中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sān shí yī huí sī shàn zǐ zuò qiān jīn yī xiào yīn qí lín fú bái shǒu shuāng xīng CHAPTER XXXI.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XXXI.
huà shuō xí rén jiàn liǎo zì jǐ tù de xiān xuè zài dì， yě jiù lěng liǎo bàn jié， xiǎng zhe wǎng rì cháng tīng rén shuō： “ shàonián tù xuè， nián yuè bù bǎo， zòng rán mìng cháng， zhōng shì fèi rén liǎo。 ” xiǎng qǐ cǐ yán， bù jué jiāng sù rì xiǎng zhe hòu lái zhēng róng kuā yào zhī xīn jìn jiē huī liǎo， yǎn zhōng bù jué dī xià lèi lái。 bǎo yù jiàn tā kū liǎo， yě bù jué xīn suān qǐ lái， yīn wèn dào：“ nǐ xīn lǐ jué de zěn me yàng？ " xí rén miǎnqiǎng xiào dào：“ hǎohǎo de， jué zěn me ní！ " bǎo yù de yì sī jí kè biàn yào jiào rén tàng huáng jiǔ， yào shān yáng xuè lí dòng wán lái。 xí rén lā liǎo tā de shǒu， xiào dào：“ nǐ zhè yī nào bù dǎ jǐn， nào qǐ duō shǎo rén lái， dǎo bào yuàn wǒ qīng kuáng。 fēn míng rén bù zhī dào， dǎo nào de rén zhī dào liǎo， nǐ yě bù hǎo， wǒ yě bù hǎo。 zhèng jīng míng 'ér nǐ dǎ fā xiǎo zǐ wèn wèn wáng tài yī qù， nòng diǎn zǐ yào chī chī jiù hǎo liǎo。 rén bù zhī guǐ bù jué de kě bù hǎo？ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo yòu lǐ， yě zhǐ dé bà liǎo， xiàng 'àn shàng zhēn liǎo chá lái， gěi xí rén shù liǎo kǒu。 xí rén zhī dào bǎo yù xīn nèi shì bù 'ān wěn de， dài yào bù jiào tā fú shì， tā yòu bì bù yǐ， èr zé dìng yào jīng dòng bié rén， bù rú yóu tā qù bà： yīn cǐ zhǐ zài tà shàng yóu bǎo yù qù fú shì。 yī jiāo wǔ gèng， bǎo yù yě gù bù de shū xǐ， máng chuān yī chū lái， jiāng wáng jì rén jiào lái， qīn zì què wèn。 wáng jì rén wèn yuán gù， bù guò shì shāng sǔn， biàn shuō liǎo gè wán yào de míng zì， zěn me fú， zěn me fū。 bǎo yù jì liǎo， huí yuán yǐ fāng tiáozhì。 bù zài huà xià。
zhè rì zhèng shì duān yáng jiā jié， pú 'ài zān mén， hǔ fú xì bì。 wǔ jiān， wáng fū rén zhì liǎo jiǔ xí， qǐng xuē jiā mǔ nǚ děng shǎng wǔ。 bǎo yù jiàn bǎo chāi dàn dàn de， yě bù hé tā shuō huà， zì zhī shì zuó 'ér de yuán gù。 wáng fū rén jiàn bǎo yù méi jīng dǎ cǎi， yě zhǐ dāng shì jīn chuàn 'ér zuó rì zhī shì， tā méi hǎo yì sī de， yuè fā bù lǐ tā。 lín dài yù jiàn bǎo yù lǎn lǎn de， zhǐ dāng shì tā yīn wéi dé zuì liǎo bǎo chāi de yuán gù， xīn zhōng bù zì zài， xíng róng yě jiù lǎn lǎn de。 fèng jiě zuó rì wǎn jiān wáng fū rén jiù gào sù liǎo tā bǎo yù jīn chuàn de shì， zhī dào wáng fū rén bù zì zài， zì jǐ rú hé gǎn shuō xiào， yě jiù suí zhe wáng fū rén de qì sè xíng shì， gèng jué dàn dàn de。 jiǎ yíng chūn zǐ mèi jiàn zhòng rén wú yì sī， yědōu wú yì sī liǎo。 yīn cǐ， dà jiā zuò liǎo yī zuò jiù sàn liǎo。
lín dài yù tiān xìng xǐ sàn bù xǐ jù。 tā xiǎng de yě yòu gè dào lǐ， tā shuō， " rén yòu jù jiù yòu sàn， jù shí huān xǐ， dào sàn shí qǐ bù lěng qīng？ jì qīng lěng zé shāng gǎn， suǒ yǐ bù rú dǎo shì bù jù de hǎo。 bǐ rú nà huā kāi shí lìng rén 'ài mù， xiè shí zé zēng chóu chàng， suǒ yǐ dǎo shì bù kāi de hǎo。” gù cǐ rén yǐ wéi xǐ zhī shí， tā fǎn yǐ wéi bēi。 nà bǎo yù de qíng xìng zhǐ yuàn cháng jù， shēng pà yī shí sàn liǎo tiān bēi， nà huā zhǐ yuàn cháng kāi， shēng pà yī shí xiè liǎo méi qù； zhǐ dào yán sàn huā xiè， suī yòu wàn zhǒng bēi shāng， yě jiù wú kě rú hé liǎo。 yīn cǐ， jīn rì zhī yán， dà jiā wú xīng sàn liǎo， lín dài yù dǎo bù jué dé， dǎo shì bǎo yù xīn zhōng mèn mèn bù lè， huí zhì zì jǐ fáng zhōng cháng xū duǎn tàn。 piān shēng qíng wén shàng lái huàn yī fú， bù fáng yòu bǎ shàn zǐ shī liǎo shǒu diē zài dì xià， jiāng gǔ zǐ diē zhé。 bǎo yù yīn tàn dào：“ chǔn cái， chǔn cái！ jiāng lái zěn me yàng？ míng rì nǐ zì jǐ dāng jiā lì shì， nán dào yě shì zhè me gù qián bù gù hòu de？ " qíng wén lěng xiào dào：“ èr yé jìn lái qì dà de hěn， xíng dòng jiù gěi liǎn zǐ qiáo。 qián 'ér lián xí réndōu dǎ liǎo， jīn 'ér yòu lái xún wǒ men de bù shì。 yào tī yào dǎ píng yé qù。 jiù shì diē liǎo shàn zǐ， yě shì píng cháng de shì。 xiān shí lián nà me yàng de bō lí gāng， mǎ nǎo wǎn bù zhī nòng huài liǎo duō shǎo， yě méi jiàn gè dà qì 'ér， zhè huì zǐ yī bǎ shàn zǐ jiù zhèmezhāo liǎo。 hé kǔ lái！ yào xián wǒ men jiù dǎ fā wǒ men， zài tiǎo hǎo de shǐ。 hǎo lí hǎo sàn de， dǎo bù hǎo？ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo zhè xiē huà， qì de hún shēn luàn zhàn， yīn shuō dào：“ nǐ bù yòng máng， jiāng lái yòu sàn de rì zǐ！”
xí rén zài nà biān zǎo yǐ tīng jiàn， máng gǎn guò lái xiàng bǎo yù dào：“ hǎohǎo de， yòu zěn me liǎo？ kě shì wǒ shuō de ‘ yī shí wǒ bù dào， jiù yòu shì gù 'ér ’。” qíng wén tīng liǎo lěng xiào dào：“ jiě jiě jì huì shuō， jiù gāi zǎo lái shǔ shān xī jiàng xiàn） rén。 guān zhì shàng shū zuǒ pú shè。 huàn shí sú fàng dàng， rú shù lěng luò， yě shěng liǎo yé shēng qì。 zì gǔ yǐ lái， jiù shì nǐ yī gè rén fú shì yé de， wǒ men yuán méi fú shì guò。 yīn wéi nǐ fú shì de hǎo， zuó rì cái 'āi wō xīn jiǎo， wǒ men bù huì fú shì de， dào míng 'ér hái bù zhī shì gè shénme zuì ní！ " xí rén tīng liǎo zhè huà， yòu shì nǎo， yòu shì kuì， dài yào shuō jǐ jù huà， yòu jiàn bǎo yù yǐ jīng qì de huáng liǎo liǎn， shǎo bù dé zì jǐ rěn liǎo xìng zǐ， tuī qíng wén dào：“ hǎo mèi mèi， nǐ chū qù guàng guàng， yuán shì wǒ men de bù shì。” qíng wén tīng tā shuō " wǒ men " liǎng gè zì， zì rán shì tā hé bǎo yù liǎo， bù jué yòu tiān liǎo suān yì， lěng xiào jǐ shēng， dào：“ wǒ dǎo bù zhī dào nǐ men shì shuí， bié jiào wǒ tì nǐ men hài sào liǎo！ biàn shì nǐ men guǐ guǐ suì suì gān de nà shì 'ér， yě mán bù guò wǒ qù， nà lǐ jiù chēng qǐ‘ wǒ men’ lái liǎo。 míng gōng zhèng dào， lián gè gū niàn hái méi zhèng shàng qù ní， yě bù guò hé wǒ shìde， nà lǐ jiù chēng shàng‘ wǒ men’ liǎo！ " xí rén xiū de liǎn zǐ zhàng qǐ lái， xiǎng yī xiǎng， yuán lái shì zì jǐ bǎ huà shuō cuò liǎo。 bǎo yù yī miàn shuō：“ nǐ men qì bù fèn， wǒ míng 'ér piān tái jǔ tā。” xí rén máng lā liǎo bǎo yù de shǒu dào：“ tā yī gè hú tú rén， nǐ hé tā fēn zhèng shénme？ kuàng qiě nǐ sù rì yòu shì yòu dān dài de， bǐ zhè dà de guò qù liǎo duō shǎo， jīn 'ér shì zěn me liǎo？ " qíng wén lěng xiào dào：“ wǒ yuán shì hú tú rén， nà lǐ pèi hé wǒ shuō huà ní！ " xí rén tīng shuō dào：“ gū niàn dǎo shì hé wǒ bàn zuǐ ní， shì hé 'èr yé bàn zuǐ ní？ yào shì xīn lǐ nǎo wǒ， nǐ zhǐ hé wǒ shuō， bù fàn zhe dāng zhe 'èr yé chǎo， yào shì nǎo 'èr yé， bù gāi zhè men chǎo de wàn rén zhī dào。 wǒ cái yě bù guò wéi liǎo shì， jìn lái quàn kāi liǎo， dà jiā bǎo zhòng。 gū niàn dǎo xún shàng wǒ de huì qì。 yòu bù xiàng shì nǎo wǒ， yòu bù xiàng shì nǎo 'èr yé， jiā qiāng dài bàng， zhōng jiǔ shì gè shénme zhù yì？ wǒ jiù bù duō shuō， ràng nǐ shuō qù。” shuō zhe biàn wǎng wài zǒu。 bǎo yù xiàng qíng wén dào：“ nǐ yě bù yòng shēng qì， wǒ yě cāizháo nǐ de xīn shì liǎo。 wǒ huí tài tài qù， nǐ yě dà liǎo， dǎ fā nǐ chū qù hǎo bù hǎo？ " qíng wén tīng liǎo zhè huà， bù jué yòu shāng xīn qǐ lái， hán lèi shuō dào：“ wèishénme wǒ chū qù？ yào xián wǒ， biàn zhe fǎ 'ér dǎ fā wǒ chū qù， yě bù néng gòu。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ hé céng jīng guò zhè gè chǎo nào？ yī dìng shì nǐ yào chū qù liǎo。 bù rú huí tài tài， dǎ fā nǐ qù bā。” shuō zhe， zhàn qǐ lái jiù yào zǒu。 xí rén máng huí shēn lán zhù， xiào dào：“ wǎng nà lǐ qù？ " bǎo yù dào：“ huí tài tài qù。” xí rén xiào dào：“ hǎo méi yì sī！ zhēn gè de qù huí， nǐ yě bù pà sào liǎo？ biàn shì tā rèn zhēn de yào qù， yě děng bǎ zhè qì xià qù liǎo， děng wú shì zhōng shuō huà 'ér huí liǎo tài tài yě bù chí。 zhè huì zǐ jí jí de dāng zuò yī jiàn zhèng jīng shì qù huí， qǐ bù jiào tài tài fàn yí？ " bǎo yù dào：“ tài tài bì bù fàn yí， wǒ zhǐ míng shuō shì tā nào zhe yào qù de。” qíng wén kū dào：“ wǒ duō zǎo wǎn nào zhe yào qù liǎo？ ráo shēng liǎo qì， hái ná huà yā pài wǒ。 zhǐ guǎn qù huí， wǒ yī tóu pèng sǐ liǎo yě bù chū zhè mén 'ér。” bǎo yù dào：“ zhè yě qí liǎo。 nǐ yòu bù qù， nǐ yòu nào xiē shénme？ wǒ jīng bù qǐ zhè chǎo， bù rú qù liǎo dǎo gān jìng。” shuō zhe yī dìng yào qù huí。 xí rén jiàn lán bù zhù， zhǐ dé guì xià liǎo。 bì hén， qiū wén， shè yuè děng zhòng yā huán jiàn chǎo nào， dū yā què wú wén de zài wài tóu tīng xiāo xī， zhè huì zǐ tīng jiàn xí rén guì xià yāng qiú， biàn yī qí jìn láidōu guì xià liǎo。 bǎo yù máng bǎ xí rén fú qǐ lái， tàn liǎo yī shēng， zài chuáng shàng zuò xià， jiào zhòng rén qǐ qù， xiàng xí rén dào：“ jiào wǒ zěn me yàng cái hǎo！ zhè gè xīn shǐ suì liǎo yě méi rén zhī dào。” shuō zhe bù jué dī xià lèi lái。 xí rén jiàn bǎo yù liú xià lèi lái， zì jǐ yě jiù kū liǎo。
qíng wén zài bàng kū zhe， fāng yù shuō huà， zhǐ jiàn lín dài yù jìn lái， biàn chū qù liǎo。 lín dài yù xiào dào：“ dà jié xià zěn me hǎohǎo de kū qǐ lái？ nán dào shì wéi zhēng zòng zǐ chī zhēng nǎo
liǎo bù chéng？ " bǎo yù hé xí rén chī de yī xiào。 dài yù dào：“ èr gē gē bù gào sù wǒ， wǒ wèn nǐ jiù zhī dào liǎo。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn pāi zhe xí rén de jiān， xiào dào：“ hǎo sǎo zǐ， nǐ gào sù wǒ。 bì dìng shì nǐ liǎng gè bàn liǎo zuǐ liǎo。 gào sù mèi mèi， tì nǐ men hé quàn hé quàn。” xí rén tuī tā dào：“ lín gū niàn nǐ nào shénme？ wǒ men yī gè yā tóu， gū niàn zhǐ shì húnshuō。” dài yù xiào dào：“ nǐ shuō nǐ shì yā tóu， wǒ zhǐ ná nǐ dāng sǎo zǐ dài。” bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ hé kǔ lái tì tā zhāo mà míng 'ér。 ráo zhèmezhāo， hái yòu rén shuō xián huà， hái gē de zhù nǐ lái shuō tā。” xí rén xiào dào：“ lín gū niàn， nǐ bù zhī dào wǒ de xīn shì， chú fēi yī kǒu qì bù lái sǐ liǎo dǎo yě bà liǎo。” lín dài yù xiào dào：“ nǐ sǐ liǎo， bié rén bù zhī zěn me yàng， wǒ xiān jiù kū sǐ liǎo。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ sǐ liǎo， wǒ zuò hé shàng qù。” xí rén xiào dào：“ nǐ lǎo shí xiē bà， hé kǔ hái shuō zhè xiē huà。” lín dài yù jiāng liǎng gè zhǐ tóu yī shēn， mǐn zuǐ xiào dào：“ zuò liǎo liǎng gè hé shàng liǎo。 wǒ cóng jīn yǐ hòu dū jì zhe nǐ zuò hé shàng de zāo shù 'ér。” bǎo yù tīng dé， zhī dào shì tā diǎn qián 'ér de huà， zì jǐ yī xiào yě jiù bà liǎo。
yī shí dài yù qù hòu， jiù yòu rén shuō " xuē dà yé qǐng "， bǎo yù zhǐ dé qù liǎo。 yuán lái shì chī jiǔ， bù néng tuī cí， zhǐ dé jìn xí 'ér sàn。 wǎn jiān huí lái diǎn jí yóu cǐ shēng fā de rén dào sī xiǎng hé rén xìng lùn。， yǐ dài liǎo jǐ fēn jiǔ， liàngqiàng lái zhì zì jǐ yuàn nèi， zhǐ jiàn yuàn zhōng zǎo bǎ chéng liáng zhěn tà shè xià， tà shàng yòu gè rén shuì zhe。 bǎo yù zhǐ dāng shì xí rén， yī miàn zài tà yán shàng zuò xià， yī miàn tuī tā， wèn dào：“ téng de hǎo xiē liǎo？ " zhǐ jiàn nà rén fān shēn qǐ lái shuō：“ hé kǔ lái， yòu zhāo wǒ！ " bǎo yù yī kàn， yuán lái bù shì xí rén， què shì qíng wén。 bǎo yù jiāng tā yī lā， lā zài shēn bàng zuò xià， xiào dào：“ nǐ de xìng zǐ yuè fā guàn jiāo liǎo。 zǎo qǐ jiù shì diē liǎo shàn zǐ， wǒ bù guò shuō liǎo nà liǎng jù， nǐ jiù shuō shàng nà xiē huà。 shuō wǒ yě bà liǎo， xí rén hǎo yì lái quàn， nǐ yòu kuò shàng tā， nǐ zì jǐ xiǎng xiǎng， gāi bù gāi？ " qíng wén dào：“ guài rè de， lā lā chě chě zuò shénme！ jiào rén lái kàn jiàn xiàng shénme！ wǒ zhè shēn zǐ yě bù pèi zuò zài zhè lǐ。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ jì zhī dào bù pèi， wèishénme shuì zhe ní？ " qíng wén méi de huà， chī de yòu xiào liǎo， shuō：“ nǐ bù lái biàn shǐ dé， nǐ lái liǎo jiù bù pèi liǎo。 qǐ lái， ràng wǒ xǐ zǎo qù。 xí rén shè yuè dū xǐ liǎo zǎo。 wǒ jiào liǎo tā men lái。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ cái yòu chī liǎo hǎo xiē jiǔ， hái dé xǐ yī xǐ。 nǐ jì méi yòu xǐ， ná liǎo shuǐ lái zán men liǎng gè xǐ。” qíng wén yáo shǒu xiào dào：“ bà， bà， wǒ bù gǎn rě yé。 hái jì dé bì hén dǎ fā nǐ xǐ zǎo， zú yòu liǎng sān gè shí chén， yě bù zhī dào zuò shénme ní。 wǒ men yě bù hǎo jìn qù de。 hòu lái xǐ wán liǎo， jìn qù qiáo qiáo， dì xià de shuǐ yān zhuóchuáng tuǐ， lián xí zǐ shàng dū wāng zháoshuǐ， yě bù zhī shì zěn me xǐ liǎo， xiào liǎo jǐ tiān。 wǒ yě méi nà gōng fū shōu shí， yě bù yòng tóng wǒ xǐ qù。 jīn 'ér yě liáng kuài， nà huì zǐ xǐ liǎo， kě yǐ bù yòng zài xǐ。 wǒ dǎo yǎo yī pén shuǐ lái， nǐ xǐ xǐ liǎn tōng tōng tóu。 cái gāng yuān yāng sòng liǎo hǎo xiē guǒ zǐ lái， dū pài zài nà shuǐ jīng gāng lǐ ní， jiào tā men dǎ fā nǐ chī。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ jì zhèmezhāo， nǐ yě bù xǔ xǐ qù， zhǐ xǐ xǐ shǒu lái ná guǒ zǐ lái chī bà。” qíng wén xiào dào：“ wǒ huāng zhāng de hěn， lián shàn zǐ hái diē zhé liǎo， nà lǐ hái pèi dǎ fā chī guǒ zǐ。 cháng huò zài dǎ pò liǎo pán zǐ， hái gèng liǎo bù dé ní。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ 'ài dǎ jiù dǎ， zhè xiē dōng xī yuán bù guò shì jiè rén suǒ yòng， nǐ 'ài zhè yàng， wǒ 'ài nà yàng， gè zì xìng qíng bù tóng。 bǐ rú nà shàn zǐ yuán shì shàn de， nǐ yào sī zhe wán yě kě yǐ shǐ dé， zhǐ shì bù kě shēng qì shí ná tā chū qì。 jiù rú bēi pán， yuán shì shèng dōng xī de， nǐ xǐ tīng nà yī shēng xiǎng， jiù gù yì de suì liǎo yě kě yǐ shǐ dé， zhǐ shì bié zài shēng qì shí ná tā chū qì。 zhè jiù shì 'ài wù liǎo。” qíng wén tīng liǎo， xiào dào：“ jì zhè me shuō， nǐ jiù ná liǎo shàn zǐ lái wǒ sī。 wǒ zuì xǐ huān sī de。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， biàn xiào zhe dì yǔ tā。 qíng wén guǒ rán jiē guò lái， chī de yī shēng， sī liǎo liǎng bàn， jiē zhe chī chī yòu tīng jǐ shēng。 bǎo yù zài bàng xiào zhe shuō：“ xiǎng de hǎo， zài sī xiǎng xiē！ " zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn shè yuè zǒu guò lái， xiào dào：“ shǎo zuò xiē niè bà。” bǎo yù gǎn shàng lái， yī bǎ jiāng tā shǒu lǐ de shàn zǐ yě duó liǎo dì yǔ qíng wén。 qíng wén jiē liǎo， yě sī liǎo jǐ bàn zǐ， èr réndōu dà xiào。 shè yuè dào：“ zhè shì zěn me shuō， ná wǒ de dōng xī kāi xīn 'ér？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ dǎ kāi shàn zǐ xiá zǐ nǐ jiǎn qù， shénme hǎo dōng xī！ " shè yuè dào：“ jì zhè me shuō， jiù bǎ xiá zǐ bān liǎo chū lái， ràng tā jìn lì de sī， qǐ bù hǎo？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ jiù bān qù。 " shè yuè dào：“ wǒ kě bù zào zhè niè。 tā yě méi zhé liǎo shǒu， jiào tā zì jǐ bān qù。” qíng wén xiào zhe， yǐ zài chuáng shàng shuō dào：“ wǒ yě fá liǎo， míng 'ér zài sī bà。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ gǔ rén yún，‘ qiān jīn nán mǎi yī xiào’， jǐ bǎ shàn zǐ néng zhí jǐ hé！ " yī miàn shuō zhe， yī miàn jiào xí rén。 xí rén cái huàn liǎo yī fú zǒu chū lái， xiǎo yā tóu jiā huì guò lái shí qù pò shàn， dà jiā chéng liáng， bù xiāo xì shuō。 zhì cì rì wǔ jiān， wáng fū rén， xuē bǎo chāi， lín dài yù zhòng zǐ mèi zhèng zài jiǎ mǔ fáng nèi zuò zhe， jiù yòu rén huí：“ shǐ dà gū niàn lái liǎo。” yī shí guǒ jiàn shǐ xiāng yún dài lǐng zhòng duō yā huán xí fù zǒu jìn yuàn lái。 bǎo chāi， dài yù děng máng yíng zhì jiē xià xiāng jiàn。 qīng nián zǐ mèi jiān jīng yuè bù jiàn， yī dàn xiāng féng， qí qīn mì zì bù bì xì shuō。 yī shí jìn rù fáng zhōng， qǐng 'ān wèn hǎo， dū jiàn guò liǎo。 jiǎ mǔ yīn shuō：“ tiān rè， bǎ wài tóu de yī fú tuō tuō bà。” shǐ xiāng yún máng qǐ shēn kuān yī。 wáng fū rén yīn xiào dào： yě méi jiàn chuān shàng zhè xiē zuò shénme？ yí niàn bù zhī dào， tā chuān yī cháng hái gèng 'ài chuān bié rén de yī cháng。 kě jì dé jiù nián sān sì yuè lǐ， tā zài zhè lǐ zhù zhe， bǎ bǎo xiōng dì de páo zǐ chuān shàng， xuē zǐ yě chuān shàng， é zǐ yě lè shàng， měng yī qiáo dǎo xiàng shì bǎo xiōng dì， jiù shì duō liǎng gè zhuì zǐ。 tā zhàn zài nà yǐ zǐ hòu biān， hōng de lǎo tài tài zhǐ shì jiào‘ bǎo yù， nǐ guò lái， zǎi xì nà shàng tóu guà de dēng dèng guāng yòu xíng lù yǐ cī yuè sōu *。’ tā zhǐ shì xiào， yě bù guò qù。 hòu lái dà jiā chēng bù zhù xiào liǎo， lǎo tài tài cái xiào liǎo， shuō‘ dǎo bàn shàng nán rén hǎo kàn liǎo’。” lín dài yù dào：“ zhè suàn shénme。 wéi yòu qián nián zhēngyuè lǐ jiē liǎo tā lái， zhù liǎo méi liǎng rì jiù xià qǐ xuě lái， lǎo tài tài hé jiù mǔ nà rì xiǎng shì cái bài liǎo yǐng huí lái， lǎo tài tài de yī gè xīn xīn de dà hóng xīng xīng zhān dǒu péng fàng zài nà lǐ， shuí zhī yǎn cuò bù jiàn tā jiù pī liǎo， yòu dà yòu cháng， tā jiù ná liǎo gè hàn jīn zǐ lán yāo jìshàng， hé yā tóu men zài hòu yuàn zǐ pū xuě rén 'ér qù， yī jiāo zāi dào gōu gēn qián， nòng liǎo yī shēn ní shuǐ。” shuō zhe， dà jiā xiǎng zhe qián qíng， dū xiào liǎo。 bǎo chāi xiào xiàng nà zhōu nǎi mā dào：“ zhōu mā， nǐ men gū niàn hái shì nà me táo qì bù táo qì liǎo？ " zhōu nǎi niàn yě xiào liǎo。 yíng chūn xiào dào：“ táo qì yě bà liǎo， wǒ jiù xián tā 'ài shuō huà。 yě méi jiàn shuì zài nà lǐ hái shì jī jī gū gū， xiào yī zhèn， shuō yī zhèn， yě bù zhī nà lǐ lái de nà xiē huà。” wáng fū rén dào：“ zhǐ pà rú jīn hǎo liǎo。 qián rì yòu rén jiā lái xiāng kàn， yǎn jiàn yòu pó pó jiā liǎo， hái shì nà men zhe。” jiǎ mǔ yīn wèn：“ jīn 'ér hái shì zhù zhe， hái shì jiā qù ní？ " zhōu nǎi niàn xiào dào：“ lǎo tài tài méi yòu kàn jiàn yī fú dū dài liǎo lái， kě bù zhù liǎng tiān？ " shǐ xiāng yún wèn dào：“ bǎo yù gē gē bù zài jiā me？ " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ tā zài bù xiǎng zhe bié rén， zhǐ xiǎng bǎo xiōng dì， liǎng gè rén hǎo hān de。 zhè kě jiàn hái méi gǎi liǎo táo qì。 " jiǎ mǔ dào：“ rú jīn nǐ men dà liǎo， bié tí xiǎo míng 'ér liǎo。” gāng zhǐ shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù lái liǎo， xiào dào：“ yún mèi mèi lái liǎo。 zěn me qián 'ér dǎ fā rén jiē nǐ qù， zěn me bù lái？ " wáng fū rén dào：“ zhè lǐ lǎo tài tài cái shuō zhè yī gè， tā yòu lái tí míng dào xìng de liǎo。” lín dài yù dào：“ nǐ gē gē dé liǎo hǎo dōng xī， děng zhe nǐ ní。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ shénme hǎo dōng xī？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ xìn tā ní！ jǐ rì bù jiàn， yuè fā gāo liǎo。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ xí rén jiě jiě hǎo？ " bǎo yù dào：“ duō xiè nǐ jì guà。” xiāng yún dào：“ wǒ gěi tā dài liǎo hǎo dōng xī lái liǎo。” shuō zhe， ná chū shǒu pà zǐ lái， wǎn zhe yī gè gē dá。 bǎo yù dào：“ shénme hǎo de？ nǐ dǎo bù rú bǎ qián 'ér sòng lái de nà zhǒng jiàng wén shí de jiè zhǐ 'ér dài liǎng gè gěi tā。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ zhè shì shénme？ " shuō zhe biàn dǎ kāi。 zhòng rén kàn shí， guǒ rán jiù shì shàng cì sòng lái de nà jiàng wén jiè zhǐ， yī bāo sì gè。 lín dài yù xiào dào：“ nǐ men qiáo qiáo tā zhè zhù yì。 qián 'ér yī bān de dǎ fā rén gěi wǒ men sòng liǎo lái， nǐ jiù bǎ tā de dài lái qǐ bùxǐng shì？ jīn 'ér bā bā de zì jǐ dài liǎo lái， wǒ dāng yòu shì shénme xīn qí dōng xī， yuán lái hái shì tā。 zhēn zhēn nǐ shì hú tú rén。 " shǐ xiāng yún xiào dào：“ nǐ cái hú tú ní！ wǒ bǎ zhè lǐ shuō chū lái， dà jiā píng yī píng shuí hú tú。 gěi nǐ men sòng dōng xī， jiù shì shǐ lái de bù yòng shuō huà， ná jìn lái yī kàn， zì rán jiù zhī shì sòng gū niàn men de liǎo， ruò dài tā men de dōng xī， zhè dé wǒ xiān gào sù lái rén， zhè shì nà yī gè yā tóu de， nà shì nà yī gè yā tóu de， nà shǐ lái de rén míng bái hái hǎo， zài hú tú xiē， yā tóu de míng zì tā yě bù jì dé， hùn nào hú shuō de， fǎn lián nǐ men de dōng xī dū jiǎo hú tú liǎo。 ruò shì dǎ fā gè nǚ rén sù rì zhī dào de hái bà liǎo， piān shēng qián 'ér yòu dǎ fā xiǎo zǐ lái， kě zěn me shuō yā tóu men de míng zì ní？ héng shù wǒ lái gěi tā men dài lái， qǐ bù qīng bái。” shuō zhe， bǎ sì gè jiè zhǐ fàng xià， shuō dào：“ xí rén jiě jiě yī gè， yuān yāng jiě jiě yī gè， jīn chuàn 'ér jiě jiě yī gè， píng 'ér jiě jiě yī gè： zhè dǎo shì sì gè rén de， nán dào xiǎo zǐ men yě jì dé zhè men qīng bái？ " zhòng rén tīng liǎo dū xiào dào：“ guǒ rán míng bái。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ hái shì zhè me huì shuō huà， bù ràng rén。” lín dài yù tīng liǎo， lěng xiào dào：“ tā bù huì shuō huà， tā de jīn qí lín huì shuō huà。” yī miàn shuō zhe， biàn qǐ shēn zǒu liǎo。 xìng 'ér zhāo shuò jí huī gǔ *， zhǐ yòu xuē bǎo chāi mǐn zuǐ yī xiào。 bǎo yù tīng jiàn liǎo， dǎo zì jǐ hòu huǐ yòu shuō cuò liǎo huà， hū jiàn bǎo chāi yī xiào， yóu bù dé yě xiào liǎo。 bǎo chāi jiàn bǎo yù xiào liǎo， máng qǐ shēn zǒu kāi， zhǎo liǎo lín dài yù qù shuō huà。
jiǎ mǔ xiàng xiāng yún dào：“ chī liǎo chá xiē yī xiē， qiáo qiáo nǐ de sǎo zǐ men qù。 yuán lǐ yě liáng kuài， tóng nǐ jiě jiě men qù guàng guàng。” xiāng yún dāyìng liǎo， jiāng sān gè jiè zhǐ 'ér bāo shàng， xiē liǎo yī xiē， biàn qǐ shēn yào qiáo fèng jiě děng rén qù。 zhòng nǎi niàn yā tóu gēn zhe， dào liǎo fèng jiě nà lǐ， shuō xiào liǎo yī huí， chū lái biàn wǎng dà guān yuán lái， jiàn guò liǎo lǐ gōng cái， shǎo zuò piàn shí， biàn wǎng yí hóng yuàn lái zhǎo xí rén。 yīn huí tóu shuō dào：“ nǐ men bù bì gēn zhe， zhǐ guǎn qiáo nǐ men de péng yǒu qīn qī qù， liú xià cuì lǚ fú shì jiù shì liǎo。 " zhòng rén tīng liǎo， zì qù xún gū mì sǎo， zǎo shèng xià xiāng yún cuì lǚ liǎng gè rén。 cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè hé huā zěn me hái bù kāi？ " shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ shí hóu méi dào。” cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè yě hé zán men jiā chí zǐ lǐ de yī yàng， yě shì lóu zǐ huā？ " xiāng yún dào：“ tā men zhè gè hái bù rú zán men de。” cuì lǚ dào：“ tā men nà biān yòu kē shí liú， jiē lián sì wǔ zhī， zhēn shì lóu zǐ shàng qǐ lóu zǐ， zhè yě nán wéi tā cháng。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ huā cǎo yě shì tóng rén yī yàng， qì mài chōng zú， cháng de jiù hǎo。 " cuì lǚ bǎ liǎn yī niǔ， shuō dào：“ wǒ bù xìn zhè huà。 ruò shuō tóng rén yī yàng， wǒ zěn me bù jiàn tóu shàng yòu cháng chū yī gè tóu lái de rén？ " xiāng yún tīng liǎo yóu bù dé yī xiào， shuō dào：“ wǒ shuō nǐ bù yòng shuō huà， nǐ piān hǎo shuō。 zhè jiào rén zěn me hǎo dāyán？ tiān dì jiān dū fù yīn yáng 'èr qì suǒ shēng， huò zhèng huò xié， huò qí huò guài， qiān biàn wàn huà， dōushì yīn yáng shùn nì。 duō shǎo yī shēng chū lái， rén hǎn jiàn de jiù qí， jiū jìng lǐ hái shì yī yàng。” cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè me shuō qǐ lái， cóng gǔ zhì jīn， kāi tiān pìdì， dōushì yīn yáng liǎo？ " xiāng yún xiào dào：“ hú tú dōng xī， yuè shuō yuè fàng pì。 shénme‘ dōushì xiē yīn yáng’， nán dào hái yòu gè yīn yáng bù chéng！‘ yīn’‘ yáng’ liǎng gè zì hái zhǐ shì yī zì， yáng jìn liǎo jiù chéng yīn， yīn jìn liǎo jiù chéng yáng， bù shì yīn jìn liǎo yòu yòu gè yáng shēng chū lái， yáng jìn liǎo yòu yòu gè yīn shēng chū lái。” cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè hú tú sǐ liǎo wǒ！ shénme shì gè yīn yáng， méi yǐng méi xíng de。 wǒ zhǐ wèn gū niàn， zhè yīn yáng shì zěn me gè yàng 'ér？ " xiāng yún dào：“ yīn yáng kě yòu shénme yàng 'ér， bù guò shì gè qì， qì wù fù liǎo chéng xíng。 bǐ rú tiān shì yáng， dì jiù shì yīn， shuǐ shì yīn， huǒ jiù shì yáng， rì shì yáng， yuè jiù shì yīn。” cuì lǚ tīng liǎo， xiào dào：“ shì liǎo， shì liǎo， wǒ jīn 'ér kě míng bái liǎo。 guài dào réndōu guǎn zhe rì tóu jiào‘ tài yáng’ ní， suàn mìng de guǎn zhe yuè liàng jiào shénme‘ tài yīn xīng’， jiù shì zhè gè lǐ liǎo。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ ēmítuófó！ gāng gāng de míng bái liǎo。” cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè xiē dà dōng xī yòu yīn yáng yě bà liǎo， nán dào nà xiē wén zǐ， gè zǎo， měng chóng 'ér， huā 'ér， cǎo 'ér， wǎ piàn 'ér， zhuān tóu 'ér yě yòu yīn yáng bù chéng？ " xiāng yún dào：“ zěn me yòu méi yīn yáng de ní？ bǐ rú nà yī gè shù yè 'ér hái fēn yīn yáng ní， nà biān xiàng shàng cháo yáng de biàn shì yáng， zhè biān bèi yīn fù xià de biàn shì yīn。” cuì lǚ tīng liǎo， diǎn tóu xiào dào：“ yuán lái zhè yàng， wǒ kě míng bái liǎo。 zhǐ shì zán men zhè shǒu lǐ de shàn zǐ， zěn me shì yáng， zěn me shì yīn ní？ " xiāng yún dào：“ zhè biān zhèng miàn jiù shì yáng， nà biān fǎn miàn jiù wéi yīn。” cuì lǚ yòu diǎn tóu xiào liǎo， hái yào ná jǐ jiàn dōng xī wèn， yīn xiǎng bù qǐ gè shénme lái， měng dī tóu jiù kàn jiàn xiāng yún gōng tāo shàng xì de jīn qí lín， biàn tí qǐ lái wèn dào：“ gū niàn， zhè gè nán dào yě yòu yīn yáng？ " xiāng yún dào：“ zǒu shòu fēi qín， xióng wéi yáng， cí wéi yīn， pìn wéi yīn， mǔ wéi yáng。 zěn me méi yòu ní！ " cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè shì gōng de， dào dǐ shì mǔ de ní？ " xiāng yún dào：“ zhè lián wǒ yě bù zhī dào。” cuì lǚ dào：“ zhè yě bà liǎo， zěn me dōng xī dōuyòu yīn yáng， zán men rén dǎo méi yòu yīn yáng ní？ " xiāng yún zhào liǎn cuì liǎo yī kǒu dào " xià liú dōng xī， hǎo shēng zǒu bà！ yuè wèn yuè wèn chū hǎo de lái liǎo！ " cuì lǚ xiào dào：“ zhè yòu shénme bù gào sù wǒ de ní？ wǒ yě zhī dào liǎo， bù yòng nán wǒ。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ nǐ zhī dào shénme？ " cuì lǚ dào：“ gū niàn shì yáng， wǒ jiù shì yīn。” shuō zhe， xiāng yún ná shǒu pà zǐ wò zhe zuǐ， hē hē de xiào qǐ lái。 cuì lǚ dào：“ shuō shì liǎo， jiù xiào de zhè yàng liǎo。” xiāng yún dào：“ hěn shì， hěn shì。” cuì lǚ dào：“ rén guīju zhù zǐ wéi yáng， nú cái wéi yīn。 wǒ lián zhè gè dà dào lǐ yě bù dǒng dé？ " xiāng yún xiào dào：“ nǐ hěn dǒng dé。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn zǒu， gāng dào qiáng wēi jià xià， xiāng yún dào：“ nǐ qiáo nà shì shuí diào de shǒu shì， jīn huàng huàng zài nà lǐ。” cuì lǚ tīng liǎo， máng gǎn shàng shí zài shǒu lǐ zuàn zhe， xiào dào：“ kě fēn chū yīn yáng lái liǎo。” shuō zhe， xiān ná shǐ xiāng yún de qí lín qiáo。 xiāng yún yào tā jiǎn de qiáo， cuì lǚ zhǐ guǎn bù fàng shǒu， xiào dào：“ shì jiàn bǎo bèi， gū niàn qiáo bù dé。 zhè shì cóng nà lǐ lái de？ hàoqí guài！ wǒ cóng lái zài zhè lǐ méi jiàn yòu rén yòu zhè gè。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ ná lái wǒ kàn。” cuì lǚ jiāng shǒu yī sǎ， xiào dào：“ qǐng kàn。” xiāng yún jǔ mù yī yàn， què shì wén cǎi huī huáng de yī gè jīn qí lín， bǐ zì jǐ pèi de yòu dà yòu yòu wén cǎi。 xiāng yún shēn shǒu qíng zài zhǎng shàng， zhǐ shì mò mò bù yǔ， zhèng zì chū shén， hū jiàn bǎo yù cóng nà biān lái liǎo， xiào wèn dào：“ nǐ liǎng gè zài zhè rì tóu dǐ xià zuò shénme ní？ zěn me bù zhǎo xí rén qù？ " xiāng yún lián máng jiāng nà qí lín cáng qǐ dào：“ zhèng yào qù ní。 zán men yī chù zǒu。” shuō zhe， dà jiā jìn rù yí hóng yuàn lái。 xí rén zhèng zài jiē xià yǐ jiàn zhuī fēng， hū jiàn xiāng yún lái liǎo， lián máng yíng xià lái， xié shǒu xiào shuō yī xiàng jiǔ bié qíng kuàng。 yī shí jìn lái guī zuò， bǎo yù yīn xiào dào：“ nǐ gāi zǎo lái， wǒ dé liǎo yī jiàn hǎo dōng xī， zhuān děng nǐ ní。” shuō zhe， yī miàn zài shēn shàng mō tāo， tāo liǎo bàn tiān， hē yā liǎo yī shēng， biàn wèn xí rén " nà gè dōng xī nǐ shōu qǐ lái liǎo me？ " xí rén dào：“ shénme dōng xī？ " bǎo yù dào：“ qián 'ér dé de qí lín。” xí rén dào：“ nǐ tiān tiān dài zài shēn shàng de， zěn me wèn wǒ？ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo， jiāng shǒu yī pāi shuō dào：“ zhè kě diū liǎo， wǎng nà lǐ zhǎo qù！ " jiù yào qǐ shēn zì jǐ xún qù。 xiāng yún tīng liǎo， fāng zhī shì tā yí luò de， biàn xiào wèn dào：“ nǐ jǐ shí yòu yòu liǎo qí lín liǎo？ " bǎo yù dào：“ qián 'ér hǎo róng yì dé de ní， bù zhī duō zǎo wǎn diū liǎo， wǒ yě hú tú liǎo。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ xìng 'ér shì wán de dōng xī， hái shì zhè me huāng zhāng。” shuō zhe， jiāng shǒu yī sǎ， " nǐ qiáo qiáo， shì zhè gè bù shì？ " bǎo yù yī jiàn yóu bù dé huān xǐ fēi cháng， yīn shuō dào …… bù zhī shì rú hé， qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
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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