中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sì shí jiǔ huí liú lí shì jiè bái xuě hóng méi zhī fěn xiāng wá gē xīng dàn shān CHAPTER XLIX.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XLIX.
huà shuō xiāng líng jiàn zhòng rén zhèng shuō xiào， tā biàn yíng shàng qù xiào dào： “ nǐ men kàn zhè yī shǒu。 ruò shǐ dé， wǒ biàn hái xué， ruò hái bù hǎo， wǒ jiù sǐ liǎo zhè zuò shī de xīn liǎo。 ” shuō zhe， bǎ shī dì yǔ dài yù jí zhòng rén kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn xiě dào shì：
jīng huá yù yǎn liào yìng nán， yǐng zì juān juān bó zì hán。
yī piàn zhēn qiāo qiān lǐ bái， bàn lún jī chàng wǔ gèng cán。
lǜ suō jiāng shàng qiū wén dí， hóng xiù lóu tóu yè yǐ lán。
bó dé cháng 'é yìng jiè wèn， yuán hé bù shǐ yǒng tuán yuán！ zhòng rén kàn liǎo xiào dào：“ zhè shǒu bù dàn hǎo， ér qiě xīn qiǎo yòu yì qù。 kě zhī sú yǔ shuō ‘ tiān xià wú nán shì， zhǐ pà yòu xīn rén。 ’ shè lǐ yī dìng qǐng nǐ liǎo。” xiāng líng tīng liǎo xīn xià bù xìn， liào zhe shì tā men mán hōng zì jǐ de huà， hái zhǐ guǎn wèn dài yù bǎo chāi děng。
zhèng shuō zhī jiān， zhǐ jiàn jǐ gè xiǎo yā tóu bìng lǎo pó zǐ máng máng de zǒu lái， dū xiào dào：“ lái liǎo hǎo xiē gū niàn nǎi nǎi men， wǒ mendōu bù rèn dé， nǎi nǎi gū niàn men kuài rèn qīn qù。” lǐ wán xiào dào：“ zhè shì nà lǐ de huà？ nǐ dào dǐ shuō míng bái liǎo shì shuí de qīn qī？ " nà pó zǐ yā tóu dū xiào dào：“ nǎi nǎi de liǎng wèi mèi zǐ dōulái liǎo。 hái yòu yī wèi gū niàn， shuō shì xuē dà gū niàn de mèi mèi， hái yòu yī wèi yé， shuō shì xuē dà yé de xiōng dì。 wǒ zhè huì zǐ qǐng yí tài tài qù ní， nǎi nǎi hé gū niàn men xiān shàng qù bà。” shuō zhe， yī jìng qù liǎo。 bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ wǒ men xuē kē hé tā mèi mèi lái liǎo bù chéng？ " lǐ wán yě xiào dào：“ wǒ men shěn zǐ yòu shàng jīng lái liǎo bù chéng？ tā men yě bù néng còu zài yī chù， zhè kě shì qí shì。” dà jiā nà mèn， lái zhì wáng fū rén shàng fáng， zhǐ jiàn wū yā yā yī dì de rén。
yuán lái xíng fū rén zhī xiōng sǎo dài liǎo nǚ 'ér xiù yān jìn jīng lái tóu xíng fū rén de， kě qiǎo fèng jiě zhī xiōng wáng rén yě zhèng jìn jīng， liǎng qīn jiā yī chù dǎ bāng lái liǎo。 zǒu zhì bàn lù bó chuán shí， zhèng yù jiàn lǐ wán zhī guǎ shěn dài zhe liǎng gè nǚ 'ér héng héng dà míng lǐ wén， cì míng lǐ qǐ héng héng yě shàng jīng。 dà jiā xù qǐ lái yòu shì qīn qī， yīn cǐ sān jiā yī lù tóng xíng。 hòu yòu xuē pán zhī cóng dì xuē kē， yīn dāng nián fù qīn zài jīng shí yǐ jiāng bāo mèi xuē bǎo qín xǔ pèi dū zhōng méi hàn lín zhī zǐ wéi hūn， zhèng yù jìn jīng fā jià， wén dé wáng rén jìn jīng， tā yě dài liǎo mèi zǐ suí hòu gǎn lái。 suǒ yǐ jīn rì huì qí liǎo lái fǎng tóu gè rén qīn qī。 yú shì dà jiā jiàn lǐ xù guò， jiǎ mǔ wáng fū réndōu huān xǐ fēi cháng。 jiǎ mǔ yīn xiào dào：“ guài dào zuó rì wǎn shàng dēng huā bào liǎo yòu bào， jié liǎo yòu jié， yuán lái yìng dào jīn rì。” yī miàn xù xiē jiā cháng， yī miàn shōu kàn dài lái de lǐ wù， yī miàn mìng liú jiǔ fàn。 fèng jiě 'ér zì bù bì shuō， máng shàng jiā máng。 lǐ wán bǎo chāi zì rán hé shěn mǔ zǐ mèi xù lí bié zhī qíng。 dài yù jiàn liǎo， xiān shì huān xǐ， cì hòu xiǎng qǐ zhòng rén jiē yòu qīn juàn， dú zì jǐ gū dān， wú gè qīn juàn， bù miǎn yòu qù chuí lèi。 bǎo yù shēn zhī qí qíng， shí fēn quàn wèi liǎo yī fān fāng bà。
rán hòu bǎo yù máng máng lái zhì yí hóng yuàn zhōng， xiàng xí rén， shè yuè， qíng wén děng xiào dào：“ nǐ men hái bù kuài kàn rén qù！ shuí zhī bǎo jiě jiě de qīn gē gē shì nà gè yàng zǐ， tā zhè shū bó xiōng dì xíng róng jǔ zhǐ lìng shì yī yàng liǎo， dǎo xiàng shì bǎo jiě jiě de tóng bāo dì xiōng shìde。 gèng qí zài nǐ men chéng rì jiā zhǐ shuō bǎo jiě jiě shì jué sè de rén wù， nǐ men rú jīn qiáo qiáo tā zhè mèi zǐ， gèng yòu dà sǎo sǎo zhè liǎng gè mèi zǐ， wǒ jìng xíng róng bù chū liǎo。 lǎo tiān， lǎo tiān， nǐ yòu duō shǎo jīng huá líng xiù， shēng chū zhè xiē rén shàng zhī rén lái！ kě zhī wǒ jǐng dǐ zhī wā， chéng rì jiā zì shuō xiàn zài de zhè jǐ gè rén shì yòu yī wú 'èr de， shuí zhī bù bì yuǎn xún， jiù shì běn dì fēng guāng， yī gè sài sì yī gè， rú jīn wǒ yòu cháng liǎo yī céng xué wèn liǎo。 chú liǎo zhè jǐ gè， nán dào hái yòu jǐ gè bù chéng？ " yī miàn shuō， yī miàn zì xiào zì tàn。 xí rén jiàn tā yòu yòu liǎo mó yì， biàn bù kěn qù qiáo。 qíng wén děng zǎo qù qiáo liǎo yī biàn huí lái， だだ xiào xiàng xí rén dào：“ nǐ kuài qiáo qiáo qù！ dà tài tài de yī gè zhí nǚ 'ér， bǎo gū niàn yī gè mèi mèi， dà nǎi nǎi liǎng gè mèi mèi， dǎo xiàng yī bǎ zǐ sì gēn shuǐ cōng 'ér。”
yī yǔ wèi liǎo， zhǐ jiàn tàn chūn yě xiào zhe jìn lái zhǎo bǎo yù， yīn shuō dào：“ zán men de shī shè kě xīng wàng liǎo。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ zhèng shì ní。 zhè shì nǐ yī gāo xīng qǐ shī shè， suǒ yǐ guǐ shǐ shénchāi lái liǎo zhè xiē rén。 dàn zhǐ yī jiàn， bù zhī tā men kě xué guò zuò shī bù céng？ " tàn chūn dào：“ wǒ cái dū wèn liǎo tā men， suī shì tā men zì qiān， kàn qí guāng jǐng， méi yòu bù huì de。 biàn shì bù huì yě méi nán chù， nǐ kàn xiāng líng jiù zhī dào liǎo。” xí rén xiào dào：“ tā men shuō xuē dà gū niàn de mèi mèi gèng hǎo， sān gū niàn kàn zhe zěn me yàng？ " tàn chūn dào：“ guǒ rán de huà。 jù wǒ kàn， lián tā jiě jiě bìng zhè xiē rén zǒng bù jí tā。” xí rén tīng liǎo， yòu shì chà yì， yòu xiào dào：“ zhè yě qí liǎo， hái cóng nà lǐ zài hǎo de qù ní？ wǒ dǎo yào qiáo qiáo qù。” tàn chūn dào：“ lǎo tài tài yī jiàn liǎo， xǐ huān de wú kě bù kě， yǐ jīng bī zhe tài tài rèn liǎo gān nǚ 'ér liǎo。 lǎo tài tài yào yǎng huó， cái gāng yǐ jīng dìng liǎo。” bǎo yù xǐ de máng wèn：“ zhè guǒ rán de？ " tàn chūn dào：“ wǒ jǐ shí shuō guò huǎng！ " yòu xiào dào：“ yòu liǎo zhè gè hǎo sūn nǚ 'ér， jiù wàng liǎo zhè sūn zǐ liǎo。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ zhè dǎo bù fáng， yuán gāi duō téng nǚ 'ér xiē cái shì zhèng lǐ。 míng 'ér shí liù， zán men kě gāi qǐ shè liǎo。” tàn chūn dào：“ lín yā tóu gāng qǐ lái liǎo， èr jiě jiě yòu bìng liǎo， zhōng shì qī shàng bā xià de。” bǎo yù dào：“ èr jiě jiě yòu bù dà zuò shī， méi yòu tā yòu hé fáng。” tàn chūn dào：“ yuè xìng děng jǐ tiān， tā men xīn lái de hùn shú liǎo， zán men yāo shàng tā men qǐ bù hǎo？ zhè huì zǐ dà sǎo zǐ bǎo jiě jiě xīn lǐ zì rán méi yòu shī xīng de， kuàng qiě xiāng yún méi lái， pín 'ér gāng hǎo liǎo， rén rén bù hé shì。 bù rú děng zhe yún yā tóu lái liǎo， zhè jǐ gè xīn de yě shú liǎo， pín 'ér yě dà hǎo liǎo， dà sǎo zǐ hé bǎo jiě jiě xīn yě xián liǎo， xiāng líng shī yě zhǎngjìn liǎo， rú cǐ yāo yī mǎn shè qǐ bù hǎo？ zán men liǎng gè rú jīn qiě wǎng lǎo tài tài nà lǐ qù tīng tīng， chú bǎo jiě jiě de mèi mèi bù suàn wài， tā yī dìng shì zài zán men jiā zhù dìng liǎo de。 cháng huò nà sān gè yào bù zài zán men zhè lǐ zhù， zán men yāng gào zhe lǎo tài tài liú xià tā men zài yuán zǐ lǐ zhù xià， zán men qǐ bù duō tiān jǐ gè rén， yuè fā yòu qù liǎo。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， xǐ de méi kāi yǎn xiào， máng shuō dào：“ dǎo shì nǐ míng bái。 wǒ zhōng jiǔ shì gè hú tú xīn cháng， kōng xǐ huān yī huì zǐ， què xiǎng bù dào zhè shàng tóu lái。”
shuō zhe， xiōng mèi liǎng gè yī qí wǎng jiǎ mǔ chù lái。” guǒ rán wáng fū rén yǐ rèn liǎo bǎo qín zuò gān nǚ 'ér， jiǎ mǔ huān xǐ fēi cháng， lián yuán zhōng yě bù mìng zhù， wǎn shàng gēn zhe jiǎ mǔ yī chù 'ān qǐn。 xuē kē zì xiàng xuē pán shū fáng zhōng zhù xià。 jiǎ mǔ biàn hé xíng fū rén shuō：“ nǐ zhí nǚ 'ér yě bù bì jiā qù liǎo， yuán lǐ zhù jǐ tiān， guàng guàng zài qù。” xíng fū rén xiōng sǎo jiā zhōng yuán jiān nán， zhè yī shàng jīng， yuán zhàng de shì xíng fū rén yǔ tā men zhì fáng shè， bāng pán chán， tīng rú cǐ shuō， qǐ bù yuàn yì。 xíng fū rén biàn jiāng xiù yān jiāo yǔ fèng jiě 'ér。 fèng jiě 'ér chóu suàn dé yuán zhōng zǐ mèi duō， xìng qíng bù yī， qiě yòu bù biàn lìng shè yī chù， mò ruò sòng dào yíng chūn yī chù qù， cháng rì hòu xíng xiù yān yòu xiē bùsuí yì de shì， zòng rán xíng fū rén zhī dào liǎo， yǔ zì jǐ wú gān。 cóng cǐ hòu ruò xíng xiù yān jiā qù zhù de rì qī bù suàn， ruò zài dà guān yuán zhù dào yī gè yuè shàng， fèng jiě 'ér yì zhào yíng chūn de fēn lì sòng yī fēn yǔ xiù yān。 fèng jiě 'ér lěng yǎn ゅ xiù yān xīn xìng wéi rén， jìng bù xiàng xíng fū rén jí tā de fù mǔ yī yàng， què shì wēn hòu kě téng de rén。 yīn cǐ fèng jiě 'ér yòu lián tā jiā pín mìng kǔ， bǐ bié de zǐ mèi duō téng tā xiē， xíng fū rén dǎo bù dà lǐ lùn liǎo。
jiǎ mǔ wáng fū rén yīn sù xǐ lǐ wán xián huì， qiě nián qīng shǒu jié， lìng rén jìng fú， jīn jiàn tā guǎ shěn lái liǎo， biàn bù kěn lìng tā wài tóu qù zhù。 nà lǐ shěn suī shí fēn bù kěn， wú nài jiǎ mǔ zhí yì bù cóng， zhǐ dé dài zhe lǐ wén lǐ qǐ zài dào xiāng cūn zhù xià lái。
dāng xià 'ān chā jì dìng， shuí zhī bǎo líng hóu shǐ nài yòu qiān wěi liǎo wài shěng dà yuán， bù rì yào dài liǎo jiā juàn qù shàng rèn。 jiǎ mǔ yīn shěbùdé xiāng yún， biàn liú xià tā liǎo， jiē dào jiā zhōng， yuán yào mìng fèng jiě 'ér lìng shè yī chù yǔ tā zhù。 shǐ xiāng yún zhí yì bù kěn， zhǐ yào yǔ bǎo chāi yī chù zhù， yīn cǐ jiù bà liǎo。
cǐ shí dà guān yuán zhōng bǐ xiān gèng rè nào liǎo duō shǎo。 lǐ wán wéi shǒu， yú zhě yíng chūn， tàn chūn， xī chūn， bǎo chāi， dài yù， xiāng yún， lǐ wén， lǐ qǐ， bǎo qín， xíng xiù yān， zài tiān shàng fèng jiě 'ér hé bǎo yù， yī gòng shí sān gè。 xù qǐ nián gēng， chú lǐ wán nián jì zuì cháng， tā shí 'èr gè rén jiē bù guò shí wǔ liù qī suì， huò yòu zhè sān gè tóng nián， huò yòu nà wǔ gè gòng suì， huò yòu zhè liǎng gè tóng yuè tóng rì， nà liǎng gè tóng kè tóng shí， suǒ chā zhě dà bàn shì shí kè yuè fēn 'ér yǐ。 lián tā men zì jǐ yě bù néng xì xì fēn xī， bù guò shì " d씓 xiōng”“ zǐ”“ mèi " sì gè zì suí biàn luàn jiào。
rú jīn xiāng líng zhèng mǎn xīn mǎn yì zhǐ xiǎng zuò shī， yòu bù gǎn shí fēn luó zào bǎo chāi， kě qiǎo lái liǎo gè shǐ xiāng yún。 nà shǐ xiāng yún yòu shì jí 'ài shuō huà de， nà lǐ jìn dé qǐ xiāng líng yòu qǐng jiào tā tán shī， yuè fā gāo liǎo xīng， méi zhòu méi yè gāo tán kuò lùn qǐ lái。 bǎo chāi yīn xiào dào：“ wǒ shí zài guō zào de shòu bù dé liǎo。 yī gè nǚ hái 'ér jiā， zhǐ guǎn ná zhe shī zuò zhèng jīng shì jiǎng qǐ lái， jiào yòu xué wèn de rén tīng liǎo， fǎn xiào huà shuō bù shǒu běn fēn de。 yī gè xiāng líng méi nào qīng， piān yòu tiān liǎo nǐ zhè me gè huà kǒu dài zǐ， mǎn zuǐ lǐ shuō de shì shénme： zěn me shì dù gōng bù zhī chén yù， wéi sū zhōu zhī dàn yǎ， yòu zěn me shì wēn bā chā zhī qǐ mí， lǐ yì shān zhī yǐn pì。 fàng zhe liǎng gè xiàn chéng de shī jiā bù zhī dào， tí nà xiē sǐ rén zuò shénme！ " xiāng yún tīng liǎo， máng xiào wèn dào：“ shì nà liǎng gè？ hǎo jiě jiě， nǐ gào sù wǒ。” bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ dāi xiāng líng zhī xīn kǔ， fēng xiāng yún zhī huà duō。” xiāng yún xiāng líng tīng liǎo， dū xiào qǐ lái。
zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn bǎo qín lái liǎo， pī zhe yī lǐng dǒu péng， jīn cuì huī huáng， bù zhī hé wù。 bǎo chāi máng wèn：“ zhè shì nà lǐ de？ " bǎo qín xiào dào：“ yīn xià xuě zhū 'ér， lǎo tài tài zhǎo liǎo zhè yī jiàn gěi wǒ de。” xiāng líng shàng lái qiáo dào：“ guài dào zhè me hǎo kàn， yuán lái shì kǒng què máo zhì de。” xiāng yún dào：“ nà lǐ shì kǒng què máo， jiù shì yě yā zǐ tóu shàng de máo zuò de。 kě jiàn lǎo tài tài téng nǐ liǎo， zhè yàng téng bǎo yù， yě méi gěi tā chuān。” bǎo chāi dào：“ zhēn sú yǔ shuō‘ gè rén yòu yuán fǎ’。 tā yě zài xiǎng bù dào tā zhè huì zǐ lái， jì lái liǎo， yòu yòu lǎo tài tài zhè me téng tā。” xiāng yún dào：“ nǐ chú liǎo zài lǎo tài tài gēn qián， jiù zài yuán lǐ lái， zhè liǎng chù zhǐ guǎn wán xiào chī hē。 dào liǎo tài tài wū lǐ， ruò tài tài zài wū lǐ， zhǐ guǎn hé tài tài shuō xiào， duō zuò yī huí wú fáng， ruò tài tài bù zài wū lǐ， nǐ bié jìn qù， nà wū lǐ rén duō xīn huài， dōushì yào hài zán men de。” shuō de bǎo chāi， bǎo qín， xiāng líng， yīng 'ér děngdōu xiào liǎo。 bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ shuō nǐ méi xīn， què yòu yòu xīn， suī rán yòu xīn， dào dǐ zuǐ tài zhí liǎo。 wǒ men zhè qín 'ér jiù yòu xiē xiàng nǐ。 nǐ tiān tiān shuō yào wǒ zuò qīn jiě jiě， wǒ jīn 'ér jìng jiào nǐ rèn tā zuò qīn mèi mèi bà liǎo。” xiāng yún yòu chǒu liǎo bǎo qín bàn rì， xiào dào：“ zhè yī jiàn yī cháng yě zhǐ pèi tā chuān， bié rén chuān liǎo， shí zài bù pèi。” zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn hǔ pò zǒu lái xiào dào：“ lǎo tài tài shuō liǎo， jiào bǎo gū niàn bié guǎn jǐn liǎo qín gū niàn。 tā hái xiǎo ní， ràng tā 'ài zěn me yàng jiù zěn me yàng。 yào shénme dōng xī zhǐ guǎn yào qù， bié duō xīn。” bǎo chāi máng qǐ shēn dāyìng liǎo， yòu tuī bǎo qín xiào dào：“ nǐ yě bù zhī shì nà lǐ lái de fú qì！ nǐ dǎo qù bà， zǎi xì wǒ men wěi qū zhe nǐ。 wǒ jiù bù xìn wǒ nà xiē 'ér bù rú nǐ。” shuō huà zhī jiān， bǎo yù dài yù dū jìn lái liǎo， bǎo chāi yóu zì cháo xiào。 xiāng yún yīn xiào dào：“ bǎo jiě jiě， nǐ zhè huà suī shì wán huà， qià yòu rén zhēn xīn shì zhè yàng xiǎng ní。” hǔ pò xiào dào：“ zhēn xīn nǎo de zài méi bié rén， jiù zhǐ shì tā。” kǒu lǐ shuō， shǒu zhǐ zhe bǎo yù。 bǎo chāi xiāng yún dū xiào dào：“ tā dǎo bù shì zhè yàng rén。” hǔ pò yòu xiào dào：“ bù shì tā， jiù shì tā。” shuō zhe yòu zhǐ zhe dài yù。 xiāng yún biàn bù zé shēng。 bǎo chāi máng xiào dào：“ gèng bù shì liǎo。 wǒ de mèi mèi hé tā de mèi mèi yī yàng。 tā xǐ huān de bǐ wǒ hái téng ní， nà lǐ hái nǎo？ nǐ xìn kǒu 'ér húnshuō。 tā de nà zuǐ yòu shénme shí jù。” bǎo yù sù xí shēn zhī dài yù yòu xiē xiǎo xìng 'ér， qiě shàng bù zhī jìn rì dài yù hé bǎo chāi zhī shì， zhèng kǒng jiǎ mǔ téng bǎo qín tā xīn zhōng bù zì zài， jīn jiàn xiāng yún rú cǐ shuō liǎo， bǎo chāi yòu rú cǐ dá， zài shěn dù dài yù shēng sè yì bù sì wǎng shí， guǒ rán yǔ bǎo chāi zhī shuō xiāng fú， xīn zhōng mèn mèn bù lè。 yīn xiǎng：“ tā liǎng gè sù rì bù shì zhè yàng de hǎo， jīn kàn lái jìng gèng bǐ tā rén hǎo shí bèi。” yī shí lín dài yù yòu gǎn zhe bǎo qín jiào mèi mèi， bìng bù tí míng dào xìng， zhí shì qīn zǐ mèi yī bān。 nà bǎo qín nián qīng xīn rè， qiě běn xìng cōng mǐn， zì yòu dú shū shí zì， jīn zài jiǎ fǔ zhù liǎo liǎng rì， dà gài rén wù yǐ zhī。 yòu jiàn zhū zǐ mèi dōubù shì nà qīng bó zhī fěn， qiě yòu hé jiě jiě jiē hé qì， gù yě bù kěn dài màn， qí zhōng yòu jiàn lín dài yù shì gè chū lèi bá cuì de， biàn gèng yǔ dài yù qīn jìng yì cháng。 bǎo yù kàn zhe zhǐ shì 'àn 'àn de nà hǎn。
yī shí bǎo chāi zǐ mèi wǎng xuē yí mā fáng nèi qù hòu， xiāng yún wǎng jiǎ mǔ chù lái， lín dài yù huí fáng xiē zhe。 bǎo yù biàn zhǎo liǎo dài yù lái， xiào dào：“ wǒ suī kàn liǎo《 xī xiāng jì》， yě céng yòu míng bái de jǐ jù， shuō liǎo qǔ xiào， nǐ céng nǎo guò。 rú jīn xiǎng lái， jìng yòu yī jù bù jiě， wǒ niàn chū lái nǐ jiǎng jiǎng wǒ tīng。” dài yù tīng liǎo， biàn zhī yòu wén zhāng， yīn xiào dào：“ nǐ niàn chū lái wǒ tīng tīng。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nà《 nào jiǎn》 shàng yòu yī jù shuō dé zuì hǎo，‘ shì jǐ shí mèng guāng jiē liǎo liáng hóng 'àn？’ zhè jù zuì miào。‘ mèng guāng jiē liǎo liáng hóng 'àn’ zhè wǔ gè zì， bù guò shì xiàn chéng de diǎn， nán wéi tā zhè‘ shì jǐ shí’ sān gè xū zì wèn de yòu qù。 shì jǐ shí jiē liǎo？ nǐ shuō shuō wǒ tīng tīng。” dài yù tīng liǎo， jìn bù zhù yě xiào qǐ lái， yīn xiào dào：“ zhè yuán wèn de hǎo。 tā yě wèn de hǎo， nǐ yě wèn de hǎo。” bǎo yù dào：“ xiān shí nǐ zhǐ yí wǒ， rú jīn nǐ yě méi de shuō， wǒ fǎn luò liǎo dān。” dài yù xiào dào：“ shuí zhī tā jìng zhēn shì gè hǎo rén， wǒ sù rì zhǐ dāng tā cáng jiān。” yīn bǎ shuō cuò liǎo jiǔ lìng qǐ， lián sòng yàn wō bìng zhōng suǒ tán zhī shì， xì xì gào sù liǎo bǎo yù。 bǎo yù fāng zhī yuán gù， yīn xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō ní， zhèng nà mèn‘ shì jǐ shí mèng guāng jiē liǎo liáng hóng 'àn’， yuán lái shì cóng‘ xiǎo hái 'ér kǒu méi zhē lán’ jiù jiē liǎo 'àn liǎo。” dài yù yīn yòu shuō qǐ bǎo qín lái， xiǎng qǐ zì jǐ méi yòu dài ⒚ *， bù miǎn yòu kū liǎo。 bǎo yù máng quàn dào：“ nǐ yòu zì xún fán nǎo liǎo。 nǐ qiáo qiáo， jīn nián bǐ jiù nián yuè fā shòu liǎo， nǐ hái bù bǎo yǎng。 měi tiān hǎohǎo de， nǐ bì shì zì xún fán nǎo， kū yī huì zǐ， cái suàn wán liǎo zhè yī tiān de shì。 " dài yù shì lèi dào：“ jìn lái wǒ zhǐ jué xīn suān， yǎn lèi què xiàng bǐ jiù nián shǎo liǎo xiē de。 xīn lǐ zhǐ guǎn suān tòng， yǎn lèi què bù duō。” bǎo yù dào：“ zhè shì nǐ kū guàn liǎo xīn lǐ yí de， qǐ yòu yǎn lèi huì shǎo de！”
zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn tā wū lǐ de xiǎo yā tóu zǐ sòng liǎo xīng xīng zhān dǒu péng lái， yòu shuō：“ dà nǎi nǎi cái dǎ fā rén lái shuō， xià liǎo xuě， yào shāng yì míng rì qǐng rén zuò shī ní。” yī yǔ wèi liǎo， zhǐ jiàn lǐ wán de yā tóu zǒu lái qǐng dài yù。 bǎo yù biàn yāo zhe dài yù tóng wǎng dào xiāng cūn lái。 dài yù huàn shàng qiā jīn wā yún hóng xiāng yáng pí xiǎo xuē， zhào liǎo yī jiàn dà hóng yǔ shā miàn bái hú lí lǐ de hè chǎng， shù yī tiáo qīng jīn shǎn lǜ shuāng huán sì hé rú yì tāo， tóu shàng zhào liǎo xuě mào。 èr rén yī qí tà xuě xíng lái。 zhǐ jiàn zhòng zǐ mèi dōuzài nà biān， dōushì yī sè dà hóng xīng xīng zhān yǔ yǔ máo duàn dǒu péng， dú lǐ wán chuān yī jiàn qīng duō luó ní duì jīn guà zǐ， xuē bǎo chāi chuān yī jiàn lián qīng dǒu wén jǐn shàng tiān huā yáng xiàn fān Е sī de hè chǎng； xíng xiù yān réng shì jiā cháng jiù yī， bìng wú bì xuě zhī yī。 yī shí shǐ xiāng yún lái liǎo， chuānzhuó jiǎ mǔ yǔ tā de yī jiàn diāo shǔ nǎo dài miàn zǐ dà máo hēi huī shǔ lǐ zǐ lǐ wài fā shāo dà guà zǐ， tóu shàng dài zhe yī dǐng wā yún 'é huáng piàn jīn lǐ dà hóng xīng xīng zhān zhāo jūn tào， yòu wéi zhe dà diāo shǔ fēng lǐng。 dài yù xiān xiào dào：“ nǐ men qiáo qiáo， sūn xíng zhě lái liǎo。 tā yī bān de yě ná zhe xuě guà zǐ， gù yì zhuāng chū gè xiǎo sāo dá zǐ lái。” xiāng yún xiào dào：“ nǐ men qiáo qiáo wǒ lǐ tóu dǎ bàn de。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn tuō liǎo guà zǐ。 zhǐ jiàn tā lǐ tóu chuānzhuó yī jiàn bàn xīn de kào sè sān xiāng lǐng xiù qiū xiāng sè pán jīn wǔ sè xiù lóng zhǎi Ё xiǎo xiù yǎn jīn yín shǔ duǎn 'ǎo， lǐ miàn duǎn duǎn de yī jiàn shuǐ hóng zhuāng duàn hú qiǎn xí zǐ， yāo lǐ jǐn jǐn shù zhe yī tiáo hú dié jié zǐ cháng suì wǔ sè gōng tāo， jiǎo xià yě chuānzhuó Ж pí xiǎo xuē， yuè xiǎn de fēng yāo yuán bèi， hè shì láng xíng。 zhòng réndōu xiào dào：“ piān tā zhǐ 'ài dǎ bàn chéng gè xiǎo zǐ de yàng 'ér， yuán bǐ tā dǎ bàn nǚ 'ér gèng qiào lì liǎo xiē。 " xiāng yún dào：“ kuài shāng yì zuò shī！ wǒ tīng tīng shì shuí de dōng jiā？ " lǐ wán dào：“ wǒ de zhù yì。 xiǎng lái zuó 'ér de zhèng rì yǐ guò liǎo， zài děng zhèng rì yòu tài yuǎn， kě qiǎo yòu xià xuě， bù rú dà jiā còu gè shè， yòu tì tā men jiē fēng， yòu kě yǐ zuò shī。 nǐ men yì sī zěn me yàng？ " bǎo yù xiān dào：“ zhè huà hěn shì。 zhǐ shì jīn rì wǎn liǎo， ruò dào míng 'ér， qíng liǎo yòu wú qù。” zhòng rén kàn dào：“ zhè xuě wèi bì qíng， zòng qíng liǎo， zhè yī yè xià de yě gòu shǎng liǎo。” lǐ wán dào：“ wǒ zhè lǐ suī hǎo， yòu bù rú lú xuě 'ān hǎo。 wǒ yǐ jīng dǎ fā rén lóng dì kàng qù liǎo， zán men dà jiā yōng lú zuò shī。 lǎo tài tài xiǎng lái wèi bì gāo xīng， kuàng qiě zán men xiǎo wán yì 'ér， dān gěi fèng yā tóu gè xìn 'ér jiù shì liǎo。 nǐ men měi rén yī liǎng yín zǐ jiù gòu liǎo， sòng dào wǒ zhè lǐ lái。” zhǐ zhe xiāng líng， bǎo qín， lǐ wén， lǐ qǐ， xiù yān， " wǔ gè bù suàn wài， zán men lǐ tóu 'èr yā tóu bìng liǎo bù suàn， sì yā tóu gào liǎo jiǎ yě bù suàn， nǐ men sì fēn zǐ sòng liǎo lái， wǒ bāo zǒng wǔ liù liǎng yín zǐ yě jìn gòu liǎo。” bǎo chāi děng yī qí yìng nuò。 yīn yòu nǐ tí xiàn yùn， lǐ wán xiào dào：“ wǒ xīn lǐ zì jǐ dìng liǎo， děng dào liǎo míng rì lín qī， héng shù zhī dào。 " shuō bì， dà jiā yòu xián huà liǎo yī huí， fāng wǎng jiǎ mǔ chù lái。 běn rì wú huà。 dào liǎo cì rì yī zǎo， bǎo yù yīn xīn lǐ jì guà zhe zhè shì， yī yè méi hǎo shēng dé shuì， tiān liàng liǎo jiù pá qǐ lái。 xiān kāi zhàng zǐ yī kàn， suī mén chuāng shàng yǎn， zhǐ jiàn chuāng shàng guāng huī duó mù， xīn nèi zǎo chóu chú qǐ lái， mányuàn dìng shì qíng liǎo， rì guāng yǐ chū。 yī miàn máng qǐ lái jiē qǐ chuāng tì， cóng bō lí chuāng nèi wǎng wài yī kàn， yuán lái bù shì rì guāng， jìng shì yī yè dà xuě， xià jiāng yòu yī chǐ duō hòu， tiān shàng réng shì cuō mián chě xù yī bān。 bǎo yù cǐ shí huān xǐ fēi cháng， máng huàn rén qǐ lái， プ shù yǐ bì， zhǐ chuān yī jiàn qié sè duō luó ní hú pí 'ǎo zǐ， zhào yī jiàn hǎi lóng pí xiǎo xiǎo yīng bǎng guà， shù liǎo yāo， pī liǎo yù zhēn suō， dài shàng jīn téng lì， dēng shàng shā táng jī， máng máng de wǎng lú xuě 'ān lái。 chū liǎo yuàn mén， sì gù yī wàng， bìng wú 'èr sè， yuǎn yuǎn de shì qīng sōng cuì zhú， zì jǐ què rú zhuāng zài bō lí hé nèi yī bān。 yú shì zǒu zhì shān pō zhī xià， shùn zhe shān jiǎo gāng zhuǎn guò qù， yǐ wén dé yī gǔ hán xiāng fú bí。 huí tóu yī kàn， qià shì miào yù mén qián lóng cuì 'ān zhōng yòu shí shù zhū hóng méi rú yān zhī yī bān， yìng zhe xuě sè， fènwài xiǎn dé jīng shén， hǎo bù yòu qù！ bǎo yù biàn lì zhù， xì xì de shǎng wán yī huí fāng zǒu。 zhǐ jiàn fēng yāo bān qiáo shàng yī gè rén dǎzháo sǎn zǒu lái， shì lǐ wán dǎ fā liǎo qǐng fèng jiě 'ér qù de rén。
bǎo yù lái zhì lú xuě 'ān， zhǐ jiàn yā huán pó zǐ zhèng zài nà lǐ sǎo xuě kāi jìng。 yuán lái zhè lú xuě 'ān gài zài bàng shān lín shuǐ hé tān zhī shàng， yī dài jǐ jiān， máo yán tǔ bì， jǐn lí zhú yǒu， tuī chuāng biàn kě chuí diào， sì miàn dōushì lú wěi yǎn fù， yī tiáo qù jìng wēi yí chuān lú dù wěi guò qù， biàn shì 'ǒu xiāng xiè de zhú qiáo liǎo。 zhòng yā huán pó zǐ jiàn tā pī suō dài lì 'ér lái， què xiào dào：“ wǒ men cái shuō zhèng shǎo yī gè yú wēng， rú jīn dū quán liǎo。 gū niàn men chī liǎo fàn cái lái ní， nǐ yě tài xìng jí liǎo。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， zhǐ dé huí lái。 gāng zhì qìn fāng tíng， jiàn tàn chūn zhèng cóng qiū shuǎng zhāi lái， wéi zhe dà hóng xīng xīng zhān dǒu péng， dài zhe guān yīn dōu， fú zhe xiǎo yā tóu， hòu miàn yī gè fù rén dǎzháo qīng chóu yóu sǎn。 bǎo yù zhī tā wǎng jiǎ mǔ chù qù， biàn lì zài tíng biān， děng tā lái dào， èr rén yī tóng chū yuán qián qù。 bǎo qín zhèng zài lǐ jiān fáng nèi shū xǐ gēngyī。
yī shí zhòng zǐ mèi lái qí， bǎo yù zhǐ rǎng 'è liǎo， lián lián cuī fàn。 hǎo róng yì děng bǎi shàng lái， tóu yī yàng cài biàn shì niú rǔ zhēng yáng gāo。 jiǎ mǔ biàn shuō：“ zhè shì wǒ men yòu nián jì de rén de yào， méi jiàn tiān rì de dōng xī， kě xī nǐ men xiǎo hái zǐ men chī bù dé。 jīn 'ér lìng wài yòu xīn xiān lù ròu， nǐ men děng zhe chī。” zhòng rén dāyìng liǎo。 bǎo yù què děng bù dé， zhǐ ná chá pào liǎo yī wǎn fàn， jiù zhe yě jī guā jī máng máng de yān wán liǎo。 jiǎ mǔ dào：“ wǒ zhī dào nǐ men jīn 'ér yòu yòu shì qíng， lián fàn yě bù gù chī liǎo。 " biàn jiào " liú zhe lù ròu yǔ tā wǎn shàng chī "， fèng jiě máng shuō " hái yòu ní "， fāng cái bà liǎo。 shǐ xiāng yún biàn qiǎo hé bǎo yù jì jiào dào：“ yòu xīn xiān lù ròu， bù rú zán men yào yī kuài， zì jǐ ná liǎo yuán lǐlòng zhe， yòu wán yòu chī。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， bā bù dé yī shēng 'ér， biàn zhēn hé fèng jiě yào liǎo yī kuài， mìng pó zǐ sòng rù yuán qù。
yī shí dà jiā sàn hòu， jìn yuán qí wǎng lú xuě 'ān lái， tīng lǐ wán chū tí xiàn yùn， dú bù jiàn xiāng yún bǎo yù 'èr rén。 dài yù dào：“ tā liǎng gè zài dào bù liǎo yī chù， ruò dào yī chù， shēng chū duō shǎo gù shì lái。 zhè huì zǐ yī dìng suàn jì nà kuài lù ròu qù liǎo。” zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn lǐ shěn yě zǒu lái kàn rè nào， yīn wèn lǐ wán dào：“ zěn me yī gè dài yù de gē 'ér hé nà yī gè guà jīn qí lín de jiě 'ér， nà yàng gān jìng qīng xiù， yòu bù shǎo chī de， tā liǎng gè zài nà lǐ shāng yì zhe yào chī shēng ròu ní， shuō de yòu lái yòu qù de。 wǒ zhǐ bù xìn ròu yě shēng chīde de。” zhòng rén tīng liǎo， dū xiào dào：“ liǎo bù dé， kuài ná liǎo tā liǎng gè lái。” dài yù xiào dào：“ zhè kě shì yún yā tóu nào de， wǒ de guà zài bù cuò。”
lǐ wán děng máng chū lái zhǎo zhe tā liǎng gè shuō dào：“ nǐ men liǎng gè yào chī shēng de， wǒ sòng nǐ men dào lǎo tài tài nà lǐ chī qù。 nà pà chī yī zhǐ shēng lù， chēng bìng liǎo bù yǔ wǒ xiāng gān。 zhè me dà xuě， guài lěng de， tì wǒ zuò huò ní。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ méi yòu de shì， wǒ men shāo zhe chī ní。” lǐ wán dào：“ zhè hái bà liǎo。” zhǐ jiàn lǎo pó men ná liǎo tiě lú， tiě chā， tiě sī チ lái， lǐ wán dào：“ zǎi xì gē liǎo shǒu， bù xǔ kū！ " shuō zhe， tóng tàn chūn jìn qù liǎo。
fèng jiě dǎ fā liǎo píng 'ér lái huí fù bù néng lái， wéi fā fàng nián lì zhèng máng。 xiāng yún jiàn liǎo píng 'ér， nà lǐ kěn fàng。 píng 'ér yě shì gè hǎo wán de， sù rì gēn zhe fèng jiě 'ér wú suǒ bù zhì， jiàn rú cǐ yòu qù， lè dé wán xiào， yīn 'ér tuì qù shǒu shàng de zhuó zǐ， sān gè wéi zhe huǒ lú 'ér， biàn yào xiān shāo sān kuài chī。 nà biān bǎo chāi dài yù píng sù kàn guàn liǎo， bù yǐ wéi yì， bǎo qín děng jí lǐ shěn shēn wéi hǎn shì。 tàn chūn yǔ lǐ wán děng yǐ yì dìng liǎo tí yùn。 tàn chūn xiào dào：“ nǐ wén wén， xiāng qì zhè lǐ dū wén jiàn liǎo， wǒ yě chī qù。” shuō zhe， yě zhǎo liǎo tā men lái。 lǐ wán yě suí lái shuō：“ kè yǐ qí liǎo， nǐ men hái chī bù gòu？ " xiāng yún yī miàn chī， yī miàn shuō dào：“ wǒ chī zhè gè fāng 'ài chī jiǔ， chī liǎo jiǔ cái yòu shī。 ruò bù shì zhè lù ròu， jīn 'ér duàn bù néng zuò shī。” shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn bǎo qín pī zhe fú yè qiú zhàn zài nà lǐ xiào。 xiāng yún xiào dào：“ shǎ zǐ， guò lái cháng cháng。” bǎo qín xiào shuō：“ guài zàng de。” bǎo chāi dào：“ nǐ cháng cháng qù， hǎochīde。 nǐ lín jiě jiě ruò， chī liǎo bù xiāo huà， bù rán tā yě 'ài chī。” bǎo qín tīng liǎo， biàn guò qù chī liǎo yī kuài， guǒ rán hàochī， biàn yě chī qǐ lái。 yī shí fèng jiě 'ér dǎ fā xiǎo yā tóu lái jiào píng 'ér。 píng 'ér shuō：“ shǐ gū niàn lā zhe wǒ ní， nǐ xiān zǒu bà。” xiǎo yā tóu qù liǎo。 yī shí zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě yě pī liǎo dǒu péng zǒu lái， xiào dào：“ chī zhè yàng hǎo dōng xī， yě bù gào sù wǒ！ " shuō zhe yě còu zhe yī chù chī qǐ lái。 dài yù xiào dào：“ nà lǐ zhǎo zhè yī qún huā zǐ qù！ bà liǎo， bà liǎo， jīn rì lú xuě 'ān zāo jié， shēng shēng bèi yún yā tóu zuò jiàn liǎo。 wǒ wéi lú xuě 'ān yī dà kū！ " xiāng yún lěng xiào dào：“ nǐ zhī dào shénme！‘ shì zhēn míng shì zì fēng liú’， nǐ mendōu shì jiǎ qīng gāo， zuì kě yàn de。 wǒ men zhè huì zǐ xīng shān dà chī dà jiáo， huí lái què shì jǐn xīn xiù kǒu。” bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ nǐ huí lái ruò zuò de bù hǎo liǎo， bǎ nà ròu tāo liǎo chū lái， jiù bǎ zhè xuě yā de lú wěi zǐ З shàng xiē， yǐ wán cǐ jié。”
shuō zhe， chī bì， xǐ shù liǎo yī huí。 píng 'ér dài zhuó zǐ shí què shǎo liǎo yī gè， zuǒ yòu qián hòu luàn zhǎo liǎo yī fān， zōng jì quán wú。 zhòng réndōu chà yì。 fèng jiě 'ér xiào dào：“ wǒ zhī dào zhè zhuó zǐ de qù xiàng。 nǐ men zhǐ guǎn zuò shī qù， wǒ men yě bù yòng zhǎo， zhǐ guǎn qián tóu qù， bù chū sān rì bāo guǎn jiù yòu liǎo。” shuō zhe yòu wèn：“ nǐ men jīn 'ér zuò shénme shī？ lǎo tài tài shuō liǎo， lí nián yòu jìn liǎo， zhēngyuè lǐ hái gāi zuò xiē dēng mí 'ér dà jiā wán xiào。” zhòng rén tīng liǎo， dū xiào dào：“ kě shì dǎo wàng liǎo。 rú jīn gǎn zhe zuò jǐ gè hǎo de， yù bèi zhēngyuè lǐ wán。” shuō zhe， yī qí lái zhì dì kàng wū nèi， zhǐ jiàn bēi pán guǒ cài jù yǐ bǎi qí， qiáng shàng yǐ tiē chū shī tí‘ yùn jiǎo‘ gé shì lái liǎo。 bǎo yù xiāng yún 'èr rén máng kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn tí mù shì " jí jǐng lián jù， wǔ yán pái lǜ yī shǒu， xiàn 'èr xiāo yùn。” hòu miàn shàng wèi liè cì xù。 lǐ wán dào：“ wǒ bù dà huì zuò shī， wǒ zhǐ qǐ sān jù bà， rán hòu shuí xiān dé liǎo shuí xiān lián。” bǎo chāi dào：“ dào dǐ fēn gè cì xù。” yào zhī duān de， qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
White snow and red plum blossom in the crystal world. The pretty girl, fragrant with powder, cuts some meat and eats it.
Hsiang Ling, we will now proceed, perceived the young ladies engaged in chatting and laughing, and went up to them with a smiling countenance. "Just you look at this stanza!" she said. "If it's all right, then I'll continue my studies; but if it isn't worth any thing, I'll banish at once from my mind all idea of going in for versification."
With these words, she handed the verses to Tai-yue and her companions. When they came to look at them, they found this to be their burden:
If thou would'st screen Selene's beauteous sheen, thou'lt find it hard. Her shadows are by nature full of grace, frigid her form. A row of clothes-stones batter, while she lights a thousand li. When her disc's half, and the cock crows at the fifth watch, 'tis cold. Wrapped in my green cloak in autumn, I hear flutes on the stream. While in the tower the red-sleeved maid leans on the rails at night. She feels also constrained to ask of the goddess Ch'ang O: 'Why it is that she does not let the moon e'er remain round?'
"This stanza is not only good," they with one voice exclaimed, after perusing it, "but it's original, it's charming. It bears out the proverb: 'In the world, there's nothing difficult; the only thing hard to get at is a human being with a will.' We'll certainly ask you to join our club."
Hsiang Ling caught this remark; but so little did she credit it that fancying that they were making fun of her, she still went on to press Tai-yue, Pao-ch'ai and the other girls to give her their opinions. But while engaged in speaking, she spied a number of young waiting-maids, and old matrons come with hurried step. "Several young ladies and ladies have come," they announced smilingly, "but we don't know any of them. So your ladyship and you, young ladies, had better come at once and see what relatives they are."
"What are you driving at?" Li Wan laughed. "You might, after all, state distinctly whose relatives they are."
"Your ladyship's two young sisters have come," the matrons and maids rejoined smiling. "There's also another young lady, who says she's miss Hsueeh's cousin, and a gentleman who pretends to be Mr. Hsueeh P'an's junior cousin. We are now off to ask Mrs. Hsueeh to meet them. But your ladyship and the young ladies might go in advance and greet them." As they spoke, they straightway took their leave.
"Has our Hsueeh K'o come along with his sisters?" Pao-ch'ai inquired, with a smile.
"My aunt has probably also come to the capital," Li Wan laughed. "How is it they've all arrived together? This is indeed a strange thing!" Then adjourning in a body into Madame Wang's drawing rooms, they saw the floor covered with a black mass of people.
Madame Hsing's sister-in-law was there as well. She had entered the capital with her daughter, Chou Yen, to look up madame Hsing. But lady Feng's brother, Wang Jen, had, as luck would have it, just been preparing to start for the capital, so the two family connexions set out in company for their common destination. After accomplishing half their journey, they encountered, while their boats were lying at anchor, Li Wan's widowed sister-in-law, who also was on her way to the metropolis, with her two girls, the elder of whom was Li Wen and the younger Li Ch'i. They all them talked matters over, and, induced by the ties of relationship, the three families prosecuted their voyage together. But subsequently, Hsueeh P'an's cousin Hsueeh K'o,--whose father had, when on a visit years ago to the capital, engaged his uterine sister to the son of the Han-lin Mei, whose residence was in the metropolis,--came while planning to go and consummate the marriage, to learn of Wang Jen's departure, so taking his sister with him, he kept in his track till he managed to catch him up. Hence it happened that they all now arrived in a body to look up their respective relatives. In due course, they exchanged the conventional salutations; and these over, they had a chat.
Dowager lady Chia and madame Wang were both filled with ineffable delight.
"Little wonder is it," smiled old lady Chia, "if the snuff of the lamp crackled time and again; and if it formed and reformed into a head! It was, indeed, sure to come to this to-day!"
While she conversed on every-day topics, the presents had to be put away; and, as she, at the same time, expressed a wish to keep the new arrivals to partake of some wine and eatables, lady Feng had, needless to say, much extra work added to her ordinary duties.
Li Wan and Pao-ch'ai descanted, of course, with their aunts and cousins on the events that had transpired since their separation. But Tai-yue, though when they first met, continued in cheerful spirits, could not again, when the recollection afterwards flashed through her mind that one and all had their relatives, and that she alone had not a soul to rely upon, avoid withdrawing out of the way, and giving vent to tears.
Pao-yue, however, read her feelings, and he had to do all that lay in his power to exhort her and to console her for a time before she cheered up. Pao-yue then hurried into the I Hung court. Going up to Hsi Jen, She Yueeh and Chi'ng Wen: "Don't you yet hasten to go and see them?" he smiled. "Who'd ever have fancied that cousin Pao-ch'ai's own cousin would be what he is? That cousin of hers is so unique in appearance and in deportment. He looks as if he were cousin Pao-ch'ai's uterine younger brother. But what's still more odd is, that you should have kept on saying the whole day long that cousin Pao-ch'ai is a very beautiful creature. You should now see her cousin, as well as the two girls of her senior sister-in-law. I couldn't adequately tell you what they're like. Good heavens! Good heavens! What subtle splendour and spiritual beauty must you possess to produce beings like them, so superior to other human creatures! How plain it is that I'm like a frog wallowing at the bottom of a well! I've throughout every hour of the day said to myself that nowhere could any girls be found to equal those at present in our home; but, as it happens, I haven't had far to look! Even in our own native sphere, one would appear to eclipse the other! Here I have now managed to add one more stratum to my store of learning! But can it possibly be that outside these few, there can be any more like them?"
As he uttered these sentiments, he smiled to himself. But Hsi Jen noticed how much under the influence of his insane fits he once more was, and she promptly abandoned all idea of going over to pay her respects to the visitors.
Ch'ing Wen and the other girls had already gone and seen them and come back. Putting on a smile, "You'd better," they urged Hsi Jen, "be off at once and have a look at them. Our elder mistress' niece, Miss Pao's cousin, and our senior lady's two sisters resemble a bunch of four leeks so pretty are they!"
But scarcely were these words out of their lips, than they perceived T'an Ch'un too enter the room, beaming with smiles. She came in quest of Pao-yue.
"Our poetical society is in a flourishing way," she remarked.
"It is," smiled Pao-yue. "Here no sooner do we, in the exuberance of our spirits, start a poetical society, than the devils and gods bring through their agency, all these people in our midst! There's only one thing however. Have they, I wonder, ever learnt how to write poetry or not?"
"I just now asked every one of them," T'an Ch'un replied. "Their ideas of themselves are modest, it's true, yet from all I can gather there's not one who can't versify. But should there even be any who can't, there's nothing hard about it. Just look at Hsiang Ling. Her case will show you the truth of what I say."
"Of the whole lot," smiled Ch'ing Wen, "Miss Hsueeh's cousin carries the palm. What do you think about her, Miss Tertia?"
"It's really so!" T'an Ch'un responded. "In my own estimation, even her elder cousin and all this bevy of girls are not fit to hold a candle to her!"
Hsi Jen felt much surprise at what she heard. "This is indeed odd!" she smiled. "Whence could one hunt up any better? We'd like to go and have a peep at her."
"Our venerable senior," T'an Ch'un observed, "was at the very first sight of her so charmed with her that there's nothing she wouldn't do. She has already compelled our Madame Hsing to adopt her as a godchild. Our dear ancestor wishes to bring her up herself; this point was settled a little while back."
Pao-yue went into ecstasies. "Is this a fact?" he eagerly inquired.
"How often have I gone in for yarns?" T'an Ch'un said. "Now that our worthy senior," continuing, she laughed, "has got this nice granddaughter, she has banished from her mind all thought of a grandson like you!"
"Never mind," answered Pao-yue smiling. "It's only right that girls should be more doated upon. But to-morrow is the sixteenth, so we should have a meeting."
"That girl Lin Tai-yue is no sooner out of bed," T'an Ch'un remarked, "than cousin Secunda falls ill again. Everything is, in fact, up and down!"
"Our cousin Secunda," Pao-yue explained, "doesn't also go in very much for verses, so, what would it matter if she were left out?"
"It would be well to wait a few days," T'an Ch'un urged, "until the new comers have had time to see enough of us to become intimate. We can then invite them to join us. Won't this be better? Our senior sister-in-law and cousin Pao have now no mind for poetry. Besides, Hsiang-yuen has not arrived. P'in Erh is just over her sickness. The members are not all therefore in a fit state, so wouldn't it be preferable if we waited until that girl Yuen came? The new arrivals will also have a chance of becoming friendly. P'in Erh will likewise recover entirely. Our senior sister-in-law and cousin Pao will have time to compose their minds; and Hsiang Ling to improve in her verses. We shall then be able to convene a full meeting; and won't it be better? You and I must now go over to our worthy ancestor's, on the other side, and hear what's up. But, barring cousin Pao-ch'ai's cousin,--for we needn't take her into account, as it's sure to have been decided that she should live in our home,--if the other three are not to stay here with us, we should entreat our grandmother to let them as well take up their quarters in the garden. And if we succeed in adding a few more to our number, won't it be more fun for us?"
Pao-yue at these words was so much the more gratified that his very eyebrows distended, and his eyes laughed. "You've got your wits about you!" he speedily exclaimed. "My mind is ever so dull! I've vainly given way to a fit of joy. But to think of these contingencies was beyond me!"
So saying the two cousins repaired together to their grandmother's suite of apartments; where, in point of fact, Madame Wang had already gone through the ceremony of recognizing Hsueeh Pao-ch'in as her godchild. Dowager lady Chia's fascination for her, however, was so much out of the common run that she did not tell her to take up her quarters in the garden. Of a night, she therefore slept with old lady Chia in the same rooms; while Hsueeh K'o put up in Hsueeh P'an's study.
"Your niece needn't either return home," dowager lady Chia observed to Madame Hsing. "Let her spend a few days in the garden and see the place before she goes."
Madame Hsing's brother and sister-in-law were, indeed, in straitened circumstances at home. So much so that they had, on their present visit to the capital, actually to rely upon such accommodation as Madame Hsing could procure for them and upon such help towards their travelling expenses as she could afford to give them. When she consequently heard her proposal, Madame Hsing was, of course, only too glad to comply with her wishes, and readily she handed Hsing Chou-yen to the charge of lady Feng. But lady Feng, bethinking herself of the number of young ladies already in the garden, of their divergent dispositions and, above all things, of the inconvenience of starting a separate household, deemed it advisable to send her to live along with Ying Ch'un; for in the event, (she thought), of Hsing Chou-yen meeting afterwards with any contrarieties, she herself would be clear of all responsibility, even though Madame Hsing came to hear about them. Deducting, therefore any period, spent by Hsing Chou-yen on a visit home, lady Feng allowed Hsing Chou-yen as well, if she extended her stay in the garden of Broad Vista for any time over a month, an amount equal to that allotted to Ying Ch'un.
Lady Feng weighed with unprejudiced eye Hsing Chou-yen's temperament and deportment. She found in her not the least resemblance to Madame Hsing, or even to her father and mother; but thought her a most genial and love-inspiring girl. This consideration actuated lady Feng (not to deal harshly with her), but to pity her instead for the poverty, in which they were placed at home, and for the hard lot she had to bear, and to treat her with far more regard than she did any of the other young ladies. Madame Hsing, however, did not lavish much attention on her.
Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the rest had all along been fond of Li Wan for her virtuous and benevolent character. Besides, her continence in remaining a widow at her tender age commanded general esteem. When they therefore now saw her husbandless sister-in-law come to pay her a visit, they would not allow her to go and live outside the mansion. Her sister-in-law was, it is true, extremely opposed to the proposal, but as dowager lady Chia was firm in her determination, she had no other course but to settle down, along with Li Wen and Li Ch'i, in the Tao Hsiang village.
They had by this time assigned quarters to all the new comers, when, who would have thought it, Shih Ting, Marquis of Chung Ching, was once again appointed to a high office in another province, and he had shortly to take his family and proceed to his post. But so little could old lady Chia brook the separation from Hsiang-yuen that she kept her behind and received her in her own home. Her original idea was to have asked lady Feng to have separate rooms arranged for her, but Shih Hsiang-yuen was so obstinate in her refusal, her sole wish being to put up with Pao-ch'ai, that the idea had, in consequence, to be abandoned.
At this period, the garden of Broad Vista was again much more full of life than it had ever been before. Li Wan was the chief inmate. The rest consisted of Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yue, Hsiang-yuen, Li Wen, Li Ch'i, Pao Ch'in and Hsing Chou-yen. In addition to these, there were lady Feng and Pao-yue, so that they mustered thirteen in all. As regards age, irrespective of Li Wan, who was by far the eldest, and lady Feng, who came next, the other inmates did not exceed fourteen, sixteen or seventeen. But the majority of them had come into the world in the same year, though in different months, so they themselves could not remember distinctly who was senior, and who junior. Even dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the matrons and maids in the household were unable to tell the differences between them with any accuracy, given as they were to the simple observance of addressing themselves promiscuously and quite at random by the four words representing 'female cousin' and 'male cousin.'
Hsiang Ling was gratifying her wishes to her heart's content and devoting her mind exclusively to the composition of verses, not presuming however to make herself too much of a nuisance to Pao-ch'ai, when, by a lucky coincidence, Shih Hsiang-yuen came on the scene. But how was it possible for one so loquacious as Hsiang-yuen to avoid the subject of verses, when Hsiang Ling repeatedly begged her for explanations? This inspirited her so much the more, that not a day went by, yea not a single night, on which she did not start some loud argument and lengthy discussion.
"You really," Pao-ch'ai felt impelled to laugh, "kick up such a din, that it's quite unbearable! Fancy a girl doing nothing else than turning poetry into a legitimate thing for raising an argument! Why, were some literary persons to hear you, they would, instead of praising you, have a laugh at your expense, and say that you don't mind your own business. We hadn't yet got rid of Hsiang Ling with all her rubbish, and here we have a chatterbox like you thrown on us! But what is it that that mouth of yours keeps on jabbering? What about the bathos of Tu Kung-pu; and the unadorned refinement of Wei Su-chou? What also about Wen Pa-ch'a's elegant diction; and Li I-shan's abstruseness? A pack of silly fools that you are! Do you in any way behave like girls should?"
These sneers evoked laughter from both Hsiang Ling and Hsiang-yuen. But in the course of their conversation, they perceived Pao-ch'in drop in, with a waterproof wrapper thrown over her, so dazzling with its gold and purplish colours, that they were at a loss to make out what sort of article it could be.
"Where did you get this?" Pao-ch'ai eagerly inquired.
"It was snowing," Pao-ch'in smilingly replied, "so her venerable ladyship turned up this piece of clothing and gave it to me."
Hsiang Ling drew near and passed it under inspection. "No wonder," she exclaimed, "it looks so handsome! It's verily woven with peacock's feathers."
"What about peacock's feathers?" Hsiang-yuen laughed. "It's made of the feathers plucked from the heads of wild ducks. This is a clear sign that our worthy ancestor is fond of you, for with all her love for Pao-yue, she hasn't given it to him to wear."
"Truly does the proverb say: 'that every human being has his respective lot.'" Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Nothing ever was further from my thoughts than that she would, at this juncture, drop on the scene! Come she may, but here she also gets our dear ancestor to lavish such love on her!"
"Unless you stay with our worthy senior," Hsiang-yuen said, "do come into the garden. You may romp and laugh and eat and drink as much as you like in these two places. But when you get over to Madame Hsing's rooms, talk and joke with her, if she be at home, to your heart's content; it won't matter if you tarry ever so long. But should she not be in, don't put your foot inside; for the inmates are many in those rooms and their hearts are evil. All they're up to is to do us harm."
These words much amused Pao-ch'ai, Pao-ch'in, Hsiang-Ling, Ying Erh and the others present.
"Were one to say," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "that you're heartless, (it wouldn't do); for you've got a heart. But despite your having a heart, your tongue is, in fact, a little too outspoken! You should really to-day acknowledge this Ch'in Erh of ours as your own sister!"
"This article of clothing," Hsiang-yuen laughed, casting another glance at Pao-ch'in, "is only meet for her to wear. It wouldn't verily look well on any one else."
Saying this, she espied Hu Po enter the room. "Our old mistress," she put in smiling, "bade me tell you, Miss Pao-ch'ai, not to keep too strict a check over Miss Ch'in, for she's yet young; that you should let her do as she pleases, and that whatever she wants you should ask for, and not be afraid."
Pao-ch'ai hastily jumped to her feet and signified her obedience. Pushing Pao-ch'in, she laughed. "Even you couldn't tell whence this piece of good fortune hails from," she said. "Be off now; for mind, we might hurt your feelings. I can never believe myself so inferior to you!"
As she spoke, Pao-yue and Tai-yue walked in. But as Pao-ch'ai continued to indulge in raillery to herself, "Cousin Pao," Hsiang-yuen smilingly remonstrated, "you may, it's true, be jesting, but what if there were any one to entertain such ideas in real earnest?"
"If any one took things in earnest," Hu Po interposed laughing, "why, she'd give offence to no one else but to him." Pointing, as she uttered this remark, at Pao-yue.
"He's not that sort of person!" Pao-ch'ai and Hsiang-yuen simultaneously ventured, with a significant smile.
"If it isn't he," Hu Po proceeded still laughing, "it's she." Turning again her finger towards Tai-yue.
Hsiang-yuen expressed not a word by way of rejoinder.
"That's still less likely," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "for my cousin is like her own sister; and she's far fonder of her than of me. How could she therefore take offence? Do you credit that nonsensical trash uttered by Yuen-erh! Why what good ever comes out of that mouth of hers?"
Pao-yue was ever well aware that Tai-yue was gifted with a somewhat mean disposition. He had not however as yet come to learn anything of what had recently transpired between Tai-yue and Pao-ch'ai. He was therefore just giving way to fears lest his grandmother's fondness for Pao-ch'in should be the cause of her feeling dejected. But when he now heard the remarks passed by Hsiang-yuen, and the rejoinders made, on the other hand, by Pao-ch'ai, and, when he noticed how different Tai-yue's voice and manner were from former occasions, and how they actually bore out Pao-ch'ai's insinuation, he was at a great loss how to solve the mystery. "These two," he consequently pondered, "were never like this before! From all I can now see, they're, really, a hundred times far more friendly than any others are!" But presently he also observed Lin Tai-yue rush after Pao-ch'in, and call out 'Sister,' and, without even making any allusion to her name or any mention to her surname, treat her in every respect, just as if she were her own sister.
This Pao-ch'in was young and warm-hearted. She was naturally besides of an intelligent disposition. She had, from her very youth up, learnt how to read and how to write. After a stay, on the present occasion, of a couple of days in the Chia mansion, she became acquainted with nearly every inmate. And as she saw that the whole bevy of young ladies were not of a haughty nature, and that they kept on friendly terms with her own cousin, she did not feel disposed to treat them with any discourtesy. But she had likewise found out for herself that Lin Tai-yue was the best among the whole lot, so she started with Tai-yue, more than with any one else, a friendship of unusual fervour. This did not escape Pao-yue's notice; but all he could do was to secretly give way to amazement.
Shortly, however, Pao-ch'ai and her cousin repaired to Mrs. Hsueeh's quarters. Hsiang-yuen then betook herself to dowager lady Chia's apartments, while Lin Tai-yue returned to her room and lay down to rest.
Pao-yue thereupon came to look up Tai-yue.
"Albeit I've read the 'Record of the Western Side-room,'" he smiled, "and understood a few passages of it, yet when I quoted some in order to make you laugh, you flew into a huff! But I now remember that there is, indeed, a passage, which is not intelligible to me; so let me quote it for you to explain it for me!"
Hearing this, Tai-yue immediately concluded that his words harboured some secret meaning, so putting on a smile, "Recite it and let me hear it," she said.
"In the 'Confusion' chapter," Pao-yue laughingly began, "there's a line couched in most beautiful language. It's this: 'What time did Meng Kuang receive Liang Hung's candlestick?' (When did you and Pao-ch'ai get to be such friends?) These five characters simply bear on a stock story; but to the credit of the writer be it, the question contained in the three empty words representing, 'What time' is set so charmingly! When did she receive it? Do tell me!"
At this inquiry, Tai-yue too could not help laughing. "The question was originally nicely put," she felt urged to rejoin with a laugh. "But though the writer sets it gracefully, you ask it likewise with equal grace!"
"At one time," Pao-yue. observed, "all you knew was to suspect that I (was in love with Pao-ch'ai); and have you now no faults to find?"
"Who ever could have imagined her such a really nice girl!" Tai-yue smiled. "I've all along thought her full of guile!" And seizing the occasion, she told Pao-yue with full particulars how she had, in the game of forfeits, made an improper quotation, and what advice Pao-ch'ai had given her on the subject; how she had even sent her some birds' nests, and what they had said in the course of the chat they had had during her illness.
Pao-yue then at length came to see why it was that such a warm friendship had sprung up between them. "To tell you the truth," he consequently remarked smilingly, "I was just wondering when Meng Kuang had received Liang Hung's candlestick; and, lo, you, indeed, got it, when a mere child and through some reckless talk, (and your friendship was sealed)."
As the conversation again turned on Pao-ch'in, Tai-yue recalled to mind that she had no sister, and she could not help melting once more into tears.
Pao-yue hastened to reason with her. "This is again bringing trouble upon yourself!" he argued. "Just see how much thinner you are this year than you were last; and don't you yet look after your health? You deliberately worry yourself every day of your life. And when you've had a good cry, you feel at last that you've acquitted yourself of the duties of the day."
"Of late," Tai-yue observed, drying her tears, "I feel sore at heart. But my tears are scantier by far than they were in years gone by. With all the grief and anguish, which gnaw my heart, my tears won't fall plentifully."
"This is because weeping has become a habit with you," Pao-yue added. "But though you fancy to yourself that it is so, how can your tears have become scantier than they were?"
While arguing with her, he perceived a young waiting-maid, attached to his room, bring him a red felt wrapper. "Our senior mistress, lady Chia Chu," she went on, "has just sent a servant to say that, as it snows, arrangements should be made for inviting people to-morrow to write verses."
But hardly was this message delivered, than they saw Li Wan's maid enter, and invite Tai-yue to go over. Pao-yue then proposed to Tai-yue to accompany him, and together they came to the Tao Hsiang village. Tai-yue changed her shoes for a pair of low shoes made of red scented sheep skin, ornamented with gold, and hollowed clouds. She put on a deep red crape cloak, lined with white fox fur; girdled herself with a lapis-lazuli coloured sash, decorated with bright green double rings and four sceptres; and covered her head with a hat suitable for rainy weather. After which, the two cousins trudged in the snow, and repaired to this side of the mansion. Here they discovered the young ladies assembled, dressed all alike in deep red felt or camlet capes, with the exception of Li Wan, who was clad in a woollen jacket, buttoning in the middle.
Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai wore a pinkish-purple twilled pelisse, lined with foreign 'pa' fur, worked with threads from abroad, and ornamented with double embroidery. Hsing Chou-yen was still attired in an old costume, she ordinarily used at home, without any garment for protection against the rain. Shortly, Shih Hsiang-yuen arrived. She wore the long pelisse, given her by dowager lady Chia, which gave warmth both from the inside and outside, as the top consisted of martin-head fur, and the lining of the long-haired coat of the dark grey squirrel. On her head, she had a deep red woollen hood, made _a la_ Chao Chuen, with designs of clouds scooped out on it. This was lined with gosling-yellow, gold-streaked silk. Round her neck, she had a collar of sable fur.
"Just see here!" Tai-yue was the first to shout with a laugh. "Here comes Sun Hsing-che the 'monkey-walker!' Lo, like him, she holds a snow cloak, and purposely puts on the air of a young bewitching ape!"
"Look here, all of you!" Hsiang-yuen laughed. "See what I wear inside!"
So saying, she threw off her cloak. This enabled them to notice that she wore underneath a half-new garment with three different coloured borders on the collar and cuffs, consisting of a short pelisse of russet material lined with ermine and ornamented with dragons embroidered in variegated silks whose coils were worked with golden threads. The lapel was narrow. The sleeves were short. The folds buttoned on the side. Under this, she had a very short light-red brocaded satin bodkin, lined with fur from foxes' ribs. Round her waist was lightly attached a many-hued palace sash, with butterfly knots and long tassels. On her feet, she too wore a pair of low shoes made of deer leather. Her waist looked more than ever like that of a wasp, her back like that of the gibbon. Her bearing resembled that of a crane, her figure that of a mantis.
"Her weak point," they laughed unanimously, "is to get herself up to look like a young masher. But she does, there's no denying, cut a much handsomer figure like this, than when she's dressed up like a girl!"
"Lose no time," Hsiang-yuen smiled, "in deliberating about writing verses, for I'd like to hear who is to stand treat."
"According to my idea," Li Wan chimed in, "I think that as the legitimate day, which was yesterday, has gone by, it would be too long to wait for another proper date. As luck would have it, it's snowing again to-day, so won't it be well to raise contributions among ourselves and have a meeting? We'll thus be able to give the visitors a greeting; and to get an opportunity of writing a few verses. But what are your views on the subject?"
"This proposal is excellent!" Pao-yue was the first to exclaim. "The only thing is that it's too late to-day; and if it clears up by to-morrow, there will be really no fun."
"It isn't likely," cried out the party with one voice, "that this snowy weather will clear up. But even supposing it does, the snow which will fall during this night will be sufficient for our enjoyment."
"This place of mine is nice enough, it's true," Li Wan added, "yet it isn't up to the Lu Hsueeh Pavilion. I've already therefore despatched workmen to raise earthen couches, so that we should all be able to sit round the fire and compose our verses. Our venerable senior, I fancy, is not sure about caring to join us. Besides, this is only a small amusement between ourselves so if we just let that hussy Feng know something about it, it will be quite enough. A tael from each of you will be ample, but send your money to me here! As regards Hsiang Ling, Pao-ch'in, Li Wen, Li Ch'i and Chou-yen, the five of them, we needn't count them. Neither need we include the two girls of our number, who are ill; nor take into account the four girls who've asked for leave. If you will let me have your four shares, I'll undertake to see that five or six taels be made to suffice."
Pao-ch'ai and the others without exception signified their acquiescence. They consequently proceeded to propose the themes and to fix upon the rhymes.
"I've long ago," smiled Li Wan, "settled them in my own mind, so tomorrow at the proper time you'll really know all about them."
At the conclusion of this remark, they indulged in another chat on irrelevant topics; and this over, they came into old lady Chia's quarters.
Nothing of any note transpired during the course of that day. At an early hour on the morrow, Pao-yue--for he had been looking forward with such keen expectation to the coming event that he had found it impossible to have any sleep during the night,--jumped out of bed with the first blush of dawn. Upon raising his curtain and looking out, he observed that, albeit the doors and windows were as yet closed, a bright light shone on the lattice sufficient to dazzle the eyes, and his mind began at once to entertain misgivings, and to feel regrets, in the assurance that the weather had turned out fine, and that the sun had already risen. In a hurry, he simultaneously sprung to his feet, and flung the window-frame open, then casting a glance outside, from within the glass casement, he realised that it was not the reflection of the sun, but that of the snow, which had fallen throughout the night to the depth of over a foot, and that the heavens were still covered as if with twisted cotton and unravelled floss. Pao-yue got, by this time, into an unusual state of exhilaration. Hastily calling up the servants, and completing his ablutions, he robed himself in an egg-plant-coloured camlet, fox-fur lined pelisse; donned a short-sleeved falconry surtout ornamented with water dragons; tied a sash round his waist; threw over his shoulders a fine bamboo waterproof; covered his head with a golden rattan rain-hat; put on a pair of 'sha t'ang' wood clogs, and rushed out with precipitate step towards the direction of the Lu Hsueeh Pavilion.
As soon as he sallied out of the gate of the courtyard, he gazed on all four quarters. No trace whatever of any other colour (but white) struck his eye. In the distance stood the green fir-trees and the kingfisherlike bamboos. They too looked, however, as if they were placed in a glass bowl.
Forthwith he wended his way down the slope and trudged along the foot of the hill. But the moment he turned the bend, he felt a whiff of cold fragrance come wafted into his nostrils. Turning his head, he espied ten and more red plum trees, over at Miao Yue's in the Lung Ts'ui monastery. They were red like very rouge. And, reflecting the white colour of the snow, they showed off their beauty to such an extraordinary degree as to present a most pleasing sight.
Pao-yue quickly stood still, and gazed, with all intentness, at the landscape for a time. But just as he was proceeding on his way, he caught sight of some one on the "Wasp waist" wooden bridge, advancing in his direction, with an umbrella in hand. It was the servant, despatched by Li Wan, to request lady Peng to go over.
On his arrival in the Lu Hsueeh pavilion, Pao-yue found the maids and matrons engaged in sweeping away the snow and opening a passage. This Lu Hsueeh (Water-rush snow) pavilion was, we might explain, situated on a side hill, in the vicinity of a stream and spanned the rapids formed by it. The whole place consisted of several thatched roofs, mud walls, side fences, bamboo lattice windows and pushing windows, out of which fishing-lines could be conveniently dropped. On all four sides flourished one mass of reeds, which concealed the single path out of the pavilion. Turning and twisting, he penetrated on his way through the growth of reeds until he reached the spot where stretched the bamboo bridge leading to the Lotus Fragrance Arbour.
The moment the maids and matrons saw him approach with his waterproof-wrapper thrown over his person and his rain-hat on his head, they with one voice laughed, "We were just remarking that what was lacking was a fisherman, and lo, now we've got everything that was wanted! The young ladies are coming after their breakfast; you're in too impatient a mood!"
At these words, Pao-yue had no help but to retrace his footsteps. As soon as he reached the Hsin Tang pavilion, he perceived T'an Ch'un, issuing from the Ch'iu Shuang Study, wrapped in a deep red woollen waterproof, and a 'Kuan Yin' hood on her head, supporting herself on the arm of a young maid. Behind her, followed a married woman, holding a glazed umbrella made of green satin.
Pao-yue knew very well that she was on her way to his grandmother's, so speedily halting by the side of the pavilion, he waited for her to come up. The two cousins then left the garden together, and betook themselves to the front part of the mansion. Pao-ch'in was at the time in the inner apartments, combing her hair, washing her hands and face and changing her apparel. Shortly, the whole number of girls arrived. "I feel peckish!" Pao-yue shouted; and again and again he tried to hurry the meal. It was with great impatience that he waited until the eatables could be laid on the table.
One of the dishes consisted of kid, boiled in cow's milk. "This is medicine for us, who are advanced in years," old lady Chia observed. "They're things that haven't seen the light! The pity is that you young people can't have any. There's some fresh venison to-day as an extra course, so you'd better wait and eat some of that!"
One and all expressed their readiness to wait. Pao-yue however could not delay having something to eat. Seizing a cup of tea, he soaked a bowlful of rice, to which he added some meat from a pheasant's leg, and gobbled it down in a scramble.
"I'm well aware," dowager lady Chia said, "that as you're up to something again to-day, you people have no mind even for your meal. Let them keep," she therefore cried, "that venison for their evening repast!"
"What an idea!" lady Feng promptly put in. "We'll have enough with what remains of it."
Shih Hsiang-yuen thereupon consulted with Pao-yue. "As there's fresh venison," she said, "wouldn't it be nice to ask for a haunch and take it into the garden and prepare it ourselves? We'll thus be able to sate our hunger, and have some fun as well."
At this proposal, Pao-yue actually asked lady Feng to let them have a haunch, and he bade a matron carry it into the garden.
Presently, they all got up from table. After a time, they entered the garden and came in a body to the Lu Hsueeh pavilion to hear Li Wan give out the themes, and fix upon the rhymes. But Hsiang-yuen and Pao-yue were the only two of whom nothing was seen.
"Those two," Tai-yue observed, "can't get together! The moment they meet, how much trouble doesn't arise! They must surely have now gone to hatch their plans over that haunch of venison."
These words were still on her lips when she saw 'sister-in-law' Li coming also to see what the noise was all about. "How is it," she then inquired of Li Wan, "that that young fellow, with the jade, and that girl, with the golden unicorn round her neck, both of whom are so cleanly and tidy, and have besides ample to eat, are over there conferring about eating raw meat? There they are chatting, saying this and saying that; but I can't see how meat can be eaten raw!"
This remark much amused the party. "How dreadful!" they exclaimed, "Be quick and bring them both here!"
"All this fuss," Tay-yue smiled, "is the work of that girl Yuen. I'm not far off again in my surmises."
Li Wan went out with precipitate step in search of the cousins. "If you two are bent upon eating raw meat," she cried, "I'll send you over to our old senior's; you can do so there. What will I care then if you have a whole deer raw and make yourselves ill over it? It won't be any business of mine. But it's snowing hard and it's bitterly cold, so be quick and go and write some verses for me and be off!"
"We're doing nothing of the kind," Pao-yue hastily rejoined. "We're going to eat some roasted meat."
"Well, that won't matter!" Li Wan observed. And seeing the old matrons bring an iron stove, prongs and a gridiron of iron wire, "Mind you don't cut your hands," Li Wan resumed, "for we won't have any crying!"
This remark concluded, she walked in.
Lady Feng had sent P'ing Erh from her quarters to announce that she was unable to come, as the issue of the customary annual money gave her just at present, plenty to keep her busy.
Hsiang-yuen caught sight of P'ing Erh and would not let her go on her errand. But P'ing Erh too was fond of amusement, and had ever followed lady Feng everywhere she went, so, when she perceived what fun was to be got, and how merrily they joked and laughed, she felt impelled to take off her bracelets (and to join them). The trio then pressed round the fire; and P'ing Erh wanted to be the first to roast three pieces of venison to regale themselves with.
On the other side, Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yue had, even in ordinary times, seen enough of occasions like the present. They did not therefore think it anything out of the way; but Pao-ch'in and the other visitors, inclusive of 'sister-in-law' Li, were filled with intense wonder.
T'an Ch'un had, with the help of Li Wan, and her companions, succeeded by this time in choosing the subjects and rhymes. "Just smell that sweet fragrance," T'an Ch'un remarked. "One can smell it even here! I'm also going to taste some."
So speaking, she too went to look them up. But Li Wan likewise followed her out. "The guests are all assembled," she observed. "Haven't you people had enough as yet?"
While Hsiang-yuen munched what she had in her month, she replied to her question. "Whenever," she said, "I eat this sort of thing, I feel a craving for wine. It's only after I've had some that I shall be able to rhyme. Were it not for this venison, I would to-day have positively been quite unfit for any poetry." As she spoke, she discerned Pao-ch'in, standing and laughing opposite to her, in her duck-down garment.
"You idiot," Hsiang-yuen laughingly cried, "come and have a mouthful to taste."
"It's too filthy!" Pao-ch'in replied smiling.
"You go and try it." Pao-ch'ai added with a laugh. "It's capital! Your cousin Lin is so very weak that she couldn't digest it, if she had any. Otherwise she too is very fond of this."
Upon hearing this, Pao-ch'in readily crossed over and put a piece in her mouth; and so good did she find it that she likewise started eating some of it.
In a little time, however, lady Feng sent a young maid to call P'ing Erh.
"Miss Shih," P'ing Erh explained, "won't let me go. So just return ahead of me."
The maid thereupon took her leave; but shortly after they saw lady Feng arrive; she too with a wrapper over her shoulders.
"You're having," she smiled; "such dainties to eat, and don't you tell me?"
Saying this, she also drew near and began to eat.
"Where has this crowd of beggars turned up from?" Tai-yue put in with a laugh. "But never mind, never mind! Here's the Lu Hsueeh pavilion come in for this calamity to-day, and, as it happens, it's that chit Yuen by whom it has been polluted! But I'll have a good cry for the Lu Hsueeh pavilion."
Hsiang-yuen gave an ironical smile. "What do you know?" she exclaimed. "A genuine man of letters is naturally refined. But as for the whole lot of you, your poor and lofty notions are all a sham! You are most loathsome! We may now be frowzy and smelly, as we munch away lustily with our voracious appetites, but by and bye we'll prove as refined as scholars, as if we had cultured minds and polished tongues."
"If by and bye," Pao-ch'ai laughingly interposed, "the verses you compose are not worth anything, I'll tug out that meat you've eaten, and take some of these snow-buried weeds and stuff you up with. I'll thus put an end to this evil fortune!"
While bandying words, they finished eating. For a time, they busied themselves with washing their hands. But when P'ing Erh came to put on her bracelets, she found one missing. She looked in a confused manner, at one time to the left, at another to the right; now in front of her, and then behind her for ever so long, but not a single vestige of it was visible. One and all were therefore filled with utter astonishment.
"I know where this bracelet has gone to;" lady Feng suggested smilingly. "But just you all go and attend to your poetry. We too can well dispense with searching for it, and repair to the front. Before three days are out, I'll wager that it turns up. What verses are you writing to-day?" continuing she went on to inquire. "Our worthy senior says that the end of the year is again nigh at hand, and that in the first moon some more conundrums will have to be devised to be affixed on lanterns, for the recreation of the whole family."
"Of course we'll have to write a few," they laughingly rejoined, upon hearing her remarks. "We forgot all about it. Let's hurry up now, and compose a few fine ones, so as to have them ready to enjoy some good fun in the first moon."
Speaking the while, they came in a body into the room with the earthen couches, where they found the cups, dishes and eatables already laid out in readiness. On the walls had been put up the themes, metre, and specimen verses. Pao-yue and Hsiang-yuen hastened to examine what was written. They saw that they had to take for a theme something on the present scenery and indite a stanza with antithetical pentameter lines; that the word 'hsiao,' second (in the book of metre), had been fixed upon as a rhyme; but that there was, below that, no mention, as yet, made of any precedence.
"I can't write verses very well," Li Wan pleaded, "so all I'll do will be to devise three lines, and the one, who'll finish the task first, we'll have afterwards to pair them."
"We should, after all," Pao-ch'ai urged, "make some distinction with regard to order."
But, reader, if you entertain any desire to know the sequel, peruse the particulars recorded in the chapter that follows.
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