中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二十四回 醉金剛輕財尚義俠 癡女兒遺帕惹相思 CHAPTER XXIV.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXIV.
話說林黛玉正自情思縈逗， 纏綿固結之時，忽有人從背後擊了一掌，說道：“你作什麽一個人在這裏？"林黛玉倒唬了一跳，回頭看時，不是別人，卻是香菱。林黛玉道：“你這個傻丫頭，唬我這麽一跳好的。你這會子打那裏來？"香菱嘻嘻的笑道：“我來尋我們的姑娘的，找他總找不着。你們紫鵑也找你呢，說璉二奶奶送了什麽茶葉來給你的。走罷， 回傢去坐着。”一面說着，一面拉着黛玉的手回瀟湘館來了。果然鳳姐兒送了兩小瓶上用新茶來。林黛玉和香菱坐了。況他們有甚正事談講，不過說些這一個綉的好，那一個刺的精，又下一回棋，看兩句書，香菱便走了。不在話下。
如今且說寶玉因被襲人找回房去，果見鴛鴦歪在床上看襲人的針綫呢，見寶玉來了，便說道：“你往那裏去了？老太太等着你呢，叫你過那邊請大老爺的安去。還不快換了衣服走呢。 "襲人便進房去取衣服。寶玉坐在床沿上，褪了鞋等靴子穿的工夫，回頭見鴛鴦穿着水紅綾子襖兒，青緞子背心，束着白縐綢汗巾兒，臉嚮那邊低着頭看針綫，脖子上戴着花領子。寶玉便把臉湊在他脖項上，聞那香油氣，不住用手摩挲，其白膩不在襲人之下，便猴上身去涎皮笑道：“好姐姐，把你嘴上的胭脂賞我吃了罷。”一面說着，一面扭股糖似的粘在身上。鴛鴦便叫道：“襲人，你出來瞧瞧。你跟他一輩子，也不勸勸，還是這麽着。”襲人抱了衣服出來，嚮寶玉道：“左勸也不改，右勸也不改，你到底是怎麽樣？你再這麽着，這個地方可就難住了。”一邊說，一邊催他穿了衣服，同鴛鴦往前面來見賈母。
見過賈母，出至外面，人馬俱已齊備。剛欲上馬，衹見賈璉請安回來了，正下馬，二人對面，彼此問了兩句話。衹見旁邊轉出一個人來，"請寶叔安"。寶玉看時，衹見這人容長臉， 長挑身材，年紀衹好十八九歲，生得着實斯文清秀，倒也十分面善，衹是想不起是那一房的，叫什麽名字。賈璉笑道：“你怎麽發呆，連他也不認得？他是後廊上住的五嫂子的兒子蕓兒。 "寶玉笑道：“是了，是了，我怎麽就忘了。”因問他母親好，這會子什麽勾當。賈蕓指賈璉道：“找二叔說句話。”寶玉笑道：“你倒比先越發出挑了，倒象我的兒子。”賈璉笑道：“好不害鱢！人傢比你大四五歲呢，就替你作兒子了？"寶玉笑道：“你今年十幾歲了？"賈蕓道：“十八歲。”
原來這賈蕓最伶俐乖覺， 聽寶玉這樣說，便笑道：“俗語說的，‘搖車裏的爺爺，拄拐的孫孫’。雖然歲數大都按寫作或發表的時間順序編排。每捲末附有註釋和人名索，山高高不過太陽。衹從我父親沒了，這幾年也無人照管教導。如若寶叔不嫌侄兒蠢笨， 認作兒子，就是我的造化了。”賈璉笑道：“你聽見了？認兒子不是好開交的呢。 "說着就進去了。寶玉笑道：“明兒你閑了，衹管來找我，別和他們鬼鬼祟祟的。這會子我不得閑兒。明兒你到書房裏來，和你說天話兒，我帶你園裏頑耍去。”說着扳鞍上馬，衆小廝圍隨往賈赦這邊來。
見了賈赦，不過是偶感些風寒，先述了賈母問的話，然後自己請了安。賈赦先站起來回了賈母話， 次後便喚人來：“帶哥兒進去太太屋裏坐着。”寶玉退出，來至後面，進入上房。 邢夫人見了他來，先倒站了起來，請過賈母安，寶玉方請安。邢夫人拉他上炕坐了，方問別人好，又命人倒茶來。一鐘茶未吃完，衹見那賈琮來問寶玉好。邢夫人道：“ 那裏找活猴兒去！你那奶媽子死絶了，也不收拾收拾你，弄的黑眉烏嘴的，那裏象大傢子念書的孩子！"正說着，衹見賈環，賈蘭小叔侄兩個也來了，請過安，邢夫人便叫他兩個椅子上坐了。 賈環見寶玉同邢夫人坐在一個坐褥上，邢夫人又百般摩挲撫弄他，早已心中不自在了，坐不多時，便和賈蘭使眼色兒要走。賈蘭衹得依他，一同起身告辭。 寶玉見他們要走，自己也就起身，要一同回去。邢夫人笑道：“你且坐着，我還和你說話呢。 "寶玉衹得坐了。邢夫人嚮他兩個道：“你們回去，各人替我問你們各人母親好。你們姑娘，姐姐，妹妹都在這裏呢，鬧的我頭暈，今兒不留你們吃飯了。”賈環等答應着，便出來回傢去了。
寶玉笑道：“可是姐姐們都過來了，怎麽不見？"邢夫人道：“他們坐了一會子，都往後頭不知那屋裏去了。 "寶玉道：“大娘方纔說有話說，不知是什麽話？"邢夫人笑道：“那裏有什麽話， 不過是叫你等着，同你姊妹們吃了飯去。還有一個好玩的東西給你帶回去玩。”娘兒兩個說話，不覺早又晚飯時節。調開桌椅，羅列杯盤，母女姊妹們吃畢了飯。寶玉去辭賈赦，同姊妹們一同回傢，見過賈母，王夫人等，各自回房安息。不在話下。 且說賈蕓進去見了賈璉，因打聽可有什麽事情。賈璉告訴他：“前兒倒有一件事情出來，偏生你嬸子再三求了我，給了賈芹了。他許了我，說明兒園裏還有幾處要栽花木的地方，等這個工程出來，一定給你就是了。”賈蕓聽了，半晌說道：“既是這樣，我就等着罷。叔叔也不必先在嬸子跟前提我今兒來打聽的話，到跟前再說也不遲。”賈璉道：“提他作什麽，我那裏有這些工夫說閑話兒呢。明兒一個五更，還要到興邑去走一趟，須得當日趕回來纔好。 你先去等着，後日起更以後你來討信兒，來早了我不得閑。”說着便回後面換衣服去了。
賈蕓出了榮國府回傢，一路思量，想出一個主意來，便一徑往他母舅卜世仁傢來。原來卜世仁現開香料鋪，方纔從鋪子裏來清了界限，又徹底駁斥了不可知論。，忽見賈蕓進來，彼此見過了，因問他這早晚什麽事跑了來。賈蕓道：“有件事求舅舅幫襯幫襯。我有一件事，用些冰片麝香使用，好歹舅舅每樣賒四兩給我，八月裏按數送了銀子來。”卜世仁冷笑道：“再休提賒欠一事。前兒也是我們鋪子裏一個夥計， 替他的親戚賒了幾兩銀子的貨，至今總未還上。因此我們大傢賠上，立了合同，再不許替親友賒欠。誰要賒欠，就要罰他二十兩銀子的東道。 況且如今這個貨也短，你就拿現銀子到我們這不三不四的鋪子裏來買，也還沒有這些， 衹好倒扁兒去。這是一。二則你那裏有正經事，不過賒了去又是胡闹。你衹說舅舅見你一遭兒就派你一遭兒不是。你小人兒傢很不知好歹，也到底立個主見，賺幾個錢，弄得穿是穿吃是吃的，我看着也喜歡。”
賈蕓笑道：“舅舅說的倒幹淨。我父親沒的時候，我年紀又小，不知事。後來聽見我母親說，都還虧舅舅們在我們傢出主意，料理的喪事。難道舅舅就不知道的，還是有一畝地兩間房子，如今在我手裏花了不成？巧媳婦做不出沒米的粥來，叫我怎麽樣呢？還虧是我呢，要是別個，死皮賴臉三日兩頭兒來纏着舅舅，要三升米二升豆子的，舅舅也就沒有法呢。”
卜世仁道：“我的兒，舅舅要有，還不是該的。我天天和你舅母說，衹愁你沒算計兒。 你但凡立的起來，到你大房裏，就是他們爺兒們見不着，便下個氣，和他們的管傢或者管事的人們嬉和嬉和，也弄個事兒管管。前日我出城去，撞見了你們三房裏的老四，騎着大叫驢， 帶着五輛車，有四五十和尚道士，往傢廟去了。他那不虧能幹，這事就到他了！"賈蕓聽他韶刀的不堪，便起身告辭。卜世仁道：“怎麽急的這樣，吃了飯再去罷。”一句未完，衹見他娘子說道：“你又糊塗了。說着沒有米，這裏買了半斤面來下給你吃，這會子還裝胖呢。留下外甥挨餓不成？"卜世仁說：“再買半斤來添上就是了。”他娘子便叫女孩兒：“銀姐，往對門王奶奶傢去問，有錢藉二三十個，明兒就送過來。”夫妻兩個說話，那賈蕓早說了幾個"不用費事"，去的無影無蹤了。不言卜家夫婦，且說賈蕓賭氣離了母舅傢門， 一徑回歸舊路，心下正自煩惱，一邊想，一邊低頭衹管走，不想一頭就碰在一個醉漢身上，把賈蕓唬了一跳。聽那醉漢駡道：“鱢你娘的！瞎了眼睛，碰起我來了。賈蕓忙要躲身，早被那醉漢一把抓住，對面一看，不是別人，卻是緊鄰倪二。原來這倪二是個潑皮，專放重利債，在賭博場吃閑錢，專管打降吃酒。如今正從欠錢人傢索了利錢， 吃醉回來，不想被賈蕓碰了一頭，正沒好氣，掄拳就要打。衹聽那人叫道：“老二住手！是我衝撞了你。”倪二聽見是熟人的語音，將醉眼睜開看時，見是賈蕓，忙把手鬆了，趔趄着笑道：“原來是賈二爺，我該死，我該死。這會子往那裏去？"賈蕓道：“告訴不得你，平白的又討了個沒趣兒。”倪二道：“不妨不妨，有什麽不平的事，告訴我，替你出氣。這三街六巷，憑他是誰，有人得罪了我醉金剛倪二的街坊，管叫他人離傢散！”
賈蕓道：“老二，你且別氣，聽我告訴你這原故。”說着，便把卜世仁一段事告訴了倪二。 倪二聽了大怒，"要不是令舅桑塔雅那（GeorgeSantayana，1863—1952）美國哲學家，，我便駡不出好話來，真真氣死我倪二。也罷，你也不用愁煩， 我這裏現有幾兩銀子，你若用什麽，衹管拿去買辦。但衹一件，你我作了這些年的街坊，我在外頭有名放帳，你卻從沒有和我張過口。也不知你厭惡我是個潑皮，怕低了你的身分，也不知是你怕我難纏，利錢重？若說怕利錢重，這銀子我是不要利錢的， 也不用寫文約，若說怕低了你的身分，我就不敢藉給你了，各自走開。”一面說，一面果然從搭包裏掏出一捲銀子來。
賈蕓心下自思：“素日倪二雖然是潑皮無賴，卻因人而使，頗頗的有義俠之名。若今日不領他這情，怕他鱢了，倒恐生事。不如藉了他的，改日加倍還他也倒罷了。”想畢笑道：“老二，你果然是個好漢，我何曾不想着你，和你張口。但衹是我見你所相與交結的，都是些有膽量的有作為的人，似我們這等無能無力的你倒不理。我若和你張口，你豈肯藉給我。 今日既蒙高情，我怎敢不領，回傢按例寫了文約過來便是了。”倪二大笑道：“好會說話的人。我卻聽不上這話。既說‘相與交結’四個字，如何放帳給他，使他的利錢！既把銀子藉與他，圖他的利錢，便不是相與交結了。閑話也不必講。既肯青目，這是十五兩三錢有零的銀子，便拿去治買東西。你要寫什麽文契，趁早把銀子還我，讓我放給那些有指望的人使去。 "賈蕓聽了，一面接了銀子，一面笑道：“我便不寫罷了，有何着急的。”倪二笑道：“這不是話。天氣黑了，也不讓茶讓酒，我還到那邊有點事情去，你竟請回去。我還求你帶個信兒與捨下，叫他們早些關門睡罷，我不回傢去了，倘或有要緊事兒，叫我們女兒明兒一早到馬販子王短腿傢來找我。”一面說，一面趔趄着腳兒去了，不在話下。
且說賈蕓偶然碰了這件事， 心中也十分罕希，想那倪二倒果然有些意思，衹是還怕他一時醉中慷慨， 到明日加倍的要起來，便怎處，心內猶豫不决。忽又想道：“不妨，等那件事成了，也可加倍還他。”想畢，一直走到個錢鋪裏，將那銀子稱一稱，十五兩三錢四分二釐。 賈蕓見倪二不撒謊，心下越發歡喜，收了銀子，來至傢門，先到隔壁將倪二的信捎了與他娘子知道，方回傢來。見他母親自在炕上拈綫，見他進來，便問那去了一日。賈蕓恐他母親生氣，便不說起卜世仁的事來，衹說在西府裏等璉二叔的，問他母親吃了飯不曾。他母親已吃過了，說留的飯在那裏。小丫頭子拿過來與他吃。
那天已是掌燈時候， 賈蕓吃了飯收拾歇息，一宿無話。次日一早起來，洗了臉，便出南門發展觀關於世界發展的見解。有兩種基本的發展觀點：，大香鋪裏買了冰麝，便往榮國府來。打聽賈璉出了門，賈蕓便往後面來。到賈璉院門前，衹見幾個小廝拿着大高笤帚在那裏掃院子呢。忽見周瑞傢的從門裏出來叫小廝們：“先別掃，奶奶出來了。”賈蕓忙上前笑問：“二嬸嬸那去？"周瑞傢的道：“老太太叫， 想必是裁什麽尺頭。”正說着，衹見一群人簇着鳳姐出來了。賈蕓深知鳳姐是喜奉承尚排場的， 忙把手逼着，恭恭敬敬搶上來請安。鳳姐連正眼也不看，仍往前走着，衹問他母親好， "怎麽不來我們這裏逛逛？"賈蕓道：“衹是身上不大好，倒時常記挂着嬸子，要來瞧瞧，又不能來。”鳳姐笑道：“可是會撒謊，不是我提起他來，你就不說他想我了。 "賈蕓笑道：“侄兒不怕雷打了，就敢在長輩前撒謊。昨兒晚上還提起嬸子來，說嬸子身子生的單弱，事情又多，虧嬸子好大精神，竟料理的周周全全，要是差一點兒的，早纍的不知怎麽樣呢。”
鳳姐聽了滿臉是笑，不由的便止了步，問道：“怎麽好好的你娘兒們在背地裏嚼起我來？"賈蕓道：“有個原故，衹因我有個朋友，傢裏有幾個錢，現開香鋪。衹因他身上捐着個通判，前兒選了雲南不知那一處，連傢眷一齊去，把這香鋪也不在這裏開了。便把帳物攢了一攢， 該給人的給人，該賤發的賤發了，象這細貴的貨，都分着送與親朋。他就一共送了我些冰片， 麝香。我就和我母親商量，若要轉買，不但賣不出原價來，而且誰傢拿這些銀子買這個作什麽，便是很有錢的大傢子，也不過使個幾分幾錢就挺折腰了，若說送人，也沒個人配使這些，倒叫他一文不值半文轉賣了。因此我就想起嬸子來。 往年間我還見嬸子大包的銀子買這些東西呢，別說今年貴妃宮中，就是這個端陽節下， 不用說這些香料自然是比往常加上十倍去的。因此想來想去，衹孝順嬸子一個人才合式，方不算遭塌這東西。”一邊說，一邊將一個錦匣舉起來。
鳳姐正是要辦端陽的節禮， 采買香料藥餌的時節，忽見賈蕓如此一來，聽這一篇話，心下又是得意又是歡喜，便命豐兒：“接過蕓哥兒的來，送了傢去，交給平兒。”因又說道：“看着你這樣知好歹，怪道你叔叔常提你，說你說話兒也明白，心裏有見識。”賈蕓聽這話入了港， 便打進一步來，故意問道：“原來叔叔也曾提我的？"鳳姐見問，纔要告訴他與他管事情的那話， 便忙又止住，心下想道：“我如今要告訴他那話，倒叫他看着我見不得東西似的，為得了這點子香，就混許他管事了。今兒先別提起這事。”想畢，便把派他監種花木工程的事都隱瞞的一字不提，隨口說了兩句淡話，便往賈母那裏去了。 賈蕓也不好提的，衹得回來。因昨日見了寶玉，叫他到外書房等着，賈蕓吃了飯便又進來， 到賈母那邊儀門外綺霰齋書房裏來。衹見焙茗，鋤藥兩個小廝下象棋，為奪"車" 正拌嘴，還有引泉，掃花，挑雲，伴鶴四五個，又在房檐上掏小雀兒玩。賈蕓進入院內， 把腳一跺，說道：“猴頭們淘氣，我來了。”衆小廝看見賈蕓進來，都纔散了。賈蕓進入房內， 便坐在椅子上問：“寶二爺沒下來？"焙茗道：“今兒總沒下來。二爺說什麽，我替你哨探哨探去。”說着，便出去了。
這裏賈蕓便看字畫古玩，有一頓飯工夫還不見來，再看看別
的小廝，都頑去了。正是煩悶，衹聽門前嬌聲嫩語的叫了一聲"哥哥"。賈蕓往外瞧時，看是一個十六七歲的丫頭，生的倒也細巧幹淨。那丫頭見了賈蕓，便抽身躲了過去。恰值焙茗走來，見那丫頭在門前，便說道：“好，好，正抓不着個信兒。”賈蕓見了焙茗，也就趕了出來，問怎麽樣。焙茗道：“等了這一日，也沒個人兒過來。這就是寶二爺房裏的。好姑娘，你進去帶個信兒，就說廊上的二爺來了。”
那丫頭聽說，方知是本傢的爺們，便不似先前那等回避，下死眼把賈蕓釘了兩眼。聽那賈蕓說道：“什麽是廊上廊下的，你衹說是蕓兒就是了。”半晌，那丫頭冷笑了一笑：“依我說，二爺竟請回傢去，有什麽話明兒再來。今兒晚上得空兒我回了他。”焙茗道：“這是怎麽說？"那丫頭道：“他今兒也沒睡中覺，自然吃的晚飯早。晚上他又不下來。難道衹是耍的二爺在這裏等着挨餓不成！不如傢去，明兒來是正經。便是回來有人帶信，那都是不中用的。 他不過口裏應着，他倒給帶呢！"賈蕓聽這丫頭說話簡便俏麗，待要問他的名字，因是寶玉房裏的，又不便問，衹得說道：“這話倒是，我明兒再來。”說着便往外走。焙茗道：“我倒茶去，二爺吃了茶再去。”賈蕓一面走，一面回頭說：“不吃茶，我還有事呢。”口裏說話，眼睛瞧那丫頭還站在那裏呢。
那賈蕓一徑回傢。至次日來至大門前，可巧遇見鳳姐往那邊去請安，纔上了車，見賈蕓來，便命人喚住，隔窗子笑道：“蕓兒，你竟有膽子在我的跟前弄鬼。怪道你送東西給我， 原來你有事求我。昨兒你叔叔纔告訴我說你求他。”賈蕓笑道：“求叔叔這事，嬸子休提， 我昨兒正後悔呢。早知這樣，我竟一起頭求嬸子，這會子也早完了。誰承望叔叔竟不能的。 "鳳姐笑道：“怪道你那裏沒成兒，昨兒又來尋我。”賈蕓道：“嬸子辜負了我的孝心， 我並沒有這個意思。若有這個意思，昨兒還不求嬸子。如今嬸子既知道了，我倒要把叔叔丟下，少不得求嬸子好歹疼我一點兒。”
鳳姐冷笑道：“你們要揀遠路兒走，叫我也難說。早告訴我一聲兒，有什麽不成的，多大點子事，耽誤到這會子。那園子裏還要種花，我衹想不出一個人來，你早來不早完了。”賈蕓笑道：“既這樣，嬸子明兒就派我罷。”鳳姐半晌道：“這個我看着不大好。等明年正月裏煙火燈燭那個大宗兒下來，再派你罷。”賈蕓道：“好嬸子，先把這個派了我罷。果然這個辦的好，再派我那個。”鳳姐笑道：“你倒會拉長綫兒。罷了，要不是你叔叔說，我不管你的事。我也不過吃了飯就過來，你到午錯的時候來領銀子，後兒就進去種樹。”說畢，令人駕起香車，一徑去了。
賈蕓喜不自禁， 來至綺霰齋打聽寶玉，誰知寶玉一早便往北靜王府裏去了。賈蕓便呆呆的坐到晌午， 打聽鳳姐回來，便寫個領票來領對牌。至院外，命人通報了，彩明走了出來， 單要了領票進去，批了銀數年月，一並連對牌交與了賈蕓。賈蕓接了，看那批上銀數批了二百兩， 心中喜不自禁，翻身走到銀庫上，交與收牌票的，領了銀子。回傢告訴母親， 自是母子俱各歡喜。次日一個五鼓，賈蕓先找了倪二，將前銀按數還他。那倪二見賈蕓有了銀子，他便按數收回，不在話下。這裏賈蕓又拿了五十兩，出西門找到花兒匠方椿傢裏去買樹，不在話下。
如今且說寶玉，自那日見了賈蕓，曾說明日着他進來說話兒。如此說了之後，他原是富貴公子的口角，那裏還把這個放在心上，因而便忘懷了。這日晚上，從北靜王府裏回來，見過賈母，王夫人等，回至園內，換了衣服，正要洗澡。襲人因被薛寶釵煩了去打結子，秋紋，碧痕兩個去催水，檀雲又因他母親的生日接了出去，麝月又現在傢中養病，雖還有幾個作粗活聽喚的丫頭，估着叫不着他們，都出去尋夥覓伴的玩去了。不想這一刻的工夫，衹剩了寶玉在房內。偏生的寶玉要吃茶，一連叫了兩三聲，方見兩三個老嬤嬤走進來。寶玉見了他們，連忙搖手兒說：“罷，罷，不用你們了。”老婆子們衹得退出。
寶玉見沒丫頭們， 衹得自己下來，拿了碗嚮茶壺去倒茶。衹聽背後說道：“二爺仔細燙了手，讓我們來倒。”一面說，一面走上來，早接了碗過去。寶玉倒唬了一跳，問：“你在那裏的？忽然來了，唬我一跳。”那丫頭一面遞茶，一面回說：“我在後院子裏，纔從裏間的後門進來， 難道二爺就沒聽見腳步響？"寶玉一面吃茶，一面仔細打量那丫頭：穿着幾件半新不舊的衣裳， 倒是一頭黑きき的頭髮，輓着個シ，容長臉面，細巧身材，卻十分俏麗幹淨。
寶玉看了， 便笑問道：“你也是我這屋裏的人麽？"那丫頭道：“是的。”寶玉道：“既是這屋裏的， 我怎麽不認得？"那丫頭聽說，便冷笑了一聲道：“認不得的也多，豈衹我一個。從來我又不遞茶遞水，拿東拿西，眼見的事一點兒不作，那裏認得呢。”寶玉道：“你為什麽不作那眼見的事？"那丫頭道：“這話我也難說。衹是有一句話回二爺：昨兒有個什麽蕓兒來找二爺。我想二爺不得空兒，便叫焙茗回他，叫他今日早起來，不想二爺又往北府裏去了。 "剛說到這句話，衹見秋紋，碧痕嘻嘻哈哈的說笑着進來，兩個人共提着一桶水，一手撩着衣裳，趔趔趄趄，潑潑撒撒的。那丫頭便忙迎去接。那秋紋，碧痕正對着抱怨，"你濕了我的裙子"，那個又說"你踹了我的鞋。忽見走出一個人來接水，二人看時，不是別人，原來是小紅。二人便都詫異，將水放下，忙進房來東瞧西望，並沒個別人， 衹有寶玉，便心中大不自在。衹得預備下洗澡之物，待寶玉脫了衣裳，二人便帶上門出來， 走到那邊房內便找小紅，問他方纔在屋裏說什麽。小紅道：“我何曾在屋裏的？衹因我的手帕子不見了，往後頭找手帕子去。不想二爺要茶吃，叫姐姐們一個沒有，是我進去了，纔倒了茶，姐姐們便來了。”
秋紋聽了，兜臉啐了一口，駡道：“沒臉的下流東西！正經叫你去催水去，你說有事故， 倒叫我們去，你可等着做這個巧宗兒。一裏一裏的，這不上來了。難道我們倒跟不上你了？ 你也拿鏡子照照，配遞茶遞水不配！"碧痕道：“明兒我說給他們，凡要茶要水送東送西的事，咱們都別動，衹叫他去便是了。”秋紋道：“這麽說，不如我們散了，單讓他在這屋裏呢。 "二人你一句，我一句，正鬧着，衹見有個老嬤嬤進來傳鳳姐的話說：“明日有人帶花兒匠來種樹， 叫你們嚴禁些，衣服裙子別混曬混晾的。那土山上一溜都攔着幃ぜ呢， 可別混跑。”秋紋便問：“明兒不知是誰帶進匠人來監工？"那婆子道：“說什麽後廊上的蕓哥兒。”秋紋，碧痕聽了都不知道，衹管混問別的話。那小紅聽見了，心內卻明白，就知是昨兒外書房所見那人了。原來這小紅本姓林，小名紅玉，衹因"玉"字犯了林黛玉，寶玉，便都把這個字隱起來，便都叫他"小紅"。原是榮國府中世代的舊僕，他父母現在收管各處房田事務。這紅玉年方十六歲，因分人在大觀園的時節，把他便分在怡紅院中，倒也清幽雅靜。不想後來命人進來居住，偏生這一所兒又被寶玉占了。這紅玉雖然是個不諳事的丫頭， 卻因他有三分容貌，心內着實妄想癡心的往上攀高，每每的要在寶玉面前現弄現弄。 衹是寶玉身邊一幹人，都是伶牙利爪的，那裏插的下手去。 不想今兒纔有些消息，又遭秋紋等一場惡意，心內早灰了一半。正悶悶的，忽然聽見老嬤嬤說起賈蕓來，不覺心中一動，便悶悶的回至房中，睡在床上暗暗盤算，翻來掉去， 正沒個抓尋。忽聽窗外低低的叫道：“紅玉，你的手帕子我拾在這裏呢。”紅玉聽了忙走出來看，不是別人，正是賈蕓。紅玉不覺的粉面含羞，問道：“二爺在那裏拾着的？"賈蕓笑道：“你過來，我告訴你。”一面說，一面就上來拉他。那紅玉急回身一跑，卻被門檻絆倒。要知端的，下回分解。
The drunken Chin Kang makes light of lucre and shows a preference for generosity. The foolish girl mislays her handkerchief and arouses mutual thoughts.
But to return to our narrative. Lin Tai-yue's sentimental reflections were the while reeling and ravelling in an intricate maze, when unexpectedly some one from behind gave her a tap, saying: "What are you up to all alone here?" which took Lin Tai-yu so much by surprise that she gave a start, and turning her head round to look and noticing that it was Hsiang Ling and no one else; "You stupid girl!" Lin Tai-yue replied, "you've given me such a fright! But where do you come from at this time?"
Hsiang Ling giggled and smirked. "I've come," she added, "in search of our young lady, but I can't find her anywhere. But your Tzu Chuan is also looking after you; and she says that lady Secunda has sent a present to you of some tea. But you had better go back home and sit down."
As she spoke, she took Tai-yue by the hand, and they came along back to the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan; where lady Feng had indeed sent her two small catties of a new season tea, of superior quality. But Lin Tai-yue sat down, in company with Hsiang Ling, and began to converse on the merits of this tapestry and the fineness of that embroidery; and after they had also had a game at chess, and read a few sentences out of a book, Hsiang Ling took her departure. But we need not speak of either of them, but return now to Pao-yue. Having been found, and brought back home, by Hsi Jen, he discovered Yuan Yang reclining on the bed, in the act of examining Hsi Jen's needlework; but when she perceived Pao-yue arrive, she forthwith remarked: "Where have you been? her venerable ladyship is waiting for you to tell you to go over and pay your obeisance to our Senior master, and don't you still make haste to go and change your clothes and be off!"
Hsi Jen at once walked into the room to fetch his clothes, and Pao-yue sat on the edge of the bed, and pushed his shoes off with his toes; and, while waiting for his boots to put them on, he turned round and perceiving that Yuean Yang, who was clad in a light red silk jacket and a green satin waistcoat, and girdled with a white crepe sash, had her face turned the other way, and her head lowered giving her attention to the criticism of the needlework, while round her neck she wore a collar with embroidery, Pao-yue readily pressed his face against the nape of her neck, and as he sniffed the perfume about it, he did not stay his hand from stroking her neck, which in whiteness and smoothness was not below that of Hsi Jen; and as he approached her, "My dear girl," he said smiling and with a drivelling face, "do let me lick the cosmetic off your mouth!" clinging to her person, as he uttered these words, like twisted sweetmeat.
"Hsi Jen!" cried Yuean Yang at once, "come out and see! You've been with him a whole lifetime, and don't you give him any advice; but let him still behave in this fashion!" Whereupon, Hsi Jen walked out, clasping the clothes, and turning to Pao-yue, she observed, "I advise you in this way and it's no good, I advise you in that way and you don't mend; and what do you mean to do after all? But if you again behave like this, it will then, in fact, be impossible for me to live any longer in this place!"
As she tendered these words of counsel, she urged him to put his clothes on, and, after he had changed, he betook himself, along with Yuan Yang, to the front part of the mansion, and bade good-bye to dowager lady Chia; after which he went outside, where the attendants and horses were all in readiness; but when he was about to mount his steed, he perceived Chia Lien back from his visit and in the act of dismounting; and as the two of them stood face to face, and mutually exchanged some inquiries, they saw some one come round from the side, and say: "My respects to you, uncle Pao-yue!"
When Pao-yue came to look at him, he noticed that this person had an oblong face, that his body was tall and lanky, that his age was only eighteen or nineteen, and that he possessed, in real truth, an air of refinement and elegance; but though his features were, after all, exceedingly familiar, he could not recall to mind to what branch of the family he belonged, and what his name was.
"What are you staring vacantly for?" Chia Lien inquired laughing.
"Don't you even recognise him? He's Yuen Erh, the son of our fifth sister-in-law, who lives in the back court!"
"Of course!" Pao-yue assented complacently. "How is it that I had forgotten just now!" And having gone on to ask how his mother was, and what work he had to do at present; "I've come in search of uncle Secundus, to tell him something," Chia Yuen replied, as he pointed at Chia Lien.
"You've really improved vastly from what you were before," added Pao-yue smiling; "you verily look just is if you were my son!"
"How very barefaced!" Chia Lien exclaimed as he burst out laughing; "here's a person four or five years your senior to be made your son!"
"How far are you in your teens this year?" Pao-yue inquired with a smile.
"Eighteen!" Chia Yuen rejoined.
This Chia Yuen was, in real deed, sharp and quick-witted; and when he heard Pao-yue remark that he looked like his son, he readily gave a sarcastic smile and observed, "The proverb is true which says, 'the grandfather is rocked in the cradle while the grandson leans on a staff.' But though old enough in years, I'm nevertheless like a mountain, which, in spite of its height, cannot screen the sun from view. Besides, since my father's death, I've had no one to look after me, and were you, uncle Pao, not to disdain your doltish nephew, and to acknowledge me as your son, it would be your nephew's good fortune!"
"Have you heard what he said?" Chia Lien interposed cynically. "But to acknowledge him as a son is no easy question to settle!" and with these words, he walked in; whereupon Pao-yue smilingly said: "To-morrow when you have nothing to do, just come and look me up; but don't go and play any devilish pranks with them! I've just now no leisure, so come to-morrow, into the library, where I'll have a chat with you for a whole day, and take you into the garden for some fun!"
With this remark still on his lips, he laid hold of the saddle and mounted his horse; and, followed by the whole bevy of pages, he crossed over to Chia She's on this side; where having discovered that Chia She had nothing more the matter with him than a chill which he had suddenly contracted, he commenced by delivering dowager lady Chia's message, and next paid his own obeisance. Chia She, at first, stood up and made suitable answer to her venerable ladyship's inquiries, and then calling a servant, "Take the gentleman," he said, "into my lady's apartment to sit down."
Pao-yue withdrew out of the room, and came by the back to the upper apartment; and as soon as madame Hsing caught sight of him, she, before everything else, rose to her feet and asked after old lady Chia's health; after which, Pao-yue made his own salutation, and madame Hsing drew him on to the stove-couch, where she induced him to take a seat, and eventually inquired after the other inmates, and also gave orders to serve the tea. But scarcely had they had tea, before they perceived Chia Tsung come in to pay his respects to Pao-yue.
"Where could one find such a living monkey as this!" madame Hsing remarked; "is that nurse of yours dead and gone that she doesn't even keep you clean and tidy, and that she lets you go about with those eyebrows of yours so black and that mouth so filthy! you scarcely look like the child of a great family of scholars."
While she spoke, she perceived both Chia Huan and Chia Lan, one of whom was a young uncle and the other his nephew, also advance and present their compliments, and madame Hsing bade the two of them sit down on the chairs. But when Chia Huan noticed that Pao-yue sat on the same rug with madame Hsing, and that her ladyship was further caressing and petting him in every possible manner, he soon felt so very unhappy at heart, that, after sitting for a short time, he forthwith made a sign to Chia Lan that he would like to go; and as Chia Lan could not but humour him, they both got up together to take their leave. But when Pao-yue perceived them rise, he too felt a wish to go back along with them, but madame Hsing remarked smilingly, "You had better sit a while as I've something more to tell you," so that Pao-yue had no alternative but to stay. "When you get back," madame Hsing added, addressing the other two, "present, each one of you, my regards to your respective mothers. The young ladies, your cousins, are all here making such a row that my head is dazed, so that I won't to-day keep you to have your repast here." To which Chia Huan and Chia Lan assented and quickly walked out.
"If it be really the case that all my cousins have come over," Pao-yue ventured with a smirk, "how is it that I don't see them?"
"After sitting here for a while," madame Hsing explained, "they all went at the back; but in what rooms they have gone, I don't know."
"My senior aunt, you said you had something to tell me, Pao-yue observed; what's it, I wonder?"
"What can there possibly be to tell you?" madame Hsing laughed; "it was simply to make you wait and have your repast with the young ladies and then go; but there's also a fine plaything that I'll give you to take back to amuse yourself with."
These two, the aunt and her nephew, were going on with their colloquy when, much to their surprise, it was time for dinner and the young ladies were all invited to come. The tables and chairs were put in their places, and the cups and plates were arranged in proper order; and, after the mother, her daughter and the cousins had finished their meal, Pao-yue bade good-bye to Chia She and returned home in company with all the young ladies; and when they had said good-night to dowager lady Chia, madame Wang and the others, they each went back into their rooms and retired to rest; where we shall leave them without any further comment and speak of Chia Yuen's visit to the mansion. As soon as he saw Chia Lien, he inquired what business it was that had turned up, and Chia Lien consequently explained: "The other day something did actually present itself, but as it happened that your aunt had again and again entreated me, I gave it to Chia Ch'in; as she promised me that there would be by and by in the garden several other spots where flowers and trees would be planted; and that when this job did occur, she would, for a certainty, give it to you and finish!"
Chia Yuen, upon hearing these words, suggested after a short pause; "If that be so, there's nothing for me to do than to wait; but, uncle, you too mustn't make any allusion beforehand in the presence of aunt to my having come to-day to make any inquiries; for there will really be ample time to speak to her when the job turns up!"
"Why should I allude to it?" Chia Lien rejoined. "Have I forsooth got all this leisure to talk of irrelevant matters! But to-morrow, besides, I've got to go as far as Hsing Yi for a turn, and it's absolutely necessary that I should hurriedly come back the very same day; so off with you now and go and wait; and the day after to-morrow, after the watch has been set, come and ask for news; but mind at any earlier hour, I shan't have any leisure!" With these words, he hastily went at the back to change his clothes. And from the time Chia Yun put his foot out of the door of the Jung Kuo mansion, he was, the whole way homeward, plunged in deep thought; but having bethought himself of some expedient, he straightway wended his steps towards the house of his maternal uncle, Pu Shih-jen. This Pu Shih-jen, it must be explained, kept, at the present date, a shop for the sale of spices. He had just returned home from his shop, and as soon as he noticed Chia Yun, he inquired of him what business brought him there.
"There's something," Chia Yun replied, "in which I would like to crave your assistance, uncle; I'm in need of some baroos camphor and musk, so please, uncle, give me on credit four ounces of each kind, and on the festival of the eighth moon, I'll bring you the amount in full."
Pu Shih-jen gave a sardonic smile. "Don't," he said, "again allude to any such thing as selling on tick! Some time back a partner in our establishment got several ounces of goods for his relatives on credit, and up to this date the bill hasn't as yet been settled; the result being that we've all had to make the amount good, so that we've entered into an agreement that we should no more allow any one to obtain on tick anything on behalf of either relative or friend, and that whoever acted contrary to this resolution should be, at once, fined twenty taels, with which to stand a treat. Besides, the stock of these articles is now short, and were you also to come, with ready money to this our mean shop to buy any, we wouldn't even have as much to give you. The best way therefore is for you to go elsewhere. This is one side of the question; for on the other, you can't have anything above-board in view; and were you to obtain what you want as a loan you would again go and play the giddy dog! But you'll simply say that on every occasion your uncle sees you, he avails himself of it to find fault with you, but a young fellow like you doesn't know what's good and what is bad; and you should, besides, make up your mind to earn a few cash, wherewith to clothe and feed yourself, so that, when I see you, I too may rejoice!"
"What you, uncle, say," Chia Yun rejoined smiling, "is perfectly right; the only thing is that at the time of my father's death, I was likewise so young in years that I couldn't understand anything; but later on, I heard my mother explain how that for everything, it was lucky that you, after all, my uncles, went over to our house and devised the ways and means, and managed the funeral; and is it likely you, uncle, aren't aware of these things? Besides, have I forsooth had a single acre of land or a couple of houses, the value of which I've run through as soon as it came into my hands? An ingenious wife cannot make boiled rice without raw rice; and what would you have me do? It's your good fortune however that you've got to deal with one such as I am, for had it been any one else barefaced and shameless, he would have come, twice every three days, to worry you, uncle, by asking for two pints of rice and two of beans, and you then, uncle, would have had no help for it."
"My dear child," Pu Shih-jen exclaimed, "had I anything that I could call my own, your uncle as I am, wouldn't I feel bound to do something for you? I've day after day mentioned to your aunt that the misfortune was that you had no resources. But should you ever succeed in making up your mind, you should go into that mighty household of yours, and when the gentlemen aren't looking, forthwith pocket your pride and hobnob with those managers, or possibly with the butlers, as you may, even through them, be able to get some charge or other! The other day, when I was out of town, I came across that old Quartus of the third branch of the family, astride of a tall donkey, at the head of four or five carriages, in which were about forty to fifty bonzes and Taoist priests on their way to the family fane, and that man can't lack brains, for such a charge to have fallen to his share!"
Chia Yuen, upon hearing these words, indulged in a long and revolting rigmarole, and then got up to take his leave.
"What are you in such a hurry for?" Pu Shih-jen remarked. "Have your meal and then go!"
But this remark was scarcely ended when they heard his wife say: "Are you again in the clouds? When I heard that there was no rice, I bought half a catty of dry rice paste, and brought it here for you to eat; and do you pray now still put on the airs of a well-to-do, and keep your nephew to feel the pangs of hunger?"
"Well, then, buy half a catty more, and add to what there is, that's all," Pu Shih-jen continued; whereupon her mother explained to her daughter, Yin Chieh, "Go over to Mrs. Wang's opposite, and ask her if she has any cash, to lend us twenty or thirty of them; and to-morrow, when they're brought over, we'll repay her."
But while the husband and wife were carrying on this conversation, Chia Yuen had, at an early period, repeated several times: "There's no need to go to this trouble," and off he went, leaving no trace or shadow behind. But without passing any further remarks on the husband and wife of the Pu family, we will now confine ourselves to Chia Yuen. Having gone in high dudgeon out of the door of his uncle's house, he started straight on his way back home; but while distressed in mind, and preoccupied with his thoughts, he paced on with drooping head, he unexpectedly came into collision with a drunken fellow, who gripped Chia Yuen, and began to abuse him, crying: "Are your eyes gone blind, that you come bang against me?"
The tone of voice, when it reached Chia Yuen ears, sounded like that of some one with whom he was intimate; and, on careful scrutiny, he found, in fact, that it was his next-door neighbour, Ni Erh. This Ni Erh was a dissolute knave, whose only idea was to give out money at heavy rates of interest and to have his meals in the gambling dens. His sole delight was to drink and to fight.
He was, at this very moment, coming back home from the house of a creditor, whom he had dunned, and was already far gone with drink, so that when, at an unforeseen moment, Chia Yuen ran against him, he meant there and then to start a scuffle with him.
"Old Erh!" Chia Yuen shouted, "stay your hand; it's I who have hustled against you."
As soon as Ni Erh heard the tone of his voice, he opened wide his drunken eyes and gave him a look; and realising that it was Chia Yuen, he hastened to loosen his grasp and to remark with a smile, as he staggered about, "Is it you indeed, master Chia Secundus? where were you off to now?"
"I couldn't tell you!" Chia Yuen rejoined; "I've again brought displeasure upon me, and all through no fault of mine."
"Never mind!" urged Ni Erh, "if you're in any trouble you just tell me, and I'll give vent to your spite for you; for in these three streets, and six lanes, no matter who may give offence to any neighbours of mine, of me, Ni Erh, the drunken Chin Kang, I'll wager that I compel that man's family to disperse, and his home to break up!"
"Old Ni, don't lose your temper," Chia Yuen protested, "but listen and let me tell you what happened!" After which, he went on to tell Ni Erh the whole affair with Pu Shih-jen. As soon as Ni Erh heard him, he got into a frightful rage; "Were he not," he shouted, a "relative of yours, master Secundus, I would readily give him a bit of my mind! Really resentment will stifle my breath! but never mind! you needn't however distress yourself. I've got here a few taels ready at hand, which, if you require, don't scruple to take; and from such good neighbours as you are, I won't ask any interest upon this money."
With this remark still on his lips, he produced from his pouch a bundle of silver.
"Ni Erh has, it is true, ever been a rogue," Chia Yuen reflected in his own mind, "but as he is regulated in his dealings by a due regard to persons, he enjoys, to a great degree, the reputation of generosity; and were I to-day not to accept this favour of his, he'll, I fear, be put to shame; and it won't contrariwise be nice on my part! and isn't it better that I should make use of his money, and by and by I can repay him double, and things will be all right!"
"Old Erh," he therefore observed aloud with a smile, "you're really a fine fellow, and as you've shown me such eminent consideration, how can I presume not to accept your offer! On my return home, I'll write the customary I.O.U., and send it to you, and all will be in order."
Ni Erh gave a broad grin. "It's only fifteen taels and three mace," he answered, "and if you insist upon writing an I.O.U., I won't then lend it to you!"
Chia Yuen at these words, took over the money, smiling the while. "I'll readily," he retorted, "comply with your wishes and have done; for what's the use of exasperating you!"
"Well then that will be all right!" Ni Erh laughed; "but the day is getting dark; and I shan't ask you to have a cup of tea or stand you a drink, for I've some small things more to settle. As for me, I'm going over there, but you, after all, should please wend your way homewards; and I shall also request you to take a message for me to my people. Tell them to close the doors and turn in, as I'm not returning home; and that in the event of anything occurring, to bid our daughter come over to-morrow, as soon as it is daylight, to short-legged Wang's house, the horse-dealer's, in search of me!" And as he uttered this remark he walked away, stumbling and hobbling along. But we will leave him without further notice and allude to Chia Yuen.
He had, at quite an unexpected juncture, met this piece of luck, so that his heart was, of course, delighted to the utmost degree. "This Ni Erh," he mused, "is really a good enough sort of fellow, but what I dread is that he may have been open-handed in his fit of drunkenness, and that he mayn't, by and by, ask for his money to be paid twice over; and what will I do then? Never mind," he suddenly went on to ponder, "when that job has become an accomplished fact, I shall even have the means to pay him back double the original amount."
Prompted by this resolution, he came over to a money-shop, and when he had the silver weighed, and no discrepancy was discovered in the weight, he was still more elated at heart; and on his way back, he first and foremost delivered Ni Erh's message to his wife, and then returned to his own home, where he found his mother seated all alone on a stove-couch spinning thread. As soon as she saw him enter, she inquired where he had been the whole day long, in reply to which Chia Yuen, fearing lest his parent should be angry, forthwith made no allusion to what transpired with Pu Shih-jen, but simply explained that he had been in the western mansion, waiting for his uncle Secundus, Lien. This over, he asked his mother whether she had had her meal or not, and his parent said by way of reply: "I've had it, but I've kept something for you in there," and calling to the servant-maid, she bade her bring it round, and set it before him to eat. But as it was already dark, when the lamps had to be lit, Chia Yuen, after partaking of his meal, got ready and turned in.
Nothing of any notice transpired the whole night; but the next day, as soon it was dawn, he got up, washed his face, and came to the main street, outside the south gate, and purchasing some musk from a perfumery shop, he, with rapid stride, entered the Jung Kuo mansion; and having, as a result of his inquiries, found out that Chia Lien had gone out of doors, Chia Yuen readily betook himself to the back, in front of the door of Chia Lien's court, where he saw several servant-lads, with immense brooms in their hands, engaged in that place in sweeping the court. But as he suddenly caught sight of Chou Jui's wife appear outside the door, and call out to the young boys; "Don't sweep now, our lady is coming out," Chia Yuen eagerly walked up to her and inquired, with a face beaming with smiles: "Where's aunt Secunda going to?"
To this inquiry, Chou Jui's wife explained: "Our old lady has sent for her, and I expect, it must be for her to cut some piece of cloth or other." But while she yet spoke, they perceived a whole bevy of people, pressing round lady Feng, as she egressed from the apartment.
Chia Yuen was perfectly aware that lady Feng took pleasure in flattery, and delighted in display, so that hastily dropping his arms, he with all reverence, thrust himself forward and paid his respects to her. But lady Feng did not even so much as turn to look at him with straight eyes; but continued, as hitherto, her way onwards, simply confining herself to ascertaining whether his mother was all right, and adding: "How is it that she doesn't come to our house for a stroll?"
"The thing is," Chia Yuen replied, "that she's not well: she, however, often thinks fondly of you, aunt, and longs to see you; but as for coming round, she's quite unable to do so."
"You have, indeed, the knack of telling lies!" lady Feng laughed with irony; "for hadn't I alluded to her, she would never have thought of me!"
"Isn't your nephew afraid," Chia Yuen protested smilingly, "of being blasted by lightning to have the audacity of telling lies in the presence of an elder! Even so late as yesterday evening, she alluded to you, aunt! 'Though naturally,' she said, 'of a weak constitution, you had, however, plenty to attend to! that it's thanks to your supremely eminent energies, aunt, that you're, after all, able to manage everything in such a perfect manner; and that had you ever made the slightest slip, there would have long ago crept up, goodness knows, what troubles!'"
As soon as lady Feng heard these words, her whole face beamed with smiles, and she unconsciously halted her steps, while she proceeded to ask: "How is it that, both your mother and yourself, tattle about me behind my back, without rhyme or reason?"
"There's a reason for it," Chia Yuen observed, "which is simply this. I've an excellent friend with considerable money of his own at home, who recently kept a perfumery shop; but as he obtained, by purchase, the rank of deputy sub-prefect, he was, the other day, selected for a post in Yunnan, in some prefecture or other unknown to me; whither he has gone together with his family. He even closed this shop of his, and forthwith collecting all his wares, he gave away, what he could give away, and what he had to sell at a discount, was sold at a loss; while such valuable articles, as these, were all presented to relatives or friends; and that's why it is that I came in for some baroos camphor and musk. But I at the time, deliberated with my mother that to sell them below their price would be a pity, and that if we wished to give them as a present to any one, there was no one good enough to use such perfumes. But remembering how you, aunt, had all along in years gone by, even to this day, to spend large bundles of silver, in purchasing such articles, and how, not to speak of this year with an imperial consort in the Palace, what's even required for this dragon boat festival, will also necessitate the addition of hundred times as much as the quantity of previous years, I therefore present them to you, aunt, as a token of my esteem!"
With these words still on his lips, he simultaneously produced an ornamented box, which he handed over to her. And as lady Feng was, at this time, making preparations for presents for the occasion of the dragon boat festival, for which perfumes were obligatory, she, with all promptitude, directed Feng Erh: "Receive Mr. Yuen's present and take it home and hand it over to P'ing Erh. To one," she consequently added, "who seems to me so full of discrimination, it isn't a wonder that your uncle is repeatedly alluding, and that he speaks highly of you; how that you talk with all intelligence and that you have experience stored up in your mind."
Chia Yuen upon hearing this propitious language, hastily drew near one step, and designedly asked: "Does really uncle often refer to me?"
The moment lady Feng caught this question, she was at once inclined to tell him all about the charge to be entrusted to him, but on second thought, she again felt apprehensive lest she should be looked lightly upon by him, by simply insinuating that she had promptly and needlessly promised him something to do, so soon as she got a little scented ware; and this consideration urged her to once more restrain her tongue, so that she never made the slightest reference even to so much as one word about his having been chosen to look after the works of planting the flowers and trees. And after confining herself to making the first few irrelevant remarks which came to her lips, she hastily betook herself into dowager lady Chia's apartments.
Chia Yuen himself did not feel as if he could very well advert to the subject, with the result that he had no alternative but to retrace his steps homewards. But as when he had seen Pao-yue the previous day, he had asked him to go into the outer library and wait for him, he therefore finished his meal and then once again entered the mansion and came over into the I Hsia study, situated outside the ceremonial gate, over at old lady Chia's part of the compound, where he discovered the two lads Ming Yen, whose name had been changed into Pei Ming, and Chu Yo playing at chess, and just arguing about the capture of a castle; and besides them, Yin Ch'uan, Sao Hua, T'iao Yuen, Pan Ho, these four or five of them, up to larks, stealing the young birds from the nests under the eaves of the house.
As soon as Chia Yuen entered the court, he stamped his foot and shouted, "The monkeys are up to mischief! Here I am, I've come;" and when the company of servant-boys perceived him, they one and all promptly dispersed; while Chia Yuen walked into the library, and seating himself at once in a chair, he inquired, "Has your master Secundus, Mr. Pao, come down?"
"He hasn't been down here at all to-day," Pei Ming replied, "but if you, Mr. Secundus, have anything to tell him, I'll go and see what he's up to for you."
Saying this he there and then left the room; and Chia Yuen meanwhile gave himself to the inspection of the pictures and nicknacks. But some considerable time elapsed, and yet he did not see him arrive; and noticing besides that the other lads had all gone to romp, he was just plunged in a state of despondency, when he heard outside the door a voice cry out, with winning tone, and tender accents: "My elder brother!"
Chia Yuen looked out, and saw that it was a servant-maid of fifteen or sixteen, who was indeed extremely winsome and spruce. As soon however as the maid caught a glimpse of Chia Yuen, she speedily turned herself round and withdrew out of sight. But, as luck would have it, it happened that Pei Ming was coming along, and seeing the servant-maid in front of the door, he observed: "Welcome, welcome! I was quite at a loss how to get any news of Pao-yue." And as Chia Yuen discerned Pei Ming, he hastily too, ran out in pursuit of him, and ascertained what was up; whereupon Pei Ming returned for answer: "I waited a whole day long, and not a single soul came over; but this girl is attached to master Secundus' (Mr. Pao's) rooms!" and, "My dear girl," he consequently went on to say, "go in and take a message. Say that Mr. Secundus, who lives under the portico, has come!"
The servant-maid, upon hearing these words, knew at once that he was a young gentleman belonging to the family in which she served, and she did not skulk out of sight, as she had done in the first instance; but with a gaze sufficient to kill, she fixed her two eyes upon Chia Yuen, when she heard Chia Yuen interpose: "What about over the portico and under the portico; you just tell him that Yuen Erh is come, that's all."
After a while this girl gave a sarcastic smile. "My idea is," she ventured, "that you, master Secundus, should really, if it so please you, go back, and come again to-morrow; and to-night, if I find time, I'll just put in a word with him!"
"What's this that you're driving at?" Pei Ming then shouted.
And the maid rejoined: "He's not even had a siesta to-day, so that he'll have his dinner at an early hour, and won't come down again in the evening; and is it likely that you would have master Secundus wait here and suffer hunger? and isn't it better than he should return home? The right thing is that he should come to-morrow; for were even by and by some one to turn up, who could take a message, that person would simply acquiesce with the lips, but would he be willing to deliver the message in for you?"
Chia Yuen, upon finding how concise and yet how well expressed this girl's remarks had been, was bent upon inquiring what her name was; but as she was a maid employed in Pao-yue's apartments, he did not therefore feel justified in asking the question, and he had no other course but to add, "What you say is quite right, I'll come to-morrow!" and as he spoke, he there and then was making his way outside, when Pei Ming remarked: "I'll go and pour a cup of tea; and master Secundus, have your tea and then go."
Chia Yuen turned his head round, as he kept on his way, and said by way of rejoinder: "I won't have any tea; for I've besides something more to attend to!" and while with his lips he uttered these words, he, with his eyes, stared at the servant-girl, who was still standing in there.
Chia Yuen wended his steps straightway home; and the next day, he came to the front entrance, where, by a strange coincidence, he met lady Feng on her way to the opposite side to pay her respects. She had just mounted her carriage, but perceiving Chia Yuen arrive, she eagerly bade a servant stop him, and, with the window between them, she smiled and observed: "Yuen Erh, you're indeed bold in playing your pranks with me! I thought it strange that you should give me presents; but the fact is you had a favour to ask of me; and your uncle told me even yesterday that you had appealed to him!"
Chia Yuen smiled. "Of my appeal to uncle, you needn't, aunt, make any mention; for I'm at this moment full of regret at having made it. Had I known, at an early hour, that things would have come to this pass, I would, from the very first, have made my request to you, aunt; and by this time everything would have been settled long ago! But who would have anticipated that uncle was, after all, a man of no worth!"
"Strange enough," lady Feng remarked sneeringly, "when you found that you didn't succeed in that quarter, you came again yesterday in search of me!"
"Aunt, you do my filial heart an injustice," Chia Yuen protested; "I never had such a thought; had I entertained any such idea, wouldn't I, aunt, have made my appeal to you yesterday? But as you are now aware of everything, I'll really put uncle on one side, and prefer my request to you; for circumstances compel me to entreat you, aunt, to be so good as to show me some little consideration!"
Lady Feng laughed sardonically. "You people will choose the long road to follow and put me also in a dilemma! Had you told me just one word at an early hour, what couldn't have been brought about? an affair of state indeed to be delayed up to this moment! In the garden, there are to be more trees planted and flowers laid down, and I couldn't think of any person that I could have recommended, and had you spoken before this, wouldn't the whole question have been settled soon enough?"
"Well, in that case, aunt," ventured Chia Yuen with a smile, "you had better depute me to-morrow, and have done!"
"This job," continued lady Feng after a pause, "is not, my impression is, very profitable; and if you were to wait till the first moon of next year, when the fireworks, lanterns, and candles will have to be purveyed, I'll depute you as soon as those extensive commissions turn up."
"My dear aunt," pleaded Chia Yuen, "first appoint me to this one, and if I do really manage this satisfactorily, you can then commission me with that other!"
"You know in truth how to draw a long thread," lady Feng observed laughing. "But hadn't it been that your uncle had spoken to me on your account, I wouldn't have concerned myself about you. But as I shall cross over here soon after the repast, you had better come at eleven a.m., and fetch the money, for you to enter into the garden the day after to-morrow, and have the flowers planted!"
As she said this, she gave orders to drive the "scented" carriage, and went on her way by the quickest cut; while Chia Yuen, who was irrepressibly delighted, betook himself into the I Hsia study, and inquired after Pao-yue. But, who would have thought it, Pao-yue had, at an early hour, gone to the mansion of the Prince of Pei Ching, so that Chia Yuen had to sit in a listless mood till noon; and when he found out that lady Feng had returned, he speedily wrote an acknowledgment and came to receive the warrant. On his arrival outside the court, he commissioned a servant to announce him, and Ts'ai Ming thereupon walked out, and merely asking for the receipt, went in, and, after filling in the amount, the year and moon, he handed it over to Chia Yuen together with the warrant. Chia Yuen received them from him, and as the entry consisted of two hundred taels, his heart was full of exultant joy; and turning round, he hurried to the treasury, where after he had taken over the amount in silver, he returned home and laid the case before his mother, and needless to say, that both the parent and her son were in high spirits. The next day, at the fifth watch, Chia Yun first came in search of Ni Erh, to whom he repaid the money, and then taking fifty taels along with him, he sped outside the western gate to the house of Fang Ch'un, a gardener, to purchase trees, where we will leave him without saying anything more about him.
We will now resume our story with Pao-yue. The day on which he encountered Chia Yuen, he asked him to come in on the morrow and have a chat with him, but this invitation was practically the mere formal talk of a rich and well-to-do young man, and was not likely to be so much as borne in mind; and so it was that it readily slipped from his memory. On the evening of the day, however, on which he returned home from the mansion of the Prince Pei Ching, he came, after paying his salutations to dowager lady Chia, madame Wang, and the other inmates, back into the garden; but upon divesting himself of all his fineries, he was just about to have his bath, when, as Hsi Jen had, at the invitation of Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai, crossed over to tie a few knotted buttons, as Ch'in Wen and Pi Hen had both gone to hurry the servants to bring the water, as T'an Yun had likewise been taken home, on account of her mother's illness, and She Yueh, on the other hand, was at present ailing in her quarters, while the several waiting-maids, who were in there besides to attend to the dirty work, and answer the calls, had, surmising that he would not requisition their services, one and all gone out in search of their friends and in quest of their companions, it occurred, contrary to their calculations, that Pao-yue remained this whole length of time quite alone in his apartments; and as it so happened that Pao-yue wanted tea to drink, he had to call two or three times before he at last saw three old matrons walk in. But at the sight of them, Pao-yue hastily waved his hand and exclaimed: "No matter, no matter; I don't want you," whereupon the matrons had no help but to withdraw out of the rooms; and as Pao-yue perceived that there were no waiting-maids at hand, he had to come down and take a cup and go up to the teapot to pour the tea; when he heard some one from behind him observe: "Master Secundus, beware, you'll scorch your hand; wait until I come to pour it!" And as she spoke, she walked up to him, and took the cup from his grasp, to the intense surprise, in fact, of Pao-yue, who inquired: "Where were you that you have suddenly come to give me a start?"
The waiting-maid smiled as she handed him the tea. "I was in the back court," she replied, "and just came in from the back door of the inner rooms; and is it likely that you didn't, sir, hear the sound of my footsteps?"
Pao-yue drank his tea, and as he simultaneously passed the servant-girl under a minute inspection, he found that though she wore several articles of clothing the worse for wear, she was, nevertheless, with that head of beautiful hair, as black as the plumage of a raven, done up in curls, her face so oblong, her figure so slim and elegant, indeed, supremely beautiful, sweet, and spruce, and Pao-yue eagerly inquired: "Are you also a girl attached to this room of mine?"
"I am," rejoined that waiting-maid.
"But since you belong to this room, how is it I don't know you?" Pao-yue added.
When the maid heard these words, she forced a laugh. "There are even many," she explained, "that are strangers to you; and is it only myself? I've never, before this, served tea, or handed water, or brought in anything; nor have I attended to a single duty in your presence, so how could you know me?"
"But why don't you attend to any of those duties that would bring you to my notice?" Pao-yue questioned.
"I too," answered the maid, "find it as difficult to answer such a question. There's however one thing that I must report to you, master Secundus. Yesterday, some Mr. Yuen Erh or other came to see you; but as I thought you, sir, had no leisure, I speedily bade Pei Ming tell him to come early to-day. But you unexpectedly went over again to the mansion of the Prince of Pei Ching."
When she had spoken as far as this, she caught sight of Ch'iu Wen and Pi Hen enter the court, giggling and laughing; the two of them carrying between them a bucket of water; and while raising their skirts with one hand, they hobbled along, as the water spurted and plashed. The waiting-maid hastily come out to meet them so as to relieve them of their burden, but Ch'iu Wen and Pi Hen were in the act of standing face to face and finding fault with each other; one saying, "You've wetted my clothes," the other adding, "You've trod on my shoes," and upon, all of a sudden, espying some one walk out to receive the water, and discovering, when they came to see, that it was actually no one else than Hsiao Hung, they were at once both so taken aback that, putting down the bucket, they hurried into the room; and when they looked about and saw that there was no other person inside besides Pao-yue they were at once displeased. But as they were meanwhile compelled to get ready the articles necessary for his bath, they waited until Pao-yue was about to divest himself of his clothes, when the couple of them speedily pulled the door to behind them, as they went out, and walked as far as the room on the opposite side, in search of Hsiao Hung; of whom they inquired: "What were you doing in his room a short while back?"
"When was I ever in the room?" Hsiao Hung replied; "simply because I lost sight of my handkerchief, I went to the back to try and find it, when unexpectedly Mr. Secundus, who wanted tea, called for you sisters; and as there wasn't one even of you there, I walked in and poured a cup for him, and just at that very moment you sisters came back."
"You barefaced, low-bred thing!" cried Ch'iu Wen, turning towards her and spurting in her face. "It was our bounden duty to tell you to go and hurry them for the water, but you simply maintained that you were busy and made us go instead, in order to afford you an opportunity of performing these wily tricks! and isn't this raising yourself up li by li? But don't we forsooth, even so much as come up to you? and you just take that looking-glass and see for yourself, whether you be fit to serve tea and to hand water or not?"
"To-morrow," continued Pi Hea, "I'll tell them that whenever there's anything to do connected with his wanting tea, or asking for water, or with fetching things for him, not one of us should budge, and that _she_ alone should be allowed to go, and have done!"
"If this be your suggestion," remarked Ch'iu Wen, "wouldn't it be still better that we should all disperse, and let her reign supreme in this room!"
But while the two of them were up to this trouble, one saying one thing, and another, another, they caught sight of two old nurses walk in to deliver a message from lady Feng; who explained: "To-morrow, someone will bring in gardeners to plant trees, and she bids you keep under more rigorous restraint, and not sun your clothes and petticoats anywhere and everywhere; nor air them about heedlessly; that the artificial hill will, all along, be entirely shut in by screening curtains, and that you mustn't he running about at random."
"I wonder," interposed Ch'iu Wen with alacrity, "who it is that will bring the workmen to-morrow, and supervise the works?"
"Some one or other called Mr. Yuen, living at the back portico," the old woman observed.
But Ch'iu Wen and Pi Hen were neither of them acquainted with him, and they went on promiscuously asking further questions on his account, but Hsiao Hung knew distinctly in her mind who it was, and was well aware that it was the person whom she had seen, the previous day, in the outer library.
The surname of this Hsiao Hung had, in fact, been originally Lin, while her infant name had been Hung Yue; but as the word Yue improperly corresponded with the names of Pao-yue and Tai-yue, she was, in due course, simply called Hsiao Hung. She was indeed an hereditary servant of the mansion; and her father had latterly taken over the charge of all matters connected with the farms and farmhouses in every locality. This Hung-yue came, at the age of sixteen, into the mansion, to enter into service, and was attached to the Hung Yuan, where in point of fact she found both a quiet and pleasant home; and when contrary to all expectation, the young ladies as well as Pao-yue, were subsequently permitted to move their quarters into the garden of Broad Vista, it so happened that this place was, moreover, fixed upon by Pao-yue. This Hsiao Hung was, it is true, a girl without any experience, but as she could, to a certain degree, boast of a pretty face, and as, in her own heart, she recklessly fostered the idea of exalting herself to a higher standard, she was ever ready to thrust herself in Pao-yue's way, with a view to showing herself off. But attached to Pao-yue's personal service were a lot of servants, all of whom were glib and specious, so that how could she ever find an opportunity of thrusting herself forward? But contrary to her anticipations, there turned up, eventually on this day, some faint glimmer of hope, but as she again came in for a spell of spiteful abuse from Ch'iu Wen and her companion, her expectations were soon considerably frustrated, and she was just plunged in a melancholy mood, when suddenly she heard the old nurse begin the conversation about Chia Yuen, which unconsciously so affected her heart that she hastily returned, quite disconsolate, into her room, and lay herself down on her bed, giving herself quietly to reflection. But while she was racking and torturing her brain and at a moment when she was at a loss what decision to grasp, her ear unexpectedly caught, emanating from outside the window, a faint voice say: "Hsiao Hung, I've picked up your pocket handkerchief in here!" and as soon as Hsiao Hung heard these words, she walked out with hurried step and found that it was no one else than Chia Yuen in person; and as Hsiao Hung unwillingly felt her powdered face suffused with brushes: "Where did you pick it up, Mr. Secundus?" she asked.
"Come over," Chia Yuen smiled, "and I'll tell you!" And as he uttered these words, he came up and drew her to him; but Hsiao Hung twisted herself round and ran away; but was however tripped over by the step of the door.
Now, reader, do you want to know the sequel? If so the next chapter will explain.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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