Hong lou meng. English

by Xueqin Cao

  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 youngladies into the garden, they had their meal. This over, they partedcompany, and nothing more need be said about them. We will notice,however, that old goody Liu took Pan Erh along with her, and came firstand paid a visit to lady Feng. "We must certainly start for hometo-morrow, as soon as it is daylight," she said. "I've stayed here, it'strue, only two or three days, but in these few days I have reapedexperience in everything that I had not seen from old till now. It wouldbe difficult to find any one as compassionate of the poor andconsiderate to the old as your venerable dame, your Madame Wang, youryoung ladies, and the girls too attached to the various rooms, have allshown themselves in their treatment of me! When I get home now, I shallhave no other means of showing how grateful I am to you than bypurchasing a lot of huge joss-sticks and saying daily prayers to Buddhaon your behalf; and if he spares you all to enjoy a long life of ahundred years my wishes will be accomplished."

  "Don't be so exultant!" lady Feng smilingly replied. "It's all onaccount of you that our old ancestor has fallen ill, by exposing herselfto draughts and that she suffers from disturbed sleep; also that our TaChieh-erh has caught a chill and is laid up at home with fever."

  Goody Liu, at these words, speedily heaved a sigh. "Her venerableladyship," she said, "is a person advanced in years and not accustomedto any intense fatigue!"

  "She has never before been in such high spirits as yesterday!" lady Fengobserved. "As you were here, so anxious was she to let you seeeverything, that she trudged over the greater part of the garden. And TaChieh-erh was given a piece of cake by Madame Wang, when I came to huntyou up, and she ate it, who knows in what windy place, and began at onceto get feverish."

  "Ta Chieh-erh," goody Liu remarked, "hasn't, I fancy, often put her footinto the garden; and young people like her mustn't really go intostrange places, for she's not like our children, who are able to usetheir legs! In what graveyards don't they ramble about! A puff of windmay, on the one hand, have struck her, it's not at all unlikely; orbeing, on the other, so chaste in body, and her eyes also so pure shemay, it is to be feared, have come across some spirit or other. I can'thelp thinking therefore that you should consult some book of exorcismson her behalf; for mind she may have run up against some evilinfluence."

  This remark suggested the idea to lady Feng. There and then she calledP'ing Erh to fetch the 'Jade Box Record.' When brought, she desiredTs'ai Ming to look over it for her. Ts'ai Ming turned over the pages fora time, and then read: 'Those who fall ill on the 25th day of the 8thmoon have come across, in a due westerly quarter, of some flower spirit;they feel heavy, with no inclination for drink or food. Take sevensheets of white paper money, and, advancing forty steps due west, burnthem and exorcise the spirit; recovery will follow at once!'"

  "There's really no mistake about that!" lady Feng smiled. "Are there notflower spirits in the garden? But what I dread is that our old ladymayn't have come across one too."

  Saying this, she bade a servant purchase two lots of paper money. Ontheir arrival, she sent for two proper persons, the one to exorcise thespirits for dowager lady Chia and the other to expel them from TaChieh-erh; and these observances over, Ta Chieh-erh did, in effect, dropquietly to sleep.

  "It's verily people advanced in years like you," lady Feng smilinglyexclaimed; "who've gone through many experiences! This Ta Chieh-erh ofmine has often been inclined to ail, and it has quite puzzled me to makeout how and why it was."

  "This isn't anything out of the way!" goody Liu said. "Affluent andhonourable people bring up their offspring to be delicate. So naturally,they are not able to endure the least hardship! Moreover, that youngchild of yours is so excessively cuddled that she can't stand it. Wereyou, therefore, my lady, to pamper her less from henceforth, she'llsteadily improve."

  "There's plenty of reason in that too!" lady Feng observed. "But itstrikes me that she hasn't as yet got a name, so do give her one inorder that she may borrow your long life! In the next place, you arecountry-people, and are, after all,--I don't expect you'll get angrywhen I mention it,--somewhat in poor circumstances. Were a person thenas poor as you are to suggest a name for her, you may, I trust, have theeffect of counteracting this influence for her."

  When old goody Liu heard this proposal, she immediately gave herself upto reflection. "I've no idea of the date of her birth!" she smiled aftera time.

  "She really was born on no propitious date!" lady Feng replied. "By aremarkable coincidence she came into the world on the seventh day of theseventh moon!"

  "This is certainly splendid!" old goody Lin laughed with alacrity. "Youhad better name her at once Ch'iao Chieh-erh (seventh moon andingenuity). This is what's generally called: combating poison by poisonand attacking fire by fire. If therefore your ladyship fixes upon thisname of mine, she will, for a surety, attain a long life of a hundredyears; and when she by and bye grows up to be a big girl, every one ofyou 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 itwill inevitably change into prosperity; and if she comes across any evilfortune, it will turn into good fortune. And this will all arise fromthis one word, 'Ch'iao' (ingenuity.)"

  Lady Feng was, needless to say, delighted by what she heard, and shelost no time in expressing her gratitude. "If she be preserved," sheexclaimed, "to accomplish your good wishes, it will be such a goodthing!" Saying this, she called P'ing Erh. "As you and I are bound to bebusy to-morrow," she said, "and won't, I fear, be able to spare anyleisure moments, you'd better, if you have nothing to do now, get readythe presents for old goody Liu, so as to enable her to convenientlystart at early dawn to-morrow."

  "How could I presume to be the cause of such reckless waste?" goody Liuinterposed. "I've already disturbed your peace and quiet for severaldays, and were I to also take your things away, I'd feel still less atease in my heart!"

  "There's nothing much!" lady Feng protested. "They consist simply of afew ordinary things. But, whether good or bad, do take them along, sothat the people in the same street as yourselves and your next-doorneighbours may have some little excitement, and that it may look as ifyou 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 overhere and see!"

  Old goody Liu precipitately followed P'ing Erh into the room on the offside. Here she saw the stove-couch half full with piles of things. P'ingErh 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-whitegauze to use as lining. These are two pieces of pongee, which will dofor wadded coats and jupes as well. In this bundle are two pieces ofsilk, for you to make clothes with, for the end of the year. This is abox containing various home-made cakes. Among them are some you'vealready tasted and some you haven't; so take them along, and put them inplates and invite your friends; they'll be ever so much better than anythat you could buy! These two bags are those in which the melons andfruit were packed up yesterday. This one has been filled with twobushels of fine rice, grown in the imperial fields, the like of whichfor congee, it would not be easy to get. This one contains fruits fromour garden and all kinds of dry fruits. In this packet, you'll findeight taels of silver. These various things are presents for you fromour Mistress Secunda. Each of these packets contains fifty taels so thatthere are in all a hundred taels; they're the gift of Madame Wang. Shebids you accept them so as to either carry on any trade, for which nobig capital is required, or to purchase several acres of land, in orderthat you mayn't henceforward have any more to beg favours of relatives,or to depend upon friends." Continuing, she ad
ded smilingly, in a lowtone of voice, "These two jackets, two jupes, four head bands, and abundle of velvet and thread are what I give you, worthy dame, as myshare. These clothes are, it is true, the worse for use, yet I haven'tworn them very much. But if you disdain them, I won't be so presuming asto say anything."

  After mention of each article by P'ing Erh, goody Liu muttered the nameof Buddha, so already she had repeated Buddha's name several thousandsof times. But when she saw the heap of presents which P'ing Erh toobestowed on her, and the little ostentation with which she did it, shepromptly smiled. "Miss!" she said, "what are you saying? Could I everdisdain such nice gifts as these! Had I even the money, I couldn't buythem anywhere. The only thing is that I feel overpowered with shame. IfI keep them, it won't be nice, and if I don't accept them, I shall beshowing myself ungrateful for your kind attention."

  "Don't utter all this irrelevant talk!" P'ing Erh laughed. "You and Iare friends; so compose your mind and take the things I gave you justnow! Besides, I have, on my part, something to ask of you. When theclose 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 andpumpkin 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 quiteenough! We don't want anything else, so don't go to any uselesstrouble!"

  Goody Liu gave utterance to profuse expressions of gratitude andsignified her readiness to comply with her wishes.

  "Just you go to sleep," P'ing Erh urged, "and I'll get the things readyfor you and put them in here. As soon as the day breaks to-morrow, I'llsend the servant-lads to hire a cart and pack them in; don't youtherefore worry yourself in the least on that score!"

  Goody Liu felt more and more ineffably grateful. So crossing over, sheagain said, with warm protestations of thankfulness, good bye to ladyFeng; after which, she repaired to dowager lady Chia's quarters on thisside, where she slept, with one sleep, during the whole night. Early thenext day, as soon as she had combed her hair and performed herablutions, she asked to go and pay her adieus to lady Chia. But as oldlady Chia was unwell, the various members of the family came to see howshe was getting on. On their reappearance outside, they transmittedorders that the doctor should be sent for. In a little time, a matronreported that the doctor had arrived, and an old nurse invited dowagerlady Chia to ensconce herself under the curtain.

  "I'm an old woman!" lady Chia remonstrated. "Am I not aged enough to bea mother to that fellow? and am I, pray, to still stand on anyceremonies with him? There's no need to drop the curtain; I'll see himas I am, and have done."

  Hearing her objections, the matrons fetched a small table, and, laying asmall 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, butconfining himself to the side steps, he kept pace with Chia Chen untilthey reached the platform. Two matrons, who had been standing, one oneither side from an early hour, raised the portiere. A couple of oldwomen servants then took the lead and showed the way in. But Pao-yue tooappeared on the scene to meet them.

  They found old lady Chia seated bolt upright on the couch, dressed in ablue crape jacket, lined with sheep skin, every curl of which resembleda pearl. On the right and left stood four young maids, whose hair hadnot as yet been allowed to grow, with fly-brushes, finger-bowls, andother such articles in their hands. Five or six old nurses were alsodrawn up on both sides like wings. At the back of the jade-green gauzemosquito-house were faintly visible several persons in red and greenhabiliments, with gems on their heads, and gold trinkets in theircoiffures.

  Dr. Wang could not muster the courage to raise his head. With speedystep, he advanced and paid his obeisance. Dowager lady Chia noticed thathe wore the official dress of the sixth grade, and she accordinglyconcluded that he must be an imperial physician. "How are you nobledoctor?" she inquired, forcing a smile. "What is the worthy surname ofthis 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 Chuen-hsiao who filled the chair ofPresident of the College of Imperial Physicians," dowager lady smilinglyproceeded. "He excelled in feeling the pulse."

  Dr. Wang bent his body, and with alacrity he lowered his head andreturned her smile. "That was," he explained, "my grand uncle."

  "Is it really so!" laughingly pursued dowager lady Chia, upon catchingthis reply. "We can then call ourselves old friends!"

  So speaking, she quietly put out her hand and rested it on the smallpillow. A nurse laid hold of a small stool and placed it before thesmall table, slightly to the side of it. Dr. Wang bent one knee and tooka seat on the stool. Drooping his head, he felt the pulse of the onehand 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 ofthe 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 immediatelyacquiesced by uttering several yes's, and once more they led Dr. Wanginto the outer study.

  "Your worthy senior," Dr. Wang explained, "has nothing else the matterwith her than a slight chill, which she must have inadvertentlycontracted. She needn't, after all, take any medicines; all she need dois to diet herself and keep warm a little; and she'll get all right. ButI'll now write a prescription, in here. Should her venerable ladyshipcare to take any of the medicine, then prepare a dose, according to theprescription, 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 whenabout to take his leave, he saw a nurse bring Ta Chieh-erh into theroom. "Mr. Wang," she said, "do also have a look at our Chieh Erh!"

  Upon hearing her appeal, Dr. Wang immediately rose to his feet. Whileshe was clasped in her nurse's arms, he rested Ta Chieh-erh's hand onhis left hand and felt her pulse with his right, and rubbing herforehead, he asked her to put out her tongue and let him see it. "Were Ito 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 decoctedmedicines. I'll just send her some pills, which you'll have to dissolvein a preparation of ginger, and give them to her before she goes tosleep; when she has had these, there will be nothing more the matterwith her."

  At the conclusion of these recommendations, he bade them goodbye andtook his departure. Chia Chen and his companions then took theprescription and came and explained to old lady Chia the nature of herindisposition, and, depositing on the table, the paper given to them bythe doctor, they quitted her presence. But nothing more need be saidabout them.

  Madame Wang and Li Wan, lady Feng, Pao Ch'ai and the other young ladiesnoticed, meanwhile, that the doctor had gone, and they eventuallyegressed from the back of the mosquito-house. After a short stay, MadameWang returned to her quarters. Goody Liu repaired, when she perceivedeverything quiet again, into the upper rooms and made her adieus todowager lady Chia.

  "When you've got any leisure, do pay us another visit," old lady Chiaurged, 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'tescort you myself."

  Goody Liu expressed her thanks, and saying good bye a second time, shebetook herself, along with Yuean Yang, into the servants' quarters. HereYuean Yang pointed at a bundle on the stove-couch. "These are," she said,"several articles of clothing, belonging to our old mistress; they werepresented to her in years gone by, by members of our family on herbirthdays and various festivals; her ladyship never wears anything madeby people outside; yet to hoard these would be a downright pity! Indeed,she hasn't worn them even once. It was yest
erday that she told me to getout two costumes and hand them to you to take along with you, either togive as presents, or to be worn by some one in your home; but don't makefun 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 rolledup in a sheet bearing the prescription; and the whole lot of them arepacked up in here. While these two are purses for you to wear in the wayof 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 andshowed them to her, "Take the purses," she pursued smiling, "but doleave these behind and give them to me."

  Goody Liu was so overjoyed that she had, from an early period, come outafresh with several thousands of invocations of Buddha's names. When shetherefore heard Yuean Yang's suggestion, "Miss," she quickly rejoined,"you're at perfect liberty to keep them!"

  Yuean Yang perceived that her words were believed by her; so smiling sheonce more dropped the ingots into the purse. "I was only joking with youfor fun!" she observed. "I've got a good many like these; keep themtherefore and give them, at the close of the year, to your youngchildren."

  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,) "ourmaster Secundus, Mr. Pao, gives you."

  "Whence could I begin enumerating the things I got!" Goody Liuexclaimed. "In what previous existence did I accomplish anything someritorious 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," Yuean 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 Yuean Yang, in point of fact,produced several more articles of clothing, and these she packed up forher. Goody Liu thereupon expressed a desire to also go into the gardenand take leave of Pao-yue and the young ladies, Madame Wang and the otherinmates and to thank them for all they did for her, but Yuean Yang raisedobjections. "You can dispense with going!" she remarked. "They don't seeany one just now! But I'll deliver the message for you by and bye! Whenyou've got any leisure, do come again. Go to the second gate," she wenton to direct an old matron, "and call two servant-lads to come here, andhelp this old dame to take her things away!"

  After the matron had signified her obedience, Yuean Yang returned withgoody 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-ladscarry them out. She herself then saw goody Liu into her curricle andstart on her journey homewards.

  But without commenting further on this topic, let us revert to Pao-ch'aiand the other girls. After breakfast, they recrossed into theirgrandmother's rooms and made inquiries about her health. On their wayback to the garden, they reached a point where they had to takedifferent roads. Pao-ch'ai then called out to Tai-yue. "P'in Erh!" sheobserved, "come with me; I've got a question to ask you."

  Tai-yue 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-yue could not fathom her object, and consequently laughed. "Lookhere." she cried, "this chit Pao has gone clean off her senses! What doyou want to examine me about?"

  Pao-ch'ai gave a sardonic smile. "My dear, precious girl, my dearmaiden," she exclaimed, "what utter trash fills your mouth! Just speakthe honest and candid truth, and finish!"

  Tai-yue could so little guess her meaning that her sole resource was tosmile. Inwardly, however, she could not help beginning to experiencecertain misgivings. "What did I say?" she remarked. "You're bent uponpicking 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 playedyesterday that game of wine-forfeits, what did you say? I reallycouldn't make out any head or tail."

  Tai-yue, after a moment's reflection, remembered eventually that she hadthe previous day been guilty of a slip of the tongue and come out with acouple of passages from the 'Peony Pavilion,' and the 'Record of theWest 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 justblurted out of my mouth! But now that you've called me to task, I won'tsay such things again."

  "I've no idea of what you were driving at," Pao-ch'ai laughinglyrejoined. "What I heard you recite sounds so thoroughly unfamiliar tome, that I beg you to enlighten me!"

  "Dear cousin," pleaded Tai-yue, "don't tell anyone else! I won't, in thefuture, breathe such things again."

  Pao-ch'ai noticed how from shame the blood rushed to her face, and howvehement she was in her entreaties, and she felt both to press her withquestions; so pulling her into a seat to make her have a cup of tea, shesaid to her in a gentle tone, "Whom do you take me for? I too amwayward; from my youth up, yea ever since I was seven or eight, I'vebeen enough trouble to people! Our family was also what one would termliterary. My grandfather's extreme delight was to be ever with a book inhis hand. At one time, we numbered many members, and sisters andbrothers all lived together; but we had a distaste for wholesome books.Among my brothers, some were partial to verses; others had a weaknessfor blank poetical compositions; and there were none of such works asthe 'Western side-House,' and 'the Guitar,' even up to the hundred andone books of the 'Yuean' authors, which they hadn't managed to get. Thesebooks they stealthily read behind our backs; but we, on our part,devoured them, on the sly, without their knowing it. Subsequently, ourfather came to get wind of it; and some of us he beat, while others hescolded; burning some of the books, and throwing away others. It istherefore 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 howmuch more such as ourselves? Even versifying, writing and the likepursuits aren't in the line of such as you and me. Indeed, neither arethey within the portion of men. Men, who go in for study and fathom theright principles, should cooperate in the government of the empire, andshould rule the nation; this would be a nobler purpose; but one doesn'tnow-a-days hear of the very existence of such persons! Hence, the studyof books makes them worse than they ever were before. But it isn't thebooks that ruin them; the misfortune is that they make improper use ofbooks! That is why study doesn't come up to ploughing and sowing andtrading; as these pursuits exercise no serious pernicious influences. Asfar, however, as you and I go, we should devote our minds simply tomatters connected with needlework and spinning; for we will then befulfilling our legitimate duties. Yet, it so happens that we too know afew characters. But, as we can read, it behoves us to choose no otherthan wholesome works; for these will do us no harm! What are most to beshirked are those low books, as, when once they pervert the disposition,there remains no remedy whatever!"

  While she indulged in this long rigmarole, Tai-yue lowered her head andsipped her tea. And though she secretly shared the same views on thesubject, all the answer she gave her in assent was limited to one singleword 'yes.' But at an unexpected moment, Su Yuen appeared in the room."Our lady Lien," she said, "requests the presence of both of you, youngladies, to consult with you in an important matter. Miss Secunda, MissTertia, Miss Quarta, Miss Shih and Mr. Pao, our master Secundus, arethere waiting for you."

  "What's up again?" Pao-ch'ai inquired.

  "You and I will know what it is when we get there," Tai-yue explained.

  So saying, she came, with Pao-ch'ai, into the Tao Hsiang village. Herethey, in fact, discovered
every one assembled. As soon as Li Wan caughtsight of the two cousins, she smiled. "The society has barely beenstarted," 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 thebottom of it!" Tai-yue laughed. "For by bidding her execute some paintingor other of the garden, she has put her in such high feather that sheapplies for leave!"

  "Don't be so hard upon our dear ancestor!" Pao-Ch'ai rejoined, a smileplaying on her lips. "It's entirely due to that allusion of grandmotherLiu's."

  Tai-yue speedily took up the thread of the conversation. "Quite so!" shesmiled. "It's all through that remark of hers! But of what branch of thefamily is she a grandmother? We should merely address her as the 'femalelocust;' 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 afortunate thing it is that that vixen Feng has no idea of letters andcan't boast of much culture! Her _forte_ is simply such vulgarthings as suffice to raise a laugh! Worse than her is that P'in Erh withthat coarse tongue! She has recourse to the devices of the 'Ch'unCh'iu'! By selecting, from the vulgar expressions used in low slang, themost noteworthy points, she eliminates what's commonplace, and makes,with the addition of a little elegance and finish, her style so muchlike that of the text that each sentence has a peculiar character of itsown! The three words representing 'female locust' bring out clearly thevarious circumstances connected with yesterday! The wonder is that shehas been so quick in devising them!"

  After lending an ear to her arguments, they all laughed. "Thoseexplanations of yours," they cried, "show well enough that you are notbelow those two!"

  "Pray, let's consult as to how many days' leave to grant her!" Li Wanproposed. "I gave her a month, but she thinks it too little. What do yousay about it?"

  "Properly speaking," Tai-yue put in, "one year isn't much! The laying outof this garden occupied a whole year; and to paint a picture of it nowwill certainly need two years' time. She'll have to rub the ink, tomoisten the pencils, to stretch the paper, to mix the pigments, andto...."

  When she had reached this point, even Tai-yue could not restrain herselffrom 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 inincessant merriment.

  "Her innuendoes are full of zest!" Pao-ch'ai ventured laughingly. "Butwhat 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, toevoke laughter, but, on second thought, they're devoid of any fun! Justyou carefully ponder over P'in Erh's words! Albeit they don't amount tomuch, you'll nevertheless find, when you come to reflect on them, thatthere's plenty of gusto about them. I've really had such a laugh overthem 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 alaughing-stock now!"

  Tai-yue hastily smiled and pulled her towards her. "Let me ask you," shesaid, "are you only going to paint the garden, or will you insert us init as well?"

  "My original idea was to have simply painted the garden," Hsi Ch'unexplained; "but our worthy senior told me again yesterday that a merepicture of the grounds would resemble the plan of a house, andrecommended that I should introduce some inmates too so as to make itlook like what a painting should. I've neither the knack for the finework necessary for towers and terraces, nor have I the skill to drawrepresentations of human beings; but as I couldn't very well raise anyobjections, I find myself at present on the horns of a dilemma aboutit!"

  "Human beings are an easy matter!" Tai-yue said. "What beats you areinsects."

  "Here you are again with your trash!" Li Wan exclaimed. "Will there beany 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-yue smiled, "itwon't matter; but without yesterday's female locust in it, it will fallshort of the original?"

  This retort evoked further general amusement. While Tai-yue laughed, shebeat 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 ofa locust brought in to have a good feed.'"

  At these words, they laughed so much the more heartily that at a timethey bent forward, and at another they leant back. But a sound of "Kutung" then fell on their ears, and unable to make out what could havedropped, they anxiously and precipitately looked about. It was, theyfound, Shih Hsiang-yuen, who had been reclining on the back of the chair.The chair had, from the very outset, not been put in a sure place, andwhile indulging in hearty merriment she threw her whole weight on theback. She did not, besides, notice that the dovetails on each side hadcome out, so with a tilt towards the east, she as well as the chairtoppled over in a heap. Luckily, the wooden partition-wall was closeenough to arrest her fall, and she did not sprawl on the ground. Thesight of her created more amusement than ever among all her relatives;so much so, that they could scarcely regain their equilibrium. It wasonly after Pao-yue had rushed up to her, and given her a hand and raisedher to her feet again that they at last managed to gradually stoplaughing.

  Pao-yue then winked at Tai-yue. Tai-yue grasped his meaning, and, forthwithwithdrawing into the inner room, she lifted the cover of the mirror, andlooked at her face. She found the hair about her temples slightlydishevelled, so, promptly opening Li Wan's toilet-case, and extracting anarrow brush, she stood in front of the mirror, and smoothed it downwith a few touches. Afterwards, laying the brush in its place shestepped 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 teachingus manners? Why, instead of that, you press us to come here and have agood romp and a hearty laugh!"

  "Just you listen to her perverse talk," Li Wan laughed. "She takes thelead and kicks up a rumpus, and incites people to laugh, and then shethrows the blame upon me! In real truth, she's a despicable thing! WhatI wish is that you should soon get some dreadful mother-in-law, andseveral crotchety and abominable older and younger sisters-in-law, andwe'll see then whether you'll still be as perverse or not!"

  Tai-yue 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 aboutpainting, all she can manage are just a few outline sketches, so thatunless, now that she has to accomplish the picture of this garden, shecan lay a claim to some ingenuity, will she ever be able to succeed ineffecting a painting? This garden resembles a regular picture. Therockeries and trees, towers and pavilions, halls and houses are, as faras distances and density go, neither too numerous, nor too few. Such asit is, it is fitly laid out; but were you to put it on paper in strictcompliance with the original, why, it will surely not elicit admiration.In a thing like this, it's necessary to pay due care to the variouspositions and distances on paper, whether they should be large orwhether small; and to discriminate between main and secondary; addingwhat is needful to add, concealing and reducing what should be concealedand reduced, and exposing to view what should remain visible. As soon asa rough copy is executed, it should again be considered in all itsdetails, for then alone will it assume the semblance of a picture. Inthe second place, all these towers, terraces and structures must bedistinctly delineated; for with just a trifle of inattention, therailings will slant, the pillars will be topsy-turvy, doors and windowswill recline in a horizontal position, steps will separate, leavingclefts between them, and even tables will be crowded into the walls, andflower-pots piled on p
ortieres; and won't it, instead of turning outinto a picture, be a mere caricature? Thirdly, proper care must also bedevoted, in the insertion of human beings, to density and height, to thecreases of clothing, to jupes and sashes, to fingers, hands, and feet,as these are most important details; for if even one stroke be notthoroughly executed, then, if the hands be not swollen, the feet will bemade to look as if they were lame. The colouring of faces and thedrawing of the hair are minor points; but, in my own estimation, theyreally 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 giveher half a year's leave. Depute, besides, cousin Pao-yue to lend her ahand in her task. Not that cousin Pao knows how to give any hints aboutpainting; 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 ofanything perplexing her as to how best to insert it, cousin Pao may takethe 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-yue was the first to feel quite enchanted. "Thisproposal is first-rate!" he exclaimed. "The towers and terraces minutelyexecuted by Chan Tzu-liang are so perfect, and the beauties painted byCh'eng Jih-hsing so extremely fine that I'll go at once and ask them ofthem!"

  "I've always said that you fuss for nothing!" Pao-ch'ai interposed. "Imerely passed a cursory remark, and there you want to go immediately andask for things. Do wait until we arrive at some decision in ourdeliberations, and then you can go! But let's consider now what would bebest to use to paint the picture on?"

  "I've got, in my quarters," Pao-yue answered, "some snow-white, wavypaper, 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 youare a perfectly useless creature! That snow-white, wavy paper is goodfor pictures consisting of characters and for outline drawings. Or else,those who have the knack of making landscapes, use it for depictingscenery of the southern Sung era, as it resists ink and is strong enoughto bear coarse painting. But were you to employ this sort of paper tomake a picture of this garden on, it will neither stand the colours, norwill it be easy to dry the painting by the fire. So not only won't it besuitable, but it will be a pity too to waste the paper. I'll tell you away how to get out of this. When this garden was first laid out, somedetailed plan was used, which although executed by a merehouse-decorator, was perfect with regard to sites and bearings. You'dbetter therefore ask for it of your worthy mother, and apply as well tolady Feng for a piece of thick glazed lustring of the size of thatpaper, and hand them to the gentlemen outside, and request them toprepare a rough copy for you, with any alterations or additions as mightbe 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 aswell as the ground gold and ground silver, you can get those peopleagain to do so for you. But you'll also have to bring an extra portablestove, so as to have it handy for melting the glue, and for washing yourpencils, after you've taken the glue off. You further require a largetable, painted white and covered with a cloth. That lot of small dishesyou have aren't sufficient; your pencils too are not enough. It will bewell 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 haveamount to a couple of pencils for applying colours; no more."

  "Why didn't you say so earlier?" Pao-ch'ai remarked. "I've still gotsome of these things remaining. But you don't need them, so were I togive you any, they'd lie uselessly about. I'll put them away for you nowfor 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 wereyou to paint such big things with them it would be a pity! I'll draw outa list for you to-day to enable you to go and apply to our worthy seniorfor the items; as it isn't likely that you people can possibly know allthat's required. I'll dictate them, and cousin Pao can write them down!"

  Pao-yue had already got a pencil and inkslab ready, for, fearing lest hemight not remember clearly the various necessaries, he had made up hismind to write a memorandum of them; so the moment he heard Pao-ch'ai'ssuggestion, he cheerfully took up his pencil, and listened quietly.

  "Four pencils of the largest size," Pao-ch'ai commenced, "four of thethird size; four of the second size; four pencils for applying colourson big ground; four on medium ground; four for small ground; ten clawsof large southern crabs; ten claws of small crabs; ten pencils forpainting side-hair and eyebrows; twenty for laying heavy colours; twentyfor light colours; ten for painting faces; twenty willow-twigs; fourounces of 'arrow head' pearls; four ounces of southern ochre; fourounces of stone yellow; four ounces of dark green; four ounces ofmalachite; four ounces of tube-yellow; eight ounces of 'kuang' flower;four boxes of lead powder; ten sheets of rouge; two hundred sheets ofthin red-gold leaves; two hundred sheets of lead; four ounces of smoothglue, from the two Kuang; and four ounces of pure alum. The glue andalum for sizing the lustring are not included, so don't botheryourselves about them, but just take the lustring and give it to themoutside to size it with alum for you. You and I can scour and clarifyall these pigments, and thus amuse ourselves, and prepare them for useas well. I feel sure you'll have an ample supply to last you a wholelifetime. But you must also get ready four sieves of fine lustring; apair of coarse ones; four brush-pencils; four bowls, some large, somesmall; twenty large, coarse saucers; ten five-inch plates; twentythree-inch coarse, white plates; two stoves; four large and smallearthenware pans; two new porcelain jars; four new water buckets; fourone-foot-long bags, made of white cloth; two catties of light charcoal;one or two catties of willow-wood charcoal; a wooden box with threedrawers; a yard of thick gauze, two ounces of fresh ginger; half a cattyof soy;..."

  "An iron kettle and an iron shovel," hastily chimed in Tai-yue with asmile 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 foran iron kettle for you to cook the paints and eat them." Tai-yueanswered, to the intense merriment of one and all, who gave way tolaughter.

  "What do you, P'in Erh, know about these things?" Pao-ch'ai laughed. "Iam not certain in my mind that you won't put those coarse colouredplates straightway on the fire. But unless you take the precautionbeforehand of rubbing the bottom with ginger juice, mixed with soy, andof warming them dry, they're bound to crack, the moment they experiencethe least heat."

  "It's really so," they exclaimed with one voice, after this explanation.

  Tai-yue perused the list for a while. She then smiled and gave T'an Ch'una tug. "Just see," she whispered, "we want to paint a picture, and shegoes 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 hertrousseau."

  T'an Ch'un, at her remark, laughed with such heartiness, that it was allshe could do to check herself. "Cousin Pao," she observed, "don't youwring her mouth? Just ask her what disparaging things she said aboutyou."

  "Why need I ask?" Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Is it likely, pray, that you canget ivory out of a cur's mouth?"

  Speaking the while, she drew near, and, seizing Tai-yue, she pressed herdown on the stove-couch with the intention of pinching her face. Tai-yuesmilingly 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 atrandom; she has no idea of what's proper and what's improper. But youare my elder cousin, so teach me how to behave. If you, cousin, don'tlet me off, to whom can I go and address my entreaties?"

  Little did, however, all who heard her apprehend that there lurked somehidden purpose in her insinu
ations. "She's right there," theyconsequently pleaded smilingly. "So much is she to be pitied that evenwe have been mollified; do spare her and finish!"

  Pao-ch'ai had, at first, meant to play with her, but when she unawaresheard her drag in again the advice she had tendered her the other day,with regard to the reckless perusal of unwholesome books, she at oncefelt as if she could not have any farther fuss with her, and she let herrise to her feet.

  "It's you, after all, elder cousin," Tai-yue laughed. "Had it been I, Iwouldn't have let any one off."

  Pao-ch'ai smiled and pointed at her. "It is no wonder," she said, "thatour dear ancestor doats on you and that every one loves you. Even I haveto-day felt my heart warm towards you! But come here and let me put yourhair up for you!"

  Tai-yue then, in very deed, swung herself round and crossed over to her.Pao-ch'ai arranged her coiffure with her hands. Pao-yue, who stood by andlooked 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 hadhappened, as he fancied that she should not have let her brush her sidehair, but left it alone for the time being and asked him to do it forher. While, however, he gave way to these erratic thoughts, he heardPao-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. Ifthere be any at home, well and good; but if not, get some money to buythem with. I'll then help you both in your preparations."

  Pao-yue vehemently put the list away; after which, they all joined in afurther chat on irrelevant matters; and, their evening meal over, theyonce more repaired into old lady Chia's apartments to wish hergood-night. Their grandmother had, indeed, had nothing serious thematter with her. Her ailment had amounted mainly to fatigue, to which aslight chill had been super-added, so that having kept in the warm roomfor the day and taken a dose or two of medicine, she entirely got overthe 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.