Hong lou meng. English

by Xueqin Cao

  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 thebustle of the new year festivities, lady Feng who, with the most arduousduties she had had to fulfil both before and after the new year, hadfound little time to take proper care of herself, got a miscarriage andcould not attend to the management of domestic affairs. Day after daytwo and three doctors came and prescribed for her. But lady Feng hadever accustomed herself to be hardy, so although unable to go out ofdoors, she nevertheless devised the ways and means for everything, andmade the various arrangements she deemed necessary, and whatever concernsuggested itself to her mind, she entrusted to P'ing Erh to lay beforeMadame Wang. But however much people advised her to be careful, shewould not lend an ear to them. Madame Wang felt as if she had beendeprived of her right arm. And as she alone had not sufficient energy tosee to everything, she bestowed her own attention upon such importantaffairs, as turned up, and entrusted, for the time being, allmiscellaneous domestic matters to the co-operation of Li Wan.

  Li Wan had at all times held virtue at a high price, and set but littlevalue on talents of any kind, so that she, as a matter of course,displayed leniency to those who were placed under her. Madame Wangaccordingly bade T'an Ch'un combine with Li Wan in the management of thehousehold. "In a month," she argued, "lady Feng will be getting allright again, and then you can once more hand over charge to her."

  Little, however, though one would think it, lady Feng was endowed with apoor physique. From her youth up, moreover, she had not known how tohusband her health; and emulation and contentiousness had, more thananything else, combined to undermine her vital energies. Hence it wasthat although her complaint was a simple miscarriage, it had really,after all, been the outcome of loss of vigour. After a month symptoms ofemissions of blood began also to show themselves. And notwithstandingher reluctance to utter what she felt every one, at the sight of hersallow and emaciated face, readily concluded that she was not nursingherself as well as she should.

  Madame Wang therefore enjoined her merely to take her medicines and lookto herself with due care; and she would not allow her to disquiet hermind about the least thing. But (lady Feng) herself also gave way tomisgivings lest her illness should assume some grave phase, and muchthough she laughed with one and all, she was ever mindful to steal timeto attend to her health, feeling inwardly vexed at not being able tosoon get back her old strength again. But she had, as it happened, todose herself with medicines and to nurse herself for three whole months,before she gradually began to rally and before the discharges stopped bydegrees. But we will abstain from any reference to these details whichpertain to the future, suffice it now to add that though Madame Wangnoticed her improved state, (she thought it) impossible for the timebeing for T'an Ch'un and Li Wan to resign their charge. But so fidgettywas she lest with the large number of inmates in the garden propercontrol should not be exercised that she specially sent for Pao-ch'aiand begged of her to keep an eye over every place, explaining to herthat the old matrons were of no earthly use, for whenever they couldobtain any leisure, they drank and gambled; and slept during broaddaylight, while they played at cards during the hours of night. "I knowall about their doings," (she said). "When that girl Feng is well enoughto go out, they have some little fear. But they're bound at present toconsult again their own convenience. Yet you, dear child, are one inwhom I can repose complete trust. Your brother and your female cousinsare, on the one hand, young; and I can, on the other, afford no sparetime; so do exert yourself on my behalf for a couple of days, andexercise proper supervision. And should anything unexpected turn up,just come and tell it to me. Don't wait until our old lady inquiresabout it, as I shall then find myself in a corner with nothing to say inmy defence. If those servants aren't on their good behaviour, mind youblow them up; and if they don't listen to you, come and lay yourcomplaint before me; for it will be best not to let anything assume aserious aspect."

  Pao-ch'ai listened to her appeal and felt under the necessity ofvolunteering to undertake the charge.

  The season was about the close of spring, so Tai-yue got her cough backagain. But Hsiang-yuen was likewise laid up in the Heng Wu Yuean, as shetoo was affected by the weather, and day after day she saw numberlessdoctors and took endless medicines.

  T'an Ch'un and Li Wan lived apart, but as they had of late assumed jointmanagement of affairs, it was, unlike former years, extremelyinconvenient even for the servants to go backwards and forwards to maketheir reports. They consequently resolved that they should meet earlyevery day in the small three-roomed reception-hall, at the south side ofthe garden gate, to transact what business there was, and that theirmorning meal over, they should after noon return again to theirquarters.

  This three-roomed hall had originally been got ready at the time of thevisit of the imperial consort to her parents, to accommodate theattendants and eunuchs. This visit over, it proved, therefore, no longerof 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 quitesuperfluous. All that could be seen about amounted to a few small piecesof furniture just sufficient for them to make themselves comfortablewith. Over this hall was likewise affixed a placard, with theinscription in four characters:

  "Perfected philanthropy, published virtue!"

  Yet the place was generally known among the domestics as 'thediscuss-matters-hall.' To this hall, (Li Wan and T'an Ch'un) would dailyadjourn at six in the morning, and leave it at noon, and the wives ofthe 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 andall felt secretly elated; for as Li Wan had always been considerate,forbearing and loth to inflict penalties, she would be, of course, theythought, easier to put off than lady Feng. Even when T'an Ch'un wasadded, they again remembered that she was only a youthful unmarried girland that she too had ever shown herself goodnatured and kindly to adegree, so none of them worried their minds about her, and they becameconsiderably more indolent than when they had to deal with lady Feng.But after the expiry of three or four days several concerns passedthrough her hands, which gave them an opportunity to gradually find outthat T'an Ch'un did not, in smartness and thoroughness, yield to ladyFeng, and that the only difference between them was that she was soft inspeech and gentle in disposition. By a remarkable coincidence, princes,dukes, marquises, earls, and hereditary officials arrived forconsecutive days from various parts; all of whom were, if not therelatives of the Jung and Ning mansions, at least their old friends.There were either those who had obtained transfers on promotion, orothers who had been degraded; either those, who had married, or thosewho had gone into mourning, and Madame Wang had so much congratulatingand condoling, receiving and escorting to do that she had no time toattend to any entertaining. There was therefore less than ever any onein 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 thedrawing-rooms, to keep an eye over what was going on; and they onlybetook themselves back to their quarters after Madame Wang's return. Ofa night, they whiled away their leisure hours by doing needlework; butthey would, previous to retiring to sleep, get into their chairs, and,taking along with them the servants, whose duty it was to be on nightwatch in the garden, and other domestics as well, they visited eachplace on their round. Such was the control exercised by these threeinmates that signs were not wanting to prove that greater severity wasobserved than in the days when the management devolved on lady Feng. Tothis reason must be assigned the fact that all the servants attachedinside as well as outside cherished a secret grudge against them. "Nosooner," they insinuated, "has one patrolling ogre come than they addthree more
cerberean sort of spring josses so that even at night we'vegot 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 theMarquis of Chin Hsiang, Li Wan and T'an Ch'un arranged their coiffureand performed their ablutions at an early hour; and after waiting uponher until she went out of doors, they repaired into the hall andinstalled themselves in their seats. But just as they were sipping theirtea, they espied Wu Hsin-teng's wife walk in. "Mrs. Chao's brother, ChaoKuo-chi," she observed, "departed this life yesterday; the tidings havealready been reported to our old mistress and our lady, who said that itwas all right, and bade me tell you, Miss."

  At the close of this announcement, she respectfully dropped her armsagainst her body, and stood aloof without adding another word. Theservants, who came at this season to lay their reports before (T'anCh'un and Li Wan), mustered no small number. But they all endeavoured tofind out how their two new mistresses ran the household; for as longthey managed things properly, one and all willingly resolved to respectthem, but in the event of the least disagreement or improper step, notonly did they not submit to them, but they also spread, the moment theyput their foot outside the second gate, numberless jokes on theiraccount and made fun of them. Wu Hsin-teng's wife had thus devised anexperiment in her own mind. Had she had to deal with lady Feng, shewould have long ago made an attempt to show off her zeal by proposingnumerous alternatives and discovering various bygone precedents, andthen allowed lady Feng to make her own choice and take action; but, inthis instance, she looked with such disdain on Li Wan, on account of hersimplicity, and on T'an Ch'un, on account of her youthfulness, that shevolunteered only a single sentence, in order to put both these ladies tothe 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 HsiJen's mother died, I heard that she was given forty taels. So now giveher forty taels as well and have done!"

  Upon hearing this proposal, Wu Hsin-teng's wife eagerly expressed heracquiescence, by uttering a yes; and taking over the permit she wasgoing 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 yousomething. Some of the old secondary wives, attached years back to ourvenerable senior's rooms, lived inside the establishment; othersoutside; there were these two distinctions between them. Now if any ofthem died at home, how much was allowed them? And how much was allottedto such as died outside? Tell us what was given in either case for ourguidance."

  As soon as Wu Hsin-teng's wife was asked this question, every detailbearing on the subject slipped from her memory. Hastily forcing a smile,"This is," she replied, "nothing of any such great consequence. Whethermuch or little be allowed, who'll ever venture to raise a quarrel aboutit?"

  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 wedon't comply with what's right, we shall, not to speak of yourridiculing us, find it also a hard job by and bye to face your mistressSecunda."

  "Well, in that case," laughed Wu Hsin-teng's wife, "I'll go and look upthe old accounts. I can't recollect anything about them just at thismoment."

  "You're quite an old hand in the management of affairs," T'an Ch'unobserved with a significant smile, "and can't you remember, but comeinstead to perplex us? Whenever you've had anything of the kind to laybefore 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 asbeing such a dreadful creature. One could very well call her lenient andkind. Yet don't you yet hurry to go and hunt them up and bring them tome to see? If we dilly-dally another day, they won't run you people downfor your coarse-mindedness, but we will seem to have been driven to ourwits' ends!"

  Wu Hsin-teng's wife got quite scarlet in the face. Promptly twistingherself round, she quitted the hall; while the whole bevy of marriedwomen 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'anCh'un found that for a couple of secondary wives, who had lived in theestablishment, twenty-four taels had been granted, and that for two,whose quarters had been outside, forty taels had in each case beenallowed. Besides these two, others were mentioned, who had lived outsidethe mansion; to one of whom a hundred taels had been given, and to theother, sixty taels. Under these two records, the reasons were assigned.In the one case, the coffins of father and mother had had to be removedfrom another province, and sixty taels extra had consequently beengranted. In the other, an additional twenty taels had been allowed, as aburial-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 theseaccounts here for us to examine minutely."

  Wu Hsin-teng's wife then walked away. But unexpectedly Mrs. Chao enteredthe 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 havetrampled me under heel," she said, "but never mind! Yet, my child, justponder, 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. "Ican't really make out what you're driving at. Who tramples you underfoot? 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 wouldpresume to do any such thing," she protested.

  Li Wan too vehemently sprung to her feet to proffer her some goodcounsel.

  "Pray seat yourselves, both of you," Mrs. Chao cried, "and listen towhat I have to say. I've had, like simmering oil, to consume away inthese rooms to this advanced age. There's also your brother besides. YetI 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 thatI didn't presume to disregard right and to violate propriety."

  While she spoke, she resumed her seat, and taking up the accounts, sheturned them over for Mrs. Chao to glance at, after which she read themout to her for her edification. "These are old customs," she proceeded,"enforced by the seniors of the family, and every one complies withthem, and could I ever, pray, have changed them? These will hold goodnot only with Hsi Jen; but even when by and bye Huan-erh takes aconcubine, the same course will naturally be adopted as in the case ofHsi 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 MadameWang's servant-girl, and I've dealt with her according to along-standing precedent. Those who say that I've taken suitable actionwill 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, thatperson is devoid of all common sense and totally ignorant of what ablessing means. The only thing she can do is to foster as muchresentment as she chooses. Our lady, Madame Wang, may even give apresent of a house to any one; what credit is that to me? Again, she maynot give a single cash, but even that won't imply any loss of face, asfar as I am concerned. What I have to say is that as Madame Wang is awayfrom home, you should quietly look after yourself a bit. What's the goodof worrying and fretting? Our lady is extremely fond of me; and, if, atdifferent times, a chilliness has sprung up on her part, it's becauseyou, Mrs. Chao, have again and again been officious. Had I been a manand able to have gone abroad, I would long ago have run away and startedsome 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 utterso much as a single remark. Madame Wang is well aware of it in herheart. And it's now because she entertains a high opinion of me that sherecently bade me assume the charge of domestic affairs. But before I'vehad time enough to do a single good act, here you come, Mrs. Chao, tolay down the law. If this reaches Madame Wang's ear, I fear I shall getinto 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 thenactually lose countenance."

  Reasoning with her, she so little could repress her tears that theyrolled down her cheeks.

  Mrs. Chao had not a word more to say to refute her arguments with. "IfMadame Wang loves you," she simply responded, "there's still more reasonwhy you should have drawn us into her favour. (Instead of that), all youthink about is to try and win Madame Wang's affections, and you forgetall about us."

  "How ever did I forget you?" T'an Ch'un exclaimed. "How would you haveme drag you into favour? Go and ask every one of them, and you'll seewhat mistress is indifferent to any one, who exerts her energies andmakes herself useful, and what worthy person requires being drawn intofavour?"

  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 anyill-will against this young lady of yours. Had she even at heart everygood intention to lend you a hand, how could she put it into words?"

  "This worthy senior dame," T'an Ch'un impatiently interposed, "has alsogrown 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 wellas defects should all alike be well known to you people. And what havethey got to do with me?"

  Mrs. Chao was much incensed. "Who tells you," she asked, "to give a liftto any one? Were it not that you looked after the house, I wouldn't havecome to inquire anything of you. But anything you may suggest is right;so had you, now that your maternal uncle is dead, granted twenty orthirty taels in excess, is it likely that Madame Wang would not havegiven you her consent? It's evident that our Madame Wang is a good womanand that it's you people who are mean and stingy. Unfortunately,however, her ladyship has with all her bounty no opportunity ofexercising it. You could, my dear girl, well set your mind at ease. Youwouldn't, in this instance, have had to spend any of your own money; andat your marriage by and bye, I would still have borne in mind theexceptional regard you had shown the Chao family. But now that you'vegot your full plumage, you've forgotten your extraction, and chosen alofty branch to fly to."

  Before T'an Ch'un had heard her to the end, she flew into such a ragethat her face blanched; and choking for breath, she gasped and panted.Sobbing, she asked the while: "Who's my maternal uncle? My maternaluncle was at the end of the year promoted to be High Commissioner of theNine Provinces! How can another maternal uncle have cropped up? It'sbecause I've ever shown that reverence enjoined by the rites that otherrelatives have now more than ever turned up. If what you say be thecase, how is it that every day that Huan-erh goes out, Chao Kuo-chi toostands up, and follows him to school? Why doesn't he put on the airs ofan uncle? What's the reason that he doesn't? Who isn't aware of the factthat I'm born of a concubine? Would it require two or three months' timeto trace my extraction? But the fact is you've come to kick up all thishullaballoo for fear lest people shouldn't be alive to the truth; andwith the express design of making it public all over the place! But Iwonder who of us two will make the other lose face? Luckily, I've got mywits about me; for had I been a stupid creature ignorant of goodmanners, I would long ago have lost all patience."

  Li Wan was much concerned, but she had to continue to exhort them todesist. But Mrs. Chao proceeded with a long rigmarole until a servantwas unexpectedly heard to report that lady Secunda had sent Miss Ping todeliver a message. Mrs. Chao caught the announcement, and eventuallyheld her peace, when they espied P'ing erh making her appearance. Mrs.Chao hastily forced a saturnine smile, and motioned to her to take aseat. "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 noleisure!"

  Upon seeing P'ing Erh enter, Li Wan felt prompted to ask her the objectof her visit.

  "My lady says," P'ing Erh smilingly responded, "that she apprehends, nowthat Mrs. Chao's brother is dead, that your ladyship and you, miss, arenot aware of the existence of an old precedent. According to theordinary practice no more need be given than twenty taels; but she nowrequests you, miss, to consider what would be best to do; if even youadd 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 ofanother addition, when there's no valid reason for it?" she promptlydemurred. "Who has again been twenty months in the womb? Or is itforsooth any one who's gone to the wars, and managed to escape with hislife, carrying his master on his back? Your mistress is certainly veryingenious! She tells me to disregard the precedent, in order that sheshould pose as a benefactress! She wishes to take the money, whichMadame 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, oreven to adopt any reckless decision. Let her add what she wants and makea display of bounty. When she gets better and is able to come out, shecan effect whatever additions she fancies."

  The moment P'ing Erh arrived, she obtained a fair insight (into ladyFeng's designs), so when she heard the present remarks, she grasped astill more correct idea of things. But perceiving an angry look aboutT'an Ch'un's face, she did not have the temerity to behave towards heras she would, had she found her in the high spirits of past days. Allshe did therefore was to stand aloof with her arms against her sides andto wait in rigid silence. Just at that moment, however, Pao-ch'aidropped in, on her return from the upper rooms. T'an Ch'un quickly roseto her feet, and offered her a seat. But before they had had time toexchange any words, a married woman likewise came to report somebusiness.

  But as T'an Ch'un had been having a good cry, three or four young maidsbrought her a basin, towel, and hand-glass and other articles oftoilette. T'an Ch'un was at the moment seated cross-legged, on a lowwooden couch, so the maid with the basin had, when she drew near, todrop 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 thetowels and the rest of the toilet things, which consisted of alooking-glass, rouge and powder. But P'ing Erh noticed that Shih Shu wasnot in the room, and approaching T'an Ch'un with hasty step, she tuckedup her sleeves for her and unclasped her bracelets. Seizing also a largetowel from the hands of one of the maids, she covered the lapel on thefront part of T'an Ch'un's dress; whereupon T'an Ch'un put out herhands, and washed herself in the basin.

  "My lady and miss," the married woman observed, "may it please you topay 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 ouryoung 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 thepresence of your lady Secunda? This young lady is, it's true, generousand lenient, but I'll go and report you to your mistress. I'll simplytell her that you people have no eye for Miss T'an Ch'un. But when youfind yourselves in a mess, don't bear me any malice."

  At this hint the woman took alarm, and hastily forcing a smile, shepleaded guilty. "I've been rude," she exclaimed. With these words, sherushed with all despatch out of the room.

  T'an Ch'un smoothed her face. While doing so, she turned herself towardsP'ing Erh and gave her a cynical smile. "You've come just one step toolate," 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 upclearly an old custom and came to play her tricks on us. But when weplied her with questions, she luckily had the face to admit that it hadsli
pped from her memory. 'Do you,' I insinuated, 'also forget, whenyou've got anything to report to lady Secunda? and have you subsequentlyto go and hunt up all about it?' Your mistress can't, I fancy, be sopatient as to wait while she goes and institutes proper search."

  P'ing Erh laughed. "Were she to have behaved but once in this wise," sheobserved, "I feel positive that a couple of the tendons of her legswould 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. Yourmind is set upon playing the giddy dogs," continuing, she added;speaking towards those beyond the doorway; "but when your mistress getsquite 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: 'theperson who commits a fault must be the one to suffer.' We don't in anyway presume to treat any mistress with disdain. Our mistress at presentis in delicate health, and if we intentionally provoke her, may we, whenwe 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, sheresumed, addressing herself to T'an Ch'un: "Miss, you know very well howbusy our lady has been and how little she could afford the time to keepthis tribe of people in order. Of course, they couldn't therefore, beprevented from becoming remiss. The adage has it: 'Lookers-on are clearof sight!' During all these years that you, have looked ondispassionately, there have possibly been instances on which, thoughadditions or reductions should have been made, our lady Secunda has notbeen able to effect them, so, miss, do add or curtail whatever you maydeem necessary, in order that, first, Madame Wang may be benefited, andthat, secondly, you mayn't too render nugatory the kindness with whichyou ever deal towards our mistress."

  But scarcely had she finished, than Pao-ch'ai and Li Wan smilinglyinterposed. "What a dear girl!" they ejaculated. "One really can't feelangry with that hussy Feng for being partial to her and fond of her. Wedidn't, at first, see how we could very well alter anything by anyincrease or reduction, but after what you've told us, we must hit uponone or two things and try and devise means to do something, with a viewof 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, butnow that she (P'ing Erh) has happened to come, she has, with a fewwords, quite dissuaded me from my purpose."

  While she spoke, she called the woman, who had been with them a fewminutes back, to return into the room. "For what things for Mr. ChiaHuan and Mr. Chia Lau was the money expended during the year in thefamily school?" she inquired of her.

  "For cakes," replied the woman, "they ate during the year at school; orfor the purchase of paper and pens. Each one of them is allowed eighttaels."

  "The various expenses on behalf of the young men," T'an Ch'un added,"are invariably paid in monthly instalments to the respectivehouseholds. For cousin Chia Huan's, Mrs. Chao receives two taels. ForPao-yue's, Hsi Jen draws two taels from our venerable senior's suite ofapartments. 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 taelshave to be disbursed at school for each of these young fellows? Is itreally for these eight taels that they go to school? But from this dayforth I shall put a stop to this outlay. So P'ing Erh, when you getback, tell your mistress that I say that this item must absolutely bedone away with."

  "This should have been done away with long ago," P'ing Erh smiled. "Lastyear our lady expressed her intention to eliminate it, but with theendless 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 walkaway. But the married women thereupon arrived from the garden of BroadVista with the boxes of eatables. So Shih Shu and Su Yuen at once broughta small dining-table, and P'ing Erh began to fuss about laying theviands on it.

  "If you've said all you had," T'an Ch'un laughed, "you'd better be offand attend to your business. What's the use of your bustling abouthere?"

  "I've really got nothing to do," P'ing Erh answered smiling. "Our ladySecunda sent me first, to deliver a message; and next, because shefeared that the servants in here weren't handy enough. The fact is, shebade 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 alongwith us?" T'an Ch'un then inquired.

  As soon as the waiting-maids heard her inquiry, they speedily rushed outand 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 inthe hall along with the others, and tell them to send the eatableshere."

  T'an Ch'un caught their directions. "Don't be deputing people to go onreckless errands!" she vociferated. "Those are dames, who manageimportant matters and look after the house, and do you send them to askfor eatables and inquire about tea? You haven't even the least notionabout gradation. P'ing Erh is standing here, so tell her to go and givethe message."

  P'ing Erh immediately assented, and issued from the room, bent upongoing 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'vegot 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 quitetired. 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-roomthen fetched a rug and spread it out for her. "It's cold on thosestones," they ventured; "this is, as clean as it can be. So, miss, domake 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 thetea we ordinarily drink," she quietly smiled. "This is really forentertaining the young ladies with. Miss, pray moisten your mouth withsome."

  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 lowvoice: "You're all too fond of trouble! The way you're going on won't doat all! She (T'an Ch'un) is only a young girl, so she is loth to showany severity, or display any temper. This is because she's full ofrespect. Yet you people look down on her and insult her. Should she,however, be actually provoked into any violent fit of anger, people willsimply 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 shemight show herself somewhat wilful, Madame Wang treats her withconsiderable forbearance, and lady Secunda too hasn't the courage tomeddle with her; and do you people have such arrogance as to look downon her? This is certainly just as if an egg were to go and bang itselfagainst 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 dearladies, 'when a wall falls, every one gives it a shove.' That Mrs. Chaohas always been rather topsy-turvey in her ways, and done things byhalves; so whenever there has been any rumpus, you've invariably shovedthe blame on to her shoulders. Never have you had any regard for anysingle person. Your designs are simply awful! Is it likely that allthese years that I've been here, I haven't come to know of them? Had ourlady Secunda mismanaged things just a little bit, she would have longago been run down by every one of you, ladies! Even such as she is, youwould, could you only get the least opportunity, be ready to place herin 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 fearand trembling of her. But we know well enough that no one c
ould say thatshe too does not in the depths of her heart entertain some little dreadfor 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 thatsome unpleasantness was bound to happen. Miss Tertia is, it's true, amere girl, and you've always treated her with little consideration, butout of that company of senior and junior young ladies, she is the onlysoul whom our lady Secunda funks to some certain extent. And yet youpeople now won't look up to her."

  So speaking Ch'iu Wen appeared to view. The married women ran up to herand inquired after her health. "Miss," they said, "do rest a little.They've had their meal served in there, so wait until things have beencleared 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, whenP'ing Erh quickly called her back. Ch'iu Wen, upon turning her headround, caught sight of P'ing Erh. "Have you too," she remarked with asmile, "come here to become something like those guardians postedoutside 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-yue's monthly allowance and our owntoo," 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 bebrought to their notice to-day. That every single matter reported isbound to be objected to; and that even a hundred will just as surely bevetoed."

  "Why is it?" vehemently inquired Ch'iu Wen, upon hearing thisexplanation.

  P'ing Erh and the other servants then promptly told her the variousreasons. "She's just bent," they proceeded, "upon finding a few weightyconcerns in order to establish, at the expense of any decent person whomight chance to present herself, a precedent of some kind or other so asto fix upon a mode of action, which might help to put down expenses totheir proper level, and afford a lesson to the whole household; and whyare 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 reflectdiscredit upon our venerable old mistress and Madame Wang, were they topounce upon one or two matters to make an example of you. But if theycomplied with one or two of your applications, others will againmaintain 'that they are inclined to favour this one and show partialityto that one; that as you had your old mistress' and Madame Wang'sauthority to fall back upon, they were afraid and did not presume toprovoke their displeasure; that they only avail themselves ofsoft-natured persons to make scapegoats of.' Just mark my words! Sheeven means to raise objections in one or two matters connected with ourlady Secunda, in order to be the better able to shut up people'smouths."

  Ch'iu Wen listened to her with patient ear; and then stretching out hertongue, "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 shallseize 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 Erhhastened to enter and wait on her. By that time Mrs. Chao had left, sothe three girls seated themselves on the wooden bed, and went throughtheir repast. Pao-ch'ai faced the south. T'an Ch'un the west. Li Wan theeast. The company of married women stood quietly under the verandahready to answer any calls. Within the precincts of the chamber, onlysuch maids remained in waiting as had ever been their closestattendants. None of the other servants ventured, of their own accord, toput their foot anywhere inside.

  The married women (meanwhile) discussed matters in a confidentialwhisper. "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 grandhonours to expect to fare any better?"

  While they stood on one side, and held counsel together, waiting for themeal to be over to make their several reports, they could not catch somuch as the caw of a crow inside the rooms. Neither did the clatter ofbowls and chopsticks reach their ears. But presently, they discerned amaid raise the frame of the portiere as high as she could, and two othergirls bring the table out. In the tea-room, three maids waited withthree basins in hand. The moment they saw the dining-table brought out,all three walked in. But after a brief interval, they egressed with thebasins and rinsing cups. Shih Shu, Su Yuen and Ying Erh thereupon enteredwith three covered cups of tea, placed in trays. Shortly however thesethree girls also made their exit. Shih Shu then recommended a young maidto be careful and attend to the wants (of their mistresses). "When we'vehad our rice," she added, "we'll come and relieve you. But don't gostealthily again and sit down!"

  The married women at length delivered their reports in a quiet andorderly manner; and as they did not presume to be as contemptuous andoffhandish 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, "aboutwhich I would like to consult your mistress. Happily, I remembered itjust now, so come back as soon as you've had your meal. Miss Pao-ch'aiis also here at present, so, after we four have deliberated together,you can carefully ask your lady whether action is to be takenaccordingly or not."

  P'ing Erh acquiesced and returned to her quarters. "How is it," inquiredlady Feng, "that you've been away such an age?"

  P'ing Erh smiled and gave her a full account of what had recentlytranspired.

  "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 hadsuch 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 sobold as to point the finger of scorn at her, and not treat her like theothers?"

  Lady Feng sighed. "How could you know everything?" she remarked. "Sheis, of course, the offspring of a concubine, but as a mere girl, shecan't be placed on the same footing as a man! By and bye, when any oneaspires to her hand, the sort of supercilious parties, who now tread theworld, will, as a first step, ask whether this young lady is the childof a No. 1 or No. 2 wife. And many of these won't have anything to sayto her, as she is the child, of a No. 2. But really people haven't anyidea that, not to speak of her as the offspring of a secondary wife, shewould be, even as a mere servant-girl of ours, far superior than thevery legitimate daughter of any family. Who, I wonder, will in thefuture be so devoid of good fortune as to break off the match; justbecause he may be inclined to pick and choose between a wife's child anda concubine's child? And who, I would like to know, will be that luckyfellow, who'll snatch her off without any regard to No. 1 and No. 2?"

  Continuing, she resumed, turning smilingly towards P'ing Erh, "You knowwell enough how many ways and means I've had all these years to devisein 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 myback. But now that I'm astride on the tiger's back, (I must go on; forif I put my foot on the ground, I shall be devoured). It's true, mytactics 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 secondplace, much goes out at home, and little comes in; and the hundred andone, large and small, things, which turn up, are still managed with thatmunificence so characteristic of our old ancestors. But the funds, thatcome in throughout the year, fall short of the immense sums of pastdays. And if I try again to effect any savings people will laugh at me,our venerable senior and Madame Wang suffer wrongs, and the servantsabhor me for my stinginess. Yet, if we don't seize the first opportunityto think of some plan for enforcing retrenchment, our means will, in thecourse of a few more years, be completely exhausted."

  "Quite so!" assented P'ing E
rh. "By and bye, there will be three or fourdaughters and two or three more sons added; and our old mistress won'tbe 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-yue and cousin Lin getmarried, there won't be any need to touch a cent of public money, as ourold lady has her own private means, and she can well fork out some. MissSecunda is the child of your senior master yonder, and she too needn'tbe taken into account. So there only remain three or four, for each ofwhom one need only spend, at the utmost, ten thousand taels. Cousin Huanwill marry in the near future; and if an outlay of three thousand taelsprove insufficient, we will be able, by curtailing the bandoline, usedin those rooms for smoothing the hair with, make both ends meet. Andshould our worthy senior's end come about, provision for everything isalready made. All that we'll have to do will be to spend some small sumfor a few miscellaneous trifles; and three to five thousand taels willmore than suffice. So with further economies at present, there will beplenty for all our successive needs. The only fear is lest anythingoccur at an unforeseen juncture; for then it will be dreadful! But don'tlet us give way to apprehensions with regard to the future! You'd betterhave your rice; and when you've done, be quick and go and hear what theymean to treat about in their deliberations. I must now turn thisopportunity to the best account. I was only this very minute lamentingthat I had no help at my disposal. There's Pao-yue, it's true, but he toois made of the same stuff as the rest of them in here. Were I even toget him under my thumb, it would be of no earthly use whatever. Seniorlady is as good-natured as a joss; and she likewise is no good. MissSecunda is worse than useless. Besides, she doesn't belong to thisplace. Miss Quarta is only a child. That young fellow Lan and Huan-erhare, more than any of the others, like frozen kittens with frizzledcoats. They only wait to find some warm hole in a stove into which theymay poke themselves! Really from one and the same womb have been createdtwo human beings (T'an Ch'un and Chia Huan) so totally unlike each otheras 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 deservingenough, but as they also happen to be our connexions, they couldn't verywell be put in charge of our family affairs. What's more, the oneresembles a lantern, decorated with nice girls, apt to spoil so soon asit is blown by a puff of wind. The other has made up her mind not toopen her month in anything that doesn't concern her. When she'squestioned about anything, she simply shakes her head, and repeatsthrice: 'I don't know,' so that it would be an extremely difficult jobto go and ask her to lend a helping hand. There's only therefore MissTertia, who is as sharp of mind as of tongue. She's besides astraightforward creature in this household of ours and Madame Wang isattached to her as well. It's true that she outwardly makes no displayof her feelings for her, but it's all that old thing Mrs. Chao, who hasdone the mischief, for, in her heart, she actually holds her as dear asshe does Pao-yue. She's such a contrast to Huan-erh! He truly makes ithard for any one to care a rap for him. Could I have had my own way, Iwould 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 withher. For if we can afford each other a helping hand, I too won't besingle-handed and alone. And as far as every right principle, eternalprinciple, and honesty of purpose go, we shall with such a person as ahelpmate, be able to save ourselves considerable anxiety, and MadameWang'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 toomalicious 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 tyrannicalrule to the bitter end, people will hate me most relentlessly; so muchso, that under their smiles they'll harbour daggers, and much though wetwo may then be able to boast of having four eyes and two heads betweenus, they'll compass our ruin, when they can at any moment find us offour guard. We should therefore make the best of this crisis, so that assoon as she takes the initiative and sets things in order, all thattribe of people may for a time lose sight of the bitter feelings theycherish against us, for the way we've dealt with them in the past. Butthere's another thing besides. I naturally know the great talents youpossess, but I feel mistrust lest you should, by your own wits, not beable to bring things round. I enjoin these things then on you, now, foralthough a mere girl she has everything at her fingers' ends. The onlything is that she must try and be wary in speech. She's besides so muchbetter read than I am that she's a harder nut to crack. Now the proverbsays: 'in order to be able to catch the rebels, you must first catchtheir chief.' So if she's at present disposed to mature some plan andset to work to put it into practice, she'll certainly have to first andforemost make a start with me. In the event consequently of her raisingobjections to anything I've done, mind you don't begin any dispute withher. The more virulent she is in her censure of me, the more deferentialyou 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 youflare up with her, things won' go well......"

  P'ing Erh did not allow her time to conclude her argument. "You're toomuch disposed to treat us as simpletons!" she smiled. "I've alreadycarried 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, whohave your eyes and mouth so full of me, and only me, might be inclinedto 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 Iwanted you to do, you've shown yourself far sharper than I am. There'snothing in this to drive you into another tantrum, and to make thatmouth of yours begin to chatter away so much about 'you and I,' 'you andI' !"

  "I've actually addressed you as 'you' ;" P'ing Erh rejoined; "but if yoube displeased at it, isn't this a case of a slap on the mouth? You canvery well give me another one, for is it likely that this phiz of minehasn't as yet tasted any, pray?"

  "What a vixen you are!" lady Feng said smilingly. "How many faults willyou go on picking out, before you shut up? You see how ill I am, and yetyou come to rub me the wrong way. Come and sit down; for you and I canat all events have our meal together when there is no one to break inupon us. It's only right that we should."

  While these remarks dropped from her lips, Feng Erh and some three orfour other maids entered the room and laid the small stove-couch table.Lady Feng only ate some birds' nests' soup and emptied two small platesof some recherche light viands; for she had long ago temporarily reducedher customary diet.

  Feng Erh placed the four kinds of eatables allotted to P'ing Erh on thetable. After which, she filled a bowl of rice for her. Then with one legbent on the edge of the stove-couch, while the other rested on theground, P'ing Erh kept lady Feng company during her repast; and waitingon her, afterwards, until she finished rinsing her mouth, she issuedcertain directions to Feng Erh, and crossed over at length to T'anCh'un's quarters. Here she found the courtyard plunged in perfectstillness, for the various inmates, who had been assembled there, hadalready taken their leave.

  But, reader, do you wish to follow up the story? If so, listen to thecircumstances detailed in the next chapter.