中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第五十一回 薛小妹新編懷古詩 鬍庸醫亂用虎狼藥 CHAPTER LI.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER LI.
衆人聞得寶琴將素習所經過各省內的古跡為題， 作了十首懷古絶句，內隱十物，皆說這自然新巧。都爭着看時，衹見寫道是：
赤壁懷古其一
赤壁沉埋水不流，徒留名姓載空舟。
喧闐一炬悲風冷，無限英魂在內遊。
交趾懷古其二
銅鑄金鏞振紀綱，聲傳海外播戎羌。
馬援自是功勞大，鐵笛無煩說子房。
鐘山懷古其三
名利何曾伴汝身，無端被詔出凡塵。
牽連大抵難休絶，莫怨他人嘲笑頻。
淮陰懷古其四
壯士須防惡犬欺，三齊位定蓋棺時。
寄言世俗休輕鄙，一飯之恩死也知。
廣陵懷古其五
蟬噪鴉棲轉眼過，隋堤風景近如何。
衹緣占得風流號，惹得紛紛口舌多。
桃葉渡懷古其六
衰草閑花映淺池，桃枝桃葉總分離。
六朝梁棟多如許，小照空懸壁上題。
青塚懷古其七
黑水茫茫咽不流，冰弦撥盡麯中愁。
漢傢制度誠堪嘆，樗櫟應慚萬古羞。
馬嵬懷古其八
寂寞脂痕漬汗光，溫柔一旦付東洋。
衹因遺得風流跡，此日衣衾尚有香。
蒲東寺懷古其九
小紅骨踐最身輕，私掖偷攜強撮成。
雖被夫人時吊起，已經勾引彼同行。
梅花觀懷古其十
不在梅邊在柳邊，個中誰拾畫嬋娟。
團圓莫憶春香到，一別西風又一年。衆人看了，都稱奇道妙。寶釵先說道：“前八首都是史鑒上有據的， 後二首卻無考，我們也不大懂得，不如另作兩首為是。”黛玉忙攔道：“這寶姐姐也忒‘膠柱鼓瑟’，矯揉造作了。這兩首雖於史鑒上無考，咱們雖不曾看這些外傳，不知底裏，難道咱們連兩本戲也沒有見過不成？那三歲孩子也知道，何況咱們？ "探春便道：“這話正是了。”李紈又道：“況且他原是到過這個地方的。這兩件事雖無考，古往今來，以訛傳訛，好事者竟故意的弄出這古跡來以愚人。比如那年上京的時節， 單是關夫子的墳，倒見了三四處。關夫子一生事業，皆是有據的，如何又有許多的墳？自然是後來人敬愛他生前為人，衹怕從這敬愛上穿鑿出來，也是有的。及至看《廣輿記> >上，不止關夫子的墳多，自古來有些名望的人，墳就不少，無考的古跡更多。如今這兩首雖無考， 凡說書唱戲，甚至於求的簽上皆有註批，老小男女，俗語口頭，人人皆知皆說的。況且又並不是看了‘西廂’‘牡丹’的詞麯，怕看了邪書。這竟無妨，衹管留着。”寶釵聽說，方罷了。大傢猜了一回，皆不是。
鼕日天短， 不覺又是前頭吃晚飯之時，一齊前來吃飯。因有人回王夫人說：“襲人的哥哥花自芳進來說，他母親病重了，想他女兒。他來求恩典，接襲人傢去走走。”王夫人聽了， 便道：“人傢母女一場，豈有不許他去的。”一面就叫了鳳姐兒來，告訴了鳳姐兒，命酌量去辦理。
鳳姐兒答應了， 回至房中，便命周瑞傢的去告訴襲人原故。又吩咐周瑞傢的：“再將跟着出門的媳婦傳一個，你兩個人，再帶兩個小丫頭子，跟了襲人去。外頭派四個有年紀跟車的。 要一輛大車，你們帶着坐，要一輛小車，給丫頭們坐。”周瑞傢的答應了，纔要去， 鳳姐兒又道：“那襲人是個省事的，你告訴他說我的話：叫他穿幾件顔色好衣服， 大大的包一包袱衣裳拿着，包袱也要好好的，手爐也要拿好的。臨走時，叫他先來我瞧瞧。”周瑞傢的答應去了。
半日， 果見襲人穿戴來了，兩個丫頭與周瑞傢的拿着手爐與衣包。鳳姐兒看襲人頭上戴着幾枝金釵珠釧， 倒華麗，又看身上穿着桃紅百子刻絲銀鼠襖子，蔥緑盤金彩綉綿裙， 外面穿着青緞灰鼠褂。鳳姐兒笑道：“這三件衣裳都是太太的，賞了你倒是好的， 但衹這褂子太素了些，如今穿着也冷，你該穿一件大毛的。”襲人笑道：“太太就衹給了這灰鼠的， 還有一件銀鼠的。說趕年下再給大毛的，還沒有得呢。”鳳姐兒笑道：“我倒有一件大毛的， 我嫌鳳毛兒出不好了，正要改去。也罷，先給你穿去罷。等年下太太給作的時節我再作罷，衹當你還我一樣。”衆人都笑道：“奶奶慣會說這話。成年傢大手大腳的替太太不知背地裏賠墊了多少東西，真真的賠的是說不出來，那裏又和太太算去？偏這會子又說這小氣話取笑兒。”鳳姐兒笑道：“太太那裏想的到這些？究竟這又不是正經事， 再不照管，也是大傢的體面。說不得我自己吃些虧，把衆人打扮體統了，寧可我得個好名也罷了。一個一個象’燒糊了的捲子’似的，人先笑話我當傢倒把人弄出個花子來。 "衆人聽了，都嘆說：“誰似奶奶這樣聖明！在上體貼太太，在下又疼顧下人。”一面說，一面衹見鳳姐兒命平兒將昨日那件石青刻絲八團天馬皮褂子拿出來，與了襲人。 又看包袱，衹得一個彈墨花綾水紅綢裏的夾包袱，裏面衹包着兩件半舊棉襖與皮褂。鳳姐兒又命平兒把一個玉色綢裏的哆羅呢的包袱拿出來，又命包上一件雪褂子。
平兒走去拿了出來， 一件是半舊大紅猩猩氈的，一件是大紅羽紗的。襲人道：“一件就當不起了。”平兒笑道：“你拿這猩猩氈的。把這件順手拿將出來，叫人給邢大姑娘送去。 昨兒那麽大雪，人人都是有的，不是猩猩氈就是羽緞羽紗的，十來件大紅衣裳，映着大雪好不齊整。就衹他穿着那件舊氈鬥篷，越發顯的拱肩縮背，好不可憐見的。如今把這件給他罷。 "鳳姐兒笑道：“我的東西，他私自就要給人。我一個還花不夠，再添上你提着， 更好了！’衆人笑道：“這都是奶奶素日孝敬太太，疼愛下人。若是奶奶素日是小氣的， 衹以東西為事，不顧下人的，姑娘那裏還敢這樣了。”鳳姐兒笑道：“所以知道我的心的， 也就是他還知三分罷了。”說着，又囑咐襲人道：“你媽若好了就罷，若不中用了，衹管住下，打發人來回我，我再另打發人給你送鋪蓋去。可別使人傢的鋪蓋和梳頭的傢夥。”又吩咐周瑞傢的道：“你們自然也知道這裏的規矩的，也不用我囑咐了。” 周瑞傢的答應：“都知道。我們這去到那裏，總叫他們的人回避。若住下，必是另要一兩間內房的。”說着，跟了襲人出去，又吩咐預備燈籠，遂坐車往花自芳傢來，不在話下。
這裏鳳姐又將怡紅院的嬤嬤喚了兩個來，吩咐道：“襲人衹怕不來傢，你們素日知道那大丫頭們，那兩個知好歹，派出來在寶玉屋裏上夜。你們也好生照管着，別由着寶玉胡闹。”兩個嬤嬤去了，一時來回說：“派了晴雯和麝月在屋裏，我們四個人原是輪流着帶管上夜的。”鳳姐兒聽了，點頭道：“晚上催他早睡，早上催他早起。”老嬤嬤們答應了，自回園去。一時果有周瑞傢的帶了信回鳳姐兒說：“襲人之母業已停床，不能回來。”鳳姐兒回明了王夫人，一面着人往大觀園去取他的鋪蓋妝奩。
寶玉看着晴雯麝月二人打點妥當，送去之後，晴雯麝月皆卸罷殘妝，脫換過裙襖。晴雯衹在熏籠上圍坐。麝月笑道：“你今兒別裝小姐了，我勸你也動一動兒。”晴雯道：“等你們都去盡了我再勸不遲。 有你們一日，我且受用一日。”麝月笑道：“好姐姐，我鋪床，你把那穿衣鏡的套子放下來，上頭的劃子劃上，你的身量比我高些。”說着，便去與寶玉鋪床。晴雯も了一聲，笑道：“人傢纔坐暖和了，你就來鬧。”此時寶玉正坐着納悶，想襲人之母不知是死是活，忽聽見晴雯如此說，便自己起身出去，放下鏡套，劃上消息， 進來笑道：“你們暖和罷，都完了。”晴雯笑道：“終久暖和不成的，我又想起來湯婆子還沒拿來呢。 "麝月道：“這難為你想着！他素日又不要湯婆子，咱們那熏籠上暖和，比不得那屋裏炕冷， 今兒可以不用。”寶玉笑道：“這個話，你們兩個都在那上頭睡了，我這外邊沒個人，我怪怕的，一夜也睡不着。”晴雯道：“我是在這裏。麝月往他外邊睡去。”說話之間，天已二更，麝月早已放下簾幔，移燈炷香，伏侍寶玉臥下，二人方睡。
晴雯自在熏籠上， 麝月便在暖閣外邊。至三更以後，寶玉睡夢之中，便叫襲人。叫了兩聲，無人答應，自己醒了，方想起襲人不在傢，自己也好笑起來。晴雯已醒，因笑喚麝月道：“連我都醒了，他守在旁邊還不知道，真是個挺死屍的。”麝月翻身打個哈氣笑道：“他叫襲人，與我什麽相幹！"因問作什麽。寶玉要吃茶，麝月忙起來，單穿紅綢小棉襖兒。 寶玉道：“披上我的襖兒再去，仔細冷着。”麝月聽說，回手便把寶玉披着起夜的一件貂頦滿襟暖襖披上，下去嚮盆內洗手，先倒了一鐘溫水，拿了大漱盂，寶玉漱了一口，然後纔嚮茶格上取了茶碗，先用溫水ッ了一ッ，嚮暖壺中倒了半碗茶，遞與寶玉吃了；自己也漱了一漱，吃了半碗。晴雯笑道：“好妹子，也賞我一口兒。”麝月笑道：“越發上臉兒了！"晴雯道：“好妹妹，明兒晚上你別動，我伏侍你一夜，如何？"麝月聽說，衹得也伏侍他漱了口，倒了半碗茶與他吃過。麝月笑道：“你們兩個別睡，說着話兒，我出去走走回來。 "晴雯笑道：“外頭有個鬼等着你呢。”寶玉道：“外頭自然有大月亮的，我們說話，你衹管去。”一面說，一面便嗽了兩聲。
麝月便開了後門， 揭起氈簾一看，果然好月色。晴雯等他出去，便欲唬他玩耍。仗着素日比別人氣壯， 不畏寒冷，也不披衣，衹穿着小襖，便躡手躡腳的下了熏籠，隨後出來。 寶玉笑勸道：“看凍着，不是頑的。”晴雯衹擺手，隨後出了房門。衹見月光如水，忽然一陣微風， 衹覺侵肌透骨，不禁毛骨森然。心下自思道：“怪道人說熱身子不可被風吹，這一冷果然利害。”一面正要唬麝月，衹聽寶玉高聲在內道：“晴雯出去了！"晴雯忙回身進來，笑道：“那裏就唬死了他？偏你慣會這蝎蝎蟄蟄老婆漢像的！"寶玉笑道：“倒不為唬壞了他， 頭一則你凍着也不好，二則他不防，不免一喊，倘或唬醒了別人，不說咱們是頑意， 倒反說襲人才去了一夜，你們就見神見鬼的。你來把我的這邊被掖一掖。”晴雯聽說，便上來掖了掖，伸手進去渥一渥時，寶玉笑道：“好冷手！我說看凍着。”一面又見晴雯兩腮如胭脂一般，用手摸了一摸，也覺冰冷。寶玉道：“快進被來渥渥罷。”一語未了，衹聽咯噔的一聲門響，麝月慌慌張張的笑了進來，說道：“嚇了我一跳好的。黑影子裏，山子石後頭，衹見一個人蹲着。我纔要叫喊，原來是那個大錦雞，見了人一飛，飛到亮處來，我纔看真了。若冒冒失失一嚷，倒鬧起人來。”一面說，一面洗手，又笑道：“晴雯出去我怎麽不見？一定是要唬我去了。”寶玉笑道：“這不是他，在這裏渥呢！我若不叫的快，可是倒唬一跳。”晴雯笑道：“也不用我唬去，這小蹄子已經自怪自驚的了。”一面說，一面仍回自己被中去了。麝月道：“你就這麽’跑解馬’似的打扮得伶伶俐俐的出去了不成？ "寶玉笑道：“可不就這麽去了。”麝月道：“你死不揀好日子！你出去站一站， 把皮不凍破了你的。”說着，又將火盆上的銅罩揭起，拿灰鍬重將熟炭埋了一埋，拈了兩塊素香放上，仍舊罩了，至屏後重剔了燈，方纔睡下。
晴雯因方纔一冷，如今又一暖，不覺打了兩個噴嚏。寶玉嘆道：“如何？到底傷了風了。”麝月笑道：“他早起就嚷不受用，一日也沒吃飯。他這會還不保養些，還要捉弄人。明兒病了， 叫他自作自受。”寶玉問：“頭上可熱？"晴雯嗽了兩聲，說道：“不相幹，那裏這麽嬌嫩起來了。”說着，衹聽外間房中十錦格上的自鳴鐘當當兩聲，外間值宿的老嬤嬤嗽了兩聲，因說道：“姑娘們睡罷，明兒再說罷。”寶玉方悄悄的笑道：“咱們別說話了，又惹他們說話。”說着，方大傢睡了。至次日起來，晴雯果覺有些鼻塞聲重，懶怠動彈。寶玉道：“快不要聲張！太太知道，又叫你搬了傢去養息。傢去雖好，到底冷些，不如在這裏。你就在裏間屋裏躺着，我叫人請了大夫，悄悄的從後門來瞧瞧就是了。”晴雯道：“ 雖如此說，你到底要告訴大奶奶一聲兒，不然一時大夫來了，人問起來，怎麽說呢？"寶玉聽了有理， 便喚一個老嬤嬤吩咐道：“你回大奶奶去，就說晴雯白冷着了些，不是什麽大病。 襲人又不在傢，他若傢去養病，這裏更沒有人了。傳一個大夫，悄悄的從後門進來瞧瞧， 別回太太罷了。”老嬤嬤去了半日，來回說：“大奶奶知道了，說兩劑藥吃好了便罷， 若不好時，還是出去為是。如今時氣不好，恐沾帶了別人事小，姑娘們的身子要緊的。”晴雯睡在暖閣裏，衹管咳嗽，聽了這話，氣的喊道：“我那裏就害瘟病了，衹怕過了人！我離了這裏，看你們這一輩子都別頭疼腦熱的。”說着，便真要起來。寶玉忙按他， 笑道：“別生氣，這原是他的責任，唯恐太太知道了說他不是，白說一句。你素習好生氣，如今肝火自然盛了。”
正說時，人回大夫來了。寶玉便走過來，避在書架之後。衹見兩三個後門口的老嬤嬤帶了一個大夫進來。這裏的丫鬟都回避了，有三四個老嬤嬤放下暖閣上的大紅綉幔，晴雯從幔中單伸出手去。那大夫見這衹手上有兩根指甲，足有三寸長，尚有金鳳花染的通紅的痕跡， 便忙回過頭來。有一個老嬤嬤忙拿了一塊手帕掩了。那大夫方診了一回脈，起身到外間，嚮嬤嬤們說道：“小姐的癥是外感內滯，近日時氣不好，竟算是個小傷寒。 幸虧是小姐素日飲食有限，風寒也不大，不過是血氣原弱，偶然沾帶了些，吃兩劑藥疏散疏散就好了。”說着，便又隨婆子們出去。
彼時，李紈已遣人知會過後門上的人及各處丫鬟回避，那大夫衹見了園中的景緻，並不曾見一女子。一時出了園門，就在守園門的小廝們的班房內坐了，開了藥方。老嬤嬤道：“你老且別去，我們小爺羅唆，恐怕還有話說。”大夫忙道：“方纔不是小姐，是位爺不成？ 那屋子竟是綉房一樣，又是放下幔子來的，如何是位爺呢？"老嬤嬤悄悄笑道：“我的老爺，怪道小廝們纔說今兒請了一位新大夫來了，真不知我們傢的事。那屋子是我們小哥兒的，那人是他屋裏的丫頭，倒是個大姐，那裏的小姐？若是小姐的綉房，小姐病了，你那麽容易就進去了？"說着，拿了藥方進去。
寶玉看時， 上面有紫蘇，桔梗，防風，荊芥等藥，後面又有枳實，麻黃。寶玉道：“該死，該死，他拿着女孩兒們也象我們一樣的治，如何使得！憑他有什麽內滯，這枳實，麻黃如何禁得。誰請了來的？快打發他去罷！再請一個熟的來。”老婆子道：“用藥好不好，我們不知道這理。如今再叫小廝去請王太醫去倒容易，衹是這大夫又不是告訴總管房請來的，這轎馬錢是要給他的。”寶玉道：“給他多少？"婆子道：“少了不好看，也得一兩銀子， 纔是我們這門戶的禮。”寶玉道：“王太醫來了給他多少？"婆子笑道：“王太醫和張太醫每常來了，也並沒個給錢的，不過每年四節大躉送禮，那是一定的年例。這人新來了一次， 須得給他一兩銀子去。”寶玉聽說，便命麝月去取銀子。麝月道：“花大奶奶還不知擱在那裏呢？"寶玉道：“我常見他在蠃甸小櫃子裏取錢，我和你找去。”說着，二人來至寶玉堆東西的房子， 開了蠃甸櫃子，上一格子都是些筆墨，扇子，香餅，各色荷包，汗巾等物，下一格卻是幾串錢。於是開了抽屜，纔看見一個小簸籮內放着幾塊銀子， 倒也有一把戥子。麝月便拿了一塊銀子，提起戥子來問寶玉：“那是一兩的星兒？"寶玉笑道：“你問我？有趣，你倒成了纔來的了。”麝月也笑了，又要去問人。寶玉道：“揀那大的給他一塊就是了。又不作買賣，算這些做什麽！"麝月聽了，便放下戥子，揀了一塊掂了一掂， 笑道：“這一塊衹怕是一兩了。寧可多些好，別少了，叫那窮小子笑話，不說咱們不識戥子，倒說咱們有心小器似的。”那婆子站在外頭臺磯上，笑道：“那是五兩的錠子夾了半邊，這一塊至少還有二兩呢！這會子又沒夾剪，姑娘收了這塊，再揀一塊小些的罷。”麝月早掩了櫃子出來，笑道：“誰又找去！多了些你拿了去罷。”寶玉道：“你衹快叫茗煙再請王大夫去就是了。”婆子接了銀子，自去料理。
一時茗煙果請了王太醫來，診了脈後，說的病癥與前相仿，衹是方上果沒有枳實，麻黃等藥，倒有當歸，陳皮，白芍等，藥之分量較先也減了些。寶玉喜道：“這纔是女孩兒們的藥，雖然疏散，也不可太過。舊年我病了，卻是傷寒內裏飲食停滯，他瞧了，還說我禁不起麻黃，石膏，枳實等狼虎藥。我和你們一比，我就如那野墳圈子裏長的幾十年的一棵老楊樹， 你們就如秋天蕓兒進我的那纔開的白海棠，連我禁不起的藥，你們如何禁得起。 "麝月等笑道：“野墳裏衹有楊樹不成？難道就沒有鬆柏？我最嫌的是楊樹，那麽大笨樹， 葉子衹一點子，沒一絲風，他也是亂響。你偏比他，也太下流了。”寶玉笑道：“鬆柏不敢比。連孔子都說：’歲寒然後知鬆柏之後凋也。’可知這兩件東西高雅，不怕羞鱢的纔拿他混比呢。”
說着，衹見老婆子取了藥來。寶玉命把煎藥的銀吊子找了出來，就命在火盆上煎。晴雯因說：“正經給他們茶房裏煎去，弄得這屋裏藥氣，如何使得。”寶玉道：“藥氣比一切的花香果子香都雅。神仙採藥燒藥，再者高人逸士採藥治藥，最妙的一件東西。這屋裏我正想各色都齊了，就衹少藥香，如今恰好全了。”一面說，一面早命人煨上。又囑咐麝月打點東西，遣老嬤嬤去看襲人，勸他少哭。一一妥當，方過前邊來賈母王夫人處問安吃飯。
正值鳳姐兒和賈母王夫人商議說：“天又短又冷，不如以後大嫂子帶着姑娘們在園子裏吃飯一樣。 等天長暖和了，再來回的跑也不妨。”王夫人笑道：“這也是好主意。颳風下雪倒便宜。吃些東西受了冷氣也不好，空心走來，一肚子冷風，壓上些東西也不好。不如後園門裏頭的五間大房子，橫竪有女人們上夜的，挑兩個廚子女人在那裏，單給他姊妹們弄飯。 新鮮菜蔬是有分例的，在總管房裏支去，或要錢，或要東西，那些野雞，獐，狍各樣野味，分些給他們就是了。”賈母道：“我也正想着呢，就怕又添一個廚房多事些。 "鳳姐道：“並不多事。一樣的分例，這裏添了，那裏減了。就便多費些事，小姑娘們冷風朔氣的，別人還可，第一林妹妹如何禁得住？就連寶兄弟也禁不住，何況衆位姑娘。 "賈母道：“正是這話了。上次我要說這話，我見你們的大事太多了，如今又添出這些事來，……"要知端的——
The young maiden Hsueeh Pao-ch'in devises, in novel style, odes bearing on antiquities. A stupid doctor employs, in reckless manner, drugs of great strength.
When the party heard, the story goes, that Pao-ch'in had made the old places of interest she had, in days gone by, visited in the various provinces, the theme of her verses, and that she had composed ten stanzas with four lines in each, which though referring to relics of antiquity, bore covertly on ten common objects, they all opined that they must be novel and ingenious, and they vied with each other in examining the text. On perusal, they read:
On the relics of Ch'ih Pi:
Deep in Ch'ih Pi doth water lie concealed which does not onward flow. There but remains a name and surname contained in an empty boat. When with a clamorous din the fire breaks out, the sad wind waxes cold. An endless host of eminent spirits wander about inside.
On the ancient remains in Chiao Chih:
Posts of copper and walls of gold protect the capital. Its fame is spread beyond the seas, scattered in foreign lands. How true it is that Ma Yuean's achievements have been great. The flute of iron need not trouble to sing of Tzu Fang.
On the vestiges of former times in Chung Shan:
Renown and gain do they, at any time, fall to a woman's share? For no reason have I been bidden come into the mortal world. How hard a task, in point of fact, it is to stop solicitude! Don't bear a grudge against such people as may oft times jeer at you!
On things of historic interest in Huai Yin:
The sturdy man must ever mind the insults of the vicious dog. Th' official's rank in San Ch'i was but fixed when his coffin was closed Tell all people that upon earth do dwell to look down upon none. The bounty of one single bowl of rice should be treasured till death.
On events of old in Kuang Lin:
Cicadas chirp; crows roost; but, in a twinkle, they are gone. How fares these latter days the scenery in Sui T'i? It's all because he has so long enjoyed so fine a fame, That he has given rise around to so many disputes.
On the ancient remains of the T'ao Yeh ferry:
Dry grass and parched plants their reflex cast upon the shallow pond. The peach tree branches and peach leaves will bid farewell at last. What a large number of structures in Liu Ch'ao raise their heads. A small picture with a motto hangs on the hollow wall.
On the antique vestiges of Ch'ing Chung:
The black stream stretches far and wide, but hindered is its course. What time were no more thrummed the frozen cords, the songs waxed sad. The policy of the Han dynasty was in truth strange! A worthless officer must for a thousand years feel shame.
On things of historic renown in Ma Wei:
Quiet the spots of rouge with sweat pile up and shine. Gentleness in a moment vanishes and goes. It is because traces remain of his fine looks, That to this day his clothes a fragrance still emit.
On events of the past connected with the Pu Tung temple:
The small red lamp is wholly made of thin bone, and is light. Furtively was it brought along but by force was it stol'n. Oft was it, it is true, hung by the mistress' own hands, But long ere this has she allured it to speed off with her.
On the scenery about the Mei Hua (Plum Bloom) monastery.
If not by the plum trees, then by the willows it must be. Has any one picked up in there the likeness of a girl? Don't fret about meeting again; in spring its scent returns. Soon as it's gone, and west winds blow, another year has flown.
When the party had done reading the verses, they with perfect unanimity extolled their extraordinary excellence. Pao-ch'ai was, however, the first to raise any objections. "The first eight stanzas," she said, "are founded upon the testimony of the historical works. But as for the last two stanzas, there's no knowing where they come from. Besides, we don't quite fathom their meaning. Wouldn't it be better then if two other stanzas were written?"
Tai-yue hastened to interrupt her. "The lines composed by cousin Pao ch'in are indeed devised in a too pigheaded and fast-and-loose sort of way," she observed. "The two stanzas are, I admit, not to be traced in the historical works, but though we've never read such outside traditions, and haven't any idea what lies at the bottom of them, have we not likely seen a couple of plays? What child of three years old hasn't some notion about them, and how much more such as we?"
"What she says is perfectly correct," T'an Ch'un chimed in.
"She has besides," Li Wan then remarked, "been to these places herself. But though there be no mention anywhere of these two references, falsehoods have from old till now been propagated, and busybodies have, in fact, intentionally invented such relics of ancient times with a view of bamboozling people. That year, for instance, in which we travelled up here to the capital, we came across graves raised to Kuan, the sage, in three or four distinct places. Now the circumstances of the whole existence of Kuan the sage are established by actual proof, so how could there again in his case exist a lot of graves? This must arise from the esteem in which he is held by posterity for the way he acquitted himself of his duties during his lifetime. And it is presumably to this esteem that this fiction owes its origin. This is quite possible enough. Even in the 'Kuang Yue Chi', you will see that not only are numerous tombs of the sage Kuan spoken of, but that bygone persons of note are assigned tombs not few in number. But there are many more relics of antiquity, about which no testimony can be gathered. The matter treated in the two stanzas, now in point, is, of course, not borne out by any actual record; yet in every story, that is told, in every play, that is sung, and on the various slips as well used for fortune telling, it is invariably to be found. Old and young, men and women, do all understand it and speak of it, whether in proverbs or in their everyday talk. They don't resemble, besides, the ballads encountered in the 'Hsi Hsiang Chi,' and 'Mou Tan T'ing,' to justify us to fear that we might be setting eyes upon some corrupt text. They are quite harmless; so we'd better keep them!"
Pao-ch'ai, after these arguments, dropped at length all discussion. They thereupon tried for a time to guess the stanzas. None, however, of their solutions turned out to be correct. But as the days in winter are short, and they saw that it was time for their evening meal, they adjourned to the front part of the compound for their supper.
The servants at this stage announced to Madame Wang that Hsi Jen's elder brother, Hua Tzu-fang, was outside, and reported to her that he had entered the city to say that his mother was lying in bed dangerously ill, and that she was so longing to see her daughter that he had come to beg for the favour of taking Hsi Jen home on a visit. As soon as Madame Wang heard the news, she dilated for a while upon people's mothers and daughters, and of course she did not withhold her consent. Sending therefore at the same time for lady Feng, she communicated the tidings to her, and enjoined her to deliberate, and take suitable action.
Lady Feng signified her willingness to do what was necessary, and, returning to her quarters, she there and then commissioned Chou Jui's wife to go and break the news to Hsi Jen. "Send also," she went on to direct Mrs. Chou, "for one of the married-women, who are in attendance when we go out-of-doors, and let you two, together with a couple of young maids, follow Hsi Jen home. But despatch four cart attendants, well up in years, to look everywhere for a spacious curricle for you as well as her, and a small carriage for the maids."
"All right!" acquiesced Chou Jui's wife. But just as she was about to start, lady Feng continued her injunctions. "Hsi Jen," she added; "is a person not fond of any fuss, so tell her that it's I who have given the orders; and impress upon her that she must put on several nice, coloured clothes, and pack up a large valise full of wearing apparel. Her valise, must be a handsome one; and she must take a decent hand-stove. Bid her too first come and look me up here when she's about to start."
Mrs. Chou promised to execute her directions and went on her way.
After a long interval, (lady Feng) actually saw Hsi Jen arrive, got up in full costume and head-gear, and with her two waiting-maids and Chou Jui's wife, who carried the hand-stove and the valise packed up with clothes. Lady Feng's eye was attracted by several golden hairpins and pearl ornaments of great brilliancy and beauty, which Hsi Jen wore in her coiffure. Her gaze was further struck by the peach-red stiff silk jacket she had on, brocaded with all sorts of flowers and lined with ermine, by her leek-green wadded jupe, artistically ornamented with coils of gold thread, and by the bluish satin and grey squirrel pelisse she was wrapped in.
"These three articles of clothing, given to you by our dowager lady," lady Feng smiled, "are all very nice; but this pelisse is somewhat too plain. If you wear this, you'll besides feel cold, so put on one with long fur."
"Our Madame Wang," Hsi Jen laughingly rejoined, "gave me this one with the grey squirrel. I've also got one with ermine. She says that when the end of the year draws nigh, she'll let me have one with long fur."
"I've got one with long fur," lady Feng proceeded with a smile. "I don't fancy it much as the fringe does not hang with grace. I was on the point of having it changed; but, never mind, I'll let you first use it; and, when at the close of the year, Madame Wang has one made for you, I can then have mine altered, and it will come to the same thing as if you were returning it like that to me."
One and all laughed. "That's the way of talking into which her ladyship has got!" they observed. "There she is the whole year round recklessly carelessly and secretly making good, on Madame Wang's account, ever so many things; how many there is no saying; for really the things for which compensation is made, cannot be so much as enumerated; and does she ever go, and settle scores with Madame Wang? and here she comes, on this occasion, and gives vent again to this mean language, in order to poke fun at people!"
"How could Madame Wang," lady Feng laughed, "ever give a thought to such trifles as these? They are, in fact, matters of no consequence. Yet were I not to look after them, it would be a disgrace to all of us, and needless to say, I would myself get into some scrape. It's far better that I should dress you all properly, and so get a fair name and finish; for were each of you to cut the figure of a burnt cake, people would first and foremost ridicule me, by saying that in looking after the household I have, instead of doing good, been the means of making beggars of you!"
After hearing her out, the whole party heaved a sigh. "Who could ever be," they exclaimed, "so intuitively wise as you, to show, above, such regard for Madame Wang, and below, such consideration for her subordinates?"
In the course of these remarks, they noticed lady Feng bid P'ing Erh find the dark green stiff silk cloak with white fox, she had worn the day before, and give it to Hsi Jen. But perceiving, also, that in the way of a valise, she only had a double one made of black spotted, figured sarcenet, with a lining of light red pongee silk, and that its contents consisted merely of two wadded jackets, the worse for wear, and a pelisse, lady Feng went on to tell P'ing Erh to fetch a woollen wrapper, lined with jade-green pongee. But she ordered her besides to pack up a snow-cloak for her.
P'ing Erh walked away and produced the articles. The one was made of deep-red felt, and was old. The other was of deep-red soft satin, neither old nor new.
"I don't deserve so much as a single one of these," Hsi Jen said.
"Keep this felt one for yourself," P'ing Erh smiled, "and take this one along with you and tell some one to send it to that elderly girl, who while every one, in that heavy fall of snow yesterday, was rolled up in soft satin, if not in felt, and while about ten dark red dresses were reflected in the deep snow and presented such a fine sight, was the only one attired in those shabby old clothes. She seems more than ever to raise her shoulders and double her back. She is really to be pitied; so take this now and give it to her!"
"She surreptitiously wishes to give my things away!" lady Feng laughed. "I haven't got enough to spend upon myself and here I have you, better still, to instigate me to be more open-handed!"
"This comes from the filial piety your ladyship has ever displayed towards Madame Wang," every one laughingly remarked, "and the fond love for those below you. For had you been mean and only thought of making much of things and not cared a rap for your subordinates, would that girl have presumed to behave in this manner?"
"If any one therefore has read my heart, it's she," lady Feng rejoined with a laugh, "but yet she only knows it in part."
At the close of this rejoinder, she again spoke to Hsi Jen. "If your mother gets well, all right," she said; "but if anything happens to her, just stay over, and send some one to let me know so that I may specially despatch a servant to bring you your bedding. But whatever you do, don't, use their bedding, nor any of their things to comb your hair with. As for you people," continuing, she observed to Mrs. Chou Jui, "you no doubt are aware of the customs, prevailing in this establishment, so that I can dispense with giving you any injunctions."
"Yes, we know them all," Mrs. Chou Jui assented. "As soon as we get there, we'll, of course, request their male inmates to retire out of the way. And in the event of our having to stay over, we'll naturally apply for one or two extra inner rooms."
With these words still on her lips, she followed Hsi Jen out of the apartment. Then directing the servant-boys to prepare the lanterns, they, in due course, got into their curricle, and came to Hua Tzu-fang's quarters, where we will leave them without any further comment.
Lady Feng, meanwhile, sent also for two nurses from the I Hung court. "I am afraid," she said to them, "that Hsi Jen won't come back, so if there be any elderly girl, who has to your knowledge, so far, had her wits about her, depute her to come and keep night watch in Pao-yue's rooms. But you nurses must likewise take care and exercise some control, for you mustn't let Pao-yue recklessly kick up any trouble!"
"Quite so," answered the two nurses, agreeing to her directions, after which, they quitted her presence. But not a long interval expired before they came to report the result of their search. "We've set our choice upon Ch'ing Wen and She Yueeh to put up in his rooms," they reported. "We four will take our turn and look after things during the night."
When lady Feng heard these arrangements, she nodded her head. "At night," she observed, "urge him to retire to bed soon; and in the morning press him to get up at an early hour."
The nurses replied that they would readily carry out her orders and returned alone into the garden.
In a little time Chou Jui's wife actually brought the news, which she imparted to lady Feng, that: "as her mother was already beyond hope, Hsi Jen could not come back."
Lady Feng then explained things to Madame Wang, and sent, at the same time, servants to the garden of Broad Vista to fetch (Hsi Jen's) bedding and toilet effects.
Pao-yue watched Ch'ing Wen and She Yueeh get all her belongings in proper order. After the things had been despatched, Ch'ing Wen and She Yueeh divested themselves of their remaining fineries and changed their jupes and jackets. Ch'ing Wen seated herself round a warming-frame.
"Now," She Yueeh smiled, "you're not to put on the airs of a young lady! I advise you to also move about a bit."
"When you're all clean gone," Ch'ing Wen returned for answer, "I shall have ample time to budge. But every day that you people are here, I shall try and enjoy peace and quiet."
"My dear girl," She Yueeh laughed, "I'll make the bed, but drop the cover over that cheval-glass and put the catches right; you are so much taller than I."
So saying, she at once set to work to arrange the bed for Pao-yue.
"Hai!" ejaculated Ch'ing Wen smiling, "one just sits down to warm one's self, and here you come and disturb one!"
Pao-yue had at this time been sitting, plunged in a despondent mood. The thought of Hsi Jen's mother had crossed through his mind and he was wondering whether she could be dead or alive, when unexpectedly overhearing Ch'ing Wen pass the remarks she did, he speedily sprung up, and came out himself and dropped the cover of the glass, and fastened the contrivance, after which he walked into the room. "Warm yourselves," he smiled, "I've done all there was to be done."
"I can't manage," Ch'ing Wen rejoined smiling, "to get warm at all. It just also strikes me that the warming-pan hasn't yet been brought."
"You've had the trouble to think of it!" She Yueeh observed. "But you've never wanted a chafing-dish before. It's so warm besides on that warming-frame of ours; not like the stove-couch in that room, which is so cold; so we can very well do without it to-day."
"If both of you are to sleep on that," Pao-yue smiled, "there won't be a soul with me outside, and I shall be in an awful funk. Even you won't be able to have a wink of sleep during the whole night!"
"As far as I'm concerned," Ch'ing Wen put in, "I'm going to sleep in here. There's She Yueeh, so you'd better induce her to come and sleep outside."
But while they kept up this conversation, the first watch drew near, and She Yueeh at once lowered the mosquito-curtain, removed the lamp, burnt the joss-sticks, and waited upon Pao-yue until he got into bed. The two maids then retired to rest. Ch'ing Wen reclined all alone on the warming-frame, while She Yueeh lay down outside the winter apartments.
The third watch had come and gone, when Pao-yue, in the midst of a dream, started calling Hsi Jen. He uttered her name twice, but no one was about to answer him. And it was after he had stirred himself out of sleep that he eventually recalled to mind that Hsi Jen was not at home, and he had a hearty fit laughter to himself.
Ch'ing Wen however had been roused out of her sleep, and she called She Yueeh. "Even I," she said, "have been disturbed, fast asleep though I was; and, lo, she keeps a look-out by his very side and doesn't as yet know anything about his cries! In very deed she is like a stiff corpse!"
She Yueeh twisted herself round and yawned. "He calls Hsi Jen," she smilingly rejoined, "so what's that to do with me? What do you want?" proceeding, she then inquired of him.
"I want some tea," Pao-yue replied.
She Yueeh hastily jumped out of bed, with nothing on but a short wadded coat of red silk.
"Throw my pelisse over you;" Pao-yue cried; "for mind it's cold!"
She Yueeh at these words put back her hands, and, taking the warm pelisse, lined even up to the lapel, with fur from the neck of the sable, which Pao-yue had put on on getting up, she threw it over her shoulders and went below and washed her hands in the basin. Then filling first a cup with tepid water, she brought a large cuspidor for Pao-yue to wash his mouth. Afterwards, she drew near the tea-case, and getting a cup, she first rinsed it with lukewarm water, and pouring half a cup of tea from the warm teapot, she handed it to Pao-yue. After he had done, she herself rinsed her mouth, and swallowed half a cupful of tea.
"My dear girl," Ch'ing Wen interposed smiling, "do give me also a sip."
"You put on more airs than ever," She Yueeh laughed.
"My dear girl;" Ch'ing Wen added, "to-morrow night, you needn't budge; I'll wait on you the whole night long. What do you say to that?"
Hearing this, She Yueeh had no help but to attend to her as well, while she washed her mouth, and to pour a cup of tea and give it to her to drink.
"Won't you two go to sleep," She Yueeh laughed, "but keep on chatting? I'll go out for a time; I'll be back soon."
"Are there any evil spirits waiting for you outside?" Ch'ing Wen smiled.
"It's sure to be bright moonlight out of doors," Pao-yue observed, "so go, while we continue our chat."
So speaking, he coughed twice.
She Yueeh opened the back-door, and raising the woollen portiere and looking out, she saw what a beautiful moonlight there really was.
Ch'ing Wen allowed her just time enough to leave the room, when she felt a wish to frighten her for the sake of fun. But such reliance did she have in her physique, which had so far proved better than that of others, that little worrying her mind about the cold, she did not even throw a cloak over her, but putting on a short jacket, she descended, with gentle tread and light step, from the warming-frame and was making her way out to follow in her wake, when "Hallo!" cried Pao-yue warning her. "It's freezing; it's no joke!"
Ch'ing Wen merely responded with a wave of the hand and sallied out of the door to go in pursuit of her companion. The brilliancy of the moon, which met her eye, was as limpid as water. But suddenly came a slight gust of wind. She felt it penetrate her very flesh and bore through her bones. So much so, that she could not help shuddering all over. "Little wonder is it," she argued within herself, "if people say 'that one mustn't, when one's body is warm, expose one's self to the wind.' This cold is really dreadful!" She was at the same time just on the point of giving (She Yueeh) a start, when she heard Pao-yue shout from inside, "Ch'ing Wen has come out."
Ch'ing Wen promptly turned back and entered the room. "How could I ever frighten her to death?" she laughed. "It's just your way; you're as great a coward as an old woman!"
"It isn't at all that you might do her harm by frightening her," Pao-yue smiled, "but, in the first place, it wouldn't be good for you to get frost-bitten; and, in the second, you would take her so much off her guard that she won't be able to prevent herself from uttering a shout. So, in the event of rousing any of the others out of their sleep, they won't say that we are up to jokes, but maintain instead that just as Hsi Jen is gone, you two behave as if you'd come across ghosts or seen evil spirits. Come and tuck in the coverlets on this side!"
When Ch'ing Wen heard what he wanted done she came accordingly and tucked in the covers, and, putting out her hands, she inserted them under them, and set to work to warm the bedding.
"How cold your hand is!" Pao-yue laughingly exclaimed. "I told you to look out or you'd freeze!"
Noticing at the same time that Ch'ing Wen's cheeks were as red as rouge, he rubbed them with his hands. But as they felt icy cold to his touch, "Come at once under the cover and warm yourself!" Pao-yue urged.
Hardly, however, had he concluded these words, than a sound of 'lo teng' reached their ears from the door, and She Yueeh rushed in all in a tremor, laughing the while.
"I've had such a fright," she smiled, as she went on speaking. "Goodness me! I saw in the black shade, at the back of the boulders on that hill, some one squatting, and was about to scream, when it turned out to be nothing else than that big golden pheasant. As soon as it caught sight of a human being, it flew away. But it was only when it reached a moonlit place that I at last found out what it was. Had I been so heedless as to scream, I would have been the means of getting people out of their beds!"
Recounting her experiences, she washed her hands.
"Ch'ing Wen, you say, has gone out," she proceeded laughing, "but how is it I never caught a glimpse of her? She must certainly have gone to frighten me!"
"Isn't this she?" Pao-yue inquired with a smile. "Is she not here warming herself? Had I not been quick in shouting, she would verily have given you a fright."
"There was no need for me to go and frighten her," Ch'ing Wen laughingly observed. "This hussy has frightened her own self."
With these words she ensconced herself again under her own coverlet. "Did you forsooth go out," She Yueeh remarked, "in this smart dress of a circus-performer?"
"Why, of course, she went out like this!" Pao-yue smiled.
"You wouldn't know, for the life of you, how to choose a felicitous day!" She Yueeh added. "There you go and stand about on a fruitless errand. Won't your skin get chapped from the frost?"
Saying this, she again raised the copper cover from the brasier, and, picking up the shovel, she buried the live charcoal deep with ashes, and taking two bits of incense of Cambodia fragrant wood, she threw them over them. She then re-covered the brasier, and repairing to the back of the screen, she gave the lamp a thorough trimming to make it throw out more light; after which, she once more laid herself down.
As Ch'ing Wen had some time before felt cold, and now began to get warm again, she unexpectedly sneezed a couple of times.
"How about that?" sighed Pao-yue. "There you are; you've after all caught a chill!"
"Early this morning," She Yueeh smiled, "she shouted that she wasn't feeling quite herself. Neither did she have the whole day a proper bowl of food. And now, not to speak of her taking so little care of herself, she is still bent upon playing larks upon people! But if she falls ill by and bye, we'll let her suffer what she will have brought upon herself."
"Is your head hot?" Pao-yue asked.
"It's nothing at all!" Ch'ing Wen rejoined, after coughing twice. "When did I get so delicate?"
But while she spoke, they heard the striking clock, suspended on the partition wall in the outer rooms, give two sounds of 'tang, tang,' and the matron, on the night watch outside, say: "Now, young girls, go to sleep. To-morrow will be time enough for you to chat and laugh!"
"Don't let's talk!" Pao-yue then whispered, "for, mind, we'll also induce them to start chattering." After this, they at last went to sleep.
The next day, they got up at an early hour. Ch'ing Wen's nose was indeed considerably stopped. Her voice was hoarse; and she felt no inclination to move.
"Be quick," urged Pao-yue, "and don't make a fuss, for your mistress, my mother, may come to know of it, and bid you also shift to your house and nurse yourself. Your home might, of course, be all very nice, but it's in fact somewhat cold. So isn't it better here? Go and lie down in the inner rooms, and I'll give orders to some one to send for the doctor to come quietly by the back door and have a look at you. You'll then get all right again."
"In spite of what you say," Ch'ing Wen demurred, "you must really say something about it to our senior lady, Mrs. Chia Chu; otherwise the doctor will be coming unawares, and people will begin to ask questions; and what answer could one give them?"
Pao-yue found what she said so full of reason that he called an old nurse. "Go and deliver this message to your senior mistress," he enjoined her. "Tell her that Ch'ing Wen got a slight chill yesterday. That as it's nothing to speak of, and Hsi Jen is besides away, there would be, more than ever, no one here to look after things, were she to go home and attend to herself, so let her send for a doctor to come quietly by the back entrance and see what's the matter with her; but don't let her breathe a word about it to Madame Wang, my mother."
The old nurse was away a considerable time on the errand. On her return, "Our senior mistress," she reported, "has been told everything. She says that: 'if she gets all right, after taking a couple of doses of medicine, it will be well and good. But that in the event of not recovering, it would, really, be the right thing for her to go to her own home. That the season isn't healthy at present, and that if the other girls caught her complaint it would be a small thing; but that the good health of the young ladies is a vital matter.'"
Ch'ing Wen was lying in the winter apartment, coughing and coughing, when overhearing (Li Wan's) answer, she lost control over her temper. "Have I got such a dreadful epidemic," she said, "that she fears that I shall bring it upon others? I'll clear off at once from this place; for mind you don't get any headaches and hot heads during the course of your lives."
"While uttering her grievances, she was bent upon getting up immediately, when Pao-yue hastened to smile and to press her down.
"Don't lose your temper," he advised her. "This is a responsibility which falls upon her shoulders, so she is afraid lest Madame Wang might come to hear of it, and call her to task. She only made a harmless remark. But you've always been prone to anger, and now, as a matter of course your spleen is larger than ever."
But in the middle of his advice to her, a servant came and told him that the doctor had arrived. Pao-yue accordingly crossed over to the off side, and retired behind the bookcase; from whence he perceived two or three matrons, whose duty it was to keep watch at the back door, usher the doctor in.
The waiting-maids, meanwhile, withdrew out of the way. Three or four old nurses dropped the deep-red embroidered curtain, suspended in the winter apartment. Ch'ing Wen then simply stretched out her hand from among the folds of the curtain. But the doctor noticed that on two of the fingers of her hand, the nails, which measured fully two or three inches in length, still bore marks of the pure red dye from the China balsam, and forthwith he turned his head away. An old nurse speedily fetched a towel and wiped them for her, when the doctor set to work and felt her pulse for a while, after which he rose and walked into the outer chamber.
"Your young lady's illness," he said to the old nurses, "arises from external sources, and internal obstructive influences, caused by the unhealthiness of the season of late. Yet it's only a slight chill, after all. Fortunately, the young lady has ever been moderate in her drinking and eating. The cold she has is nothing much. It's mainly because she has a weak constitution that she has unawares got a bit of a chill. But if she takes a couple of doses of medicine to dispel it with, she'll be quite right."
So saying, he followed once more the matron out of the house.
Li Wan had, by this time, sent word to the various female domestics at the back entrance, as well as to the young maids in the different parts of the establishment to keep in retirement. All therefore that the doctor perceived as he went along was the scenery in the garden. But not a single girl did he see.
Shortly, he made his exit out of the garden gate, and taking a seat in the duty-lodge of the servant-lads, who looked after the garden-entrance, he wrote a prescription.
"Sir," urged an old nurse, "don't go yet. Our young master is fretful and there may be, I fancy, something more to ask you."
"Wasn't the one I saw just now a young lady," the doctor exclaimed with eagerness, "but a young man, eh? Yet the rooms were such as are occupied by ladies. The curtains were besides let down. So how could the patient I saw have ever been a young man?"
"My dear sir," laughed the old nurse, "it isn't strange that a servant-girl said just now that a new doctor had been sent for on this occasion, for you really know nothing about our family matters. That room is that of our young master, and that is a girl attached to the apartments; but she's really a servant-maid. How ever were those a young lady's rooms? Had a young lady fallen ill, would you ever have penetrated inside with such ease?"
With these words, she took the prescription and wended her way into the garden.
When Pao-yue came to peruse it, he found, above, such medicines mentioned as sweet basil, platycodon, carraway seeds, mosla dianthera, and the like; and, below, citrus fusca and sida as well.
"He deserves to be hanged! He deserves death!" Pao-yue shouted. "Here he treats girls in the very same way as he would us men! How could this ever do? No matter what internal obstruction there may be, how could she ever stand citrus and sida? Who asked him to come? Bundle him off at once; and send for another, who knows what he's about."
"Whether he uses the right medicines or not," the old nurse pleaded, "we are not in a position to know. But we'll now tell a servant-lad to go and ask Dr. Wang round. It's easy enough! The only thing is that as this doctor wasn't sent for through the head manager's office his fee must be paid to him."
"How much must one give him?" Pao-yue inquired.
"Were one to give him too little, it wouldn't look nice," a matron ventured. "He should be given a tael. This would be quite the thing with such a household as ours."
"When Dr. Wang comes," Pao-yue asked, "how much is he given?"
"Whenever Dr. Wang and Dr. Chang come," a matron smilingly explained, "no money is ever given them. At the four seasons of each year however presents are simply sent to them in a lump. This is a fixed annual custom. But this new doctor has come only this once so he should be given a tael."
After this explanation, Pao-yue readily bade She Yueeh go and fetch the money.
"I can't make out where sister Hua put it;" She Yueeh rejoined.
"I've often seen her take money out of that lacquered press, ornamented with designs made with shells;" Pao-yue added; "so come along with me, and let's go and search."
As he spoke, he and She Yueeh came together into what was used as a store-room by Hsi Jen. Upon opening the shell-covered press, they found the top shelf full of pens, pieces of ink, fans, scented cakes, various kinds of purses, handkerchiefs and other like articles, while on the lower shelf were piled several strings of cash. But, presently they pulled out the drawer, when they saw, in a small wicker basket, several pieces of silver, and a steelyard.
She Yueeh quickly snatched a piece of silver. Then raising the steelyard, "Which is the one tael mark?" she asked.
Pao-yue laughed. "It's amusing that you should appeal to me!" he said. "You really behave as if you had only just come!"
She Yueeh also laughed, and was about to go and make inquiries of some one else, when Pao-yue interfered. "Choose a piece out of those big ones and give it to him, and have done," he said. "We don't go in for buying and selling, so what's the use of minding such trifles!"
She Yueeh, upon hearing this, dropped the steelyard, and selected a piece, which she weighed in her hand. "This piece," she smiled, "must, I fancy, be a tael. But it would be better to let him have a little more. Don't let's give too little as those poor brats will have a laugh at our expense. They won't say that we know nothing about the steelyard; but that we are designedly mean."
A matron who stood at the threshold of the door, smilingly chimed in. "This ingot," she said, "weighs five taels. Even if you cut half of it off, it will weigh a couple of taels, at least. But there are no sycee shears at hand, so, miss, put this piece aside and choose a smaller one."
She Yueeh had already closed the press and walked out. "Who'll go and fumble about again?" she laughed. "If there's a little more, well, you take it and finish."
"Be quick," Pao-yue remarked, "and tell Pei Ming to go for another doctor. It will be all right."
The matron received the money and marched off to go and settle matters.
Presently, Dr. Wang actually arrived, at the invitation of Pei Ming. First and foremost he felt the pulse and then gave the same diagnosis of the complaint (as the other doctor did) in the first instance. The only difference being that there was, in fact, no citrus or sida or other similar drugs, included in the prescription. It contained, however, false sarsaparilla roots, dried orange peel, peonia albifora, and other similar medicines. But the quantities were, on the other hand, considerably smaller, as compared with those of the drugs mentioned in the former prescription.
"These are the medicines," Pao-yue ejaculated exultingly, "suitable for girls! They should, it's true, be of a laxative nature, but never over and above what's needful. When I fell ill last year, I suffered from a chill, but I got such an obstruction in the viscera that I could neither take anything liquid or substantial, yet though he saw the state I was in, he said that I couldn't stand sida, ground gypsum, citrus and other such violent drugs. You and I resemble the newly-opened white begonia, Yuen Erh sent me in autumn. And how could you resist medicines which are too much for me? We're like the lofty aspen trees, which grow in people's burial grounds. To look at, the branches and leaves are of luxuriant growth, but they are hollow at the core."
"Do only aspen trees grow in waste burial grounds?" She Yueeh smiled. "Is it likely, pray, that there are no fir and cypress trees? What's more loathsome than any other is the aspen. For though a lofty tree, it only has a few leaves; and it makes quite a confused noise with the slightest puff of wind! If you therefore deliberately compare yourself to it, you'll also be ranging yourself too much among the common herd!"
"I daren't liken myself to fir or cypress;" Pao-yue laughingly retorted. "Even Confucius says: 'after the season waxes cold, one finds that the fir and cypress are the last to lose their foliage,' which makes it evident that these two things are of high excellence. Thus it's those only, who are devoid of every sense of shame, who foolishly liken themselves to trees of the kind!"
While engaged in this colloquy, they perceived the old matron bring the drugs, so Pao-yue bade her fetch the silver pot, used for boiling medicines in, and then he directed her to prepare the decoction on the brasier.
"The right thing would be," Ch'ing Wen suggested, "that you should let them go and get it ready in the tea-room; for will it ever do to fill this room with the smell of medicines?"
"The smell of medicines," Pao-yue rejoined, "is far nicer than that emitted by the whole lot of flowers. Fairies pick medicines and prepare medicines. Besides this, eminent men and cultured scholars gather medicines and concoct medicines; so that it constitutes a most excellent thing. I was just thinking that there's everything and anything in these rooms and that the only thing that we lack is the smell of medicines; but as luck would have it, everything is now complete."
Speaking, he lost no time in giving orders to a servant to put the medicines on the fire. Next, he advised She Yueeh to get ready a few presents and bid a nurse take them and go and look up Hsi Jen, and exhort her not to give way to excessive grief. And when he had settled everything that had to be seen to, he repaired to the front to dowager lady Chia's and Madame Wang's quarters, and paid his respects and had his meal.
Lady Feng, as it happened, was just engaged in consulting with old lady Chia and Madame Wang. "The days are now short as well as cold," she argued, "so wouldn't it be advisable that my senior sister-in-law, Mrs. Chia Chu, should henceforward have her repasts in the garden, along with the young ladies? When the weather gets milder, it won't at all matter, if they have to run backward and forward."
"This is really a capital idea!" Madame Wang smiled. "It will be so convenient during windy and rainy weather. To inhale the chilly air after eating isn't good. And to come quite empty, and begin piling up a lot of things in a stomach full of cold air isn't quite safe. It would be as well therefore to select two cooks from among the women, who have, anyhow, to keep night duty in the large five-roomed house, inside the garden back entrance, and station them there for the special purpose of preparing the necessary viands for the girls. Fresh vegetables are subject to some rule of distribution, so they can be issued to them from the general manager's office. Or they might possibly require money or be in need of some things or other. And it will be all right if a few of those pheasants, deer, and every kind of game, be apportioned to them."
"I too was just thinking about this," dowager lady Chia observed. "The only thing I feared was that with the extra work that would again be thrown upon the cook-house, they mightn't have too much to do."
"There'll be nothing much to do," lady Feng replied. "The same apportionment will continue as ever. In here, something may be added; but in there something will be reduced. Should it even involve a little trouble, it will be a small matter. If the girls were exposed to the cold wind, every one else might stand it with impunity; but how could cousin Lin, first and foremost above all others, resist anything of the kind? In fact, brother Pao himself wouldn't be proof against it. What's more, none of the various young ladies can boast of a strong constitution."
What rejoinder old lady Chia made to lady Feng, at the close of her representations, is not yet ascertained; so, reader, listen to the explanations you will find given in the next chapter.
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