中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sān shí 'èr huí sù fèi fǔ xīn mí huó bǎo yù hán chǐ rǔ qíng liè sǐ jīn chuàn CHAPTER XXXII.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XXXII.
huà shuō bǎo yù jiàn nà qí lín， xīn zhōng shèn shì huān xǐ， biàn shēn shǒu lái ná， xiào dào： “ kuī nǐ jiǎn zhe liǎo。 nǐ shì nà lǐ jiǎn de？ " shǐ xiāng yún xiào dào：“ xìng 'ér shì zhè gè， míng 'ér cháng huò bǎ yìn yě diū liǎo， nán dào yě jiù bà liǎo bù chéng？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ dǎo shì diū liǎo yìn píng cháng， ruò diū liǎo zhè gè， wǒ jiù gāi sǐ liǎo。 ” xí rén zhēn liǎo chá lái yǔ shǐ xiāng yún chī， yī miàn xiào dào：“ dà gū niàn tīng jiàn qián 'ér nǐ dà xǐ liǎo。” shǐ xiāng yún hóng liǎo liǎn， chī chá bù dá。 xí rén dào：“ zhè huì zǐ yòu hài sào liǎo。 nǐ hái jì dé shí nián qián， zán men zài xī biān nuǎn gé zhù zhe， wǎn shàng nǐ tóng wǒ shuō de huà 'ér？ nà huì zǐ bù hài sào， zhè huì zǐ zěn me yòu hài sào liǎo？ " shǐ xiāng yún xiào dào：“ nǐ hái shuō ní。 nà huì zǐ zán men nà me hǎo。 hòu lái wǒ men tài tài méi liǎo， wǒ jiā qù zhù liǎo yī chéng zǐ， zěn me jiù bǎ nǐ pài liǎo gēn 'èr gē gē， wǒ lái liǎo， nǐ jiù bù xiàng xiān dài wǒ liǎo。” xí rén xiào dào：“ nǐ hái shuō ní。 xiān jiě jiě cháng jiě jiě duǎn hōng zhe wǒ tì nǐ shū tóu xǐ liǎn， zuò zhè gè nòng nà gè， rú jīn dà liǎo， jiù ná chū xiǎo jiě de kuǎn lái。 nǐ jì ná xiǎo jiě de kuǎn， wǒ zěn gǎn qīn jìn ní？ " shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ ēmítuófó， yuān wǎng yuān zāi！ wǒ yào zhè yàng， jiù lì kè sǐ liǎo。 nǐ qiáo qiáo， zhè me dà rè tiān， wǒ lái liǎo， bì dìng gǎn lái xiān qiáo qiáo nǐ。 bù xìn nǐ wèn wèn lǚ 'ér， wǒ zài jiā shí shí kè kè nà yī huí bù niàn nǐ jǐ shēng。 " huà wèi liǎo， máng de xí rén hé bǎo yù dū quàn dào：“ wán huà nǐ yòu rèn zhēn liǎo。 hái shì zhè me xìng jí。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ nǐ bù shuō nǐ de huà shā rén， dǎo shuō rén xìng jí。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn dǎ kāi shǒu pà zǐ， jiāng jiè zhǐ dì yǔ xí rén。 xí rén gǎn xiè bù jìn， yīn xiào dào：“ nǐ qián 'ér sòng nǐ jiě jiě men de， wǒ yǐ dé liǎo， jīn 'ér nǐ qīn zì yòu sòng lái， kě jiàn shì méi wàng liǎo wǒ。 zhǐ zhè gè jiù shì chū nǐ lái liǎo。 jiè zhǐ 'ér néng zhí duō shǎo， kě jiàn nǐ de xīn zhēn。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ shì shuí gěi nǐ de？ " xí rén dào：“ shì bǎo gū niàn gěi wǒ de。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ wǒ zhǐ dāng shì lín jiě jiě gěi nǐ de， yuán lái shì bǎo chāi jiě jiě gěi liǎo nǐ。 wǒ tiān tiān zài jiā lǐ xiǎng zhe， zhè xiē jiě jiě men zài méi yī gè bǐ bǎo jiě jiě hǎo de。 kě xī wǒ men bù shì yī gè niàn yǎng de。 wǒ dàn fán yòu zhè me gè qīn jiě jiě， jiù shì méi liǎo fù mǔ， yě shì méi fáng 'ài de。” shuō zhe， yǎn jīng juàn 'ér jiù hóng liǎo。 bǎo yù dào：“ bà， bà， bà！ bù yòng tí zhè gè huà。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ tí zhè gè biàn zěn me？ wǒ zhī dào nǐ de xīn bìng， kǒng pà nǐ de lín mèi mèi tīng jiàn， yòu guài chēn wǒ zàn liǎo bǎo jiě jiě。 kě shì wéi zhè gè bù shì？ " xí rén zài bàng chī de yī xiào， shuō dào：“ yún gū niàn， nǐ rú jīn dà liǎo， yuè fā xīn zhí kǒu kuài liǎo。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō nǐ men zhè jǐ gè rén nán shuō huà， guǒ rán bù cuò。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ hǎo gē gē， nǐ bù bì shuō huà jiào wǒ 'ěxīn。 zhǐ huì zài wǒ men gēn qián shuō huà， jiàn liǎo nǐ lín mèi mèi， yòu bù zhī zěn me liǎo。”
xí rén dào：“ qiě bié shuō wán huà， zhèng yòu yī jiàn shì hái yào qiú nǐ ní。” shǐ xiāng yún biàn wèn " shénme shì？ " xí rén dào：“ yòu yī shuāng xié， kōu liǎo diàn xīn zǐ。 wǒ zhè liǎng rì shēn shàng bù hǎo， bù dé zuò， nǐ kě yòu gōng fū tì wǒ zuò zuò？ " shǐ xiāng yún xiào dào：“ zhè yòu qí liǎo， nǐ jiā fàng zhe zhè xiē qiǎo rén bù suàn， hái yòu shénme zhēn xiàn shàng de， cái jiǎn shàng de， zěn me jiào wǒ zuò qǐ lái？ nǐ de huó jì jiào shuí zuò， shuí hǎo yì sī bù zuò ní。” xí rén xiào dào：“ nǐ yòu hú tú liǎo。 nǐ nán dào bù zhī dào， wǒ men zhè wū lǐ de zhēn xiàn， shì bù yào nà xiē zhēn xiàn shàng de rén zuò de。” shǐ xiāng yún tīng liǎo， biàn zhī shì bǎo yù de xié liǎo， yīn xiào dào：“ jì zhè me shuō， wǒ jiù tì nǐ zuò liǎo bà。 zhǐ shì yī jiàn， nǐ de wǒ cái zuò， bié rén de wǒ kě bù néng。” xí rén xiào dào：“ yòu lái liǎo， wǒ shì gè shénme， jiù fán nǐ zuò xié liǎo。 shí gào sù nǐ， kě bù shì wǒ de。 nǐ bié guǎn shì shuí de， héng shù wǒ lǐng qíng jiù shì liǎo。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ lùn lǐ， nǐ de dōng xī yě bù zhī fán wǒ zuò liǎo duō shǎo liǎo， jīn 'ér wǒ dǎo bù zuò liǎo de yuán gù， nǐ bì dìng yě zhī dào。” xí rén dào：“ dǎo yě bù zhī dào。” shǐ xiāng yún lěng xiào dào：“ qián 'ér wǒ tīng jiàn bǎ wǒ zuò de shàn tào zǐ ná zhe hé rén jiā bǐ， dǔ qì yòu jiǎo liǎo。 wǒ zǎo jiù tīng jiàn liǎo， nǐ hái mán wǒ。 zhè huì zǐ yòu jiào wǒ zuò， wǒ chéng liǎo nǐ men de nú cái liǎo。 " bǎo yù máng xiào dào：“ qián 'ér de nà shì， běn bù zhī shì nǐ zuò de。” xí rén yě xiào dào：“ tā běn bù zhī shì nǐ zuò de。 shì wǒ hǒngtā de huà， shuō shì xīn jìn wài tóu yòu gè huì zuò huó de nǚ hái zǐ， shuō zhā de chū qí de huā， wǒ jiào tā ná liǎo yī gè shàn tào zǐ shì shì kàn hǎo bù hǎo。 tā jiù xìn liǎo， ná chū qù gěi zhè gè qiáo gěi nà gè kàn de。 bù zhī zěn me yòu rě nǎo liǎo lín gū niàn， jiǎo liǎo liǎng duàn。 huí lái tā hái jiào gǎn zhe zuò qù， wǒ cái shuō liǎo shì nǐ zuò de， tā hòu huǐ de shénme shìde。 " shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ yuè fā qí liǎo。 lín gū niàn tā yě fàn bù shàng shēng qì， tā jì huì jiǎn， jiù jiào tā zuò。” xí rén dào：“ tā kě bù zuò ní。 ráo zhèmezhāo， lǎo tài tài hái pà tā láo lù zhe liǎo。 dà fū yòu shuō hǎo shēng jìng yǎng cái hǎo， shuí hái fán tā zuò？ jiù nián hǎo yī nián de gōng fū， zuò liǎo gè xiāng dài 'ér， jīn nián bàn nián， hái méi ná zhēn xiàn ní。” zhèng shuō zhe， yòu rén lái huí shuō：“ xīng lóng jiē de dà yé lái liǎo， lǎo yé jiào 'èr yé chū qù huì。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， biàn zhī shì jiǎ yǔ cūn lái liǎo， xīn zhōng hǎo bù zì zài。 xí rén máng qù ná yī fú。 bǎo yù yī miàn dèng zhe xuē zǐ， yī miàn bào yuàn dào：“ yòu lǎo yé hé tā zuò zhe jiù bà liǎo， huí huí dìng yào jiàn wǒ。” shǐ xiāng yún yī biān yáo zhe shàn zǐ， xiào dào：“ zì rán nǐ néng huì bīn jiē kè， lǎo yé cái jiào nǐ chū qù ní。” bǎo yù dào：“ nà lǐ shì lǎo yé， dōushì tā zì jǐ yào qǐng wǒ qù jiàn de。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ zhù yǎ kè lái qín， zì rán nǐ yòu xiē jǐng tā de hǎo chù， tā cái zhǐ yào huì nǐ。” bǎo yù dào：“ bà， bà， wǒ yě bù gǎn chēng yǎ， sú zhōng yòu sú de yī gè sú rén， bìng bù yuàn tóng zhè xiē rén wǎng lái。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ hái shì zhè gè qíng xìng bù gǎi。 rú jīn dà liǎo， nǐ jiù bù yuàn dú shū qù kǎo jǔ rén jìn shì de， yě gāi cháng cháng de huì huì zhè xiē wéi guān zuò zǎi de rén men， tán tán jiǎng jiǎng xiē shì tú jīng jì de xué wèn， yě hǎo jiāng lái yìng chóu shì wù， rì hòu yě yòu gè péng yǒu。 méi jiàn nǐ chéng nián jiā zhǐ zài wǒ men duì lǐ jiǎo xiē shénme！ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo dào：“ gū niàn qǐng bié de zǐ mèi wū lǐ zuò zuò， wǒ zhè lǐ zǎi xì wū liǎo nǐ zhī jīng jì xué wèn de。” xí rén dào：“ yún gū niàn kuài bié shuō zhè huà。 shàng huí yě shì bǎo gū niàn yě shuō guò yī huí， tā yě bù guǎn rén liǎn shàng guò de qù guò bù qù， tā jiù ké liǎo yī shēng， ná qǐ jiǎo lái zǒu liǎo。 zhè lǐ bǎo gū niàn de huà yě méi shuō wán， jiàn tā zǒu liǎo， dēng shí xiū de liǎn tōng hóng， shuō yòu bù shì， bù shuō yòu bù shì。 xìng 'ér shì bǎo gū niàn， nà yào shì lín gū niàn， bù zhī yòu nào dào zěn me yàng， kū de zěn me yàng ní。 tí qǐ zhè gè huà lái， zhēn zhēn de bǎo gū niàn jiào rén jìng zhòng， zì jǐ shàn liǎo yī huì zǐ qù liǎo。 wǒ dǎo guò bù qù， zhǐ dāng tā nǎo liǎo。 shuí zhī guò hòu hái shì zhào jiù yī yàng， zhēn zhēn yòu hán yǎng， xīn dì kuān dà。 shuí zhī zhè yī gè fǎn dǎo tóng tā shēng fēn liǎo。 nà lín gū niàn jiàn nǐ dǔ qì bù lǐ tā， nǐ dé péi duō shǎo bù shì ní。” bǎo yù dào：“ lín gū niàn cóng lái shuō guò zhè xiē hùn zhàng huà bù céng？ ruò tā yě shuō guò zhè xiē hùn zhàng huà， wǒ zǎo hé tā shēng fēn liǎo。” xí rén hé xiāng yún dū diǎn tóu xiào dào：“ zhè yuán shì hùn zhàng huà。 " yuán lái lín dài yù zhī dào shǐ xiāng yún zài zhè lǐ， bǎo yù yòu gǎn lái， yī dìng shuō qí lín de yuán gù。 yīn cǐ xīn xià cǔnduó zhe， jìn rì bǎo yù nòng lái de wàizhuàn yě shǐ， duō bàn cái zǐ jiā réndōu yīn xiǎo qiǎo wán wù shàng cuō hé， huò yòu yuān yāng， huò yòu fèng huáng， huò yù huán jīn ぐ， huò jiāo pà luán tāo， jiē yóu xiǎo wù 'ér suì zhōng shēn。 jīn hū jiàn bǎo yù yì yòu qí lín， biàn kǒng jiè cǐ shēng xì， tóng shǐ xiāng yún yě zuò chū nà xiē fēng liú jiā shì lái。 yīn 'ér qiāoqiāo zǒu lái， jiàn jī xíng shì， yǐ chá 'èr rén zhī yì。 bù xiǎng gāng zǒu lái， zhèng tīng jiàn shǐ xiāng yún shuō jīng jì yī shì， bǎo yù yòu shuō：“ lín mèi mèi bù shuō zhè yàng hùn zhàng huà， ruò shuō zhè huà， wǒ yě hé tā shēng fēn liǎo。” lín dài yù tīng liǎo zhè huà， bù jué yòu xǐ yòu jīng， yòu bēi yòu tàn。 suǒ xǐ zhě， guǒ rán zì jǐ yǎn lì bù cuò， sù rì rèn tā shì gè zhī jǐ， guǒ rán shì gè zhī jǐ。 suǒ jīng zhě， tā zài rén qián yī piàn sī xīn chēng yáng yú wǒ， qí qīn rè hòu mì， jìng bù bì xián yí。 suǒ tàn zhě， nǐ jì wèiwǒ zhī zhī jǐ， zì rán wǒ yì kě wéi nǐ zhī zhī jǐ yǐ， jì nǐ wǒ wéi zhī jǐ， zé yòu hé bì yòu jīn yù zhī lùn zāi； jì yòu jīn yù zhī lùn， yì gāi nǐ wǒ yòu zhī， zé yòu hé bì lái yī bǎo chāi zāi！ suǒ bēi zhě， fù mǔ zǎo shì， suī yòu míng xīn kè gǔ zhī yán， wú rén wèiwǒ zhù zhāng。 kuàng jìn rì měi jué shén sī huǎng hū， bìng yǐ jiàn chéng， yī zhě gèng yún qì ruò xuè kuī， kǒng zhì láo qiè zhī zhèng， nǐ wǒ suī wéi zhī jǐ， dàn kǒng zì bù néng jiǔ dài， nǐ zòng wèiwǒ zhī jǐ， nài wǒ bó mìng hé！ xiǎng dào cǐ jiān， bù jìn gǔn xià lèi lái。 dài jìn qù xiāng jiàn， zì jué wú wèi， biàn yī miàn shì lèi， yī miàn chōu shēn huí qù liǎo。
zhè lǐ bǎo yù máng máng de chuān liǎo yī cháng chū lái， hū jiàn lín dài yù zài qián miàn màn màn de zǒu zhe， sì yòu shì lèi zhī zhuàng， biàn máng gǎn shàng lái， xiào dào：“ mèi mèi wǎng nà lǐ qù？ zěn me yòu kū liǎo？ yòu shì shuí dé zuì liǎo nǐ？ " lín dài yù huí tóu jiàn shì bǎo yù， biàn miǎnqiǎng xiào dào：“ hǎohǎo de， wǒ hé céng kū liǎo。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ qiáo qiáo， yǎn jīng shàng de lèi zhū 'ér wèi gān， hái sǎ huǎng ní。 " yī miàn shuō， yī miàn jìn bù zhù tái qǐ shǒu lái tì tā shì lèi。 lín dài yù máng xiàng hòu tuì liǎo jǐ bù， shuō dào：“ nǐ yòu yào sǐ liǎo！ zuò shénme zhè me dòng shǒu dòng jiǎo de！ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ shuō huà wàng liǎo qíng， bù jué de dòng liǎo shǒu， yě jiù gù bù de sǐ huó。 " lín dài yù dào：“ nǐ sǐ liǎo dǎo bù zhí shénme， zhǐ shì diū xià liǎo shénme jīn， yòu shì shénme qí lín， kě zěn me yàng ní？ " yī jù huà yòu bǎ bǎo yù shuō jí liǎo， gǎn shàng lái wèn dào：“ nǐ hái shuō zhè huà， dào dǐ shì zhòu wǒ hái shì qì wǒ ní？ " lín dài yù jiàn wèn， fāng xiǎng qǐ qián rì de shì lái， suì zì huǐ zì jǐ yòu shuō zào cì liǎo， máng xiào dào：“ nǐ bié zháojí， wǒ yuán shuō cuò liǎo。 zhè yòu shénme de， jīn dū bào qǐ lái， jí de yī liǎn hàn。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn jìn bù zhù jìn qián shēn shǒu tì tā shì miàn shàng de hàn。 bǎo yù chǒu liǎo bàn tiān， fāng shuō dào " nǐ fàng xīn " sān gè zì。 lín dài yù tīng liǎo， zhèng liǎo bàn tiān， fāng shuō dào：“ wǒ yòu shénme bù fàng xīn de？ wǒ bù míng bái zhè huà。 nǐ dǎo shuō shuō zěn me fàng xīn bù fàng xīn？ " bǎo yù tàn liǎo yī kǒu qì， wèn dào：“ nǐ guǒ bù míng bái zhè huà？ nán dào wǒ sù rì zài nǐ shēn shàng de xīn dū yòng cuò liǎo？ lián nǐ de yì sī
ruò tǐ tiē bù zhe， jiù nán guài nǐ tiān tiān wèiwǒ shēng qì liǎo。” lín dài yù dào：“ guǒ rán wǒ bù míng bái fàng xīn bù fàng xīn de huà。” bǎo yù diǎn tóu tàn dào：“ hǎo mèi mèi， nǐ bié hǒngwǒ。 guǒ rán bù míng bái zhè huà， bù dàn wǒ sù rì zhī yì bái yòng liǎo， qiě lián nǐ sù rì dài wǒ zhī yì yědōu gū fù liǎo。 nǐ jiē yīn zǒng shì bù fàng xīn de yuán gù Wolff， 1679 héng 1754） zé shǒu cì bǎ zhé xué fēn wéi běn tǐ lùn、 yǔ zhòu lùn、 xīn， cái nòng liǎo yī shēn bìng。 dàn fán kuān wèi xiē， zhè bìng yě bù dé yī rì zhòng sì yī rì。” lín dài yù tīng liǎo zhè huà， rú hōng léi chè diàn， xì xì sī zhī， jìng bǐ zì jǐ fèi fǔ zhōng tāo chū lái de hái jué kěnqiè， jìng yòu wàn jù yán yǔ， mǎn xīn yào shuō， zhǐ shì bàn gè zì yě bù néng tù， què zhèng zhèng de wàng zhe tā。 cǐ shí bǎo yù xīn zhōng yě yòu wàn jù yán yǔ， bù zhī cóng nà yī jù shàng shuō qǐ， què yě zhèng zhèng de wàng zhe dài yù。 liǎng gè rén zhèng liǎo bàn tiān， lín dài yù zhǐ ké liǎo yī shēng， liǎng yǎn bù jué gǔn xià lèi lái， huí shēn biàn yào zǒu。 bǎo yù máng shàng qián lā zhù， shuō dào：“ hǎo mèi mèi， qiě lüè zhàn zhù， wǒ shuō yī jù huà zài zǒu。” lín dài yù yī miàn shì lèi， yī miàn jiāng shǒu tuī kāi， shuō dào：“ yòu shénme kě shuō de。 nǐ de huà wǒ zǎo zhī dào liǎo！ " kǒu lǐ shuō zhe， què tóu yě bù huí jìng qù liǎo。
bǎo yù zhàn zhe， zhǐ guǎn fā qǐ dāi lái。 yuán lái fāng cái chū lái huāng máng， bù céng dài dé shàn zǐ， xí rén pà tā rè， máng ná liǎo shàn zǐ gǎn lái sòng yǔ tā， hū tái tóu jiàn liǎo lín dài yù hé tā zhàn zhe。 yī shí dài yù zǒu liǎo， tā hái zhàn zhe bù dòng， yīn 'ér gǎn shàng lái shuō dào：“ nǐ yě bù dài liǎo shàn zǐ qù， kuī wǒ kàn jiàn， gǎn liǎo sòng lái。” bǎo yù chū liǎo shén， jiàn xí rén hé tā shuō huà， bìng wèi kàn chū shì hé rén lái， biàn yī bǎ lā zhù， shuō dào：“ hǎo mèi mèi， wǒ de zhè xīn shì， cóng lái yě bù gǎn shuō， jīn 'ér wǒ dà dǎn shuō chū lái， sǐ yě gān xīn！ wǒ wéi nǐ yě nòng liǎo yī shēn de bìng zài zhè lǐ， yòu bù gǎn gào sù rén， zhǐ hǎo yǎn zhe。 zhǐ děng nǐ de bìng hǎo liǎo， zhǐ pà wǒ de bìng cái dé hǎo ní。 shuì lǐ mèng lǐ yě wàng bù liǎo nǐ！ " xí rén tīng liǎo zhè huà， xià dé bó xiāo hún sàn， zhǐ jiào " shén tiān pú sà， kēng sǐ wǒ liǎo！ " biàn tuī tā dào：“ zhè shì nà lǐ de huà！ gǎn shì zhōng liǎo xié？ hái bù kuài qù？ " bǎo yù yī shí xǐng guò lái， fāng zhī shì xí rén sòng shàn zǐ lái， xiū de mǎn miàn zǐ zhǎng， duó liǎo shàn zǐ， biàn máng máng de chōu shēn páo liǎo。
zhè lǐ xí rén jiàn tā qù liǎo， zì sī fāng cái zhī yán， yī dìng shì yīn dài yù 'ér qǐ， rú cǐ kàn lái， jiāng lái nán miǎn bù cái zhī shì， lìng rén kě jīng kě wèi。 xiǎng dào cǐ jiān， yě bù jué zhèng zhèng de dī xià lèi lái， xīn xià 'àn dù rú hé chù zhì fāng miǎn cǐ chǒu huò。 zhèng cái yí jiān， hū yòu bǎo chāi cóng nà biān zǒu lái， xiào dào：“ dà dú rì tóu dì xià， chū shénme shén ní？ " xí rén jiàn wèn， máng xiào dào：“ nà biān liǎng gè què 'ér dǎ jià， dǎo yě hǎo wán， wǒ jiù kàn zhù liǎo。” bǎo chāi dào：“ bǎo xiōng dì zhè huì zǐ chuān liǎo yī fú， máng máng de nà qù liǎo？ wǒ cái kàn jiàn zǒu guò qù， dǎo yào jiào zhù wèn tā ní。 tā rú jīn shuō huà yuè fā méi liǎo jīng wěi， wǒ gù cǐ méi jiào tā liǎo， yóu tā guò qù bà。” xí rén dào：“ lǎo yé jiào tā chū qù。” bǎo chāi tīng liǎo， máng dào： ài yō！ zhè me huáng tiān shǔ rè de， jiào tā zuò shí me！ bié shì xiǎng qǐ shénme lái shēng liǎo qì， jiào chū qù jiào xùn yīcháng。” xí rén xiào dào：“ bù shì zhè gè， xiǎng shì yòu kè yào huì。” bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ zhè gè kè yě méi yì sī， zhè me rè tiān， bù zài jiā lǐ liáng kuài， hái páo xiē shénme！ " xí rén xiào dào：“ dǎo shì nǐ shuō shuō bà。”
bǎo chāi yīn 'ér wèn dào：“ yún yā tóu zài nǐ men jiā zuò shí me ní？ " xí rén xiào dào： ’ cái shuō liǎo yī huì zǐ xián huà。 nǐ qiáo， wǒ qián 'ér nián de nà shuāng xié， míng 'ér jiào tā zuò qù。” bǎo chāi tīng jiàn zhè huà， biàn liǎng biān huí tóu， kàn wú rén lái wǎng yòng yǔ。 zhǐ wù tǐ tóu shè chū lái de xíng xiàng。 tā yǔ gǎn guān xiāng jiē chù 'ér chǎn shēng gǎn jué。， biàn xiào dào：“ nǐ zhè me gè míng bái rén， zěn me yī shí bàn kè de jiù bù huì tǐ liàng rén qíng。 wǒ jìn lái kàn zhe yún yā tóu shén qíng，
zài fēng lǐ yán fēng lǐ yǔ de tīng qǐ lái， nà yún yā tóu zài jiā lǐ jìng yī diǎn 'ér zuò bù dé zhù。 tā men jiā xián fèi yòng dà， jìng bù yòng nà xiē zhēn xiàn shàng de rén， chàbù duō de dōng xī duō shì tā men niàn 'ér men dòng shǒu。 wèishénme zhè jǐ cì tā lái liǎo， tā hé wǒ shuō huà 'ér， jiàn méi rén zài gēn qián， tā jiù shuō jiā lǐ lěi de hěn。 wǒ zài wèn tā liǎng jù jiā cháng guò rì zǐ de huà， tā jiù lián yǎn juàn 'ér dū hóng liǎo， kǒu lǐ hán hán hú hú dài shuō bù shuō de。 xiǎng qí xíng jǐng lái， zì rán cóng xiǎo 'ér méi diē niàn de kǔ。 wǒ kàn zhe tā， yě bù jué de shāng qǐ xīn lái。” xí rén jiàn shuō zhè huà， jiāng shǒu yī pāi， shuō：“ shì liǎo， shì liǎo。 guài dào shàng yuè wǒ fán tā dǎ shí gēn hú dié jié zǐ， guò liǎo nà xiē rì zǐ cái dǎ fā rén sòng lái， hái shuō ‘ dǎ de cū， qiě zài bié chù néng zhe shǐ bà， yào yún jìng de， děng míng 'ér lái zhù zhe zài hǎo shēng dǎ bà’。 rú jīn tīng bǎo gū niàn zhè huà， xiǎng lái wǒ men fán tā tā bù hǎo tuī cí， bù zhī tā zài jiā lǐ zěn me sān gèng bàn yè de zuò ní。 kě shì wǒ yě hú tú liǎo， zǎo zhī shì zhè yàng， wǒ yě bù fán tā liǎo。 " bǎo chāi dào：“ shàng cì tā jiù gào sù wǒ， zài jiā lǐ zuò huó zuò dào sān gèng tiān， ruò shì tì bié rén zuò yī diǎn bàn diǎn， tā jiā de nà xiē nǎi nǎi tài tài men hái bù shòu yòng ní。 " xí rén dào：“ piān shēng wǒ men nà gè niú xīn zuǒ xìng de xiǎo yé， píng zhe xiǎo de dà de huó jì， yī gài bù yào jiā lǐ zhè xiē huó jì shàng de rén zuò。 wǒ yòu nòng bù kāi zhè xiē。” bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ nǐ lǐ tā ní！ zhǐ guǎn jiào rén zuò qù， zhǐ shuō shì nǐ zuò de jiù shì liǎo。” xí rén xiào dào：“ nà lǐ hōng de xìn tā， tā cái shì rèn dé chū lái ní。 shuō bù dé wǒ zhǐ hǎo màn màn de lěi qù bà liǎo。” bǎo chāi xiào dào：’ nǐ bù bì máng， wǒ tì nǐ zuò xiē rú hé？ " xí rén xiào dào：“ dàngzhēn de zhè yàng， jiù shì wǒ de fú liǎo。 wǎn shàng wǒ qīn zì sòng guò lái。”
yī jù huà wèi liǎo， hū jiàn yī gè lǎo pó zǐ máng máng zǒu lái， shuō dào：“ zhè shì nà lǐ shuō qǐ！ jīn chuàn 'ér gū niàn hǎohǎo de tóu jǐng sǐ liǎo！ " xí rén hǔ liǎo yī tiào， máng wèn " nà gè jīn chuàn 'ér？ " lǎo pó zǐ dào：“ nà lǐ hái yòu liǎng gè jīn chuàn 'ér ní？ jiù shì tài tài wū lǐ de。 qián 'ér bù zhī wèishénme niǎn tā chū qù， zài jiā lǐ kū tiān kū dì de， yědōu bù lǐ huì tā， shuí zhī zhǎo tā bù jiàn liǎo。 gāng cái dǎ shuǐ de rén zài nà dōng nán jiǎo shàng jǐng lǐ dǎ shuǐ， jiàn yī gè shī shǒu， gǎn zhe jiào rén dǎ lāo qǐ lái， shuí zhī shì tā。 tā men jiā lǐ hái zhǐ guǎn luàn zhe yào jiù huó， nà lǐ zhōng yòng liǎo！ " bǎo chāi dào：“ zhè yě qí liǎo。” xí rén tīng shuō， diǎn tóu zàn tàn， xiǎng sù rì tóng qì zhī qíng， bù jué liú xià lèi lái。 bǎo chāi tīng jiàn zhè huà， máng xiàng wáng fū rén chù lái dào 'ān wèi。 zhè lǐ xí rén huí qù bù tí。
què shuō bǎo chāi lái zhì wáng fū rén chù， zhǐ jiàn yā què wú wén， dú yòu wáng fū rén zài lǐ jiān fáng nèi zuò zhe chuí lèi。 bǎo chāi biàn bù hǎo tí zhè shì， zhǐ dé yī bàng zuò liǎo。 wáng fū rén biàn wèn：“ nǐ cóng nà lǐ lái？ " bǎo chāi dào：“ cóng yuán lǐ lái。” wáng fū rén dào：“ nǐ cóng yuán lǐ lái， kě jiàn nǐ bǎo xiōng dì？ " bǎo chāi dào：“ cái dǎo kàn jiàn liǎo。 tā chuān liǎo yī fú chū qù liǎo yòng” mìng tí， bìng yǐ rèn lì zhī yù， lùn zhèng shén suí xíng miè 'ér miè。 fā zhǎn liǎo guǎn zǐ、， bù zhī nà lǐ qù。” wáng fū rén diǎn tóu kū dào：“ nǐ kě zhī dào yī zhuāng qí shì？ jīn chuàn 'ér hū rán tóu jǐng sǐ liǎo！ " bǎo chāi jiàn shuō， dào：“ zěn me hǎohǎo de tóu jǐng？ zhè yě qí liǎo。” wáng fū rén dào：“ yuán shì qián 'ér tā bǎ wǒ yī jiàn dōng xīlòng huài liǎo， wǒ yī shí shēng qì， dǎ liǎo tā jǐ xià， niǎn liǎo tā xià qù。 wǒ zhǐ shuō qì tā liǎng tiān， hái jiào tā shàng lái， shuí zhī tā zhè me qì xìng dà， jiù tóu jǐng sǐ liǎo。 qǐ bù shì wǒ de zuì guò。” bǎo chāi tàn dào：“ yí niàn shì cí shàn rén， gù rán zhè me xiǎng。 jù wǒ kàn lái， tā bìng bù shì dǔ qì tóu jǐng。 duō bàn tā xià qù zhù zhe， huò shì zài jǐng gēn qián hān wán， shī liǎo jiǎo diào xià qù de。 tā zài shàng tóu jū shù guàn liǎo， zhè yī chū qù， zì rán yào dào gè chù qù wán wán guàng guàng， qǐ yòu zhè yàng dà qì de lǐ！ zòng rán yòu zhè yàng dà qì， yě bù guò shì gè hú tú rén， yě bùwèi kě xī。” wáng fū rén diǎn tóu tàn dào：“ zhè huà suī rán rú cǐ shuō， dào dǐ wǒ xīn bù 'ān。” bǎo chāi tàn dào：“ yí niàn yě bù bì niàn niàn yú cí， shí fēn guò bù qù， bù guò duō shǎng tā jǐ liǎng yín zǐ fā sòng tā， yě jiù jìn zhù pú zhī qíng liǎo。 " wáng fū rén dào：“ gāng cái wǒ shǎng liǎo tā niàn wǔ shí liǎng yín zǐ， yuán yào hái bǎ nǐ mèi mèi men de xīn yī fú ná liǎng tào gěi tā zhuāng guǒ。 shuí zhī fèng yā tóu shuō kě qiǎo dōuméi shí me xīn zuò de yī fú， zhǐ yòu nǐ lín mèi mèi zuò shēng rì de liǎng tào。 wǒ xiǎng nǐ lín mèi mèi nà gè hái zǐ sù rì shì gè yòu xīn de， kuàng qiě tā yě sān zāi bā nán de， jì shuō liǎo gěi tā guò shēng rì， zhè huì zǐ yòu gěi rén zhuāng guǒ qù， qǐ bù jì huì。 yīn wéi zhè me yàng， wǒ xiàn jiào cái féng gǎn liǎng tào gěi tā。 yào shì bié de yā tóu， shǎng tā jǐ liǎng yín zǐ jiù wán liǎo， zhǐ shì jīn chuàn 'ér suī rán shì gè yā tóu， sù rì zài wǒ gēn qián bǐ wǒ de nǚ 'ér yě chàbù duō。 " kǒu lǐ shuō zhe， bù jué lèi xià。 bǎo chāi máng dào：“ yí niàn zhè huì zǐ yòu hé yòng jiào cái féng gǎn qù， wǒ qián 'ér dǎo zuò liǎo liǎng tào， ná lái gěi tā qǐ bùxǐng shì。 kuàng qiě tā huó zhe de shí hòu yě chuān guò wǒ de jiù yī fú， shēn liàng yòu xiāng duì。” wáng fū rén dào：“ suī rán zhè yàng， nán dào nǐ bù jì huì？ " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ yí niàn fàng xīn， wǒ cóng lái bù jì jiào zhè xiē。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn qǐ shēn jiù zǒu。 wáng fū rén máng jiào liǎo liǎng gè rén lái gēn bǎo gū niàn qù。
yī shí bǎo chāi qǔ liǎo yī fú huí lái， zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù zài wáng fū rén bàng biān zuò zhe chuí lèi。 wáng fū rén zhèng cái shuō tā， yīn bǎo chāi lái liǎo， què yǎn liǎo kǒu bù shuō liǎo。 bǎo chāi jiàn cǐ guāng jǐng， chá yán guān sè， zǎo zhī jué liǎo bā fēn， yú shì jiāng yī fú jiāo gē míng bái。 wáng fū rén jiāng tā mǔ qīn jiào lái ná liǎo qù。 zài kàn xià huí biàn zhī。
Hsi Jen and Hsiang-yuen tell their secret thoughts. Tai-yue is infatuated with the living Pao-yue.
While trying to conceal her sense of shame and injury Chin Ch'uan is driven by her impetuous feelings to seek death.
But to resume our narrative. At the sight of the unicorn, Pao-yue was filled with intense delight. So much so, that he forthwith put out his hand and made a grab for it. "Lucky enough it was you who picked it up!" he said, with a face beaming with smiles. "But when did you find it?"
"Fortunately it was only this!" rejoined Shih Hsiang-yuen laughing. "If you by and bye also lose your seal, will you likely banish it at once from your mind, and never make an effort to discover it?"
"After all," smiled Pao-yue, "the loss of a seal is an ordinary occurrence. But had I lost this, I would have deserved to die."
Hsi Jen then poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shih Hsiang-yuen. "Miss Senior," she remarked smilingly, "I heard that you had occasion the other day to be highly pleased."
Shih Hsiang-yuen flushed crimson. She went on drinking her tea and did not utter a single word.
"Here you are again full of shame!" Hsi Jen smiled. "But do you remember when we were living, about ten years back, in those warm rooms on the west side and you confided in me one evening, you didn't feel any shame then; and how is it you blush like this now?"
"Do you still speak about that!" exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yuen laughingly. "You and I were then great friends. But when our mother subsequently died and I went home for a while, how is it you were at once sent to be with my cousin Secundus, and that now that I've come back you don't treat me as you did once?"
"Are you yet harping on this!" retorted Hsi Jen, putting on a smile. "Why, at first, you used to coax me with a lot of endearing terms to comb your hair and to wash your face, to do this and that for you. But now that you've become a big girl, you assume the manner of a young mistress towards me, and as you put on these airs of a young mistress, how can I ever presume to be on a familiar footing with you?"
"O-mi-to-fu," cried Shih Hsiang-yuen. "What a false accusation! If I be guilty of anything of the kind, may I at once die! Just see what a broiling hot day this is, and yet as soon as I arrived I felt bound to come and look you up first. If you don't believe me, well, ask Lue Erh! And while at home, when did I not at every instant say something about you?"
Scarcely had she concluded than Hsi Jen and Pao-yue tried to soothe her. "We were only joking," they said, "but you've taken everything again as gospel. What! are you still so impetuous in your temperament!"
"You don't say," argued Shih Hsiang-yuen, "that your words are hard things to swallow, but contrariwise, call people's temperaments impetuous!"
As she spoke, she unfolded her handkerchief and, producing a ring, she gave it to Hsi Jen.
Hsi Jen did not know how to thank her enough. "When;" she consequently smiled, "you sent those to your cousin the other day, I got one also; and here you yourself bring me another to-day! It's clear enough therefore that you haven't forgotten me. This alone has been quite enough to test you. As for the ring itself, what is its worth? but it's a token of the sincerity of your heart!"
"Who gave it to you?" inquired Shih Hsiang-yuen.
"Miss Pao let me have it." replied Hsi Jen.
"I was under the impression," remarked Hsiang-yuen with a sigh, "that it was a present from cousin Lin. But is it really cousin Pao, that gave it to you! When I was at home, I day after day found myself reflecting that among all these cousins of mine, there wasn't one able to compare with cousin Pao, so excellent is she. How I do regret that we are not the offspring of one mother! For could I boast of such a sister of the same flesh and blood as myself, it wouldn't matter though I had lost both father and mother!"
While indulging in these regrets, her eyes got quite red.
"Never mind! never mind!" interposed Pao-yue. "Why need you speak of these things!"
"If I do allude to this," answered Shih Hsiang-yuen, "what does it matter? I know that weak point of yours. You're in fear and trembling lest your cousin Lin should come to hear what I say, and get angry with me again for eulogising cousin Pao! Now isn't it this, eh!"
"Ch'ih!" laughed Hsi Jen, who was standing by her. "Miss Yuen," she said, "now that you've grown up to be a big girl you've become more than ever openhearted and outspoken."
"When I contend;" smiled Pao-yue, "that it is difficult to say a word to any one of you I'm indeed perfectly correct!"
"My dear cousin," observed Shih Hsiang-yuen laughingly, "don't go on in that strain! You'll provoke me to displeasure. When you are with me all you are good for is to talk and talk away; but were you to catch a glimpse of cousin Lin, you would once more be quite at a loss to know what best to do!"
"Now, enough of your jokes!" urged Hsi Jen. "I have a favour to crave of you."
"What is it?" vehemently inquired Shih Hsiang-yuen.
"I've got a pair of shoes," answered Hsi Jen, "for which I've stuck the padding together; but I'm not feeling up to the mark these last few days, so I haven't been able to work at them. If you have any leisure, do finish them for me."
"This is indeed strange!" exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yuen. "Putting aside all the skilful workers engaged in your household, you have besides some people for doing needlework and others for tailoring and cutting; and how is it you appeal to me to take your shoes in hand? Were you to ask any one of those men to execute your work, who could very well refuse to do it?"
"Here you are in another stupid mood!" laughed Hsi Jen. "Can it be that you don't know that our sewing in these quarters mayn't be done by these needleworkers."
At this reply, it at once dawned upon Shih Hsiang-yuen that the shoes must be intended for Pao-yue. "Since that be the case," she in consequence smiled; "I'll work them for you. There's however one thing. I'll readily attend to any of yours, but I will have nothing to do with any for other people."
"There you are again!" laughed Hsi Jen. "Who am I to venture to trouble you to make shoes for me? I'll tell you plainly, however, that they are not mine. But no matter whose they are, it is anyhow I who'll be the recipient of your favour; that is sufficient."
"To speak the truth," rejoined Shih Hsiang-yuen, "you've put me to the trouble of working, I don't know how many things for you. The reason why I refuse on this occasion should be quite evident to you!"
"I can't nevertheless make it out!" answered Hsi Jen.
"I heard the other day," continued Shih Hsiang-yuen, a sardonic smile on her lip, "that while the fan-case, I had worked, was being held and compared with that of some one else, it too was slashed away in a fit of high dudgeon. This reached my ears long ago, and do you still try to dupe me by asking me again now to make something more for you? Have I really become a slave to you people?
"As to what occurred the other day," hastily explained Pao-yue smiling, "I positively had no idea that that thing was your handiwork."
"He never knew that you'd done it," Hsi Jen also laughed. "I deceived him by telling him that there had been of late some capital hands at needlework outside, who could execute any embroidery with surpassing beauty, and that I had asked them to bring a fan-case so as to try them and to see whether they could actually work well or not. He at once believed what I said. But as he produced the case and gave it to this one and that one to look at, he somehow or other, I don't know how, managed again to put some one's back up, and she cut it into two. On his return, however, he bade me hurry the men to make another; and when at length I explained to him that it had been worked by you, he felt, I can't tell you, what keen regret!"
"This is getting stranger and stranger!" said Shih Hsiang-yuen. "It wasn't worth the while for Miss Lin to lose her temper about it. But as she plies the scissors so admirably, why, you might as well tell her to finish the shoes for you."
"She couldn't," replied Hsi Jen, "for besides other things our venerable lady is still in fear and trembling lest she should tire herself in any way. The doctor likewise says that she will continue to enjoy good health, so long as she is carefully looked after; so who would wish to ask her to take them in hand? Last year she managed to just get through a scented bag, after a whole year's work. But here we've already reached the middle of the present year, and she hasn't yet taken up any needle or thread!"
In the course of their conversation, a servant came and announced 'that the gentleman who lived in the Hsing Lung Street had come.' "Our master," he added, "bids you, Mr. Secundus, come out and greet him."
As soon as Pao-yue heard this announcement, he knew that Chia Yue-ts'un must have arrived. But he felt very unhappy at heart. Hsi Jen hurried to go and bring his clothes. Pao-yue, meanwhile, put on his boots, but as he did so, he gave way to resentment. "Why there's father," he soliloquised, "to sit with him; that should be enough; and must he, on every visit he pays, insist upon seeing me!"
"It is, of course, because you have such a knack for receiving and entertaining visitors that Mr. Chia Cheng will have you go out," laughingly interposed Shih Hsiang-yuen from one side, as she waved her fan.
"Is it father's doing?" Pao-yue rejoined. "Why, it's he himself who asks that I should be sent for to see him."
"'When a host is courteous, visitors come often,'" smiled Hsiang-yuen, "so it's surely because you possess certain qualities, which have won his regard, that he insists upon seeing you."
"But I am not what one would call courteous," demurred Pao-yue. "I am, of all coarse people, the coarsest. Besides, I do not choose to have any relations with such people as himself."
"Here's again that unchangeable temperament of yours!" laughed Hsiang-yuen. "But you're a big fellow now, and you should at least, if you be loth to study and go and pass your examinations for a provincial graduate or a metropolitan graduate, have frequent intercourse with officers and ministers of state and discuss those varied attainments, which one acquires in an official career, so that you also may be able in time to have some idea about matters in general; and that when by and bye you've made friends, they may not see you spending the whole day long in doing nothing than loafing in our midst, up to every imaginable mischief."
"Miss," exclaimed Pao-yue, after this harangue, "pray go and sit in some other girl's room, for mind one like myself may contaminate a person who knows so much of attainments and experience as you do."
"Miss," ventured Hsi Jen, "drop this at once! Last time Miss Pao too tendered him this advice, but without troubling himself as to whether people would feel uneasy or not, he simply came out with an ejaculation of 'hai,' and rushed out of the place. Miss Pao hadn't meanwhile concluded her say, so when she saw him fly, she got so full of shame that, flushing scarlet, she could neither open her lips, nor hold her own counsel. But lucky for him it was only Miss Pao. Had it been Miss Lin, there's no saying what row there may not have been again, and what tears may not have been shed! Yet the very mention of all she had to tell him is enough to make people look up to Miss Pao with respect. But after a time, she also betook herself away. I then felt very unhappy as I imagined that she was angry; but contrary to all my expectations, she was by and bye just the same as ever. She is, in very truth, long-suffering and indulgent! This other party contrariwise became quite distant to her, little though one would have thought it of him; and as Miss Pao perceived that he had lost his temper, and didn't choose to heed her, she subsequently made I don't know how many apologies to him."
"Did Miss Lin ever talk such trash!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "Had she ever talked such stuff and nonsense, I would have long ago become chilled towards her."
"What you say is all trash!" Hsi Jen and Hsiang-yuen remarked with one voice, while they shook their heads to and fro and smiled.
Lin Tai-yue, the fact is, was well aware that now that Shih Hsiang-yuen was staying in the mansion, Pao-yue too was certain to hasten to come and tell her all about the unicorn he had got, so she thought to herself: "In the foreign traditions and wild stories, introduced here of late by Pao-yue, literary persons and pretty girls are, for the most part, brought together in marriage, through the agency of some trifling but ingenious nick-nack. These people either have miniature ducks, or phoenixes, jade necklets or gold pendants, fine handkerchiefs or elegant sashes; and they have, through the instrumentality of such trivial objects, invariably succeeded in accomplishing the wishes they entertained throughout their lives." When she recently discovered, by some unforeseen way, that Pao-yue had likewise a unicorn she began to apprehend lest he should make this circumstance a pretext to create an estrangement with her, and indulge with Shih Hsiang-yuen as well in various free and easy flirtations and fine doings. She therefore quietly crossed over to watch her opportunity and take such action as would enable her to get an insight into his and her sentiments. Contrary, however, to all her calculations, no sooner did she reach her destination, than she overheard Shih Hsiang-yuen dilate on the topic of experience, and Pao-yue go on to observe: "Cousin Lin has never indulged in such stuff and nonsense. Had she ever uttered any such trash, I would have become chilled even towards her!" This language suddenly produced, in Lin Tai-yue's mind, both surprise as well as delight; sadness as well as regret. Delight, at having indeed been so correct in her perception that he whom she had ever considered in the light of a true friend had actually turned out to be a true friend. Surprise, "because," she said to herself: "he has, in the presence of so many witnesses, displayed such partiality as to speak in my praise, and has shown such affection and friendliness for me as to make no attempt whatever to shirk suspicion." Regret, "for since," (she pondered), "you are my intimate friend, you could certainly well look upon me too as your intimate friend; and if you and I be real friends, why need there be any more talk about gold and jade? But since there be that question of gold and jade, you and I should have such things in our possession. Yet, why should this Pao-ch'ai step in again between us?" Sad, "because," (she reflected), "my father and mother departed life at an early period; and because I have, in spite of the secret engraven on my heart and imprinted on my bones, not a soul to act as a mentor to me. Besides, of late, I continuously feel confusion creep over my mind, so my disease must already have gradually developed itself. The doctors further state that my breath is weak and my blood poor, and that they dread lest consumption should declare itself, so despite that sincere friendship I foster for you, I cannot, I fear, last for very long. You are, I admit, a true friend to me, but what can you do for my unfortunate destiny!"
Upon reaching this point in her reflections, she could not control her tears, and they rolled freely down her cheeks. So much so, that when about to enter and meet her cousins, she experienced such utter lack of zest, that, while drying her tears she turned round, and wended her steps back in the direction of her apartments.
Pao-yue, meanwhile, had hurriedly got into his new costume. Upon coming out of doors, he caught sight of Lin Tai-yue, walking quietly ahead of him engaged, to all appearances, in wiping tears from her eyes. With rapid stride, he overtook her.
"Cousin Lin," he smiled, "where are you off to? How is it that you're crying again? Who has once more hurt your feelings?"
Lin Tai-yue turned her head round to look; and seeing that it was Pao-yue, she at once forced a smile. "Why should I be crying," she replied, "when there is no reason to do so?"
"Look here!" observed Pao-yue smilingly. "The tears in your eyes are not dry yet and do you still tell me a fib?"
Saying this, he could not check an impulse to raise his arm and wipe her eyes, but Lin Tai-yue speedily withdrew several steps backwards. "Are you again bent," she said, "upon compassing your own death! Then why do you knock your hands and kick your feet about in this wise?"
"While intent upon speaking, I forgot," smiled Pao-yue, "all about propriety and gesticulated, yet quite inadvertently. But what care I whether I die or live!"
"To die would, after all" added Lin Tai-yue, "be for you of no matter; but you'll leave behind some gold or other, and a unicorn too or other; and what would they do?"
This insinuation was enough to plunge Pao-yue into a fresh fit of exasperation. Hastening up to her: "Do you still give vent to such language?" he asked. "Why, it's really tantamount to invoking imprecations on me! What, are you yet angry with me!"
This question recalled to Lin Tai-yue's mind the incidents of a few days back, and a pang of remorse immediately gnawed her heart for having been again so indiscreet in her speech. "Now don't you distress your mind!" she observed hastily, smiling. "I verily said what I shouldn't! Yet what is there in this to make your veins protrude, and to so provoke you as to bedew your whole face with perspiration?"
While reasoning with him, she felt unable to repress herself, and, approaching him, she extended her hand, and wiped the perspiration from his face.
Pao-yue gazed intently at her for a long time. "Do set your mind at ease!" he at length observed.
At this remark, Lin Tai-yue felt quite nervous. "What's there to make my mind uneasy?" she asked after a protracted interval. "I can't make out what you're driving at; tell me what's this about making me easy or uneasy?"
Pao-yue heaved a sigh. "Don't you truly fathom the depth of my words?" he inquired. "Why, do you mean to say that I've throughout made such poor use of my love for you as not to be able to even divine your feelings? Well, if so, it's no wonder that you daily lose your temper on my account!"
"I actually don't understand what you mean by easy or uneasy," Lin Tai-yue replied.
"My dear girl," urged Pao-yue, nodding and sighing. "Don't be making a fool of me! For if you can't make out these words, not only have I ever uselessly lavished affection upon you, but the regard, with which you have always treated me, has likewise been entirely of no avail! And it's mostly because you won't set your mind at ease that your whole frame is riddled with disease. Had you taken things easier a bit, this ailment of yours too wouldn't have grown worse from day to day!"
These words made Lin Tai-yue feel as if she had been blasted by thunder, or struck by lightning. But after carefully weighing them within herself, they seemed to her far more fervent than any that might have emanated from the depths of her own heart, and thousands of sentiments, in fact, thronged together in her mind; but though she had every wish to frame them into language, she found it a hard task to pronounce so much as half a word. All she therefore did was to gaze at him with vacant stare.
Pao-yue fostered innumerable thoughts within himself, but unable in a moment to resolve from which particular one to begin, he too absently looked at Tai-yue. Thus it was that the two cousins remained for a long time under the spell of a deep reverie.
An ejaculation of "Hai!" was the only sound that issued from Lin Tai-yue's lips; and while tears streamed suddenly from her eyes, she turned herself round and started on her way homeward.
Pao-yue jumped forward, with alacrity, and dragged her back. "My dear cousin," he pleaded, "do stop a bit! Let me tell you just one thing; after that, you may go."
"What can you have to tell me?" exclaimed Lin Tai-yue, who while wiping her tears, extricated her hand from his grasp. "I know." she cried, "all you have to say."
As she spoke, she went away, without even turning her head to cast a glance behind her.
As Pao-yue gazed at her receding figure, he fell into abstraction.
He had, in fact, quitted his apartments a few moments back in such precipitate hurry that he had omitted to take a fan with him: and Hsi Jen, fearing lest he might suffer from the heat, promptly seized one and ran to find him and give it to him. But upon casually raising her head, she espied Lin Tai-yue standing with him. After a time, Tai-yue walked away; and as he still remained where he was without budging, she approached him.
"You left," she said, "without even taking a fan with you. Happily I noticed it, and so hurried to catch you up and bring it to you."
But Pao-yue was so lost in thought that as soon as he caught Hsi Jen's voice, he made a dash and clasped her in his embrace, without so much as trying to make sure who she was.
"My dear cousin," he cried, "I couldn't hitherto muster enough courage to disclose the secrets of my heart; but on this occasion I shall make bold and give utterance to them. For you I'm quite ready to even pay the penalty of death. I have too for your sake brought ailments upon my whole frame. It's in here! But I haven't ventured to breathe it to any one. My only alternative has been to bear it patiently, in the hope that when you got all right, I might then perchance also recover. But whether I sleep, or whether I dream, I never, never forget you."
These declarations quite dumfoundered Hsi Jen. She gave way to incessant apprehensions. All she could do was to shout out: "Oh spirits, oh heaven, oh Buddha, he's compassing my death!" Then pushing him away from her, "what is it you're saying?" she asked. "May it be that you are possessed by some evil spirit! Don't you quick get yourself off?"
This brought Pao-yue to his senses at once. He then became aware that it was Hsi Jen, and that she had come to bring him a fan. Pao-yue was overpowered with shame; his whole face was suffused with scarlet; and, snatching the fan out of her hands, he bolted away with rapid stride.
When Hsi Jen meanwhile saw Pao-yue effect his escape, "Lin Tai-yue," she pondered, "must surely be at the bottom of all he said just now. But from what one can see, it will be difficult, in the future, to obviate the occurrence of some unpleasant mishap. It's sufficient to fill one with fear and trembling!"
At this point in her cogitations, she involuntarily melted into tears, so agitated was she; while she secretly exercised her mind how best to act so as to prevent this dreadful calamity.
But while she was lost in this maze of surmises and doubts, Pao-ch'ai unexpectedly appeared from the off side. "What!" she smilingly exclaimed, "are you dreaming away in a hot broiling sun like this?"
Hsi Jen, at this question, hastily returned her smiles. "Those two birds," she answered, "were having a fight, and such fun was it that I stopped to watch them."
"Where is cousin Pao off to now in such a hurry, got up in that fine attire?" asked Pao-ch'ai, "I just caught sight of him, as he went by. I meant to have called out and stopped him, but as he, of late, talks greater rubbish than ever, I didn't challenge him, but let him go past."
"Our master," rejoined Hsi Jen, "sent for him to go out."
"Ai-yah!" hastily exclaimed Pao-ch'ai, as soon as this remark reached her ears. "What does he want him for, on a scalding day like this? Might he not have thought of something and got so angry about it as to send for him to give him a lecture!"
"If it isn't this," added Hsi Jen laughing, "some visitor must, I presume, have come and he wishes him to meet him."
"With weather like this," smiled Pao-ch'ai, "even visitors afford no amusement! Why don't they, while this fiery temperature lasts, stay at home, where it's much cooler, instead of gadding about all over the place?"
"Could you tell them so?" smiled Hsi Jen.
"What was that girl Hsiang-yuen doing in your quarters?" Pao-ch'ai then asked.
"She only came to chat with us on irrelevant matters." Hsi Jen replied smiling. "But did you see the pair of shoes I was pasting the other day? Well, I meant to ask her to-morrow to finish them for me."
Pao-chai, at these words, turned her head round, first on this side, and then on the other. Seeing that there was no one coming or going: "How is it," she smiled, "that you, who have so much gumption, don't ever show any respect for people's feelings? I've been of late keeping an eye on Miss Yuen's manner, and, from what I can glean from the various rumours afloat, she can't be, in the slightest degree, her own mistress at home! In that family of theirs, so little can they stand the burden of any heavy expenses that they don't employ any needlework-people, and ordinary everyday things are mostly attended to by their ladies themselves. (If not), why is it that every time she has come to us on a visit, and she and I have had a chat, she at once broached the subject of their being in great difficulties at home, the moment she perceived that there was no one present? Yet, whenever I went on to ask her a few questions about their usual way of living, her very eyes grew red, while she made some indistinct reply; but as for speaking out, she wouldn't. But when I consider the circumstances in which she is placed, for she has certainly had the misfortune of being left, from her very infancy, without father and mother, the very sight of her is too much for me, and my heart begins to bleed within me."
"Quite so! Quite so!" observed Hsi Jen, clapping her hands, after listening to her throughout. "It isn't strange then if she let me have the ten butterfly knots I asked her to tie for me only after ever so many days, and if she said that they were coarsely done, but that I should make the best of them and use them elsewhere, and that if I wanted any nice ones, I should wait until by and bye when she came to stay here, when she would work some neatly for me. What you've told me now reminds me that, as she had found it difficult to find an excuse when we appealed to her, she must have had to slave away, who knows how much, till the third watch in the middle of the night. What a stupid thing I was! Had I known this sooner, I would never have told her a word about it."
"Last time;" continued Pao-ch'ai, "she told me that when she was at home she had ample to do, that she kept busy as late as the third watch, and that, if she did the slightest stitch of work for any other people, the various ladies, belonging to her family, did not like it."
"But as it happens," explained Hsi Jen, "that mulish-minded and perverse-tempered young master of ours won't allow the least bit of needlework, no matter whether small or large, to be made by those persons employed to do sewing in the household. And as for me, I have no time to turn my attention to all these things."
"Why mind him?" laughed Pao-ch'ai. "Simply ask some one to do the work and finish."
"How could one bamboozle him?" resumed Hsi Jen. "Why, he'll promptly find out everything. Such a thing can't even be suggested. The only thing I can do is to quietly slave away, that's all."
"You shouldn't work so hard," smiled Pao-ch'ai. "What do you say to my doing a few things for you?"
"Are you in real earnest!" ventured Hsi Jen smiling. "Well, in that case, it is indeed a piece of good fortune for me! I'll come over myself in the evening."
But before she could conclude her reply, she of a sudden noticed an old matron come up to her with precipitate step. "Where does the report come from," she interposed, "that Miss Chin Ch'uan-erh has gone, for no rhyme or reason, and committed suicide by jumping into the well?"
This bit of news startled Hsi Jen. "Which Chin Ch'uan-erh is it," she speedily inquired.
"Where are two Chin Ch'uan-erhs to be found!" rejoined the old matron. "It's the one in our Mistress,' Madame Wang's, apartments, who was the other day sent away for something or other, I don't know what. On her return home, she raised her groans to the skies and shed profuse tears, but none of them worried their minds about her, until, who'd have thought it, they could see nothing of her. A servant, however, went just now to draw water and he says that 'while he was getting it from the well in the south-east corner, he caught sight of a dead body, that he hurriedly called men to his help, and that when they fished it out, they unexpectedly found that it was she, but that though they bustled about trying to bring her round, everything proved of no avail'"
"This is odd!" Pao-ch'ai exclaimed.
The moment Hsi Jen heard the tidings, she shook her head and moaned. At the remembrance of the friendship, which had ever existed between them, tears suddenly trickled down her cheeks. And as for Pao-ch'ai, she listened to the account of the accident and then hastened to Madame Wang's quarters to try and afford her consolation.
Hsi Jen, during this interval, returned to her room. But we will leave her without further notice, and explain that when Pao-ch'ai reached the interior of Madame Wang's home, she found everything plunged in perfect stillness. Madame Wang was seated all alone in the inner chamber indulging her sorrow. But such difficulties did Pao-ch'ai experience to allude to the occurrence, that her only alternative was to take a seat next to her.
"Where do you come from?" asked Madame Wang.
"I come from inside the garden," answered Pao-ch'ai.
"As you come from the garden," Madame Wang inquired, "did you see anything of your cousin Pao-yue?"
"I saw him just now," Pao-ch'ai replied, "go out, dressed up in his fineries. But where he is gone to, I don't know."
"Have you perchance heard of any strange occurrence?" asked Madame Wang, while she nodded her head and sighed. "Why, Chin Ch'uan Erh jumped into the well and committed suicide."
"How is it that she jumped into the well when there was nothing to make her do so?" Pao-ch'ai inquired. "This is indeed a remarkable thing!"
"The fact is," proceeded Madame Wang, "that she spoilt something the other day, and in a sudden fit of temper, I gave her a slap and sent her away, simply meaning to be angry with her for a few days and then bring her in again. But, who could have ever imagined that she had such a resentful temperament as to go and drown herself in a well! And is not this all my fault?"
"It's because you are such a kind-hearted person, aunt," smiled Pao-ch'ai, "that such ideas cross your mind! But she didn't jump into the well when she was in a tantrum; so what must have made her do so was that she had to go and live in the lower quarters. Or, she might have been standing in front of the well, and her foot slipped, and she fell into it. While in the upper rooms, she used to be kept under restraint, so when this time she found herself outside, she must, of course, have felt the wish to go strolling all over the place in search of fun. How could she have ever had such a fiery disposition? But even admitting that she had such a temper, she was, after all, a stupid girl to do as she did; and she doesn't deserve any pity."
"In spite of what you say," sighed Madame Wang, shaking her head to and fro, "I really feel unhappy at heart."
"You shouldn't, aunt, distress your mind about it!" Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Yet, if you feel very much exercised, just give her a few more taels than you would otherwise have done, and let her be buried. You'll thus carry out to the full the feelings of a mistress towards her servant."
"I just now gave them fifty taels for her," pursued Madame Wang. "I also meant to let them have some of your cousin's new clothes to enshroud her in. But, who'd have thought it, none of the girls had, strange coincidence, any newly-made articles of clothing; and there were only that couple of birthday suits of your cousin Lin's. But as your cousin Lin has ever been such a sensitive child and has always too suffered and ailed, I thought it would be unpropitious for her, if her clothes were also now handed to people to wrap their dead in, after she had been told that they were given her for her birthday. So I ordered a tailor to get a suit for her as soon as possible. Had it been any other servant-girl, I could have given her a few taels and have finished. But Chin Ch'uan-erh was, albeit a servant-maid, nearly as dear to me as if she had been a daughter of mine."
Saying this, tears unwittingly ran down from her eyes.
"Aunt!" vehemently exclaimed Pao-ch'ai. "What earthly use is it of hurrying a tailor just now to prepare clothes for her? I have a couple of suits I made the other day and won't it save trouble were I to go and bring them for her? Besides, when she was alive, she used to wear my old clothes. And what's more our figures are much alike."
"What you say is all very well," rejoined Madame Wang; "but can it be that it isn't distasteful to you?"
"Compose your mind," urged Pao-ch'ai with a smile. "I have never paid any heed to such things."
As she spoke, she rose to her feet and walked away.
Madame Wang then promptly called two servants. "Go and accompany Miss Pao!" she said.
In a brief space of time, Pao-ch'ai came back with the clothes, and discovered Pao-yue seated next to Madame Wang, all melted in tears. Madame Wang was reasoning with him. At the sight of Pao-ch'ai, she, at once, desisted. When Pao-ch'ai saw them go on in this way, and came to weigh their conversation and to scan the expression on their countenances, she immediately got a pretty correct insight into their feelings. But presently she handed over the clothes, and Madame Wang sent for Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother, to take them away.
But, reader, you will have to peruse the next chapter for further details.
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