中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第四十三回 閑取樂偶攢金慶壽 不了情暫撮土為香 CHAPTER XLIII.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XLIII.
話說王夫人因見賈母那日在大觀園不過着了些風寒，不是什麽大病，請醫生吃了兩劑藥也就好了，便放了心，因命鳳姐來吩咐他預備給賈政帶送東西。正商議着，衹見賈母打發人來請，王夫人忙引着鳳姐兒過來。王夫人又請問"這會子可又覺大安些？"賈母道：“今日可大好了。方纔你們送來野雞崽子湯，我嘗了一嘗，倒有味兒，又吃了兩塊肉， 心裏很受用。”王夫人笑道：“這是鳳丫頭孝敬老太太的。算他的孝心虔，不枉了素日老太太疼他。 "賈母點頭笑道：“難為他想着。若是還有生的，再炸上兩塊，鹹浸浸的，吃粥有味兒。那湯雖好，就衹不對稀飯。”鳳姐聽了，連忙答應，命人去廚房傳話。
這裏賈母又嚮王夫人笑道：“我打發人請你來，不為別的。初二是鳳丫頭的生日，上兩年我原早想替他做生日，偏到跟前有大事，就混過去了。今年人又齊全，料着又沒事， 咱們大傢好生樂一日。”王夫人笑道：“我也想着呢。既是老太太高興，何不就商議定了？ "賈母笑道：“我想往年不拘誰作生日，都是各自送各自的禮，這個也俗了，也覺生分的似的。 今兒我出個新法子，又不生分，又可取笑。”王夫人忙道：“老太太怎麽想着好， 就是怎麽樣行。”賈母笑道：“我想着，咱們也學那小傢子大傢湊分子，多少盡着這錢去辦， 你道好頑不好頑？"王夫人笑道：“這個很好，但不知怎麽湊法？"賈母聽說，益發高興起來， 忙遣人去請薛姨媽邢夫人等，又叫請姑娘們並寶玉，那府裏珍兒媳婦並賴大傢的等有頭臉管事的媳婦也都叫了來。
衆丫頭婆子見賈母十分高興也都高興， 忙忙的各自分頭去請的請，傳的傳，沒頓飯的工夫，老的，少的，上的，下的，烏壓壓擠了一屋子。衹薛姨媽和賈母對坐，邢夫人王夫人衹坐在房門前兩張椅子上，寶釵姊妹等五六個人坐在炕上，寶玉坐在賈母懷前，地下滿滿的站了一地。賈母忙命拿幾個小杌子來，給賴大母親等幾個高年有體面的媽媽坐了。賈府風俗，年高伏侍過父母的傢人，比年輕的主子還有體面，所以尤氏鳳姐兒等衹管地下站着，那賴大的母親等三四個老媽媽告個罪，都坐在小杌子上了。
賈母笑着把方纔一席話說與衆人聽了。衆人誰不湊這趣兒？再也有和鳳姐兒好的，有情願這樣的，有畏懼鳳姐兒的，巴不得來奉承的：況且都是拿的出來的，所以一聞此言思主義，提出“回到真正的馬剋思那裏去”。異化理論在馬剋， 都欣然應諾。賈母先道：“我出二十兩。”薛姨媽笑道：“我隨着老太太，也是二十兩了。”邢夫人王夫人道：“我們不敢和老太太並肩，自然矮一等，每人十六兩罷了。”尤氏李紈也笑道：“我們自然又矮一等，每人十二兩罷。”賈母忙和李紈道：“你寡婦失業的， 那裏還拉你出這個錢，我替你出了罷。”鳳姐忙笑道：“老太太別高興，且算一算帳再攬事。老太太身上已有兩分呢，這會子又替大嫂子出十二兩，說着高興，一會子回想又心疼了。 過後兒又說‘都是為鳳丫頭花了錢’，使個巧法子，哄着我拿出三四分子來暗裏補上，我還做夢呢。”說的衆人都笑了。賈母笑道：“依你怎麽樣呢？"鳳姐笑道：“生日沒到，我這會子已經折受的不受用了。我一個錢饒不出，驚動這些人實在不安，不如大嫂子這一分我替他出了罷了。我到了那一日多吃些東西，就享了福了。”邢夫人等聽了，都說"很是"。賈母方允了。鳳姐兒又笑道：“我還有一句話呢。我想老祖宗自己二十兩，又有林妹妹寶兄弟的兩分子。姨媽自己二十兩，又有寶妹妹的一分子，這倒也公道。衹是二位太太每位十六兩，自己又少，又不替人出，這有些不公道。老祖宗吃了虧了！" 賈母聽了，忙笑道：“倒是我的鳳姐兒嚮着我，這說的很是。要不是你，我叫他們又哄了去了。 "鳳姐笑道：“老祖宗衹把他姐兒兩個交給兩位太太，一位占一個，派多派少，每位替出一分就是了。 "賈母忙說：“這很公道，就是這樣。”賴大的母親忙站起來笑說道：“這可反了！我替二位太太生氣。在那邊是兒子媳婦，在這邊是內侄女兒，倒不嚮着婆婆姑娘， 倒嚮着別人。這兒媳婦成了陌路人，內侄女兒竟成了個外侄女兒了。”說的賈母與衆人都大笑起來了。賴大之母因又問道：“少奶奶們十二兩，我們自然也該矮一等了。”賈母聽說，道：“這使不得。你們雖該矮一等，我知道你們這幾個都是財主，分位雖低，錢卻比他們多。你們和他們一例纔使得。”衆媽媽聽了，連忙答應。賈母又道：“姑娘們不過應個景兒， 每人照一個月的月例就是了。”又回頭叫鴛鴦來，"你們也湊幾個人， 商議湊了來。”鴛鴦答應着，去不多時帶了平兒，襲人，彩霞等還有幾個小丫鬟來，也有二兩的，也有一兩的。賈母因問平兒：“你難道不替你主子作生日，還入在這裏頭？" 平兒笑道：“我那個私自另外有了，這是官中的，也該出一分。”賈母笑道：“這纔是好孩子。”鳳姐又笑道：“上下都全了。還有二位姨奶奶，他出不出，也問一聲兒。盡到他們是理， 不然，他們衹當小看了他們了。”賈母聽了，忙說：“可是呢，怎麽倒忘了他們！衹怕他們不得閑兒，叫一個丫頭問問去。”說着，早有丫頭去了，半日回來說道：“每位也出二兩。 "賈母喜道：“拿筆硯來算明，共計多少。”尤氏因悄駡鳳姐道：“我把你這沒足厭的小蹄子！這麽些婆婆嬸子來湊銀子給你過生日，你還不足，又拉上兩個苦瓠子作什麽？ "鳳姐也悄笑道：“你少鬍說，一會子離了這裏，我纔和你算帳。他們兩個為什麽苦呢？有了錢也是白填送別人，不如拘來咱們樂。”
說着，早已合算了，共湊了一百五十兩有餘。賈母道：“一日戲酒用不了。”尤氏道：“既不請客，酒席又不多，兩三日的用度都夠了。頭等，戲不用錢，省在這上頭。”賈母道：“鳳丫頭說那一班好，就傳那一班。”鳳姐兒道：“咱們傢的班子都聽熟了，倒是花幾個錢叫一班來聽聽罷。”賈母道：“這件事我交給珍哥媳婦了。越性叫鳳丫頭別操一點心，受用一日纔算。”尤氏答應着。又說了一回話，都知賈母乏了，纔漸漸的都散出來。
尤氏等送邢夫人王夫人二人散去，便往鳳姐房裏來商議怎麽辦生日的話。鳳姐兒道：“你不用問我，你衹看老太太的眼色行事就完了。”尤氏笑道：“你這阿物兒，也忒行了大運了。 我當有什麽事叫我們去，原來單為這個。出了錢不算，還要我來操心，你怎麽謝我？"鳳姐笑道：“你別扯鱢，我又沒叫你來，謝你什麽！你怕操心？你這會子就回老太太去， 再派一個就是了。”尤氏笑道：“你瞧他興的這樣兒！我勸你收着些兒好。太滿了就潑出來了。”二人又說了一回方散。
次日將銀子送到寧國府來，尤氏方纔起來梳洗，因問是誰送過來的，丫鬟們回說：“是林大娘。”尤氏便命叫了他來。丫鬟走至下房，叫了林之孝傢的過來。尤氏命他腳踏上坐了面證明上帝的存在，並把世界描繪成遞相依屬的等級結構。斷，一面忙着梳洗，一面問他：“這一包銀子共多少？"林之孝傢的回說：“這是我們底下人的銀子， 湊了先送過來。老太太和太太們的還沒有呢。”正說着，丫鬟們回說：“那府裏太太和姨太太打發人送分子來了。 "尤氏笑駡道：“小蹄子們，專會記得這些沒要緊的話。昨兒不過老太太一時高興，故意的要學那小傢子湊分子，你們就記得，到了你們嘴裏當正經的說。 還不快接了進來好生待茶，再打發他們去。”丫鬟應着，忙接了進來，一共兩封，連寶釵黛玉的都有了。尤氏問還少誰的，林之孝傢的道：“還少老太太，太太，姑娘們的和底下姑娘們的。”尤氏道：“還有你們大奶奶的呢？"林之孝傢的道：“奶奶過去，這銀子都從二奶奶手裏發，一共都有了。”
說着， 尤氏已梳洗了，命人伺候車輛，一時來至榮府，先來見鳳姐。衹見鳳姐已將銀子封好，正要送去。尤氏問：“都齊了？"鳳姐兒笑道：“都有了，快拿了去罷，丟了我不管。”尤氏笑道：“我有些信不及，倒要當面點一點。”說着果然按數一點，衹沒有李紈的一分。尤氏笑道：“我說你у鬼呢，怎麽你大嫂子的沒有？"鳳姐兒笑道：“那麽些還不夠使？ 短一分兒也罷了，等不夠了我再給你。”尤氏道：“昨兒你在人跟前作人，今兒又來和我賴，這個斷不依你。我衹和老太太要去。”鳳姐兒笑道：“我看你利害。明兒有了事，我也丁是丁卯是卯的， 你也別抱怨。”尤氏笑道：“你一般的也怕。不看你素日孝敬我，我纔是不依你呢。 "說着，把平兒的一分拿了出來，說道：“平兒，來！把你的收起去，等不夠了， 我替你添上。”平兒會意，因說道：“奶奶先使着，若剩下了再賞我一樣。”尤氏笑道：“衹許你那主子作弊，就不許我作情兒。”平兒衹得收了。尤氏又道：“我看着你主子這麽細緻，弄這些錢那裏使去！使不了，明兒帶了棺材裏使去。”一面說着，一面又往賈母處來。先請了安，大概說了兩句話，便走到鴛鴦房中和鴛鴦商議，衹聽鴛鴦的主意行事， 何以討賈母的喜歡。二人計議妥當。尤氏臨走時，也把鴛鴦二兩銀子還他，說：“這還使不了呢。”說着，一徑出來，又至王夫人跟前說了一回話。因王夫人進了佛堂，把彩雲一分也還了他。 見鳳姐不在跟前，一時把周，趙二人的也還了。他兩個還不敢收。尤氏道：“你們可憐見的，那裏有這些閑錢？鳳丫頭便知道了，有我應着呢。”二人聽說，千恩萬謝的方收了。於是尤氏一徑出來，坐車回傢。不在話下。
展眼已是九月初二日， 園中人都打聽得尤氏辦得十分熱鬧，不但有戲，連耍百戲並說書的男女先兒全有， 都打點取樂頑耍。李紈又嚮衆姊妹道：“今兒是正經社日，可別忘了。寶玉也不來，想必他衹圖熱鬧，把清雅就丟開了。”說着，便命丫鬟去瞧作什麽， 快請了來。丫鬟去了半日，回說：“花大姐姐說，今兒一早就出門去了。”衆人聽了，都詫異說：“再沒有出門之理。這丫頭糊塗，不知說話。”因又命翠墨去。一時翠墨回來說：“可不真出了門了。說有個朋友死了，出去探喪去了。”探春道：“斷然沒有的事。憑他什麽，再沒今日出門之理。你叫襲人來，我問他。”剛說着，衹見襲人走來。李紈等都說道：“今兒憑他有什麽事，也不該出門。頭一件，你二奶奶的生日，老太太都這等高興，兩府上下衆人來湊熱鬧， 他倒走了，第二件，又是頭一社的正日子，他也不告假，就私自去了！"襲人嘆道：“昨兒晚上就說了，今兒一早起有要緊的事到北靜王府裏去，就趕回來的。 勸他不要去，他必不依。今兒一早起來，又要素衣裳穿，想必是北靜王府裏的要緊姬妾沒了，也未可知。”李紈等道：“若果如此，也該去走走，衹是也該回來了。”說着，大傢又商議：“咱們衹管作詩，等他回來罰他。”剛說着，衹見賈母已打發人來請，便都往前頭來了。襲人回明寶玉的事，賈母不樂，便命人去接。
原來寶玉心裏有件私事，於頭一日就吩咐茗煙：“明日一早要出門，備下兩匹馬在後門口等着， 不要別一個跟着。說給李貴，我往北府裏去了。倘或要有人找我的任何判斷都是成立的，最好的態度是對事物不作任何判斷。，叫他攔住不用找，衹說北府裏留下了，橫竪就來的。”茗煙也摸不着頭腦，衹得依言說了。今兒一早， 果然備了兩匹馬在園後門等着。天亮了，衹見寶玉遍體純素，從角門出來，一語不發跨上馬，一彎腰，順着街就下去了。茗煙也衹得跨馬加鞭趕上，在後面忙問：“往那裏去？ "寶玉道：“這條路是往那裏去的？"茗煙道：“這是出北門的大道。出去了冷清清沒有可頑的。 "寶玉聽說，點頭道：“正要冷清清的地方好。”說着，越性加了鞭，那馬早已轉了兩個彎子，出了城門。茗煙越發不得主意，衹得緊緊跟着。
一氣跑了七八裏路出來， 人煙漸漸稀少，寶玉方勒住馬，回頭問茗煙道：“這裏可有賣香的？"茗煙道：“香倒有，不知是那一樣？"寶玉想道：“別的香不好，須得檀，蕓，降三樣。”茗煙笑道：“這三樣可難得。”寶玉為難。茗煙見他為難。因問道：“要香作什麽使？ 我見二爺時常小荷包有散香，何不找一找。”一句提醒了寶玉，便回手嚮衣襟上拉出一個荷包來，摸了一摸，竟有兩星沉速，心內歡喜：“衹是不恭些。”再想自己親身帶的，倒比買的又好些。於是又問爐炭。茗煙道：“這可罷了。荒郊野外那裏有？用這些何不早說， 帶了來豈不便宜。”寶玉道：“糊塗東西，若可帶了來，又不這樣沒命的跑了。”茗煙想了半日，笑道：“我得了個主意，不知二爺心下如何？我想二爺不止用這個呢，衹怕還要用別的。 這也不是事。如今我們往前再走二裏地，就是水仙庵了。”寶玉聽了忙問：“水仙庵就在這裏？更好了，我們就去。”說着，就加鞭前行，一面回頭嚮茗煙道：“這水仙庵的姑子長往咱們傢去， 咱們這一去到那裏，和他藉香爐使使，他自然是肯的。”茗煙道：“別說他是咱們傢的香火，就是平白不認識的廟裏，和他藉，他也不敢駁回。衹是一件，我常見二爺最厭這水仙庵的，如何今兒又這樣喜歡了？"寶玉道：“我素日因恨俗人不知原故，混供神混蓋廟，這都是當日有錢的老公們和那些有錢的愚婦們聽見有個神， 就蓋起廟來供着，也不知那神是何人，因聽些野史小說，便信真了。比如這水仙庵裏面因供的是洛神，故名水仙庵，殊不知古來並沒有個洛神，那原是曹子建的謊話，誰知這起愚人就塑了像供着。今兒卻合我的心事，故藉他一用。”
說着早已來至門前。 那老姑子見寶玉來了，事出意外，竟象天上掉下個活竜來的一般，忙上來問好，命老道來接馬。寶玉進去，也不拜洛神之像，卻衹管賞鑒。雖是泥塑的， 卻真有"翩若驚鴻，婉若遊竜"之態，"荷出緑波，日映朝霞"之姿。寶玉不覺滴下淚來。 老姑子獻了茶。寶玉因和他藉香爐。那姑子去了半日，連香供紙馬都預備了來。寶玉道：“一概不用。”便命茗煙捧着爐出至後院中，揀一塊幹淨地方兒，竟揀不出。茗煙道：“那井臺兒上如何？"寶玉點頭，一齊來至井臺上，將爐放下。
茗煙站過一旁。 寶玉掏出香來焚上，含淚施了半禮，回身命收了去。茗煙答應，且不收，忙爬下磕了幾個頭“現象”之間劃了一條不可逾越的鴻溝。，口內祝道：“我茗煙跟二爺這幾年，二爺的心事，我沒有不知道的，衹有今兒這一祭祀沒有告訴我，我也不敢問。衹是這受祭的陰魂雖不知名姓，想來自然是那人間有一， 天上無雙，極聰明極俊雅的一位姐姐妹妹了。二爺心事不能出口，讓我代祝：若芳魂有感，香魂多情，雖然陰陽間隔，既是知己之間，時常來望候二爺，未嘗不可。你在陰間保佑二爺來生也變個女孩兒，和你們一處相伴，再不可又托生這須眉濁物了。”說畢，又磕幾個頭，纔爬起來。
寶玉聽他沒說完， 便撐不住笑了，因踢他道：“休鬍說，看人聽見笑話。”茗煙起來收過香爐，和寶玉走着，因道：“我已經和姑子說了，二爺還沒用飯，叫他隨便收拾了些東西，二爺勉強吃些。我知道今兒咱們裏頭大排筵宴，熱鬧非常，二爺為此纔躲了出來的。橫竪在這裏清淨一天，也就盡到禮了。若不吃東西，斷使不得。”寶玉道：“戲酒既不吃， 這隨便素的吃些何妨。”茗煙道：“這便纔是。還有一說，咱們來了，還有人不放心。若沒有人不放心， 便晚了進城何妨？"若有人不放心，二爺須得進城回傢去纔是。第一老太太， 太太也放了心，第二禮也盡了，不過如此。就是傢去了看戲吃酒，也並不是二爺有意，原不過陪着父母盡孝道。二爺若單為了這個不顧老太太，太太懸心，就是方纔那受祭的陰魂也不安生。二爺想我這話如何？"寶玉笑道：“你的意思我猜着了，你想着衹你一個跟了我出來，回來你怕擔不是，所以拿這大題目來勸我。我纔來了，不過為盡個禮，再去吃酒看戲，並沒說一日不進城。這已完了心願，趕着進城，大傢放心，豈不兩盡其道。”茗煙道：“這更好了。”說着二人來至禪堂，果然那姑子收拾了一桌素菜，寶玉胡亂吃了些，茗煙也吃了。
二人便上馬仍回舊路。 茗煙在後面衹囑咐：“二爺好生騎着，這馬總沒大騎的，手裏提緊着。”一面說着，早已進了城，仍從後門進去，忙忙來至怡紅院中。襲人等都不在房裏，衹有幾個老婆子看屋子，見他來了，都喜的眉開眼笑，說：“阿彌陀佛，可來了！把花姑娘急瘋了！ 上頭正坐席呢，二爺快去罷。”寶玉聽說忙將素服脫了，自去尋了華服換上，問在什麽地方坐席，老婆子回說在新蓋的大花廳上。
寶玉聽說，一徑往花廳來，耳內早已隱隱聞得歌管之聲。剛至穿堂那邊，衹見玉釧兒獨坐在廊檐下垂淚， 一見他來諧的基矗宣稱自然界是上帝意識活動的表現，人對自然的，便收淚說道：“鳳凰來了，快進去罷。再一會子不來，都反了。 "寶玉陪笑道：“你猜我往那裏去了？"玉釧兒不答，衹管擦淚。寶玉忙進廳裏，見了賈母王夫人等， 衆人真如得了鳳凰一般。寶玉忙趕着與鳳姐兒行禮。賈母王夫人都說他不知道好歹， "怎麽也不說聲就私自跑了，這還了得！明兒再這樣，等老爺回傢來， 必告訴他打你。”說着又駡跟的小廝們都偏聽他的話，說那裏去就去，也不回一聲兒。一面又問他到底那去了，可吃了什麽，可唬着了。寶玉衹回說：“北靜王的一個愛妾昨日沒了，給他道惱去。他哭的那樣，不好撇下就回來，所以多等了一會子。”賈母道：“以後再私自出門， 不先告訴我們，一定叫你老子打你。”寶玉答應着。因又要打跟的小子們，衆人又忙說情，又勸道：“老太太也不必過慮了，他已經回來，大傢該放心樂一回了。”賈母先不放心，自然發狠，如今見他來了，喜且有餘，那裏還恨，也就不提了，還怕他不受用， 或者別處沒吃飽，路上着了驚怕，反百般的哄他。襲人早過來伏侍。大傢仍舊看戲。當日演的是《荊釵記》。賈母薛姨媽等都看的心酸落淚，也有嘆的，也有駡的。要知端的，下回分解。
Having time to amuse themselves, the Chia inmates raise, when least expected, funds to celebrate lady Feng's birthday. In his ceaseless affection for Chin Ch'uen, Pao-yue uses, for the occasion, a pinch of earth as incense and burns it.
When Madame Wang saw, for we will now proceed with our narrative, that the extent of dowager lady Chia's indisposition, contracted on the day she had been into the garden of Broad Vista, amounted to a simple chill, that no serious ailment had supervened, and that her health had improved soon after the doctor had been sent for and she had taken a couple of doses of medicine, she called lady Feng to her and asked her to get ready a present of some kind for her to take to her husband, Chia Cheng. But while they were engaged in deliberation, they perceived a waiting-maid arrive. She came from their old senior's part to invite them to go to her. So, with speedy step, Madame Wang led the way for lady Feng, and they came over into her quarters.
"Pray, may I ask," Madame Wang then inquired, "whether you're feeling nearly well again now?"
"I'm quite all right to-day," old lady Chia replied. "I've tasted the young-pheasant soup you sent me a little time back and find it full of relish. I've also had two pieces of meat, so I feel quite comfortable within me."
"These dainties were presented to you, dear ancestor, by that girl Feng," Madame Wang smiled. "It only shows how sincere her filial piety is. She does not render futile the love, which you, venerable senior, ever lavish on her."
Dowager lady Chia nodded her head assentingly. "She's too kind to think of me!" she answered smiling. "But should there be any more uncooked, let them fry a couple of pieces; and, if these be thoroughly immersed in wine, the congee will taste well with them. The soup is, it's true, good, but it shouldn't, properly speaking, be prepared with fine rice."
After listening to her wishes, lady Feng expressed with alacrity her readiness to see them executed, and directed a servant to go and deliver the message in the cook-house.
"I sent the servant for you," dowager lady Chia meanwhile said to Madame Wang with a smile, "not for anything else, but for the birthday of that girl Feng, which falls on the second. I had made up my mind two years ago to celebrate her birthday in proper style, but when the time came, there happened to be again something important to attend to, and it went by without anything being done. But this year, the inmates are, on one hand, all here, and there won't, I fancy, be, on the other, anything to prevent us, so we should all do our best to enjoy ourselves thoroughly for a day."
"I was thinking the same thing," Madame Wang rejoined, laughingly, "and, since it's your good pleasure, venerable senior, why, shouldn't we deliberate at once and decide upon something?"
"To the best of my recollection," dowager lady Chia resumed smiling, "whenever in past years I've had any birthday celebrations for any one of us, no matter who it was, we have ever individually sent our respective presents; but this method is common and is also apt, I think, to look very much as if there were some disunion. But I'll now devise a new way; a way, which won't have the effect of creating any discord, and will be productive of good cheer."
"Let whatever way you may think best, dear ancestor, be adopted." Madame Wang eagerly rejoined.
"My idea is," old lady Chia laughingly continued, "that we too should follow the example of those poor families and raise a subscription among ourselves, and devote the whole of whatever we may collect to meet the outlay for the necessary preparations. What do you say, will this do or not?"
"This is a splendid idea!" Madame Wang acquiesced. "But what will, I wonder, be the way adopted for raising contributions?"
Old lady Chia was the more inspirited by her reply. There and then she despatched servants to go and invite Mrs. Hsueeh, Madame Hsing and the rest of the ladies, and bade others summon the young ladies and Pao-yue. But from the other mansion, Chia Chen's spouse, Lai Ta's wife, even up to the wives of such stewards as enjoyed a certain amount of respectability, were likewise to be asked to come round.
The sight of their old mistress' delight filled the waiting-maids and married women with high glee as well; and each hurried with vehemence to execute her respective errand. Those that were to be invited were invited, and those that had to be sent for were sent for; and, before the lapse of such time as could suffice to have a meal in, the old as well as young, the high as well as low, crammed, in a black mass, every bit of the available space in the rooms.
Only Mrs. Hsueeh and dowager lady Chia sat opposite to each other. Mesdames Hsing and Wang simply seated themselves on two chairs, which faced the door of the apartment. Pao-ch'ai and her five or six cousins occupied the stove-couch. Pao-yue sat on his grandmother's lap. Below, the whole extent of the floor was crowded with inmates on their feet. But old lady Chia forthwith desired that a few small stools should be fetched. When brought, these were proffered to Lai Ta's mother and some other nurses, who were advanced in years and held in respect; for it was the custom in the Chia mansion that the family servants, who had waited upon any of the fathers or mothers, should enjoy a higher status than even young masters and mistresses. Hence it was that while Mrs. Yu, lady Feng and other ladies remained standing below, Lai Ta's mother and three or four other old nurses had, after excusing themselves for their rudeness, seated themselves on small stools.
Dowager lady Chia recounted, with a face beaming with smiles, the suggestions she had shortly made, for the benefit of the various inmates present; and one and all, of course, were only too ready to contribute for the entertainment. More, some of them, were on friendly terms with lady Feng, so they, of their own free will, adopted the proposal; others lived in fear and trembling of lady Feng, and these were only too anxious to make up to her. Every one, besides, could well afford the means, so that, as soon as they heard of the proposed subscriptions, they, with one consent, signified their acquiescence.
"I'll give twenty taels!" old lady Chia was the first to say with a smile playing round her lips.
"I'll follow your lead, dear senior," Mrs. Hsueeh smiled, "and also subscribe twenty taels."
"We don't presume to place ourselves on an equal footing with your ladyship," Mesdames Hsing and Wang pleaded. "We, of course, come one degree lower; each of us therefore will contribute sixteen taels."
"We too naturally rank one step lower," Mrs. Yu and Li Wan also smiled, "so we'll each give twelve taels."
"You're a widow," dowager lady Chia eagerly demurred, addressing herself to Li Wan, "and have lost all your estate, so how could we drag you into all this outlay! I'll contribute for you!"
"Don't be in such high feather dear senior," lady Feng hastily observed laughing, "but just look to your accounts before you saddle yourself with this burden! You've already taken upon yourself two portions; and do you now also volunteer sixteen taels on behalf of my elder sister-in-law? You may willingly do so, while you speak in the abundance of your spirits, but when you, by and bye, come to ponder over what you've done, you'll feel sore at heart again! 'It's all that girl Feng that's driven me to spend the money,' you'll say in a little time; and you'll devise some ingenious way to inveigle me to fork out three or four times as much as your share and thus make up your deficit in an underhand way; while I will still be as much in the clouds as if I were in a dream!"
These words made every one laugh.
"According to you, what should be done?" dowager lady Chia laughingly inquired.
"My birthday hasn't yet come," lady Feng smiled; "and already now I've been the recipient of so much more than I deserve that I am quite unhappy. But if I don't contribute a single cash, I shall feel really ill at ease for the trouble I shall be giving such a lot of people. It would be as well, therefore, that I should bear this share of my senior sister-in-law; and, when the day comes, I can eat a few more things, and thus be able to enjoy some happiness."
"Quite right!" cried Madame Hsing and the others at this suggestion. So old lady Chia then signified her approval.
"There's something more I'd like to add," lady Feng pursued smiling. "I think that it's fair enough that you, worthy ancestor, should, besides your own twenty taels, have to stand two shares as well, the one for cousin Liu, the other for cousin Pao-yue, and that Mrs. Hsueeh should, beyond her own twenty taels, likewise bear cousin Pao-ch'ai's portion. But it's somewhat unfair that the two ladies Mesdames Hsing and Wang should each only give sixteen taels, when their share is small, and when they don't subscribe anything for any one else. It's you, venerable senior, who'll be the sufferer by this arrangement."
Dowager lady Chia, at these words, burst out into a boisterous fit of laughter. "It's this hussey Feng," she observed, "who, after all, takes my side! What you say is quite right. Hadn't it been for you, I would again have been duped by them!"
"Dear senior!" lady Feng smiled. Just hand over our two cousins to those two ladies and let each take one under her charge and finish. If you make each contribute one share, it will be square enough."
"This is perfectly fair," eagerly rejoined old lady Chia. "Let this suggestion be carried out!"
Lai Ta's mother hastily stood up. "This is such a subversion of right," she smiled, "that I'll put my back up on account of the two ladies. She's a son's wife, on the other side, and, in here, only a wife's brother's child; and yet she doesn't incline towards her mother-in-law and her aunt, but takes other people's part. This son's wife has therefore become a perfect stranger; and a close niece has, in fact, become a distant niece!"
As she said this, dowager lady Chia and every one present began to laugh. "If the junior ladies subscribe twelve taels each," Lai Ta's mother went on to ask, "we must, as a matter of course, also come one degree lower; eh?"
Upon hearing this, old lady Chia remonstrated. "This won't do!" she observed. "You naturally should rank one degree lower, but you're all, I am well aware, wealthy people; and, in spite of your status being somewhat lower, your funds are more flourishing than theirs. It's only just then that you should be placed on the same standing as those people!"
The posse of nurses expressed with promptness their acceptance of the proposal their old mistress made.
"The young ladies," dowager lady Chia resumed, "should merely give something for the sake of appearances! If each one contributes a sum proportionate to her monthly allowance, it will be ample!" Turning her head, "Yuean Yang!" she cried, "a few of you should assemble in like manner, and consult as to what share you should take in the matter. So bring them along!"
Yuean Yang assured her that her desires would be duly attended to and walked away. But she had not been absent for any length of time, when she appeared on the scene along with P'ing Erh, Hsi Jen, Ts'ai Hsia and other girls, and a number of waiting-maids as well. Of these, some subscribed two taels; others contributed one tael.
"Can it be," dowager lady Chia then said to P'ing Erh, "that you don't want any birthday celebrated for your mistress, that you don't range yourself also among them?"
"The other money I gave," P'ing Erh smiled, "I gave privately, and is extra." "This is what I am publicly bound to contribute along with the lot."
"That's a good child!" lady Chia laughingly rejoined.
"Those above as well as those below have all alike given their share," lady Feng went on to observe with a smile. "But there are still those two secondary wives; are they to give anything or not? Do go and ask them! It's but right that we should go to the extreme length and include them. Otherwise, they'll imagine that we've looked down upon them!"
"Just so!" eagerly answered lady Chia, at these words. "How is it that we forgot all about them? The only thing is, I fear, they've got no time to spare; yet, tell a servant-girl to go and ask them what they'll do!"
While she spoke, a servant-girl went off. After a long absence, she returned. "Each of them," she reported, "will likewise contribute two taels."
Dowager lady Chia was delighted with the result. "Fetch a pen and inkslab," she cried, "and let's calculate how much they amount to, all together."
Mrs. Yu abused lady Feng in a low tone of voice. "I'll take you, you mean covetous creature, and ... ! All these mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law have come forward and raised money to celebrate your birthday, and are you yet not satisfied that you must also drag in those two miserable beings! But what do you do it for?"
"Try and talk less trash!" lady Feng smiled; also in an undertone. "We'll be leaving this place in a little time and then I'll square up accounts with you! But why ever are those two miserable? When they have money, they uselessly give it to other people; and isn't it better that we should get hold of it, and enjoy ourselves with it?"
While she uttered these taunts, they computed that the collections would reach a sum over and above one hundred and fifty taels.
"We couldn't possibly run through all this for a day's theatricals and banquet!" old lady Chia exclaimed.
"As no outside guests are to be invited," Mrs. Yu interposed, "and the number of tables won't also be many, there will be enough to cover two or three days' outlay! First of all, there won't be anything to spend for theatricals, so we'll effect a saving on that item."
"Just call whatever troupe that girl Feng may say she likes best," dowager lady Chia suggested.
"We've heard quite enough of the performances of that company of ours," lady Feng said; "let's therefore spend a little money and send for another, and see what they can do."
"I leave that to you, brother Chen's wife," old lady Chia pursued, "in order that our girl Feng should have occasion to trouble her mind with as little as possible, and be able to enjoy a day's peace and quiet. It's only right that she should."
Mrs. Yu replied that she would be only too glad to do what she could. They then prolonged their chat for a little longer, until one and all realised that their old senior must be quite fagged out, and they gradually dispersed.
After seeing Mesdames Hsing and Wang off, Mrs. Yu and the other ladies adjourned into lady Feng's rooms to consult with her about the birthday festivities.
"Don't ask me!" lady Feng urged. "Do whatever will please our worthy ancestor."
"What a fine thing you are to come across such a mighty piece of luck!" Mrs. Yu smiled. "I was wondering what had happened that she summoned us all! Why, was it simply on this account? Not to breathe a word about the money that I'll have to contribute, must I have trouble and annoyance to bear as well? How will you show me any thanks?"
"Don't bring shame upon yourself!" lady Feng laughed. "I didn't send for you; so why should I be thankful to you! If you funk the exertion, go at once and let our venerable senior know, and she'll depute some one else and have done."
"You go on like this as you see her in such excellent spirits, that's why!" Mrs. Yu smilingly answered. "It would be well, I advise you, to pull in a bit; for if you be too full of yourself, you'll get your due reward!"
After some further colloquy, these two ladies eventually parted company.
On the next day, the money was sent over to the Ning Kuo Mansion at the very moment that Mrs. Yu had got up, and was performing her toilette and ablutions. "Who brought it?" she asked.
"Nurse Lin," the servant-girl said by way of response.
"Call her in," Mrs. Yu said.
The servant-girls walked as far as the lower rooms and called Lin Chih-hsiao's wife to come in. Mrs. Yu bade her seat herself on the footstool. While she hurriedly combed her hair and washed her face and hands, she wanted to know how much the bundle contained in all.
"This is what's subscribed by us servants." Lin Chih-hsiao's wife replied, "and so I collected it and brought it over first. As for the contributions of our venerable mistress, and those of the ladies, they aren't ready yet."
But simultaneously with this reply, the waiting-maids announced: "Our lady of the other mansion and Mrs. Hsueeh have sent over some one with their portions."
"You mean wenches!" Mrs. Yu cried, scolding them with a smile. "All the gumption you've got is to simply bear in mind this sort of nonsense! In a fit of good cheer, your old mistress yesterday purposely expressed a wish to imitate those poor people, and raise a subscription. But you at once treasured it up in your memory, and, when the thing came to be canvassed by you, you treated it in real earnest! Don't you yet quick bundle yourselves out, and bring the money in! Be careful and give them some tea before you see them off."
The waiting-maids smilingly hastened to go and take delivery of the money and bring it in. It consisted, in all, of two bundles, and contained Pao-ch'ai's and Tai-yue's shares as well.
"Whose shares are wanting?" Mrs. Yu asked.
"Those of our old lady, of Madame Wang, the young ladies, and of our girls below are still missing," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife explained.
"There's also that of your senior lady," Mrs. Yu proceeded.
"You'd better hurry over, my lady," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife said; "for as this money will be issued through our mistress Secunda, she'll nobble the whole of it."
While conversing, Mrs. Yu finished arranging her coiffure and performing her ablutions; and, giving orders to see that the carriage was got ready, she shortly arrived at the Jung mansion. First and foremost she called on lady Feng. Lady Feng, she discovered, had already put the money into a packet, and was on the point of sending it over.
"Is it all there?" Mrs. Yu asked.
"Yes, it is," lady Feng smiled, "so you might as well take it away at once; for if it gets mislaid, I've nothing to do with it."
"I'm somewhat distrustful," Mrs. Yu laughed, "so I'd like to check it in your presence."
These words over, she verily checked sum after sum. She found Li Wan's share alone wanting. "I said that you were up to tricks!" laughingly observed Mrs. Yu. "How is it that your elder sister-in-law's isn't here?"
"There's all that money; and isn't it yet enough?" lady Feng smiled. "If there's merely a portion short it shouldn't matter! Should the money prove insufficient, I can then look you up, and give it to you."
"When the others were present yesterday," Mrs. Yu pursued, "you were ready enough to act as any human being would; but here you're again to-day prevaricating with me! I won't, by any manner of means, agree to this proposal of yours! I'll simply go and ask for the money of our venerable senior."
"I see how dreadful you are!" lady Feng laughed. "But when something turns up by and bye, I'll also be very punctilious; so don't you then bear me a grudge!"
"Well, never mind if you don't give your quota!" Mrs. Yu smilingly rejoined. "Were it not that I consider the dutiful attentions you've all along shown me would I ever be ready to humour you?"
So rejoining, she produced P'ing Erh's share. "P'ing Erh, come here," she cried, "take this share of yours and put it away! Should the money collected turn out to be below what's absolutely required, I'll make up the sum for you."
P'ing Erh apprehended her meaning. "My lady," she answered, with a cheerful countenance, "it would come to the same thing if you were to first spend what you want and to give me afterwards any balance that may remain of it."
"Is your mistress alone to be allowed to do dishonest acts," Mrs. Yu laughed, "and am I not to be free to bestow a favour?"
P'ing Erh had no option, but to retain her portion.
"I want to see," Mrs. Yu added, "where your mistress, who is so extremely careful, will run through all the money, we've raised! If she can't spend it, why she'll take it along with her in her coffin, and make use of it there."
While still speaking, she started on her way to dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. After first paying her respects to her, she made a few general remarks, and then betook herself into Yuean Yang's quarters where she held a consultation with Yuean Yang. Lending a patient ear to all that Yuean Yang; had to recommend in the way of a programme, and as to how best to give pleasure to old lady Chia, she deliberated with her until they arrived at a satisfactory decision. When the time came for Mrs. Yu to go, she took the two taels, contributed by Yuean Yang, and gave them back to her. "There's no use for these!" she said, and with these words still on her lips, she straightway quitted her presence and went in search of Madame Wang.
After a short chat, Madame Wang stepped into the family shrine reserved for the worship of Buddha, so she likewise restored Ts'ai Yuen's share to her; and, availing herself of lady Feng's absence, she presently reimbursed to Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Chao the amount of their respective contributions.
These two dames would not however presume to take their money back. "Your lot, ladies, is a pitiful one!" Mrs. Yu then expostulated. "How can you afford all this spare money! That hussey Feng is well aware of the fact. I'm here to answer for you!"
At these assurances, both put the money away, with profuse expressions of gratitude.
In a twinkle, the second day of the ninth moon arrived. The inmates of the garden came to find out that Mrs. Yu was making preparations on an extremely grand scale; for not only was there to be a theatrical performance, but jugglers and women storytellers as well; and they combined in getting everything ready that could conduce to afford amusement and enjoyment.
"This is," Li Wan went on to say to the young ladies, "the proper day for our literary gathering, so don't forget it. If Pao-yue hasn't appeared, it must, I presume, be that his mind is so preoccupied with the fuss that's going on that he has lost sight of all pure and refined things."
Speaking, "Go and see what he is up to!" she enjoined a waiting-maid; "and be quick and tell him to come."
The waiting-maid returned after a long absence. "Sister Hua says," she reported, "that he went out of doors, soon after daylight this morning."
The result of the inquiries filled every one with surprise. "He can't have gone out!" they said. "This girl is stupid, and doesn't know how to speak." They consequently also directed Ts'ui Mo to go and ascertain the truth. In a little time, Ts'ui Mo returned. "It's really true," she explained, "that he has gone out of doors. He gave out that a friend of his was dead, and that he was going to pay a visit of condolence."
"There's certainly nothing of the kind," T'an Ch'un interposed. "But whatever there might have been to call him away, it wasn't right of him to go out on an occasion like the present one! Just call Hsi Jen here, and let me ask her!"
But just as she was issuing these directions, she perceived Hsi Jen appear on the scene. "No matter what he may have had to attend to to-day," Li Wan and the rest remarked, "he shouldn't have gone out! In the first place, it's your mistress Secunda's birthday, and our dowager lady is in such buoyant spirits that the various inmates, whether high or low, are coming from either mansion to join in the fun; and lo, he goes off! Secondly, this is the proper day as well for holding our first literary gathering, and he doesn't so as apply for leave, but stealthily sneaks away."
Hsi Jen heaved it sigh. "He said last night," she explained, "that he had something very important to do this morning; that he was going as far as Prince Pei Ching's mansion, but that he would hurry back. I advised him not to go; but, of course, he wouldn't listen to me. When he got out of bed, at daybreak this morning, he asked for his plain clothes and put them on, so, I suppose, some lady of note belonging to the household of Prince Pei Ching must have departed this life; but who can tell?"
"If such be truly the case," Li Wan and her companions exclaimed, "it's quite right that he should have gone over for a while; but he should have taken care to be back in time !"
This remark over, they resumed their deliberations. "Let's write our verses," they said, "and we can fine him on his return."
As these words were being spoken, they espied a messenger despatched by dowager lady Chia to ask them over, so they at once adjourned to the front part of the compound.
Hsi Jen then reported to his grandmother what Pao-yue had done. Old lady Chia was upset by the news; so much so, that she issued immediate orders to a few servants to go and fetch him.
Pao-yue had, in fact, been brooding over some affair of the heart. A day in advance he therefore gave proper injunctions to Pei Ming. "As I shall be going out of doors to-morrow at daybreak," he said, "you'd better get ready two horses and wait at the back door! No one else need follow as an escort! Tell Li Kuei that I've gone to the Pei mansion. In the event of any one wishing to start in search of me, bid him place every obstacle in the way, as all inquiries can well be dispensed with! Let him simply explain that I've been detained in the Pei mansion, but that I shall surely be back shortly."
Pei Ming could not make out head or tail of what he was driving at; but he had no alternative than to deliver his message word for word. At the first blush of morning of the day appointed, he actually got ready two horses and remained in waiting at the back gate. When daylight set in, he perceived Pao-yue make his appearance from the side door; got up, from head to foot, in a plain suit of clothes. Without uttering a word, he mounted his steed; and stooping his body forward, he proceeded at a quick step on his way down the road. Pei Ming had no help but to follow suit; and, springing on his horse, he smacked it with his whip, and overtook his master. "Where are we off to?" he eagerly inquired, from behind.
"Where does this road lead to?" Pao-yue asked.
"This is the main road leading out of the northern gate." Pei Ming replied. "Once out of it, everything is so dull and dreary that there's nothing worth seeing!"
Pao-yue caught this answer and nodded his head. "I was just thinking that a dull and dreary place would be just the thing!" he observed. While speaking, he administered his steed two more whacks. The horse quickly turned a couple of corners, and trotted out of the city gate. Pei Ming was more and more at a loss what to think of the whole affair; yet his only course was to keep pace closely in his master's track. With one gallop, they covered a distance of over seven or eight lis. But it was only when human habitations became gradually few and far between that Pao-yue ultimately drew up his horse. Turning his head round: "Is there any place here," he asked, "where incense is sold?"
"Incense!" Pei Ming shouted, "yes, there is; but what kind of incense it is I don't know."
"All other incense is worth nothing," Pao-yue resumed, after a moment's reflection. "We should get sandalwood, conifer and cedar, these three."
"These three sorts are very difficult to get," Pei Ming smiled.
Pao-yue was driven to his wits' ends. But Pei Ming noticing his dilemma, "What do you want incense for?" he felt impelled to ask. "Master Secundus, I've often seen you wear a small purse, about your person, full of tiny pieces of incense; and why don't you see whether you've got it with you?"
This allusion was sufficient to suggest the idea to Pao-yue's mind. Forthwith, he drew back his hand and felt the purse suspended on the lapel of his coat. It really contained two bits of 'Ch'en Su.' At this discovery, his heart expanded with delight. The only thing that (damped his spirits) was the notion that there was a certain want of reverence in his proceedings; but, on second consideration, he concluded that what he had about him was, after all, considerably superior to any he could purchase, and, with alacrity, he went on to inquire about a censer and charcoal.
"Don't think of such things!" Pei Ming urged. "Where could they be procured in a deserted and lonely place like this? If you needed them, why didn't you speak somewhat sooner, and we could have brought them along with us? Would not this have been more convenient?"
"You stupid thing!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "Had we been able to bring them along, we wouldn't have had to run in this way as if for life!"
Pei Ming indulged in a protracted reverie, after which, he gave a smile. "I've thought of something," he cried, "but I wonder what you'll think about it, Master Secundus! You don't, I expect, only require these things; you'll need others too, I presume. But this isn't the place for them; so let's move on at once another couple of lis, when we'll get to the 'Water Spirit' monastery."
"Is the 'Water Spirit' monastery in this neighbourhood?" Pao-yue eagerly inquired, upon hearing his proposal. "Yes, that would be better; let's press forward."
With this reply, he touched his horse with his whip. While advancing on their way, he turned round. "The nun in this 'Water Spirit' monastery," he shouted to Pei Ming, "frequently comes on a visit to our house, so that when we now get there and ask her for the loan of a censer, she's certain to let us have it."
"Not to mention that that's a place where our family burns incense," Pei Ming answered, "she could not dare to raise any objections, to any appeal from us for a loan, were she even in a temple quite unknown to us. There's only one thing, I've often been struck with the strong dislike you have for this 'Water Spirit' monastery, master, and how is that you're now, so delighted with the idea of going to it?"
"I've all along had the keenest contempt for those low-bred persons," Pao-yue rejoined, "who, without knowing why or wherefore, foolishly offer sacrifices to the spirits, and needlessly have temples erected. The reason of it all is, that those rich old gentlemen and unsophisticated wealthy women, who lived in past days, were only too ready, the moment they heard of the presence of a spirit anywhere, to take in hand the erection of temples to offer their sacrifices in, without even having the faintest notion whose spirits they were. This was because they readily credited as gospel-truth such rustic stories and idle tales as chanced to reach their ears. Take this place as an example. Offerings are presented in this 'Water Spirit' nunnery to the spirit of the 'Lo' stream; hence the name of 'Water Spirit' monastery has been given to it. But people really don't know that in past days, there was no such thing as a 'Lo' spirit! These are, indeed, no better than legendary yarns invented by Ts'ao Tzu-chien, and who would have thought it, this sort of stupid people have put up images of it, to which they offer oblations. It serves, however, my purpose to-day, so I'll borrow of her whatever I need to use."
While engaged in talking, they reached the entrance. The old nun saw Pao-yue arrive, and was thoroughly taken aback. So far was this visit beyond her expectations, that well did it seem to her as if a live dragon had dropped from the heavens. With alacrity, she rushed up to him; and making inquiries after his health, she gave orders to an old Taoist to come and take his horse.
Pao-yue stepped into the temple. But without paying the least homage to the image of the 'Lo' spirit, he simply kept his eyes fixed intently on it; for albeit made of clay, it actually seemed, nevertheless, to flutter as does a terror-stricken swan, and to wriggle as a dragon in motion. It looked like a lotus, peeping its head out of the green stream, or like the sun, pouring its rays upon the russet clouds in the early morn. Pao-yue's tears unwittingly trickled down his cheeks.
The old nun presented tea. Pao-yue then asked her for the loan of a censer to burn incense in. After a protracted absence, the old nun returned with some incense as well as several paper horses, which she had got ready for him to offer. But Pao-yue would not use any of the things she brought. "Take the censer," he said to Pei Ming, "and go out into the back garden and find a clean spot!"
But having been unable to discover one; "What about, the platform round that well?" Pei Ming inquired.
Pao-yue nodded his head assentingly. Then along with him, he repaired to the platform of the well. He deposited the censer on the ground, while Pei Ming stood on one side. Pao-yue produced the incense, and threw it on the fire. With suppressed tears, he performed half of the ceremony, and, turning himself round, he bade Pei Ming clear the things away. Pei Ming acquiesced; but, instead of removing the things, he speedily fell on his face, and made several prostrations, as his lips uttered this prayer: "I, Pei Ming, have been in the service of Master Secundus for several years. Of the secrets of Mr. Secundus' heart there are none, which I have not known, save that with regard to this sacrifice to-day; the object of which, he has neither told me; nor have I had the presumption to ask. But thou, oh spirit! who art the recipient of these sacrificial offerings, must, I expect, unknown though thy surname and name be to me, be a most intelligent and supremely beautiful elder or younger sister, unique among mankind, without a peer even in heaven! As my Master Secundus cannot give vent to the sentiments, which fill his heart, allow me to pray on his behalf! Should thou possess spirituality, and holiness be thy share, do thou often come and look up our Mr. Secundus, for persistently do his thoughts dwell with thee! And there is no reason why thou should'st not come! But should'st thou be in the abode of the dead, grant that our Mr. Secundus too may, in his coming existence, be transformed into a girl, so that he may be able to amuse himself with you all! And will not this prove a source of pleasure to both sides?"
At the close of his invocation, he again knocked his head several times on the ground, and, eventually, rose to his feet.
Pao-yue lent an ear to his utterances, but, before they had been brought to an end, he felt it difficult to repress himself from laughing. Giving him a kick, "Don't talk such stuff and nonsense!" he shouted. "Were any looker-on to overhear what you say, he'd jeer at you!"
Pei Ming got up and put the censer away. While he walked along with Pao-yue, "I've already," he said, "told the nun that you hadn't as yet had anything to eat, Master Secundus, and I bade her get a few things ready for you, so you must force yourself to take something. I know very well that a grand banquet will be spread in our mansion to-day, that exceptional bustle will prevail, and that you have, on account of this, Sir, come here to get out of the way. But as you're, after all, going to spend a whole day in peace and quiet in here, you should try and divert yourself as best you can. It won't, therefore, by any manner of means do for you to have nothing to eat."
"I won't be at the theatrical performance to have any wine," Pao-yue remarked, "so what harm will there be in my having a drink here, as the fancy takes me?"
"Quite so!" rejoined Pei Ming. "But there's another consideration. You and I have run over here; but there must be some whose minds are ill at ease. Were there no one uneasy about us, well, what would it matter if we got back into town as late as we possibly could? But if there be any solicitous on your account, it's but right, Master Secundus, that you should enter the city and return home. In the first place, our worthy old mistress and Madame Wang, will thus compose their minds; and secondly, you'll observe the proper formalities, if you succeed in doing nothing else. But even supposing that, when once you get home, you feel no inclination to look at the plays and have anything to drink, you can merely wait upon your father and mother, and acquit yourself of your filial piety! Well, if it's only a matter of fulfilling this obligation, and you don't care whether our old mistress and our lady, your mother, experience concern or not, why, the spirit itself, which has just been the recipient of your oblations, won't feel in a happy frame of mind! You'd better therefore, master, ponder and see what you think of my words!"
"I see what you're driving at!" Pao-yue smiled. "You keep before your mind the thought that you're the only servant, who has followed me as an attendant out of town, and you give way to fear that you will, on your return, have to bear the consequences. You hence have recourse to these grandiloquent arguments to shove words of counsel down my throat! I've come here now with the sole object of satisfying certain rites, and then going to partake of the banquet and be a spectator of the plays; and I never mentioned one single word about any intention on my part not to go back to town for a whole day! I've, however, already accomplished the wish I fostered in my heart, so if we hurry back to town, so as to enable every one to set their solicitude at rest, won't the right principle be carried out to the full in one respect as well as another?"
"Yes, that would be better!" exclaimed Pei Ming.
Conversing the while, they wended their way into the Buddhistic hall. Here the nun had, in point of fact, got ready a table with lenten viands. Pao-yue hurriedly swallowed some refreshment and so did Pei Ming; after which, they mounted their steeds and retraced their steps homewards, by the road they had come.
Pei Ming followed behind. "Master Secundus!" he kept on shouting, "be careful how you ride! That horse hasn't been ridden very much, so hold him in tight a bit."
As he urged him to be careful, they reached the interior of the city walls, and, making their entrance once more into the mansion by the back gate, they betook themselves, with all possible despatch, into the I Hung court. Hsi Jen and the other maids were not at home. Only a few old women were there to look after the rooms. As soon as they saw him arrive, they were so filled with gratification that their eyebrows dilated and their eyes smiled. "O-mi-to-fu!" they said laughingly, "you've come! You've all but driven Miss Hua mad from despair! In the upper quarters, they're just seated at the feast, so be quick, Mr. Secundus, and go and join them."
At these words, Pao-yue speedily divested himself of his plain clothes and put on a coloured costume, reserved for festive occasions, which he hunted up with his own hands. This done, "Where are they holding the banquet?" he inquired.
"They're in the newly erected large reception pavilion," the old women responded.
Upon catching their reply, Pao-yue straightway started for the reception-pavilion. From an early moment, the strains of flageolets and pipes, of song and of wind-instruments faintly fell on his ear. The moment he reached the passage on the opposite side, he discerned Yue Ch'uan-erh seated all alone under the eaves of the verandah giving way to tears. As soon as she became conscious of Pao-yue's arrival, she drew a long, long breath. Smacking her lips, "Ai!" she cried, "the phoenix has alighted! go in at once! Hadn't you come for another minute, every one would have been quite upset!"
Pao-yue forced a smile. "Just try and guess where I've been?" he observed.
Yue Ch'uan-erh twisted herself round, and, paying no notice to him, she continued drying her tears. Pao-yue had, therefore, no option but to enter with hasty step. On his arrival in the reception-hall, he paid his greetings to his grandmother Chia, to Madame Wang, and the other inmates, and one and all felt, in fact, as happy to see him back as if they had come into the possession of a phoenix.
"Where have you been," dowager lady Chia was the first to ask, "that you come back at this hour? Don't you yet go and pay your congratulations to your cousin?" And smiling she proceeded, addressing herself to lady Feng, "Your cousin has no idea of what's right and what's wrong. Even though he may have had something pressing to do, why didn't he utter just one word, but stealthily bolted away on his own hook? Will this sort of thing ever do? But should you behave again in this fashion by and bye, I shall, when your father comes home, feel compelled to tell him to chastise you."
Lady Feng smiled. "Congratulations are a small matter?" she observed. "But, cousin Pao, you must, on no account, sneak away any more without breathing a word to any one, and not sending for some people to escort you, for carriages and horses throng the streets. First and foremost, you're the means of making people uneasy at heart; and, what's more, that isn't the way in which members of a family such as ours should go out of doors!"
Dowager lady Chia meanwhile went on reprimanding the servants, who waited on him. "Why," she said, "do you all listen to him and readily go wherever he pleases without even reporting a single word? But where did you really go?" Continuing, she asked, "Did you have anything to eat? Or did you get any sort of fright, eh?"
"A beloved wife of the duke of Pei Ching departed this life," Pao-yue merely returned for answer, "and I went to-day to express my condolences to him. I found him in such bitter anguish that I couldn't very well leave him and come back immediately. That's the reason why I tarried with him a little longer."
"If hereafter you do again go out of doors slyly and on your own hook," dowager lady Chia impressed on his mind, "without first telling me, I shall certainly bid your father give you a caning!"
Pao-yue signified his obedience with all promptitude. His grandmother Chia was then bent upon having the servants, who were on attendance on him, beaten, but the various inmates did their best to dissuade her. "Venerable senior!" they said, "you can well dispense with flying into a rage! He has already promised that he won't venture to go out again. Besides, he has come back without any misadventure, so we should all compose our minds and enjoy ourselves a bit!"
Old lady Chia had, at first, been full of solicitude. She had, as a matter of course, been in a state of despair and displeasure; but, seeing Pao-yue return in safety, she felt immoderately delighted, to such a degree, that she could not reconcile herself to visit her resentment upon him. She therefore dropped all mention of his escapade at once. And as she entertained fears lest he may have been unhappy or have had, when he was away, nothing to eat, or got a start on the road, she did not punish him, but had, contrariwise, recourse to every sort of inducement to coax him to feel at ease. But Hsi Jen soon came over and attended to his wants, so the company once more turned their attention to the theatricals. The play acted on that occasion was, "The record of the boxwood hair-pin." Dowager lady Chia, Mrs. Hsueeh and the others were deeply impressed by what they saw and gave way to tears. Some, however, of the inmates were amused; others were provoked to anger; others gave vent to abuse.
But, reader, do you wish to know the sequel? If so, the next chapter will explain it.
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