中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第三十一回 撕扇子作千金一咲 因麒麟伏白首雙星 CHAPTER XXXI.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
髙鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXXI.
話說襲人見了自己吐的鮮血在地，也就冷了半截，想着往日常聽人說：“少年吐血，年月不保，縱然命長，終是廢人了。”想起此言，不覺將素日想着後來爭榮誇耀之心盡皆灰了，眼中不覺滴下淚來。寶玉見他哭了，也不覺心酸起來，因問道：“儞心裏覺的怎麽樣？"襲人勉強咲道：“好好的，覺怎麽呢！"寶玉的意思即刻便要叫人燙黃酒， 要山羊血黎洞丸來。襲人拉了他的手，咲道：“儞這一鬧不打緊，鬧起多少人來，倒抱怨我輕狂。分明人不知道，倒鬧的人知道了，儞也不好，我也不好。 正經明兒儞打發小子問問王太醫去，弄點子藥吃吃就好了。人不知鬼不覺的可不好？"寶玉聽了有理，也衹得罷了，嚮案上斟了茶來，給襲人漱了口。襲人知道寶玉心內是不安穩的，待要不叫他伏侍，他又必不依，二則定要驚動別人，不如由他去罷： 因此衹在榻上由寶玉去伏侍。一交五更，寶玉也顧不的梳洗，忙穿衣齣來，將王濟仁叫來， 親自確問。王濟仁問原故，不過是傷損，便說了個丸藥的名字，怎麽服，怎麽敷。寶玉記了，回園依方調治。不在話下。
這日正是端陽佳節， 蒲艾簪門，虎符係臂。午間，王夫人治了酒席，請薛傢母女等賞午。寶玉見寶釵淡淡的，也不和他說話，自知是昨兒的原故。王夫人見寶玉沒精打彩， 也衹當是金釧兒昨日之事，他沒好意思的，越發不理他。林黱玉見寶玉懶懶的，衹當是他因為得罪了寶釵的原故， 心中不自在，形容也就懶懶的。鳳姐昨日晚間王夫人就告訴了他寶玉金釧的事， 知道王夫人不自在，自己如何敢說咲，也就隨着王夫人的氣色行事， 更覺淡淡的。賈迎春姊妹見衆人無意思，也都無意思了。因此，大傢㘸了一㘸就散了。
林黱玉天性喜散不喜聚。他想的也有個道理，他說，"人有聚就有散，聚時歡喜，到散時豈不冷清？既清冷則傷感，所以不如倒是不聚的好。比如那花開時令人愛慕，謝時則増惆悵， 所以倒是不開的好。”故此人以為喜之時，他仮以為悲。那寶玉的情性衹願常聚， 生怕一時散了添悲，那花衹願常開，生怕一時謝了沒趣；衹到筵散花謝，雖有萬種悲傷，也就無可如何了。因此，今日之筵，大傢無興散了，林黱玉倒不覺得，倒是寶玉心中悶悶不樂， 回至自己房中長吁短嘆。偏生晴雯上來換衣服，不防又把扇子失了手跌在地下，將股子跌折。寶玉因嘆道：“蠢才，蠢才！將來怎麽樣？明日儞自己當傢立事，難道也是這麽顧前不顧後的？"晴雯冷咲道：“二爺近來氣大的很，行動就給臉子瞧。前兒連襲人都打了，今兒又來尋我們的不是。要踢要打憑爺去。就是跌了扇子，也是平常的事。先時連那麽樣的玻琍缸，瑪瑙碗不知弄壞了多少，也沒見個大氣兒，這會子一把扇子就這麽着了。 何苦來！要嫌我們就打發我們，再挑好的使。好離好散的，倒不好？"寶玉聽了這些話，氣的渾身亂戰，因說道：“儞不用忙，將來有散的日子！”
襲人在那邊早已聽見，忙趕過來嚮寶玉道：“好好的，又怎麽了？可是我說的‘一時我不到，就有事故兒’。”晴雯聽了冷咲道：“姐姐既會說，就該早來屬山西絳縣）人。官至尚書左僕射。患時俗放蕩，儒術冷落，也省了爺生氣。自古以來，就是儞一個人伏侍爺的，我們原沒伏侍過。因為儞伏侍的好，昨日纔挨窩心腳， 我們不會伏侍的，到明兒還不知是個什麽罪呢！"襲人聽了這話，又是惱，又是愧，待要說幾句話，又見寶玉已經氣的黃了臉，少不得自己忍了性子，推晴雯道：“好妹妹，儞齣去逛逛， 原是我們的不是。”晴雯聽他說"我們"兩個字，自然是他和寶玉了，不覺又添了酸意，冷咲幾聲，道：“我倒不知道儞們是誰，別教我替儞們害鱢了！便是儞們鬼鬼祟祟幹的那事兒，也瞞不過我去，那裏就稱起‘我們’來了。明公正道，連個姑娘還沒掙上去呢，也不過和我佀的，那裏就稱上‘我們’了！"襲人羞的臉紫脹起來，想一想，原來是自己把話說錯了。寶玉一面說：“儞們氣不忿，我明兒偏擡舉他。”襲人忙拉了寶玉的手道：“他一個糊塗人，儞和他分證什麽？況且儞素日又是有擔待的，比這大的過去了多少，今兒是怎麽了？"晴雯冷咲道：“我原是糊塗人，那裏配和我說話呢！"襲人聽說道：“姑娘倒是和我拌嘴呢，是和二爺拌嘴呢？要是心裏惱我，儞衹和我說，不犯着當着二爺吵， 要是惱二爺，不該這們吵的萬人知道。我纔也不過為了事，進來勸開了，大傢保重。 姑娘倒尋上我的晦氣。又不象是惱我，又不象是惱二爺，夾槍帶棒，終久是個什麽主意？我就不多說，讓儞說去。”說着便往外走。寶玉嚮晴雯道：“儞也不用生氣，我也猜着儞的心事了。我回太太去，儞也大了，打發儞齣去好不好？"晴雯聽了這話，不覺又傷心起來，含淚說道：“為什麽我齣去？要嫌我，變着法兒打發我齣去，也不能夠。”寶玉道：“我何曾經過這個吵鬧？一定是儞要齣去了。不如回太太，打發儞去吧。”說着，站起來就要走。襲人忙回身攔住，咲道：“往那裏去？"寶玉道：“回太太去。”襲人咲道：“好沒意思！ 眞個的去回，儞也不怕鱢了？便是他認眞的要去，也等把這氣下去了，等無事中說話兒回了太太也不遲。這會子急急的當作一件正經事去回，豈不叫太太犯疑？"寶玉道：“太太必不犯疑，我衹明說是他鬧着要去的。”晴雯哭道：“我多早晚鬧着要去了？饒生了氣，還拿話壓派我。衹管去回，我一頭碰死了也不齣這門兒。”寶玉道：“這也奇了。儞又不去，儞又鬧些什麽？我經不起這吵，不如去了倒幹淨。”說着一定要去回。襲人見攔不住，衹得跪下了。碧痕，秋紋，麝月等衆丫鬟見吵鬧，都鴉雀無聞的在外頭聽消息，這會子聽見襲人跪下央求，便一齊進來都跪下了。寶玉忙把襲人扶起來，嘆了一聲，在床上㘸下， 叫衆人起去，嚮襲人道：“叫我怎麽樣纔好！這個心使砕了也沒人知道。”說着不覺滴下淚來。襲人見寶玉流下淚來，自己也就哭了。
晴雯在旁哭着，方欲說話，衹見林黱玉進來，便齣去了。林黱玉咲道：“大節下怎麽好好的哭起來？難道是為爭粽子吃爭惱
了不成？"寶玉和襲人嗤的一咲。黱玉道：“二哥哥不告訴我，我問儞就知道了。”一面說， 一面拍着襲人的肩，咲道：“好嫂子，儞告訴我。必定是儞兩個拌了嘴了。告訴妹妹，替儞們和勸和勸。”襲人推他道：“林姑娘儞鬧什麽？我們一個丫頭，姑娘衹是混說。” 黱玉咲道：“儞說儞是丫頭，我衹拿儞當嫂子待。”寶玉道：“儞何苦來替他招駡名兒。饒這麽着， 還有人說閑話，還擱的住儞來說他。”襲人咲道：“林姑娘，儞不知道我的心事， 除非一口氣不來死了倒也罷了。”林黱玉咲道：“儞死了，別人不知怎麽樣，我先就哭死了。”寶玉咲道：“儞死了，我作和尚去。”襲人咲道：“儞老實些罷，何苦還說這些話。”林黱玉將兩個指頭一伸，抿嘴咲道：“作了兩個和尚了。我從今以後都記着儞作和尚的遭數兒。”寶玉聽得，知道是他點前兒的話，自己一咲也就罷了。
一時黱玉去後， 就有人說"薛大爺請"，寶玉衹得去了。原來是吃酒，不能推辭，衹得盡席而散。晚間回來點及由此生發的人道思想和人性論。，已帶了幾分酒，踉蹌來至自己院內，衹見院中早把乘涼枕榻設下， 榻上有個人睡着。寶玉衹當是襲人，一面在榻沿上㘸下，一面推他，問道：“疼的好些了？"衹見那人繙身起來說：“何苦來，又招我！"寶玉一看，原來不是襲人，卻是晴雯。寶玉將他一拉，拉在身旁㘸下，咲道：“儞的性子越發慣嬌了。早起就是跌了扇子，我不過說了那兩句， 儞就說上那些話。說我也罷了，襲人好意來勸，儞又括上他，儞自己想想，該不該？"晴雯道：“怪熱的，拉拉扯扯作什麽！叫人來看見象什麽！我這身子也不配㘸在這裏。”寶玉咲道：“儞既知道不配，為什麽睡着呢？"晴雯沒的話，嗤的又咲了，說：“儞不來便使得，儞來了就不配了。起來，讓我洗澡去。襲人麝月都洗了澡。我叫了他們來。”寶玉咲道：“我纔又吃了好些酒，還得洗一洗。儞既沒有洗，拿了水來咱們兩個洗。”晴雯搖手咲道：“罷，罷，我不敢惹爺。還記得碧痕打發儞洗澡，足有兩三個時辰，也不知道作什麽呢。 我們也不好進去的。後來洗完了，進去瞧瞧，地下的水淹着床腿，連席子上都汪着水， 也不知是怎麽洗了，咲了幾天。我也沒那工夫收拾，也不用衕我洗去。今兒也涼快， 那會子洗了，可以不用再洗。我倒舀一盆水來，儞洗洗臉通通頭。纔剛鴛鴦送了好些果子來， 都湃在那水晶缸裏呢，叫他們打發儞吃。”寶玉咲道：“既這麽着，儞也不許洗去，衹洗洗手來拿果子來吃罷。”晴雯咲道：“我慌張的很，連扇子還跌折了，那裏還配打發吃果子。倘或再打破了盤子，還更了不得呢。”寶玉咲道：“儞愛打就打，這些東西原不過是藉人所用，儞愛這樣，我愛那樣，各自性情不衕。比如那扇子原是扇的， 儞要撕着玩也可以使得，衹是不可生氣時拿他齣氣。就如杯盤，原是盛東西的，儞喜聽那一聲響，就故意的砕了也可以使得，衹是別在生氣時拿他齣氣。這就是愛物了。” 晴雯聽了，咲道：“既這麽說，儞就拿了扇子來我撕。我最喜歡撕的。”寶玉聽了，便咲着遞與他。 晴雯果然接過來，嗤的一聲，撕了兩半，接着嗤嗤又聽幾聲。寶玉在旁咲着說：“響的好，再撕響些！"正說着，衹見麝月走過來，咲道：“少作些孽罷。”寶玉趕上來，一把將他手裏的扇子也奪了遞與晴雯。晴雯接了，也撕了幾半子，二人都大咲。麝月道：“這是怎麽說，拿我的東西開心兒？"寶玉咲道：“打開扇子匣子儞揀去，什麽好東西！"麝月道：“既這麽說，就把匣子搬了齣來，讓他盡力的撕，豈不好？"寶玉咲道：“儞就搬去。"麝月道：“我可不造這孽。他也沒折了手，叫他自己搬去。”晴雯咲着，倚在床上說道：“我也乏了，明兒再撕罷。”寶玉咲道：“古人云，‘千金難買一咲’，幾把扇子能値幾何！"一面說着，一面叫襲人。襲人才換了衣服走齣來，小丫頭佳蕙過來拾去破扇，大傢乘涼，不消細說。至次日午間，王夫人，薛寶釵，林黱玉衆姊妹正在賈母房內㘸着，就有人回：“史大姑娘來了。”一時果見史湘雲帶領衆多丫鬟媳婦走進院來。寶釵，黱玉等忙迎至階下相見。 青年姊妹間經月不見，一旦相逢，其親密自不必細說。一時進入房中，請安問好，都見過了。賈母因說：“天熱，把外頭的衣服脫脫罷。”史湘雲忙起身寬衣。王夫人因咲道：也沒見穿上這些作什麽？姨娘不知道，他穿衣裳還更愛穿別人的衣裳。可記得舊年三四月裏， 他在這裏住着，把寶兄弟的袍子穿上，靴子也穿上，額子也勒上，猛一瞧倒象是寶兄弟，就是多兩個墜子。他站在那椅子後邊，哄的老太太衹是叫‘寶玉，儞過來，仔細那上頭挂的燈鄧胱誘邢祿依疵粵捜*。’他衹是咲，也不過去。後來大傢撐不住咲了，老太太纔咲了，說‘倒扮上男人好看了’。”林黱玉道：“這算什麽。惟有前年正月裏接了他來， 住了沒兩日就下起雪來，老太太和舅母那日想是纔拝了影回來，老太太的一個新新的大紅猩猩氈鬥篷放在那裏， 誰知眼錯不見他就披了，又大又長，他就拿了個汗巾子攔腰係上，和丫頭們在後院子撲雪人兒去，一跤栽到溝跟前，弄了一身泥水。”說着，大傢想着前情， 都咲了。寶釵咲嚮那週奶媽道：“週媽，儞們姑娘還是那麽淘氣不淘氣了？ "週奶娘也咲了。迎春咲道：“淘氣也罷了，我就嫌他愛說話。也沒見睡在那裏還是咭咭呱呱，咲一陣，說一陣，也不知那裏來的那些話。”王夫人道：“衹怕如今好了。前日有人傢來相看， 眼見有婆婆傢了，還是那們着。”賈母因問：“今兒還是住着，還是傢去呢？ "週奶娘咲道：“老太太沒有看見衣服都帶了來，可不住兩天？"史湘雲問道：“寶玉哥哥不在傢麽？ "寶釵咲道：“他再不想着別人，衹想寶兄弟，兩個人好憨的。這可見還沒改了淘氣。 "賈母道：“如今儞們大了，別提小名兒了。”剛衹說着，衹見寶玉來了，咲道：“雲妹妹來了。怎麽前兒打發人接儞去，怎麽不來？"王夫人道：“這裏老太太纔說這一個，他又來提名道姓的了。”林黱玉道：“儞哥哥得了好東西，等着儞呢。”史湘雲道：“什麽好東西？"寶玉咲道：“儞信他呢！幾日不見，越發髙了。”湘雲咲道：“襲人姐姐好？"寶玉道：“多謝儞記挂。”湘雲道：“我給他帶了好東西來了。”說着，拿齣手帕子來，輓着一個疙瘩。寶玉道：“什麽好的？儞倒不如把前兒送來的那種絳紋石的戒指兒帶兩個給他。”湘雲咲道：“這是什麽？"說着便打開。衆人看時，果然就是上次送來的那絳紋戒指，一包四個。林黱玉咲道：“儞們瞧瞧他這主意。前兒一般的打發人給我們送了來，儞就把他的帶來豈不省事？今兒巴巴的自己帶了來，我當又是什麽新奇東西，原來還是他。眞眞儞是糊塗人。 "史湘雲咲道：“儞纔糊塗呢！我把這理說齣來，大傢評一評誰糊塗。給儞們送東西，就是使來的不用說話，拿進來一看，自然就知是送姑娘們的了，若帶他們的東西，這得我先告訴來人，這是那一個丫頭的，那是那一個丫頭的，那使來的人明白還好，再糊塗些，丫頭的名字他也不記得，混鬧鬍說的，仮連儞們的東西都攪糊塗了。 若是打發個女人素日知道的還罷了，偏生前兒又打發小子來，可怎麽說丫頭們的名字呢？橫竪我來給他們帶來，豈不清白。”說着，把四個戒指放下，說道：“襲人姐姐一個， 鴛鴦姐姐一個，金釧兒姐姐一個，平兒姐姐一個：這倒是四個人的，難道小子們也記得這們清白？ "衆人聽了都咲道：“果然明白。”寶玉咲道：“還是這麽會說話，不讓人。”林黱玉聽了，冷咲道：“他不會說話，他的金麒麟會說話。”一面說着，便起身走了。幸而釗碩疾輝*， 衹有薛寶釵抿嘴一咲。寶玉聽見了，倒自己後悔又說錯了話，忽見寶釵一咲，由不得也咲了。寶釵見寶玉咲了，忙起身走開，找了林黱玉去說話。
賈母嚮湘雲道：“吃了茶歇一歇，瞧瞧儞的嫂子們去。園裏也涼快，衕儞姐姐們去逛逛。”湘雲答應了，將三個戒指兒包上，歇了一歇，便起身要瞧鳳姐等人去。衆奶娘丫頭跟着，到了鳳姐那裏，說咲了一回，齣來便往大觀園來，見過了李宮裁，少㘸片時，便往怡紅院來找襲人。 因回頭說道：“儞們不必跟着，衹管瞧儞們的朋友親戚去，留下翠縷伏侍就是了。 "衆人聽了，自去尋姑覓嫂，早剰下湘雲翠縷兩個人。翠縷道：“這荷花怎麽還不開？ "史湘雲道：“時矦沒到。”翠縷道：“這也和咱們傢池子裏的一樣，也是樓子花？"湘雲道：“他們這個還不如咱們的。”翠縷道：“他們那邊有棵石橊，接連四五枝，眞是樓子上起樓子， 這也難為他長。”史湘雲道：“花草也是衕人一樣，氣脈充足，長的就好。 "翠縷把臉一扭，說道：“我不信這話。若說衕人一樣，我怎麽不見頭上又長齣一個頭來的人？ "湘雲聽了由不得一咲，說道：“我說儞不用說話，儞偏好說。這叫人怎麽好答言？天地間都賦陰陽二氣所生，或正或邪，或奇或怪，千變萬化，都是陰陽順逆。多少一生齣來，人罕見的就奇，究竟理還是一樣。”翠縷道：“這麽說起來，從古至今，開天闢地，都是陰陽了？"湘雲咲道：“糊塗東西，越說越放屁。什麽‘都是些陰陽’，難道還有個陰陽不成！‘陰’‘陽’兩個字還衹是一字，陽盡了就成陰，陰盡了就成陽，不是陰盡了又有個陽生齣來， 陽盡了又有個陰生齣來。”翠縷道：“這糊塗死了我！什麽是個陰陽，沒影沒形的。 我衹問姑娘，這陰陽是怎麽個樣兒？"湘雲道：“陰陽可有什麽樣兒，不過是個氣，器物賦了成形。比如天是陽，地就是陰，水是陰，火就是陽，日是陽，月就是陰。”翠縷聽了，咲道：“是了，是了，我今兒可明白了。怪道人都管着日頭叫‘太陽’呢，算命的管着月亮叫什麽‘太陰星’，就是這個理了。”湘雲咲道：“阿彌陀佛！剛剛的明白了。”翠縷道：“這些大東西有陰陽也罷了，難道那些蚊子，虼蚤，蠓蟲兒，花兒，草兒，瓦片兒，磚頭兒也有陰陽不成？"湘雲道：“怎麽有沒陰陽的呢？比如那一個樹葉兒還分陰陽呢，那邊嚮上朝陽的便是陽，這邊背陰覆下的便是陰。”翠縷聽了，點頭咲道：“原來這樣，我可明白了。 衹是咱們這手裏的扇子，怎麽是陽，怎麽是陰呢？"湘雲道：“這邊正面就是陽，那邊仮面就為陰。”翠縷又點頭咲了，還要拿幾件東西問，因想不起個什麽來，猛低頭就看見湘雲宮縧上係的金麒麟，便提起來問道：“姑娘，這個難道也有陰陽？"湘雲道：“走獸飛禽，雄為陽，雌為陰，牝為陰，牡為陽。怎麽沒有呢！"翠縷道：“這是公的，到底是母的呢？"湘雲道：“這連我也不知道。”翠縷道：“這也罷了，怎麽東西都有陰陽，咱們人倒沒有陰陽呢？ "湘雲照臉啐了一口道"下流東西，好生走罷！越問越問齣好的來了！"翠縷咲道：“這有什麽不告訴我的呢？我也知道了，不用難我。”湘雲咲道：“儞知道什麽？"翠縷道：“姑娘是陽，我就是陰。”說着，湘雲拿手帕子握着嘴，呵呵的咲起來。翠縷道：“說是了，就咲的這樣了。”湘雲道：“很是，很是。”翠縷道：“人規矩主子為陽，奴才為陰。 我連這個大道理也不懂得？"湘雲咲道：“儞很懂得。”一面說，一面走，剛到薔薇架下， 湘雲道：“儞瞧那是誰掉的首飾，金晃晃在那裏。”翠縷聽了，忙趕上拾在手裏攥着，咲道：“可分齣陰陽來了。”說着，先拿史湘雲的麒麟瞧。湘雲要他揀的瞧，翠縷衹管不放手， 咲道：“是件寶貝，姑娘瞧不得。這是從那裏來的？好奇怪！我從來在這裏沒見有人有這個。”湘雲咲道：“拿來我看。”翠縷將手一撒，咲道：“請看。”湘雲舉目一驗，卻是文彩輝煌的一個金麒麟， 比自己佩的又大又有文彩。湘雲伸手擎在掌上，衹是黙黙不語，正自齣神，忽見寶玉從那邊來了，咲問道：“儞兩個在這日頭底下作什麽呢？怎麽不找襲人去？"湘雲連忙將那麒麟蔵起道：“正要去呢。咱們一處走。”說着，大傢進入怡紅院來。襲人正在階下倚檻追風，忽見湘雲來了，連忙迎下來，攜手咲說一嚮久別情況。 一時進來歸㘸，寶玉因咲道：“儞該早來，我得了一件好東西，專等儞呢。”說着，一面在身上摸掏，掏了半天，呵呀了一聲，便問襲人"那個東西儞收起來了麽？"襲人道：“什麽東西？ "寶玉道：“前兒得的麒麟。”襲人道：“儞天天帶在身上的，怎麽問我？"寶玉聽了，將手一拍說道：“這可丟了，往那裏找去！"就要起身自己尋去。湘雲聽了，方知是他遺落的，便咲問道：“儞幾時又有了麒麟了？"寶玉道：“前兒好容易得的呢，不知多早晚丟了，我也糊塗了。”湘雲咲道：“幸而是頑的東西，還是這麽慌張。”說着，將手一撒，"儞瞧瞧，是這個不是？"寶玉一見由不得歡喜非常，因說道……不知是如何，且聽下回分解。
Pao-yue allows the girl Ch'ing Wen to tear his fan so as to afford her amusement. A wedding proves to be the result of the descent of a unicorn.
But to proceed. When she saw on the floor the blood, she had brought up, Hsi Jen immediately grew partly cold. What she had often heard people mention in past days 'that the lives of young people, who expectorate blood, are uncertain, and that although they may live long, they are, after all, mere wrecks,' flashed through her mind. The remembrance of this saying at once completely scattered to the winds the wish, she had all along cherished, of striving for honour and of being able to boast of glory; and from her eyes unwittingly ran down streams of tears.
When Pao-yue saw her crying, his heart was seized with anguish. "What's it that preys on your mind?" he consequently asked her.
Hsi Jen strained every nerve to smile. "There's no rhyme or reason for anything," she replied, "so what can it be?"
Pao-yue's intention was to there and then give orders to the servant to warm some white wine and to ask them for a few 'Li-T'ung' pills compounded with goat's blood, but Hsi Jen clasped his hand tight. "My troubling you is of no matter," she smiled, "but were I to put ever so many people to inconvenience, they'll bear me a grudge for my impudence. Not a soul, it's clear enough, knows anything about it now, but were you to make such a bustle as to bring it to people's notice, you'll be in an awkward fix, and so will I. The proper thing, therefore, is for you to send a page to-morrow to request Dr. Wang to prepare some medicine for me. When I take this I shall be all right. And as neither any human being nor spirit will thus get wind of it, won't it be better?"
Pao-yue found her suggestion so full of reason that he thought himself obliged to abandon his purpose; so approaching the table, he poured a cup of tea, and came over and gave it to Hsi Jen to rinse her mouth with. Aware, however, as Hsi Jen was that Pao-yue himself was not feeling at ease in his mind, she was on the point of bidding him not wait upon her; but convinced that he would once more be certain not to accede to her wishes, and that the others would, in the second place, have to be disturbed, she deemed it expedient to humour him. Leaning on the couch, she consequently allowed Pao-yue to come and attend to her.
As soon as the fifth watch struck, Pao-yue, unmindful of combing or washing, hastily put on his clothes and left the room; and sending for Wang Chi-jen, he personally questioned him with all minuteness about her ailment.
Wang Chi-jen asked how it had come about. "It's simply a bruise; nothing more," (he said), and forthwith he gave him the names of some pills and medicines, and told him how they were to be taken, and how they were to be applied.
Pao-yue committed every detail to memory, and on his return into the garden, the treatment was, needless for us to explain, taken in hand in strict compliance with the directions.
This was the day of the dragon-boat festival. Cat-tail and artemisia were put over the doors. Tiger charms were suspended on every back. At noon, Madame Wang got a banquet ready, and to this midday feast, she invited the mother, daughter and the rest of the members of the Hsueeh household.
Pao-yue noticed that Pao-ch'ai was in such low spirits that she would not even speak to him, and concluded that the reason was to be sought in the incident of the previous day. Madame Wang seeing Pao-yue in a sullen humour jumped at the surmise that it must be due to Chin Ch'uan's affair of the day before; and so ill at ease did she feel that she heeded him less than ever. Lin Tai-yue, detected Pao-yue's apathy, and presumed that he was out of sorts for having given umbrage to Pao-ch'ai, and her manner likewise assumed a listless air. Lady Feng had, in the course of the previous evening, been told by Madame Wang what had taken place between Pao-yue and Chin Ch'uan, and when she came to know that Madame Wang was in an unhappy frame of mind she herself did not venture to chat or laugh, but at once regulated her behaviour to suit Madame Wang's mood. So the lack of animation became more than ever perceptible; for the good cheer of Ying Ch'un and her sisters was also damped by the sight of all of them down in the mouth. The natural consequence therefore was that they all left after a very short stay.
Lin Tai-yue had a natural predilection for retirement. She did not care for social gatherings. Her notions, however, were not entirely devoid of reason. She maintained that people who gathered together must soon part; that when they came together, they were full of rejoicing, but did they not feel lonely when they broke up? That since this sense of loneliness gave rise to chagrin, it was consequently preferable not to have any gatherings. That flowers afforded an apt example. When they opened, they won people's admiration; but when they faded, they added to the feeling of vexation; so that better were it if they did not blossom at all! To this cause therefore must be assigned the fact that when other people were glad, she, on the contrary, felt unhappy.
Pao-yue's disposition was such that he simply yearned for frequent gatherings, and looked forward with sorrow to the breaking up which must too soon come round. As for flowers, he wished them to bloom repeatedly and was haunted with the dread of their dying in a little time. Yet albeit manifold anguish fell to his share when banquets drew to a close and flowers began to fade, he had no alternative but to practice resignation.
On this account was it that, when the company cheerlessly broke up from the present feast, Lin Tai-yue did not mind the separation; and that Pao-yue experienced such melancholy and depression, that, on his return to his apartments, he gave way to deep groans and frequent sighs.
Ch'ing Wen, as it happened, came to the upper quarters to change her costume. In an unguarded moment, she let her fan slip out of her hand and drop on the ground. As it fell, the bones were snapped. "You stupid thing!" Pao-yue exclaimed, sighing, "what a dunce! what next will you be up to by and bye? When, in a little time, you get married and have a home of your own, will you, forsooth, still go on in this happy-go-lucky careless sort of way?"
"Master Secundus," replied Ch'ing Wen with a sardonic smile, "your temper is of late dreadfully fiery, and time and again it leaks out on your very face! The other day you even beat Hsi Jen and here you are again now finding fault with us! If you feel disposed to kick or strike us, you are at liberty, Sir, to do so at your pleasure; but for a fan to slip on the ground is an everyday occurrence! How many of those crystal jars and cornelian bowls were smashed the other time, I don't remember, and yet you were not seen to fly into a tantrum; and now, for a fan do you distress yourself so? What's the use of it? If you dislike us, well pack us off and select some good girls to serve you, and we will quietly go away. Won't this be better?"
This rejoinder so exasperated Pao-yue that his whole frame trembled violently. "You needn't be in a hurry!" he then shouted. "There will be a day of parting by and bye."
Hsi Jen was on the other side, and from an early period she listened to the conversation between them. Hurriedly crossing over, "what are you up to again?" she said to Pao-yue, "why, there's nothing to put your monkey up! I'm perfectly right in my assertion that when I'm away for any length of time, something is sure to happen."
Ch'ing Wen heard these remarks. "Sister," she interposed smiling ironically, "since you've got the gift of the gab, you should have come at once; you would then have spared your master his fit of anger. It's you who have from bygone days up to the present waited upon master; we've never had anything to do with attending on him; and it's because you've served him so faithfully that he repaid you yesterday with a kick on the stomach. But who knows what punishment mayn't be in store for us, who aren't fit to wait upon him decently!"
At these insinuations, Hsi Jen felt both incensed and ashamed. She was about to make some response but Pao-yue had worked himself into such another passion as to get quite yellow in the face, and she was obliged to rein in her temper. Pushing Ch'ing Wen, "Dear sister," she cried, "you had better be off for a stroll! it's really we, who are to blame!"
The very mention of the word "we" made it certain to Ch'ing Wen that she implied herself and Pao-yue, and thus unawares more fuel was added again to her jealous notions. Giving way to several loud smiles, full of irony: "I can't make out," she insinuated, "who you may mean. But don't make me blush on your account! Even those devilish pranks of yours can't hoodwink me! How and why is it that you've started styling yourself as 'we?' Properly speaking, you haven't as yet so much as attained the designation of 'Miss!' You're simply no better than I am, and how is it then that you presume so high as to call yourself 'we.'"
Hsi Jen's face grew purple from shame. "The fact is," she reflected, "that I've said more than I should."
"As one and all of you are ever bearing her malice," Pao-yue simultaneously observed, "I'll actually raise her to-morrow to a higher status!"
Hsi Jen quickly snatched Pao-yue's hand. "She's a stupid girl," she said, "what's the use of arguing with her? What's more, you've so far borne with them and overlooked ever, so many other things more grievous than this; and what are you up to to-day?"
"If I'm really a stupid girl," repeated Ch'ing Wen, smiling sarcastically, "am I a fit person for you to hold converse with? Why, I'm purely and simply a slave-girl; that's all."
"Are you, after all," cried Hsi Jen, at these words, "bickering with me, or with Master Secundus? If you bear me a grudge, you'd better then address your remarks to me alone; albeit it isn't right that you should kick up such a hullaballoo in the presence of Mr. Secundus. But if you have a spite against Mr. Secundus, you shouldn't be shouting so boisterously as to make thousands of people know all about it! I came in, a few minutes back, merely for the purpose of setting matters right, and of urging you to make up your quarrels so that we should all be on the safe side; and here I have the unlucky fate of being set upon by you, Miss! Yet you neither seem to be angry with me, nor with Mr. Secundus! But armed _cap-a-pie_ as you appear to be, what is your ultimate design? I won't utter another word, but let you have your say!"
While she spoke, she was hurriedly wending her way out.
"You needn't raise your dander." Pao-yue remarked to Ch'ing Wen. "I've guessed the secret of your heart, so I'll go and tell mother that as you've also attained a certain age, she should send you away. Will this please you, yes or no?"
This allusion made Ch'ing Wen unwittingly feel again wounded at heart. She tried to conceal her tears. "Why should I go away?" she asked. "If even you be so prejudiced against me as to try and devise means to pack me off, you won't succeed."
"I never saw such brawling!" Pao-yue exclaimed. "You're certainly bent upon going! I might as well therefore let mother know so as to bundle you off!"
While addressing her, he rose to his feet and was intent upon trudging off at once. Hsi Jen lost no time in turning round and impeding his progress. "Where are you off to?" she cried.
"I'm going to tell mother," answered Pao-yue.
"It's no use whatever!" Hsi Jen smiled, "you may be in real earnest to go and tell her, but aren't you afraid of putting her to shame? If even she positively means to leave, you can very well wait until you two have got over this bad blood. And when everything is past and gone, it won't be any too late for you to explain, in the course of conversation, the whole case to our lady, your mother. But if you now go in hot haste and tell her, as if the matter were an urgent one, won't you be the means of making our mistress give way to suspicion?"
"My mother," demurred Pao-yue, "is sure not to entertain any suspicions, as all I will explain to her is that she insists upon leaving."
"When did I ever insist upon going?" sobbed Ch'ing Wen. "You fly into a rage, and then you have recourse to threats to intimidate me. But you're at liberty to go and say anything you like; for as I'll knock my brains out against the wall, I won't get alive out of this door."
"This is, indeed, strange!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "If you won't go, what's the good of all this fuss? I can't stand this bawling, so it will be a riddance if you would get out of the way!"
Saying this, he was resolved upon going to report the matter. Hsi Jen found herself powerless to dissuade him. She had in consequence no other resource but to fall on her knees.
Pi Hen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yueeh and the rest of the waiting-maids had realised what a serious aspect the dispute had assumed, and not a sound was to be heard to fall from their lips. They remained standing outside listening to what was going on. When they now overheard Hsi Jen making solicitous entreaties on her knees, they rushed into the apartment in a body; and with one consent they prostrated themselves on the floor.
Pao-yue at once pulled Hsi Jen up. Then with a sigh, he took a seat on the bed. "Get up," he shouted to the body of girls, "and clear out! What would you have me do?" he asked, addressing himself to Hsi Jen. "This heart of mine has been rent to pieces, and no one has any idea about it!"
While speaking, tears of a sudden rolled down his cheek. At the sight of Pao-yue weeping, Hsi Jen also melted into a fit of crying. Ch'ing Wen was standing by them, with watery eyes. She was on the point of reasoning with them, when espying Lin Tai-yue step into the room, she speedily walked out.
"On a grand holiday like this," remonstrated Lin Tai-yue smiling, "how is it that you're snivelling away, and all for nothing? Is it likely that high words have resulted all through that 'dumpling' contest?"
Pao-yue and Lin Tai-yue blurted out laughing.
"You don't tell me, cousin Secundus," Lin Tai-yue put in, "but I know all about it, even though I have asked no questions."
Now she spoke, and now she patted Hsi Jen on the shoulder. "My dear sister-in-law," she smiled, "just you tell me! It must surely be that you two have had a quarrel. Confide in me, your cousin, so that I might reconcile you."
"Miss Lin," rejoined Hsi Jen, pushing her off, "what are you fussing about? I am simply one of our servant-girls; you're therefore rather erratic in your talk!"
"You say that you're only a servant-girl," smilingly replied Tai-yue, "and yet I treat you like a sister-in-law."
"Why do you," Pao-yue chimed in, "give her this abusive epithet? But however much she may make allowance for this, can she, when there are so many others who tell idle tales on her account, put up with your coming and telling her all you've said?"
"Miss Lin," smiled Hsi Jen, "you're not aware of the purpose of my heart. Unless my breath fails and I die, I shall continue in his service."
"If you die," remarked Lin Tai-yue smiling, "what will others do, I wonder? As for me, I shall be the first to die from crying."
"Were you to die," added Pao-yue laughingly, "I shall become a bonze."
"You'd better be a little more sober-minded!" laughed Hsi Jen. "What's the good of coming out with all these things?"
Lin Tai-yue put out two of her fingers, and puckered up her lips. "Up to this," she laughed, "he's become a bonze twice. Henceforward, I'll try and remember how many times you make up your mind to become a Buddhist priest!"
This reminded Pao-yue that she was referring to a remark he had made on a previous occasion, but smiling to himself, he allowed the matter to drop.
After a short interval, Lin Tai-yue went away. A servant then came to announce that Mr. Hsueeh wanted to see him, and Pao-yue had to go. The purpose of this visit was in fact to invite him to a banquet, and as he could not very well put forward any excuse to refuse, he had to remain till the end of the feast before he was able to take his leave. The result was that, on his return, in the evening, he was to a great extent under the effect of wine. With bustling step, he wended his way into his own court. Here he perceived that the cool couch with a back to it, had already been placed in the yard, and that there was some one asleep on it. Prompted by the conviction that it must be Hsi Jen, Pao-yue seated himself on the edge of the couch. As he did so, he gave her a push, and inquired whether her sore place was any better. But thereupon he saw the occupant turn herself round, and exclaim: "What do you come again to irritate me for?"
Pao-yue, at a glance, realised that it was not Hsi Jen, but Ch'ing Wen. Pao-yue then clutched her and compelled her to sit next to him. "Your disposition," he smiled, "has been more and more spoilt through indulgence. When you let the fan drop this morning, I simply made one or two remarks, and out you came with that long rigmarole. Had you gone for me it wouldn't have mattered; but you also dragged in Hsi Jen, who only interfered with every good intention of inducing us to make it up again. But, ponder now, ought you to have done it; yes or no?"
"With this intense heat," remonstrated Ch'ing Wen, "why do you pull me and toss me about? Should any people see you, what will they think? But this person of mine isn't meet to be seated in here."
"Since you yourself know that it isn't meet," replied Pao-yue with a smile, "why then were you sleeping here?"
To this taunt Ch'ing Wen had nothing to say. But she spurted out into fresh laughter. "It was all right," she retorted, "during your absence; but the moment you come, it isn't meet for me to stay! Get up and let me go and have my bath. Hsi Jen and She Yueeh have both had theirs, so I'll call them here!"
"I've just had again a good deal of wine," remarked Pao-yue, laughingly; "so a wash will be good for me. And since you've not had your bath, you had better bring the water and let's both have it together."
"No, no!" smiled Ch'ing Wen, waving her hand, "I cannot presume to put you to any trouble, Sir. I still remember how when Pi Hen used to look after your bath you occupied fully two or three hours. What you were up to during that time we never knew. We could not very well walk in. When you had however done washing, and we entered your room, we found the floor so covered with water that the legs of the bed were soaking and the matting itself a regular pool. Nor could we make out what kind of washing you'd been having; and for days afterwards we had a laugh over it. But I've neither any time to get the water ready; nor do I see the need for you to have a wash along with me. Besides, to-day it's chilly, and as you've had a bath only a little while back, you can very well just now dispense with one. But I'll draw a basin of water for you to wash your face, and to shampoo your head with. Not long ago, Yuean Yang sent you a few fruits; they were put in that crystal bowl, so you'd better tell them to bring them to you to taste."
"Well, in that case." laughed Pao-yue, "you needn't also have a bath. Just simply wash your hands, and bring the fruit and let's have some together."
"I'm so shaky," smiled Ch'ing Wen "that even fans slip out of my hands, and how could I fetch the fruit for you. Were I also to break the dish, it will be still more dreadful!"
"If you want to break it, break it!" smiled Pao-yue. "These things are only intended for general use. You like this thing; I fancy that; our respective tastes are not identical. The original use of that fan, for instance, was to fan one's self with; but if you chose to break it for fun, you were quite at liberty to do so. The only thing is, when you get angry don't make it the means of giving vent to your temper! Just like those salvers. They are really meant for serving things in. But if you fancy that kind of sound, then deliberately smash them, that will be all right. But don't, when you are in high dudgeon avail yourself of them to air your resentment! That's what one would call having a fancy for a thing!"
Ch'ing Wen greeted his words with a smile.
"Since that be so," she said, "bring me your fan and let me tear it. What most takes my fancy is tearing!"
Upon hearing this Pao-yue smilingly handed it to her. Ch'ing Wen, in point of fact, took it over, and with a crash she rent it in two. Close upon this, the sound of crash upon crash became audible.
Pao-yue was standing next to her. "How nice the noise is!" he laughed. "Tear it again and make it sound a little more!"
But while he spoke, She Yueeh was seen to walk in. "Don't," she smiled, "be up to so much mischief!" Pao-yue, however, went up to her and snatching her fan also from her hand, he gave it to Ch'ing Wen. Ch'ing Wen took it and there and then likewise broke it in two. Both he and she then had a hearty laugh.
"What do you call this?" She Yueeh expostulated. "Do you take my property and make it the means of distracting yourselves!"
"Open the fan-box," shouted Pao-yue, "and choose one and take it away! What, are they such fine things!"
"In that case," ventured She Yueeh, "fetch the fans and let her break as many as she can. Won't that be nice!"
"Go and bring them at once!" Pao-yue laughed.
"I won't be up to any such tomfoolery!" She Yueeh demurred. "She hasn't snapped her hands, so bid her go herself and fetch them!"
"I'm feeling tired," interposed Ch'ing Wen, as she laughingly leant on the bed. "I'll therefore tear some more to-morrow again."
"An old writer says," added Pao-yue with a smile, "'that a thousand ounces of gold cannot purchase a single laugh'! What can a few fans cost?"
After moralising, he went on to call Hsi Jen. Hsi Jen had just finished the necessary change in her dress so she stepped in; and a young servant-girl, Chiao Hui, crossed over and picked up the broken fans. Then they all sat and enjoyed the cool breeze. But we can well dispense with launching into any minute details.
On the morrow, noon found Madame Wang, Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai, Lin Tai-yue, and the rest of the young ladies congregated in dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. Some one then brought the news that: "Miss Shih had arrived." In a little time they perceived Shih Hsiang-yun make her appearance in the court, at the head of a bevy of waiting-maids and married women. Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yu and her other cousins, quickly ran down the steps to meet her and exchange greetings. But with what fervour girls of tender years re-unite some day after a separation of months need not, of course, be explained. Presently, she entered the apartments, paid her respects and inquired how they all were. But after this conventional interchange of salutations, old lady Chia pressed her to take off her outer garments as the weather was so close. Shih Hsiang-yuen lost no time in rising to her feet and loosening her clothes. "I don't see why," Madame Wang thereupon smiled, "you wear all these things!'
"It's entirely at aunt Secunda's bidding," retorted Shih Hsiang-yuen, "that I put them on. Why, would any one of her own accord wear so many things!"
"Aunt," interposed Pao-ch'ai, who stood by, with a smile, "you're not aware that what most delights her in the matter of dress is to don other people's clothes! Yes, I remember how, during her stay here in the third and fourth moons of last year, she used to wear cousin Pao's pelisses. She even put on his shoes, and attached his frontlets as well round her head. At a casual glance, she looked the very image of cousin Pao; what was superfluous was that pair of earrings of hers. As she stood at the back of that chair she so thoroughly took in our venerable ancestor that she kept on shouting: 'Pao-yue, come over! Mind the tassels suspended on that lamp; for if you shake the dust off, it may get into your eyes!' But all she did was to laugh; she did not budge; and it was only after every one found it hard to keep their countenance that our worthy senior also started laughing. 'You do look well in male habiliments!' she said to her."
"What about that!" cried Lin Tai-yue, "why, she had scarcely been here with us a couple of days in the first moon of last year, when we sent and fetched her, that we had a fall of snow. You, venerable senior, and her maternal aunt had on that day, I remember so well, just returned from worshipping the images of our ancestors, and a brand-new deep red felt wrapper of yours, dear grandmother, had been lying over there, when suddenly it disappeared. But, lo, she it was who had put it on! Being, however, too large and too long for her, she took a couple of handkerchiefs, and fastened them round her waist. She was then trudging into the back court with the servant-girls to make snow men when she tripped and fell flat in front of the drain, and got covered all over with mud."
As she narrated this incident, every one recalled the circumstances to mind, and had a good laugh.
"Dame Chou," Pao-ch'ai smilingly inquired of nurse Chou, "is your young lady always as fond of pranks as ever or not?"
Nurse Chou then also gave a laugh.
"Pranks are nothing," Ying Ch'un smiled. "What I do detest is her fondness for tittle-tattle! I've never seen any one who, even when asleep, goes on chatter-chatter; now laughing, and now talking, as she does. Nor can I make out where she gets all those idle yarns of hers."
"I think she's better of late," interposed Madame Wang. "The other day some party or other came and they met; so she's to have a mother-in-law very soon; and can she still be comporting herself like that!"
"Are you going to stay to-day," dowager lady Chia then asked, "or going back home?"
Nurse Chou smiled. "Your venerable ladyship has not seen what an amount of clothes we've brought," she replied. "We mean, of course, to stay a couple of days."
"Is cousin Pao-yue not at home?" inquired Hsiang-yuen."
"There she's again! She doesn't think of others," remarked Pao-ch'ai smiling significantly. "She only thinks of her cousin Pao-yue. They're both so fond of larks! This proves that she hasn't yet got rid of that spirit of mischief."
"You're all now grown up," observed old lady Chia; "and you shouldn't allude to infant names."
But while she was chiding them, they noticed Pao-yue arrive.
"Cousin Yuen, have you come?" he smiled. "How is it that you wouldn't come the other day when some one was despatched to fetch you?"
"It's only a few minutes," Madame Wang said, "since our venerable senior called that one to task, and now here he comes and refers to names and surnames!"
"Your cousin Pao," ventured Lin Tai-yue, "has something good, which he has been waiting to give you."
"What good thing is it?" asked Hsiang-yuen.
"Do you believe what she says?" observed Pao-yue laughingly. "But how many days is it that I have not seen you, and you've grown so much taller!"
"Is cousin Hsi Jen all right?" inquired Hsiang-yuen.
"She's all right," answered Pao-yue. "Many thanks for your kind thought of her."
"I've brought something nice for her," resumed Hsiang-yuen.
Saying this, she produced her handkerchief, tied into a knot.
"What's this something nice?" asked Pao-yue. "Wouldn't it have been better if you'd brought her a couple of those rings with streaked stones of the kind you sent the other day?"
"Why, what's this?" exclaimed Hsiang-yuen laughing, opening, as she spoke, the handkerchief.
On close scrutiny, they actually found four streaked rings, similar to those she had previously sent, tied up in the same packet.
"Look here!" Lin Tai-yue smiled, "what a girl she is! Had you, when sending that fellow the other day to bring ours, given him these also to bring along with him, wouldn't it have saved trouble? Instead of that, here you fussily bring them yourself to-day! I presumed that it was something out of the way again; but is it really only these things? In very truth, you're a mere dunce!"
"It's you who behave like a dunce now!" Shih Hsiang-yuen smiled.
"I'll speak out here and let every one judge for themselves who is the dunce. The servant, deputed to bring the things to you, had no need to open his mouth and say anything; for, as soon as they were brought in, it was of course evident, at a glance, that they were to be presented to you young ladies. But had he been the bearer of these things for them, I would have been under the necessity of explaining to him which was intended for this servant-girl, and which for that. Had the messenger had his wits about him, well and good; but had he been at all stupid he wouldn't have been able to remember so much as the names of the girls! He would have made an awful mess of it, and talked a lot of nonsense. So instead of being of any use he would have even muddled, hickledy-pickledy, your things. Had a female servant been despatched, it would have been all right. But as it happened, a servant-boy was again sent the other day, so how could he have mentioned the names of the waiting-girls? And by my bringing them in person to give them to them, doesn't it make things clearer?"
As she said this, she put down the four rings. "One is for sister Hsi Jen," she continued, "one is for sister Yuean Yang. One for sister Chin Ch'uan-erh, and one for sister P'ing Erh. They are only for these four girls; but would the servant-boys too forsooth have remembered them so clearly!"
At these words, the whole company smiled. "How really clear!" they cried.
"This is what it is to be able to speak!" Pao-yue put in. "She doesn't spare any one!"
Hearing this, Lin Tai-yue gave a sardonic smile. "If she didn't know how to use her tongue," she observed, "would she deserve to wear that unicorn of gold!"
While speaking, she rose and walked off.
Luckily, every one did not hear what she said. Only Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai pursed up her lips and laughed. Pao-yue, however, had overheard her remark, and he blamed himself for having once more talked in a heedless manner. Unawares his eye espied Pao-ch'ai much amused, and he too could not suppress a smile. But at the sight of Pao-yue in laughter, Pao-ch'ai hastily rose to her feet and withdrew. She went in search of Tai-yue, to have a chat and laugh with her.
"After you've had tea," old lady Chia thereupon said to Hsiang-yuen, "you'd better rest a while and then go and see your sisters-in-law. Besides, it's cool in the garden, so you can walk about with your cousins."
Hsiang-yuen expressed her assent, and, collecting the three rings, she wrapped them up, and went and lay down to rest. Presently, she got up with the idea of paying visits to lady Feng and her other relatives. Followed by a whole bevy of nurses and waiting-maids, she repaired into lady Feng's quarters on the off side. She bandied words with her for a while and then coming out she betook herself into the garden of Broad Vista, and called on Li Kung-ts'ai. But after a short visit, she turned her steps towards the I Hung court to look up Hsi Jen. "You people needn't," she said, turning her head round, "come along with me! You may go and see your friends and relatives. It will be quite enough if you simply leave Ts'ui Lue to wait upon me."
Hearing her wishes, each went her own way in quest of aunts, or sisters-in-law. There only remained but Hsiang-yuen and Ts'ui Lue.
"How is it," inquired Ts'ui Lue, "that these lotus flowers have not yet opened?"
"The proper season hasn't yet arrived," rejoined Shih Hsiang-yuen.
"They too," continued Ts'ui Lue, "resemble those in our pond; they are double flowers."
"These here," remarked Hsiang-yuen, "are not however up to ours."
"They have over there," observed Ts'ui Lue, "a pomegranate tree, with four or five branches joined one to another, just like one storey raised above another storey. What trouble it must have cost them to rear!"
"Flowers and plants," suggested Shih Hsiang-yuen, "are precisely like the human race. With sufficient vitality, they grow up in a healthy condition."
"I can't credit these words," replied Ts'ui Lue, twisting her face round. "If you maintain that they are like human beings, how is it that I haven't seen any person, with one head growing over another."
This rejoinder evoked a smile from Hsiang-yuen. "I tell you not to talk," she cried, "but you will insist upon talking! How do you expect people to be able to answer every thing you say! All things, whether in heaven or on earth come into existence by the co-operation of the dual powers, the male and female. So all things, whether good or bad, novel or strange, and all those manifold changes and transformations arise entirely from the favourable or adverse influence exercised by the male and female powers. And though some things seldom seen by mankind might come to life, the principle at work is, after all, the same."
"In the face of these arguments," laughed Ts'ui Lue, "everything, from old till now, from the very creation itself, embodies a certain proportion of the Yin and Yang principles."
"You stupid thing!" exclaimed Hsiang-yuen smiling, "the more you talk, the more stuff and nonsense falls from your lips! What about everything embodying a certain proportion of the principles Yin and Yang! Besides, the two words Yin and Yang are really one word; for when the Yang principle is exhausted, it becomes the Yin; and when the Yin is exhausted, it becomes Yang. And it isn't that, at the exhaustion of the Yin, another Yang comes into existence; and that, at the exhaustion of the Yang, a second Yin arises."
"This trash is sufficient to kill me!" ejaculated Ts'ui Lue. "What are the Yin and Yang? Why, they are without substance or form! But pray, Miss, tell me what sort of things these Yin and Yang can be!"
"The Yin and Yang," explained Hsiang-yuen, "are no more than spirits, but anything affected by their influence at once assumes form. The heavens, for instance, are Yang, and the earth is Yin; water is Yin and fire is Yang; the sun is Yang and the moon Yin."
"Quite so! quite so!" cried out Ts'ui Lue, much amused by these explanations, "I've at length attained perception! It isn't strange then that people invariably call the sun 'T'ai-yang.' While astrologers keep on speaking of the moon as 'T'ai-yin-hsing,' or something like it. It must be on account of this principle."
"O-mi-to-fu!" laughed Hsiang-yuen, "you have at last understood!"
"All these things possess the Yin and Yang; that's all right." T'sui Lue put in. "But is there any likelihood that all those mosquitoes, flees and worms, flowers, herbs, bricks and tiles have, in like manner, anything to do with the Yin and Yang?"
"How don't they!" exclaimed Hsiang-yuen. "For example, even the leaves of that tree are distinguished by Yin and Yang. The side, which looks up and faces the sun, is called Yang; while that in the shade and looking downwards, is called Yin."
"Is it really so!" ejaculated T'sui Lue, upon hearing this; while she smiled and nodded her head. "Now I know all about it! But which is Yang and which Yin in these fans we're holding."
"This side, the front, is Yang," answered Hsiang-yuen; "and that, the reverse, is Yin."
Ts'ui Lue went on to nod her head, and to laugh. She felt inclined to apply her questions to several other things, but as she could not fix her mind upon anything in particular, she, all of a sudden, drooped her head. Catching sight of the pendant in gold, representing a unicorn, which Hsiang-yuen had about her person, she forthwith made allusion to it. "This, Miss," she said smiling, "cannot likely also have any Yin and Yang!"
"The beasts of the field and the birds of the air," proceeded Hsiang-yuen, "are, the cock birds, Yang, and the hen birds, Yin. The females of beasts are Yin; and the males, Yang; so how is there none?"
"Is this male, or is this female?" inquired Ts'ui Lue.
"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Hsiang-yuen, "what about male and female! Here you are with your nonsense again."
"Well, never mind about that," added Ts'ui Lue, "But how is it that all things have Yin and Yang, and that we human beings have no Yin and no Yang?"
Hsiang-yuen then lowered her face. "You low-bred thing!" she exclaimed. "But it's better for us to proceed on our way, for the more questions you ask, the nicer they get."
"What's there in this that you can't tell me?" asked Ts'ui Lue, "But I know all about it, so there's no need for you to keep me on pins and needles."
Hsiang-yuen blurted out laughing. "What do you know?" she said.
"That you, Miss, are Yang, and that I'm Yin," answered Ts'ui Lue.
Hsiang-yuen produced her handkerchief, and, while screening her mouth with it, burst out into a loud fit of laughter.
"What I say must be right for you to laugh in this way," Ts'ui Lue observed.
"Perfectly right, perfectly right!" acquiesced Hsiang-yuen.
"People say," continued Ts'ui Lue, "that masters are Yang, and that servant-girls are Yin; don't I even apprehend this primary principle?"
"You apprehend it thoroughly," responded Hsiang-yuen laughingly. But while she was speaking, she espied, under the trellis with the cinnamon roses, something glistening like gold. "Do you see that? What is it?" Hsiang-yuen asked pointing at it.
Hearing this, Ts'ui Lue hastily went over and picked up the object. While scrutinising it, she observed with a smile, "Let us find out whether it's Yin or Yang!"
So saying, she first laid hold of the unicorn, belonging to Shih Hsiang-yuen, and passed it under inspection.
Shih Hsiang-yuen longed to be shown what she had picked up, but Ts'ui Lue would not open her hand.
"It's a precious gem," she smiled. "You mayn't see it, Miss. Where can it be from? How very strange it is! I've never seen any one in here with anything of the kind."
"Give it to me and let me look at it," retorted Hsiang-yuen.
Ts'ui Lue stretched out her hand with a dash. "Yes, Miss, please look at it!" she laughed.
Hsiang-yuen raised her eyes. She perceived, at a glance, that it was a golden unicorn, so beautiful and so bright; and so much larger and handsomer than the one she had on. Hsiang-yuen put out her arm and, taking the gem in the palm of her hand, she fell into a silent reverie and uttered not a word. She was quite absent-minded when suddenly Pao-yue appeared in the opposite direction.
"What are you two," he asked smiling, "doing here in the sun? How is it you don't go and find Hsi Jen?"
Shih Hsiang-yuen precipitately concealed the unicorn. "We were just going," she replied, "so let us all go together."
Conversing, they, in a company, wended their steps into the I Hung court. Hsi Jen was leaning on the balustrade at the bottom of the steps, her face turned to the breeze. Upon unexpectedly seeing Hsiang-yuen arrive she with alacrity rushed down to greet her; and taking her hand in hers, they cheerfully canvassed the events that had transpired during their separation, while they entered the room and took a seat.
"You should have come earlier," Pao-yue said. "I've got something nice and was only waiting for you."
Saying this, he searched and searched about his person. After a long interval, "Ai-ya!" he ejaculated. "Have you perchance put that thing away?" he eagerly asked Hsi Jen.
"What thing?" inquired Hsi Jen.
"The unicorn," explained Pao-yue, "I got the other day."
"You've daily worn it about you, and how is it you ask me?" remarked Hsi Jen.
As soon as her answer fell on his ear, Pao-yue clapped his hands. "I've lost it!" he cried. "Where can I go and look for it!" There and then, he meant to go and search in person; but Shih Hsiang-yuen heard his inquiries, and concluded that it must be he who had lost the gem. "When did you too," she promptly smiled, "get a unicorn?"
"I got it the other day, after ever so much trouble;" rejoined Pao-yue, "but I can't make out when I can have lost it! I've also become quite addle-headed."
"Fortunately," smiled Shih Hsiang-yuen, "it's only a sort of a toy! Still, are you so careless?" While speaking, she flung open her hand. "Just see," she laughed, "is it this or not?"
As soon as he saw it, Pao-yue was seized with unwonted delight. But, reader, if you care to know the cause of his delight, peruse the explanation contained in the next chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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