中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二十一回 賢襲人嬌嗔箴寶玉 俏平兒軟語救賈璉 CHAPTER XXI.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXI.
話說史湘雲跑了出來， 怕林黛玉趕上，寶玉在後忙說：“仔細絆跌了！那裏就趕上了？"林黛玉趕到門前，被寶玉叉手在門框上攔住，笑勸道：“饒他這一遭罷。”林黛玉搬着手說道：“我若饒過雲兒，再不活着！"湘雲見寶玉攔住門，料黛玉不能出來，便立住腳笑道：“好姐姐，饒我這一遭罷。”恰值寶釵來在湘雲身後，也笑道：“我勸你兩個看寶兄弟分上，都丟開手罷。”黛玉道：“我不依。你們是一氣的，都戲弄我不成！"寶玉勸道：“誰敢戲弄你！你不打趣他，他焉敢說你。”四人正難分解，有人來請吃飯，方往前邊來。那天早又掌燈時分， 王夫人，李紈，鳳姐，迎，探，惜等都往賈母這邊來，大傢閑話了一回，各自歸寢。湘雲仍往黛玉房中安歇。
寶玉送他二人到房，那天已二更多時，襲人來催了幾次，方回自己房中來睡。次日天明時，便披衣и鞋往黛玉房中來，不見紫鵑，翠縷二人，衹見他姊妹兩個尚臥在衾內。那林黛玉嚴嚴密密裹着一幅杏子紅綾被，安穩合目而睡。那史湘雲卻一把青絲拖於枕畔，被衹齊胸，一彎雪白的膀子撂於被外，又帶着兩個金鐲子。寶玉見了，嘆道：“睡覺還是不老實！回來風吹了，又嚷肩窩疼了。”一面說，一面輕輕的替他蓋上。林黛玉早已醒了， 覺得有人，就猜着定是寶玉，因翻身一看，果中其料。因說道：“這早晚就跑過來作什麽？"寶玉笑道：“這天還早呢！你起來瞧瞧。”黛玉道：“你先出去，讓我們起來。”寶玉聽了，轉身出至外邊。
黛玉起來叫醒湘雲， 二人都穿了衣服。寶玉復又進來，坐在鏡臺旁邊，衹見紫鵑，雪雁進來伏侍梳洗。湘雲洗了面，翠縷便拿殘水要潑，寶玉道：“站着，我趁勢洗了就完了， 省得又過去費事。”說着便走過來，彎腰洗了兩把。紫鵑遞過香皂去，寶玉道：這盆裏的就不少，不用搓了。”再洗了兩把，便要手巾。翠縷道：“還是這個毛病兒，多早晚纔改。 "寶玉也不理，忙忙的要過青????擦了牙，嗽了口，完畢，見湘雲已梳完了頭，便走過來笑道：“好妹妹，替我梳上頭罷。”湘雲道：“這可不能了。”寶玉笑道：“好妹妹，你先時怎麽替我梳了呢？"湘雲道：“如今我忘了，怎麽梳呢？"寶玉道：“橫竪我不出門，又不帶冠子勒子， 不過打幾根散辮子就完了。”說着，又千妹妹萬妹妹的央告。湘雲衹得扶過他的頭來， 一一梳篦。在傢不戴冠，並不總角，衹將四圍短發編成小辮，往頂心發上歸了總，編一根大辮，紅縧結住。自發頂至辮梢，一路四顆珍珠，下面有金墜腳。湘雲一面編着，一面說道：“這珠子衹三顆了，這一顆不是的。我記得是一樣的，怎麽少了一顆？"寶玉道：“丟了一顆。”湘雲道：“必定是外頭去掉下來，不防被人揀了去，倒便宜他。”黛玉一旁盥手，冷笑道：“也不知是真丟了，也不知是給了人鑲什麽戴去了！"寶玉不答，因鏡臺兩邊俱是妝奩等物，順手拿起來賞玩，不覺又順手拈了胭脂，意欲要往口邊送，因又怕史湘雲說。正猶豫間，湘雲果在身後看見，一手掠着辮子，便伸手來"拍"的一下，從手中將胭脂打落，說道：“這不長進的毛病兒，多早晚纔改過！”
一語未了， 衹見襲人進來，看見這般光景，知是梳洗過了，衹得回來自己梳洗。忽見寶釵走來布拉德雷（FrancisHerbertBradley，1846—1924）英國， 因問道：“寶兄弟那去了？"襲人含笑道：“寶兄弟那裏還有在傢的工夫！"寶釵聽說，心中明白。又聽襲人嘆道：“姊妹們和氣，也有個分寸禮節，也沒個黑傢白日鬧的！憑人怎麽勸，都是耳旁風。”寶釵聽了，心中暗忖道：“倒別看錯了這個丫頭，聽他說話， 倒有些識見。”寶釵便在炕上坐了，慢慢的閑言中套問他年紀家乡等語，留神窺察，其言語志量深可敬愛。
一時寶玉來了， 寶釵方出去。寶玉便問襲人道：“怎麽寶姐姐和你說的這麽熱鬧，見我進來就跑了？ "問一聲不答，再問時，襲人方道：“你問我麽？我那裏知道你們的原故。”寶玉聽了這話，見他臉上氣色非往日可比，便笑道：“怎麽動了真氣？"襲人冷笑道：“我那裏敢動氣！衹是從今以後別再進這屋子了。橫竪有人伏侍你，再別來支使我。我仍舊還伏侍老太太去。 "一面說，一面便在炕上合眼倒下。寶玉見了這般景況，深為駭異，禁不住趕來勸慰。那襲人衹管合了眼不理。寶玉無了主意，因見麝月進來，便問道：“你姐姐怎麽了？"麝月道：“我知道麽？問你自己便明白了。”寶玉聽說，呆了一回，自覺無趣， 便起身嘆道：“不理我罷，我也睡去。”說着，便起身下炕，到自己床上歪下。襲人聽他半日無動靜，微微的打鼾，料他睡着，便起身拿一領鬥蓬來，替他剛壓上，衹聽"忽" 的一聲，寶玉便掀過去，也仍合目裝睡。襲人明知其意，便點頭冷笑道：“你也不用生氣，從此後我衹當啞子，再不說你一聲兒，如何？"寶玉禁不住起身問道：“我又怎麽了？你又勸我。 你勸我也罷了，纔剛又沒見你勸我，一進來你就不理我，賭氣睡了。我還摸不着是為什麽，這會子你又說我惱了。我何嘗聽見你勸我什麽話了。”襲人道：“你心裏還不明白， 還等我說呢！"正鬧着，賈母遣人來叫他吃飯，方往前邊來，胡亂吃了半碗，仍回自己房中。 衹見襲人睡在外頭炕上，麝月在旁邊抹骨牌。寶玉素知麝月與襲人親厚，一並連麝月也不理，揭起軟簾自往裏間來。麝月衹得跟進來。寶玉便推他出去，說：“不敢驚動你們。”麝月衹得笑着出來，喚了兩個小丫頭進來。寶玉拿一本書，歪着看了半天，因要茶，擡頭衹見兩個小丫頭在地下站着。一個大l
些兒的生得十分水秀， 寶玉便問：“你叫什麽名字？"那丫頭便說：“叫蕙香。”寶玉便問：“是誰起的？"蕙香道：“我原叫芸香的，是花大姐姐改了蕙香。”寶玉道：“正經該叫‘晦氣’罷了，什麽蕙香呢！"又問：“你姊妹幾個？"蕙香道：“四個。”寶玉道：“你第幾？" 蕙香道：“第四。”寶玉道：“明兒就叫‘四兒’，不必什麽‘蕙香’‘蘭氣’的。那一個配比這些花， 沒的玷辱了好名好姓。”一面說，一面命他倒了茶來吃。襲人和麝月在外間聽了抿嘴而笑。
這一日，寶玉也不大出房，也不和姊妹丫頭等廝鬧，自己悶悶的，衹不過拿着書解悶無紛擾”。國傢起源於人們在自願基礎上的“共同協定”，這，或弄筆墨，也不使喚衆人，衹叫四兒答應。
誰知四兒是個聰敏乖巧不過的丫頭， 見寶玉用他，他變盡方法籠絡寶玉。至晚飯後，寶玉因吃了兩杯酒，眼餳耳熱之際，若往日則有襲人等大傢喜笑有興，今日卻冷清清的一人對燈，好沒興趣。待要趕了他們去，又怕他們得了意，以後越發來勸，若拿出做上的規矩來鎮唬，似乎無情太甚。說不得橫心衹當他們死了，橫竪自然也要過的。便權當他們死了，毫無牽挂，反能怡然自悅。因命四兒剪燈烹茶，自己看了一回《南華經》。正看至《外篇。て篋》一則，其文曰：
故絶聖棄知，大盜乃止，ノ玉毀珠，小盜不起，
焚符破璽，而民樸鄙，掊鬥折衡，而民不爭，殫殘天
下之聖法，而民始可與論議。擢亂六律，鑠絶竽瑟，
塞瞽曠之耳，而天下始人含其聰矣；滅文章，散五
采，膠離朱之目，而天下始人含其明矣，毀絶鈎繩而棄規
矩，っ工ぽ之指，而天下始人有其巧矣。看至此，意趣洋洋，趁着酒興，不禁提筆續曰：
焚花散麝，而閨閣始人含其勸矣，戕寶釵之仙姿，灰黛
玉之靈竅， 喪減情意，而閨閣之美惡始相類矣。彼含其勸，則無參商之虞矣，戕其仙姿，無戀愛之心矣，灰其靈竅，無纔
思之情矣。彼釵，玉，花，麝者，皆張其羅而穴其隧，所以迷眩纏陷天下者也。續畢，擲筆就寢。頭剛着枕便忽睡去，一夜竟不知所之，直至天明方醒。翻身看時，衹見襲人和衣睡在衾上。 寶玉將昨日的事已付與度外，便推他說道：“起來好生睡，看凍着了。”原來襲人見他無曉夜和姊妹們廝鬧，若直勸他，料不能改，故用柔情以警之，料他不過半日片刻仍復好了。不想寶玉一日夜竟不回轉，自己反不得主意，直一夜沒好生睡得。今忽見寶玉如此， 料他心意回轉，便越性不睬他。寶玉見他不應，便伸手替他解衣，剛解開了鈕子，被襲人將手推開，又自扣了。寶玉無法，衹得拉他的手笑道：“你到底怎麽了？"連問幾聲，襲人睜眼說道：“我也不怎麽。你睡醒了，你自過那邊房裏去梳洗，再遲了就趕不上。 "寶玉道：“我過那裏去？"襲人冷笑道：“你問我，我知道？你愛往那裏去，就往那裏去。 從今咱們兩個丟開手，省得雞聲鵝鬥，叫別人笑。橫竪那邊膩了過來，這邊又有個什麽‘四兒’‘五兒’伏侍。我們這起東西，可是白‘玷辱了好名好姓’的。”寶玉笑道：“你今兒還記着呢！"襲人道：“一百年還記着呢！比不得你，拿着我的話當耳旁風， 夜裏說了，早起就忘了。”寶玉見他嬌嗔滿面，情不可禁，便嚮枕邊拿起一根玉簪來，一跌兩段， 說道：“我再不聽你說，就同這個一樣。”襲人忙的拾了簪子，說道：“大清早起，這是何苦來！聽不聽什麽要緊，也值得這種樣子。”寶玉道：“你那裏知道我心裏急！"襲人笑道：“你也知道着急麽！可知我心裏怎麽樣？快起來洗臉去罷。”說着，二人方起來梳洗。
寶玉往上房去後，誰知黛玉走來，見寶玉不在房中，因翻弄案上書看，可巧翻出昨兒的《莊子》來。看至所續之處，不覺又氣又笑，不禁也提筆續書一絶雲：
無端弄筆是何人？作踐南華《莊子因》。
不悔自己無見識， 卻將醜語怪他人！寫畢，也往上房來見賈母，後往王夫人處來。
誰知鳳姐之女大姐病了， 正亂着請大夫來診脈。大夫便說：“替夫人奶奶們道喜，姐兒發熱是見喜了，並非別病。”王夫人鳳姐聽了，忙遣人問：“可好不好？"醫生回道：“病雖險， 卻順，倒還不妨。預備桑蟲豬尾要緊。”鳳姐聽了，登時忙將起來：一面打掃房屋供奉痘疹娘娘， 一面傳與傢人忌煎炒等物，一面命平兒打點鋪蓋衣服與賈璉隔房，一面又拿大紅尺頭與奶子丫頭親近人等裁衣。 外面又打掃淨室，款留兩個醫生，輪流斟酌診脈下藥， 十二日不放傢去。賈璉衹得搬出外書房來齋戒，鳳姐與平兒都隨着王夫人日日供奉娘娘。
那個賈璉，衹離了鳳姐便要尋事，獨寢了兩夜，便十分難熬，
便暫將小廝們內有清俊的選來出火。 不想榮國府內有一個極不成器破爛酒頭廚子，名叫多官，人見他懦弱無能，都喚他作"多渾蟲"。因他自小父母替他在外娶了一個媳婦，今年方二十來往年紀，生得有幾分人才，見者無不羨愛。他生性輕浮，最喜拈花惹草，多渾蟲又不理論，衹是有酒有肉有錢，便諸事不管了，所以榮寧二府之人都得入手。因這個媳婦美貌異常，輕浮無比，衆人都呼他作"多姑娘兒"。如今賈璉在外熬煎，往日也曾見過這媳婦， 失過魂魄，衹是內懼嬌妻，外懼孌寵，不曾下得手。那多姑娘兒也曾有意於賈璉，衹恨沒空。今聞賈璉挪在外書房來，他便沒事也要走兩趟去招惹。惹的賈璉似饑鼠一般，少不得和心腹的小廝們計議，合同遮掩謀求，多以金帛相許。小廝們焉有不允之理， 況都和這媳婦是好友，一說便成。是夜二鼓人定，多渾蟲醉昏在炕，賈璉便溜了來相會。進門一見其態，早已魄飛魂散，也不用情談款敘，便寬衣動作起來。誰知這媳婦有天生的奇趣，一經男子挨身，便覺遍身筋骨癱軟，使男子如臥綿上，更兼淫態浪言，壓倒娼妓，諸男子至此豈有惜命者哉。那賈璉恨不得連身子化在他身上。那媳婦故作浪語，在下說道：“你傢女兒出花兒，供着娘娘，你也該忌兩日，倒為我髒了身子。 快離了我這裏罷。”賈璉一面大動，一面喘籲籲答道：“你就是娘娘！我那裏管什麽娘娘！ "那媳婦越浪，賈璉越醜態畢露。一時事畢，兩個又海誓山盟，難分難捨，此後遂成相契。
一日大姐毒盡癍回，十二日後送了娘娘，閤家祭天祀祖，還願焚香，慶賀放賞已畢，賈璉仍復搬進臥室。見了風姐，正是俗語雲"新婚不如遠別"，更有無限恩愛，自不必煩絮。
次日早起， 鳳姐往上屋去後，平兒收拾賈璉在外的衣服鋪蓋，不承望枕套中抖出一綹青絲來。 平兒會意，忙拽在袖內，便走至這邊房內來，拿出頭髮來，嚮賈璉笑道：“這是什麽？ "賈璉看見着了忙，搶上來要奪。平兒便跑，被賈璉一把揪住，按在炕上，掰手要奪， 口內笑道：“小蹄子，你不趁早拿出來，我把你膀子橛折了。”平兒笑道：“你就是沒良心的。 我好意瞞着他來問，你倒賭狠！你衹賭狠，等他回來我告訴他，看你怎麽着。”賈璉聽說，忙陪笑央求道：“好人，賞我罷，我再不賭狠了。”
一語未了， 衹聽鳳姐聲音進來。賈璉聽見鬆了手，平兒剛起身，鳳姐已走進來，命平兒快開匣子， 替太太找樣子。平兒忙答應了找時，鳳姐見了賈璉，忽然想起來，便問平兒：“拿出去的東西都收進來了麽？"平兒道：“收進來了。”鳳姐道：“可少什麽沒有？"平兒道：“我也怕丟下一兩件，細細的查了查，也不少。”鳳姐道：“不少就好，衹是別多出來罷？"平兒笑道：“不丟萬幸，誰還添出來呢？"鳳姐冷笑道：“這半個月難保幹淨，或者有相厚的丟下的東西： 戒指，汗巾，香袋兒，再至於頭髮，指甲，都是東西。”一席話，說的賈璉臉都黃了。 賈璉在鳳姐身後，衹望着平兒殺雞抹脖使眼色兒。平兒衹裝着看不見，因笑道：“怎麽我的心就和奶奶的心一樣！我就怕有這些個，留神搜了一搜，竟一點破綻也沒有。奶奶不信時，那些東西我還沒收呢，奶奶親自翻尋一遍去。”鳳姐笑道：“傻丫頭，他便有這些東西，那裏就叫咱們翻着了！"說着，尋了樣子又上去了。
平兒指着鼻子，晃着頭笑道：“這件事怎麽回謝我呢？"喜的個賈璉身癢難撓，跑上來摟着，"心肝腸肉"亂叫亂謝。平兒仍拿了頭髮笑道：“這是我一生的把柄了。好就好，不好就抖露出這事來。”賈璉笑道：“你衹好生收着罷，千萬別叫他知道。”口裏說着，瞅他不防，便搶了過來，笑道：“你拿着終是禍患，不如我燒了他完事了。”一面說着，一面便塞於靴掖內。 平兒咬牙道：“沒良心的東西，過了河就拆橋，明兒還想我替你撒謊！"賈璉見他嬌俏動情， 便摟着求歡，被平兒奪手跑了，急的賈璉彎着腰恨道：“死促狹小淫婦！一定浪上人的火來，他又跑了。”平兒在窗外笑道：“我浪我的，誰叫你動火了？難道圖你受用一回，叫他知道了，又不待見我。”賈璉道：“你不用怕他，等我性子上來，把這醋罐打個稀爛，他纔認得我呢！他防我象防賊的，衹許他同男人說話，不許我和女人說話，我和女人略近些，他就疑惑，他不論小叔子侄兒，大的小的，說說笑笑，就不怕我吃醋了。 以後我也不許他見人！"平兒道：“他醋你使得，你醋他使不得。他原行的正走的正，你行動便有個壞心，連我也不放心，別說他了。”賈璉道：“你兩個一口賊氣。都是你們行的是，我凡行動都存壞心。多早晚都死在我手裏！”
一句未了，鳳姐走進院來，因見平兒在窗外，就問道：“要說話兩個人不在屋裏說，怎麽跑出一個來， 隔着窗子，是什麽意思？"賈璉在窗內接道：“你可問他，倒象屋裏有老虎吃他呢。 "平兒道：“屋裏一個人沒有，我在他跟前作什麽？"鳳姐兒笑道：“正是沒人才好呢。 "平兒聽說，便說道：“這話是說我呢？"鳳姐笑道：“不說你說誰？"平兒道：“別叫我說出好話來了。”說着，也不打簾子讓鳳姐，自己先摔簾子進來，往那邊去了。鳳姐自掀簾子進來， 說道：“平兒瘋魔了。這蹄子認真要降伏我，仔細你的皮要緊！"賈璉聽了， 已絶倒在炕上，拍手笑道：“我竟不知平兒這麽利害，從此倒伏他了。”鳳姐道：“都是你慣的他， 我衹和你說！"賈璉聽說忙道：“你兩個不卯，又拿我來作人。我躲開你們。”鳳姐道：“我看你躲到那裏去。”賈璉道：“我就來。”鳳姐道：“我有話和你商量。”不知商量何事，且聽下回分解。正是：
淑女從來多抱怨，嬌妻自古便含酸。
The eminent Hsi Jen, with winsome ways, rails at Pao-yue, with a view to exhortation. The beauteous P'ing Erh, with soft words, screens Chia Lien.
But to resume our story. When Shih Hsiang-yuen ran out of the room, she was all in a flutter lest Lin Tai-yue should catch her up; but Pao-yue, who came after her, readily shouted out, "You'll trip and fall. How ever could she come up to you?"
Lin Tai-yue went in pursuit of her as far as the entrance, when she was impeded from making further progress by Pao-yue, who stretched his arms out against the posts of the door.
"Were I to spare Yuen Erh, I couldn't live!" Lin Tai-yue exclaimed, as she tugged at his arms. But Hsiang-yuen, perceiving that Pao-yue obstructed the door, and surmising that Tai-yue could not come out, speedily stood still. "My dear cousin," she smilingly pleaded, "do let me off this time!"
But it just happened that Pao-ch'ai, who was coming along, was at the back of Hsiang-yuen, and with a face also beaming with smiles: "I advise you both," she said, "to leave off out of respect for cousin Pao-yue, and have done."
"I don't agree to that," Tai-yue rejoined; "are you people, pray, all of one mind to do nothing but make fun of me?"
"Who ventures to make fun of you?" Pao-yue observed advisingly; "and hadn't you made sport of her, would she have presumed to have said anything about you?"
While this quartet were finding it an arduous task to understand one another, a servant came to invite them to have their repast, and they eventually crossed over to the front side, and as it was already time for the lamps to be lit, madame Wang, widow Li Wan, lady Feng, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and the other cousins, adjourned in a body to dowager lady Chia's apartments on this side, where the whole company spent a while in a chat on irrelevant topics, after which they each returned to their rooms and retired to bed. Hsiang-yuen, as of old, betook herself to Tai-yue's quarters to rest, and Pao-yue escorted them both into their apartment, and it was after the hour had already past the second watch, and Hsi Jen had come and pressed him several times, that he at length returned to his own bedroom and went to sleep. The next morning, as soon as it was daylight, he threw his clothes over him, put on his low shoes and came over into Tai-yue's room, where he however saw nothing of the two girls Tzu Chuean and Ts'ui Lu, as there was no one else here in there besides his two cousins, still reclining under the coverlets. Tai-yue was closely wrapped in a quilt of almond-red silk, and lying quietly, with closed eyes fast asleep; while Shih Hsiang-yuen, with her handful of shiny hair draggling along the edge of the pillow, was covered only up to the chest, and outside the coverlet rested her curved snow-white arm, with the gold bracelets, which she had on.
At the sight of her, Pao-yue heaved a sigh. "Even when asleep," he soliloquised, "she can't be quiet! but by and by, when the wind will have blown on her, she'll again shout that her shoulder is sore!" With these words, he gently covered her, but Lin Tai-yue had already awoke out of her sleep, and becoming aware that there was some one about, she promptly concluded that it must, for a certainty, be Pao-yue, and turning herself accordingly round, and discovering at a glance that the truth was not beyond her conjectures, she observed: "What have you run over to do at this early hour?" to which question Pao-yue replied: "Do you call this early? but get up and see for yourself!"
"First quit the room," Tai-yue suggested, "and let us get up!"
Pao-yue thereupon made his exit into the ante-chamber, and Tai-yue jumped out of bed, and awoke Hsiang-yuen. When both of them had put on their clothes, Pao-yue re-entered and took a seat by the side of the toilet table; whence he beheld Tzu-chuean and Hsueeh Yen walk in and wait upon them, as they dressed their hair and performed their ablutions. Hsiang-yuen had done washing her face, and Ts'uei Lue at once took the remaining water and was about to throw it away, when Pao-yue interposed, saying: "Wait, I'll avail myself of this opportunity to wash too and finish with it, and thus save myself the trouble of having again to go over!" Speaking the while, he hastily came forward, and bending his waist, he washed his face twice with two handfuls of water, and when Tzu Chuean went over to give him the scented soap, Pao-yue added: "In this basin, there's a good deal of it, and there's no need of rubbing any more!" He then washed his face with two more handfuls, and forthwith asked for a towel, and Ts'uei Lue exclaimed: "What! have you still got this failing? when will you turn a new leaf?" But Pao-yue paid not so much as any heed to her, and there and then called for some salt, with which he rubbed his teeth, and rinsed his mouth. When he had done, he perceived that Hsiang-yuen had already finished combing her hair, and speedily coming up to her, he put on a smile, and said: "My dear cousin, comb my hair for me!"
"This can't be done!" Hsiang-yuen objected.
"My dear cousin," Pao-yue continued smirkingly, "how is it that you combed it for me in former times?"
"I've forgotten now how to comb it!" Hsiang-yuen replied.
"I'm not, after all, going out of doors," Pao-yue observed, "nor will I wear a hat or frontlet, so that all that need be done is to plait a few queues, that's all!" Saying this, he went on to appeal to her in a thousand and one endearing terms, so that Hsiang-yuen had no alternative, but to draw his head nearer to her and to comb one queue after another, and as when he stayed at home he wore no hat, nor had, in fact, any tufted horns, she merely took the short surrounding hair from all four sides, and twisting it into small tufts, she collected it together over the hair on the crown of the head, and plaited a large queue, binding it fast with red ribbon; while from the root of the hair to the end of the queue, were four pearls in a row, below which, in the way of a tip, was suspended a golden pendant.
"Of these pearls there are only three," Hsiang-yuen remarked as she went on plaiting; "this isn't one like them; I remember these were all of one kind, and how is it that there's one short?"
"I've lost one," Pao-yue rejoined.
"It must have dropped," Hsiang-yuen added, "when you went out of doors, and been picked up by some one when you were off your guard; and he's now, instead of you, the richer for it."
"One can neither tell whether it has been really lost," Tai-yue, who stood by, interposed, smiling the while sarcastically; "nor could one say whether it hasn't been given away to some one to be mounted in some trinket or other and worn!"
Pao-yue made no reply; but set to work, seeing that the two sides of the dressing table were all full of toilet boxes and other such articles, taking up those that came under his hand and examining them. Grasping unawares a box of cosmetic, which was within his reach, he would have liked to have brought it to his lips, but he feared again lest Hsiang-yuen should chide him. While he was hesitating whether to do so or not, Hsiang-yuen, from behind, stretched forth her arm and gave him a smack, which sent the cosmetic flying from his hand, as she cried out: "You good-for-nothing! when will you mend those weaknesses of yours!" But hardly had she had time to complete this remark, when she caught sight of Hsi Jen walk in, who upon perceiving this state of things, became aware that he was already combed and washed, and she felt constrained to go back and attend to her own coiffure and ablutions. But suddenly, she saw Pao-ch'ai come in and inquire: "Where's cousin Pao-yue gone?"
"Do you mean to say," Hsi Jen insinuated with a sardonic smile, "that your cousin Pao-yue has leisure to stay at home?"
When Pao-ch'ai heard these words, she inwardly comprehended her meaning, and when she further heard Hsi Jen remark with a sigh: "Cousins may well be on intimate terms, but they should also observe some sort of propriety; and they shouldn't night and day romp together; and no matter how people may tender advice it's all like so much wind blowing past the ears." Pao-ch'ai began, at these remarks, to cogitate within her mind: "May I not, possibly, have been mistaken in my estimation of this girl; for to listen to her words, she would really seem to have a certain amount of _savoir faire_!"
Pao-ch'ai thereupon took a seat on the stove-couch, and quietly, in the course of their conversation on one thing and another, she managed to ascertain her age, her native village and other such particulars, and then setting her mind diligently to put, on the sly, her conversation and mental capacity to the test, she discovered how deeply worthy she was to be respected and loved. But in a while Pao-yue arrived, and Pao-ch'ai at once quitted the apartment.
"How is it," Pao-yue at once inquired, "that cousin Pao-ch'ai was chatting along with you so lustily, and that as soon as she saw me enter, she promptly ran away?"
Hsi Jen did not make any reply to his first question, and it was only when he had repeated it that Hsi Jen remarked: "Do you ask me? How can I know what goes on between you two?"
When Pao-yue heard these words, and he noticed that the look on her face was so unlike that of former days, he lost no time in putting on a smile and asking: "Why is it that you too are angry in real earnest?"
"How could I presume to get angry!" Hsi Jen rejoined smiling indifferently; "but you mustn't, from this day forth, put your foot into this room! and as you have anyhow people to wait on you, you shouldn't come again to make use of my services, for I mean to go and attend to our old mistress, as in days of old."
With this remark still on her lips, she lay herself down on the stove-couch and closed her eyes. When Pao-yue perceived the state of mind she was in, he felt deeply surprised and could not refrain from coming forward and trying to cheer her up. But Hsi Jen kept her eyes closed and paid no heed to him, so that Pao-yue was quite at a loss how to act. But espying She Yueeh enter the room, he said with alacrity: "What's up with your sister?"
"Do I know?" answered She Yueeh, "examine your own self and you'll readily know!"
After these words had been heard by Pao-yue, he gazed vacantly for some time, feeling the while very unhappy; but raising himself impetuously: "Well!" he exclaimed, "if you don't notice me, all right, I too will go to sleep," and as he spoke he got up, and, descending from the couch, he betook himself to his own bed and went to sleep. Hsi Jen noticing that he had not budged for ever so long, and that he faintly snored, presumed that he must have fallen fast asleep, so she speedily rose to her feet, and, taking a wrapper, came over and covered him. But a sound of "hu" reached her ear, as Pao-yue promptly threw it off and once again closed his eyes and feigned sleep. Hsi Jen distinctly grasped his idea and, forthwith nodding her head, she smiled coldly. "You really needn't lose your temper! but from this time forth, I'll become mute, and not say one word to you; and what if I do?"
Pao-yue could not restrain himself from rising. "What have I been up to again," he asked, "that you're once more at me with your advice? As far as your advice goes, it's all well and good; but just now without one word of counsel, you paid no heed to me when I came in, but, flying into a huff, you went to sleep. Nor could I make out what it was all about, and now here you are again maintaining that I'm angry. But when did I hear you, pray, give me a word of advice of any kind?"
"Doesn't your mind yet see for itself?" Hsi Jen replied; "and do you still expect me to tell you?"
While they were disputing, dowager lady Chia sent a servant to call him to his repast, and he thereupon crossed over to the front; but after he had hurriedly swallowed a few bowls of rice, he returned to his own apartment, where he discovered Hsi Jen reclining on the outer stove-couch, while She Yueeh was playing with the dominoes by her side. Pao-yue had been ever aware of the intimacy which existed between She Yueeh and Hsi Jen, so that paying not the slightest notice to even She Yueeh, he raised the soft portiere and straightway walked all alone into the inner apartment. She Yueeh felt constrained to follow him in, but Pao-yue at once pushed her out, saying: "I don't venture to disturb you two;" so that She Yueeh had no alternative but to leave the room with a smiling countenance, and to bid two young waiting-maids go in. Pao-yue took hold of a book and read for a considerable time in a reclining position; but upon raising his head to ask for some tea, he caught sight of a couple of waiting-maids, standing below; the one of whom, slightly older than the other, was exceedingly winsome.
"What's your name?" Pao-yue eagerly inquired.
"I'm called Hui Hsiang, (orchid fragrance)," that waiting-maid rejoined simperingly.
"Who gave you this name?" Pao-yue went on to ask.
"I went originally under the name of Yuen Hsiang (Gum Sandarac)," added Hui Hsiang, "but Miss Hua it was who changed it."
"You should really be called Hui Ch'i, (latent fragrance), that would be proper; and why such stuff as Hui Hsiang, (orchid fragrance)?"
"How many sisters have you got?" he further went on to ask of her.
"Four," replied Hui Hsiang.
"Which of them are you?" Pao-yue asked.
"The fourth," answered Hui Hsiang.
"By and by you must be called Ssu Erh, (fourth child)," Pao-yue suggested, "for there's no need for any such nonsense as Hui Hsiang (orchid fragrance) or Lan Ch'i (epidendrum perfume.) Which single girl deserves to be compared to all these flowers, without profaning pretty names and fine surnames!"
As he uttered these words, he bade her give him some tea, which he drank; while Hsi Jen and She Yueeh, who were in the outer apartment, had been listening for a long time and laughing with compressed lips.
Pao-yue did not, on this day, so much as put his foot outside the door of his room, but sat all alone sad and dejected, simply taking up his books, in order to dispel his melancholy fit, or diverting himself with his writing materials; while he did not even avail himself of the services of any of the family servants, but simply bade Ssu Erh answer his calls.
This Ssu Erh was, who would have thought it, a girl gifted with matchless artfulness, and perceiving that Pao-yue had requisitioned her services, she speedily began to devise extreme ways and means to inveigle him. When evening came, and dinner was over, Pao-yue's eyes were scorching hot and his ears burning from the effects of two cups of wine that he had taken. Had it been in past days, he would have now had Hsi Jen and her companions with him, and with all their good cheer and laughter, he would have been enjoying himself. But here was he, on this occasion, dull and forlorn, a solitary being, gazing at the lamp with an absolute lack of pleasure. By and by he felt a certain wish to go after them, but dreading that if they carried their point, they would, in the future, come and tender advice still more immoderate, and that, were he to put on the airs of a superior to intimidate them, he would appear to be too deeply devoid of all feeling, he therefore, needless to say, thwarted the wish of his heart, and treated them just as if they were dead. And as anyway he was constrained also to live, alone though he was, he readily looked upon them, for the time being as departed, and did not worry his mind in the least on their account. On the contrary, he was able to feel happy and contented with his own society. Hence it was that bidding Ssu Erh trim the candles and brew the tea, he himself perused for a time the "Nan Hua Ching," and upon reaching the precept: "On thieves," given on some additional pages, the burden of which was: "Therefore by exterminating intuitive wisdom, and by discarding knowledge, highway robbers will cease to exist, and by taking off the jade and by putting away the pearls, pilferers will not spring to existence; by burning the slips and by breaking up the seals, by smashing the measures, and snapping the scales, the result will be that the people will not wrangle; by abrogating, to the utmost degree, wise rules under the heavens, the people will, at length, be able to take part in deliberation. By putting to confusion the musical scale, and destroying fifes and lutes, by deafening the ears of the blind Kuang, then, at last, will the human race in the world constrain his sense of hearing. By extinguishing literary compositions, by dispersing the five colours and by sticking the eyes of Li Chu, then, at length, mankind under the whole sky, will restrain the perception of his eyes. By destroying and eliminating the hooks and lines, by discarding the compasses and squares, and by amputating Kung Chui's fingers, the human race will ultimately succeed in constraining his ingenuity,"--his high spirits, on perusal of this passage, were so exultant that taking advantage of the exuberance caused by the wine, he picked up his pen, for he could not repress himself, and continued the text in this wise: "By burning the flower, (Hua-Hsi Jen) and dispersing the musk, (She Yueeh), the consequence will be that the inmates of the inner chambers will, eventually, keep advice to themselves. By obliterating Pao-ch'ai's supernatural beauty, by reducing to ashes Tai-yue's spiritual perception, and by destroying and extinguishing my affectionate preferences, the beautiful in the inner chambers as well as the plain will then, at length, be put on the same footing. And as they will keep advice to themselves, there will be no fear of any disagreement. By obliterating her supernatural beauty, I shall then have no incentive for any violent affection; by dissolving her spiritual perception, I will have no feelings with which to foster the memory of her talents. The hair-pin, jade, flower and musk (Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yue, Hsi Jen and She Yueeh) do each and all spread out their snares and dig mines, and thus succeed in inveigling and entrapping every one in the world."
At the conclusion of this annex, he flung the pen away, and lay himself down to sleep. His head had barely reached the pillow before he at once fell fast asleep, remaining the whole night long perfectly unconscious of everything straight up to the break of day, when upon waking and turning himself round, he, at a glance, caught sight of no one else than Hsi Jen, sleeping in her clothes over the coverlet.
Pao-yue had already banished from his mind every thought of what had transpired the previous day, so that forthwith giving Hsi Jen a push: "Get up!" he said, "and be careful where you sleep, as you may catch cold."
The fact is that Hsi Jen was aware that he was, without regard to day or night, ever up to mischief with his female cousins; but presuming that if she earnestly called him to account, he would not mend his ways, she had, for this reason, had recourse to tender language to exhort him, in the hope that, in a short while, he would come round again to his better self. But against all her expectations Pao-yue had, after the lapse of a whole day and night, not changed the least in his manner, and as she really was in her heart quite at a loss what to do, she failed to find throughout the whole night any proper sleep. But when on this day, she unexpectedly perceived Pao-yue in this mood, she flattered herself that he had made up his mind to effect a change, and readily thought it best not to notice him. Pao-yue, seeing that she made no reply, forthwith stretched out his hand and undid her jacket; but he had just unclasped the button, when his arm was pushed away by Hsi Jen, who again made it fast herself.
Pao-yue was so much at his wit's ends that he had no alternative but to take her hand and smilingly ask: "What's the matter with you, after all, that I've had to ask you something time after time?"
Hsi Jen opened her eyes wide. "There's nothing really the matter with me!" she observed; "but as you're awake, you surely had better be going over into the opposite room to comb your hair and wash; for if you dilly-dally any longer, you won't be in time."
"Where shall I go over to?" Pao-yue inquired.
Hsi Jen gave a sarcastic grin. "Do you ask me?" she rejoined; "do I know? you're at perfect liberty to go over wherever you like; from this day forth you and I must part company so as to avoid fighting like cocks or brawling like geese, to the amusement of third parties. Indeed, when you get surfeited on that side, you come over to this, where there are, after all, such girls as Fours and Fives (Ssu Erh and Wu Erh) to dance attendance upon you. But such kind of things as ourselves uselessly defile fine names and fine surnames."
"Do you still remember this to-day!" Pao-yue asked with a smirk.
"Hundred years hence I shall still bear it in mind," Hsi Jen protested; "I'm not like you, who treat my words as so much wind blowing by the side of your ears, that what I've said at night, you've forgotten early in the morning."
Pao-yue perceiving what a seductive though angry air pervaded her face found it difficult to repress his feelings, and speedily taking up, from the side of the pillow, a hair-pin made of jade, he dashed it down breaking it into two exclaiming: "If I again don't listen to your words, may I fare like this hair-pin."
Hsi Jen immediately picked up the hair-pin, as she remarked: "What's up with you at this early hour of the morning? Whether you listen or not is of no consequence; and is it worth while that you should behave as you do?"
"How can you know," Pao-yue answered, "the anguish in my heart!"
"Do you also know what anguish means?" Hsi Jen observed laughing; "if you do, then you can judge what the state of my heart is! But be quick and get up, and wash your face and be off!"
As she spoke, they both got out of bed and performed their toilette; but after Pao-yue had gone to the drawing rooms, and at a moment least expected by any one, Tai-yue walked into his apartment. Noticing that Pao-yue was not in, she was fumbling with the books on the table and examining them, when, as luck would have it, she turned up the Chuang Tzu of the previous day. Upon perusing the passage tagged on by Pao-yue, she could not help feeling both incensed and amused. Nor could she restrain herself from taking up the pen and appending a stanza to this effect:
Who is that man, who of his pen, without good rhyme, made use, A toilsome task to do into the Chuang-tzu text to steal, Who for the knowledge he doth lack no sense of shame doth feel, But language vile and foul employs third parties to abuse?
At the conclusion of what she had to write, she too came into the drawing room; but after paying her respects to dowager lady Chia, she walked over to madame Wang's quarters.
Contrary to everybody's expectations, lady Feng's daughter, Ta Chieh Erh, had fallen ill, and a great fuss was just going on as the doctor had been sent for to diagnose her ailment.
"My congratulations to you, ladies," the doctor explained; "this young lady has fever, as she has small-pox; indeed it's no other complaint!"
As soon as madame Wang and lady Feng heard the tidings, they lost no time in sending round to ascertain whether she was getting on all right or not, and the doctor replied: "The symptoms are, it is true, serious, but favourable; but though after all importing no danger, it's necessary to get ready the silkworms and pigs' tails."
When lady Feng received this report, she, there and then, hastened to make the necessary preparations, and while she had the rooms swept and oblations offered to the goddess of small-pox, she, at the same time, transmitted orders to her household to avoid viands fried or roasted in fat, or other such heating things; and also bade P'ing Erh get ready the bedding and clothes for Chia Lien in a separate room, and taking pieces of deep red cotton material, she distributed them to the nurses, waiting-maids and all the servants, who were in close attendance, to cut out clothes for themselves. And having had likewise some apartments outside swept clean, she detained two doctors to alternately deliberate on the treatment, feel the pulse and administer the medicines; and for twelve days, they were not at liberty to return to their homes; while Chia Lien had no help but to move his quarters temporarily into the outer library, and lady Feng and P'ing Erh remained both in daily attendance upon madame Wang in her devotions to the goddess.
Chia Lien, now that he was separated from lady Feng, soon felt disposed to look round for a flame. He had only slept alone for a couple of nights, but these nights had been so intensely intolerable that he had no option than to choose, for the time being, from among the young pages, those who were of handsome appearance, and bring them over to relieve his monotony. In the Jung Kuo mansion, there was, it happened, a cook, a most useless, good-for-nothing drunkard, whose name was To Kuan, in whom people recognised an infirm and a useless husband so that they all dubbed him with the name of To Hun Ch'ung, the stupid worm To. As the wife given to him in marriage by his father and mother was this year just twenty, and possessed further several traits of beauty, and was also naturally of a flighty and frivolous disposition, she had an extreme penchant for violent flirtations. But To Hun-ch'ung, on the other hand, did not concern himself (with her deportment), and as long as he had wine, meat and money he paid no heed whatever to anything. And for this reason it was that all the men in the two mansions of Ning and Jung had been successful in their attentions; and as this woman was exceptionally fascinating and incomparably giddy, she was generally known by all by the name To Ku Ning (Miss To).
Chia Lien, now that he had his quarters outside, chafed under the pangs of irksome ennui, yet he too, in days gone by, had set his eyes upon this woman, and had for long, watered in the mouth with admiration; but as, inside, he feared his winsome wife, and outside, he dreaded his beloved lads, he had not made any advances. But this To Ku Niang had likewise a liking for Chia Lien, and was full of resentment at the absence of a favourable opportunity; but she had recently come to hear that Chia Lien had shifted his quarters into the outer library, and her wont was, even in the absence of any legitimate purpose, to go over three and four times to entice him on; but though Chia Lien was, in every respect, like a rat smitten with hunger, he could not dispense with holding consultation with the young friends who enjoyed his confidence; and as he struck a bargain with them for a large amount of money and silks, how could they ever not have come to terms (with him to speak on his behalf)? Besides, they were all old friends of this woman, so that, as soon as they conveyed the proposal, she willingly accepted it. When night came To Hun Ch'ung was lying on the couch in a state of drunkenness, and at the second watch, when every one was quiet, Chia Lien at once slipped in, and they had their assignation. As soon as he gazed upon her face, he lost control over his senses, and without even one word of ordinary greeting or commonplace remark, they forthwith, fervently indulged in a most endearing tete-a-tete.
This woman possessed, who could have thought it, a strange natural charm; for, as soon as any one of her lovers came within any close distance of her, he speedily could not but notice that her very tendons and bones mollified, paralysed-like from feeling, so that his was the sensation of basking in a soft bower of love. What is more, her demonstrative ways and free-and-easy talk put even those of a born coquette to shame, with the result that while Chia Lien, at this time, longed to become heart and soul one with her, the woman designedly indulged in immodest innuendoes.
"Your daughter is at home," she insinuated in her recumbent position, "ill with the small-pox, and prayers are being offered to the goddess; and your duty too should be to abstain from love affairs for a couple of days, but on the contrary, by flirting with me, you've contaminated yourself! but, you'd better be off at once from me here!"
"You're my goddess!" gaspingly protested Chia Lien, as he gave way to demonstrativeness; "what do I care about any other goddess!"
The woman began to be still more indelicate in her manner, so that Chia Lien could not refrain himself from making a full exhibition of his warm sentiments. When their tete-a-tete had come to a close, they both went on again to vow by the mountains and swear by the seas, and though they found it difficult to part company and hard to tear themselves away, they, in due course, became, after this occasion, mutual sworn friends. But by a certain day the virus in Ta Chieh's system had become exhausted, and the spots subsided, and at the expiry of twelve days the goddess was removed, and the whole household offered sacrifices to heaven, worshipped the ancestors, paid their vows, burnt incense, exchanged congratulations, and distributed presents. And these formalities observed, Chia Lien once more moved back into his own bedroom and was reunited with lady Feng. The proverb is indeed true which says: "That a new marriage is not equal to a long separation," for there ensued between them demonstrations of loving affection still more numerous than heretofore, to which we need not, of course, refer with any minuteness.
The next day, at an early hour, after lady Feng had gone into the upper rooms, P'ing Erh set to work to put in order the clothes and bedding, which had been brought from outside, when, contrary to her expectation, a tress of hair fell out from inside the pillow-case, as she was intent upon shaking it. P'ing Erh understood its import, and taking at once the hair, she concealed it in her sleeve, and there and then came over into the room on this side, where she produced the hair, and smirkingly asked Chia Lien, "What's this?"
Chia Lien, at the sight of it, lost no time in making a snatch with the idea of depriving her of it; and when P'ing Erh speedily endeavoured to run away, she was clutched by Chia Lien, who put her down on the stove-couch, and came up to take it from her hand.
"You heartless fellow!" P'ing Erh laughingly exclaimed, "I conceal this, with every good purpose, from her knowledge, and come to ask you about it, and you, on the contrary, fly into a rage! But wait till she comes back, and I'll tell her, and we'll see what will happen."
At these words, Chia Lien hastily forced a smile. "Dear girl!" he entreated, "give it to me, and I won't venture again to fly into a passion."
But hardly was this remark finished, when they heard the voice of lady Feng penetrate into the room. As soon as it reached the ear of Chia Lien, he was at a loss whether it was better to let her go or to snatch it away, and kept on shouting, "My dear girl! don't let her know."
P'ing Erh at once rose to her feet; but lady Feng had already entered the room; and she went on to bid P'ing Erh be quick and open a box and find a pattern for madame Wang. P'ing Erh expressed her obedience with alacrity; but while in search of it, lady Feng caught sight of Chia Lien; and suddenly remembering something, she hastened to ask P'ing Erh about it.
"The other day," she observed, "some things were taken out, and have you brought them all in or not?"
"I have!" P'ing Erh assented.
"Is there anything short or not?" lady Feng inquired.
"I've carefully looked at them," P'ing Erh added, "and haven't found even one single thing short."
"Is there anything in excess?" lady Feng went on to ascertain.
P'ing Erh laughed. "It's enough," she rejoined, "that there's nothing short; and how could there really turn out to be anything over and above?"
"That this half month," lady Feng continued still smiling, "things have gone on immaculately it would be hard to vouch; for some intimate friend there may have been, who possibly has left something behind, in the shape of a ring, handkerchief or other such object, there's no saying for certain!"
While these words were being spoken, Chia Lien's face turned perfectly sallow, and, as he stood behind lady Feng, he was intent upon gazing at P'ing Erh, making signs to her (that he was going) to cut her throat as a chicken is killed, (threatening her not to utter a sound) and entreating her to screen him; but P'ing Erh pretended not to notice him, and consequently observed smiling: "How is it that my ideas should coincide with those of yours, my lady; and as I suspected that there may have been something of the kind, I carefully searched all over, but I didn't find even so much as the slightest thing wrong; and if you don't believe me, my lady, you can search for your own self."
"You fool!" lady Feng laughed, "had he any things of the sort, would he be likely to let you and I discover them!"
With these words still on her lips, she took the patterns and went her way; whereupon P'ing Erh pointed at her nose, and shook her head to and fro. "In this matter," she smiled, "how much you should be grateful to me!" A remark which so delighted Chia Lien that his eyebrows distended, and his eyes smiled, and running over, he clasped her in his embrace, and called her promiscuously: "My darling, my pet, my own treasure!"
"This," observed P'ing Erh, with the tress in her hand, "will be my source of power, during all my lifetime! if you treat me kindly, then well and good! but if you behave unkindly, then we'll at once produce this thing!"
"Do put it away, please," Chia Lien entreated smirkingly, "and don't, on an any account, let her know about it!" and as he uttered these words, he noticed that she was off her guard, and, with a snatch, readily grabbed it adding laughingly: "In your hands, it would be a source of woe, so that it's better that I should burn it, and have done with it!" Saying this he simultaneously shoved it down the sides of his boot, while P'ing Erh shouted as she set her teeth close: "You wicked man! you cross the river and then demolish the bridge! but do you imagine that I'll by and by again tell lies on your behalf!"
Chia Lien perceiving how heart-stirring her seductive charms were, forthwith clasped her in his arms, and begged her to be his; but P'ing Erh snatched her hands out of his grasp and ran away out of the room; which so exasperated Chia Lien that as he bent his body, he exclaimed, full of indignation: "What a dreadful niggardly young wench! she actually sets her mind to stir up people's affections with her wanton blandishments, and then, after all, she runs away!"
"If I be wanton, it's my own look-out;" P'ing Erh answered, from outside the window, with a grin, "and who told you to arouse your affections? Do you forsooth mean to imply that my wish is to become your tool? And did she come to know about it would she again ever forgive me?"
"You needn't dread her!" Chia Lien urged; "wait till my monkey is up, and I'll take this jealous woman, and beat her to atoms; and she'll then know what stuff I'm made of. She watches me just as she would watch a thief! and she's only to hobnob with men, and I'm not to say a word to any girl! and if I do say aught to a girl, or get anywhere near one, she must at once give way to suspicion. But with no regard to younger brothers or nephews, to young and old, she prattles and giggles with them, and doesn't entertain any fear that I may be jealous; but henceforward I too won't allow her to set eyes upon any man."
"If she be jealous, there's every reason," P'ing Erh answered, "but for you to be jealous on her account isn't right. Her conduct is really straightforward, and her deportment upright, but your conduct is actuated by an evil heart, so much so that even I don't feel my heart at ease, not to say anything of her."
"You two," continued Chia Lien, "have a mouth full of malicious breath! Everything the couple of you do is invariably proper, while whatever I do is all from an evil heart! But some time or other I shall bring you both to your end with my own hands!"
This sentence was scarcely at an end, when lady Feng walked into the court. "If you're bent upon chatting," she urgently inquired, upon seeing P'ing Erh outside the window, "why don't you go into the room? and what do you mean, instead, by running out, and speaking with the window between?"
Chia Lien from inside took up the string of the conversation. "You should ask her," he said. "It would verily seem as if there were a tiger in the room to eat her up."
"There's not a single person in the room," P'ing Erh rejoined, "and what shall I stay and do with him?"
"It's just the proper thing that there should be no one else! Isn't it?" lady Feng remarked grinning sarcastically.
"Do these words allude to me?" P'ing Erh hastily asked, as soon as she had heard what she said.
Lady Feng forthwith laughed. "If they don't allude to you," she continued, "to whom do they?"
"Don't press me to come out with some nice things!" P'ing Erh insinuated, and, as she spoke, she did not even raise the portiere (for lady Feng to enter), but straightway betook herself to the opposite side.
Lady Feng lifted the portiere with her own hands, and walked into the room. "That girl P'ing Erh," she exclaimed, "has gone mad, and if this hussey does in real earnest wish to try and get the upper hand of me, it would be well for you to mind your skin."
Chia Lien listened to her, as he kept reclining on the couch. "I never in the least knew," he ventured, clapping his hands and laughing, "that P'ing Erh was so dreadful; and I must, after all, from henceforth look up to her with respect!"
"It's all through your humouring her," lady Feng rejoined; "so I'll simply settle scores with you and finish with it."
"Ts'ui!" ejaculated Chia Lien at these words, "because you two can't agree, must you again make a scapegoat of me! Well then, I'll get out of the way of both of you!"
"I'll see where you'll go and hide," lady Feng observed.
"I've got somewhere to go!" Chia Lien added; and with these words, he was about to go, when lady Feng urged: "Don't be off! I have something to tell you."
What it is, is not yet known, but, reader, listen to the account given in the next chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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