中国经典 》 红楼梦 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第四十九回 琉璃世界白雪红梅 脂粉香娃割腥啖膻 CHAPTER XLIX.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鹗 Gao E
CHAPTER XLIX.
话说香菱见众人正说笑，他便迎上去笑道：“你们看这一首。若使得，我便还学，若还不好，我就死了这作诗的心了。”说着，把诗递与黛玉及众人看时，只见写道是：
精华欲掩料应难，影自娟娟魄自寒。
一片砧敲千里白，半轮鸡唱五更残。
绿蓑江上秋闻笛，红袖楼头夜倚栏。
博得嫦蛾应借问， 缘何不使永团圆！众人看了笑道：“这首不但好，而且新巧有意趣。可知俗语说‘天下无难事，只怕有心人。’社里一定请你了。”香菱听了心下不信，料着是他们瞒哄自己的话，还只管问黛玉宝钗等。
正说之间，只见几个小丫头并老婆子忙忙的走来，都笑道：“来了好些姑娘奶奶们，我们都不认得，奶奶姑娘们快认亲去。”李纨笑道：“这是那里的话？你到底说明白了是谁的亲戚？"那婆子丫头都笑道：“奶奶的两位妹子都来了。还有一位姑娘，说是薛大姑娘的妹妹，还有一位爷，说是薛大爷的兄弟。我这会子请姨太太去呢，奶奶和姑娘们先上去罢。”说着，一径去了。宝钗笑道：“我们薛蝌和他妹妹来了不成？"李纨也笑道：“我们婶子又上京来了不成？ 他们也不能凑在一处，这可是奇事。”大家纳闷，来至王夫人上房，只见乌压压一地的人。
原来邢夫人之兄嫂带了女儿岫烟进京来投邢夫人的， 可巧凤姐之兄王仁也正进京，两亲家一处打帮来了。走至半路泊船时，正遇见李纨之寡婶带着两个女儿——大名李纹，次名李绮——也上京。大家叙起来又是亲戚，因此三家一路同行。后有薛蟠之从弟薛蝌，因当年父亲在京时已将胞妹薛宝琴许配都中梅翰林之子为婚，正欲进京发嫁，闻得王仁进京，他也带了妹子随后赶来。所以今日会齐了来访投各人亲戚。于是大家见礼叙过，贾母王夫人都欢喜非常。贾母因笑道：“怪道昨日晚上灯花爆了又爆，结了又结，原来应到今日。”一面叙些家常，一面收看带来的礼物，一面命留酒饭。凤姐儿自不必说，忙上加忙。李纨宝钗自然和婶母姊妹叙离别之情。黛玉见了，先是欢喜，次后想起众人皆有亲眷， 独自己孤单，无个亲眷，不免又去垂泪。宝玉深知其情，十分劝慰了一番方罢。
然后宝玉忙忙来至怡红院中，向袭人，麝月，晴雯等笑道：“你们还不快看人去！谁知宝姐姐的亲哥哥是那个样子，他这叔伯兄弟形容举止另是一样了，倒象是宝姐姐的同胞弟兄似的。更奇在你们成日家只说宝姐姐是绝色的人物，你们如今瞧瞧他这妹子，更有大嫂嫂这两个妹子，我竟形容不出了。老天，老天，你有多少精华灵秀，生出这些人上之人来！ 可知我井底之蛙，成日家自说现在的这几个人是有一无二的，谁知不必远寻， 就是本地风光，一个赛似一个，如今我又长了一层学问了。除了这几个，难道还有几个不成？"一面说，一面自笑自叹。袭人见他又有了魔意，便不肯去瞧。晴雯等早去瞧了一遍回来， だだ笑向袭人道：“你快瞧瞧去！大太太的一个侄女儿，宝姑娘一个妹妹，大奶奶两个妹妹，倒象一把子四根水葱儿。”
一语未了，只见探春也笑着进来找宝玉，因说道：“咱们的诗社可兴旺了。”宝玉笑道：“正是呢。这是你一高兴起诗社，所以鬼使神差来了这些人。但只一件，不知他们可学过作诗不曾？"探春道：“我才都问了他们，虽是他们自谦，看其光景，没有不会的。便是不会也没难处，你看香菱就知道了。”袭人笑道：“他们说薛大姑娘的妹妹更好，三姑娘看着怎么样？"探春道：“果然的话。据我看，连他姐姐并这些人总不及他。”袭人听了，又是诧异，又笑道：“这也奇了，还从那里再好的去呢？我倒要瞧瞧去。”探春道：“老太太一见了，喜欢的无可不可，已经逼着太太认了干女儿了。老太太要养活，才刚已经定了。”宝玉喜的忙问：“这果然的？"探春道：“我几时说过谎！"又笑道：“有了这个好孙女儿，就忘了这孙子了。”宝玉笑道：“这倒不妨，原该多疼女儿些才是正理。明儿十六，咱们可该起社了。”探春道：“林丫头刚起来了，二姐姐又病了，终是七上八下的。”宝玉道：“二姐姐又不大作诗，没有他又何妨。”探春道：“越性等几天，他们新来的混熟了，咱们邀上他们岂不好？ 这会子大嫂子宝姐姐心里自然没有诗兴的，况且湘云没来，颦儿刚好了， 人人不合式。不如等着云丫头来了，这几个新的也熟了，颦儿也大好了，大嫂子和宝姐姐心也闲了，香菱诗也长进了，如此邀一满社岂不好？咱们两个如今且往老太太那里去听听， 除宝姐姐的妹妹不算外，他一定是在咱们家住定了的。倘或那三个要不在咱们这里住，咱们央告着老太太留下他们在园子里住下，咱们岂不多添几个人，越发有趣了。”宝玉听了，喜的眉开眼笑，忙说道：“倒是你明白。我终久是个糊涂心肠，空喜欢一会子，却想不到这上头来。”
说着，兄妹两个一齐往贾母处来。”果然王夫人已认了宝琴作干女儿，贾母欢喜非常，连园中也不命住，晚上跟着贾母一处安寝。薛蝌自向薛蟠书房中住下。贾母便和邢夫人说：“你侄女儿也不必家去了，园里住几天，逛逛再去。”邢夫人兄嫂家中原艰难，这一上京， 原仗的是邢夫人与他们治房舍，帮盘缠，听如此说，岂不愿意。邢夫人便将岫烟交与凤姐儿。凤姐儿筹算得园中姊妹多，性情不一，且又不便另设一处，莫若送到迎春一处去，倘日后邢岫烟有些不遂意的事，纵然邢夫人知道了，与自己无干。从此后若邢岫烟家去住的日期不算，若在大观园住到一个月上，凤姐儿亦照迎春的分例送一分与岫烟。 凤姐儿冷眼ゅ岫烟心性为人，竟不象邢夫人及他的父母一样，却是温厚可疼的人。因此凤姐儿又怜他家贫命苦，比别的姊妹多疼他些，邢夫人倒不大理论了。
贾母王夫人因素喜李纨贤惠，且年轻守节，令人敬伏，今见他寡婶来了，便不肯令他外头去住。 那李婶虽十分不肯，无奈贾母执意不从，只得带着李纹李绮在稻香村住下来。
当下安插既定， 谁知保龄侯史鼐又迁委了外省大员，不日要带了家眷去上任。贾母因舍不得湘云，便留下他了，接到家中，原要命凤姐儿另设一处与他住。史湘云执意不肯，只要与宝钗一处住，因此就罢了。
此时大观园中比先更热闹了多少。 李纨为首，余者迎春，探春，惜春，宝钗，黛玉，湘云，李纹，李绮，宝琴，邢岫烟，再添上凤姐儿和宝玉，一共十三个。叙起年庚，除李纨年纪最长，他十二个人皆不过十五六七岁，或有这三个同年，或有那五个共岁，或有这两个同月同日， 那两个同刻同时，所差者大半是时刻月分而已。连他们自己也不能细细分晰，不过是"弟”“兄”“姊”“妹"四个字随便乱叫。
如今香菱正满心满意只想作诗， 又不敢十分罗唣宝钗，可巧来了个史湘云。那史湘云又是极爱说话的， 那里禁得起香菱又请教他谈诗，越发高了兴，没昼没夜高谈阔论起来。 宝钗因笑道：“我实在聒噪的受不得了。一个女孩儿家，只管拿着诗作正经事讲起来，叫有学问的人听了，反笑话说不守本分的。一个香菱没闹清，偏又添了你这么个话口袋子，满嘴里说的是什么：怎么是杜工部之沉郁，韦苏州之淡雅，又怎么是温八叉之绮靡， 李义山之隐僻。放着两个现成的诗家不知道，提那些死人做什么！"湘云听了，忙笑问道：“是那两个？好姐姐，你告诉我。”宝钗笑道：“呆香菱之心苦，疯湘云之话多。”湘云香菱听了，都笑起来。
正说着， 只见宝琴来了，披着一领斗篷，金翠辉煌，不知何物。宝钗忙问：“这是那里的？ "宝琴笑道：“因下雪珠儿，老太太找了这一件给我的。”香菱上来瞧道：“怪道这么好看， 原来是孔雀毛织的。”湘云道：“那里是孔雀毛，就是野鸭子头上的毛作的。可见老太太疼你了， 这样疼宝玉，也没给他穿。”宝钗道：“真俗语说‘各人有缘法’。他也再想不到他这会子来，既来了，又有老太太这么疼他。”湘云道：“你除了在老太太跟前，就在园里来，这两处只管顽笑吃喝。到了太太屋里，若太太在屋里，只管和太太说笑，多坐一回无妨，若太太不在屋里，你别进去，那屋里人多心坏，都是要害咱们的。”说的宝钗， 宝琴，香菱，莺儿等都笑了。宝钗笑道：“说你没心，却又有心，虽然有心，到底嘴太直了。 我们这琴儿就有些象你。你天天说要我作亲姐姐，我今儿竟叫你认他作亲妹妹罢了。”湘云又瞅了宝琴半日，笑道：“这一件衣裳也只配他穿，别人穿了，实在不配。” 正说着，只见琥珀走来笑道：“老太太说了，叫宝姑娘别管紧了琴姑娘。他还小呢，让他爱怎么样就怎么样。 要什么东西只管要去，别多心。”宝钗忙起身答应了，又推宝琴笑道：“你也不知是那里来的福气！你倒去罢，仔细我们委曲着你。我就不信我那些儿不如你。”说话之间，宝玉黛玉都进来了，宝钗犹自嘲笑。湘云因笑道：“宝姐姐，你这话虽是顽话，恰有人真心是这样想呢。”琥珀笑道：“真心恼的再没别人，就只是他。”口里说，手指着宝玉。宝钗湘云都笑道：“他倒不是这样人。”琥珀又笑道：“不是他，就是他。”说着又指着黛玉。湘云便不则声。宝钗忙笑道：“更不是了。我的妹妹和他的妹妹一样。他喜欢的比我还疼呢，那里还恼？你信口儿混说。他的那嘴有什么实据。”宝玉素习深知黛玉有些小性儿， 且尚不知近日黛玉和宝钗之事，正恐贾母疼宝琴他心中不自在，今见湘云如此说了， 宝钗又如此答，再审度黛玉声色亦不似往时，果然与宝钗之说相符， 心中闷闷不乐。因想：“他两个素日不是这样的好，今看来竟更比他人好十倍。”一时林黛玉又赶着宝琴叫妹妹，并不提名道姓，直是亲姊妹一般。那宝琴年轻心热，且本性聪敏，自幼读书识字，今在贾府住了两日，大概人物已知。又见诸姊妹都不是那轻薄脂粉，且又和姐姐皆和契，故也不肯怠慢，其中又见林黛玉是个出类拔萃的，便更与黛玉亲敬异常。宝玉看着只是暗暗的纳罕。
一时宝钗姊妹往薛姨妈房内去后， 湘云往贾母处来，林黛玉回房歇着。宝玉便找了黛玉来，笑道：“我虽看了《西厢记》，也曾有明白的几句，说了取笑，你曾恼过。如今想来，竟有一句不解，我念出来你讲讲我听。”黛玉听了，便知有文章，因笑道：“你念出来我听听。”宝玉笑道：“那《闹简》上有一句说得最好，‘是几时孟光接了梁鸿案？’这句最妙。 ‘孟光接了梁鸿案’这五个字，不过是现成的典，难为他这‘是几时’三个虚字问的有趣。是几时接了？你说说我听听。”黛玉听了，禁不住也笑起来，因笑道：“这原问的好。他也问的好，你也问的好。”宝玉道：“先时你只疑我，如今你也没的说，我反落了单。”黛玉笑道：“谁知他竟真是个好人，我素日只当他藏奸。”因把说错了酒令起，连送燕窝病中所谈之事， 细细告诉了宝玉。宝玉方知缘故，因笑道：“我说呢，正纳闷‘是几时孟光接了梁鸿案’，原来是从‘小孩儿口没遮拦’就接了案了。”黛玉因又说起宝琴来，想起自己没有骀⒚*，不免又哭了。宝玉忙劝道：“你又自寻烦恼了。你瞧瞧，今年比旧年越发瘦了， 你还不保养。每天好好的，你必是自寻烦恼，哭一会子，才算完了这一天的事。 "黛玉拭泪道：“近来我只觉心酸，眼泪却象比旧年少了些的。心里只管酸痛，眼泪却不多。”宝玉道：“这是你哭惯了心里疑的，岂有眼泪会少的！”
正说着，只见他屋里的小丫头子送了猩猩毡斗篷来，又说：“大奶奶才打发人来说，下了雪，要商议明日请人作诗呢。”一语未了，只见李纨的丫头走来请黛玉。宝玉便邀着黛玉同往稻香村来。黛玉换上掐金挖云红香羊皮小靴，罩了一件大红羽纱面白狐狸里的鹤氅，束一条青金闪绿双环四合如意绦，头上罩了雪帽。二人一齐踏雪行来。只见众姊妹都在那边，都是一色大红猩猩毡与羽毛缎斗篷，独李纨穿一件青哆罗呢对襟褂子，薛宝钗穿一件莲青斗纹锦上添花洋线番Е丝的鹤氅；邢岫烟仍是家常旧衣，并无避雪之衣。一时史湘云来了，穿着贾母与他的一件貂鼠脑袋面子大毛黑灰鼠里子里外发烧大褂子， 头上带着一顶挖云鹅黄片金里大红猩猩毡昭君套，又围着大貂鼠风领。黛玉先笑道：“你们瞧瞧，孙行者来了。他一般的也拿着雪褂子，故意装出个小骚达子来。”湘云笑道：“你们瞧瞧我里头打扮的。”一面说，一面脱了褂子。只见他里头穿着一件半新的靠色三镶领袖秋香色盘金五色绣龙窄Ё小袖掩衿银鼠短袄， 里面短短的一件水红装缎狐肷褶子，腰里紧紧束着一条蝴蝶结子长穗五色宫绦，脚下也穿着Ж皮小靴，越显的蜂腰猿背，鹤势螂形。众人都笑道：“偏他只爱打扮成个小子的样儿，原比他打扮女儿更俏丽了些。 "湘云道：“快商议作诗！我听听是谁的东家？"李纨道：“我的主意。想来昨儿的正日已过了，再等正日又太远，可巧又下雪，不如大家凑个社，又替他们接风，又可以作诗。你们意思怎么样？"宝玉先道：“这话很是。只是今日晚了，若到明儿， 晴了又无趣。”众人看道：“这雪未必晴，纵晴了，这一夜下的也够赏了。”李纨道：“我这里虽好，又不如芦雪庵好。我已经打发人笼地炕去了，咱们大家拥炉作诗。老太太想来未必高兴， 况且咱们小顽意儿，单给凤丫头个信儿就是了。你们每人一两银子就够了，送到我这里来。”指着香菱，宝琴，李纹，李绮，岫烟，"五个不算外，咱们里头二丫头病了不算，四丫头告了假也不算，你们四分子送了来，我包总五六两银子也尽够了。”宝钗等一齐应诺。因又拟题限韵，李纨笑道：“我心里自己定了，等到了明日临期，横竖知道。 "说毕，大家又闲话了一回，方往贾母处来。本日无话。到了次日一早，宝玉因心里记挂着这事，一夜没好生得睡，天亮了就爬起来。掀开帐子一看，虽门窗尚掩，只见窗上光辉夺目， 心内早踌躇起来，埋怨定是晴了，日光已出。一面忙起来揭起窗屉，从玻璃窗内往外一看，原来不是日光，竟是一夜大雪，下将有一尺多厚，天上仍是搓绵扯絮一般。宝玉此时欢喜非常，忙唤人起来，プ漱已毕，只穿一件茄色哆罗呢狐皮袄子，罩一件海龙皮小小鹰膀褂，束了腰，披了玉针蓑，戴上金藤笠，登上沙棠屐，忙忙的往芦雪庵来。 出了院门，四顾一望，并无二色，远远的是青松翠竹，自己却如装在玻璃盒内一般。 于是走至山坡之下，顺着山脚刚转过去，已闻得一股寒香拂鼻。回头一看，恰是妙玉门前栊翠庵中有十数株红梅如胭脂一般，映着雪色，分外显得精神，好不有趣！宝玉便立住， 细细的赏玩一回方走。只见蜂腰扳桥上一个人打着伞走来，是李纨打发了请凤姐儿去的人。
宝玉来至芦雪庵，只见丫鬟婆子正在那里扫雪开径。原来这芦雪庵盖在傍山临水河滩之上，一带几间，茅檐土壁，槿篱竹牖，推窗便可垂钓，四面都是芦苇掩覆，一条去径逶迤穿芦度苇过去，便是藕香榭的竹桥了。众丫鬟婆子见他披蓑戴笠而来，却笑道：“我们才说正少一个渔翁，如今都全了。姑娘们吃了饭才来呢，你也太性急了。”宝玉听了，只得回来。刚至沁芳亭，见探春正从秋爽斋来，围着大红猩猩毡斗篷，戴着观音兜，扶着小丫头，后面一个妇人打着青绸油伞。宝玉知他往贾母处去，便立在亭边，等他来到，二人一同出园前去。宝琴正在里间房内梳洗更衣。
一时众姊妹来齐，宝玉只嚷饿了，连连催饭。好容易等摆上来，头一样菜便是牛乳蒸羊羔。贾母便说：“这是我们有年纪的人的药，没见天日的东西，可惜你们小孩子们吃不得。今儿另外有新鲜鹿肉，你们等着吃。”众人答应了。宝玉却等不得，只拿茶泡了一碗饭， 就着野鸡瓜齑忙忙的咽完了。贾母道：“我知道你们今儿又有事情，连饭也不顾吃了。 "便叫"留着鹿肉与他晚上吃"，凤姐忙说"还有呢"，方才罢了。史湘云便悄和宝玉计较道：“有新鲜鹿肉，不如咱们要一块，自己拿了园里弄着，又顽又吃。”宝玉听了，巴不得一声儿，便真和凤姐要了一块，命婆子送入园去。
一时大家散后，进园齐往芦雪庵来，听李纨出题限韵，独不见湘云宝玉二人。黛玉道：“他两个再到不了一处，若到一处，生出多少故事来。这会子一定算计那块鹿肉去了。”正说着，只见李婶也走来看热闹，因问李纨道：“怎么一个带玉的哥儿和那一个挂金麒麟的姐儿，那样干净清秀，又不少吃的，他两个在那里商议着要吃生肉呢，说的有来有去的。 我只不信肉也生吃得的。”众人听了，都笑道：“了不得，快拿了他两个来。”黛玉笑道：“这可是云丫头闹的，我的卦再不错。”
李纨等忙出来找着他两个说道：“你们两个要吃生的，我送你们到老太太那里吃去。那怕吃一只生鹿，撑病了不与我相干。这么大雪，怪冷的，替我作祸呢。”宝玉笑道：“没有的事，我们烧着吃呢。”李纨道：“这还罢了。”只见老婆们拿了铁炉，铁叉，铁丝チ来，李纨道：“仔细割了手，不许哭！"说着，同探春进去了。
凤姐打发了平儿来回复不能来，为发放年例正忙。湘云见了平儿，那里肯放。平儿也是个好顽的，素日跟着凤姐儿无所不至，见如此有趣，乐得顽笑，因而褪去手上的镯子， 三个围着火炉儿，便要先烧三块吃。那边宝钗黛玉平素看惯了，不以为异，宝琴等及李婶深为罕事。 探春与李纨等已议定了题韵。探春笑道：“你闻闻，香气这里都闻见了，我也吃去。”说着，也找了他们来。李纨也随来说：“客已齐了，你们还吃不够？"湘云一面吃，一面说道：“我吃这个方爱吃酒，吃了酒才有诗。若不是这鹿肉，今儿断不能作诗。”说着，只见宝琴披着凫靥裘站在那里笑。湘云笑道：“傻子，过来尝尝。”宝琴笑说：“ 怪脏的。”宝钗道：“你尝尝去，好吃的。你林姐姐弱，吃了不消化，不然他也爱吃。”宝琴听了， 便过去吃了一块，果然好吃，便也吃起来。一时凤姐儿打发小丫头来叫平儿。平儿说：“史姑娘拉着我呢，你先走罢。”小丫头去了。一时只见凤姐也披了斗篷走来，笑道：“吃这样好东西，也不告诉我！"说着也凑着一处吃起来。黛玉笑道：“那里找这一群花子去！ 罢了，罢了，今日芦雪庵遭劫，生生被云丫头作践了。我为芦雪庵一大哭！"湘云冷笑道：“你知道什么！‘是真名士自风流’，你们都是假清高，最可厌的。我们这会子腥膻大吃大嚼，回来却是锦心绣口。”宝钗笑道：“你回来若作的不好了，把那肉掏了出来，就把这雪压的芦苇子З上些，以完此劫。”
说着， 吃毕，洗漱了一回。平儿带镯子时却少了一个，左右前后乱找了一番，踪迹全无。众人都诧异。凤姐儿笑道：“我知道这镯子的去向。你们只管作诗去，我们也不用找，只管前头去，不出三日包管就有了。”说着又问：“你们今儿作什么诗？老太太说了，离年又近了， 正月里还该作些灯谜儿大家顽笑。”众人听了，都笑道：“可是倒忘了。如今赶着作几个好的， 预备正月里顽。”说着，一齐来至地炕屋内，只见杯盘果菜俱已摆齐， 墙上已贴出诗题‘韵脚‘格式来了。宝玉湘云二人忙看时，只见题目是"即景联句，五言排律一首，限二萧韵。”后面尚未列次序。李纨道：“我不大会作诗，我只起三句罢，然后谁先得了谁先联。”宝钗道：“到底分个次序。”要知端的，且听下回分解。
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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【选集】红楼一春梦 |
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