中国经典 》 红楼梦 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二十回 王熙凤正言弹妒意 林黛玉俏语谑娇音 CHAPTER XX.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鹗 Gao E
CHAPTER XX.
话说宝玉在林黛玉房中说" 耗子精"，宝钗撞来，讽刺宝玉元宵不知"绿蜡"之典，三人正在房中互相讥刺取笑。那宝玉正恐黛玉饭后贪眠，一时存了食，或夜间走了困，皆非保养身体之法，幸而宝钗走来，大家谈笑，那林黛玉方不欲睡，自己才放了心。忽听他房中嚷起来， 大家侧耳听了一听，林黛玉先笑道：“这是你妈妈和袭人叫嚷呢。那袭人也罢了，你妈妈再要认真排场他，可见老背晦了。”
宝玉忙要赶过来， 宝钗忙一把拉住道：“你别和你妈妈吵才是，他老糊涂了，倒要让他一步为是。”宝玉道：“我知道了。”说毕走来，只见李嬷嬷拄着拐棍，在当地骂袭人：“忘了本的小娼妇！我抬举起你来，这会子我来了，你大模大样的躺在炕上，见我来也不理一理。一心只想妆狐媚子哄宝玉，哄的宝玉不理我，听你们的话。你不过是几两臭银子买来的毛丫头，这屋里你就作耗，如何使得！好不好拉出去配一个小子，看你还妖精似的哄宝玉不哄！ "袭人先只道李嬷嬷不过为他躺着生气，少不得分辨说"病了，才出汗， 蒙着头，原没看见你老人家"等语。后来只管听他说"哄宝玉"，"妆狐媚"，又说"配小子"等，由不得又愧又委屈，禁不住哭起来。
宝玉虽听了这些话， 也不好怎样，少不得替袭人分辨病了吃药等话，又说：“你不信，只问别的丫头们。”李嬷嬷听了这话，益发气起来了，说道：“你只护着那起狐狸，那里认得我了， 叫我问谁去？谁不帮着你呢，谁不是袭人拿下马来的！我都知道那些事。我只和你在老太太，太太跟前去讲了。把你奶了这么大，到如今吃不着奶了，把我丢在一旁，逞着丫头们要我的强。”一面说，一面也哭起来。彼时黛玉宝钗等也走过来劝说：“ 妈妈你老人家担待他们一点子就完了。”李嬷嬷见他二人来了，便拉住诉委屈，将当日吃茶，茜雪出去，与昨日酥酪等事，唠唠叨叨说个不清。可巧凤姐正在上房算完输赢帐， 听得后面声嚷，便知是李嬷嬷老病发了，排揎宝玉的人。——正值他今儿输了钱，迁怒于人。 便连忙赶过来，拉了李嬷嬷，笑道：“好妈妈，别生气。大节下老太太才喜欢了一日， 你是个老人家，别人高声，你还要管他们呢，难道你反不知道规矩，在这里嚷起来， 叫老太太生气不成？你只说谁不好，我替你打他。我家里烧的滚热的野鸡，快来跟我吃酒去。”一面说，一面拉着走，又叫：“丰儿，替你李奶奶拿着拐棍子，擦眼泪的手帕子。”那李嬷嬷脚不沾地跟了凤姐走了，一面还说：“我也不要这老命了，越性今儿没了规矩，闹一场子，讨个没脸，强如受那娼妇蹄子的气！"后面宝钗黛玉随着。见凤姐儿这般，都拍手笑道：“亏这一阵风来，把个老婆子撮了去了。”宝玉点头叹道：“这又不知是那里的帐，只拣软的排揎。昨儿又不知是那个姑娘得罪了，上在他帐上。”一句未了，晴雯在旁笑道：“谁又不疯了，得罪他作什么。便得罪了他，就有本事承任，不犯带累别人！"袭人一面哭，一面拉着宝玉道：“为我得罪了一个老奶奶，你这会子又为我得罪这些人，这还不够我受的，还只是拉别人。”宝玉见他这般病势，又添了这些烦恼，连忙忍气吞声， 安慰他仍旧睡下出汗。又见他汤烧火热，自己守着他，歪在旁边，劝他只养着病， 别想着些没要紧的事生气。袭人冷笑道：“要为这些事生气，这屋里一刻还站不得了。但只是天长日久，只管这样，可叫人怎么样才好呢。时常我劝你，别为我们得罪人，你只顾一时为我们那样，他们都记在心里，遇着坎儿，说的好说不好听，大家什么意思。”一面说，一面禁不住流泪，又怕宝玉烦恼，只得又勉强忍着。
一时杂使的老婆子煎了二和药来。 宝玉见他才有汗意，不肯叫他起来，自己便端着就枕与他吃了，即命小丫头子们铺炕。袭人道：“你吃饭不吃饭，到底老太太斯坦·沃尔弗。，太太跟前坐一会子， 和姑娘们顽一会子再回来。我就静静的躺一躺也好。”宝玉听说，只得替他去了簪环，看他躺下，自往上房来。同贾母吃毕饭，贾母犹欲同那几个老管家嬷嬷斗牌解闷，宝玉记着袭人，便回至房中，见袭人朦朦睡去。自己要睡，天气尚早。彼时晴雯， 绮霰，秋纹，碧痕都寻热闹，找鸳鸯琥珀等耍戏去了，独见麝月一个人在外间房里灯下抹骨牌。 宝玉笑问道：“你怎不同他们顽去？"麝月道：“没有钱。”宝玉道：“床底下堆着那么些，还不够你输的？"麝月道：“都顽去了，这屋里交给谁呢？那一个又病了。满屋里上头是灯，地下是火。那些老妈妈子们，老天拔地，伏侍一天，也该叫他们歇歇，小丫头子们也是伏侍了一天， 这会子还不叫他们顽顽去。所以让他们都去罢，我在这里看着。”
宝玉听了这话， 公然又是一个袭人。因笑道：“我在这里坐着，你放心去罢。”麝月道：“你既在这里，越发不用去了，咱们两个说话顽笑岂不好？"宝玉笑道：“咱两个作什么呢？ 怪没意思的，也罢了，早上你说头痒，这会子没什么事，我替你篦头罢。”麝月听了便道：“就是这样。”说着，将文具镜匣搬来，卸去钗钏，打开头发，宝玉拿了篦子替他一一的梳篦。只篦了三五下，只见晴雯忙忙走进来取钱。一见了他两个，便冷笑道：“哦， 交杯盏还没吃，倒上头了！"宝玉笑道：“你来，我也替你篦一篦。”晴雯道：“我没那么大福。”说着，拿了钱，便摔帘子出去了。
宝玉在麝月身后， 麝月对镜，二人在镜内相视。宝玉便向镜内笑道：“满屋里就只是他磨牙。”麝月听说，忙向镜中摆手，宝玉会意。忽听唿一声帘子响，晴雯又跑进来问道：“我怎么磨牙了？咱们倒得说说。”麝月笑道：“你去你的罢，又来问人了。”晴雯笑道：“你又护着。你们那瞒神弄鬼的，我都知道。等我捞回本儿来再说话。”说着，一径出去了。 这里宝玉通了头，命麝月悄悄的伏侍他睡下，不肯惊动袭人。一宿无话。至次日清晨起来， 袭人已是夜间发了汗，觉得轻省了些，只吃些米汤静养。宝玉放了心，因饭后走到薛姨妈这边来闲逛。 彼时正月内，学房中放年学，闺阁中忌针，却都是闲时。贾环也过来顽， 正遇见宝钗，香菱，莺儿三个赶围棋作耍，贾环见了也要顽。宝钗素习看他亦如宝玉， 并没他意。今儿听他要顽，让他上来坐了一处。一磊十个钱，头一回自己赢了， 心中十分欢喜。后来接连输了几盘，便有些着急。赶着这盘正该自己掷骰子，若掷个七点便赢， 若掷个六点，下该莺儿掷三点就赢了。因拿起骰子来，狠命一掷，一个作定了五， 那一个乱转。莺儿拍着手只叫"幺"，贾环便瞪着眼，"六——七——八"混叫。那骰子偏生转出幺来。 贾环急了，伸手便抓起骰子来，然后就拿钱，说是个六点。莺儿便说：“分明是个幺！"宝钗见贾环急了，便瞅莺儿说道：“越大越没规矩，难道爷们还赖你？ 还不放下钱来呢！"莺儿满心委屈，见宝钗说，不敢则声，只得放下钱来，口内嘟囔说：“一个作爷的，还赖我们这几个钱，连我也不放在眼里。前儿我和宝二爷顽，他输了那些，也没着急。下剩的钱，还是几个小丫头子们一抢，他一笑就罢了。”宝钗不等说完， 连忙断喝。贾环道：“我拿什么比宝玉呢。你们怕他，都和他好，都欺负我不是太太养的。 "说着，便哭了。宝钗忙劝他：“好兄弟，快别说这话，人家笑话你。”又骂莺儿。正值宝玉走来， 见了这般形况，问是怎么了。贾环不敢则声。宝钗素知他家规矩，凡作兄弟的，都怕哥哥。却不知那宝玉是不要人怕他的。他想着：“兄弟们一并都有父母教训，何必我多事， 反生疏了。况且我是正出，他是庶出，饶这样还有人背后谈论，还禁得辖治他了。 "更有个呆意思存在心里。——你道是何呆意？因他自幼姊妹丛中长大，亲姊妹有元春， 探春，伯叔的有迎春，惜春，亲戚中又有史湘云，林黛玉，薛宝钗等诸人。他便料定，原来天生人为万物之灵，凡山川日月之精秀，只钟于女儿，须眉男子不过是些渣滓浊沫而已。因有这个呆念在心，把一切男子都看成混沌浊物，可有可无。只是父亲叔伯兄弟中。 因孔子是亘古第一人说下的。不可忤慢，只得要听他这句话。所以，弟兄之间不过尽其大概的情理就罢了， 并不想自己是丈夫，须要为子弟之表率。是以贾环等都不怕他， 却怕贾母，才让他三分。如今宝钗恐怕宝玉教训他，倒没意思，便连忙替贾环掩饰。宝玉道：“大正月里哭什么？这里不好，你别处顽去。你天天念书，倒念糊涂了。比如这件东西不好，横竖那一件好，就弃了这件取那个。难道你守着这个东西哭一会子就好了不成？ 你原是来取乐顽的，既不能取乐，就往别处去寻乐顽去。哭一会子，难道算取乐顽了不成？倒招自己烦恼，不如快去为是。”贾环听了，只得回来。
赵姨娘见他这般，因问：“又是那里垫了踹窝来了？"一问不答，再问时，贾环便说：“同宝姐姐顽的，莺儿欺负我上提出经验批判主义的变种——经验一元论。认为物理的东，赖我的钱，宝玉哥哥撵我来了。”赵姨娘啐道：“谁叫你上高台盘去了？下流没脸的东西！那里顽不得？谁叫你跑了去讨没意思！"正说着，可巧凤姐在窗外过。都听在耳内。便隔窗说道：“大正月又怎么了？环兄弟小孩子家，一半点儿错了， 你只教导他，说这些淡话作什么！凭他怎么去，还有太太老爷管他呢，就大口啐他！他现是主子，不好了，横竖有教导他的人，与你什么相干！环兄弟，出来，跟我顽去。” 贾环素日怕凤姐比怕王夫人更甚，听见叫他，忙唯唯的出来。赵姨娘也不敢则声。凤姐向贾环道：“你也是个没气性的！时常说给你：要吃，要喝，要顽，要笑，只爱同那一个姐姐妹妹哥哥嫂子顽，就同那个顽。你不听我的话，反叫这些人教的歪心邪意，狐媚子霸道的。自己不尊重，要往下流走，安着坏心，还只管怨人家偏心。输了几个钱？就这么个样儿！"贾环见问，只得诺诺的回说：“输了一二百。”凤姐道：“亏你还是爷，输了一二百钱就这样！ "回头叫丰儿：“去取一吊钱来，姑娘们都在后头顽呢，把他送了顽去。——你明儿再这么下流狐媚子，我先打了你，打发人告诉学里，皮不揭了你的！为你这个不尊重， 恨的你哥哥牙根痒痒，不是我拦着，窝心脚把你的肠子窝出来了。”喝命：“去罢！"贾环诺诺的跟了丰儿，得了钱，自己和迎春等顽去。不在话下。
且说宝玉正和宝钗顽笑， 忽见人说：“史大姑娘来了。”宝玉听了，抬身就走。宝钗笑道：“等着，咱们两个一齐走，瞧瞧他去。”说着，下了炕，同宝玉一齐来至贾母这边。只见史湘云大笑大说的，见他两个来，忙问好厮见。正值林黛玉在旁，因问宝玉：“在那里的？"宝玉便说：“在宝姐姐家的。”黛玉冷笑道：“我说呢，亏在那里绊住，不然早就飞了来了。 "宝玉笑道：“只许同你顽，替你解闷儿。不过偶然去他那里一趟，就说这话。”林黛玉道：“好没意思的话！去不去管我什么事，我又没叫你替我解闷儿。可许你从此不理我呢！"说着，便赌气回房去了。
宝玉忙跟了来，问道：“好好的又生气了？就是我说错了，你到底也还坐在那里，和别人说笑一会子。 又来自己纳闷。”林黛玉道：“你管我呢！"宝玉笑道：“我自然不敢管你， 只没有个看着你自己作践了身子呢。”林黛玉道：“我作践坏了身子，我死，与你何干！"宝玉道：“何苦来，大正月里，死了活了的。”林黛玉道：“偏说死！我这会子就死！你怕死， 你长命百岁的，如何？"宝玉笑道：要象只管这样闹，我还怕死呢？倒不如死了干净。”黛玉忙道：“正是了，要是这样闹，不如死了干净。”宝玉道：“我说我自己死了干净，别听错了话赖人。”正说着，宝钗走来道：“史大妹妹等你呢。”说着，便推宝玉走了。这里黛玉越发气闷，只向窗前流泪。
没两盏茶的工夫，宝玉仍来了。林黛玉见了，越发抽抽噎噎的哭个不住。宝玉见了这样，知难挽回，打叠起千百样的款语温言来劝慰。不料自己未张口圣人之本。”（《通书》）明清之际王夫之把诚解释为“实有”、，只见黛玉先说道：“你又来作什么？横竖如今有人和你顽，比我又会念，又会作，又会写，又会说笑，又怕你生气拉了你去，你又作什么来？死活凭我去罢了！"宝玉听了忙上来悄悄的说道：“你这么个明白人， 难道连‘亲不间疏，先不僭后’也不知道？我虽糊涂，却明白这两句话。头一件， 咱们是姑舅姊妹，宝姐姐是两姨姊妹，论亲戚，他比你疏。第二件，你先来，咱们两个一桌吃，一床睡，长的这么大了，他是才来的，岂有个为他疏你的？"林黛玉啐道：“我难道为叫你疏他？我成了个什么人了呢！我为的是我的心。”宝玉道：“我也为的是我的心。难道你就知你的心，不知我的心不成？"林黛玉听了，低头一语不发，半日说道：“你只怨人行动嗔怪了你，你再不知道你自己怄人难受。就拿今日天气比，分明今儿冷的这样， 你怎么倒反把个青肷披风脱了呢？"宝玉笑道：“何尝不穿着，见你一恼，我一炮燥就脱了。”林黛玉叹道：“回来伤了风，又该饿着吵吃的了。”
二人正说着， 只见湘云走来，笑道：“二哥哥，林姐姐，你们天天一处顽，我好容易来了， 也不理我一理儿。”黛玉笑道：“偏是咬舌子爱说话，连个‘二’哥哥也叫不出来，只是‘爱’哥哥‘爱’哥哥的。回来赶围棋儿，又该你闹‘幺爱三四五’了。”宝玉笑道：“你学惯了他， 明儿连你还咬起来呢。”史湘云道：“他再不放人一点儿，专挑人的不好。你自己便比世人好，也不犯着见一个打趣一个。指出一个人来，你敢挑他，我就伏你。”黛玉忙问是谁。湘云道：“你敢挑宝姐姐的短处，就算你是好的。我算不如你，他怎么不及你呢。”黛玉听了，冷笑道：“我当是谁，原来是他！我那里敢挑他呢。”宝玉不等说完，忙用话岔开。湘云笑道：“这一辈子我自然比不上你。我只保佑着明儿得一个咬舌的林姐夫，时时刻刻你可听‘爱’‘厄’去。阿弥陀佛，那才现在我眼里！"说的众人一笑，湘云忙回身跑了。要知端详，下回分解。
Wang Hsi-feng with earnest words upbraids Mrs. Chao's jealous notions. Lin Tai-yue uses specious language to make sport of Shih Hsiang-yuen's querulous tone of voice.
But to continue. Pao-yue was in Tai yue's apartments relating about the rat-elves, when Pao-ch'ai entered unannounced, and began to gibe Pao-yue, with trenchant irony: how that on the fifteenth of the first moon, he had shown ignorance of the allusion to the green wax; and the three of them then indulged in that room in mutual poignant satire, for the sake of fun. Pao-yue had been giving way to solicitude lest Tai-yue should, by being bent upon napping soon after her meal, be shortly getting an indigestion, or lest sleep should, at night, be completely dispelled, as neither of these things were conducive to the preservation of good health, when luckily Pao-ch'ai walked in, and they chatted and laughed together; and when Lin Tai-yue at length lost all inclination to dose, he himself then felt composed in his mind. But suddenly they heard clamouring begin in his room, and after they had all lent an ear and listened, Lin Tai-yue was the first to smile and make a remark. "It's your nurse having a row with Hsi Jen!" she said. "Hsi Jen treats her well enough, but that nurse of yours would also like to keep her well under her thumb; she's indeed an old dotard;" and Pao-yue was anxious to go over at once, but Pao-ch'ai laid hold of him and kept him back, suggesting: "It's as well that you shouldn't wrangle with your nurse, for she's quite stupid from old age; and it's but fair, on the contrary, that you should bear with her a little."
"I know all about that!" Pao-yue rejoined. But having concluded this remark, he walked into his room, where he discovered nurse Li, leaning on her staff, standing in the centre of the floor, abusing Hsi Jen, saying: "You young wench! how utterly unmindful you are of your origin! It's I who've raised you up, and yet, when I came just now, you put on high airs and mighty side, and remained reclining on the stove-couch! You saw me well enough, but you paid not the least heed to me! Your whole heart is set upon acting like a wily enchantress to befool Pao-yue; and you so impose upon Pao-yue that he doesn't notice me, but merely lends an ear to what you people have to say! You're no more than a low girl bought for a few taels and brought in here; and will it ever do that you should be up to your mischievous tricks in this room? But whether you like it or not, I'll drag you out from this, and give you to some mean fellow, and we'll see whether you will still behave like a very imp, and cajole people or not?"
Hsi Jen was, at first, under the simple impression that the nurse was wrath for no other reason than because she remained lying down, and she felt constrained to explain that "she was unwell, that she had just succeeded in perspiring, and that having had her head covered, she hadn't really perceived the old lady;" but when she came subsequently to hear her mention that she imposed upon Pao-yue, and also go so far as to add that she would be given to some mean fellow, she unavoidably experienced both a sense of shame and injury, and found it impossible to restrain herself from beginning to cry.
Pao-yue had, it is true, caught all that had been said, but unable with any propriety to take notice of it, he thought it his duty to explain matters for her. "She's ill," he observed, "and is taking medicines; and if you don't believe it," he went on, "well then ask the rest of the servant-girls."
Nurse Li at these words flew into a more violent dudgeon. "Your sole delight is to screen that lot of sly foxes!" she remarked, "and do you pay any notice to me? No, none at all! and whom would you like me to go and ask; who's it that doesn't back you? and who hasn't been dismounted from her horse by Hsi Jen? I know all about it; but I'll go with you and explain all these matters to our old mistress and my lady; for I've nursed you till I've brought you to this age, and now that you don't feed on milk, you thrust me on one side, and avail yourself of the servant-girls, in your wish to browbeat me."
As she uttered this remark, she too gave way to tears, but by this time, Tai-yue and Pao-ch'ai had also come over, and they set to work to reassure her. "You, old lady," they urged, "should bear with them a little, and everything will be right!" And when nurse Li saw these two arrive, she hastened to lay bare her grievances to them; and taking up the question of the dismissal in days gone by, of Hsi Hsueeh, for having drunk some tea, of the cream eaten on the previous day, and other similar matters, she spun a long, interminable yarn.
By a strange coincidence lady Feng was at this moment in the upper rooms, where she had been making up the account of losses and winnings, and upon hearing at the back a continuous sound of shouting and bustling, she readily concluded that nurse Li's old complaint was breaking forth, and that she was finding fault with Pao-yue's servants. But she had, as luck would have it, lost money in gambling on this occasion, so that she was ready to visit her resentment upon others. With hurried step, she forthwith came over, and laying hold of nurse Li, "Nurse," she said smiling, "don't lose your temper, on a great festival like this, and after our venerable lady has just gone through a day in excellent spirits! You're an old dame, and should, when others get up a row, still do what is right and keep them in proper order; and aren't you, instead of that, aware what good manners imply, that you will start vociferating in this place, and make our dowager lady full of displeasure? Tell me who's not good, and I'll beat her for you; but be quick and come along with me over to my quarters, where a pheasant which they have roasted is scalding hot, and let us go and have a glass of wine!" And as she spoke, she dragged her along and went on her way. "Feng Erh," she also called, "hold the staff for your old lady Li, and the handkerchief to wipe her tears with!" While nurse Li walked along with lady Feng, her feet scarcely touched the ground, as she kept on saying: "I don't really attach any value to this decrepid existence of mine! and I had rather disregard good manners, have a row and lose face, as it's better, it seems to me, than to put up with the temper of that wench!"
Behind followed Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yue, and at the sight of the way in which lady Feng dealt with her, they both clapped their hands, and exclaimed, laughing, "What piece of luck that this gust of wind has come, and dragged away this old matron!" while Pao-yue nodded his head to and fro and soliloquised with a sigh: "One can neither know whence originates this score; for she will choose the weak one to maltreat; nor can one see what girl has given her offence that she has come to be put in her black books!"
Scarcely had he ended this remark, before Ch'ing Wen, who stood by, put in her word. "Who's gone mad again?" she interposed, "and what good would come by hurting her feelings? But did even any one happen to hurt her, she would have pluck enough to bear the brunt, and wouldn't act so improperly as to involve others!"
Hsi Jen wept, and as she, did so, she drew Pao-yue towards her: "All through my having aggrieved an old nurse," she urged, "you've now again given umbrage, entirely on my account, to this crowd of people; and isn't this still enough for me to bear but must you also go and drag in third parties?"
When Pao-yue realised that to this sickness of hers, had also been superadded all these annoyances, he promptly stifled his resentment, suppressed his voice and consoled her so far as to induce her to lie down again to perspire. And when he further noticed how scalding like soup and burning like fire she was, he himself watched by her, and reclining by her side, he tried to cheer her, saying: "All you must do is to take good care of your ailment; and don't give your mind to those trifling matters, and get angry."
"Were I," Hsi Jen smiled sardonically, "to lose my temper over such concerns, would I be able to stand one moment longer in this room? The only thing is that if she goes on, day after day, doing nothing else than clamour in this manner, how can she let people get along? But you rashly go and hurt people's feelings for our sakes; but they'll bear it in mind, and when they find an opportunity, they'll come out with what's easy enough to say, but what's not pleasant to hear, and how will we all feel then?"
While her mouth gave utterance to these words, she could not stop her tears from running; but fearful, on the other hand, lest Pao-yue should be annoyed, she felt compelled to again strain every nerve to repress them. But in a short while, the old matrons employed for all sorts of duties, brought in some mixture of two drugs; and, as Pao-yue noticed that she was just on the point of perspiring, he did not allow her to get up, but readily taking it up to her, she immediately swallowed it, with her head still on her pillow; whereupon he gave speedy directions to the young servant-maids to lay her stove-couch in order.
"Whether you mean to have anything to eat or not," Hsi Jen advised, "you should after all sit for a time with our old mistress and our lady, and have a romp with the young ladies; after which you can come back again; while I, by quietly keeping lying down, will also feel the better."
When Pao-yue heard this suggestion, he had no help but to accede, and, after she had divested herself of her hair-pins and earrings, and he saw her lie down, he betook himself into the drawing-rooms, where he had his repast with old lady Chia. But the meal over, her ladyship felt still disposed to play at cards with the nurses, who had looked after the household for many years; and Pao-yue, bethinking himself of Hsi Jen, hastened to return to his apartments; where seeing that Hsi Jen was drowsily falling asleep, he himself would have wished to go to bed, but the hour was yet early. And as about this time Ch'ing Wen, I Hsia, Ch'in Wen, Pi Hen had all, in their desire of getting some excitement, started in search of Yuean Yang, Hu Po and their companions, to have a romp with them, and he espied She Yueeh alone in the outer room, having a game of dominoes by lamp-light, Pao-yue inquired full of smiles: "How is it you don't go with them?"
"I've no money," She Yueeh replied.
"Under the bed," continued Pao-yue, "is heaped up all that money, and isn't it enough yet for you to lose from?"
"Had we all gone to play," She Yueeh added, "to whom would the charge of this apartment have been handed over? That other one is sick again, and the whole room is above, one mass of lamps, and below, full of fire; and all those old matrons, ancient as the heavens, should, after all their exertions in waiting upon you from morning to night, be also allowed some rest; while the young servant girls, on the other hand, have likewise been on duty the whole day long, and shouldn't they even at this hour be left to go and have some distraction? and that's why I am in here on watch."
When Pao-yue heard these words, which demonstrated distinctly that she was another Hsi Jen, he consequently put on a smile and remarked: "I'll sit in here, so you had better set your mind at ease and go!"
"Since you remain in here, there's less need for me to go," resumed She Yueeh, "for we two can chat and play and laugh; and won't that be nice?"
"What can we two do? it will be awfully dull! but never mind," Pao-yue rejoined; "this morning you said that your head itched, and now that you have nothing to do, I may as well comb it for you."
"Yes! do so!" readily assented She Yueeh, upon catching what he suggested; and while still speaking, she brought over the dressing-case containing a set of small drawers and looking-glass, and taking off her ornaments, she dishevelled her hair; whereupon Pao-yue picked up the fine comb and passed it repeatedly through her hair; but he had only combed it three or five times, when he perceived Ch'ing Wen hurriedly walk in to fetch some money. As soon as she caught sight of them both: "You haven't as yet drunk from the marriage cup," she said with a smile full of irony, "and have you already put up your hair?"
"Now that you've come, let me also comb yours for you," Pao-yue continued.
"I'm not blessed with such excessive good fortune!" Ch'ing Wen retorted, and as she uttered these words, she took the money, and forthwith dashing the portiere after her, she quitted the room.
Pao-yue stood at the back of She Yueeh, and She Yueeh sat opposite the glass, so that the two of them faced each other in it, and Pao-yue readily observed as he gazed in the glass, "In the whole number of rooms she's the only one who has a glib tongue!"
She Yueeh at these words hastily waved her hand towards the inside of the glass, and Pao-yue understood the hint; and suddenly a sound of "hu" was heard from the portiere, and Ch'ing Wen ran in once again.
"How have I got a glib tongue?" she inquired; "it would be well for us to explain ourselves."
"Go after your business, and have done," She Yueeh interposed laughingly; "what's the use of your coming and asking questions of people?"
"Will you also screen him?" Ch'ing Wen smiled significantly; "I know all about your secret doings, but wait until I've got back my capital, and we'll then talk matters over!"
With this remark still on her lips, she straightway quitted the room, and during this while, Pao-yue having finished combing her hair, asked She Yueeh to quietly wait upon him, while he went to sleep, as he would not like to disturb Hsi Jen.
Of the whole night there is nothing to record. But the next day, when he got up at early dawn, Hsi Jen had already perspired, during the night, so that she felt considerably lighter and better; but limiting her diet to a little rice soup, she remained quiet and nursed herself, and Pao-yue was so relieved in mind that he came, after his meal, over on this side to his aunt Hsueeh's on a saunter. The season was the course of the first moon, and the school was shut up for the new year holidays; while in the inner chambers the girls had put by their needlework, and were all having a time of leisure, and hence it was that when Chia Huan too came over in search of distraction, he discovered Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling, Ying Erh, the three of them, in the act of recreating themselves by playing at chess. Chia Huan, at the sight of them, also wished to join in their games; and Pao-ch'ai, who had always looked upon him with, in fact, the same eye as she did Pao-yue, and with no different sentiment of any kind, pressed him to come up, upon hearing that he was on this occasion desirous to play; and, when he had seated himself together with them, they began to gamble, staking each time a pile of ten cash. The first time, he was the winner, and he felt supremely elated at heart, but as it happened that he subsequently lost in several consecutive games he soon became a prey to considerable distress. But in due course came the game in which it was his turn to cast the dice, and, if in throwing, he got seven spots, he stood to win, but he was likewise bound to be a winner were he to turn up six; and when Ying Erh had turned up three spots and lost, he consequently took up the dice, and dashing them with spite, one of them settled at five; and, as the other reeled wildly about, Ying Erh clapped her hands, and kept on shouting, "one spot;" while Chia Huan at once gazed with fixed eye and cried at random: "It's six, it's seven, it's eight!" But the dice, as it happened, turned up at one spot, and Chia Huan was so exasperated that putting out his hand, he speedily made a snatch at the dice, and eventually was about to lay hold of the money, arguing that it was six spot. But Ying Erh expostulated, "It was distinctly an ace," she said. And as Pao-ch'ai noticed how distressed Chia Huan was, she forthwith cast a glance at Ying Erh and observed: "The older you get, the less manners you have! Is it likely that gentlemen will cheat you? and don't you yet put down the money?"
Ying Erh felt her whole heart much aggrieved, but as she heard Pao-ch'ai make these remarks, she did not presume to utter a sound, and as she was under the necessity of laying down the cash, she muttered to herself: "This one calls himself a gentleman, and yet cheats us of these few cash, for which I myself even have no eye! The other day when I played with Mr. Pao-yue, he lost ever so many, and yet he did not distress himself! and what remained of the cash were besides snatched away by a few servant-girls, but all he did was to smile, that's all!"
Pao-ch'ai did not allow her time to complete what she had to say, but there and then called her to account and made her desist; whereupon Chia Huan exclaimed: "How can I compare with Pao-yue; you all fear him, and keep on good terms with him, while you all look down upon me for not being the child of my lady." And as he uttered these words, he at once gave way to tears.
"My dear cousin," Pao-ch'ai hastened to advise him, "leave off at once language of this kind, for people will laugh at you;" and then went on to scold Ying Erh, when Pao-yue just happened to come in. Perceiving him in this plight, "What is the matter?" he asked; but Chia Huan had not the courage to say anything.
Pao-ch'ai was well aware of the custom, which prevailed in their family, that younger brothers lived in respect of the elder brothers, but she was not however cognisant of the fact that Pao-yue would not that any one should entertain any fear of him. His idea being that elder as well as younger brothers had, all alike, father and mother to admonish them, and that there was no need for any of that officiousness, which, instead of doing good gave, on the contrary, rise to estrangement. "Besides," (he reasoned,) "I'm the offspring of the primary wife, while he's the son of the secondary wife, and, if by treating him as leniently as I have done, there are still those to talk about me, behind my back, how could I exercise any control over him?" But besides these, there were other still more foolish notions, which he fostered in his mind; but what foolish notions they were can you, reader, guess? As a result of his growing up, from his early youth, among a crowd of girls, of whom, in the way of sister, there was Yuean Ch'un, of cousins, from his paternal uncle's side, there were Ying Ch'un, and Hsi Ch'un, and of relatives also there were Shih Hsiang-yuen, Lin Tai-yue, Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and the rest, he, in due course, resolved in his mind that the divine and unsullied virtue of Heaven and earth was only implanted in womankind, and that men were no more than feculent dregs and foul dirt. And for this reason it was that men were without discrimination, considered by him as so many filthy objects, which might or might not exist; while the relationships of father, paternal uncles, and brothers, he did not however presume to disregard, as these were among the injunctions bequeathed by the holy man, and he felt bound to listen to a few of their precepts. But to the above causes must be assigned the fact that, among his brothers, he did no more than accomplish the general purport of the principle of human affections; bearing in mind no thought whatever that he himself was a human being of the male sex, and that it was his duty to be an example to his younger brothers. And this is why Chia Huan and the others entertained no respect for him, though in their veneration for dowager lady Chia, they yielded to him to a certain degree.
Pao-ch'ai harboured fears lest, on this occasion, Pao-yue should call him to book, and put him out of face, and she there and then lost no time in taking Chia Huan's part with a view to screening him.
"In this felicitous first moon what are you blubbering for?" Pao-yue inquired, "if this place isn't nice, why then go somewhere else to play. But from reading books, day after day, you've studied so much that you've become quite a dunce. If this thing, for instance, isn't good, that must, of course, be good, so then discard this and take up that, but is it likely that by sticking to this thing and crying for a while that it will become good? You came originally with the idea of reaping some fun, and you've instead provoked yourself to displeasure, and isn't it better then that you should be off at once."
Chia Huan upon hearing these words could not but come back to his quarters; and Mrs. Chao noticing the frame of mind in which he was felt constrained to inquire: "Where is it that you've been looked down upon by being made to fill up a hole, and being trodden under foot?"
"I was playing with cousin Pao-ch'ai," Chia Huan readily replied, "when Ying Erh insulted me, and deprived me of my money, and brother Pao-yue drove me away."
"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Mrs. Chao, "who bade you (presume so high) as to get up into that lofty tray? You low and barefaced thing! What place is there that you can't go to and play; and who told you to run over there and bring upon yourself all this shame?"
As she spoke, lady Feng was, by a strange coincidence, passing outside under the window; so that every word reached her ear, and she speedily asked from outside the window: "What are you up to in this happy first moon? These brothers are, really, but mere children, and will you just for a slight mistake, go on preaching to him! what's the use of coming out with all you've said? Let him go wherever he pleases; for there are still our lady and Mr. Chia Cheng to keep him in order. But you go and sputter him with your gigantic mouth; he's at present a master, and if there be anything wrong about him, there are, after all, those to rate him; and what business is that of yours? Brother Huan, come out with you, and follow me and let us go and enjoy ourselves."
Chia Huan had ever been in greater fear and trembling of lady Feng, than of madame Wang, so that when her summons reached his ear, he hurriedly went out, while Mrs. Chao, on the other hand, did not venture to breathe a single word.
"You too," resumed lady Feng, addressing Chia Huan; "are a thing devoid of all natural spirit! I've often told you that if you want to eat, drink, play, or laugh, you were quite free to go and play with whatever female cousin, male cousin, or sister-in-law you choose to disport yourself with; but you won't listen to my words. On the contrary, you let all these persons teach you to be depraved in your heart, perverse in your mind, to be sly, artful, and domineering; and you've, besides, no respect for your own self, but will go with that low-bred lot! and your perverse purpose is to begrudge people's preferences! But what you've lost are simply a few cash, and do you behave in this manner? How much did you lose?" she proceeded to ask Chia Huan; and Chia Huan, upon hearing this question, felt constrained to obey, by saying something in the way of a reply. "I've lost," he explained, "some hundred or two hundred cash."
"You have," rejoined lady Feng, "the good fortune of being a gentleman, and do you make such a fuss for the loss of a hundred or two hundred cash!" and turning her head round, "Feng Erh," she added, "go and fetch a thousand cash; and as the girls are all playing at the back, take him along to go and play. And if again by and by, you're so mean and deceitful, I shall, first of all, beat you, and then tell some one to report it at school, and won't your skin be flayed for you? All because of this want of respect of yours, your elder cousin is so angry with you that his teeth itch; and were it not that I prevent him, he would hit you with his foot in the stomach and kick all your intestines out! Get away," she then cried; whereupon Chia Huan obediently followed Feng Erh, and taking the money he went all by himself to play with Ying Ch'un and the rest; where we shall leave him without another word.
But to return to Pao-yue. He was just amusing himself and laughing with Pao-ch'ai, when at an unexpected moment, he heard some one announce that Miss Shih had come. At these words, Pao-yue rose, and was at once going off when "Wait," shouted Pao-ch'ai with a smile, "and we'll go over together and see her."
Saying this, she descended from the stove-couch, and came, in company with Pao-yue, to dowager lady Chia's on this side, where they saw Shih Hsiang-yuen laughing aloud, and talking immoderately; and upon catching sight of them both, she promptly inquired after their healths, and exchanged salutations.
Lin Tai-yue just happened to be standing by, and having set the question to Pao-yue "Where do you come from?" "I come from cousin Pao-ch'ai's rooms," Pao-yue readily replied.
Tai-yue gave a sardonic smile. "What I maintain is this," she rejoined, "that lucky enough for you, you were detained over there; otherwise, you would long ago have, at once, come flying in here!"
"Am I only free to play with you?" Pao-yue inquired, "and to dispel your ennui! I simply went over to her place for a run, and that quite casually, and will you insinuate all these things?"
"Your words are quite devoid of sense," Tai-yue added; "whether you go or not what's that to me? neither did I tell you to give me any distraction; you're quite at liberty from this time forth not to pay any notice to me!"
Saying this, she flew into a high dudgeon and rushed back into her room; but Pao-yue promptly followed in her footsteps: "Here you are again in a huff," he urged, "and all for no reason! Had I even passed any remark that I shouldn't, you should anyhow have still sat in there, and chatted and laughed with the others for a while; instead of that, you come again to sit and mope all alone!"
"Are you my keeper?" Tai-yue expostulated.
"I couldn't, of course," Pao-yue smiled, "presume to exercise any influence over you; but the only thing is that you are doing your own health harm!"
"If I do ruin my health," Tai-yue rejoined, "and I die, it's my own lookout! what's that to do with you?"
"What's the good," protested Pao-yue, "of talking in this happy first moon of dying and of living?"
"I _will_ say die," insisted Tai-yue, "die now, at this very moment! but you're afraid of death; and you may live a long life of a hundred years, but what good will that be!"
"If all we do is to go on nagging in this way," Pao-yue remarked smiling, "will I any more be afraid to die? on the contrary, it would be better to die, and be free!"
"Quite so!" continued Tai-yue with alacrity, "if we go on nagging in this way, it would be better for me to die, and that you should be free of me!"
"I speak of my own self dying," Pao-yue added, "so don't misunderstand my words and accuse people wrongly."
While he was as yet speaking, Pao-ch'ai entered the room: "Cousin Shih is waiting for you;" she said; and with these words, she hastily pushed Pao-yue on, and they walked away.
Tai-yue, meanwhile, became more and more a prey to resentment; and disconsolate as she felt, she shed tears in front of the window. But not time enough had transpired to allow two cups of tea to be drunk, before Pao-yue came back again. At the sight of him, Tai-yue sobbed still more fervently and incessantly, and Pao-yue realising the state she was in, and knowing well enough how arduous a task it would be to bring her round, began to join together a hundred, yea a thousand kinds of soft phrases and tender words to console her. But at an unforeseen moment, and before he could himself open his mouth, he heard Tai-yue anticipate him.
"What have you come back again for?" she asked. "Let me die or live, as I please, and have done! You've really got at present some one to play with you, one who, compared with me, is able to read and able to compose, able to write, to speak, as well as to joke, one too who for fear lest you should have ruffled your temper dragged you away: and what do you return here for now?"
Pao-yue, after listening to all she had to say, hastened to come up to her. "Is it likely," he observed in a low tone of voice, "that an intelligent person like you isn't so much as aware that near relatives can't be separated by a distant relative, and a remote friend set aside an old friend! I'm stupid, there's no gainsaying, but I do anyhow understand what these two sentiments imply. You and I are, in the first place, cousins on my father's sister's side; while sister Pao-ch'ai and I are two cousins on mother's sides, so that, according to the degrees of relationship, she's more distant than yourself. In the second place, you came here first, and we two have our meals at one table and sleep in one bed, having ever since our youth grown up together; while she has only recently come, and how could I ever distance you on her account?"
"Ts'ui!" Tai-yue exclaimed. "Will I forsooth ever make you distance her! who and what kind of person have I become to do such a thing? What (I said) was prompted by my own motives."
"I too," Pao-yue urged, "made those remarks prompted by my own heart's motives, and do you mean to say that your heart can only read the feelings of your own heart, and has no idea whatsoever of my own?"
Tai-yue at these words, lowered her head and said not a word. But after a long interval, "You only know," she continued, "how to feel bitter against people for their action in censuring you: but you don't, after all, know that you yourself provoke people to such a degree, that it's hard for them to put up with it! Take for instance the weather of to-day as an example. It's distinctly very cold, to-day, and yet, how is it that you are so contrary as to go and divest yourself of the pelisse with the bluish breast-fur overlapping the cloth?"
"Why say I didn't wear it?" Pao-yue smilingly observed. "I did, but seeing you get angry I felt suddenly in such a terrible blaze, that I at once took it off!"
Tai-yue heaved a sigh. "You'll by and by catch a cold," she remarked, "and then you'll again have to starve, and vociferate for something to eat!"
While these two were having this colloquy, Hsiang-yuen was seen to walk in! "You two, Ai cousin and cousin Lin," she ventured jokingly, "are together playing every day, and though I've managed to come after ever so much trouble, you pay no heed to me at all!"
"It's invariably the rule," Tai-yue retorted smilingly, "that those who have a defect in their speech will insist upon talking; she can't even come out correctly with 'Erh' (secundus) cousin, and keeps on calling him 'Ai' cousin, 'Ai' cousin! And by and by when you play 'Wei Ch'i' you're sure also to shout out yao, ai, (instead of erh), san; (one, two, three)."
Pao-yue laughed. "If you imitate her," he interposed, "and get into that habit, you'll also begin to bite your tongue when you talk."
"She won't make even the slightest allowance for any one," Hsiang-yuen rejoined; "her sole idea being to pick out others' faults. You may readily be superior to any mortal being, but you shouldn't, after all, offend against what's right and make fun of every person you come across! But I'll point out some one, and if you venture to jeer her, I'll at once submit to you."
"Who is it?" Tai-yue vehemently inquired.
"If you do have the courage," Hsiang-yuen answered, "to pick out cousin Pao-ch'ai's faults, you then may well be held to be first-rate!"
Tai-yue after hearing these words, gave a sarcastic smile. "I was wondering," she observed, "who it was. Is it indeed she? How could I ever presume to pick out hers?"
Pao-yue allowed her no time to finish, but hastened to say something to interrupt the conversation.
"I couldn't, of course, during the whole of this my lifetime," Hsiang-yuen laughed, "attain your standard! but my earnest wish is that by and by should be found for you, cousin Lin, a husband, who bites his tongue when he speaks, so that you should every minute and second listen to 'ai-ya-os!' O-mi-to-fu, won't then your reward be manifest to my eyes!"
As she made this remark, they all burst out laughing heartily, and Hsiang-yuen speedily turned herself round and ran away.
But reader, do you want to know the sequel? Well, then listen to the explanation given in the next chapter.
请欣赏:
请给我换一个看看！ 拜托，快把噪音停掉！我读累了，想听点音乐或者请来支歌曲！
【选集】红楼一春梦 |
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