中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第四十五回 金蘭契互剖金蘭語 風雨夕悶製風雨詞 CHAPTER XLV.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XLV.
話說鳳姐兒正撫恤平兒，忽見衆姊妹進來，忙讓坐了，平兒斟上茶來。鳳姐兒笑道：“今兒來的這麽齊，倒象下貼子請了來的。”探春笑道：“我們有兩件事：一件是我的，一件是四妹妹的，還夾着老太太的話。”鳳姐兒笑道：“有什麽事，這麽要緊？"探春笑道：“我們起了個詩社，頭一社就不齊全，衆人臉軟，所以就亂了。我想必得你去作個監社御史， 鐵面無私纔好。再四妹妹為畫園子，用的東西這般那般不全，回了老太太，老太太說：‘衹怕後頭樓底下還有當年剩下的，找一找，若有呢拿出來，若沒有，叫人買去。’" 鳳姐笑道：“我又不會作什麽濕的幹的，要我吃東西去不成？"探春道：“你雖不會作，也不要你作。你衹監察着我們裏頭有偷安怠惰的，該怎麽樣罰他就是了。”鳳姐兒笑道：“你們別哄我，我猜着了，那裏是請我作監社御史！分明是叫我作個進錢的銅商。你們弄什麽社，必是要輪流作東道的。你們的月錢不夠花了，想出這個法子來拗了我去，好和我要錢。可是這個主意？"一席話說的衆人都笑起來了。李紈笑道：“真真你是個水晶心肝玻璃人。 "鳳姐兒笑道：“虧你是個大嫂子呢！把姑娘們原交給你帶着念書學規矩針綫的， 他們不好，你要勸。這會子他們起詩社，能用幾個錢，你就不管了？老太太，太太罷了， 原是老封君。你一個月十兩銀子的月錢，比我們多兩倍銀子。老太太，太太還說你寡婦失業的， 可憐，不夠用，又有個小子，足的又添了十兩，和老太太，太太平等。又給你園子地， 各人取租子。年終分年例，你又是上上分兒。你娘兒們，主子奴才共總沒十個人，吃的穿的仍舊是官中的。一年通共算起來，也有四五百銀子。這會子你就每年拿出一二百兩銀子來陪他們頑頑， 能幾年的限？他們各人出了閣，難道還要你賠不成？這會子你怕花錢，調唆他們來鬧我，我樂得去吃一個河枯海幹，我還通不知道呢！”
李紈笑道：“你們聽聽，我說了一句，他就瘋了，說了兩車的無賴泥腿市俗專會打細算盤分斤撥兩的話出來。這東西虧他托生在詩書大宦名門之傢做小姐，出了嫁又是這樣，他還是這麽着，若是生在貧寒小戶人傢，作個小子，還不知怎麽下作貧嘴惡舌的呢！天下人都被你算計了去！昨兒還打平兒呢，虧你伸的出手來！那黃湯難道灌喪了狗肚子裏去了？ 氣的我衹要給平兒打報不平兒。忖奪了半日，好容易‘狗長尾巴尖兒’的好日子， 又怕老太太心裏不受用，因此沒來，究竟氣還未平。你今兒又招我來了。給平兒拾鞋也不要，你們兩個衹該換一個過子纔是。”說的衆人都笑了。鳳姐兒忙笑道：“竟不是為詩為畫來找我，這臉子竟是為平兒來報仇的。竟不承望平兒有你這一位仗腰子的人。早知道，便有鬼拉着我的手打他，我也不打了。平姑娘，過來！我當着大奶奶姑娘們替你賠個不是， 擔待我酒後無德罷。”說着，衆人又都笑起來了。李紈笑問平兒道：“如何？ 我說必定要給你爭爭氣纔罷。”平兒笑道：“雖如此，奶奶們取笑，我禁不起。”李紈道：“什麽禁不起，有我呢。快拿了鑰匙叫你主子開了樓房找東西去。”
鳳姐兒笑道：“好嫂子，你且同他們回園子裏去。纔要把這米帳合算一算，那邊大太太又打發人來叫，又不知有什麽話說，須得過去走一趟。還有年下你們添補的衣服，還沒打點給他們做去。”李紈笑道：“這些事我都不管，你衹把我的事完了我好歇着去，省得這些姑娘小姐鬧我。 "鳳姐兒忙笑道：“好嫂子，賞我一點空兒。你是最疼我的，怎麽今兒為平兒就不疼我了？往常你還勸我說，事情雖多，也該保養身子，撿點着偷空兒歇歇，你今兒反倒逼我的命了。況且誤了別人的年下衣裳無礙，他姊妹們的若誤了，卻是你的責任，老太太豈不怪你不管閑事，這一句現成的話也不說？我寧可自己落不是，豈敢帶纍你呢。”李紈笑道：“你們聽聽，說的好不好？把他會說話的！我且問你，這詩社你到底管不管？"鳳姐兒笑道：“這是什麽話，我不入社花幾個錢，不成了大觀園的反叛了，還想在這裏吃飯不成？明兒一早就到任，下馬拜了印，先放下五十兩銀子給你們慢慢作會社東道。過後幾天，我又不作詩作文，衹不過是個俗人罷了。‘監察’也罷，不‘監察’也罷，有了錢了，你們還攆出我來！"說的衆人又都笑起來。鳳姐兒道：“過會子我開了樓房，凡有這些東西都叫人搬出來你們看，若使得，留着使，若少什麽，照你們單子，我叫人替你們買去就是了。 畫絹我就裁出來。那圖樣沒有在太太跟前，還在那邊珍大爺那裏呢。 說給你們，別碰釘子去。我打發人取了來，一並叫人連絹交給相公們礬去，如何？"李紈點首笑道：“這難為你，果然這樣還罷了。既如此，咱們傢去罷，等着他不送了去再來鬧他。 "說着，便帶了他姊妹就走。鳳姐兒道：“這些事再沒兩個人，都是寶玉生出來的。”李紈聽了，忙回身笑道：“正是為寶玉來，反忘了他。頭一社是他誤了。我們臉軟， 你說該怎麽罰他？"鳳姐想了一想，說道：“沒有別的法子，衹叫他把你們各人屋子裏的地罰他掃一遍纔好。”衆人都笑道：“這話不差。”
說着纔要回去， 衹見一個小丫頭扶了賴嬤嬤進來。鳳姐兒等忙站起來，笑道：“大娘坐。”又都嚮他道喜。賴嬤嬤嚮炕沿上坐了，笑道：“我也喜，主子們也喜。若不是主子們的恩典發展的，宣稱自己的哲學體係是終極真理，就是形而上學。， 我們這喜從何來？昨兒奶奶又打發彩哥兒賞東西，我孫子在門上朝上磕了頭了。”李紈笑道：“多早晚上任去？"賴嬤嬤嘆道：“我那裏管他們，由他們去罷！前兒在傢裏給我磕頭， 我沒好話，我說：‘哥哥兒，你別說你是官兒了，橫行霸道的！你今年活了三十歲，雖然是人傢的奴才，一落娘胎胞，主子恩典，放你出來，上托着主子的洪福，下托着你老子娘， 也是公子哥兒似的讀書認字，也是丫頭，老婆，奶子捧鳳凰似的，長了這麽大。 你那裏知道那‘奴才’兩字是怎麽寫的！衹知道享福，也不知道你爺爺和你老子受的那苦惱，熬了兩三輩子，好容易掙出你這麽個東西來。從小兒三災八難，花的銀子也照樣打出你這麽個銀人兒來了。 到二十歲上，又蒙主子的恩典，許你捐個前程在身上。你看那正根正苗的忍饑挨餓的要多少？你一個奴才秧子，仔細折了福！如今樂了十年，不知怎麽弄神弄鬼的，求了主子，又選了出來。州縣官兒雖小，事情卻大，為那一州的州官，就是那一方的父母。你不安分守己，盡忠報國，孝敬主子，衹怕天也不容你。 "李紈鳳姐兒都笑道：“你也多慮。我們看他也就好了。先那幾年還進來了兩次，這有好幾年沒來了， 年下生日，衹見他的名字就罷了。前兒給老太太，太太磕頭來，在老太太那院裏， 見他又穿着新官的服色，倒發的威武了，比先時也胖了。他這一得了官，正該你樂呢， 反倒愁起這些來！他不好，還有他父親呢，你衹受用你的就完了。閑了坐個轎子進來，和老太太鬥一日牌，說一天話兒，誰好意思的委屈了你。傢去一般也是樓房廈廳，誰不敬你，自然也是老封君似的了。”
平兒斟上茶來， 賴嬤嬤忙站起來接了，笑道：“姑娘不管叫那個孩子倒來罷了，又折受我。”說着，一面吃茶，一面又道：“奶奶不知道。這些小孩子們全要管的嚴。饒這麽嚴，他們還偷空兒鬧個亂子來叫大人操心。知道的說小孩子們淘氣，不知道的，人傢就說仗着財勢欺人，連主子名聲也不好。恨的我沒法兒，常把他老子叫來駡一頓，纔好些。 "因又指寶玉道：“不怕你嫌我，如今老爺不過這麽管你一管，老太太護在頭裏。當日老爺小時挨你爺爺的打，誰沒看見的。老爺小時，何曾象你這麽天不怕地不怕的了。還有那大老爺，雖然淘氣，也沒象你這紮窩子的樣兒，也是天天打。還有東府裏你珍哥兒的爺爺，那纔是火上澆油的性子，說聲惱了，什麽兒子，竟是審賊！如今我眼裏看着，耳朵裏聽着， 那珍大爺管兒子倒也象當日老祖宗的規矩，衹是管的到三不着兩的。他自己也不管一管自己， 這些兄弟侄兒怎麽怨的不怕他？你心裏明白，喜歡我說，不明白，嘴裏不好意思， 心裏不知怎麽駡我呢。”正說着，衹見賴大傢的來了，接着周瑞傢的張材傢的都進來回事情。 鳳姐兒笑道：“媳婦來接婆婆來了。”賴大傢的笑道：“不是接他老人傢， 倒是打聽打聽奶奶姑娘們賞臉不賞臉？"賴嬤嬤聽了，笑道：“可是我糊塗了，正經說的話且不說，且說陳𠔌子爛芝麻的混搗熟。因為我們小子選了出來，衆親友要給他賀喜，少不得傢裏擺個酒。我想，擺一日酒，請這個也不是，請那個也不是。又想了一想， 托主子洪福，想不到的這樣榮耀，就傾了傢，我也是願意的。因此吩咐他老子連擺三日酒：頭一日，在我們破花園子裏擺幾席酒，一臺戲，請老太太，太太們，奶奶姑娘們去散一日悶， 外頭大廳上一臺戲，擺幾席酒，請老爺們，爺們去增增光，第二日再請親友，第三日再把我們兩府裏的伴兒請一請。熱鬧三天，也是托着主子的洪福一場，光輝光輝。”李紈鳳姐兒都笑道：“多早晚的日子？我們必去，衹怕老太太高興要去也定不得。 "賴大傢的忙道：“擇了十四的日子，衹看我們奶奶的老臉罷了。”鳳姐笑道：“別人不知道，我是一定去的。先說下，我是沒有賀禮的，也不知道放賞，吃完了一走，可別笑話。”賴大傢的笑道：“奶奶說那裏話？奶奶要賞，賞我們三二萬銀子就有了。”賴嬤嬤笑道：“我纔去請老太太，老太太也說去，可算我這臉還好。”說畢又叮嚀了一回，方起身要走，因看見周瑞傢的，便想起一事來，因說道：“可是還有一句話問奶奶，這周嫂子的兒子犯了什麽不是， 攆了他不用？"鳳姐兒聽了，笑道：“正是我要告訴你媳婦，事情多也忘了。賴嫂子回去說給你老頭子，兩府裏不許收留他小子，叫他各人去罷。”
賴大傢的衹得答應着。周瑞傢的忙跪下央求。賴嬤嬤忙道：“什麽事？說給我評評。” 鳳姐兒道：“前日我生日，裏頭還沒吃酒，他小子先醉了。老娘那邊送了禮來，他不說在外頭張羅，他倒坐着駡人，禮也不送進來。兩個女人進來了，他纔帶着小幺們往裏擡。小幺們倒好，他拿的一盒子倒失了手，撒了一院子饅頭。人去了，打發彩明去說他，他倒駡了彩明一頓。這樣無法無天的忘八羔子，不攆了作什麽！"賴嬤嬤笑道：“我當什麽事情， 原來為這個。奶奶聽我說：他有不是，打他駡他，使他改過，攆了去斷乎使不得。他又比不得是咱們傢的傢生子兒， 他現是太太的陪房。奶奶衹顧攆了他，太太臉上不好看。依我說，奶奶教導他幾板子，以戒下次，仍舊留着纔是。不看他娘，也看太太。”鳳姐兒聽說， 便嚮賴大傢的說道：“既這樣，打他四十棍，以後不許他吃酒。”賴大傢的答應了。 周瑞傢的磕頭起來，又要與賴嬤嬤磕頭，賴大傢的拉着方罷。然後他三人去了，李紈等也就回園中來。至晚，果然鳳姐命人找了許多舊收的畫具出來，送至園中。寶釵等選了一回，各色東西可用的衹有一半，將那一半又開了單子，與鳳姐兒去照樣置買，不必細說。
一日，外面礬了絹，起了稿子進來。寶玉每日便在惜春這裏幫忙。探春，李紈，迎春互轉化：“一分為二，節節如此，以至無窮，皆是一生兩爾。”，寶釵等也多往那裏閑坐，一則觀畫，二則便於會面。寶釵因見天氣涼爽，夜復漸長，遂至母親房中商議打點些針綫來。日間至賈母處王夫人處省候兩次，不免又承色陪坐閑話半時， 園中姊妹處也要度時閑話一回，故日間不大得閑，每夜燈下女工必至三更方寢。 黛玉每歲至春分秋分之後，必犯嗽疾，今秋又遇賈母高興，多遊玩了兩次，未免過勞了神， 近日又復嗽起來，覺得比往常又重，所以總不出門，衹在自己房中將養。有時悶了，又盼個姊妹來說些閑話排遣，及至寶釵等來望候他，說不得三五句話又厭煩了。衆人都體諒他病中， 且素日形體嬌弱，禁不得一些委屈，所以他接待不周，禮數粗忽，也都不苛責。
這日寶釵來望他， 因說起這病癥來。寶釵道：“這裏走的幾個太醫雖都還好，衹是你吃他們的藥總不見效， 不如再請一個高明的人來瞧一瞧，治好了豈不好？每年間鬧一春一夏，又不老又不小，成什麽？不是個常法。”黛玉道：“不中用。我知道我這樣病是不能好的了。 且別說病，衹論好的日子我是怎麽形景，就可知了。”寶釵點頭道：“可正是這話。 古人說‘食𠔌者生’，你素日吃的竟不能添養精神氣血，也不是好事。”黛玉嘆道：“‘死生有命，富貴在天’，也不是人力可強的。今年比往年反覺又重了些似的。”說話之間，已咳嗽了兩三次。寶釵道：“昨兒我看你那藥方上，人參肉桂覺得太多了。雖說益氣補神， 也不宜太熱。依我說，先以平肝健胃為要，肝火一平，不能剋土，胃氣無病，飲食就可以養人了。每日早起拿上等燕窩一兩，冰糖五錢，用銀銚子熬出粥來，若吃慣了，比藥還強，最是滋陰補氣的。”
黛玉嘆道：“你素日待人，固然是極好的，然我最是個多心的人，衹當你心裏藏姦。從前日你說看雜書不好，又勸我那些好話製。反對暴力革命，認為科學、道德和宗教的進步是歷史發，竟大感激你。往日竟是我錯了，實在誤到如今。 細細算來，我母親去世的早，又無姊妹兄弟，我長了今年十五歲，竟沒一個人象你前日的話教導我。怨不得雲丫頭說你好，我往日見他贊你，我還不受用，昨兒我親自經過，纔知道了。比如若是你說了那個，我再不輕放過你的，你竟不介意，反勸我那些話，可知我竟自誤了。若不是從前日看出來，今日這話，再不對你說。你方纔說叫我吃燕窩粥的話，雖然燕窩易得，但衹我因身上不好了，每年犯這個病，f也沒什麽要緊的去處。請大夫，熬藥，人參肉桂，已經鬧了個天翻地覆，這會子我又興出新文來熬什麽燕窩粥， 老太太，太太，鳳姐姐這三個人便沒話說，那些底下的婆子丫頭們，未免不嫌我太多事了。你看這裏這些人，因見老太太多疼了寶玉和鳳丫頭兩個，他們尚虎視耽耽，背地裏言三語四的，何況於我？況我又不是他們這裏正經主子，原是無依無靠投奔了來的，他們已經多嫌着我了。 如今我還不知進退，何苦叫他們咒我？"寶釵道：“這樣說，我也是和你一樣。”黛玉道：“你如何比我？你又有母親，又有哥哥，這裏又有買賣地土，傢裏又仍舊有房有地。你不過是親戚的情分，白住了這裏，一應大小事情，又不沾他們一文半個，要走就走了。我是一無所有，吃穿用度，一草一紙，皆是和他們傢的姑娘一樣，那l起小人豈有不多嫌的。”寶釵笑道：“將來也不過多費得一副嫁妝罷了，如今也愁不到這裏。 "黛玉聽了，不覺紅了臉，笑道：“人傢纔拿你當個正經人，把心裏的煩難告訴你聽， 你反拿我取笑兒。”寶釵笑道：“雖是取笑兒，卻也是真話。你放心，我在這裏一日，我與你消遣一日。 你有什麽委屈煩難，衹管告訴我，我能解的，自然替你解一日。我雖有個哥哥， 你也是知道的，衹有個母親比你略強l些。咱們也算同病相憐。你也是個明白人，何必作‘司馬牛之嘆’？你纔說的也是，多一事不如省一事。我明日傢去和媽媽說了，衹怕我們傢裏還有，與你送幾兩，每日叫丫頭們就熬了，又便宜，又不驚師動衆的。” 黛玉忙笑道：“東西事小，難得你多情如此。”寶釵道：“這有什麽放在口裏的！衹愁我人人跟前失於應候罷了。衹怕你煩了，我且去了。”黛玉道：“晚上再來和我說句話兒。”寶釵答應着便去了，不在話下。
這裏黛玉喝了兩口稀粥，仍歪在床上，不想日f未落時天就變了，淅淅瀝瀝下起雨來。 秋霖脈脈，陰晴不定，那天漸漸的黃昏，且陰的沉黑，兼着那雨滴竹梢，更覺凄涼。知寶釵不能來，便在燈下隨便拿了一本書，卻是《樂府雜稿》，有《秋閨怨》《別離怨》等詞。黛玉不覺心有所感，亦不禁發於章句，遂成《代別離》一首，擬《春江花月夜》之格，乃名其詞曰《秋窗風雨夕》。其詞曰：
秋花慘淡秋草黃，耿耿秋燈秋夜長。
已覺秋窗秋不盡，那堪風雨助凄涼！
助秋風雨來何速！驚破秋窗秋夢緑。
抱得秋情不忍眠，自嚮秋屏移淚燭。
淚燭搖搖短檠，牽愁照恨動離情。
誰傢秋院無風入？何處秋窗無雨聲？
羅衾不奈秋風力，殘漏聲催秋雨急。
連宵脈脈復颼颼，燈前似伴離人泣。
寒煙小院轉蕭條，疏竹虛窗時滴瀝。
不知風雨幾時休，已教淚灑窗紗濕。
吟罷擱筆， 方要安寢，丫鬟報說：“寶二爺來了。”一語未完，衹見寶玉頭上帶着大箬笠， 身上披着簑衣。黛玉不覺笑了：“那裏來的漁翁！"寶玉忙問：“今兒好些？吃了藥沒有？ 今兒一日吃了多少飯？"一面說，一面摘了笠，脫了簑衣，忙一手舉起燈來，一手遮住燈光，嚮黛玉臉上照了一照，覷着眼細瞧了一瞧，笑道：“今兒氣色好了些。”
黛玉看脫了簑衣， 裏面衹穿半舊紅綾短襖，係着緑汗巾子，膝下露出油緑綢撒花褲子，底下是掐金滿綉的綿紗襪子，и著蝴蝶落花鞋。黛玉問道：“上頭怕雨，底下這鞋襪子是不怕雨的？也倒幹淨。”寶玉笑道：“我這一套是全的。有一雙棠木屐，纔穿了來，脫在廊檐上了。”黛玉又看那簑衣鬥笠不是尋常市賣的，十分細緻輕巧，因說道：“是什麽草編的？怪道穿上不象那刺蝟似的。”寶玉道：“這三樣都是北靜王送的。他閑了下雨時在傢裏也是這樣。 你喜歡這個，我也弄一套來送你。別的都罷了，惟有這鬥笠有趣，竟是活的。上頭的這頂兒是活的，鼕天下雪，帶上帽子，就把竹信子抽了，去下頂子來，衹剩了這圈子。下雪時男女都戴得，我送你一頂，鼕天下雪戴。”黛玉笑道：“我不要他。戴上那個， 成個畫兒上畫的和戲上扮的漁婆了。”及說了出來，方想起話未忖奪，與方纔說寶玉的話相連，後悔不及，羞的臉飛紅，便伏在桌上嗽個不住。
寶玉卻不留心， 因見案上有詩，遂拿起來看了一遍，又不禁叫好。黛玉聽了，忙起來奪在手內， 嚮燈上燒了。寶玉笑道：“我已背熟了，燒也無礙。”黛玉道：“我也好了許多，謝你一天來幾次瞧我，下雨還來。這會子夜深了，我也要歇着，你且請回去，明兒再來。 "寶玉聽說，回手嚮懷中掏出一個核桃大小的一個金表來，瞧了一瞧，那針已指到戌末亥初之間，忙又揣了，說道：“原該歇了，又擾的你勞了半日神。”說着，披簑戴笠出去了，又翻身進來問道：“你想什麽吃，告訴我，我明兒一早回老太太，豈不比老婆子們說的明白？"黛玉笑道：“等我夜裏想着了，明兒早起告訴你。你聽雨越發緊了，快去罷。可有人跟着沒有？ "有兩個婆子答應：“有人，外面拿着傘點着燈籠呢。”黛玉笑道：“這個天點燈籠？ "寶玉道：“不相幹，是明瓦的，不怕雨。”黛玉聽說，回手嚮書架上把個玻璃綉球燈拿了下來，命點一支小蠟來，遞與寶玉，道：“這個又比那個亮，正是雨裏點的。”寶玉道：“我也有這麽一個，怕他們失腳滑倒了打破了，所以沒點來。”黛玉道：“跌了燈值錢，跌了人值錢？你又穿不慣木屐子。那燈籠命他們前頭照着。這個又輕巧又亮，原是雨裏自己拿着的，你自己手裏拿着這個，豈不好？明兒再送來。就失了手也有限的， 怎麽忽然又變出這‘剖腹藏珠’的脾氣來！"寶玉聽說，連忙接了過來，前頭兩個婆子打着傘提着明瓦燈，後頭還有兩個小丫鬟打着傘。寶玉便將這個燈遞與一個小丫頭捧着，寶玉扶着他的肩，一徑去了。
就有蘅蕪苑的一個婆子， 也打着傘提着燈，送了一大包上等燕窩來，還有一包子潔粉梅片雪花洋糖。說：“這比買的強。姑娘說了：姑娘先吃着，完了再送來。”黛玉道：“回去說‘費心’。”命他外頭坐了吃茶。婆子笑道：“不吃茶了，我還有事呢。”黛玉笑道：“我也知道你們忙。如今天又涼，夜又長，越發該會個夜局，痛賭兩場了。”婆子笑道：“不瞞姑娘說，今年我大沾光兒了。橫竪每夜各處有幾個上夜的人，誤了更也不好，不如會個夜局， 又坐了更，又解悶兒。今兒又是我的頭傢，如今園門關了，就該上場了。”黛玉聽說笑道：“難為你。誤了你發財，冒雨送來。”命人給他幾百錢，打些酒吃，避避雨氣。那婆子笑道：“又破費姑娘賞酒吃。”說着，磕了一個頭，外面接了錢，打傘去了。
紫鵑收起燕窩，然後移燈下簾，伏侍黛玉睡下。黛玉自在枕上感念寶釵，一時又羨他有母兄，一面又想寶玉雖素習和睦，終有嫌疑。又聽見窗外竹梢焦葉之上，雨聲淅瀝，清寒透幕，不覺又滴下淚來。直到四更將闌，方漸漸的睡了。暫且無話。要知端的——
Friends interchange words of friendship. Tai-yue feels dull on a windy and rainy evening, and indites verses on wind and rain.
Lady Feng, we will now go on to explain, was engaged in comforting P'ing Erh, when upon unawares perceiving the young ladies enter the room, she hastened to make them sit down while P'ing Erh poured the tea.
"So many of you come to-day," lady Feng smiled, "that it looks as if you'd been asked to come by invitation."
T'an Ch'un was the first to speak. "We have," she smilingly rejoined, "two objects in view, the one concerns me; the other cousin Quarta; but among these are, besides, certain things said by our venerable senior."
"What's up?" inquired lady Feng with a laugh. "Is it so urgent?"
"Some time ago," T'an Ch'un proceeded laughingly, "we started a rhyming club; but the first meeting was not quite a success. Every one of us proved so soft-hearted! The rules therefore were set at naught. So I can't help thinking that we must enlist your services as president of the society and superintendent; for what is needed to make the thing turn out well is firmness and no favour. The next matter is: cousin Quarta explained to our worthy ancestor that the requisites for painting the picture of the garden were short of one thing and another, and she said: 'that there must still be,' she fancied, 'in the lower story of the back loft some articles, remaining over from previous years, and that we should go and look for them. That if there be any, they should be taken out, but that in the event of their being none, some one should be commissioned to go and purchase a supply of them.'"
"I'm not up to doing anything wet or dry, (play on word 'shih,' verses)," lady Feng laughed, "and would you have me, pray, come and gorge?"
"You may, it's possible, not be up to any of these things," T'an Ch'un replied, "but we don't expect you to do anything! All we want you for is to see whether there be among us any remiss or lazy, and to decide how they should be punished, that's all."
"You shouldn't try and play your tricks upon me!" lady Feng smiled, "I can see through your little game! Is it that you wish me to act as president and superintendent? No! it's as clear as day that your object is that I should play the part of that copper merchant, who put in contributions in hard cash. You have, at every meeting you hold, to each take turn and pay the piper; but, as your funds are not sufficient, you've invented this plan to come and inveigle me into your club, in order to wheedle money out of me! This must be your little conspiracy!"
These words evoked general laughter. "You've guessed right!" they exclaimed.
"In very truth," Li Wan smiled, "you're a creature with an intellect as transparent as crystal, and with wits as clear as glass!"
"You've got the good fortune of being their elder sister-in-law," lady Feng smilingly remarked, "so the young ladies asked you to take them in hand, and teach them how to read, and make them learn good manners and needlework; and it's for you to guide and direct them in everything! But here they start a rhyming society, for which not much can be needed, and don't you concern yourself about them? We'll leave our worthy ancestor and our Madame Wang aside; they are old people, but you receive each moon an allowance of ten taels, which is twice as much as what any one of us gets. More, our worthy ancestor and Madame Wang maintain that being a widow, and having lost your home, you haven't, poor thing, enough to live upon, and that you have a young child as well to bring up; so they added with extreme liberality another ten taels to your original share. Your allowance therefore is on a par with that of our dear senior. But they likewise gave you a piece of land in the garden, and you also come in for the lion's share of rents, collected from various quarters, and of the annual allowances, apportioned at the close of each year. Yet, you and your son don't muster, masters and servants, ten persons in all. What you eat and what your wear comes, just as ever, out of the general public fund, so that, computing everything together, you get as much as four to five hundred taels. Were you then to contribute each year a hundred or two hundred taels, to help them to have some fun, how many years could this outlay continue? They'll very soon be getting married, and, are they likely then to still expect you to make any contributions? So loth are you, however, at present to fork out any cash that you've egged them on to come and worry me! I'm quite prepared to spend away until we've drained our chest dry! Don't I know that the money isn't mine?"
"Just you listen to her," Li Wan laughed. "I simply made one single remark, and out she came with two cartloads of nonsensical trash! You're as rough a diamond as a leg made of clay! All you're good for is to work the small abacus, to divide a catty and to fraction an ounce, so finicking are you! A nice thing you are, and yet, you've been lucky enough to come to life as the child of a family of learned and high officials. You've also made such a splendid match; and do you still behave in the way you do? Had you been a son or daughter born in some poverty-stricken, humble and low household, there's no saying what a mean thing you wouldn't have been! Every one in this world has been gulled by you; and yesterday you went so far as to strike P'ing Erh! But it wasn't the proper thing for you to stretch out your hand on her! Was all that liquor, forsooth, poured down a cur's stomach? My monkey was up, and I meant to have taken upon myself to avenge P'ing Erh's grievance; but, after mature consideration, I thought to myself, 'her birthday is as slow to come round as a dog's tail grows to a point.' I also feared lest our venerable senior might be made to feel unhappy; so I did not come forward. Anyhow, my resentment isn't yet spent; and do you come to-day to try and irritate me? You aren't fit to even pick up shoes for P'ing Erh! You two should therefore change your respective places!"
These taunts created merriment among the whole party.
"Oh!" hastily exclaimed lady Feng, laughingly, "I know everything! You don't at all come to look me up on account of verses or paintings, but simply to take revenge on P'ing Erh's behalf! I never had any idea that P'ing Erh had such a backer as yourself to bolster her up! Had I known it, I wouldn't have ventured to strike her, even though a spirit had been tugging my arm! Miss P'ing come over and let me tender my apologies to you, in the presence of your senior lady and the young ladies. Do bear with me for having proved so utterly wanting in virtue, after I had had a few drinks!"
Every one felt amused by her insinuations.
"What do you say?" Li Wan asked P'ing Erh smiling. "As for me, I think it my bounden duty to vindicate your wrongs, before we let the matter drop!"
"Your remarks, ladies, may be spoken in jest," P'ing Erh smiled, "but I am not worthy of such a fuss!"
"What about worthy and unworthy?" Li Wan observed. "I'm here for you! Quick, get the key, and let your mistress go and open the doors and hunt up the things!"
"Dear sister-in-law," lady Feng said with a smile, "you'd better go along with them into the garden. I'm about to take the rice accounts in hand and square them up with them. Our senior lady, Madame Hsing, has also sent some one to call me; what she wants to tell me again, I can't make out; but I must need go over for a turn. There are, besides, all those extra clothes for you people to wear at the end of the year, and I must get them ready and give them to be made!"
"These matters are none of my business!" Li Wan laughingly answered. "First settle my concerns so as to enable me to retire to rest, and escape the bother of having all these girls at me!"
"Dear sister-in-law," vehemently smiled lady Feng, "be good enough to give me a little time! You've ever been the one to love me best, and how is it that you have, on P'ing Erh's account, ceased to care for me? Time and again have you impressed on my mind that I should, despite my manifold duties, take good care of my health, and manage things in such a way as to find a little leisure for rest, and do you now contrariwise come to press the very life out of me? There's another thing besides. Should such clothes as will be required at the end of the year by any other persons be delayed, it won't matter; but, should those of the young ladies be behind time, let the responsibility rest upon your shoulders! And won't our old lady bear you a grudge, if you don't mind these small things? But as for me, I won't utter a single word against you, for, as I had rather bear the blame myself, I won't venture, to involve you!"
"Listen to her!" Li Wan smiled. "Hasn't she got the gift of the gab? But let me ask you. Will you, after all, assume the control of this rhyming society or not?"
"What's this nonsense you're talking?" lady Feng laughed. "Were I not to enter the society, and spend a little money, won't I be treated as a rebel in this garden of Broad Vista? And will I then still think of tarrying here to eat my head off? So soon as the day dawns to-morrow, I'll arrive at my post, dismount from my horse, and, after kneeling before the seals, my first act will be to give fifty taels for you to quietly cover the expenses of your meetings. Yet after a few days, I shall neither indite any verses, nor write any compositions, as I am simply a rustic boor, nothing more! But it will be just the same whether I assume the direction or not; for after you pocket my money, there's no fear of your not driving me out of the place!"
As these words dropped from her lips, one and all laughed again.
"I'll now open the loft," proceeded lady Feng. "Should there be any of the articles you want, you can tell the servants to bring them out for you to look at them! If any will serve your purpose, keep them and use them. If any be short, I'll bid a servant go and purchase them according to your list. I'll go at once and cut the satin for the painting. As for the plan, it isn't with Madame Wang; it's still over there, at Mr. Chia Chen's. I tell you all this so that you should avoid going over to Madame Wang's and getting into trouble! But I'll go and depute some one to fetch it. I'll direct also a servant to take the satin and give it to the gentlemen to size with alum; will this be all right?"
Li Wan nodded her head by way of assent and smiled. "This will be putting you to much trouble and inconvenience," she said. "But we must really act as you suggest. Well in that case, go home all of you, and, if after a time, she doesn't send the thing round, you can come again and bully her."
So saying, she there and then led off the young ladies, and was making her way out, when lady Feng exclaimed: "It's Pao-yue and he alone, who has given rise to all this fuss."
Li Wan overheard her remark and hastily turned herself round. "We did, in fact, come over," she smiled, "on account of Pao-yue, and we forgot, instead all about him! The first meeting was deferred through him; but we are too soft-hearted, so tell us what penalty to inflict on him!"
Lady Feng gave herself to reflection. "There's only one thing to do," she then remarked. "Just punish him by making him sweep the floor of each of your rooms. This will do!"
"Your verdict is faultless!" they laughed with one accord.
While they conversed they were on the point of starting on their way back, when they caught sight of a young maid walk in, supporting nurse Lai. Lady Feng and her companions immediately rose to their feet, their faces beaming with smiles. "Venerable mother!" they said, "do take a seat!" They then in a body presented their congratulations to her.
Nurse Lai seated herself on the edge of the stovecouch and returned their smiles. "I'm to be congratulated," she rejoined, "but you, mistresses, are to be congratulated as well; for had it had not been for the bountiful grace displaced by you, mistresses, whence would this joy of mine have come? Your ladyship sent Ts'ai Ko again yesterday to bring me presents, but my grandson _kotowed_ at the door, with his face turned towards the upper quarters."
"When is he going to his post?" Li Wan inquired, with a smile.
Nurse Lai heaved a sigh. "How can I interfere with them?" she answered. "Why, I let them have their own way and start when they like! The other day, they were at my house, and they prostrated themselves before me; but I could find no complimentary remark to make to him, so, 'Sir!' I said, 'putting aside that you're an official, you've lived in a reckless and dissolute way, for now thirty years. You should, it's true, have been people's bond-servant, but from the moment you came out of your mother's womb, your master graciously accorded you your liberty. Thanks, above, to the boundless blessings showered upon you by your lord, and, below, to the favour of your father and mother, you're like a noble scion and a gentleman, able to read and to write; and you have been carried about by maids, old matrons, and nurses, just as if you had been a very phoenix! But now that you've grown up and reached this age, do you have the faintest notion of what the two words 'bond-servant' imply? All you think of is to enjoy your benefits. But what hardships your grandfather and father had to bear, in slaving away for two or three generations, before they succeeded, after ever so many ups and downs, in raising up a thing like you, you don't at all know! From your very infancy, you ever ailed from this, or sickened for that, so that the money that was expended on your behalf, would suffice to fuse into a lifelike silver image of you! At the age of twenty, you again received the bounty of your master in the shape of a promise to purchase official status for you. But just mark, how many inmates of the principal branch and main offspring have to endure privation, and suffer the pangs of hunger! So beware you, who are the offshoot of a bond-servant, lest you snap your happiness! After enjoying so many good things for a decade, by the help of what spirits, and the agency of what devils have you, I wonder, managed to so successfully entreat your master as to induce him to bring you to the fore again and select you for office? Magistrates may be minor officials, but their functions are none the less onerous. In whatever district they obtain a post, they become the father and mother of that particular locality. If you therefore don't mind your business, and look after your duties in such a way as to acquit yourself of your loyal obligations, to prove your gratitude to the state and to show obedience and reverence to your lord, heaven, I fear, will not even bear with you!'"
Li Wan and lady Feng laughed. "You're too full of misgivings!" they observed. "From what we can see of him, he's all right! Some years back, he paid us a visit or two; but it's many years now that he hasn't put his foot here. At the close of each year, and on birthdays, we've simply seen his name brought in, that's all. The other day, that he came to knock his head before our venerable senior and Madame Wang, we caught sight of him in her courtyard yonder; and, got up in the uniform of his new office, he looked so dignified, and stouter too than before. Now that he has got this post, you should be quite happy; instead of that you worry and fret about this and that! If he does get bad, why, he has his father and mother yet to take care of him, so all you need do is to be cheerful and content! When you've got time to spare, do get into a chair and come in and have a game of cards and a chat with our worthy senior; and who ever will have the face to hurt your feelings? Why, were you go to your home, you'd also have there houses and halls, and who is there who would not hold you in high respect? You're certainly, what one would call, a venerable old dame!"
P'ing Erh poured a cup of tea and brought it to her. Nurse Lai speedily stood up. "You could have asked any girl to do this for me; it wouldn't have mattered! But here I'm troubling you again!"
Apologising, she resumed, sipping her tea the while: "My lady you're not aware that young girls of this age must be in everything kept strictly in hand. In the event of any license, they're sure to find time to kick up trouble, and annoy their elders. Those, who know (how well they are supervised), will then say that children are always up to mischief. But those, who don't, will maintain that they take advantage of their wealthy position to despise people; to the detriment as well of their mistresses' reputation. How I regret that there's nothing that I can do with him. Time after time, have I had to send for his father; and he has been the better, after a scolding from him." Pointing at Pao-yue, "I don't mind whether you feel angry with me for what I'm going to say," she proceeded, "but if your father were to attempt now to exercise ever so little control over you, your venerable grandmother is sure to try and screen you. Yet, when in days gone by your worthy father was young, he used to be beaten by your grandfather. Who hasn't seen him do it? But did your father, in his youth resemble you, who have neither fear for God or man? There was also our senior master, on the other side, Mr. Chia She. He was, I admit, wild; but never such a crossgrained fellow as yourself; and yet he too had his daily dose of the whip. There was besides the father of your elder cousin Chen, of the eastern mansion. He had a disposition that flared up like a fire over which oil is poured. If anything was said, and he flew into a rage, why, talk about a son, it was really as if he tortured a robber. From all I can now see and hear, Mr. Chen keeps his son in check just as much as was the custom in old days among his ancestors; the only thing is that he abides by it in some respects, but not in others. Besides, he doesn't exercise the least restraint over his own self, so is it to be wondered at if all his cousins and nieces don't respect him? If you've got any sense about you, you'll only be too glad that I speak to you in this wise; but if you haven't, you mayn't be very well able to say anything openly to me, but you'll inwardly abuse me, who knows to what extent!"
As she reproved him, they saw Lai Ta's wife arrive. In close succession came Chou Jui's wife along with Chang Ts'ai's wife to report various matters.
"A wife," laughed lady Feng, "has come to fetch her mother-in-law!"
"I haven't come to fetch our old dame," Lai Ta's wife smilingly rejoined, "but to inquire whether you, my lady and the young ladies, will confer upon us the honour of your company?"
When nurse Lai caught this remark, she smiled. "I've really grown quite idiotic!" "What," she exclaimed, "was right and proper for me to say, I didn't say, but I went on talking instead a lot of rot and rubbish! As our relatives and friends are presenting their congratulations to our grandson for having been selected to fill up that office of his, we find ourselves under the necessity of giving a banquet at home. But I was thinking that it wouldn't do, if we kept a feast going the whole day, and we invited this one, and not that one. Reflecting also that it was thanks to our master's vast bounty that we've come in for this unforeseen glory and splendour, I felt quite agreeable to do anything, even though it may entail the collapse of our household. I therefore advised his father to give banquets on three consecutive days. That he should, on the first, put up several tables, and a stage in our mean garden, and invite your venerable dowager lady, the senior ladies, junior ladies, and young ladies to come and have some distraction during the day, and that he should have several tables laid on the stage in the main pavilion outside, and request the senior and junior gentlemen to confer upon us the lustre of their presence. That for the second day, we should ask our relatives and friends; and that for the third, we should invite our companions from the two mansions. In this way, we'll have three days' excitement, and, by the boundless favour of our master, we'll have the benefit of enjoying the honour of your society."
"When is it to be?" Li Wan and lady Feng inquired, smilingly. "As far as we are concerned, we'll feel it our duty to come. And we hope that our worthy senior may feel in the humour to go. But there's no saying for certain!"
"The day chosen is the fourteenth," Lai Ta's wife eagerly replied. "Just come for the sake of our old mother-in-law!"
"I can't tell about the others," lady Feng explained with a laugh, "but as for me I shall positively come. I must however tell you beforehand that I've no congratulatory presents to give you. Nor do I know anything about tips to players or others. As soon as I shall have done eating, I shall bolt, so don't laugh at me."
"Fiddlesticks!" Lai Ta's wife laughed. "Were your ladyship disposed, you could well afford to give us twenty and thirty thousand taels."
"I'm off now to invite our venerable mistress," nurse Lai smilingly remarked. "And if her ladyship also agrees to come, I shall deem it a greater honour than ever conferred upon me."
Having said this, she went on to issue some injunctions; after which, she got up to go, when the sight of Chou Jui's wife reminded her of something.
"Of course!" she consequently observed. "I've got one more question to ask you, my lady. What did sister-in-law Chou's son do to incur blame, that he was packed off, and his services dispensed with?"
"I was just about to tell your daughter-in-law," lady Feng answered smilingly, after listening to her question, "but with so many things to preoccupy me, it slipped from my memory! When you get home, sister-in-law Lai, explain to that old husband of yours that we won't have his, (Chou Jui's), son kept in either of the mansions; and that he can tell him to go about his own business!"
Lai Ta's wife had no option but to express her acquiescence. Chou Jui's wife however speedily fell on her knees and gave way to urgent entreaties.
"What is it all about?" nurse Lai shouted. "Tell me and let me determine the right and wrong of the question."
"The other day," lady Feng observed, "that my birthday was celebrated, that young fellow of his got drunk, before the wine ever went round; and when the old dame, over there, sent presents, he didn't go outside to give a helping hand, but squatted down, instead, and upbraided people. Even the presents he wouldn't carry inside. And it was only after the two girls had come indoors that he eventually got the servant-lads and brought them in. Those lads were however careful enough in what they did, but as for him, he let the box, he held, slip from his hands, and bestrewed the whole courtyard with cakes. When every one had left, I deputed Ts'ai Ming to go and talk to him; but he then turned round and gave Ts'ai Ming a regular scolding. So what's the use of not bundling off a disorderly rascal like him, who neither shows any regard for discipline or heaven?"
"I was wondering what it could be!" nurse Lai ventured. "Was it really about this? My lady, listen to me! If he has done anything wrong, thrash him and scold him, until you make him mend his ways, and finish with it! But to drive him out of the place, will never, by any manner of means, do. He isn't, besides, to be treated like a child born in our household. He is at present employed as Madame Wang's attendant, so if you carry out your purpose of expelling him, her ladyship's face will be put to the blush. My idea is that you should, my lady, give him a lesson by letting him have several whacks with a cane so as to induce him to abstain from wine in the future. If you then retain him in your service as hitherto he'll be all right! If you don't do it for his mother's sake; do it at least for that of Madame Wang!"
After lending an ear to her arguments, lady Feng addressed herself to Lai Ta's wife. "Well, in that case," she said, "call him over to-morrow and give him forty blows; and don't let him after this touch any more wine!"
Lai Ta's wife promised to execute her directions. Chou Jui's wife then kotowed and rose to her feet. But she also persisted upon prostrating herself before nurse Lai; and only desisted when Lai Ta's wife pulled her up. But presently the trio took their departure, and Li Wan and her companions sped back into the garden.
When evening came, lady Feng actually bade the servants go and look (into the loft), and when they discovered a lot of painting materials, which had been put away long ago, they brought them into the garden. Pao-ch'ai and her friends then selected such as they deemed suitable. But as they only had as yet half the necessaries they required, they drew out a list of the other half and sent it to lady Feng, who, needless for us to particularise, had the different articles purchased, according to the specimens supplied.
By a certain day, the silk had been sized outside, a rough sketch drawn, and both returned into the garden. Pao-yue therefore was day after day to be found over at Hsi Ch'un's, doing his best to help her in her hard work. But T'an Ch'un, Li Wan, Ying Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai and the other girls likewise congregated in her quarters, and sat with her when they were at leisure, as they could, in the first place, watch the progress of the painting, and as secondly they were able to conveniently see something of each other.
When Pao-ch'ai perceived how cool and pleasant the weather was getting, and how the nights were beginning again to gradually draw out, she came and found her mother, and consulted with her, until they got some needlework ready. Of a day, she would cross over to the quarters of dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, and twice pay her salutations, but, she could not help as well amusing them and sitting with them to keep them company. When free, she would come and see her cousins in the garden, and have, at odd times, a chat with them, so having, during daylight no leisure to speak of, she was wont, of a night, to ply her needle by lamplight, and only retire to sleep after the third watch had come and gone.
As for Tai-yue, she had, as a matter of course, a relapse of her complaint regularly every year, soon after the spring equinox and autumn solstice. But she had, during the last autumn, also found her grandmother Chia in such buoyant spirits, that she had walked a little too much on two distinct occasions, and naturally fatigued herself more than was good for her. Recently, too, she had begun to cough and to feel heavier than she had done at ordinary times, so she never by any chance put her foot out of doors, but remained at home and looked after her health. When at times, dullness crept over her, she longed for her cousins to come and chat with her and dispel her despondent feelings. But whenever Pao-ch'ai or any of her cousins paid her a visit, she barely uttered half a dozen, words, before she felt quite averse to any society. Yet one and all made every allowance for her illness. And as she had ever been in poor health and not strong enough to resist any annoyance, they did not find the least fault with her, despite even any lack of propriety she showed in playing the hostess with them, or any remissness on her part in observing the prescribed rules of etiquette.
Pao-ch'ai came, on this occasion to call on her. The conversation started on the symptoms of her ailment. "The various doctors, who visit this place," Pao-ch'ai consequently remarked, "may, it's true, be all very able practitioners; but you take their medicines and don't reap the least benefit! Wouldn't it be as well therefore to ask some other person of note to come and see you? And could he succeed in getting you all right, wouldn't it be nice? Here you year by year ail away throughout the whole length of spring and summer; but you're neither so old nor so young, so what will be the end of it? Besides, it can't go on for ever."
"It's no use," Tai-yue rejoined. "I know well enough that there's no cure for this complaint of mine! Not to speak of when I'm unwell, why even when I'm not, my state is such that one can see very well that there's no hope!"
Pao-ch'ai shook her head. "Quite so!" she ventured. "An old writer says: 'Those who eat, live.' But what you've all along eaten hasn't been enough to strengthen your energies and physique. This isn't a good thing!"
Tai-yue heaved a sigh. "Whether I'm to live or die is all destiny!" she said. "Riches and honours are in the hands of heaven; and human strength cannot suffice to forcibly get even them! But my complaint this year seems to be far worse than in past years, instead of any better."
While deploring her lot, she coughed two or three times. "It struck me," Pao-ch'ai said, "that in that prescription of yours I saw yesterday there was far too much ginseng and cinnamon. They are splendid tonics, of course, but too many heating things are not good. I think that the first urgent thing to do is to ease the liver and give tone to the stomach. When once the fire in the liver is reduced, it will not be able to overcome the stomach; and, when once the digestive organs are free of ailment, drink and food will be able to give nutriment to the human frame. As soon as you get out of bed, every morning, take one ounce of birds' nests, of superior quality, and five mace of sugar candy and prepare congee with them in a silver kettle. When once you get into the way of taking this decoction, you'll find it far more efficacious than medicines; for it possesses the highest virtue for invigorating the vagina and bracing up the physique."
"You've certainly always treated people with extreme consideration," sighed Tai-yue, "but such a supremely suspicious person am I that I imagined that you inwardly concealed some evil design! Yet ever since the day on which you represented to me how unwholesome it was to read obscene books, and you gave me all that good advice, I've felt most grateful to you! I've hitherto, in fact, been mistaken in my opinion; and the truth of the matter is that I remained under this misconception up to the very present. But you must carefully consider that when my mother died, I hadn't even any sisters or brothers; and that up to this my fifteenth year there has never been a single person to admonish me as you did the other day. Little wonder is it if that girl Yuen speaks well of you! Whenever, in former days, I heard her heap praise upon you, I felt uneasy in my mind, but, after my experiences of yesterday, I see how right she was. When you, for instance, began to tell me all those things, I didn't forgive you at the time, but, without worrying yourself in the least about it you went on, contrariwise, to tender me the advice you did. This makes it evident that I have laboured under a mistaken idea! Had I not made this discovery the other day, I wouldn't be speaking like this to your very face to-day. You told me a few minutes back to take bird's nest congee; but birds' nests are, I admit, easily procured; yet all on account of my sickly constitution and of the relapses I have every year of this complaint of mine, which amounts to nothing, doctors have had to be sent for, medicines, with ginseng and cinnamon, have had to be concocted, and I've given already such trouble as to turn heaven and earth topsy-turvey; so were I now to start again a new fad, by having some birds' nests congee or other prepared, our worthy senior, Madame Wang, and lady Feng, will, all three of them, have no objection to raise; but that posse of matrons and maids below will unavoidably despise me for my excessive fussiness! Just notice how every one in here ogles wildly like tigers their prey; and stealthily says one thing and another, simply because they see how fond our worthy ancestor is of both Pao-yue and lady Feng, and how much more won't they do these things with me? What's more, I'm not a pucker mistress. I've really come here as a mere refugee, for I had no one to sustain me and no one to depend upon. They already bear me considerable dislike; so much so, that I'm still quite at a loss whether I should stay or go; and why should I make them heap execrations upon me?"
"Well, in that case," Pao-ch'ai observed, "I'm too in the same plight as yourself!"
"How can you compare yourself with me?" Tai-yue exclaimed. "You have a mother; and a brother as well! You've also got some business and land in here, and, at home, you can call houses' and fields your own. It's only therefore the ties of relationship, which make you stay here at all. Neither are you in anything whether large or small, in their debt for one single cash or even half a one; and when you want to go, you're at liberty to go. But I, have nothing whatever that I can call my own. Yet, in what I eat, wear, and use, I am, in every trifle, entirely on the same footing as the young ladies in their household, so how ever can that mean lot not despise me out and out?"
"The only extra expense they'll have to go to by and bye," Pao-ch'ai laughed, "will be to get one more trousseau, that's all. And for the present, it's too soon yet to worry yourself about that!"
At this insinuation, Tai-yue unconsciously blushed scarlet. "One treats you," she smiled, "as a decent sort of person, and confides in you the woes of one's heart, and, instead of sympathising with me, you make me the means of raising a laugh!"
"Albeit I raise a laugh at your expense," Pao-ch'ai rejoined, a smile curling her lips, "what I say is none the less true! But compose your mind! I'll try every day that I'm here to cheer you up; so come to me with every grievance or trouble, for I shall, needless to say, dispel those that are within my power. Notwithstanding that I have a brother, you yourself know well enough what he's like! All I have is a mother, so I'm just a trifle better off than you! We can therefore well look upon ourselves as being in the same boat, and sympathise with each other. You have, besides, plenty of wits about you, so why need you give way to groans, as did Ssu Ma-niu? What you said just now is quite right; but, you should worry and fret about as little and not as much as you can. On my return home, to-morrow, I'll tell my mother; and, as I think there must be still some birds' nests in our house, we'll send you several ounces of them. You can then tell the servant-maids to prepare some for you at whatever time you want every day; and you'll thus be suiting your own convenience and be giving no trouble or annoyance to any one."
"The things are, of themselves, of little account," eagerly responded Tai-yue laughingly. "What's difficult to find is one with as much feeling as yourself."
"What's there in this worth speaking about?" Pao-ch'ai said. "What grieves me is that I fail to be as nice as I should be with those I come across. But, I presume, you feel quite done up now, so I'll be off!"
"Come in the evening again," Tai-yue pressed her, "and have a chat with me."
While assuring her that she would come, Pao-ch'ai walked out, so let us leave her alone for the present.
Tai-yue, meanwhile, drank a few sips of thin congee, and then once more lay herself down on her bed. But before the sun set, the weather unexpectedly changed, and a fine drizzling rain set in. So gently come the autumn showers that dull and fine are subject to uncertain alternations. The shades of twilight gradually fell on this occasion. The heavens too got so overcast as to look deep black. Besides the effect of this change on her mind, the patter of the rain on the bamboo tops intensified her despondency, and, concluding that Pao-ch'ai would be deterred from coming, she took up, in the lamp light, the first book within her reach, which turned out to be the 'Treasury of Miscellaneous Lyrics.' Finding among these 'the Pinings of a maiden in autumn,' 'the Anguish of Separation,' and other similar poems, Tai-yue felt unawares much affected; and, unable to restrain herself from giving vent to her feelings in writing, she, there and then, improvised the following stanza, in the same strain as the one on separation; complying with the rules observed in the 'Spring River-Flower' and 'Moonlight Night.' These verses, she then entitled 'the Poem on the Autumn evening, when wind and rain raged outside the window.' Their burden was:
In autumn, flowers decay; herbage, when autumn comes, doth yellow turn. On long autumnal nights, the autumn lanterns with bright radiance burn. As from my window autumn scenes I scan, autumn endless doth seem. This mood how can I bear, when wind and rain despondency enhance? How sudden break forth wind and rain, and help to make the autumntide! Fright snaps my autumn dreams, those dreams which under my lattice I dreamt. A sad autumnal gloom enclasps my heart, and drives all sleep away! In person I approach the autumn screen to snuff the weeping wick. The tearful candles with a flickering flame consume on their short stands. They stir up grief, dazzle my eyes, and a sense of parting arouse. In what family's courts do not the blasts of autumn winds intrude? And where in autumn does not rain patter against the window-frames? The silken quilt cannot ward off the nipping force of autumn winds. The drip of the half drained water-clock impels the autumn rains. A lull for few nights reigned, but the wind has again risen in strength. By the lantern I weep, as if I sat with some one who must go. The small courtyard, full of bleak mist, is now become quite desolate. With quick drip drops the rain on the distant bamboos and vacant sills. What time, I wonder, will the wind and rain their howl and patter cease? The tears already I have shed have soaked through the window gauze.
After scanning her verses, she flung the pen aside, and was just on the point of retiring to rest, when a waiting-maid announced that 'master Secundus, Mr. Pao-yue, had come.' Barely was the announcement out of her lips, than Pao-yue appeared on the scene with a large bamboo hat on his head, and a wrapper thrown over his shoulders. Of a sudden, a smile betrayed itself on Tai-yue's lips. "Where does this fisherman come from?" she exclaimed.
"Are you better to-day?" Pao-yue inquired with alacrity. "Have you had any medicines? How much rice have you had to eat to-day?"
While plying her with questions, he took off the hat and divested himself of the wrapper; and, promptly raising the lamp with one hand, he screened it with the other and threw its rays upon Tai-yue's face. Then straining his eyes, he scrutinised her for a while. "You look better to-day," he smiled.
As soon as he threw off his wrapper, Tai-yue noticed that he was clad in a short red silk jacket, the worse for wear; that he was girded with a green sash, and that, about his knees, his nether garments were visible, made of green thin silk, brocaded with flowers. Below these, he wore embroidered gauze socks, worked all over with twisted gold thread, and a pair of shoes ornamented with butterflies and clusters of fallen flowers.
"Above, you fight shy of the rain," Tai-yue remarked, "but aren't these shoes and socks below afraid of rain? Yet they're quite clean!"
"This suit is complete!" Pao-yue smiled. "I've got a pair of crab-wood clogs, I put on to come over; but I took them off under the eaves of the verandah."
Tai-yue's attention was then attracted by the extreme fineness and lightness of the texture of his wrapper and hat, which were unlike those sold in the market places. "With what grass are they plaited?" she consequently asked. "It would be strange if you didn't, with this sort of things on, look like a very hedgehog!"
"These three articles are a gift from the Prince of Pei Ching," Pao-yue answered. "Ordinarily, when it rains, he too wears this kind of outfit at home. But if it has taken your fancy, I'll have a suit made for you. There's nothing peculiar about the other things, but this hat is funny! The crown at the top is movable; so if you want to wear a hat, during snowy weather in wintertime, you pull off the bamboo pegs, and remove the crown, and there you only have the circular brim. This is worn, when it snows, by men and women alike. I'll give you one therefore to wear in the wintry snowy months."
"I don't want it!" laughed Tai-yue. "Were I to wear this sort of thing, I'd look like one of those fisherwomen, one sees depicted in pictures or represented on the stage!"
Upon reaching this point, she remembered that there was some connection between her present remarks and the comparison she had some time back made with regard to Pao-yue, and, before she had time to indulge in regrets, a sense of shame so intense overpowered her that the colour rushed to her face, and, leaning her head on the table, she coughed and coughed till she could not stop. Pao-yue, however, did not detect her embarrassment; but catching sight of some verses lying on the table, he eagerly snatched them up and conned them from beginning to end. "Splendid!" he could not help crying. But the moment Tai-yue heard his exclamation, she speedily jumped to her feet, and clutched the verses and burnt them over the lamp.
"I've already committed them sufficiently to memory!" Pao-yue laughed.
"I want to have a little rest," Tai-yue said, "so please get away; come back again to-morrow."
At these words, Pao-yue drew back his hand, and producing from his breast a gold watch about the size of a walnut, he looked at the time. The hand pointed between eight and nine p.m.; so hastily putting it away, "You should certainly retire to rest!" he replied. "My visit has upset you. I've quite tired you out this long while." With these apologies, he threw the wrapper over him, put on the rain-hat and quitted the room. But turning round, he retraced his steps inside. "Is there anything you fancy to eat?" he asked. "If there be, tell me, and I'll let our venerable ancestor know of it to-morrow as soon as it's day. Won't I explain things clearer than any of the old matrons could?"
"Let me," rejoined Tai-yue smiling, "think in the night. I'll let you know early to-morrow. But harken, it's raining harder than it did; so be off at once! Have you got any attendants, or no?"
"Yes!" interposed the two matrons. "There are servants to wait on him. They're outside holding his umbrella and lighting the lanterns."
"Are they lighting lanterns with this weather?" laughed Tai-yue.
"It won't hurt them!" Pao-yue answered. "They're made of sheep's horn, so they don't mind the rain."
Hearing this, Tai-yue put back her hand, and, taking down an ornamented glass lantern in the shape of a ball from the book case, she asked the servants to light a small candle and bring it to her; after which, she handed the lantern to Pao-yue. "This," she said, "gives out more light than the others; and is just the thing for rainy weather."
"I've also got one like it." Pao-yue replied. "But fearing lest they might slip, fall down and break it, I did not have it lighted and brought round."
"What's of more account," Tai-yue inquired, "harm to a lantern or to a human being? You're not besides accustomed to wearing clogs, so tell them to walk ahead with those lanterns. This one is as light and handy as it is light-giving; and is really adapted for rainy weather, so wouldn't it be well if you carried it yourself? You can send it over to me to-morrow! But, were it even to slip from your hand, it wouldn't matter much. How is it that you've also suddenly developed this money-grabbing sort of temperament? It's as bad as if you ripped your intestines to secrete pearls in."
After these words, Pao-yue approached her and took the lantern from her. Ahead then advanced two matrons, with umbrellas and sheep horn lanterns, and behind followed a couple of waiting-maids also with umbrellas. Pao-yue handed the glass lantern to a young maid to carry, and, supporting himself on her shoulder, he straightway wended his steps on his way back.
But presently arrived an old servant from the Heng Wu court, provided as well with an umbrella and a lantern, to bring over a large bundle of birds' nests, and a packet of foreign sugar, pure as powder, and white as petals of plum-blossom and flakes of snow. "These," she said, "are much better than what you can buy. Our young lady sends you word, miss, to first go on with these. When you've done with them, she'll let you have some more."
"Many thanks for the trouble you've taken!" Tai-yue returned for answer; and then asked her to go and sit outside and have a cup of tea.
"I won't have any tea," the old servant smiled. "I've got something else to attend to."
"I'm well aware that you've all got plenty in hand," Tai-yue resumed with a smiling countenance. "But the weather being cool now and the nights long, it's more expedient than ever to establish two things: a night club and a gambling place."
"I won't disguise the fact from you, miss," the old servant laughingly observed, "that I've managed this year to win plenty of money. Several servants have, under any circumstances, to do night duty; and, as any neglect in keeping watch wouldn't be the right thing, isn't it as well to have a night club, as one can sit on the look-out and dispel dullness as well? But it's again my turn to play the croupier to-day, so I must be getting along to the place, as the garden gate, will, by this time, be nearly closing!"
This rejoinder evoked a laugh from Tai-yue. "I've given you all this bother," she remarked, "and made you lose your chances of getting money, just to bring these things in the rain." And calling a servant she bade her present her with several hundreds of cash to buy some wine with, to drive the damp away.
"I've uselessly put you again, miss, to the expense of giving me a tip for wine," the old servant smiled. But saying this she knocked her forehead before her; and issuing outside, she received the money, after which, she opened her umbrella, and trudged back.
Tzu Chuean meanwhile put the birds' nests away; and removing afterwards the lamps, she lowered the portieres and waited upon Tai-yue until she lay herself down to sleep.
While she reclined all alone on her pillow, Tai-yue thought gratefully of Pao-ch'ai. At one moment, she envied her for having a mother and a brother; and at another, she mused that with the friendliness Pao-yue had ever shown her they were bound to be the victims of suspicion. But the pitter-patter of the rain, dripping on the bamboo tops and banana leaves, fell on her ear; and, as a fresh coolness penetrated the curtain, tears once more unconsciously trickled down her cheeks. In this frame of mind, she continued straight up to the fourth watch, when she at last gradually dropped into a sound sleep.
For the time, however, there is nothing that we can add. So should you, reader, desire to know any subsequent details, peruse what is written in the next chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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