中国经典 》 红楼梦 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二十九回 享福人福深还祷福 痴情女情重愈斟情 CHAPTER XXIX.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鹗 Gao E
CHAPTER XXIX.
话说宝玉正自发怔，不想黛玉将手帕子甩了来，正碰在眼睛上，倒唬了一跳，问是谁。 林黛玉摇着头儿笑道：“不敢，是我失了手。因为宝姐姐要看呆雁，我比给他看，不想失了手。”宝玉揉着眼睛，待要说什么，又不好说的。
一时， 凤姐儿来了，因说起初一日在清虚观打醮的事来，遂约着宝钗，宝玉，黛玉等看戏去。宝钗笑道：“罢，罢，怪热的。什么没看过的戏，我就不去了。”凤姐儿道：“他们那里凉快， 两边又有楼。咱们要去，我头几天打发人去，把那些道士都赶出去，把楼打扫干净， 挂起帘子来，一个闲人不许放进庙去，才是好呢。我已经回了太太了，你们不去我去。这些日子也闷的很了。家里唱动戏，我又不得舒舒服服的看。”
贾母听说，笑道：“既这么着，我同你去。”凤姐听说，笑道：“老祖宗也去，敢情好了！就只是我又不得受用了。”贾母道：“到明儿，我在正面楼上，你在旁边楼上，你也不用到我这边来立规矩， 可好不好？"凤姐儿笑道：“这就是老祖宗疼我了。”贾母因又向宝钗道：“你也去，连你母亲也去。长天老日的，在家里也是睡觉。”宝钗只得答应着。
贾母又打发人去请了薛姨妈， 顺路告诉王夫人，要带了他们姊妹去。王夫人因一则身上不好，二则预备着元春有人出来，早已回了不去的成于元气，万物乘于天地。”东汉王充《论衡·谈天》：“元气，听贾母如今这样说，笑道：“还是这么高兴。 "因打发人去到园里告诉：“有要逛的，只管初一跟了老太太逛去。”这个话一传开了，别人都还可已，只是那些丫头们天天不得出门槛子，听了这话，谁不要去。便是各人的主子懒怠去，他也百般撺掇了去，因此李宫裁等都说去。贾母越发心中喜欢，早已吩咐人去打扫安置，都不必细说。单表到了初一这一日，荣国府门前车辆纷纷， 人马簇簇。那底下凡执事人等，闻得是贵妃作好事，贾母亲去拈香，正是初一日乃月之首日，况是端阳节间，因此凡动用的什物，一色都是齐全的，不同往日。少时，贾母等出来。贾母坐一乘八人大轿，李氏，凤姐儿，薛姨妈每人一乘四人轿，宝钗，黛玉二人共坐一辆翠盖珠缨八宝车，迎春，探春，惜春三人共坐一辆朱轮华盖车。然后贾母的丫头鸳鸯， 鹦鹉，琥珀，珍珠，林黛玉的丫头紫鹃，雪雁，春纤，宝钗的丫头莺儿，文杏，迎春的丫头司棋，绣桔，探春的丫头待书，翠墨，惜春的丫头入画，彩屏，薛姨妈的丫头同喜， 同贵，外带着香菱，香菱的丫头臻儿，李氏的丫头素云，碧月，凤姐儿的丫头平儿，丰儿，小红，并王夫人两个丫头也要跟了凤姐儿去的金钏，彩云，奶子抱着大姐儿带着巧姐儿另在一车，还有两个丫头，一共又连上各房的老嬷嬷奶娘并跟出门的家人媳妇子，乌压压的占了一街的车。贾母等已经坐轿去了多远，这门前尚未坐完。这个说：“我不同你在一处"，那个说"你压了我们奶奶的包袱"，那边车上又说"蹭了我的花儿"，这边又说"碰折了我的扇子"，咭咭呱呱，说笑不绝。周瑞家的走来过去的说道：“姑娘们，这是街上，看人笑话。”说了两遍，方觉好了。前头的全副执事摆开，早已到了清虚观了。宝玉骑着马，在贾母轿前。街上人都站在两边。将至观前，只听钟鸣鼓响，早有张法官执香披衣， 带领众道士在路旁迎接。贾母的轿刚至山门以内，贾母在轿内因看见有守门大帅并千里眼， 顺风耳，当方土地，本境城隍各位泥胎圣像，便命住轿。贾珍带领各子弟上来迎接。凤姐儿知道鸳鸯等在后面，赶不上来搀贾母，自己下了轿，忙要上来搀。 可巧有个十二三岁的小道士儿，拿着剪筒，照管剪各处蜡花，正欲得便且藏出去，不想一头撞在凤姐儿怀里。凤姐便一扬手，照脸一下，把那小孩子打了一个筋斗，骂道：“野牛у的， 胡朝那里跑！"那小道士也不顾拾烛剪，爬起来往外还要跑。正值宝钗等下车， 众婆娘媳妇正围随的风雨不透，但见一个小道士滚了出来，都喝声叫"拿，拿，拿！打，打，打！”
贾母听了忙问：“是怎么了？"贾珍忙出来问。凤姐上去搀住贾母，就回说：“一个小道士儿，剪灯花的，没躲出去，这会子混钻呢。”贾母听说，忙道：“快带了那孩子来，别唬着他。 小门小户的孩子，都是娇生惯养的，那里见的这个势派。倘或唬着他，倒怪可怜见的， 他老子娘岂不疼的慌？"说着，便叫贾珍去好生带了来。贾珍只得去拉了那孩子来。 那孩子还一手拿着蜡剪，跪在地下乱战。贾母命贾珍拉起来，叫他别怕。问他几岁了。 那孩子通说不出话来。贾母还说"可怜见的"，又向贾珍道：“珍哥儿，带他去罢。给他些钱买果子吃，别叫人难为了他。”贾珍答应，领他去了。这里贾母带着众人，一层一层的瞻拜观玩。外面小厮们见贾母等进入二层山门，忽见贾珍领了一个小道士出来，叫人来带去，给他几百钱，不要难为了他。家人听说，忙上来领了下去。
贾珍站在阶矶上，因问：“管家在那里？"底下站的小厮们见问，都一齐喝声说：“叫管家！ "登时林之孝一手整理着帽子跑了来，到贾珍跟前。贾珍道：“虽说这里地方大，今儿不承望来这么些人。你使的人人的理性之中。唯实论是基督教会的正统官方哲学。②哲学，你就带了往你的那院里去，使不着的，打发到那院里去。 把小幺儿们多挑几个在这二层门上同两边的角门上，伺候着要东西传话。你可知道不知道，今儿小姐奶奶们都出来，一个闲人也到不了这里。”林之孝忙答应"晓得"， 又说了几个"是"。贾珍道：“去罢。”又问：“怎么不见蓉儿？"一声未了，只见贾蓉从钟楼里跑了出来。 贾珍道：“你瞧瞧他，我这里也还没敢说热，他倒乘凉去了！"喝命家人啐他。 那小厮们都知道贾珍素日的性子，违拗不得，有个小厮便上来向贾蓉脸上啐了一口。贾珍又道：“问着他！"那小厮便问贾蓉道：“爷还不怕热，哥儿怎么先乘凉去了？"贾蓉垂着手， 一声不敢说。那贾芸，贾萍，贾芹等听见了，不但他们慌了，亦且连贾璜，贾е， 贾琼等也都忙了，一个一个从墙根下慢慢的溜上来。贾珍又向贾蓉道：“你站着作什么？还不骑了马跑到家里，告诉你娘母子去！老太太同姑娘们都来了，叫他们快来伺候。”贾蓉听说，忙跑了出来，一叠声要马，一面抱怨道：“早都不知作什么的，这会子寻趁我。”一面又骂小子：“捆着手呢？马也拉不来。”待要打发小子去，又恐后来对出来，说不得亲自走一趟，骑马去了，不在话下。
且说贾珍方要抽身进去，只见张道士站在旁边陪笑说道：“论理我不比别人，应该里头伺候。只因天气炎热，众位千金都出来了，法官不敢擅入，请爷的示下。恐老太太问，或要随喜那里，我只在这里伺候罢了。”贾珍知道这张道士虽然是当日荣国府国公的替身，曾经先皇御口亲呼为"大幻仙人"，如今现掌"道录司"印，又是当今封为"终了真人" ，现今王公藩镇都称他为"神仙"，所以不敢轻慢。二则他又常往两个府里去，凡夫人小姐都是见的。 今见他如此说，便笑道：“咱们自己，你又说起这话来。再多说，我把你这胡子还お了呢！还不跟我进来。”那张道士呵呵大笑，跟了贾珍进来。
贾珍到贾母跟前，控身陪笑说：“这张爷爷进来请安。”贾母听了，忙道：“搀他来。”贾珍忙去搀了过来。 那张道士先哈哈笑道：“无量寿佛！老祖宗一向福寿安康？众位奶奶小姐纳福？ 一向没到府里请安，老太太气色越发好了。”贾母笑道：“老神仙，你好？"张道士笑道：“托老太太万福万寿，小道也还康健。别的倒罢，只记挂着哥儿，一向身上好？ 前日四月二十六日，我这里做遮天大王的圣诞，人也来的少，东西也很干净，我说请哥儿来逛逛，怎么说不在家？"贾母说道：“果真不在家。”一面回头叫宝玉。谁知宝玉解手去了才来，忙上前问：“张爷爷好？"张道士忙抱住问了好，又向贾母笑道：“哥儿越发发福了。 "贾母道：“他外头好，里头弱。又搭着他老子逼着他念书，生生的把个孩子逼出病来了。 "张道士道：“前日我在好几处看见哥儿写的字，作的诗，都好的了不得，怎么老爷还抱怨说哥儿不大喜欢念书呢？依小道看来，也就罢了。”又叹道：“我看见哥儿的这个形容身段， 言谈举动，怎么就同当日国公爷一个稿子！"说着两眼流下泪来。贾母听说，也由不得满脸泪痕，说道：“正是呢，我养这些儿子孙子，也没一个像他爷爷的，就只这玉儿像他爷爷。”
那张道士又向贾珍道：“当日国公爷的模样儿，爷们一辈的不用说，自然没赶上，大约连大老爷，二老爷也记不清楚了。”说毕呵呵又一大笑登地区弗赖堡大学任教而得名。主要代表还有李凯尔特。主，道：“前日在一个人家看见一位小姐，今年十五岁了，生的倒也好个模样儿。我想着哥儿也该寻亲事了。若论这个小姐模样儿， 聪明智慧，根基家当，倒也配的过。但不知老太太怎么样，小道也不敢造次。 等请了老太太的示下，才敢向人去说。”贾母道：“上回有和尚说了，这孩子命里不该早娶，等再大一大儿再定罢。你可如今打听着，不管他根基富贵，只要模样配的上就好，来告诉我。便是那家子穷，不过给他几两银子罢了。只是模样性格儿难得好的。”
说毕， 只见凤姐儿笑道：“张爷爷，我们丫头的寄名符儿你也不换去。前儿亏你还有那么大脸， 打发人和我要鹅黄缎子去！要不给你，又恐怕你那老脸上过不去。”张道士呵呵大笑道：“你瞧，我眼花了，也没看见奶奶在这里，也没道多谢。符早已有了，前日原要送去的，不指望娘娘来作好事，就混忘了，还在佛前镇着。待我取来。”说着跑到大殿上去，一时拿了一个茶盘，搭着大红蟒缎经袱子，托出符来。大姐儿的奶子接了符。张道士方欲抱过大姐儿来，只见凤姐笑道：“你就手里拿出来罢了，又用个盘子托着。” 张道士道：“手里不干不净的，怎么拿，用盘子洁净些。”凤姐儿笑道：“你只顾拿出盘子来，倒唬我一跳。我不说你是为送符，倒象是和我们化布施来了。”众人听说，哄然一笑， 连贾珍也掌不住笑了。贾母回头道：“猴儿猴儿，你不怕下割舌头地狱？"凤姐儿笑道：“我们爷儿们不相干。他怎么常常的说我该积阴骘，迟了就短命呢！”
张道士也笑道：“我拿出盘子来一举两用，却不为化布施，倒要将哥儿的这玉请了下来，托出去给那些远来的道友并徒子徒孙们见识见识。”贾母道：“既这们着，你老人家老天拔地的跑什么， 就带他去瞧了，叫他进来，岂不省事？"张道士道：“老太太不知道， 看着小道是八十多岁的人，托老太太的福倒也健壮，二则外面的人多，气味难闻，况是个暑热的天，哥儿受不惯，倘或哥儿受了腌か气味，倒值多了。”贾母听说，便命宝玉摘下通灵玉来，放在盘内。那张道士兢兢业业的用蟒袱子垫着，捧了出去。
这里贾母与众人各处游玩了一回，方去上楼。只见贾珍回说：“张爷爷送了玉来了。”刚说着，只见张道士捧了盘子，走到跟前笑道：“众人托小道的福，见了哥儿的玉《共产党宣言》作为论述的出发点，说明了科学共产主义产生，实在可罕。都没什么敬贺之物，这是他们各人传道的法器，都愿意为敬贺之礼。哥儿便不希罕， 只留着在房里顽耍赏人罢。”贾母听说，向盘内看时，只见也有金璜，也有玉ぉ，或有事事如意， 或有岁岁平安，皆是珠穿宝贯，玉琢金镂，共有三五十件。因说道：“你也胡闹。 他们出家人是那里来的，何必这样，这不能收。”张道士笑道：“这是他们一点敬心，小道也不能阻挡。老太太若不留下，岂不叫他们看着小道微薄，不象是门下出身了。 "贾母听如此说，方命人接了。宝玉笑道：“老太太，张爷爷既这么说，又推辞不得，我要这个也无用，不如叫小子们捧了这个，跟着我出去散给穷人罢。”贾母笑道：“这倒说的是。”张道士又忙拦道：“哥儿虽要行好，但这些东西虽说不甚希奇，到底也是几件器皿。 若给了乞丐，一则与他们无益，二则反倒遭塌了这些东西。要舍给穷人，何不就散钱与他们。”宝玉听说，便命收下，等晚间拿钱施舍罢了。说毕，张道士方退出去。
这里贾母与众人上了楼，在正面楼上归坐。凤姐等占了东楼。众丫头等在西楼，轮流伺候。贾珍一时来回：“神前拈了戏，头一本《白蛇记》。”贾母问"《白蛇记》是什么故事？ "贾珍道：“是汉高祖斩蛇方起首的故事。第二本是《满床笏》。”贾母笑道：“这倒是第二本上？也罢了。神佛要这样，也只得罢了。”又问第三本，贾珍道：“第三本是< <南柯梦》。”贾母听了便不言语。贾珍退了下来，至外边预备着申表，焚钱粮，开戏，不在话下。
且说宝玉在楼上， 坐在贾母旁边，因叫个小丫头子捧着方才那一盘子贺物，将自己的玉带上， 用手翻弄寻拨，一件一件的挑与贾母看。贾母因看见有个赤金点翠的麒麟，便伸手拿了起来，笑道：“这件东西好象我看见谁家的孩子也带着这么一个的。”宝钗笑道：“史大妹妹有一个，比这个小些。”贾母道：“是云儿有这个。”宝玉道：“他这么往我们家去住着，我也没看见。”探春笑道：“宝姐姐有心，不管什么他都记得。”林黛玉冷笑道：“他在别的上还有限，惟有这些人带的东西上越发留心。”宝钗听说，便回头装没听见。 宝玉听见史湘云有这件东西，自己便将那麒麟忙拿起来揣在怀里。一面心里又想到怕人看见他听见史湘云
有了， 他就留这件，因此手里揣着，却拿眼睛瞟人。只见众人都倒不大理论，惟有林黛玉瞅着他点头儿单面度性法国马尔库塞的用语。指资本主义状态下社会，似有赞叹之意。宝玉不觉心里没好意思起来，又掏了出来，向黛玉笑道：“这个东西倒好顽，我替你留着，到了家穿上你带。”林黛玉将头一扭，说道：“我不希罕。”宝玉笑道：“你果然不希罕，我少不得就拿着。”说着又揣了起来。刚要说话，只见贾珍贾蓉的妻子婆媳两个来了，彼此见过，贾母方说：“你们又来做什么，我不过没事来逛逛。 "一句话没说了，只见人报：“冯将军家有人来了。”原来冯紫英家听见贾府在庙里打醮， 连忙预备了猪羊香烛茶银之类的东西送礼。凤姐儿听了，忙赶过正楼来，拍手笑道：“嗳呀！我就不防这个。只说咱们娘儿们来闲逛逛，人家只当咱们大摆斋坛的来送礼。 都是老太太闹的。这又不得不预备赏封儿。”刚说了，只见冯家的两个管家娘子上楼来了。冯家两个未去，接着赵侍郎也有礼来了。于是接二连三，都听见贾府打醮， 女眷都在庙里，凡一应远亲近友，世家相与都来送礼。贾母才后悔起来，说：“又不是什么正经斋事， 我们不过闲逛逛，就想不到这礼上，没的惊动了人。”因此虽看了一天戏， 至下午便回来了，次日便懒怠去。凤姐又说：“打墙也是动土，已经惊动了人，今儿乐得还去逛逛。那贾母因昨日张道士提起宝玉说亲的事来，谁知宝玉一日心中不自在，回家来生气，嗔着张道士与他说了亲，口口声声说从今以后不再见张道士了，别人也并不知为什么原故， 二则林黛玉昨日回家又中了暑：因此二事，贾母便执意不去了。凤姐见不去，自己带了人去，也不在话下。
且说宝玉因见林黛玉又病了，心里放不下，饭也懒去吃，不时来问。林黛玉又怕他有个好歹，因说道：“你只管看你的戏去，在家里作什么？"宝玉因昨日张道士提亲，心中大不受用， 今听见林黛玉如此说，心里因想道：“别人不知道我的心还可恕，连他也奚落起我来"因此心中更比往日的烦恼加了百倍。若是别人跟前，断不能动这肝火，只是林黛玉说了这话， 倒比往日别人说这话不同，由不得立刻沉下脸来，说道：“我白认得了你。罢了，罢了！"林黛玉听说，便冷笑了两声，"我也知道白认得了我，那里象人家有什么配的上呢。”宝玉听了，便向前来直问到脸上：“你这么说，是安心咒我天诛地灭？"林黛玉一时解不过这个话来。宝玉又道：“昨儿还为这个赌了几回咒，今儿你到底又准我一句。我便天诛地灭，你又有什么益处？"林黛玉一闻此言，方想起上日的话来。今日原是自己说错了，又是着急，又是羞愧，便颤颤兢兢的说道：“我要安心咒你，我也天诛地灭。何苦来！我知道，昨日张道士说亲，你怕阻了你的好姻缘，你心里生气，来拿我煞性子。”原来那宝玉自幼生成有一种下流痴病，况从幼时和黛玉耳鬓厮磨，心情相对，及如今稍明时事，又看了那些邪书僻传，凡远亲近友之家所见的那些闺英闱秀，皆未有稍及林黛玉者，所以早存了一段心事，只不好说出来，故每每或喜或怒，变尽法子暗中试探。 那林黛玉偏生也是个有些痴病的，也每用假情试探。因你也将真心真意瞒了起来，只用假意，我也将真心真意瞒了起来，只用假意，如此两假相逢，终有一真。其间琐琐碎碎，难保不有口角之争。即如此刻，宝玉的心内想的是：“别人不知我的心，还有可恕，难道你就不想我的心里眼里只有你！你不能为我烦恼，反来以这话奚落堵我。可见我心里一时一刻白有你， 你竟心里没我。”心里这意思，只是口里说不出来。那林黛玉心里想着：“你心里自然有我，虽有‘金玉相对’之说，你岂是重这邪说
不重我的。我便时常提这‘金玉’，你只管了然自若无闻的，方见得是待我重，而毫无此心了。如何我只一提‘金玉’的事，你就着急，可知你心里时时有‘金玉’，见我一提，你又怕我多心，故意着急，安心哄我。”
看来两个人原本是一个心， 但都多生了枝叶，反弄成两个心了。那宝玉心中又想着：“我不管怎么样都好，只要你随意，我便立刻因你死了也情愿。你知也罢切都是不可知的。因果联系只是人们的“习惯性联想”，不具，不知也罢，只由我的心，可见你方和我近，不和我远。”那林黛玉心里又想着：“你只管你，你好我自好，你何必为我而自失。殊不知你失我自失。可见是你不叫我近你，有意叫我远你了。 "如此看来，却都是求近之心，反弄成疏远之意。如此之话，皆他二人素习所存私心，也难备述。
如今只述他们外面的形容。 那宝玉又听见他说"好姻缘"三个字，越发逆了己意，心里干噎，口里说不出话来，便赌气向颈上抓下通灵宝玉，咬牙恨命往地下一摔，道：“什么捞什骨子，我砸了你完事！"偏生那玉坚硬非常，摔了一下，竟文风没动。宝玉见没摔碎， 便回身找东西来砸。林黛玉见他如此，早已哭起来，说道：“何苦来，你摔砸那哑吧物件。有砸他的，不如来砸我。”二人闹着，紫鹃雪雁等忙来解劝。后来见宝玉下死力砸玉，忙上来夺，又夺不下来，见比往日闹的大了，少不得去叫袭人。袭人忙赶了来，才夺了下来。宝玉冷笑道：“我砸我的东西，与你们什么相干！”
袭人见他脸都气黄了，眼眉都变了，从来没气的这样，便拉着他的手，笑道：“你同妹妹拌嘴，不犯着砸他，倘或砸坏了，叫他心里脸上怎么过的去？"林黛玉一行哭着，一行听了这话说到自己心坎儿上来， 可见宝玉连袭人不如，越发伤心大哭起来。心里一烦恼， 方才吃的香薷饮解暑汤便承受不住，"哇"的一声都吐了出来。紫鹃忙上来用手帕子接住，登时一口一口的把一块手帕子吐湿。雪雁忙上来捶。紫鹃道：“虽然生气，姑娘到底也该保重着些。才吃了药好些，这会子因和宝二爷拌嘴，又吐出来。倘或犯了病， 宝二爷怎么过的去呢？"宝玉听了这话说到自己心坎儿上来，可见黛玉不如一紫鹃。又见林黛玉脸红头胀，一行啼哭，一行气凑，一行是泪，一行是汗，不胜怯弱。宝玉见了这般， 又自己后悔方才不该同他较证，这会子他这样光景，我又替不了他。心里想着，也由不的滴下泪来了。 袭人见他两个哭，由不得守着宝玉也心酸起来，又摸着宝玉的手冰凉， 待要劝宝玉不哭罢，一则又恐宝玉有什么委曲闷在心里，二则又恐薄了林黛玉。 不如大家一哭，就丢开手了，因此也流下泪来。紫鹃一面收拾了吐的药，一面拿扇子替林黛玉轻轻的扇着，见三个人都鸦雀无声，各人哭各人的，也由不得伤心起来，也拿手帕子擦泪。四个人都无言对泣。
一时， 袭人勉强笑向宝玉道：“你不看别的，你看看这玉上穿的穗子，也不该同林姑娘拌嘴。”林黛玉听了，也不顾病天问《楚辞》篇名。战国楚屈原著。以170余问题质问，赶来夺过去，顺手抓起一把剪子来要剪。袭人紫鹃刚要夺，已经剪了几段。林黛玉哭道：“我也是白效力。他也不希罕，自有别人替他再穿好的去。 "袭人忙接了玉道：“何苦来，这是我才多嘴的不是了。”宝玉向林黛玉道：“你只管剪，我横竖不带他，也没什么。”
只顾里头闹， 谁知那些老婆子们见林黛玉大哭大吐，宝玉又砸玉，不知道要闹到什么田地，倘或连累了他们，便一齐往前头回贾母王夫人知道，好不干连了他们。那贾母王夫人见他们忙忙的作一件正经事来告诉，也都不知有了什么大祸，便一齐进园来瞧他兄妹。 急的袭人抱怨紫鹃为什么惊动了老太太，太太，紫鹃又只当是袭人去告诉的，也抱怨袭人。那贾母，王夫人进来，见宝玉也无言，林黛玉也无话，问起来又没为什么事，便将这祸移到袭人紫鹃两个人身上，说"为什么你们不小心伏侍，这会子闹起来都不管了！ "因此将他二人连骂带说教训了一顿。二人都没话，只得听着。还是贾母带出宝玉去了，方才平服。
过了一日， 至初三日，乃是薛蟠生日，家里摆酒唱戏，来请贾府诸人。宝玉因得罪了林黛玉，二人总未见面，心中正自后悔，无精打采的，那里还有心肠去看戏，因而推病不去。林黛玉不过前日中了些暑溽之气，本无甚大病，听见他不去，心里想：“他是好吃酒看戏的， 今日反不去，自然是因为昨儿气着了。再不然，他见我不去，他也没心肠去。只是昨儿千不该万不该剪了那玉上的穗子。管定他再不带了，还得我穿了他才带。”因而心中十分后悔。
那贾母见他两个都生了气， 只说趁今儿那边看戏，他两个见了也就完了，不想又都不去。老人家急的抱怨说：“我这老冤家是那世里的孽障，偏生遇见了这么两个不省事的小冤家本体论证明基督教神学辩惑学命题之一。由经院哲学家，没有一天不叫我操心。真是俗语说的，‘不是冤家不聚头’。几时我闭了这眼， 断了这口气，凭着这两个冤家闹上天去，我眼不见心不烦，也就罢了。偏又不г这口气。 "自己抱怨着也哭了。这话传入宝林二人耳内。原来他二人竟是从未听见过"不是冤家不聚头"的这句俗语，如今忽然得了这句话，好似参禅的一般，都低头细嚼此话的滋味，都不觉潸然泣下。虽不曾会面，然一个在潇湘馆临风洒泪，一个在怡红院对月长吁，却不是人居两地，情发一心！
袭人因劝宝玉道：“千万不是，都是你的不是，往日家里小厮们和他们的姊妹拌嘴，或是两口子分争，你听见了，你还骂小厮们蠢，不能体贴女孩儿们的心。今儿你也这么着了。 明儿初五，大节下，你们两个再这们仇人似的，老太太越发要生气，一定弄的大家不安生。依我劝，你正经下个气，陪个不是，大家还是照常一样，这么也好，那么也好。”那宝玉听见了不知依与不依，要知端详，且听下回分解。
A happy man enjoys a full measure of happiness, but still prays for happiness. A beloved girl is very much loved, but yet craves for more love.
Pao-yue, so our story runs, was gazing vacantly, when Tai-yue, at a moment least expected, flung her handkerchief at him, which just hit him on the eyes, and frightened him out of his wits. "Who was it?" he cried.
Lin Tai-yue nodded her head and smiled. "I would not venture to do such a thing," she said, "it was a mere slip of my hand. As cousin Pao-ch'ai wished to see the silly wild goose, I was pointing it out to her, when the handkerchief inadvertently flew out of my grip."
Pao-yue kept on rubbing his eyes. The idea suggested itself to him to make some remonstrance, but he could not again very well open his lips.
Presently, lady Feng arrived. She then alluded, in the course of conversation, to the thanksgiving service, which was to be offered on the first, in the Ch'ing Hsue temple, and invited Pao-ch'ai, Pao-yue, Tai-yue and the other inmates with them to be present at the theatricals.
"Never mind," smiled Pao-ch'ai, "it's too hot; besides, what plays haven't I seen? I don't mean to come."
"It's cool enough over at their place," answered lady Feng. "There are also two-storied buildings on either side; so we must all go! I'll send servants a few days before to drive all that herd of Taoist priests out, to sweep the upper stories, hang up curtains, and to keep out every single loafer from the interior of the temple; so it will be all right like that. I've already told our Madame Wang that if you people don't go, I mean to go all alone, as I've been again in very low spirits these last few days, and as when theatricals come off at home, it's out of the question for me to look on with any peace and quiet."
When dowager lady Chia heard what she said, she smiled. "Well, in that case," she remarked, "I'll go along with you."
Lady Feng, at these words, gave a smile. "Venerable ancestor," she replied, "were you also to go, it would be ever so much better; yet I won't feel quite at my ease!"
"To-morrow," dowager lady Chia continued, "I can stay in the two-storied building, situated on the principal site, while you can go to the one on the side. You can then likewise dispense with coming over to where I shall be to stand on any ceremonies. Will this suit you or not?"
"This is indeed," lady Feng smiled, "a proof of your regard for me, my worthy senior."
Old lady Chia at this stage faced Pao-ch'ai. "You too should go," she said, "so should your mother; for if you remain the whole day long at home, you will again sleep your head off."
Pao-ch'ai felt constrained to signify her assent. Dowager lady Chia then also despatched domestics to invite Mrs. Hsueeh; and, on their way, they notified Madame Wang that she was to take the young ladies along with her. But Madame Wang felt, in the first place, in a poor state of health, and was, in the second, engaged in making preparations for the reception of any arrivals from Yuean Ch'un, so that she, at an early hour, sent word that it was impossible for her to leave the house. Yet when she received old lady Chia's behest, she smiled and exclaimed: "Are her spirits still so buoyant!" and transmitted the message into the garden that any, who had any wish to avail themselves of the opportunity, were at liberty to go on the first, with their venerable senior as their chaperonne. As soon as these tidings were spread abroad, every one else was indifferent as to whether they went or not; but of those girls who, day after day, never put their foot outside the doorstep, which of them was not keen upon going, the moment they heard the permission conceded to them? Even if any of their respective mistresses were too lazy to move, they employed every expedient to induce them to go. Hence it was that Li Kung-ts'ai and the other inmates signified their unanimous intention to be present. Dowager lady Chia, at this, grew more exultant than ever, and she issued immediate directions for servants to go and sweep and put things in proper order. But to all these preparations, there is no necessity of making detailed reference; sufficient to relate that on the first day of the moon, carriages stood in a thick maze, and men and horses in close concourse, at the entrance of the Jung Kuo mansion.
When the servants, the various managers and other domestics came to learn that the Imperial Consort was to perform good deeds and that dowager lady Chia was to go in person and offer incense, they arranged, as it happened that the first of the moon, which was the principal day of the ceremonies, was, in addition, the season of the dragon-boat festival, all the necessary articles in perfect readiness and with unusual splendour. Shortly, old lady Chia and the other inmates started on their way. The old lady sat in an official chair, carried by eight bearers: widow Li, lady Feng and Mrs. Hsueeh, each in a four-bearer chair. Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yue mounted together a curricle with green cover and pearl tassels, bearing the eight precious things. The three sisters, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, and Hsi Ch'un got in a carriage with red wheels and ornamented hood. Next in order, followed dowager lady Chia's waiting-maids, Yuean Yang, Ying Wu, Hu Po, Chen Chu; Lin Tai-yue's waiting-maids Tzu Chuean, Hsueeh Yen, and Ch'un Ch'ien; Pao-ch'ai's waiting-maids Ying Erh and Wen Hsing; Ying Ch'un's servant-girls Ssu Ch'i and Hsiu Chue; T'an Ch'un's waiting-maids Shih Shu and Ts'ui Mo; Hsi Ch'un's servant-girls Ju Hua and Ts'ai P'ing; and Mrs. Hsueeh's waiting-maids T'ung Hsi, and T'ung Kuei. Besides these, were joined to their retinue: Hsiang Ling and Hsiang Ling's servant-girl Ch'in Erh; Mrs. Li's waiting-maids Su Yuen and Pi Yueeh; lady Feng's servant-girls P'ing Erh, Feng Erh and Hsiao Hung, as well as Madame Wang's two waiting-maids Chin Ch'uan and Ts'ai Yuen. Along with lady Feng, came a nurse carrying Ta Chieh Erh. She drove in a separate carriage, together with a couple of servant-girls. Added also to the number of the suite were matrons and nurses, attached to the various establishments, and the wives of the servants of the household, who were in attendance out of doors. Their carriages, forming one black solid mass, therefore, crammed the whole extent of the street.
Dowager lady Chia and other members of the party had already proceeded a considerable distance in their chairs, and yet the inmates at the gate had not finished mounting their vehicles. This one shouted: "I won't sit with you." That one cried: "You've crushed our mistress' bundle." In the carriages yonder, one screamed: "You've pulled my flowers off." Another one nearer exclaimed: "You've broken my fan." And they chatted and chatted, and talked and laughed with such incessant volubility, that Chou Jui's wife had to go backward and forward calling them to task. "Girls," she said, "this is the street. The on-lookers will laugh at you!" But it was only after she had expostulated with them several times that any sign of improvement became at last visible.
The van of the procession had long ago reached the entrance of the Ch'ing Hsue Temple. Pao-yue rode on horseback. He preceded the chair occupied by his grandmother Chia. The throngs that filled the streets ranged themselves on either side.
On their arrival at the temple, the sound of bells and the rattle of drums struck their ear. Forthwith appeared the head-bonze Chang, a stick of incense in hand; his cloak thrown over his shoulders. He took his stand by the wayside at the head of a company of Taoist priests to present his greetings. The moment dowager lady Chia reached, in her chair, the interior of the main gate, she descried the lares and penates, the lord presiding over that particular district, and the clay images of the various gods, and she at once gave orders to halt. Chia Chen advanced to receive her acting as leader to the male members of the family. Lady Feng was well aware that Yuean Yang and the other attendants were at the back and could not overtake their old mistress, so she herself alighted from her chair to volunteer her services. She was about to hastily press forward and support her, when, by a strange accident, a young Taoist neophyte, of twelve or thirteen years of age, who held a case containing scissors, with which he had been snuffing the candles burning in the various places, just seized the opportunity to run out and hide himself, when he unawares rushed, head foremost, into lady Feng's arms. Lady Feng speedily raised her hand and gave him such a slap on the face that she made the young fellow reel over and perform a somersault. "You boorish young bastard!" she shouted, "where are you running to?"
The young Taoist did not even give a thought to picking up the scissors, but crawling up on to his feet again, he tried to scamper outside. But just at that very moment Pao-ch'ai and the rest of the young ladies were dismounting from their vehicles, and the matrons and women-servants were closing them in so thoroughly on all sides that not a puff of wind or a drop of rain could penetrate, and when they perceived a Taoist neophyte come rushing headlong out of the place, they, with one voice, exclaimed: "Catch him, catch him! Beat him, beat him!"
Old lady Chia overheard their cries. She asked with alacrity what the fuss was all about. Chia Chen immediately stepped outside to make inquiries. Lady Feng then advanced and, propping up her old senior, she went on to explain to her that a young Taoist priest, whose duties were to snuff the candles, had not previously retired out of the compound, and that he was now endeavouring to recklessly force his way out."
"Be quick and bring the lad here," shouted dowager lady Chia, as soon as she heard her explanation, "but, mind, don't frighten him. Children of mean families invariably get into the way of being spoilt by over-indulgence. How ever could he have set eyes before upon such display as this! Were you to frighten him, he will really be much to be pitied; and won't his father and mother be exceedingly cut up?"
As she spoke, she asked Chia Chen to go and do his best to bring him round. Chia Chen felt under the necessity of going, and he managed to drag the lad into her presence. With the scissors still clasped in his hand, the lad fell on his knees, and trembled violently.
Dowager lady Chia bade Chia Chen raise him up. "There's nothing to fear!" she said reassuringly. Then she asked him how old he was.
The boy, however, could on no account give vent to speech.
"Poor boy!" once more exclaimed the old lady. And continuing: "Brother Chen," she added, addressing herself to Chia Chen, "take him away, and give him a few cash to buy himself fruit with; and do impress upon every one that they are not to bully him."
Chia Chen signified his assent and led him off.
During this time, old lady Chia, taking along with her the whole family party, paid her devotions in storey after storey, and visited every place.
The young pages, who stood outside, watched their old mistress and the other inmates enter the second row of gates. But of a sudden they espied Chia Chen wend his way outwards, leading a young Taoist priest, and calling the servants to come, say; "Take him and give him several hundreds of cash and abstain from ill-treating him." At these orders, the domestics approached with hurried step and led him off.
Chia Chen then inquired from the terrace-steps where the majordomo was. At this inquiry, the pages standing below, called out in chorus, "Majordomo!"
Lin Chih-hsiao ran over at once, while adjusting his hat with one hand, and appeared in the presence of Chia Chen.
"Albeit this is a spacious place," Chia Chen began, "we muster a good concourse to-day, so you'd better bring into this court those servants, who'll be of any use to you, and send over into that one those who won't. And choose a few from among those young pages to remain on duty, at the second gate and at the two side entrances, so as to ask for things and deliver messages. Do you understand me, yes or no? The young ladies and ladies have all come out of town to-day, and not a single outsider must be permitted to put his foot in here."
"I understand," replied Lin Chih-hsiao hurriedly signifying his obedience. Next he uttered several yes's.
"Now," proceeded Chia Chen; "you can go on your way. But how is it, I don't see anything of Jung Erh?" he went on to ask.
This question was barely out of his lips, when he caught sight of Jung Erh running out of the belfry. "Look at him," shouted Chia Chen. "Look at him! I don't feel hot in here, and yet he must go in search of a cool place. Spit at him!" he cried to the family servants.
The young pages were fully aware that Chia Chen's ordinary disposition was such that he could not brook contradiction, and one of the lads speedily came forward and sputtered in Chia Jung's face. But Chia Chen still kept his gaze fixed on him, so the young page had to inquire of Chia Jung: "Master doesn't feel hot here, and how is it that you, Sir, have been the first to go and get cool?"
Chia Jung however dropped his arms, and did not venture to utter a single sound. Chia Yuen, Chia P'ing, Chia Ch'in and the other young people overheard what was going on and not only were they scared out of their wits, but even Chia Lien, Chia Pin, Chia Ch'ung and their companions were stricken with intense fright and one by one they quietly slipped down along the foot of the wall.
"What are you standing there for?" Chia Chen shouted to Chia Jung. "Don't you yet get on your horse and gallop home and tell your mother that our venerable senior is here with all the young ladies, and bid them come at once and wait upon them?"
As soon as Chia Jung heard these words, he ran out with hurried stride and called out repeatedly for his horse. Now he felt resentment, arguing within himself: "Who knows what he has been up to the whole morning, that he now finds fault with me!" Now he went on to abuse the young servants, crying: "Are your hands made fast, that you can't lead the horse round?" And he felt inclined to bid a servant-boy go on the errand, but fearing again lest he should subsequently be found out, and be at a loss how to account for his conduct he felt compelled to proceed in person; so mounting his steed, he started on his way.
But to return to Chia Chen. Just as he was about to be take himself inside, he noticed the Taoist Chang, who stood next to him, force a smile. "I'm not properly speaking," he remarked, "on the same footing as the others and should be in attendance inside, but as on account of the intense heat, the young ladies have come out of doors, I couldn't presume to take upon myself to intrude and ask what your orders, Sir, are. But the dowager lady may possibly inquire about me, or may like to visit any part of the temple, so I shall wait in here."
Chia Chen was fully cognisant that this Taoist priest, Chang, had, it is true, in past days, stood as a substitute for the Duke of the Jung Kuo mansion, but that the former Emperor had, with his own lips, conferred upon him the appellation of the 'Immortal being of the Great Unreal,' that he held at present the seal of 'Taoist Superior,' that the reigning Emperor had raised him to the rank of the 'Pure man,' that the princes, now-a-days, dukes, and high officials styled him the "Supernatural being," and he did not therefore venture to treat him with any disrespect. In the second place, (he knew that) he had paid frequent visits to the mansions, and that he had made the acquaintance of the ladies and young ladies, so when he heard his present remark he smilingly rejoined. "Do you again make use of such language amongst ourselves? One word more, and I'll take that beard of yours, and outroot it! Don't you yet come along with me inside?"
"Hah, hah," laughed the Taoist Chang aloud, as he followed Chia Chen in. Chia Chen approached dowager lady Chia. Bending his body he strained a laugh. "Grandfather Chang," he said, "has come in to pay his respects."
"Raise him up!" old lady Chia vehemently called out.
Chia Chen lost no time in pulling him to his feet and bringing him over.
The Taoist Chang first indulged in loud laughter. "Oh Buddha of unlimited years!" he then observed. "Have you kept all right and in good health, throughout, venerable Senior? Have all the ladies and young ladies continued well? I haven't been for some time to your mansion to pay my obeisance, but you, my dowager lady, have improved more and more."
"Venerable Immortal Being!" smiled old lady Chia, "how are you; quite well?"
"Thanks to the ten thousand blessings he has enjoyed from your hands," rejoined Chang the Taoist, "your servant too continues pretty strong and hale. In every other respect, I've, after all, been all right; but I have felt much concern about Mr. Pao-yue. Has he been all right all the time? The other day, on the 26th of the fourth moon, I celebrated the birthday of the 'Heaven-Pervading-Mighty-King;' few people came and everything went off right and proper. I told them to invite Mr. Pao to come for a stroll; but how was it they said that he wasn't at home?"
"It was indeed true that he was away from home," remarked dowager lady Chia. As she spoke, she turned her head round and called Pao-yue.
Pao-yue had, as it happened, just returned from outside where he had been to make himself comfortable, and with speedy step, he came forward. "My respects to you, grandfather Chang," he said.
The Taoist Chang eagerly clasped him in his arms and inquired how he was getting on. Turning towards old lady Chia, "Mr. Pao," he observed, "has grown fatter than ever."
"Outwardly, his looks," replied dowager lady Chia, "may be all right, but, inwardly, he is weak. In addition to this, his father presses him so much to study that he has again and again managed, all through this bullying, to make his child fall sick."
"The other day," continued Chang the Taoist, "I went to several places on a visit, and saw characters written by Mr. Pao and verses composed by him, all of which were exceedingly good; so how is it that his worthy father still feels displeased with him, and maintains that Mr. Pao is not very fond of his books? According to my humble idea, he knows quite enough. As I consider Mr. Pao's face, his bearing, his speech and his deportment," he proceeded, heaving a sigh, "what a striking resemblance I find in him to the former duke of the Jung mansion!" As he uttered these words, tears rolled down his cheeks.
At these words, old lady Chia herself found it hard to control her feelings. Her face became covered with the traces of tears. "Quite so," she assented, "I've had ever so many sons and grandsons, and not one of them betrayed the slightest resemblance to his grandfather; and this Pao-yue turns out to be the very image of him!"
"What the former duke of Jung Kuo was like in appearance," Chang, the Taoist went on to remark, addressing himself to Chia Chen, "you gentlemen, and your generation, were, of course, needless to say, not in time to see for yourselves; but I fancy that even our Senior master and our Master Secundus have but a faint recollection of it."
This said, he burst into another loud fit of laughter. "The other day," he resumed, "I was at some one's house and there I met a young girl, who is this year in her fifteenth year, and verily gifted with a beautiful face, and I bethought myself that Mr. Pao must also have a wife found for him. As far as looks, intelligence and mental talents, extraction and family standing go, this maiden is a suitable match for him. But as I didn't know what your venerable ladyship would have to say about it, your servant did not presume to act recklessly, but waited until I could ascertain your wishes before I took upon myself to open my mouth with the parties concerned."
"Some time ago," responded dowager lady Chia, "a bonze explained that it was ordained by destiny that this child shouldn't be married at an early age, and that we should put things off until he grew somewhat in years before anything was settled. But mark my words now. Pay no regard as to whether she be of wealthy and honourable stock or not, the essential thing is to find one whose looks make her a fit match for him and then come at once and tell me. For even admitting that the girl is poor, all I shall have to do will be to bestow on her a few ounces of silver; but fine looks and a sweet temperament are not easy things to come across."
When she had done speaking, lady Feng was heard to smilingly interpose: "Grandfather Chang, aren't you going to change the talisman of 'Recorded Name' of our daughter? The other day, lucky enough for you, you had again the great cheek to send some one to ask me for some satin of gosling-yellow colour. I gave it to you, for had I not, I was afraid lest your old face should have been made to feel uneasy."
"Hah, hah," roared the Taoist Chang, "just see how my eyes must have grown dim! I didn't notice that you, my lady, were in here; nor did I express one word of thanks to you! The talisman of 'Recorded Name' is ready long ago. I meant to have sent it over the day before yesterday, but the unforeseen visit of the Empress to perform meritorious deeds upset my equilibrium, and made me quite forget it. But it's still placed before the gods, and if you will wait I'll go and fetch it."
Saying this, he rushed into the main hall. Presently, he returned with a tea-tray in hand, on which was spread a deep red satin cover, brocaded with dragons. In this, he presented the charm. Ta Chieh-erh's nurse took it from him.
But just as the Taoist was on the point of taking Ta Chieh-erh in his embrace, lady Feng remarked with a smile: "It would have been sufficient if you'd carried it in your hand! And why use a tray to lay it on?"
"My hands aren't clean," replied the Taoist Chang, "so how could I very well have taken hold of it? A tray therefore made things much cleaner!"
"When you produced that tray just now," laughed lady Feng, "you gave me quite a start; I didn't imagine that it was for the purpose of bringing the charm in. It really looked as if you were disposed to beg donations of us."
This observation sent the whole company into a violent fit of laughter. Even Chia Chen could not suppress a smile.
"What a monkey!" dowager lady Chia exclaimed, turning her head round. "What a monkey you are! Aren't you afraid of going down to that Hell, where tongues are cut off?"
"I've got nothing to do with any men whatever," rejoined lady Feng laughing, "and why does he time and again tell me that it's my bounden duty to lay up a store of meritorious deeds; and that if I'm remiss, my life will be short?"
Chang, the Taoist, indulged in further laughter. "I brought out," he explained, "the tray so as to kill two birds with one stone. It wasn't, however, to beg for donations. On the contrary, it was in order to put in it the jade, which I meant to ask Mr. Pao to take off, so as to carry it outside and let all those Taoist friends of mine, who come from far away, as well as my neophytes and the young apprentices, see what it's like."
"Well, since that be the case," added old lady Chia, "why do you, at your age, try your strength by running about the whole day long? Take him at once along and let them see it! But were you to have called him in there, wouldn't it have saved a lot of trouble?"
"Your venerable ladyship," resumed Chang, the Taoist, "isn't aware that though I be, to look at, a man of eighty, I, after all, continue, thanks to your protection, my dowager lady, quite hale and strong. In the second place, there are crowds of people in the outer rooms; and the smells are not agreeable. Besides it's a very hot day and Mr. Pao couldn't stand the heat as he is not accustomed to it. So were he to catch any disease from the filthy odours, it would be a grave thing!"
After these forebodings old lady Chia accordingly desired Pao-yue to unclasp the jade of Spiritual Perception, and to deposit it in the tray. The Taoist, Chang, carefully ensconced it in the folds of the wrapper, embroidered with dragons, and left the room, supporting the tray with both his hands.
During this while, dowager lady Chia and the other inmates devoted more of their time in visiting the various places. But just as they were on the point of going up the two-storied building, they heard Chia Chen shout: "Grandfather Chang has brought back the jade."
As he spoke, the Taoist Chang was seen advancing up to them, the tray in hand. "The whole company," he smiled, "were much obliged to me. They think Mr. Pao's jade really lovely! None of them have, however, any suitable gifts to bestow. These are religious articles, used by each of them in propagating the doctrines of Reason, but they're all only too ready to give them as congratulatory presents. If, Mr. Pao, you don't fancy them for anything else, just keep them to play with or to give away to others."
Dowager lady Chia, at these words, looked into the tray. She discovered that its contents consisted of gold signets, and jade rings, or sceptres, implying: "may you have your wishes accomplished in everything," or "may you enjoy peace and health from year to year;" that the various articles were strung with pearls or inlaid with precious stones, worked in jade or mounted in gold; and that they were in all from thirty to fifty.
"What nonsense you're talking!" she then exclaimed. "Those people are all divines, and where could they have rummaged up these things? But what need is there for any such presents? He may, on no account, accept them."
"These are intended as a small token of their esteem," responded Chang, the Taoist, smiling, "your servant cannot therefore venture to interfere with them. If your venerable ladyship will not keep them, won't you make it patent to them that I'm treated contemptuously, and unlike what one should be, who has joined the order through your household?"
Only when old lady Chia heard these arguments did she direct a servant to receive the presents.
"Venerable senior," Pao-yue smilingly chimed in. "After the reasons advanced by grandfather Chang, we cannot possibly refuse them. But albeit I feel disposed to keep these things, they are of no avail to me; so would it not be well were a servant told to carry the tray and to follow me out of doors, that I may distribute them to the poor?
"You are perfectly right in what you say!" smiled dowager lady Chia.
The Taoist Chang, however, went on speedily to use various arguments to dissuade him. "Mr. Pao," he observed, "your intention is, it is true, to perform charitable acts; but though you may aver that these things are of little value, you'll nevertheless find among them several articles you might turn to some account. Were you to let the beggars have them, why they will, first of all, be none the better for them; and, next, it will contrariwise be tantamount to throwing them away! If you want to distribute anything among the poor, why don't you dole out cash to them?"
"Put them by!" promptly shouted Pao-yue, after this rejoinder, "and when evening comes, take a few cash and distribute them."
These directions given, Chang, the Taoist, retired out of the place.
Dowager lady Chia and her companions thereupon walked upstairs and sat in the main part of the building. Lady Feng and her friends adjourned into the eastern part, while the waiting-maids and servants remained in the western portion, and took their turns in waiting on their mistresses.
Before long, Chia Chen came back. "The plays," he announced, "have been chosen by means of slips picked out before the god. The first one on the list is the 'Record of the White Snake.'"
"Of what kind of old story does 'the record of the white snake,' treat?" old lady Chia inquired.
"The story about Han Kao-tsu," replied Chia Chen, "killing a snake and then ascending the throne. The second play is, 'the Bed covered with ivory tablets.'"
"Has this been assigned the second place?" asked dowager lady Chia. "Yet never mind; for as the gods will it thus, there is no help than not to demur. But what about the third play?" she went on to inquire.
"The Nan Ko dream is the third," Chia Chen answered.
This response elicited no comment from dowager lady Chia. Chia Chen therefore withdrew downstairs, and betook himself outside to make arrangements for the offerings to the gods, for the paper money and eatables that had to be burnt, and for the theatricals about to begin. So we will leave him without any further allusion, and take up our narrative with Pao-yue.
Seating himself upstairs next to old lady Chia, he called to a servant-girl to fetch the tray of presents given to him a short while back, and putting on his own trinket of jade, he fumbled about with the things for a bit, and picking up one by one, he handed them to his grandmother to admire. But old lady Chia espied among them a unicorn, made of purplish gold, with kingfisher feathers inserted, and eagerly extending her arm, she took it up. "This object," she smiled, "seems to me to resemble very much one I've seen worn also by the young lady of some household or other of ours."
"Senior cousin, Shih Hsiang-yuen," chimed in Pao-ch'ai, a smile playing on her lips, "has one, but it's a trifle smaller than this."
"Is it indeed Yuen-erh who has it?" exclaimed old lady Chia.
"Now that she lives in our house," remarked Pao-yue, "how is it that even I haven't seen anything of it?"
"Cousin Pao-ch'ai," rejoined T'an Ch'un laughingly, "has the power of observation; no matter what she sees, she remembers."
Lin Tai-yue gave a sardonic smile. "As far as other matters are concerned," she insinuated, "her observation isn't worth speaking of; where she's extra-observant is in articles people may wear about their persons."
Pao-chai, upon catching this sneering remark, at once turned her head round, and pretended she had not heard. But as soon as Pao-yue learnt that Shih Hsiang-yuen possessed a similar trinket, he speedily picked up the unicorn, and hid it in his breast, indulging, at the same time, in further reflection. Yet, fearing lest people might have noticed that he kept back that particular thing the moment he discovered that Shih Hsiang-yuen had one identical with it, he fixed his eyes intently upon all around while clutching it. He found however that not one of them was paying any heed to his movements except Lin Tai-yue, who, while gazing at him was, nodding her head, as if with the idea of expressing her admiration. Pao-yue, therefore, at once felt inwardly ill at ease, and pulling out his hand, he observed, addressing himself to Tai-yue with an assumed smile, "This is really a fine thing to play with; I'll keep it for you, and when we get back home, I'll pass a ribbon through it for you to wear." "I don't care about it," said Lin Tai-yue, giving her head a sudden twist.
"Well," continued Pao-yue laughingly, "if you don't like it, I can't do otherwise than keep it myself."
Saying this, he once again thrust it away. But just as he was about to open his lips to make some other observation, he saw Mrs. Yu, the spouse of Chia Chen, arrive along with the second wife recently married by Chia Jung, that is, his mother and her daughter-in-law, to pay their obeisance to dowager lady Chia.
"What do you people rush over here for again?" old lady Chia inquired.
"I came here for a turn, simply because I had nothing to do."
But no sooner was this inquiry concluded than they heard a messenger announce: "that some one had come from the house of general Feng."
The family of Feng Tzu-ying had, it must be explained, come to learn the news that the inmates of the Chia mansion were offering a thanksgiving service in the temple, and, without loss of time, they got together presents of pigs, sheep, candles, tea and eatables and sent them over. The moment lady Feng heard about it she hastily crossed to the main part of the two-storied building. "Ai-ya;" she ejaculated, clapping her hands and laughing. "I never expected anything of the sort; we merely said that we ladies were coming for a leisurely stroll and people imagined that we were spreading a sumptuous altar with lenten viands and came to bring us offerings! But it's all our old lady's fault for bruiting it about! Why, we haven't even got any slips of paper with tips ready."
She had just finished speaking, when she perceived two matrons, who acted as house-keepers in the Feng family, walk upstairs. But before the Feng servants could take their leave, presents likewise arrived, in quick succession, from Chao, the Vice-President of the Board. In due course, one lot of visitors followed another. For as every one got wind of the fact that the Chia family was having thanksgiving services, and that the ladies were in the temple, distant and close relatives, friends, old friends and acquaintances all came to present their contributions. So much so, that dowager lady Chia began at this juncture to feel sorry that she had ever let the cat out of the bag. "This is no regular fasting," she said, "we simply have come for a little change; and we should not have put any one to any inconvenience!" Although therefore she was to have remained present all day at the theatrical performance, she promptly returned home soon after noon, and the next day she felt very loth to go out of doors again.
"By striking the wall, we've also stirred up dust," lady Feng argued. "Why we've already put those people to the trouble so we should only be too glad to-day to have another outing."
But as when dowager lady Chia interviewed the Taoist Chang, the previous day, he made allusion to Pao-yue and canvassed his engagement, Pao-yue experienced, little as one would have thought it, much secret displeasure during the whole of that day, and on his return home he flew into a rage and abused Chang, the rationalistic priest, for harbouring designs to try and settle a match for him. At every breath and at every word he resolved that henceforward he would not set eyes again upon the Taoist Chang. But no one but himself had any idea of the reason that actuated him to absent himself. In the next place, Lin Tai-yue began also, on her return the day before, to ail from a touch of the sun, so their grandmother was induced by these two considerations to remain firm in her decision not to go. When lady Feng, however, found that she would not join them, she herself took charge of the family party and set out on the excursion.
But without descending to particulars, let us advert to Pao-yue. Seeing that Lin Tai-yue had fallen ill, he was so full of solicitude on her account that he even had little thought for any of his meals, and not long elapsed before he came to inquire how she was.
Tai-yue, on her part, gave way to fear lest anything should happen to him, (and she tried to re-assure him). "Just go and look at the plays," she therefore replied, "what's the use of boxing yourself up at home?"
Pao-yue was, however, not in a very happy frame of mind on account of the reference to his marriage made by Chang, the Taoist, the day before, so when he heard Lin Tai-yue's utterances: "If others don't understand me;" he mused, "it's anyhow excusable; but has she too begun to make fun of me?" His heart smarted in consequence under the sting of a mortification a hundred times keener than he had experienced up to that occasion. Had he been with any one else, it would have been utterly impossible for her to have brought into play feelings of such resentment, but as it was no other than Tai-yue who spoke the words, the impression produced upon him was indeed different from that left in days gone by, when others employed similar language. Unable to curb his feelings, he instantaneously lowered his face. "My friendship with you has been of no avail" he rejoined. "But, never mind, patience!"
This insinuation induced Lin Tai-yue to smile a couple of sarcastic smiles. "Yes, your friendship with me has been of no avail," she repeated; "for how can I compare with those whose manifold qualities make them fit matches for you?"
As soon as this sneer fell on Pao-yue's ear he drew near to her. "Are you by telling me this," he asked straight to her face, "deliberately bent upon invoking imprecations upon me that I should be annihilated by heaven and extinguished by earth?"
Lin Tai-yue could not for a time fathom the import of his remarks. "It was," Pao-yue then resumed, "on account of this very conversation that I yesterday swore several oaths, and now would you really make me repeat another one? But were the heavens to annihilate me and the earth to extinguish me, what benefit would you derive?"
This rejoinder reminded Tai-yue of the drift of their conversation on the previous day. And as indeed she had on this occasion framed in words those sentiments, which should not have dropped from her lips, she experienced both annoyance and shame, and she tremulously observed: "If I entertain any deliberate intention to bring any harm upon you, may I too be destroyed by heaven and exterminated by earth! But what's the use of all this! I know very well that the allusion to marriage made yesterday by Chang, the Taoist, fills you with dread lest he might interfere with your choice. You are inwardly so irate that you come and treat me as your malignant influence."
Pao-yue, the fact is, had ever since his youth developed a peculiar kind of mean and silly propensity. Having moreover from tender infancy grown up side by side with Tai-Yue, their hearts and their feelings were in perfect harmony. More, he had recently come to know to a great extent what was what, and had also filled his head with the contents of a number of corrupt books and licentious stories. Of all the eminent and beautiful girls that he had met too in the families of either distant or close relatives or of friends, not one could reach the standard of Lin Tai-yue. Hence it was that he commenced, from an early period of his life, to foster sentiments of love for her; but as he could not very well give utterance to them, he felt time and again sometimes elated, sometimes vexed, and wont to exhaust every means to secretly subject her heart to a test.
Lin Tai-yue happened, on the other hand, to possess in like manner a somewhat silly disposition; and she too frequently had recourse to feigned sentiments to feel her way. And as she began to conceal her true feelings and inclinations and to simply dissimulate, and he to conceal his true sentiments and wishes and to dissemble, the two unrealities thus blending together constituted eventually one reality. But it was hardly to be expected that trifles would not be the cause of tiffs between them. Thus it was that in Pao-yue's mind at this time prevailed the reflection: "that were others unable to read my feelings, it would anyhow be excusable; but is it likely that you cannot realise that in my heart and in my eyes there is no one else besides yourself. But as you were not able to do anything to dispel my annoyance, but made use, instead, of the language you did to laugh at me, and to gag my mouth, it's evident that though you hold, at every second and at every moment, a place in my heart, I don't, in fact, occupy a place in yours." Such was the construction attached to her conduct by Pao-yue, yet he did not have the courage to tax her with it.
"If, really, I hold a place in your heart," Lin Tai-yue again reflected, "why do you, albeit what's said about gold and jade being a fit match, attach more importance to this perverse report and think nothing of what I say? Did you, when I so often broach the subject of this gold and jade, behave as if you, verily, had never heard anything about it, I would then have seen that you treat me with preference and that you don't harbour the least particle of a secret design. But how is it that the moment I allude to the topic of gold and jade, you at once lose all patience? This is proof enough that you are continuously pondering over that gold and jade, and that as soon as you hear me speak to you about them, you apprehend that I shall once more give way to conjectures, and intentionally pretend to be quite out of temper, with the deliberate idea of cajoling me!"
These two cousins had, to all appearances, once been of one and the same mind, but the many issues, which had sprung up between them, brought about a contrary result and made them of two distinct minds.
"I don't care what you do, everything is well," Pao-yue further argued, "so long as you act up to your feelings; and if you do, I shall be ever only too willing to even suffer immediate death for your sake. Whether you know this or not, doesn't matter; it's all the same. Yet were you to just do as my heart would have you, you'll afford me a clear proof that you and I are united by close ties and that you are no stranger to me!"
"Just you mind your own business," Lin Tai-yue on her side cogitated. "If you will treat me well, I'll treat you well. And what need is there to put an end to yourself for my sake? Are you not aware that if you kill yourself, I'll also kill myself? But this demonstrates that you don't wish me to be near to you, and that you really want that I should be distant to you."
It will thus be seen that the desire, by which they were both actuated, to strive and draw each other close and ever closer became contrariwise transformed into a wish to become more distant. But as it is no easy task to frame into words the manifold secret thoughts entertained by either, we will now confine ourselves to a consideration of their external manner.
The three words "a fine match," which Pao-yue heard again Lin Tai-yue pronounce proved so revolting to him that his heart got full of disgust and he was unable to give utterance to a single syllable. Losing all control over his temper, he snatched from his neck the jade of Spiritual Perception and, clenching his teeth, he spitefully dashed it down on the floor. "What rubbishy trash!" he cried. "I'll smash you to atoms and put an end to the whole question!"
The jade, however, happened to be of extraordinary hardness, and did not, after all, sustain the slightest injury from this single fall. When Pao-yue realised that it had not broken, he forthwith turned himself round to get the trinket with the idea of carrying out his design of smashing it, but Tai-yue divined his intention, and soon started crying. "What's the use of all this!" she demurred, "and why, pray, do you batter that dumb thing about? Instead of smashing it, wouldn't it be better for you to come and smash me!"
But in the middle of their dispute, Tzu Chuean, Hsueeh Yen and the other maids promptly interfered and quieted them. Subsequently, however, they saw how deliberately bent Pao-yue was upon breaking the jade, and they vehemently rushed up to him to snatch it from his hands. But they failed in their endeavours, and perceiving that he was getting more troublesome than he had ever been before, they had no alternative but to go and call Hsi Jen. Hsi Jen lost no time in running over and succeeded, at length, in getting hold of the trinket.
"I'm smashing what belongs to me," remarked Pao-yue with a cynical smile, "and what has that to do with you people?"
Hsi Jen noticed that his face had grown quite sallow from anger, that his eyes had assumed a totally unusual expression, and that he had never hitherto had such a fit of ill-temper and she hastened to take his hand in hers and to smilingly expostulate with him. "If you've had a tiff with your cousin," she said, "it isn't worth while flinging this down! Had you broken it, how would her heart and face have been able to bear the mortification?"
Lin Tai-yue shed tears and listened the while to her remonstrances. Yet these words, which so corresponded with her own feelings, made it clear to her that Pao-yue could not even compare with Hsi Jen and wounded her heart so much more to the quick that she began to weep aloud. But the moment she got so vexed she found it hard to keep down the potion of boletus and the decoction, for counter-acting the effects of the sun, she had taken only a few minutes back, and with a retch she brought everything up. Tzu Chuean immediately pressed to her side and used her handkerchief to stop her mouth with. But mouthful succeeded mouthful, and in no time the handkerchief was soaked through and through.
Hsueeh Yen then approached in a hurry and tapped her on the back.
"You may, of course, give way to displeasure," Tzu Chuean argued; "but you should, after all, take good care of yourself Miss. You had just taken the medicines and felt the better for them; and here you now begin vomitting again; and all because you've had a few words with our master Secundus. But should your complaint break out afresh how will Mr. Pao bear the blow?"
The moment Pao-yue caught this advice, which accorded so thoroughly with his own ideas, he found how little Tai-yue could hold her own with Tzu Chuean. And perceiving how flushed Tai-yue's face was, how her temples were swollen, how, while sobbing, she panted; and how, while crying, she was suffused with perspiration, and betrayed signs of extreme weakness, he began, at the sight of her condition, to reproach himself. "I shouldn't," he reflected, "have bandied words with her; for now that she's got into this frame of mind, I mayn't even suffer in her stead!"
The self-reproaches, however, which gnawed his heart made it impossible for him to refrain from tears, much as he fought against them. Hsi Jen saw them both crying, and while attending to Pao-yue, she too unavoidably experienced much soreness of heart. She nevertheless went on rubbing Pao-yue's hands, which were icy cold. She felt inclined to advise Pao-yue not to weep, but fearing again lest, in the first place, Pao-yue might be inwardly aggrieved, and nervous, in the next, lest she should not be dealing rightly by Tai-yue, she thought it advisable that they should all have a good cry, as they might then be able to leave off. She herself therefore also melted into tears. As for Tzu-Chuean, at one time, she cleaned the expectorated medicine; at another, she took up a fan and gently fanned Tai-yue. But at the sight of the trio plunged in perfect silence, and of one and all sobbing for reasons of their own, grief, much though she did to struggle against it, mastered her feelings too, and producing a handkerchief, she dried the tears that came to her eyes. So there stood four inmates, face to face, uttering not a word and indulging in weeping.
Shortly, Hsi Jen made a supreme effort, and smilingly said to Pao-yue: "If you don't care for anything else, you should at least have shown some regard for those tassels, strung on the jade, and not have wrangled with Miss Lin."
Tai-yue heard these words, and, mindless of her indisposition, she rushed over, and snatching the trinket, she picked up a pair of scissors, lying close at hand, bent upon cutting the tassels. Hsi Jen and Tzu Chuean were on the point of wresting it from her, but she had already managed to mangle them into several pieces.
"I have," sobbed Tai-yue, "wasted my energies on them for nothing; for he doesn't prize them. He's certain to find others to string some more fine tassels for him."
Hsi Jen promptly took the jade. "Is it worth while going on in this way!" she cried. "But this is all my fault for having blabbered just now what should have been left unsaid."
"Cut it, if you like!" chimed in Pao-yue, addressing himself to Tai-yue. "I will on no account wear it, so it doesn't matter a rap."
But while all they minded inside was to create this commotion, they little dreamt that the old matrons had descried Tai-yue weep bitterly and vomit copiously, and Pao-yue again dash his jade on the ground, and that not knowing how far the excitement might not go, and whether they themselves might not become involved, they had repaired in a body to the front, and reported the occurrence to dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, their object being to try and avoid being themselves implicated in the matter. Their old mistress and Madame Wang, seeing them make so much of the occurrence as to rush with precipitate haste to bring it to their notice, could not in the least imagine what great disaster might not have befallen them, and without loss of time they betook themselves together into the garden and came to see what the two cousins were up to.
Hsi Jen felt irritated and harboured resentment against Tzu Chuean, unable to conceive what business she had to go and disturb their old mistress and Madame Wang. But Tzu Chuean, on the other hand, presumed that it was Hsi Jen, who had gone and reported the matter to them, and she too cherished angry feelings towards Hsi Jen.
Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang walked into the apartment. They found Pao-yue on one side saying not a word. Lin Tai-yue on the other uttering not a sound. "What's up again?" they asked. But throwing the whole blame upon the shoulders of Hsi Jen and Tzu Chuean, "why is it," they inquired, "that you were not diligent in your attendance on them. They now start a quarrel, and don't you exert yourselves in the least to restrain them?"
Therefore with obloquy and hard words they rated the two girls for a time in such a way that neither of them could put in a word by way of reply, but felt compelled to listen patiently. And it was only after dowager lady Chia had taken Pao-yue away with her that things quieted down again.
One day passed. Then came the third of the moon. This was Hsueeh Pan's birthday, so in their house a banquet was spread and preparations made for a performance; and to these the various inmates of the Chia mansion went. But as Pao-yue had so hurt Tai-yue's feelings, the two cousins saw nothing whatever of each other, and conscience-stricken, despondent and unhappy, as he was at this time could he have had any inclination to be present at the plays? Hence it was that he refused to go on the pretext of indisposition.
Lin Tai-yue had got, a couple of days back, but a slight touch of the sun and naturally there was nothing much the matter with her. When the news however reached her that he did not intend to join the party, "If with his weakness for wine and for theatricals," she pondered within herself, "he now chooses to stay away, instead of going, why, that quarrel with me yesterday must be at the bottom of it all. If this isn't the reason, well then it must be that he has no wish to attend, as he sees that I'm not going either. But I should on no account have cut the tassels from that jade, for I feel sure he won't wear it again. I shall therefore have to string some more on to it, before he puts it on."
On this account the keenest remorse gnawed her heart.
Dowager lady Chia saw well enough that they were both under the influence of temper. "We should avail ourselves of this occasion," she said to herself, "to go over and look at the plays, and as soon as the two young people come face to face, everything will be squared." Contrary to her expectations neither of them would volunteer to go. This so exasperated their old grandmother that she felt vexed with them. "In what part of my previous existence could an old sufferer like myself," she exclaimed, "have incurred such retribution that my destiny is to come across these two troublesome new-fledged foes! Why, not a single day goes by without their being instrumental in worrying my mind! The proverb is indeed correct which says: 'that people who are not enemies are not brought together!' But shortly my eyes shall be closed, this breath of mine shall be snapped, and those two enemies will be free to cause trouble even up to the very skies; for as my eyes will then loose their power of vision, and my heart will be void of concern, it will really be nothing to me. But I couldn't very well stifle this breath of life of mine!"
While inwardly a prey to resentment, she also melted into tears.
These words were brought to the ears of Pao-yue and Tai-yue. Neither of them had hitherto heard the adage: "people who are not enemies are not brought together," so when they suddenly got to know the line, it seemed as if they had apprehended abstraction. Both lowered their heads and meditated on the subtle sense of the saying. But unconsciously a stream of tears rolled down their cheeks. They could not, it is true, get a glimpse of each other; yet as the one was in the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, standing in the breeze, bedewed with tears, and the other in the I Hung court, facing the moon and heaving deep sighs, was it not, in fact, a case of two persons living in two distinct places, yet with feelings emanating from one and the same heart?
Hsi Jen consequently tendered advice to Pao-yue. "You're a million times to blame," she said, "it's you who are entirely at fault! For when some time ago the pages in the establishment, wrangled with their sisters, or when husband and wife fell out, and you came to hear anything about it, you blew up the lads, and called them fools for not having the heart to show some regard to girls; and now here you go and follow their lead. But to-morrow is the fifth day of the moon, a great festival, and will you two still continue like this, as if you were very enemies? If so, our venerable mistress will be the more angry, and she certainly will be driven sick! I advise you therefore to do what's right by suppressing your spite and confessing your fault, so that we should all be on the same terms as hitherto. You here will then be all right, and so will she over there."
Pao-yue listened to what she had to say; but whether he fell in with her views or not is not yet ascertained; yet if you, reader, choose to know, we will explain in the next chapter.
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