中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第三十九 村姥姥是信口開 情哥哥偏尋根究底 CHAPTER XXXIX.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXXIX.
話說衆人見平兒來，都說：“你們奶奶作什麽呢，怎麽不來？"平兒笑道：“他那得空兒來。因為說沒有好生吃得，又不得來，所以叫我來問還有沒有，叫我要幾個拿學家全家家庭家乡去吃罷。”湘道：“有，多着呢。”忙令人拿十個極大的。平兒道：“多拿幾個臍的。 "衆人又拉平兒坐，平兒不肯。李紈拉着他笑道：“偏要你坐。”拉着他身邊坐下，端一杯酒送到他嘴邊。 平兒忙喝一口就要走。李紈道：“偏不許你去。顯見得衹有鳳丫頭，就不聽我的話。”說着又命嬤嬤們：“先送盒子去，就說我留下平兒。”那婆子一時拿盒子來說：“二奶奶說，叫奶奶和姑娘們笑話要嘴吃。這個盒子是方纔舅太太那送來的菱粉糕和雞油兒， 給奶奶姑娘們吃的。”又平兒道：“說使你來你就貪住頑不去。 勸你少喝一杯兒罷。”平兒笑道：’多喝又把我怎麽樣？"一面說， 一面管喝，又吃螃蟹。李紈攬着他笑道：“可惜這麽個好當面表面反面方面正面迎面滿面封面地面路面世面平面斜面前面下面四面十面一面洗心革面方方面面面貌面容面色面目面面俱到模樣兒，命卻平常，落得屋使喚。不知道的人，誰不拿你當作奶奶太太看。”
平兒一面和寶釵湘等吃喝，一面回頭笑道：“奶奶，衹有衹不過摸的我怪癢的。”李氏道：“噯喲！這硬的是什麽？"平兒道：“鑰匙。”李氏道：“什麽鑰匙？要緊梯己東西怕人偷去， 卻帶在身上。我成日和人說笑，有個唐僧取經，就有個白馬來馱他，劉智遠打天下， 就有個瓜精來送盔甲，有個鳳丫頭，就有個你。你就是你奶奶的一把總鑰匙，還要這鑰匙作什麽。 "平兒笑道：“奶奶吃酒，又拿我來打趣着取笑兒。”寶釵笑道：“這倒是真話。 我們沒事評論起人來，你們這幾個都是百個頭挑不出一個來，妙在各人有各人的好處。”李紈道：“大小都有個天理。比如老太太屋，要沒那個鴛鴦如何使得。 從太太起，那一個敢駁老太太的，現在他敢駁。偏老太太聽他一個人的話。老太太那些穿戴的，別人不記得，他都記得，要不是他經管着，不知叫人誆騙多少去呢。那孩子心也公道，雖然這樣，倒常替人說好話兒，還倒不依勢欺人的。”惜春笑道：“老太太昨兒還說呢，他比我們還強呢。”平兒道：“那原是個好的，我們那比的上他。”寶玉道：“太太屋的彩霞，是個老實人。”探春道：“可不是，外頭老實，心有數兒。太太是那麽佛爺似的，事情上不留心，他都知道。凡百一應事都是他提着太太行。連老爺在出外去的一應大小事， 他都知道。太太忘，他背地告訴太太。”李紈道：“那也罷。”指着寶玉道：“這一個小爺屋要不是襲人，你們度量到個什麽田地！鳳丫頭就是楚霸王，也得這兩膀子好舉斤鼎。他不是這丫頭，就得這麽周到！"平兒笑道：“先時陪四個丫頭，死的死，去的去，剩下我一個孤鬼。”李紈道：“你倒是有造化的。鳳丫頭也是有造化的。想當初你珠大爺在日，何曾也沒兩個人。你們看我還是那容不下人的？天天見他兩個不自在。所以你珠大爺一沒，趁年輕我都打受不了。若有一個守得住， 我倒有個膀臂。”說着滴下淚來。衆人都道：“又何必傷心，不如散倒好。”說着便都洗手，大約往賈母王夫人處問安。
衆婆子丫頭打掃亭子，收拾杯盤。襲人和平兒同往前去，讓平兒到房坐坐，再喝一杯茶。平兒說：“不喝茶，再來罷。”說着便要出去。襲人又叫住問道：“這個月的月錢，連老太太和太太還沒放呢，是為什麽？"平兒見問，忙轉身至襲人跟前，見方近無人， 悄悄說道：“你快問，橫竪再遲天就放。”襲人笑道：“這是為什麽，唬得你這樣？ "平兒悄悄告訴他道：“這個月的月錢，我們奶奶早已支，放給人使呢。等處的利錢收來，湊齊高才口才奴才蠢才天才人才之才英才多才賢才群才唯才幹才詩才降才五才乏才文才懷才奇才才能才路才力才高才伐才格才望才理才思才郎才哲才智才雄才英才情才分才略才貌才人才子才疏放呢。因為是你，我告訴你，你可不許告訴一個人去。”襲人道：“難道他還短錢使，還沒個足厭？何苦還操這心。”平兒笑道：“何曾不是呢。這年拿着這一項銀子，翻出有百來。他的公費月例又使不着，十兩八兩零碎攢放出去，他這梯己利錢， 一年不到，上的銀子呢。”襲人笑道：“拿着我們的錢，你們主子奴才賺利錢，哄的我們呆呆的等着。”平兒道：“你又說沒良心的話。你難道還少錢使？"襲人道：“我雖不少，是我也沒地方使去，就預備我們那一個。”平兒道：“你倘若有要緊的事用錢使時， 我那還有兩銀子，你先拿來使，明兒我扣下你的就是。”襲人道：“此時也用不着，怕一時要用起來不夠，我打人去取就是。”
平兒答應着，一徑出園門，來至內，見鳳姐兒不在房。忽見上來打抽的那劉姥姥和兒又來， 坐在那邊屋存在，甚至思想交流的可能，現為一種極端的懷疑主義、不，還有張材的周瑞的陪着，又有兩三個丫頭在地下倒口袋的棗子倭瓜些野菜。 衆人見他進來，都忙站起來。劉姥姥因上次來過，知道平兒的身分，忙跳下地來問"姑娘好"，又說：“鄰里里程都問好。早要來請姑奶奶的安看姑娘來的，因為莊忙。好容易今年多打兩石糧食，瓜果菜蔬也盛。這是頭一
起摘下來的， 沒敢賣呢，留的尖兒孝敬姑奶奶姑娘們淺嘗何嘗未嘗予嘗飽嘗艱苦備嘗。姑娘們天天山珍海味的也吃膩，這個吃個野意兒，也算是我們的窮心。”平兒忙道：“多謝費心。”又讓坐，自己也坐。又讓張嬸子周大娘坐眼圈兒都紅。”平兒笑道：“可不是。我原是不吃的，大奶奶和姑娘們是拉着死灌，不得已喝兩盅，臉就紅。”張材的笑道：“我倒想着要吃呢，又沒人讓我。明兒再有人請姑娘，可帶我去罷。”說着大都笑。周瑞的道：“早起我就看見那螃蟹，一斤好秤兩個三個。這麽三大簍，想是有七八十斤呢。”周瑞的道：“若是上上下下怕還不夠。”平兒道：“那夠，不過都是有名兒的吃兩個子。那些散衆的，也有摸得着的，也有摸不着的。”劉姥姥道：“這樣螃蟹，今年就值五分一斤。十斤五錢，五五二兩五，三五一十五，再搭上酒菜，一共倒有二十多兩銀子。阿彌陀佛！ 這一頓的錢夠我們莊人過一年。”平兒因問：“想是見過奶奶？"劉姥姥道：“見過，叫我們等着呢。”說着又往窗外看天氣，說道：“天好早晚，我們也去罷，出不去城是饑荒呢。”周瑞的道：“這話倒是，我替你瞧瞧去。”說着一徑去，半日方來， 笑道：“可是你老的福來，竟投這兩個人的緣。”平兒等問怎麽樣，周瑞的笑道：“二奶奶在老太太的跟前呢。我原是悄悄的告訴二奶奶，‘劉姥姥要去呢，怕晚趕不出城去。’二奶奶說：‘大遠的，難為他扛那些沉東西來，晚就住一夜明兒再去。 ’這可不是投上二奶奶的緣。這也罷，偏生老太太又聽見，問劉姥姥是誰。二奶奶便明白。老太太說：‘我正想個積古的老人說話兒，請來我見一見。’ 這可不是想不到天上緣分。”說着，催劉姥姥下來前去。劉姥姥道：“我這生像兒怎好見的。好嫂子，你就說我去罷。”平兒忙道：“你快去罷，不相的。我們老太太最是惜老憐貧的，比不得那個狂三詐四的那些人。想是你怯上，我和周大娘送你去。”說着，同周瑞的引劉姥姥往賈母這邊來。
二門口該班的小廝們見平兒出來，都站起來，又有兩個跑上來，趕着平兒叫"姑娘"。平兒問：“又說什麽？"那小廝笑道：“這會子也好早晚，我媽病，等着我去請大夫。 好姑娘，我討半日假可使的？"平兒道：“你們倒好，都商議定，一天一個告假，又不奶奶，和我纏。前兒住兒去，二爺偏生叫他，叫不着，我應起來，還說我作情。你今兒又來。”周瑞的道：“當真的他媽病，姑娘也替他應着，放他罷。”平兒道：“明兒一早來。聽着，我還要使你呢，再睡的日頭曬着屁股再來！你這一去，帶個信兒給旺兒， 就說奶奶的話，問着他那剩的利錢。明兒若不交來，奶奶也不要，就越性送他使罷。”那小廝歡天喜地答應去。
平兒等來至賈母房中， 彼時大觀園中姊妹們都在賈母前承奉。劉姥姥進去，見滿屋珠圍翠繞，花枝招展，並不知都何人。見一張榻上歪着一位老婆婆孔伋即“子思”。，身坐着一個紗羅裹的美人一般的一個丫鬟在那捶腿，鳳姐兒站着正說笑。劉姥姥便知是賈母，忙上來陪着笑，福茶几福，口說：“請老壽星安。”賈母亦欠身問好，又命周瑞的端過椅子來坐着。那兒仍是怯人，不知問候。賈母道：“老親，你今年多大年紀？ "劉姥姥忙立身答道：“我今年七十五。”賈母衆人道：“這麽大年紀，還這麽健朗。 比我大好歲呢。我要到這麽大年紀，還不知怎麽動不得呢。”劉姥姥笑道：“我們生來是受苦的人， 老太太生來是享福的。若我們也這樣，那些莊活也沒人作。”賈母道：“眼睛牙齒都還好？"劉姥姥道：“都還好，就是今年左邊的槽牙活動。”賈母道：“我老，都不中用，眼也花，耳也聾，記性也沒。你們這些老親戚，我都不記得。親戚們來，我怕人笑我，我都不會，不過嚼的動的吃兩口，睡一覺，悶時和這些孫子孫女兒頑笑一就完。 "劉姥姥笑道：“這正是老太太的福。我們想這麽着也不能。”賈母道：“什麽福，不過是個老廢物罷。”說的大都笑。賈母又笑道：“我聽見鳳哥兒說， 你帶好些瓜菜來，叫他快收拾去，我正想個地現擷的瓜兒菜兒吃。外頭買的，不象你們田地的好吃。”劉姥姥笑道：“這是野意兒，不過吃個新鮮。依我們想魚肉吃， 是吃不起。”賈母又道：“今兒既認着親，空空兒的就去。不嫌我這裏， 就住一兩天再去。我們也有個園子，園子頭也有果子，你明日也淺嘗何嘗未嘗予嘗飽嘗艱苦備嘗，帶些去，你也算看親戚一趟。”鳳姐兒見賈母喜歡，也忙留道：“我們這裏雖不比你們的場院大，空屋子還有兩間。你住兩天罷，把你們那的新聞故事兒說些與我們老太太聽聽。”賈母笑道：“鳳丫頭拿他取笑兒。他是鄉屯的人，老實，那擱的住你打趣他。”說着， 又命人去先抓果子與兒吃。兒見人多，又不敢吃。賈母又命拿些錢給他，叫小幺兒們帶他外頭頑去。 劉姥姥吃茶，便把些鄉村中所見所聞的事情說與賈母，賈母益得趣味。 正說着，鳳姐兒便令人來請劉姥姥吃晚飯。賈母又將自己的菜揀茶几樣，命人送過去與劉姥姥吃。
鳳姐知道受不了賈母的心，吃飯便又打過來。鴛鴦忙令老婆子帶劉姥姥去洗澡， 自己挑兩件隨常的衣服令給劉姥姥換上。那劉姥姥那見過這般行事，忙換衣裳出來，坐在賈母榻前，又搜尋些話出來說。彼時寶玉姊妹們也都在這裏坐着，他們何曾聽見過這些話， 自覺比那些瞽目先生說的書還好聽。那劉姥姥雖是個村野人，卻生來的有些見識，況且年紀老，世情上經過的，見頭一個賈母高興，第二見這些哥兒姐兒們都愛聽， 便沒說的也編出些話來講。因說道：“我們村莊上地菜，每年每日，春夏鼕，風雨，那有個坐着的空兒，天天都是在那地頭子上作歇馬涼亭，什麽奇奇怪怪的事不見呢。就象去年鼕天，接連下茶几天雪，地下壓三四尺深。我那日起的早，還沒出房門，聽外頭柴草響。我想着必定是有人偷柴草來。我爬着窗戶眼兒一瞧，卻不是我們村莊上的人。”賈母道：“必定是過路的客人們冷，見現成的柴， 抽些烤火去也是有的。”劉姥姥笑道：“也並不是客人，所以說來奇怪。老壽星當個什麽人？ 原來是一個十七八歲的極標的一個小姑娘，梳着溜油光的頭，穿着大紅襖兒， 白綾裙子——"剛說到這裏，忽聽外人吵嚷起來，又說：“不相的，唬着老太太。”賈母等聽，忙問怎麽，丫鬟說"南院馬棚走水，不相，已經救下去。” 賈母最膽小的，聽這個話，忙起身扶人出至廊上來瞧，見東南上火光猶亮。賈母唬的口內念佛，忙命人去火神跟前燒香。王夫人等也忙都過來請安，又說"已經下去，老太太請進房去罷。”賈母足的看着火光息方領衆人進來。寶玉且忙着問劉姥姥：“那女孩兒大雪地作什麽抽柴草？倘或凍出病來呢？"賈母道：“都是說抽柴草惹出火來，你還問呢。說這個，再說的罷。”寶玉聽說，心內雖不樂，也得罷。劉姥姥便又想
一篇，說道：“我們莊子東邊莊上，有個老奶奶子，今年九十多歲。他天天吃齋念佛， 誰知就感動觀音菩薩夜來托夢說：‘你這樣虔心，原來你該絶的，如今奏玉皇， 給你個孫子。’原來這老奶奶衹有一個兒子，這兒子也一個兒子，好容易養到十七八歲上死，哭的什麽似的。果然又養一個，今年十三四歲，生的雪兒一般，聰明伶俐非常。可見這些神佛是有的。”這一夕話，實受不了賈母王夫人的心事，連王夫人也都聽住。
寶玉心中記挂着抽柴的故事， 因悶悶的心中籌畫。探春因問他"昨日擾史大妹妹，咱們去商議着邀一社，又還席，也請老太太賞菊花食，教民禮儀。提出燭火之喻，論述神不離形；反對神仙長，何如？"寶玉笑道：“老太太說，還要酒還史妹妹的席，叫咱們作陪呢。等着吃老太太的，咱們再請不遲。”探春道：“越往前去越冷，老太太未必高興。”寶玉道：“老太太又喜歡下雨下雪的。不如咱們等下頭場雪， 請老太太賞雪豈不好？咱們雪下吟詩，也更有趣。”林黛玉忙笑道：“咱們雪下吟詩？依我說，還不如弄一捆柴火，雪下抽柴，還更有趣兒呢。”說着，寶釵等都笑。寶玉瞅他一眼，也不答話。
一時散， 背地寶玉足的拉劉姥姥，細問那女孩兒是誰。劉姥姥得編告訴他道：“那原是我們莊北沿地埂子上有一個小祠堂供的，不是神佛，當先有個什麽老爺。 "說着又想名姓。寶玉道：“不拘什麽名姓，你不必想，說原故就是。”劉姥姥道：“這老爺沒有兒子，衹有一位小姐，名叫茗玉。小姐知書識字，老爺太太愛如珍寶。 可惜這茗玉小姐生到十七歲，一病死。”寶玉聽，跌足嘆惜，又問來怎麽樣。劉姥姥道：“因為老爺太太思念不，便蓋這祠堂，塑這茗玉小姐的像，派人燒香撥火。如今日久年深的，人也沒，廟也爛，那個像就成精。”寶玉忙道：“不是成精，規矩這樣人是雖死不死的。”劉姥姥道：“阿彌陀佛！原來如此。不是哥兒說，我們都當他成精。 他時常變人出來各村莊店道上閑逛。我說這抽柴火的就是他。我們村莊上的人還商議着要打這塑像平廟呢。”寶玉忙道：“快如此。若平廟，罪過不小。 "劉姥姥道：“幸虧哥兒告訴我，我明兒去告訴他們就是。”寶玉道：“我們老太太，太太都是善人，閤家大小也都好善喜，最愛修廟塑神的。我明兒做一個疏頭，替你化些施，你就做香頭，攢錢把這廟修蓋，再裝潢泥像，每月給你香火錢燒香豈不好？"劉姥姥道：“若這樣，我托那小姐的福，也有幾個錢使。”寶玉又問他地名莊名，來往遠近，坐落何方。劉姥姥便順口謅出來。
寶玉信以為真， 至房中，盤算一夜。次日一早，便出來給茗煙百錢，按着劉姥姥說的方向地名，着茗煙去先踏看明白，來再做主意。那茗煙去，寶玉左等也不來，右等也不來，急的熱鍋上的螞蟻一般。好容易等到日落，方見茗煙興興頭頭的來。 寶玉忙道：“可有廟？"茗煙笑道：“爺聽的不明白，叫我好找。那地名座落不似爺說的一樣， 所以找一日，找到東北上田埂子上有一個破廟。”寶玉聽說，喜的眉開眼笑， 忙說道：“劉姥姥有年紀的人，一時錯記也是有的。你且說你見的。”茗煙道：“那廟門卻倒是朝南開， 也是稀破的。我找的正沒好氣，一見這個，我說‘可好’，連忙進去。一看泥胎，唬的我跑出來，活似真的一般。”寶玉喜的笑道：“他能變化人，自然有些生氣。 "茗煙拍手道：“那有什麽女孩兒，竟是一位青臉紅的瘟神爺。”寶玉聽， 啐一口，駡道：“真是一個無用的殺！這點子事也不來。”茗煙道：“二爺又不知看什麽書，或者聽誰的混話，信真，把這件沒頭腦的事派我去碰頭，怎麽說我沒用呢？ "寶玉見他急，忙撫慰他道：“你急。改日閑你再找去。若是他哄我們呢， 自然沒，若真是有的，你豈不也積陰騭。我必重重的賞你。”正說着，見二門上的小廝來說：“老太太房的姑娘們站在二門口找二爺呢。”
The tongue of the village old dame finds as free vent as a river that has broken its banks. The affectionate cousin makes up his mind to sift to the very bottom the story told by old goody Liu.
Upon seeing, the story explains, P'ing Erh arrive, they unanimously inquired, "What is your mistress up to? How is it she hasn't come?"
"How ever could she spare the time to get as far as here?" P'ing Erh smiled and replied. "But, she said, she hasn't anything good to eat, so she bade me, as she couldn't possibly run over, come and find out whether there be any more crabs or not; (if there be), she enjoined me to ask for a few to take to her to eat at home."
"There are plenty!" Hsiang-yuen rejoined; and directing, with alacrity, a servant to fetch a present box, she put in it ten of the largest crabs.
"I'll take a few more of the female ones," P'ing Erh remarked.
One and all then laid hands upon P'ing Erh and tried to drag her into a seat, but P'ing Erh would not accede to their importunities.
"I insist upon your sitting down," Li Wan laughingly exclaimed, and as she kept pulling her about, and forcing her to sit next to her, she filled a cup of wine and put it to her lips. P'ing Erh hastily swallowed a sip and endeavoured immediately to beat a retreat.
"I won't let you go," shouted Li Wan. "It's so evident that you're only got that woman Feng in your thoughts as you don't listen to any of my words!"
Saying this, she went on to bid the nurses go ahead, and take the box over. "Tell her," she added, "that I've kept P'ing Erh here."
A matron presently returned with a box. "Lady Secunda," she reported, "says that you, lady Chu, and our young mistresses must not make fun of her for having asked for something to eat; and that in this box you'll find cakes made of water-lily powder, and rolls prepared with chicken fat, which your maternal aunt, on the other side, just sent for your ladyship and for you, young ladies, to taste. That she bids you," (the matron) continued, turning towards P'ing Erh, "come over on duty, but your mind is so set upon pleasure that you loiter behind and don't go back. She advises you, however, not to have too many cups of wine."
"Were I even to have too much," P'ing Erh smiled, "what could she do to me?"
Uttering these words, she went on with her drink; after which she partook of some more crab.
"What a pity it is," interposed Li Wan, caressing her, "that a girl with such good looks as you should have so ordinary a fortune as to simply fall into that room as a menial! But wouldn't any one, who is not acquainted with actual facts, take you for a lady and a mistress?"
While she went on eating and drinking with Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang-yuen and the other girls, P'ing Erh turned her head round. "Don't rub me like that!" she laughed, "It makes me feel quite ticklish."
"Ai-yo!" shouted Li Wan. "What's this hard thing?"
"It's a key," P'ing Erh answered.
"What fine things have you got that the fear lest people should take it away, prompts you to carry this about you? I keep on, just for a laugh, telling people the whole day long that when the bonze T'ang was fetching the canons, a white horse came and carried him! That when Liu Chih-yuean was attacking the empire, a melon-spirit appeared and brought him a coat of mail, and that in the same way, where our vixen Feng is, there you are to be found! You are your mistress' general key; and what do you want this other key for?"
"You've primed yourself with wine, my lady," P'ing Erh smiled, "and here you once more chaff me and make a laughing-stock of me."
"This is really quite true," Pao-ch'ai laughed. "Whenever we've got nothing to do, and we talk matters over, (we're quite unanimous) that not one in a hundred could be picked out to equal you girls in here. The beauty is that each one of you possesses her own good qualities!"
"In every thing, whether large or small, a heavenly principle rules alike," Li Wan explained. "Were there, for instance, no Yuean Yang in our venerable senior's apartments, how would it ever do? Commencing with Madame Wang herself, who is it who could muster sufficient courage to expostulate with the old lady? Yet she plainly has the pluck to put in her remonstrances with her; and, as it happens, our worthy ancestor lends a patient ear to only what she says and no one else. None of the others can remember what our old senior has in the way of clothes and head-ornaments, but she can remember everything; and, were she not there to look after things, there is no knowing how many would not be swindled away. That child besides is so straightforward at heart, that, despite all this, she often puts in a good word for others, and doesn't rely upon her influence to look down disdainfully upon any one!"
"It was only yesterday," Hsi Ch'un observed with a smile, "that our dear ancestor said that she was ever so much better than the whole lot of us!"
"She's certainly splendid!" P'ing Erh ventured. "How could we rise up to her standard?"
"Ts'ai Hsia," Pao-yue put in, "who is in mother's rooms, is a good sort of girl!"
"Of course she is!" T'an Ch'un assented. "But she's good enough as far as external appearances go, but inwardly she's a sly one! Madame Wang is just like a joss; she does not give her mind to any sort of business; but this girl is up to everything; and it is she who in all manner of things reminds her mistress what there is to be done. She even knows everything, whether large or small, connected with Mr. Chia Cheng's staying at home or going out of doors; and when at any time Madame Wang forgets, she, from behind the scenes, prompts her how to act."
"Well, never mind about her!" Li Wan suggested. "But were," she pursued, pointing at Pao-yue, "no Hsi Jen in this young gentleman's quarters, just you imagine what a pitch things would reach! That vixen Feng may truly resemble the prince Pa of the Ch'u kingdom; and she may have two arms strong enough to raise a tripod weighing a thousand catties, but had she not this maid (P'ing Erh), would she be able to accomplish everything so thoroughly?"
"In days gone by," P'ing Erh interposed, "four servant-girls came along with her, but what with those who've died and those who've gone, only I remain like a solitary spirit."
"You're, after all, the fortunate one!" Li Wan retorted, "but our hussey Feng too is lucky in having you! Had I not also once, just remember, two girls, when your senior master Chu was alive? Am I not, you've seen for yourselves, a person to bear with people? But in such a surly frame of mind did I find them both day after day that, as soon as your senior master departed this life, I availed myself of their youth (to give them in marriage) and to pack both of them out of my place. But had either of them been good for anything and worthy to be kept, I would, in fact, have now had some one to give me a helping hand!"
As she spoke, the very balls of her eyes suddenly became quite red.
"Why need you again distress your mind?" they with one voice, exclaimed. "Isn't it better that we should break up?"
While conversing, they rinsed their hands; and, when they had agreed to go in a company to dowager lady Chia's and Madame Wang's and inquire after their health, the matrons and servant-maids swept the pavilion and collected and washed the cups and saucers.
Hsi Jen proceeded on her way along with P'ing Erh. "Come into my room," said Hsi Jen to P'ing Erh, "and sit down and have another cup of tea."
"I won't have any tea just now," P'ing Erh answered. "I'll come some other time."
So saying, she was about to go off when Hsi Jen called out to her and stopped her.
"This month's allowances," she asked, "haven't yet been issued, not even to our old mistress and Madame Wang; why is it?"
Upon catching this inquiry, P'ing Erh hastily retraced her steps and drew near Hsi Jen. After looking about to see that no one was in the neighbourhood, she rejoined in a low tone of voice, "Drop these questions at once! They're sure, anyhow, to be issued in a couple of days."
"Why is it," smiled Hsi Jen, "that this gives you such a start?"
"This month's allowances," P'ing Erh explained to her in a whisper, "have long ago been obtained in advance by our mistress Secunda and given to people for their own purposes; and it's when the interest has been brought from here and there that the various sums will be lumped together and payment be effected. I confide this to you, but, mind, you mustn't go and tell any other person about it."
"Is it likely that she hasn't yet enough money for her own requirements?" Hsi Jen smiled. "Or is it that she's still not satisfied? And what's the use of her still going on bothering herself in this way?"
"Isn't it so!" laughed P'ing Erh. "From just handling the funds for this particular item, she has, during these few years, so manipulated them as to turn up several hundreds of taels profit out of them. Nor does she spend that monthly allowance of hers for public expenses. But the moment she accumulates anything like eight or ten taels odd, she gives them out too. Thus the interest on her own money alone comes up to nearly a thousand taels a year."
"You and your mistress take our money," Hsi Jen observed laughingly, "and get interest on it; fooling us as if we were no better than idiots."
"Here you are again with your uncharitable words!" P'ing Erh remonstrated. "Can it be that you haven't yet enough to meet your own expenses with?"
"I am, it's true, not short of money," Hsi Jen replied, "as I have nowhere to go and spend it; but the thing is that I'm making provision for that fellow of ours, (Pao-yue)."
"If you ever find yourself in any great straits and need money," P'ing Erh resumed, "you're at liberty to take first those few taels I've got over there to suit your own convenience with, and by and bye I can reduce them from what is due to you and we'll be square."
"I'm not in need of any just now," retorted Hsi Jen. "But should I not have enough, when I want some, I'll send some one to fetch them, and finish."
P'ing Erh promised that she would let her have the money at any time she sent for it, and, and taking the shortest cut, she issued out of the garden gate. Here she encountered a servant despatched from the other side by lady Feng. She came in search of P'ing Erh. "Our lady," she said, "has something for you to do, and is waiting for you."
"What's up that it's so pressing?" P'ing Erh inquired. "Our senior mistress detained me by force to have a chat, so I couldn't manage to get away. But here she time after time sends people after me in this manner!"
"Whether you go or not is your own look out," the maid replied. "It isn't worth your while getting angry with me! If you dare, go and tell these things to our mistress!"
P'ing Erh spat at her contemptuously, and rushed back in anxious haste. She discovered, however, that lady Feng was not at home. But unexpectedly she perceived that the old goody Liu, who had paid them a visit on a previous occasion for the purpose of obtaining pecuniary assistance, had come again with Pan Erh, and was seated in the opposite room, along with Chang Ts'ai's wife and Chou Jui's wife, who kept her company. But two or three servant-maids were inside as well emptying on the floor bags containing dates, squash and various wild greens.
As soon as they saw her appear in the room, they promptly stood up in a body. Old goody Liu had, on her last visit, learnt what P'ing Erh's status in the establishment was, so vehemently jumping down, she enquired, "Miss, how do you do? All at home," she pursued, "send you their compliments. I meant to have come earlier and paid my respects to my lady and to look you up, miss; but we've been very busy on the farm. We managed this year to reap, after great labour, a few more piculs of grain than usual. But melons, fruits and vegetables have also been plentiful. These things, you see here, are what we picked during the first crop; and as we didn't presume to sell them, we kept the best to present to our lady and the young ladies to taste. The young ladies must, of course, be surfeited with all the delicacies and fine things they daily get, but by having some of our wild greens to eat, they will show some regard for our poor attention."
"Many thanks for all the trouble you have taken!" Ping Erh eagerly rejoined. Then pressing her to resume her place, she sat down herself; and, urging Mrs. Chang and Mrs. Chou to take their seats, she bade a young waiting-maid go and serve the tea.
"There's a joyous air about your face to-day, Miss, and your eye-balls are all red," the wife of Chou Jui and the wife of Chang Ts'ai thereupon smilingly ventured.
"Naturally!" P'ing Erh laughed. "I generally don't take any wine, but our senior mistress, and our young ladies caught hold of me and insisted upon pouring it down my throat. I had no alternative therefore but to swallow two cups full; so my face at once flushed crimson."
"I have a longing for wine," Chang Ts'ai's wife smiled; "but there's no one to offer me any. But when any one by and by invites you, Miss, do take me along with you!"
At these words, one and all burst out laughing.
"Early this morning," Chou Jui's wife interposed, "I caught a glimpse of those crabs. Only two or three of them would weigh a catty; so in those two or three huge hampers, there must have been, I presume, seventy to eighty catties!"
"If some were intended for those above as well as for those below;" Chou Jui's wife added, "they couldn't, nevertheless, I fear, have been enough."
"How could every one have had any?" P'ing Erh observed. "Those simply with any name may have tasted a couple of them; but, as for the rest, some may have touched them with the tips of their hands, but many may even not have done as much."
"Crabs of this kind!" put in old goody Liu, "cost this year five candareens a catty; ten catties for five mace; five times five make two taels five, and three times five make fifteen; and adding what was wanted for wines and eatables, the total must have come to something over twenty taels. O-mi-to-fu! why, this heap of money is ample for us country-people to live on through a whole year!"
"I expect you have seen our lady?" P'ing Erh then asked.
"Yes, I have seen her," assented old goody Liu. "She bade us wait." As she spoke, she again looked out of the window to see what the time of the day could be. "It's getting quite late," she afterwards proceeded. "We must be going, or else we mayn't be in time to get out of the city gates; and then we'll be in a nice fix."
"Quite right," Chou Jui's wife observed. "I'll go and see what she's up to for you."
With these words, she straightway left the room. After a long absence, she returned. "Good fortune has, indeed, descended upon you, old dame!" she smiled. "Why, you've won the consideration of those two ladies!"
"What about it?" laughingly inquired P'ing Erh and the others.
"Lady Secunda," Chou Jui's wife explained with a smile, "was with our venerable lady, so I gently whispered to her: 'old goody Liu wishes to go home; it's getting late and she fears she mightn't be in time to go out of the gates!' 'It's such a long way off!' Our lady Secunda rejoined, 'and she had all the trouble and fatigue of carrying that load of things; so if it's too late, why, let her spend the night here and start on the morrow!' Now isn't this having enlisted our mistress' sympathies? But not to speak of this! Our old lady also happened to overhear what we said, and she inquired: 'who is old goody Liu?' Our lady Secunda forthwith told her all. 'I was just longing,' her venerable ladyship pursued, 'for some one well up in years to have a chat with; ask her in, and let me see her!' So isn't this coming in for consideration, when least unexpected?"
So speaking, she went on to urge old goody Liu to get down and betake herself to the front.
"With a figure like this of mine," old goody Liu demurred, "how could I very well appear before her? My dear sister-in-law, do tell her that I've gone!"
"Get on! Be quick!" P'ing Erh speedily cried. "What does it matter? Our old lady has the highest regard for old people and the greatest pity for the needy! She's not one you could compare with those haughty and overbearing people! But I fancy you're a little too timid, so I'll accompany you as far as there, along with Mrs. Chou."
While tendering her services, she and Chou Jui's wife led off old goody Liu and crossed over to dowager lady Chia's apartments on this side of the mansion. The boy-servants on duty at the second gate stood up when they saw P'ing Erh approach. But two of them also ran up to her, and, keeping close to her heels: "Miss!" they shouted out. "Miss!"
"What have you again got to say?" P'ing Erh asked.
"It's pretty late just now," one of the boys smilingly remarked; "and mother is ill and wants me to go and call the doctor, so I would, dear Miss, like to have half a day's leave; may I?"
"Your doings are really fine!" P'ing Erh exclaimed. "You've agreed among yourselves that each day one of you should apply for furlough; but instead of speaking to your lady, you come and bother me! The other day that Chu Erh went, Mr. Secundus happened not to want him, so I assented, though I also added that I was doing it as a favour; but here you too come to-day!"
"It's quite true that his mother is sick," Chou Jui's wife interceded; "so, Miss, do say yes to him also, and let him go!"
"Be back as soon as it dawns to-morrow!" P'ing Erh enjoined. "Wait, I've got something for you to do, for you'll again sleep away, and only turn up after the sun has blazed away on your buttocks. As you go now, give a message to Wang Erh! Tell him that our lady bade you warn him that if he does not hand over the balance of the interest due by to-morrow, she won't have anything to do with him. So he'd better let her have it to meet her requirements and finish."
The servant-lad felt in high glee and exuberant spirits. Expressing his obedience, he walked off.
P'ing Erh and her companions repaired then to old lady Chia's apartments. Here the various young ladies from the Garden of Broad Vista were at the time assembled paying their respects to their grandmother. As soon as old goody Liu put her foot inside, she saw the room thronged with girls (as seductive) as twigs of flowers waving to and fro, and so richly dressed, as to look enveloped in pearls, and encircled with king-fisher ornaments. But she could not make out who they all were. Her gaze was, however, attracted by an old dame, reclining alone on a divan. Behind her sat a girl, a regular beauty, clothed in gauze, engaged in patting her legs. Lady Feng was on her feet in the act of cracking some joke.
Old goody Liu readily concluded that it must be dowager lady Chia, so promptly pressing forward, she put on a forced smile and made several curtseys. "My obeisance to you, star of longevity!" she said.
Old lady Chia hastened, on her part, to bow and to inquire after her health. Then she asked Chou Jui's wife to bring a chair over for her to take a seat. But Pan Erh was still so very shy that he did not know how to make his obeisance.
"Venerable relative," dowager lady Chia asked, "how old are you this year?"
Old goody Liu immediately rose to her feet. "I'm seventy-five this year," she rejoined.
"So old and yet so hardy!" Old lady Chia remarked, addressing herself to the party. "Why she's older than myself by several years! When I reach that age, I wonder whether I shall be able to move!"
"We people have," old goody Liu smilingly resumed, "to put up, from the moment we come into the world, with ever so many hardships; while your venerable ladyship enjoys, from your birth, every kind of blessing! Were we also like this, there'd be no one to carry on that farming work."
"Are your eyes and teeth still good?" Dowager lady Chia went on to inquire.
"They're both still all right," old goody Liu replied. "The left molars, however, have got rather shaky this year."
"As for me, I'm quite an old fossil," dowager lady Chia observed. "I'm no good whatever. My eyesight is dim; my ears are deaf, my memory is gone. I can't even recollect any of you, old family connections. When therefore any of our relations come on a visit, I don't see them for fear lest I should be ridiculed. All I can manage to eat are a few mouthfuls of anything tender enough for my teeth; and I can just dose a bit or, when I feel in low spirits, I distract myself a little with these grandsons and grand-daughters of mine; that's all I'm good for."
"This is indeed your venerable ladyship's good fortune!" old goody Liu smiled. "We couldn't enjoy anything of the kind, much though we may long for it."
"What good fortune!" dowager lady Chia exclaimed. "I'm a useless old thing, no more."
This remark made every one explode into laughter.
Dowager lady Chia also laughed. "I heard our lady Feng say a little while back," she added, "that you had brought a lot of squash and vegetables, and I told her to put them by at once. I had just been craving to have newly-grown melons and vegetables; but those one buys outside are not as luscious as those produced in your farms."
"This is the rustic notion," old goody Liu laughed, "to entirely subsist on fresh things! Yet, we long to have fish and meat for our fare, but we can't afford it."
"I've found a relative in you to-day," dowager lady Chia said, "so you shouldn't go empty-handed! If you don't despise this place as too mean, do stay a day or two before you start! We've also got a garden here; and this garden produces fruits too; you can taste some of them to-morrow and take a few along with you home, in order to make it look like a visit to relatives."
When lady Feng saw how delighted old lady Chia was with the prospects of the old dame's stay, she too lost no time in doing all she could to induce her to remain. "Our place here," she urged, "isn't, it's true, as spacious as your threshing-floor; but as we've got two vacant rooms, you'd better put up in them for a couple of days, and choose some of your village news and old stories and recount them to our worthy senior."
"Now you, vixen Feng," smiled dowager lady Chia, "don't raise a laugh at her expense! She's only a country woman; and will an old dame like her stand any chaff from you?"
While remonstrating with her, she bade a servant go, before attending to anything else, and pluck a few fruits. These she handed to Pan Erh to eat. But Pan Erh did not venture to touch them, conscious as he was of the presence of such a number of bystanders. So old lady Chia gave orders that a few cash should be given him, and then directed the pages to take him outside to play.
After sipping a cup of tea, old goody Liu began to relate, for the benefit of dowager lady Chia, a few of the occurrences she had seen or heard of in the country. These had the effect of putting old lady Chia in a more exuberant frame of mind. But in the midst of her narration, a servant, at lady Feng's instance, asked goody Liu to go and have her evening meal. Dowager lady Chia then picked out, as well, several kinds of eatables from her own repast, and charged some one to take them to goody Liu to feast on.
But the consciousness that the old dame had taken her senior's fancy induced lady Feng to send her back again as soon as she had taken some refreshments. On her arrival, Yuean Yang hastily deputed a matron to take goody Liu to have a bath. She herself then went and selected two pieces of ordinary clothes, and these she entrusted to a servant to hand to the old dame to change. Goody Liu had hitherto not set eyes upon any such grand things, so with eagerness she effected the necessary alterations in her costume. This over, she made her appearance outside, and, sitting in front of the divan occupied by dowager lady Chia, she went on to narrate as many stories as she could recall to mind. Pao-yue and his cousins too were, at the time, assembled in the room, and as they had never before heard anything the like of what she said, they, of course, thought her tales more full of zest than those related by itinerant blind story-tellers.
Old goody Liu was, albeit a rustic person, gifted by nature with a good deal of discrimination. She was besides advanced in years; and had gone through many experiences in her lifetime, so when she, in the first place, saw how extremely delighted old lady Chia was with her, and, in the second, how eager the whole crowd of young lads and lasses were to listen to what fell from her mouth, she even invented, when she found her own stock exhausted, a good many yarns to recount to them.
"What with all the sowing we have to do in our fields and the vegetables we have to plant," she consequently proceeded, "have we ever in our village any leisure to sit with lazy hands from year to year and day to day; no matter whether it's spring, summer, autumn or winter, whether it blows or whether it rains? Yea, day after day all that we can do is to turn the bare road into a kind of pavilion to rest and cool ourselves on! But what strange things don't we see! Last winter, for instance, snow fell for several consecutive days, and it piled up on the ground three or four feet deep. One day, I got up early, but I hadn't as yet gone out of the door of our house when I heard outside the noise of firewood (being moved). I fancied that some one must have come to steal it, so I crept up to a hole in the window; but, lo, I discovered that it was no one from our own village."
"It must have been," interposed dowager lady Chia, "some wayfarers, who being smitten with the cold, took some of the firewood, they saw ready at hand, to go and make a fire and warm themselves with! That's highly probable!"
"It was no wayfarers at all," old goody Liu retorted smiling, "and that's what makes the story so strange. Who do you think it was, venerable star of longevity? It was really a most handsome girl of seventeen or eighteen, whose hair was combed as smooth as if oil had been poured over it. She was dressed in a deep red jacket, a white silk petticoat...."
When she reached this part of her narrative, suddenly became audible the voices of people bawling outside. "It's nothing much," they shouted, "don't frighten our old mistress!" Dowager lady Chia and the other inmates caught, however, their cries and hurriedly inquired what had happened. A servant-maid explained in reply that a fire had broken out in the stables in the southern court, but that there was no danger, as the flames had been suppressed.
Their old grandmother was a person with very little nerve. The moment, therefore, the report fell on her car, she jumped up with all despatch, and leaning on one of the family, she rushed on to the verandah to ascertain the state of things. At the sight of the still brilliant light, shed by the flames, on the south east part of the compound, old lady Chia was plunged in consternation, and invoking Buddha, she went on to shout to the servants to go and burn incense before the god of fire.
Madame Wang and the rest of the members of the household lost no time in crossing over in a body to see how she was getting on. "The fire has been already extinguished," they too assured her, "please, dear ancestor, repair into your rooms!"
But it was only after old lady Chia had seen the light of the flames entirely subside that she at length led the whole company indoors. "What was that girl up to, taking the firewood in that heavy fall of snow?" Pao-yue thereupon vehemently inquired of goody Liu. "What, if she had got frostbitten and fallen ill?"
"It was the reference made recently to the firewood that was being abstracted," his grandmother Chia said, "that brought about this fire; and do you still go on asking more about it? Leave this story alone, and tell us something else!"
Hearing this reminder, Pao-yue felt constrained to drop the subject, much against his wishes, and old goody Liu forthwith thought of something else to tell them.
"In our village," she resumed, "and on the eastern side of our farmstead, there lives an old dame, whose age is this year, over ninety. She goes in daily for fasting, and worshipping Buddha. Who'd have thought it, she so moved the pity of the goddess of mercy that she gave her this message in a dream: 'It was at one time ordained that you should have no posterity, but as you have proved so devout, I have now memorialised the Pearly Emperor to grant you a grandson!' The fact is, this old dame had one son. This son had had too an only son; but he died after they had with great difficulty managed to rear him to the age of seventeen or eighteen. And what tears didn't they shed for him! But, in course of time, another son was actually born to him. He is this year just thirteen or fourteen, resembles a very ball of flower, (so plump is he), and is clever and sharp to an exceptional degree! So this is indeed a clear proof that those spirits and gods do exist!"
This long tirade proved to be in harmony with dowager lady Chia's and Madame Wang's secret convictions on the subject. Even Madame Wang therefore listened to every word with all profound attention. Pao-yue, however, was so pre-occupied with the story about the stolen firewood that he fell in a brown study and gave way to conjectures.
"Yesterday," T'an Ch'un at this point remarked, "We put cousin Shih to a lot of trouble and inconvenience, so, when we get back, we must consult about convening a meeting, and, while returning her entertainment, we can also invite our venerable ancestor to come and admire the chrysanthemums; what do you think of this?"
"Our worthy senior," smiled Pao-yue, "has intimated that she means to give a banquet to return cousin Shih's hospitality, and to ask us to do the honours. Let's wait therefore until we partake of grandmother's collation, before we issue our own invitations; there will be ample time then to do so."
"The later it gets, the cooler the weather becomes," T'an Ch'un observed, "and our dear senior is not likely to enjoy herself."
"Grandmother," added Pao-yue, "is also fond of rain and snow, so wouldn't it be as well to wait until the first fall, and then ask her to come and look at the snow. This will be better, won't it? And were we to recite our verses with snow about us, it will be ever so much more fun!"
"To hum verses in the snow," Lin Tai-yue speedily demurred with a smile, "won't, in my idea, be half as nice as building up a heap of firewood and then stealing it, with the flakes playing about us. This will be by far more enjoyable!"
This proposal made Pao-ch'ai and the others laugh. Pao-yue cast a glance at her but made no reply.
But, in a short time, the company broke up. Pao-yue eventually gave old goody Liu a tug on the sly and plied her with minute questions as to who the girl was. The old dame was placed under the necessity of fabricating something for his benefit. "The truth is," she said, "that there stands on the north bank of the ditch in our village a small ancestral hall, in which offerings are made, but not to spirits or gods. There was in former days some official or other..."
"While speaking, she went on to try and recollect his name and surname.
"No matter about names or surnames!" Pao-yue expostulated. "There's no need for you to recall them to memory! Just mention the facts; they'll be enough."
"This official," old goody Liu resumed, "had no son. His offspring consisted of one young daughter, who went under the name of Jo Yue, (like Jade). She could read and write, and was doated upon by this official and his consort, just as if she were a precious jewel. But, unfortunately, when this young lady, Jo Yue, grew up to be seventeen, she contracted some disease and died."
When these words fell on Pao-yue's ears, he stamped his foot and heaved a sigh. "What happened after that?" he then asked.
Old goody Liu pursued her story.
"So incessantly," she continued, "did this official and his consort think of their child that they raised this ancestral hall, erected a clay image of their young daughter Jo Yue in it, and appointed some one to burn incense and trim the fires. But so many days and years have now elapsed that the people themselves are no more alive, the temple is in decay, and the image itself is become a spirit."
"It hasn't become a spirit," remonstrated Pao-yue with vehemence. "Human beings of this kind may, the rule is, die, yet they are not dead."
"O-mi-to-fu!" ejaculated old goody Liu; "is it really so! Had you, sir, not enlightened us, we would have remained under the impression that she had become a spirit! But she repeatedly transforms herself into a human being, and there she roams about in every village, farmstead, inn and roadside. And the one I mentioned just now as having taken the firewood is that very girl! The villagers in our place are still consulting with the idea of breaking this clay image and razing the temple to the ground."
"Be quick and dissuade them!" eagerly exclaimed Pao-yue. "Were they to raze the temple to the ground, their crime won't be small."
"It's lucky that you told me, Sir," old goody Liu added. "When I get back to-morrow, I'll make them relinquish the idea and finish!"
"Our venerable senior and my mother," Pao-yue pursued, "are both charitable persons. In fact, all the inmates of our family, whether old or young, do, in like manner, delight in good deeds, and take pleasure in distributing alms. Their greatest relish is to repair temples, and to put up images to the spirits; so to-morrow, I'll make a subscription and collect a few donations for you, and you can then act as incense-burner. When sufficient money has been raised, this fane can be repaired, and another clay image put up; and month by month I'll give you incense and fire money to enable you to burn joss-sticks; won't this be A good thing for you?"
"In that case," old goody Liu rejoined, "I shall, thanks to that young lady's good fortune, have also a few cash to spend."
Pao-yue thereupon likewise wanted to know what the name of the place was, the name of the village, how far it was there and back, and whereabout the temple was situated.
Old goody Liu replied to his questions, by telling him every idle thought that came first to her lips. Pao-yue, however, credited the information she gave him and, on his return to his rooms, he exercised, the whole night, his mind with building castles in the air.
On the morrow, as soon as daylight dawned, he speedily stepped out of his room, and, handing Pei Ming several hundreds of cash, he bade him proceed first in the direction and to the place specified by old goody Liu, and clearly ascertain every detail, so as to enable him, on his return from his errand, to arrive at a suitable decision to carry out his purpose. After Pei Ming's departure, Pao-yue continued on pins on needles and on the tiptoe of expectation. Into such a pitch of excitement did he work himself, that he felt like an ant in a burning pan. With suppressed impatience, he waited and waited until sunset. At last then he perceived Pei Ming walk in, in high glee.
"Have you discovered the place?" hastily inquired Pao-yue.
"Master," Pei Ming laughed, "you didn't catch distinctly the directions given you, and you made me search in a nice way! The name of the place and the bearings can't be those you gave me, Sir; that is why I've had to hunt about the whole day long! I prosecuted my inquiries up to the very ditch on the north east side, before I eventually found a ruined temple."
Upon hearing the result of his researches, Pao-yue was much gratified. His very eyebrows distended. His eyes laughed. "Old goody Liu," he said with eagerness, "is a person well up in years, and she may at the moment have remembered wrong; it's very likely she did. But recount to me what you saw."
"The door of that temple," Pei Ming explained, "really faces south, and is all in a tumble-down condition. I searched and searched till I was driven to utter despair. As soon, however, as I caught sight of it, 'that's right,' I shouted, and promptly walked in. But I at once discovered a clay figure, which gave me such a fearful start, that I scampered out again; for it looked as much alive as if it were a real living being."
Pao-yue smiled full of joy. "It can metamorphose itself into a human being," he observed, "so, of course, it has more or less a life-like appearance."
"Was it ever a girl?" Pei Ming rejoined clapping his hands. "Why it was, in fact, no more than a green-faced and red-haired god of plagues."
Pao-yue, at this answer, spat at him contemptuously. "You are, in very truth, a useless fool!" he cried. "Haven't you even enough gumption for such a trifling job as this?"
"What book, I wonder, have you again been reading, master?" Pei Ming continued. "Or you may, perhaps, have heard some one prattle a lot of trash and believed it as true! You send me on this sort of wild goose chase and make me go and knock my head about, and how can you ever say that I'm good for nothing?"
Pao-yue did not fail to notice that he was in a state of exasperation so he lost no time in trying to calm him. "Don't be impatient!" he urged. "You can go again some other day, when you've got nothing to attend to, and institute further inquiries! If it turns out that she has hood-winked us, why, there will, naturally, be no such thing. But if, verily, there is, won't you also lay up for yourself a store of good deeds? I shall feel it my duty to reward you in a most handsome manner."
As he spoke, he espied a servant-lad, on service at the second gate, approach and report to him: "The young ladies in our venerable ladyship's apartments are standing at the threshold of the second gate and looking out for you, Mr. Secundus."
But as, reader, you are not aware what they were on the look-out to tell him, the subsequent chapter will explain it for you.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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