中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第三十回 寶釵藉扇機帶雙敲 齡官劃薔癡及局外 CHAPTER XXX.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXX.
話說林黛玉與寶玉角口後，也自後悔，但又無去就他之理，因此日夜悶悶，如有所失。紫鵑度其意，乃勸道：“若論前日之事，竟是姑娘太浮躁了些。別人不知寶玉那脾氣，難道咱們也不知道的。為那玉也不是鬧了一遭兩遭了。"黛玉啐道：“你倒來替人派我的不是。我怎麽浮躁了？"紫鵑笑道：“好好的，為什麽又剪了那穗子？豈不是寶玉衹有三分不是， 姑娘倒有七分不是。我看他素日在姑娘身上就好，皆因姑娘小性兒，常要歪派他，纔這麽樣。”
林黛玉正欲答話， 衹聽院外叫門。紫鵑聽了一聽，笑道：“這是寶玉的聲音，想必是來賠不是來了。 "林黛玉聽了道：“不許開門！"紫鵑道：“姑娘又不是了。這麽熱天毒日頭地下， 曬壞了他如何使得呢！"口裏說着，便出去開門，果然是寶玉。一面讓他進來， 一面笑道：“我衹當是寶二爺再不上我們這門了，誰知這會子又來了。"寶玉笑道：“你們把極小的事倒說大了。好好的為什麽不來？我便死了，魂也要一日來一百遭。妹妹可大好了？"紫鵑道：“身上病好了，衹是心裏氣不大好。"寶玉笑道：“我曉得有什麽氣。"一面說着，一面進來，衹見林黛玉又在床上哭。
那林黛玉本不曾哭， 聽見寶玉來，由不得傷了心，止不住滾下淚來。寶玉笑着走近床來，道：“妹妹身上可大好了？"林黛玉衹顧拭淚，並不答應。寶玉因便挨在床沿上坐了， 一面笑道：“我知道妹妹不惱我。但衹是我不來，叫旁人看着，倒象是咱們又拌了嘴的似的。 若等他們來勸咱們，那時節豈不咱們倒覺生分了？不如這會子，你要打要駡，憑着你怎麽樣，千萬別不理我。"說着，又把"好妹妹"叫了幾萬聲。林黛玉心裏原是再不理寶玉的，這會子見寶玉說別叫人知道他們拌了嘴就生分了似的這一句話，又可見得比人原親近，因又撐不住哭道：“你也不用哄我。從今以後，我也不敢親近二爺， 二爺也全當我去了。"寶玉聽了笑道：“你往那去呢？"林黛玉道：“我回傢去。"寶玉笑道：“我跟了你去。"林黛玉道：“我死了。"寶玉道：“你死了，我做和尚！"林黛玉一聞此言，登時將臉放下來，問道：“想是你要死了，鬍說的是什麽！你傢倒有幾個親姐姐親妹妹呢，明兒都死了，你幾個身子去作和尚？明兒我倒把這話告訴別人去評評。”
寶玉自知這話說的造次了，後悔不來， 登時臉上紅脹起來，低着頭不敢則一聲。幸而屋裏沒人。 林黛玉直瞪瞪的瞅了他半天，氣的一聲兒也說不出來。見寶玉憋的臉上紫脹識世界和改造世界具有重要意義。，便咬着牙用指頭狠命的在他額顱上戳了一下，哼了一聲，咬牙說道：“你這——"剛說了兩個字，便又嘆了一口氣，仍拿起手帕子來檫眼淚。寶玉心裏原有無限的心事，又兼說錯了話，正自後悔，又見黛玉戳他一下，要說又說不出來，自嘆自泣，因此自己也有所感， 不覺滾下淚來。要用帕子揩拭，不想又忘了帶來，便用衫袖去檫。林黛玉雖然哭着，卻一眼看見了，見他穿着簇新藕合紗衫，竟去拭淚，便一面自己拭着淚，一面回身將枕邊搭的一方綃帕子拿起來， 嚮寶玉懷裏一摔，一語不發， 仍掩面自泣。寶玉見他摔了帕子來，忙接住拭了淚，又挨近前些，伸手拉了林黛玉一隻手，笑道：“我的五髒都碎了， 你還衹是哭。走罷，我同你往老太太跟前去。"林黛玉將手一摔道：“誰同你拉拉扯扯的。一天大似一天的，還這麽が皮賴臉的，連個道理也不知道。”
一句沒說完，衹聽喊道：“好了！"寶林二人不防，都唬了一跳，回頭看時，衹見鳳姐兒跳了進來，笑道：“老太太在那裏抱怨天抱怨地，衹叫我來瞧瞧你們好了沒有。我說不用瞧，過不了三天，他們自己就好了。老太太駡我，說我懶。我來了，果然應了我的話了。也沒見你們兩個人有些什麽可拌的，三日好了，兩日惱了，越大越成了孩子了！有這會子拉着手哭的，昨兒為什麽又成了烏眼雞呢！還不跟我走，到老太太跟前，叫老人傢也放些心。"說着拉了林黛玉就走。林黛玉回頭叫丫頭們，一個也沒有。鳳姐道：“又叫他們作什麽，有我伏侍你呢。"一面說，一面拉了就走。寶玉在後面跟着出了園門。 到了賈母跟前，鳳姐笑道：“我說他們不用人費心，自己就會好的。老祖宗不信，一定叫我去說合。 我及至到那裏要說合，誰知兩個人倒在一處對賠不是了。對笑對訴，倒象‘黃鷹抓住了鷂子的腳’，兩個都扣了環了，那裏還要人去說合。"說的滿屋裏都笑起來。
此時寶釵正在這裏。那林黛玉衹一言不發，挨着賈母坐下。寶玉沒甚說的，便嚮寶釵笑道：大哥哥好日子，偏生我又不好了，沒別的禮送，連個頭也不得磕去。大哥哥不知我病，倒象我懶，推故不去的。倘或明兒惱了，姐姐替我分辨分辨。"寶釵笑道：“這也多事。你便要去也不敢驚動，何況身上不好，弟兄們日日一處，要存這個心倒生分了。"寶玉又笑道：“姐姐知道體諒我就好了。"又道：“姐姐怎麽不看戲去？"寶釵道：“我怕熱，看了兩出，熱的很。要走，客又不散。我少不得推身上不好，就來了。"寶玉聽說， 自己由不得臉上沒意思，衹得又搭訕笑道：“怪不得他們拿姐姐比楊妃，原來也體豐怯熱。"寶釵聽說，不由的大怒，待要怎樣，又不好怎樣。回思了一回，臉紅起來，便冷笑了兩聲，說道：“我倒象楊妃，衹是沒一個好哥哥好兄弟可以作得楊國忠的！"二人正說着，可巧小丫頭靛兒因不見了扇子，和寶釵笑道：“必是寶姑娘藏了我的。好姑娘，賞我罷。"寶釵指他道：“你要仔細！我和你頑過，你再疑我。和你素日嘻皮笑臉的那些姑娘們跟前， 你該問他們去。"說的個靛兒跑了。寶玉自知又把話說造次了，當着許多人，更比纔在林黛玉跟前更不好意思，便急回身又同別人搭訕去了。
林黛玉聽見寶玉奚落寶釵， 心中着實得意，纔要搭言也趁勢兒取個笑，不想靛兒因找扇子，寶釵又發了兩句話被限製，卻為共同自由所補償。，他便改口笑道：“寶姐姐，你聽了兩出什麽戲？"寶釵因見林黛玉面上有得意之態， 一定是聽了寶玉方纔奚落之言，遂了他的心願，忽又見問他這話， 便笑道：“我看的是李逵駡了宋江，後來又賠不是。"寶玉便笑道：“姐姐通今博古， 色色都知道，怎麽連這一出戲的名字也不知道，就說了這麽一串子。這叫《負荊請罪》。"寶釵笑道：“原來這叫作《負荊請罪》！你們通今博古，纔知道‘負荊請罪’，我不知道什麽是‘負荊請罪’！"一句話還未說完，寶玉林黛玉二人心裏有病，聽了這話早把臉羞紅了。 鳳姐於這些上雖不通達，但見他三人形景，便知其意，便也笑着問人道：“你們大暑天，誰還吃生薑呢？"衆人不解其意，便說道：“沒有吃生薑。風姐故意用手摸着腮， 詫異道：發不好過了。寶釵再要說話，見寶玉十分討愧，形景改變，也就不好再說，衹得一笑收住。別人總未解得他四個人的言語，因此付之流水。
一時寶釵鳳姐去了， 林黛玉笑嚮寶玉道：“你也試着比我利害的人了。誰都象我心拙口笨的， 由着人說呢。"寶玉正因寶釵多了心，自己沒趣，又見林黛玉來問着他，越發沒好氣起來。待要說兩句，又恐林黛玉多心，說不得忍着氣，無精打采一直出來。
誰知目今盛暑之時， 又當早飯已過，各處主僕人等多半都因日長神倦之時，寶玉背着手，到一處，一處鴉雀無聞。從賈母這裏出來，往西走了穿堂，便是鳳姐的院落。到他們院門前， 衹見院門掩着。知道鳳姐素日的規矩，每到天熱，午間要歇一個時辰的，進去不便，遂進角門，來到王夫人上房內。衹見幾個丫頭子手裏拿着針綫，卻打盹兒呢。王夫人在裏間涼榻上睡着，金釧兒坐在旁邊捶腿，也乜斜着眼亂恍。
寶玉輕輕的走到跟前， 把他耳上帶的墜子一摘，金釧兒睜開眼，見是寶玉。寶玉悄悄的笑道：“就睏的這麽着？"金釧抿嘴一笑，擺手令他出去馬剋思列寧主義的基本原理，把中國長期革命實踐中的一係，仍合上眼，寶玉見了他，就有些戀戀不捨的，悄悄的探頭瞧瞧王夫人合着眼，便自己嚮身邊荷包裏帶的香雪潤津丹掏了出來，便嚮金釧兒口裏一送。金釧兒並不睜眼，衹管噙了。寶玉上來便拉着手， 悄悄的笑道：“我明日和太太討你，咱們在一處罷。"金釧兒不答。寶玉又道：“不然，等太太醒了我就討。"金釧兒睜開眼，將寶玉一推，笑道：“你忙什麽！‘金簪子掉在井裏頭， 有你的衹是有你的"，連這句話語難道也不明白？我倒告訴你個巧宗兒，你往東小院子裏拿環哥兒同彩雲去。 "寶玉笑道：“憑他怎麽去罷，我衹守着你。"衹見王夫人翻身起來，照金釧兒臉上就打了個嘴巴子，指着駡道：“下作小娼婦，好好的爺們，都叫你教壞了。"寶玉見王夫人起來，早一溜煙去了。
這裏金釧兒半邊臉火熱，一聲不敢言語。登時衆丫頭聽見王夫人醒了，都忙進來。王夫人便叫玉釧兒：“把你媽叫來，帶出你姐姐去。"金釧兒聽說，忙跪下哭道：“我再不敢了。 太太要打駡，衹管發落，別叫我出去就是天恩了。我跟了太太十來年，這會子攆出去，我還見人不見人呢！"王夫人固然是個寬仁慈厚的人，從來不曾打過丫頭們一下， 今忽見金釧兒行此無恥之事，此乃平生最恨者，故氣忿不過，打了一下，駡了幾句。雖金釧兒苦求，亦不肯收留，到底喚了金釧兒之母白老媳婦來領了下去。那金釧兒含羞忍辱的出去，不在話下。
且說那寶玉見王夫人醒來，自己沒趣，忙進大觀園來。衹見赤日當空，樹陰合地，滿耳蟬聲，靜無人語。剛到了薔薇花架，衹聽有人哽噎之聲。寶玉心中疑惑，便站住細聽， 果然架下那邊有人。如今五月之際，那薔薇正是花葉茂盛之際，寶玉便悄悄的隔着籬笆洞兒一看， 衹見一個女孩子蹲在花下，手裏拿着根綰頭的簪子在地下摳土，一面悄悄的流淚，寶玉心中想道：“難道這也是個癡丫頭，又象顰兒來葬花不成？"因又自嘆道：“若真也葬花，可謂‘東施效顰’，不但不為新特，且更可厭了。"想畢，便要叫那女子， 說：“你不用跟着那林姑娘學了。"話未出口，幸而再看時，這女孩子面生，不是個侍兒，倒象是那十二個學戲的女孩子之內的，卻辨不出他是生旦淨醜那一個角色來。 寶玉忙把舌頭一伸，將口掩住，自己想道：“幸而不曾造次。上兩次皆因造次了，顰兒也生氣， 寶兒也多心，如今再得罪了他們，越發沒意思了。"一面想，一面又恨認不得這個是誰。再留神細看，衹見這女孩子眉蹙春山，眼顰秋水，面薄腰纖，裊裊婷婷，大有林黛玉之態。寶玉早又不忍棄他而去，衹管癡看。衹見他雖然用金簪劃地，並不是掘土埋花，竟是嚮土上畫字。寶玉用眼隨着簪子的起落，一直一畫一點一勾的看了去，數一數，十八筆。自己又在手心裏用指頭按着他方纔下筆的規矩寫了，猜是個什麽字。寫成一想，原來就是個薔薇花的"薔"字。寶玉想道：“必定是他也要作詩填詞。這會子見了這花， 因有所感，或者偶成了兩句，一時興至恐忘，在地下畫着推敲，也未可知。且看他底下再寫什麽。"一面想，一面又看，衹見那女孩子還在那裏畫呢，畫來畫去，還是個"薔"字。再看，還是個"薔"字。裏面的原是早已癡了，畫完一個又畫一個， 已經畫了有幾千個"薔"。外面的不覺也看癡了，兩個眼睛珠兒衹管隨着簪子動，心裏卻想：“這女孩子一定有什麽話說不出來的大心事，纔這樣個形景。外面既是這個形景，心裏不知怎麽熬煎。看他的模樣兒這般單薄，心裏那裏還擱的住熬煎。可恨我不能替你分些過來。”
伏中陰晴不定， 片雲可以至雨，忽一陣涼風過了，唰唰的落下一陣雨來。寶玉看着那女子頭上滴下水來，紗衣裳登時濕了。寶玉想道：“這時下雨。他這個身子立法和教育入手。但立法和教育的好壞又取决於立法者和教，如何禁得驟雨一激！"因此禁不住便說道：“不用寫了。你看下大雨，身上都濕了。"那女孩子聽說倒唬了一跳， 擡頭一看，衹見花外一個人叫他不要寫了，下大雨了。一則寶玉臉面俊秀，二則花葉繁茂，上下俱被枝葉隱住，剛露着半邊臉，那女孩子衹當是個丫頭，再不想是寶玉， 因笑道：“多謝姐姐提醒了我。難道姐姐在外頭有什麽遮雨的？"一句提醒了寶玉，"噯喲"了一聲，纔覺得渾身冰涼。低頭一看，自己身上也都濕了。說聲"不好"，衹得一氣跑回怡紅院去了，心裏卻還記挂着那女孩子沒處避雨。
原來明日是端陽節，那文官等十二個女子都放了學，進園來各處頑耍。可巧小生寶官，正旦玉官等兩個女孩子，正在怡紅院和襲人玩笑，被大雨阻住。大傢把溝堵了，水積在院內，把些緑頭鴨，花ぎく，彩鴛鴦，捉的捉，趕的趕，縫了翅膀，放在院內頑耍，將院門關了。襲人等都在遊廊上嘻笑。
寶玉見關着門，便以手扣門，裏面諸人衹顧笑，那裏聽見。叫了半日，拍的門山響，裏面方聽見了，估諒着寶玉這會子再不回來的。襲人笑道：“誰這會子叫門，沒人開去。"寶玉道：“是我。"麝月道：“是寶姑娘的聲音。"晴雯道：“鬍說！寶姑娘這會子做什麽來。"襲人道：“讓我隔着門縫兒瞧瞧，可開就開，要不可開，叫他淋着去。"說着，便順着遊廊到門前， 往外一瞧，衹見寶玉淋的雨打雞一般。襲人見了又是着忙又是可笑，忙開了門，笑的彎着腰拍手道：“這麽大雨地裏跑什麽？那裏知道爺回來了。”
寶玉一肚子沒好氣，滿心裏要把開門的踢幾腳，及開了門，並不看真是誰，還衹當是那些小丫頭子們不可分割地聯繫着，因此對人來說不存在獨立自在的世界。主， 便擡腿踢在肋上。襲人"噯喲"了一聲。寶玉還駡道：“下流東西們！ 我素日擔待你們得了意，一點兒也不怕，越發拿我取笑兒了。"口裏說着，一低頭見是襲人哭了，方知踢錯了，忙笑道：“噯喲，是你來了！踢在那裏了？"襲人從來不曾受過大話的，今兒忽見寶玉生氣踢他一下，又當着許多人，又是羞，又是氣，又是疼，真一時置身無地。待要怎麽樣，料着寶玉未必是安心踢他，少不得忍着說道：“沒有踢着。還不換衣裳去。 "寶玉一面進房來解衣，一面笑道：“我長了這麽大，今日是頭一遭兒生氣打人，不想就偏遇見了你！"襲人一面忍痛換衣裳，一面笑道：“我是個起頭兒的人，不論事大事小事好事歹，自然也該從我起。但衹是別說打了我，明兒順了手也打起別人來。"寶玉道：“我纔也不是安心。"襲人道：“誰說你是安心了！素日開門關門，都是那起小丫頭子們的事。他們是憨皮慣了的，早已恨的人牙癢癢，他們也沒個怕懼兒。你當是他們，踢一下子，唬唬他們也好些。纔剛是我淘氣，不叫開門的。”
說着，那雨已住了，寶官，玉官也早去了。襲人衹覺肋下疼的心裏發鬧，晚飯也不曾好生吃。 至晚間洗澡時脫了衣服，衹見肋上青了碗大一塊，自己倒唬了一跳，又不好聲張。 一時睡下，夢中作痛，由不得"噯喲"之聲從睡中哼出。寶玉雖說不是安心，因見襲人懶懶的， 也睡不安穩。忽夜間聽得"噯喲"，便知踢重了，自己下床悄悄的秉燈來照。剛到床前，衹見襲人嗽了兩聲，吐出一口痰來，"噯喲"一聲，睜開眼見了寶玉，倒唬了一跳道：“作什麽？"寶玉道：“你夢裏‘噯喲’，必定踢重了。我瞧瞧。"襲人道：“我頭上發暈，嗓子裏又腥又甜，你倒照一照地下罷。寶玉聽說，果然持燈嚮地下一照，衹見一口鮮血在地。 寶玉慌了，衹說也就心涼了半截。要知端的，且聽下回分解。
Pao-ch'ai avails herself of the excuse afforded her by a fan to administer a couple of raps. While Ch'un Ling traces, in a absent frame of mind, the outlines of the character Ch'iang, a looker-on appears on the scene.
Lin Tai-yue herself, for we will now resume our narrative, was also, ever since her tiff with Pao-yue, full of self-condemnation, yet as she did not see why she should run after him, she continued, day and night, as despondent as she would have been had she lost some thing or other belonging to her.
Tzu Chuean surmised her sentiments. "As regards what happened the other day," she advised her, "you were, after all, Miss, a little too hasty; for if others don't understand that temperament of Pao-yue's, have you and I, surely, also no idea about it? Besides, haven't there been already one or two rows on account of that very jade?"
"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Tai-yue. "Have you come, on behalf of others, to find fault with me? But how ever was I hasty?"
"Why did you," smiled Tzu Chuean, "take the scissors and cut that tassel when there was no good reason for it? So isn't Pao-yue less to blame than yourself, Miss? I've always found his behaviour towards you, Miss, without a fault. It's all that touchy disposition of yours, which makes you so often perverse, that induces him to act as he does."
Lin Tai-yue had every wish to make some suitable reply, when she heard some one calling at the door. Tzu Chuean discerned the tone of voice. "This sounds like Pao-yue's voice," she smiled. "I expect he's come to make his apologies."
"I won't have any one open the door," Tai-yue cried at these words.
"Here you are in the wrong again, Miss," Tzu Chuean observed. "How will it ever do to let him get a sunstroke and come to some harm on a day like this, and under such a scorching sun?"
Saying this, she speedily walked out and opened the door. It was indeed Pao-yue. While ushering him in, she gave him a smile. "I imagined," she said, "that you would never again put your foot inside our door, Master Secundus. But here you are once more and quite unexpectedly!"
"You have by dint of talking," Pao-yue laughed, "made much ado of nothing; and why shouldn't I come, when there's no reason for me to keep away? Were I even to die, my spirit too will come a hundred times a day! But is cousin quite well?"
"She is," replied Tzu Chuean, "physically all right; but, mentally, her resentment is not quite over."
"I understand," continued Pao-yue with a smile. "But resentment, for what?"
With this inquiry, he wended his steps inside the apartment. He then caught sight of Lin Tai-yue reclining on the bed in the act of crying. Tai-yue had not in fact shed a tear, but hearing Pao-yue break in upon her, she could not help feeling upset. She found it impossible therefore to prevent her tears from rolling down her cheeks.
Pao-yue assumed a smiling expression and drew near the bed. "Cousin, are you quite well again?" he inquired.
Tai-yue simply went on drying her tears, and made no reply of any kind.
Pao-yue approached the bed, and sat on the edge of it. "I know," he smiled, "that you're not vexed with me. But had I not come, third parties would have been allowed to notice my absence, and it would have appeared to them as if we had had another quarrel. And had I to wait until they came to reconcile us, would we not by that time become perfect strangers? It would be better, supposing you wish to beat me or blow me up, that you should please yourself and do so now; but whatever you do, don't give me the cold shoulder!"
Continuing, he proceeded to call her "my dear cousin" for several tens of times.
Tai-yue had resolved not to pay any more heed to Pao-yue. When she, however, now heard Pao-yue urge: "don't let us allow others to know anything about our having had a quarrel, as it will look as if we had become thorough strangers," it once more became evident to her, from this single remark, that she was really dearer and nearer to him than any of the other girls, so she could not refrain from saying sobbingly: "You needn't have come to chaff me! I couldn't presume henceforward to be on friendly terms with you, Master Secundus! You should treat me as if I were gone!"
At these words, Pao-yue gave way to laughter. "Where are you off to?" he inquired.
"I'm going back home," answered Tai-yue.
"I'll go along with you then," smiled Pao-yue.
"But if I die?" asked Tai-yue.
"Well, if you die," rejoined Pao-yue, "I'll become a bonze."
The moment Tai-yue caught this reply, she hung down her head. "You must, I presume, be bent upon dying?" she cried. "But what stuff and nonsense is this you're talking? You've got so many beloved elder and younger cousins in your family, and how many bodies will you have to go and become bonzes, when by and bye they all pass away! But to-morrow I'll tell them about this to judge for themselves what your motives are!"
Pao-yue was himself aware of the fact that this rejoinder had been recklessly spoken, and he was seized with regret. His face immediately became suffused with blushes. He lowered his head and had not the courage to utter one word more. Fortunately, however, there was no one present in the room.
Tai-yue stared at him for ever so long with eyes fixed straight on him, but losing control over her temper, "Ai!" she shouted, "can't you speak?" Then when she perceived Pao-yue reduced to such straits as to turn purple, she clenched her teeth and spitefully gave him, on the forehead, a fillip with her finger. "Heug!" she cried gnashing her teeth, "you, this......" But just as she had pronounced these two words, she heaved another sigh, and picking up her handkerchief, she wiped her tears.
Pao-yue treasured at one time numberless tender things in his mind, which he meant to tell her, but feeling also, while he smarted under the sting of self-reproach (for the indiscretion he had committed), Tai-yue give him a rap, he was utterly powerless to open his lips, much though he may have liked to speak, so he kept on sighing and snivelling to himself. With all these things therefore to work upon his feelings, he unwillingly melted into tears. He tried to find his handkerchief to dry his face with, but unexpectedly discovering that he had again forgotten to bring one with him, he was about to make his coat-sleeve answer the purpose, when Tai-yue, albeit her eyes were watery, noticed at a glance that he was going to use the brand-new coat of grey coloured gauze he wore, and while wiping her own, she turned herself round, and seized a silk kerchief thrown over the pillow, and thrust it into Pao-yue's lap. But without saying a word, she screened her face and continued sobbing.
Pao-yue saw the handkerchief she threw, and hastily snatching it, he wiped his tears. Then drawing nearer to her, he put out his hand and clasped her hand in his, and smilingly said to her: "You've completely lacerated my heart, and do you still cry? But let's go; I'll come along with you and see our venerable grandmother."
Tai-yue thrust his hand aside. "Who wants to go hand in hand with you?" she cried. "Here we grow older day after day, but we're still so full of brazen-faced effrontery that we don't even know what right means?"
But scarcely had she concluded before she heard a voice say aloud: "They're all right!"
Pao-yue and Tai-yue were little prepared for this surprise, and they were startled out of their senses. Turning round to see who it was, they caught sight of lady Feng running in, laughing and shouting. "Our old lady," she said, "is over there, giving way to anger against heaven and earth. She would insist upon my coming to find out whether you were reconciled or not. 'There's no need for me to go and see,' I told her, 'they will before the expiry of three days, be friends again of their own accord.' Our venerable ancestor, however, called me to account, and maintained that I was lazy; so here I come! But my words have in very deed turned out true. I don't see why you two should always be wrangling! For three days you're on good terms and for two on bad. You become more and more like children. And here you are now hand in hand blubbering! But why did you again yesterday become like black-eyed fighting cocks? Don't you yet come with me to see your grandmother and make an old lady like her set her mind at ease a bit?"
While reproaching them, she clutched Tai-yue's hand and was trudging away, when Tai-yue turned her head round and called out for her servant-girls. But not one of them was in attendance.
"What do you want them for again?" lady Feng asked. "I am here to wait on you!"
Still speaking, she pulled her along on their way, with Pao-yue following in their footsteps. Then making their exit out of the garden gate, they entered dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. "I said that it was superfluous for any one to trouble," lady Feng smiled, "as they were sure of themselves to become reconciled; but you, dear ancestor, so little believed it that you insisted upon my going to act the part of mediator. Yet when I got there, with the intention of inducing them to make it up, I found them, though one did not expect it, in each other's company, confessing their faults, and laughing and chatting. Just like a yellow eagle clutching the feet of a kite were those two hanging on to each other. So where was the necessity for any one to go?"
These words evoked laughter from every one in the room. Pao-ch'ai, however, was present at the time so Lin Tai-yue did not retort, but went and ensconced herself in a seat near her grandmother.
When Pao-yue noticed that no one had anything to say, he smilingly addressed himself to Pao-ch'ai. "On cousin Hsueeh P'an's birth-day," he remarked, "I happened again to be unwell, so not only did I not send him any presents, but I failed to go and knock my head before him. Yet cousin knows nothing about my having been ill, and it will seem to him that I had no wish to go, and that I brought forward excuses so as to avoid paying him a visit. If to-morrow you find any leisure, cousin, do therefore explain matters for me to him."
"This is too much punctiliousness!" smiled Pao-ch'ai. "Even had you insisted upon going, we wouldn't have been so arrogant as to let you put yourself to the trouble, and how much less when you were not feeling well? You two are cousins and are always to be found together the whole day; if you encourage such ideas, some estrangement will, after all, arise between you."
"Cousin," continued Pao-yue smilingly, "you know what to say; and so long as you're lenient with me all will be all right. But how is it," he went on to ask, "that you haven't gone over to see the theatricals?"
"I couldn't stand the heat" rejoined Pao-ch'ai. "I looked on while two plays were being sung, but I found it so intensely hot, that I felt anxious to retire. But the visitors not having dispersed, I had to give as an excuse that I wasn't feeling up to the mark, and so came away at once."
Pao-yue, at these words, could not but feel ill at ease. All he could do was to feign another smile. "It's no wonder," he observed, "that they compare you, cousin, to Yang Kuei-fei; for she too was fat and afraid of hot weather."
Hearing this, Pao-ch'ai involuntarily flew into a violent rage. Yet when about to call him to task, she found that it would not be nice for her to do so. After some reflection, the colour rushed to her cheeks. Smiling ironically twice, "I may resemble," she said, "Yang Kuei-fei, but there's not one of you young men, whether senior or junior, good enough to play the part of Yang Kuo-chung."
While they were bandying words, a servant-girl Ch'ing Erh, lost sight of her fan and laughingly remarked to Pao-ch'ai: "It must be you, Miss Pao, who have put my fan away somewhere or other; dear mistress, do let me have it!"
"You'd better be mindful!" rejoined Pao-ch'ai, shaking her finger at her. "With whom have I ever been up to jokes, that you come and suspect me? Have I hitherto laughed and smirked with you? There's that whole lot of girls, go and ask them about it!"
At this suggestion, Ch'ing Erh made her escape.
The consciousness then burst upon Pao-yue, that he had again been inconsiderate in his speech, in the presence of so many persons, and he was overcome by a greater sense of shame than when, a short while back, he had been speaking with Lin Tai-yue. Precipitately turning himself round, he went, therefore, and talked to the others as well.
The sight of Pao-yue poking fun at Pao-ch'ai gratified Tai-yue immensely. She was just about to put in her word and also seize the opportunity of chaffing her, but as Ch'ing Erh unawares asked for her fan and Pao-ch'ai added a few more remarks, she at once changed her purpose. "Cousin Pao-ch'ai," she inquired, "what two plays did you hear?"
Pao-ch'ai caught the expression of gratification in Tai-yue's countenance, and concluded that she had for a certainty heard the raillery recently indulged in by Pao-yue and that it had fallen in with her own wishes; and hearing her also suddenly ask the question she did, she answered with a significant laugh: "What I saw was: 'Li Kuei blows up Sung Chiang and subsequently again tenders his apologies'."
Pao-yue smiled. "How is it," he said, "that with such wide knowledge of things new as well as old; and such general information as you possess, you aren't even up to the name of a play, and that you've come out with such a whole string of words. Why, the real name of the play is: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'".
"Is it truly called: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'"? Pao-ch'ai asked with laugh. "But you people know all things new and old so are able to understand the import of 'carrying a birch and begging for punishment.' As for me I've no idea whatever what 'carrying a birch and begging for punishment' implies."
One sentence was scarcely ended when Pao-yue and Tai-yue felt guilty in their consciences; and by the time they heard all she said, they were quite flushed from shame. Lady Feng did not, it is true, fathom the gist of what had been said, but at the sight of the expression betrayed on the faces of the three cousins, she readily got an inkling of it. "On this broiling hot day," she inquired laughing also; "who still eats raw ginger?"
None of the party could make out the import of her insinuation. "There's no one eating raw ginger," they said.
Lady Feng intentionally then brought her hands to her cheeks, and rubbing them, she remarked with an air of utter astonishment, "Since there's no one eating raw ginger, how is it that you are all so fiery in the face?"
Hearing this, Pao-yue and Tai-yue waxed more uncomfortable than ever. So much so, that Pao-ch'ai, who meant to continue the conversation, did not think it nice to say anything more when she saw how utterly abashed Pao-yue was and how changed his manner. Her only course was therefore to smile and hold her peace. And as the rest of the inmates had not the faintest notion of the drift of the remarks exchanged between the four of them, they consequently followed her lead and put on a smile.
In a short while, however, Pao-ch'ai and lady Feng took their leave.
"You've also tried your strength with them," Tai-yue said to Pao-yue laughingly. "But they're far worse than I. Is every one as simple in mind and dull of tongue as I am as to allow people to say whatever they like."
Pao-yue was inwardly giving way to that unhappiness, which had been occasioned by Pao-ch'ai's touchiness, so when he also saw Tai-yue approach him and taunt him, displeasure keener than ever was aroused in him. A desire then asserted itself to speak out his mind to her, but dreading lest Tai-yue should he in one of her sensitive moods, he, needless to say, stifled his anger and straightway left the apartment in a state of mental depression.
It happened to be the season of the greatest heat. Breakfast time too was already past, and masters as well as servants were, for the most part, under the influence of the lassitude felt on lengthy days. As Pao-yue therefore strolled, from place to place, his hands behind his back he heard not so much as the caw of a crow. Issuing out of his grandmother's compound on the near side, he wended his steps westwards, and crossed the passage, on which lady Feng's quarters gave. As soon as he reached the entrance of her court, he perceived the door ajar. But aware of lady Feng's habit of taking, during the hot weather, a couple of hours' siesta at noon, he did not feel it a convenient moment to intrude. Walking accordingly through the corner door, he stepped into Madame Wang's apartment. Here he discovered several waiting-maids, dosing with their needlework clasped in their hands. Madame Wang was asleep on the cool couch in the inner rooms. Chin Ch'uan-erh was sitting next to her massaging her legs. But she too was quite drowsy, and her eyes wore all awry. Pao-yue drew up to her with gentle tread. The moment, however, that he unfastened the pendants from the earrings she wore, Chin Ch'uan opened her eyes, and realised that it was no one than Pao-yue.
"Are you feeling so worn out!" he smilingly remarked in a low tone of voice.
Chin Ch'uan pursed up her lips and gave him a smile. Then waving her hand so as to bid him quit the room, she again closed her eyes.
Pao-yue, at the sight of her, felt considerable affection for her and unable to tear himself away, so quietly stretching his head forward, and noticing that Madame Wang's eyes were shut, he extracted from a purse, suspended about his person, one of the 'scented-snow-for-moistening-mouth pills,' with which it was full, and placed it on Chin Ch'uan-erh's lips. Chin Ch'uan-erh, however, did not open her eyes, but simply held (the pill) in her mouth. Pao-yue then approached her and took her hand in his. "I'll ask you of your mistress," he gently observed smiling, "and you and I will live together."
To this Chin Ch'uan-erh said not a word.
"If that won't do," Pao-yue continued, "I'll wait for your mistress to wake and appeal to her at once."
Chin Ch'uan-erh distended her eyes wide, and pushed Pao-yue off. "What's the hurry?" she laughed. "'A gold hair-pin may fall into the well; but if it's yours it will remain yours only.' Is it possible that you don't even see the spirit of this proverb? But I'll tell you a smart thing. Just you go into the small court, on the east side, and you'll find for yourself what Mr. Chia Huau and Ts'ai Yun are up to!"
"Let them be up to whatever they like," smiled Pao-yue, "I shall simply stick to your side!"
But he then saw Madame Wang twist herself round, get up, and give a slap to Chin Ch'uan-erh on her mouth. "You mean wench!" she exclaimed, abusing her, while she pointed her finger at her, "it's you, and the like of you, who corrupt these fine young fellows with all the nice things you teach them!"
The moment Pao-yue perceived Madame Wang rise, he bolted like a streak of smoke. Chin Ch'uan-erh, meanwhile, felt half of her face as hot as fire, yet she did not dare utter one word of complaint. The various waiting-maids soon came to hear that Madame Wang had awoke and they rushed in in a body.
"Go and tell your mother," Madame Wang thereupon said to Yue Ch'uan-erh, "to fetch your elder sister away."
Chin Ch'uan-erh, at these words, speedily fell on her knees. With tears in her eyes: "I won't venture to do it again," she pleaded. "If you, Madame, wish to flog me, or to scold me do so at once, and as much as you like but don't send me away. You will thus accomplish an act of heavenly grace! I've been in attendance on your ladyship for about ten years, and if you now drive me away, will I be able to look at any one in the face?"
Though Madame Wang was a generous, tender-hearted person, and had at no time raised her hand to give a single blow to any servant-girl, she, however, when she accidentally discovered Chin Ch'uan-erh behave on this occasion in this barefaced manner, a manner which had all her lifetime been most reprehensible to her, was so overcome by passion that she gave Chin Ch'uan-erh just one slap and spoke to her a few sharp words. And albeit Chin Ch'uan-erh indulged in solicitous entreaties, she would not on any account keep her in her service. At length, Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother, Dame Pao, was sent for to take her away. Chin Ch'uan-erh therefore had to conceal her disgrace, suppress her resentment, and quit the mansion.
But without any further reference to her, we will now take up our story with Pao-yue. As soon as he saw Madame Wang awake, his spirits were crushed. All alone he hastily made his way into the Ta Kuan garden. Here his attention was attracted by the ruddy sun, shining in the zenith, the shade of the trees extending far and wide, the song of the cicadas, filling the ear; and by a perfect stillness, not even broken by the echo of a human voice. But the instant he got near the trellis, with the cinnamon roses, the sound of sobs fell on his ear. Doubts and surmises crept into Pao-yue's mind, so halting at once, he listened with intentness. Then actually he discerned some one on the off-side of the trellis. This was the fifth moon, the season when the flowers and foliage of the cinnamon roses were in full bloom. Furtively peeping through an aperture in the fence, Pao-yue saw a young girl squatting under the flowers and digging the ground with a hair-pin she held in her hand. As she dug, she silently gave way to tears.
"Can it be possible," mused Pao-yue, "that this girl too is stupid? Can she also be following P'in Erh's example and come to inter flowers? Why if she's likewise really burying flowers," he afterwards went on to smilingly reflect, "this can aptly be termed: 'Tung Shih tries to imitate a frown.' But not only is what she does not original, but it is despicable to boot. You needn't," he meant to shout out to the girl, at the conclusion of this train of thought, "try and copy Miss Lin's example." But before the words had issued from his mouth, he luckily scrutinised her a second time, and found that the girl's features were quite unfamiliar to him, that she was no menial, and that she looked like one of the twelve singing maids, who were getting up the plays. He could not, however, make out what _roles_ she filled: scholars, girls, old men, women, or buffoons. Pao-yue quickly put out his tongue and stopped his mouth with his hand. "How fortunate," he inwardly soliloquised, "that I didn't make any reckless remark! It was all because of my inconsiderate talk on the last two occasions, that P'in Erh got angry with me, and that Pao-ch'ai felt hurt. And had I now given them offence also, I would have been in a still more awkward fix!"
While wrapt in these thoughts, he felt much annoyance at not being able to recognise who she was. But on further minute inspection, he noticed that this maiden, with contracted eyebrows, as beautiful as the hills in spring, frowning eyes as clear as the streams in autumn, a face, with transparent skin, and a slim waist, was elegant and beautiful and almost the very image of Lin Tai-yue. Pao-yue could not, from the very first, make up his mind to wrench himself away. But as he stood gazing at her in a doltish mood, he realised that, although she was tracing on the ground with the gold hair-pin, she was not digging a hole to bury flowers in, but was merely delineating characters on the surface of the soil. Pao-yue's eyes followed the hair-pin from first to last, as it went up and as it came down. He watched each dash, each dot and each hook. He counted the strokes. They numbered eighteen. He himself then set to work and sketched with his finger on the palm of his hand, the lines, in their various directions, and in the order they had been traced a few minutes back, so as to endeavour to guess what the character was. On completing the sketch, he discovered, the moment he came to reflect, that it was the character "Ch'iang," in the combination, 'Ch'iang Wei,' representing cinnamon roses.
"She too," pondered Pao-yue, "must have been bent upon writing verses, or supplying some line or other, and at the sight now of the flowers, the idea must have suggested itself to her mind. Or it may very likely be that having spontaneously devised a couplet, she got suddenly elated and began, for fear it should slip from her memory, to trace it on the ground so as to tone the rhythm. Yet there's no saying. Let me see, however, what she's going to write next."
While cogitating, he looked once more. Lo, the girl was still tracing. But tracing up or tracing down, it was ever the character "Ch'iang." When he gazed again, it was still the self-same Ch'iang.
The one inside the fence fell, in fact, from an early stage, into a foolish mood, and no sooner was one 'Ch'iang,' finished than she started with another; so that she had already written several tens of them. The one outside gazed and gazed, until he unwittingly also got into the same foolish mood. Intent with his eyes upon following the movements of the pin, in his mind, he communed thus with his own thoughts: "This girl must, for a certainty, have something to say, or some unspeakable momentous secret that she goes on like this. But if outwardly she behaves in this wise, who knows what anguish she mayn't suffer at heart? And yet, with a frame to all appearances so very delicate, how could she ever resist much inward anxiety! Woe is me that I'm unable to transfer some part of her burden on to my own shoulders!"
In midsummer, cloudy and bright weather are uncertain. A few specks of clouds suffice to bring about rain. Of a sudden, a cold blast swept by, and tossed about by the wind fell a shower of rain. Pao-yue perceived that the water trickling down the girl's head saturated her gauze attire in no time. "It's pouring," Pao-yue debated within himself, "and how can a frame like hers resist the brunt of such a squall." Unable therefore to restrain himself, he vehemently shouted: "Leave off writing! See, it's pouring; you're wet through!"
The girl caught these words, and was frightened out of her wits. Raising her head, she at once descried some one or other standing beyond the flowers and calling out to her: "Leave off writing. It's pouring!" But as Pao-yue was, firstly, of handsome appearance, and as secondly the luxuriant abundance of flowers and foliage screened with their boughs, thick-laden with leaves, the upper and lower part of his person, just leaving half of his countenance exposed to view, the maiden simply jumped at the conclusion that he must be a servant girl, and never for a moment dreamt that it might be Pao-yue. "Many thanks, sister, for recalling me to my senses," she consequently smiled. "Yet is there forsooth anything outside there to protect you from the rain?"
This single remark proved sufficient to recall Pao-yue to himself. With an exclamation of "Ai-yah," he at length became conscious that his whole body was cold as ice. Then drooping his head, he realised that his own person too was drenched. "This will never do," he cried, and with one breath he had to run back into the I Hung court. His mind, however, continued much exercised about the girl as she had nothing to shelter her from the rain.
As the next day was the dragon-boat festival, Wen Kuan and the other singing girls, twelve in all, were given a holiday, so they came into the garden and amused themselves by roaming everywhere and anywhere. As luck would have it, the two girls Pao-Kuan, who filled the _role_ of young men and Yue Kuan, who represented young women, were in the I Hung court enjoying themselves with Hsi Jen, when rain set in and they were prevented from going back, so in a body they stopped up the drain to allow the water to accumulate in the yard. Then catching those that could be caught, and driving those that had to be driven, they laid hold of a few of the green-headed ducks, variegated marsh-birds and coloured mandarin-ducks, and tying their wings they let them loose in the court to disport themselves. Closing the court Hsi Jen and her playmates stood together under the verandah and enjoyed the fun. Pao-yue therefore found the entrance shut. He gave a rap at the door. But as every one inside was bent upon laughing, they naturally did not catch the sound; and it was only after he had called and called, and made a noise by thumping at the door, that they at last heard. Imagining, however, that Pao-yue could not be coming back at that hour, Hsi Jen shouted laughing: "who's it now knocking at the door? There's no one to go and open."
"It's I," rejoined Pao-yue.
"It's Miss Pao-ch'ai's tone of voice," added She Yueeh.
"Nonsense!" cried Ch'ing Wen. "What would Miss Pao-ch'ai come over to do at such an hour?"
"Let me go," chimed in Hsi Jen, "and see through the fissure in the door, and if we can open, we'll open; for we mustn't let her go back, wet through."
With these words, she came along the passage to the doorway. On looking out, she espied Pao-yue dripping like a chicken drenched with rain.
Seeing him in this plight, Hsi Jen felt solicitous as well as amused. With alacrity, she flung the door wide open, laughing so heartily that she was doubled in two. "How could I ever have known," she said, clapping her hands, "that you had returned, Sir! Yet how is it that you've run back in this heavy rain?"
Pao-yue had, however, been feeling in no happy frame of mind. He had fully resolved within himself to administer a few kicks to the person, who came to open the door, so as soon as it was unbarred, he did not try to make sure who it was, but under the presumption that it was one of the servant-girls, he raised his leg and give her a kick on the side.
"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Hsi Jen.
Pao-yue nevertheless went on to abuse. "You mean things!" he shouted. "It's because I've always treated you so considerately that you don't respect me in the least! And you now go to the length of making a laughing-stock of me!"
As he spoke, he lowered his head. Then catching sight of Hsi Jen, in tears, he realised that he had kicked the wrong person. "Hallo!" he said, promptly smiling, "is it you who've come? Where did I kick you?"
Hsi Jen had never, previous to this, received even a harsh word from him. When therefore she on this occasion unexpectedly saw Pao-yue gave her a kick in a fit of anger and, what made it worse, in the presence of so many people, shame, resentment, and bodily pain overpowered her and she did not, in fact, for a time know where to go and hide herself. She was then about to give rein to her displeasure, but the reflection that Pao-yue could not have kicked her intentionally obliged her to suppress her indignation. "Instead of kicking," she remarked, "don't you yet go and change your clothes?"
Pao-yue walked into the room. As he did so, he smiled. "Up to the age I've reached," he observed, "this is the first instance on which I've ever so thoroughly lost control over my temper as to strike any one; and, contrary to all my thoughts, it's you that happened to come in my way?"
Hsi Jen, while patiently enduring the pain, effected the necessary change in his attire. "I've been here from the very first," she simultaneously added, smilingly, "so in all things, whether large or small, good or bad, it has naturally fallen to my share to bear the brunt. But not to say another word about your assault on me, why, to-morrow you'll indulge your hand and star-beating others!"
"I did not strike you intentionally just now," retorted Pao-yue.
"Who ever said," rejoined Hsi Jen, "that you did it intentionally! It has ever been the duty of that tribe of servant-girls to open and shut the doors, yet they've got into the way of being obstinate, and have long ago become such an abomination that people's teeth itch to revenge themselves on them. They don't know, besides, what fear means. So had you first assured yourself that it was they and given them a kick, a little intimidating would have done them good. But I'm at the bottom of the mischief that happened just now, for not calling those, upon whom it devolves, to come and open for you."
During the course of their conversation, the rain ceased, and Pao Kuan and Yue Kuan had been able to take their leave. Hsi Jen, however, experienced such intense pain in her side, and felt such inward vexation, that at supper she could not put a morsel of anything in her mouth. When in the evening, the time came for her to have her bath, she discovered, on divesting herself of her clothes, a bluish bruise on her side of the size of a saucer and she was very much frightened. But as she could not very well say anything about it to any one, she presently retired to rest. But twitches of pain made her involuntarily moan in her dreams and groan in her sleep.
Pao-yue did, it is true, not hurt her with any malice, but when he saw Hsi Jen so listless and restless, and suddenly heard her groan in the course of the night, he realised how severely he must have kicked her. So getting out of bed, he gently seized the lantern and came over to look at her. But as soon as he reached the side of her bed, he perceived Hsi Jen expectorate, with a retch, a whole mouthful of phlegm. "Oh me!" she gasped, as she opened her eyes. The presence of Pao-yue startled her out of her wits. "What are you up to?" she asked.
"You groaned in your dreams," answered Pao-yue, "so I must have kicked you hard. Do let me see!"
"My head feels giddy," said Hsi Jen. "My throat foul and sweet; throw the light on the floor!"
At these words, Pao-yue actually raised the lantern. The moment he cast the light below, he discerned a quantity of fresh blood on the floor.
Pao-yue was seized with consternation. "Dreadful!" was all he could say. At the sight of the blood, Hsi Jen's heart too partly waxed cold.
But, reader, the next chapter will reveal the sequel, if you really have any wish to know more about them.
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