with young lotus leaves, and small lotus coreswas, I thought, somewhat nice."

  "From what I hear, its flavour is nothing very grand," lady Feng chimedin laughingly, from where she stood on one side. "It involves, however,a good deal of trouble to concoct; and here you deliberately go andfancy 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 botheryourself about it! Let me try and remember who can have put the mouldsaway!" Then turning her head round, "Go and bid," she enjoined an oldmatron, "the chief in the cook-house go and apply for them!"

  After a considerable lapse of time, the matron returned. "The chief inthe cook-house," she explained, "says that the four sets of moulds forsoups have all been handed up."

  Upon hearing this, lady Feng thought again for a while. "Yes, Iremember," she afterwards remarked, "they were handed up, but I can'trecollect to whom they were given. Possibly they're in the tea-room."

  Thereupon, she also despatched a servant to go and inquire of the keeperof the tea-room about them; but he too had not got them; and it wassubsequently the butler, entrusted with the care of the gold and silverarticles, who brought them round.

  Mrs. Hsueeh 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 ofsilver 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. Someresembled chrysanthemums, others plum blossom. Some were in the shape oflotus seed-cases, others like water chestnuts. They numbered in allthirty or forty kinds, and were ingeniously executed.

  "In your mansion," she felt impelled to observe smilingly to old ladyChia and Madame Wang, "everything has been amply provided for! Have yougot all these things to prepare a plate of soup with! Hadn't you toldme, and I happened to see them, I wouldn't have been able to make outwhat they were intended for!"

  Lady Feng did not allow time to any one to put in her word. "Aunt," shesaid, "how could you ever have divined that these were used last yearfor 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 alittle of the pure fragrance of the new lotus leaves. But as all mainlydepends upon the quality of the soup, they're not, after all, of muchuse! Yet who often goes in for such soup! It was made once only, andthat at the time when the moulds were brought; and how is it that he hascome to think of it to-day?" So speaking, she took (the moulds), andhanded them to a married woman, to go and issue directions to the peoplein the cook-house to procure at once several fowls, and to add otheringredients 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 kindisn't, at ordinary times, very often made, and were, now that brotherPao-yue has alluded to it, only sufficient prepared for him, and none foryou, dear senior, you, aunt, and you, Madame Wang, it won't be quite thething! So isn't it better that this opportunity should be availed of toget ready a whole supply so that every one should partake of some, andthat even I should, through my reliance on your kind favour, taste thisnovel kind of relish."

  "You are sharper than a monkey!" Dowager lady Chia laughingly exclaimedin reply to her proposal. "You make use of public money to confer boonsupon people."

  This remark evoked general laughter.

  "This is a mere bagatelle!" eagerly laughed lady Feng. "Even I canafford 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 pleasemake 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'vecarefully noticed that sister-in-law Secunda, cannot, with all heracumen, outwit our venerable ancestor."

  "My dear child!" forthwith replied old lady Chia at these words. "I'mnow 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 morewits about me than she has! Albeit she now avers that she can't reachour 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 sharptongue, so is it a wonder if people take to her."

  "From what you say," insinuated Pao-yue with a smile, "those who don'ttalk much are not loved."

  "Those who don't speak much," resumed dowager lady Chia, "possess theendearing quality of reserve. But among those, with glib tongues,there's also a certain despicable lot; thus it's better, in a word, notto have too much to say for one's self."

  "Quite so," smiled Pao-yue, "yet though senior sister-in-law Chia Chudoesn't, I must confess, talk much, you, venerable ancestor, treat herjust as you do cousin Feng. But if you maintain that those alone, whocan talk, are worthy of love, then among all these young ladies, sisterFeng and cousin Lin are the only ones good enough to be loved."

  "With regard to the young ladies," remarked dowager lady Chia, "it isn'tthat I have any wish to flatter your aunt Hsueeh in her pre
sence, but itis a positive and incontestable fact that there isn't, beginning fromthe four girls in our household, a single one able to hold a candle tothat girl Pao-ch'ai."

  At these words, Mrs. Hsueeh promptly smiled. "Dear venerable senior!" shesaid, "you're rather partial in your verdict."

  "Our dear senior," vehemently put in Madame Wang, also smiling, "hasoften told me in private how nice your daughter Pao-ch'ai is; so this isno lie."

  Pao-yue had tried to lead old lady Chia on, originally with the idea ofinducing her to speak highly of Lin Tai-yue, but when unawares she beganto eulogise Pao-ch'ai instead the result exceeded all his thoughts andwent far beyond his expectations. Forthwith he cast a glance atPao-chai, and gave her a smile, but Pao-chai at once twisted her headround and went and chatted with Hsi Jen. But of a sudden, some one cameto ask them to go and have their meal. Dowager lady Chia rose to herfeet, and enjoined Pao-yue to be careful of himself. She then gave a fewdirections to the waiting-maids, and resting her weight on lady Feng'sarm, and pressing Mrs. Hsueeh to go out first, she, and all with her,left the apartment in a body. But still she kept on inquiring whetherthe soup was ready or not. "If there's anything you might fancy to eat,"she also said to Mrs. Hsueeh 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 asme."

  "My venerable senior!" rejoined Mrs. Hsueeh, "you do have the happy knackof putting her on her mettle; but though she has often got things readyfor you, you've, after all, not eaten very much of them."

  "Aunt," smiled lady Feng, "don't make such statements! If our worthysenior hasn't eaten me up it's purely and simply because she dislikeshuman 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 ladyChia and all the inmates that they broke out with one voice in aboisterous fit of laughter. Even Pao-yue, who was inside the room, couldnot keep quiet.

  "Really," Hsi Jen laughed, "the mouth of our mistress Secunda is enoughto terrify people to death!"

  Pao-yue put out his arm and pulled Hsi Jen. "You've been standing for solong," 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. "Availyourself now that Miss Pao-ch'ai is in the court to tell her to kindlybid their Ying Erh come and plait a few girdles with twisted cords."

  "How lucky it is you've reminded me?" Pao-yue observed with a smile. Andputting, 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. Iwould like to ask her to plait a few girdles for me. Has she got thetime to spare?"

  Pao-ch'ai heard him speak; and turning round: "How about no time?" sheanswered. "I'll tell her by and bye to come; it will be all right."

  Dowager lady Chia and the others, however, failed to catch distinctlythe drift of their talk; and they halted and made inquiries of Pao-ch'aiwhat it was about. Pao-ch'ai gave them the necessary explanations.

  "My dear child," remarked old lady Chia, "do let her come and twist afew girdles for your cousin! And should you be in need of any one foranything, I have over at my place a whole number of servant-girls doingnothing! Out of them, you are at liberty to send for any you like towait on you!"

  "We'll send her to plait them!" Mrs. Hsueeh and Pao-ch'ai observedsmilingly with one consent. "What can we want her for? she also dailyidles her time way and is up to every mischief!"

  But chatting the while, they were about to proceed on their way whenthey unexpectedly caught sight of Hsiang-yuen, P'ing Erh, Hsiang Lin andother girls picking balsam flowers near the rocks; who, as soon as theysaw the company approaching, advanced to welcome them.

  Shortly, they all sallied out of the garden. Madame Wang was worryinglest dowager lady Chia's strength might be exhausted, and she did herutmost to induce her to enter the drawing room and sit down. Old ladyChia herself was feeling her legs quite tired out, so she at once noddedher head and expressed her assent. Madame Wang then directed awaiting-maid to hurriedly precede them, and get ready the seats. But asMrs. Chao had, about this time, pleaded indisposition, there was onlytherefore Mrs. Chou, with the matrons and servant-girls at hand, so theyhad ample to do to raise the portieres, to put the back-cushions intheir places, and to spread out the rugs.

  Dowager lady Chia stepped into the room, leaning on lady Feng's arm. Sheand Mrs. Hsueeh took their places, with due regard to the distinctionbetween hostess and visitors; and Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and Shih Hsiang-yuenseated themselves below. Madame Wang then came forward, and presentedwith her own hands tea to old lady Chia, while Li Kung-ts'ai handed acup to Mrs. Hsueeh.

  "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 ableto have a chat."

  Madame Wang at length sat on a small bench. "Let our worthy senior'sviands," 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 overto their old mistress' quarters and to bid the matrons, employed in thatpart of the household, promptly go out and summon the waiting-girls. Thevarious waiting-maids arrived with all despatch. Madame Wang directedthem to ask their young ladies round. But after a protracted absence onthe 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, orable to put anything in her mouth, and Lin Tai-yue, superfluous to add,could only safely partake of five out of ten meals, so no one thoughtanything 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. Hsueeh," she smiled, standing the whilebelow, "there's no need of any yielding! Just you listen to me and I'llmake things all right."

  "Let's do as she wills!" old lady Chia remarked to Mrs. Hsueehlaughingly.

  Mrs. Hsueeh signified her approval with a smile; so lady Feng placed, indue course, four pairs of chopsticks on the table; the two pairs on theupper end for dowager lady Chia and Mrs. Hsueeh; those on the two sidesfor Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and Shih Hsiang-yuen. Madame Wang, Li Kung-ts'ai anda few others, stood together below and watched the attendants serve theviands. Lady Feng first and foremost hastily asked for clean utensils,and drew near the table to select some eatables for Pao-yue. Presently,the soup _a la_ lotus leaves arrived. After old lady Chia had wellscrutinised it, Madame Wang turned her head, and catching sight of YueCh'uan-erh, she immediately commissioned her to take some over toPao-yue.

  "She can't carry it single-handed," demurred lady Feng.

  But by a strange coincidence, Ying Erh then walked into the room alongwith Hsi Erh, and Pao-ch'ai knowing very well that they had already hadtheir meal forthwith said to Ying Erh: "Your Master Secundus, Mr.Pao-yue, 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 withYue 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 Yue Ch'uan smiling. "I know how to doit."

  Saying this, she directed a matron to come and place the soup, rice andthe rest of the eatables in a present box; and bidding her lay hold ofit 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 YueCh'uan-erh at length took the things herself, and entered the room incompany with Ying Erh. The trio, Hsi Jen, She Yueeh and Ch'iu Wen were atthe time chatting and laughing with Pao-yue; but the moment they sawtheir two friends arrive they speedily jumped to their feet. "How isit," they exclaimed laughingly, "that you two drop in just the nick oftime? Have you come together?"

  W
ith these words on their lips, they descended to greet them. Yue Ch'uantook at once a seat on a small stool. Ying Erh, however, did not presumeto seat herself; and though Hsi Jen was quick enough in moving afoot-stool for her, Ying Erh did not still venture to sit down.

  Ying Erh's arrival filled Pao-yue with intense delight. But as soon as henoticed Yue 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 toYue Ch'uan-erh.

  Hsi Jen saw very well that Ying Erh failed to attract his attention andshe began to fear lest she felt uncomfortable; and when she furtherrealised that Ying Erh herself would not take a seat, she drew her outof the room and repaired with her into the outer apartment, where theyhad a chat over their tea.

  She Yueeh and her companions had, in the meantime, got the bowls andchopsticks ready and came to wait upon (Pao-yue) during his meal. ButPao-yue would not have anything to eat. "Is your mother all right," heforthwith inquired of Yue Ch'uan-erh.

  An angry scowl crept over Yue Ch'uan-erh's face. She did not even lookstraight at Pao-yue. And only after a long pause was it that she at lastuttered merely the words, "all right," by way of reply. Pao-yue,therefore, found talking to her of little zest. But after a protractedsilence he felt impelled to again force a smile, and to ask: "Who toldyou to bring these things over to me?"

  "The ladies," answered Yue Chuan-erh.

  Pao-yue discerned the mournful expression, which still beclouded hercountenance and he readily jumped at the conclusion that it must beentirely occasioned by the fate which had befallen Chin Ch'uan-erh, butwhen fain to put on a meek and unassuming manner, and endeavour to cheerher, he saw how little he could demean himself in the presence of somany people, and consequently he did his best and discovered the meansof getting every one out of the way. Afterwards, straining anothersmile, he plied her with all sorts of questions.

  Yue Ch'uan-erh, it is true, did not at first choose to heed his advances,yet when she observed that Pao-yue did not put on any airs, and, that inspite of all her querulous reproaches, he still continued pleasant andagreeable, she felt disconcerted and her features at last assumed acertain expression of cheerfulness. Pao-yue thereupon smiled. "My deargirl," he said, as he gave way to entreaties, "bring that soup and letme taste it!"

  "I've never been in the habit of feeding people," Yue 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-yue. "It's because I can'tmove about that I appeal to you. Do let me have it! You'll then get backearly and be able, when you've handed over the things, to have yourmeal. But were I to go on wasting your time, won't you feel upset fromhunger? Should you be lazy to budge, well then, I'll endure the pain andget down and fetch it myself."

  As he spoke, he tried to alight from bed. He strained every nerve, andraised himself, but unable to stand the exertion, he burst out intogroans. At the sight of his anguish, Yue Ch'uan-erh had not the heart torefuse her help. Springing up, "Lie down!" she cried. "In what formerexistence did you commit such evil that your retribution in the presentone is so apparent? Which of my eyes however can brook looking at yougoing on in that way?"

  While taunting him, she again blurted out laughing, and brought the soupover to him.

  "My dear girl;" smiled Pao-yue, "if you want to show temper, better do sohere! When you see our venerable senior and madame, my mother, youshould be a little more even-tempered, for if you still behave likethis, you'll at once get a scolding!"

  "Eat away, eat away!" urged Yue Ch'uan-erh. "There's no need for you tobe so sweet-mouthed and honey-tongued with me. I don't put any faith insuch talk!"

  So speaking, she pressed Pao-yue until he had two mouthfuls of soup. "Itisn't nice, it isn't nice!" Pao-yue purposely exclaimed.

  "Omi-to-fu!" ejaculated Yue Ch'uan-erh. "If this isn't nice, what'snice?"

  "There's no flavour about it at all," resumed Pao-yue. "If you don'tbelieve me taste it, and you'll find out for yourself."

  Yue Ch'uan-erh in a tantrum actually put some of it to her lips.

  "Well," laughed Pao-yue, "it is nice!"

  This exclamation eventually enabled Yue Ch'uan to see what Pao-yue wasdriving at, for Pao-yue had in fact been trying to beguile her to have amouthful.

  "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-yue returned her smiles, he kept on earnestly entreating her tolet him have some.

  Yue Ch'uan-erh however would still not give him any; and she, at the sametime, called to the servants to fetch what there was for him to eat. Butthe instant the waiting-maid put her foot into the room, servants camequite 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-yue heard this report, he felt sure that theymust be nurses sent over from the household of Deputy Sub-Prefect, FuShih.

  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 forthe realisation of his wishes. Chia Cheng had, likewise, treated himwith 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 andsee him so as to keep up friendly relations.

  Pao-yue had at all times entertained an aversion for bold-faced men andunsophisticated women, so why did he once more, on this occasion, issuedirections that the two matrons should be introduced into his presence?There was, in fact, a reason for his action. It was simply that Pao-yuehad come to learn that Fu Shih had a sister, Ch'iu-fang by name, a girlas comely as a magnificent gem, and perfection itself, the report ofoutside people went, as much in intellect as in beauty. He had, it istrue, not yet seen anything of her with his own eyes, but thesentiments, which made him think of her and cherish her, from adistance, were characterised by such extreme sincerity, that dreadinglest he should, by refusing to admit the matrons, reflect discredit uponFu Ch'iu-fang, he was prompted to lose no time in expressing a wish thatthey should be ushered in.

  This Fu Shih had really risen from the vulgar herd, so seeing thatCh'iu-fang possessed several traits of beauty and exceptionalintellectual talents, Fu Shih arrived at the resolution of making hissister the means of joining relationship with the influential family ofsome honourable clan. And so unwilling was he to promise her lightly toany suitor that things were delayed up to this time. Therefore FuCh'iu-fang, though at present past her twentieth birthday, was not asyet engaged. But the various well-to-do families, belonging tohonourable clans, looked down, on the other hand, on her poor and meanextraction, holding her in such light esteem, as not to relish the ideaof making any offer for her hand. So if Fu Shih cultivated intimateterms with the Chia household, he, needless to add, did so with aninterested motive.

  The two matrons, deputed on the present errand, completely lacked, as ithappened, all knowledge of the world, and the moment they heard thatPao-yue wished to see them, they wended their steps inside. But no soonerhad they inquired how he was, and passed a few remarks than YueCh'uan-erh, becoming conscious of the arrival of strangers, did notbandy words with Pao-yue, but stood with the plate of soup in her hands,engrossed in listening to the conversation. Pao-yue, again, was absorbedin speaking to the matrons; and, while eating some rice, he stretchedout his arm to get at the soup; but both his and her (Yue Ch'uan-erh's)eyes were rivetted on the women, and as he thoughtlessly jerked out hishand with some violence, he struck the bowl and turned it clean over.The soup fell over Pao-yue's hand. But it did not hurt Yue Ch'uan-erh. Shesustained, however, such a fright that she gave a start.

  "How did this happen!" she smilingly shouted with vehemence to theintense consternation of the waiting-maids, who rushed up and claspedthe bowl. But notwithstanding that Pao-yue had scald
ed his own hand, hewas quite unconscious of the accident; so much so, that he assailed YueCh'uan-erh with a heap of questions, as to where she had been burnt, andwhether it was sore or not.

  Yue Ch'uan-erh and every one present were highly amused.

  "You yourself," observed Yue Ch'uan-erh, "have been scalded, and do youkeep on asking about myself?"

  At these words, Pao-yue became at last aware of the injury he hadreceived. The servants rushed with all promptitude and cleared the mess.But Pao-yue 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 thetwo matrons. But subsequently, the two women said good-bye and quittedthe 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 whileproceeding on their way, they started a conversation.

  "It isn't strange," smiled the one, "if people say that this Pao-yue oftheirs is handsome in appearance, but stupid as far as brains go. Niceenough a thing to look at but not to put to one's lips; rather idioticin fact; for he burns his own hand, and then he asks some one elsewhether 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 thatmany inmates of his family feel ill-will against him. In real truth heis 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 ofthe 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, hecries to himself, then laughs to himself. When he sees a swallow, heinstantly talks to it; when he espies a fish, in the river, he forthwithspeaks to it. At the sight of stars or the moon, if he doesn't groan andsigh, he mutters and mutters. Indeed, he hasn't the least bit ofcharacter; so much so, that he even puts up with the temper shown bythose low-bred maids. If he takes a fancy to a thing, it's nice enougheven 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, hedoesn't worry his mind in the least about it."

  While they talked, they reached the exterior of the garden, and theybetook 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 theroom, she took Ying Erh by the hand and led her in, and they askedPao-yue what kind of girdle he wanted made.

  "I was just now so bent upon talking," Pao-yue smiled to Ying Erh, "thatI forgot all about you. I put you to the trouble of coming, not foranything else, but that you should also make me a few nets."

  "Nets! To put what in?" Ying Erh inquired.

  Pao-yue, at this question, put on a smile. "Don't concern yourself aboutwhat 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!" shecried, "If you want all that lot, why, they couldn't be finished in tenyears time."

  "My dear girl," smiled Pao-yue, "work at them for me then whenever youare at leisure, and have nothing better to do."

  "How could you get through them all in a little time?" Hsi Jeninterposed smilingly. "First choose now therefore such as are mosturgently needed and make a couple of them."

  "What about urgently needed?" Ying-Erh exclaimed, "They are merely usedfor fans, scented pendants and handkerchiefs."

  "Nets for handkerchiefs will do all right." Pao-yue answered.

  "What's the colour of your handkerchief?" inquired Ying Erh.

  "It's a deep red one." Pao-yue rejoined.

  "For a deep red one," continued Ying Erh, "a black net will do verynicely, or one of dark green. Both these agree with the colour."

  "What goes well with brown?" Pao-yue asked.

  "Peach-red goes well with brown." Ying Erh added.

  "That will make them look gaudy!" Pao-yue observed. "Yet with all theirplainness, they should be somewhat gaudy."

  "Leek-green and willow-yellow are what are most to my taste," Ying Erhpursued.

  "Yes, they'll also do!" Pao-yue retorted. "But make one of peach-red tooand then one of leek-green."

  "Of what design?" Ying Erh remarked.

  "How many kinds of designs are there?" Pao-yue said.

  "There are 'the stick of incense,' 'stools upset towards heaven,' 'partof elephant's eyes,' 'squares,' 'chains,' 'plum blossom,' and 'willowleaves." Ying Erh answered.

  "What was the kind of design you made for Miss Tertia the other day?"Pao-yue inquired.

  "It was the 'plum blossom with piled cores,'" Ying Erh explained inreply.

  "Yes, that's nice." Pao-yue rejoined.

  As he uttered this remark, Hsi Jen arrived with the cords. But no soonerwere they brought than a matron cried, from outside the window: "Girls,your viands are ready!"

  "Go and have your meal," urged Pao-yue, "and come back quick after you'vehad 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 atonce and then return."

  Hearing this, Hsi Jen and her companions went off, leaving behind onlytwo youthful servant-girls to answer the calls.

  Pao-yue watched Ying Erh make the nets. But, while keeping his eyesintent 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-yue added.

  "It was Huang;" answered Ying Erh.

  "That's just the thing," Pao-yue 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 wasdifficult to pronounce, and only called me Ying Erh; so now I've come tobe known under that name."

  "One can very well say that cousin Pao-ch'ai is fond of you!" Pao-yuepursued. "By and bye, when she gets married, she's sure to take youalong with her."

  Ying Erh puckered up her lips, and gave a significant smile.

  "I've often told Hsi Jen," Pao-yue smiled, "that I can't help wonderingwho'll shortly be the lucky ones to win your mistress and yourself."

  "You aren't aware," laughed Ying Erh, "that our young mistress possessesseveral qualities not to be found in a single person in this world; herface is a second consideration."

  Pao-yue noticed how captivating Ying Erh's tone of voice was, howcomplaisant she was, and how simpleton-like unaffected in her languageand smiles, and he soon felt the warmest affection for her; andparticularly so, when she started the conversation about Pao-ch'ai."Where do her qualities lie?" he readily inquired. "My dear girl, pleasetell me!"

  "If I tell you," said Ying Erh, "you must, on no account, let her knowanything about it again."

  "This goes without saying," smiled Pao-yue.

  But this answer was still on his lips, when they overheard some oneoutside 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-yue hastily offered her a seat. Pao-ch'ai seated herself, and thenwanted to know what Ying Erh was busy plaiting. Inquiring the while, sheapproached her and scrutinised what she held in her hands, half of whichhad by this time been done. "What's the fun of a thing like this?" shesaid. "Wouldn't it be preferable to plait a net, and put the jade init?"

  This allusion suggested the idea to Pao-yue. Speedily clapping his hands,he smiled and exclaimed: "Your idea is splendid, cousin. I'd forgottenall 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 redwill, on one hand, clash with the colour; while yellow is not pleasingto the eye; and black, on the other hand, is too som
bre. But wait, I'lltry and devise something. Bring that gold cord and use it with the blackbeaded cord; and if you twist one of each together, and make a net withthem, it will look very pretty!"

  Upon hearing this, Pao-yue was immeasurably delighted, and time aftertime he shouted to the servants to fetch the gold cord. But just at thatmoment Hsi Jen stepped in, with two bowls of eatables. "How very strangethis is to-day!" she said to Pao-yue. "Why, a few minutes back, mymistress, your mother, sent some one to bring me two bowls of viands."

  "The supply," replied Pao-yue smiling, "must have been so plentifulto-day, that they've sent some to every one of you."

  "It isn't that," continued Hsi Jen, "for they were distinctly given tome by name. What's more, I wasn't bidden go and knock my head; so thisis indeed remarkable!"

  "If they're given to you," Pao-yue smiled, "why, you had better go andeat them. What's there in this to fill you with conjectures?"

  "There's never been anything like this before," Hsi Jen added, "so, itmakes me feel uneasy."

  Pao-ch'ai compressed her lips. "If this," she laughed; "makes you felluneasy, there will be by and bye other things to make you far moreuneasy."

  Hsi Jen realised that she implied something by her insinuations, as sheknew from past experience that Pao-ch'ai was not one given to lightlyand contemptuously poking fun at people; and, remembering the notionsentertained by Madame Wang on the last occasion she had seen her, shedropped at once any further allusions to the subject and brought theeatables up to Pao-yue for his inspection. "I shall come and hold thecords," she observed, "as soon as I've rinsed my hands."

  This said, she immediately quitted the apartment. After her meal, shewashed her hands and came inside to hold the gold cords for Ying Erh toplait the net with.

  By this time, Pao-ch'ai had been called away by a servant, despatched byHsueeh P'an. But while Pao-yue was watching the net that was being made hecaught sight, at a moment least expected, of two servant-girls, who camefrom the part of Madame Hsing of the other mansion, to bring him a fewkinds of fruits, and to inquire whether he was able to walk. "If you cango about," they told him, "(our mistress) desires you, Mr. Pao-yue, tocross over to-morrow and have a little distraction. Her ladyship reallylongs to see you."

  "Were I able to walk," Pao-yue answered with alacrity, "I would feel itmy duty to go and pay my respects to your mistress! Anyhow, the pain isbetter 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 Linas a present."

  Ch'iu Wen signified her obedience, and was about to start on her errand,when she heard Tai-yue talking in the court, and Pao-yue eagerly shoutout: "Request her to walk in at once!"

  But should there be any further particulars, which you, reader, mightfeel disposed to know, peruse the details given in the followingchapter.