Every one says, that big people live in big houses! When I saw yesterday your main apartments, dowager lady, with all those large boxes, immense presses, big tables, and spacious beds to match, they did, indeed, present an imposing sight! Those presses are larger than our whole house; yea loftier too! But strange to say there were ladders in the back court. 'They don't also,' I thought, 'go up to the house tops to sun things, so what can they keep those ladders in readiness for?' Well, after that, I remembered that they must be required for opening the presses to take out or put in things. And that without those ladders, how could one ever reach that height? But now that I've also seen these small rooms, more luxuriously got up than the large ones, and full of various articles, all so fascinating and hardly even known to me by name, I feel, the more I feast my eyes on them, the more unable to tear myself away from them.


There are other things still better than this. I'll take you to see them all!


As they've got the boats ready, we may as well go and have a row in them!


Ask our venerable senior, and let them lay it wherever she pleases.


Miss Tertia, take the servants, and make them lay breakfast wherever you think best! We'll get into the boats from here.


We daily say that whenever the gentlemen outside have anything to drink or eat, they invariably have some one who can raise a laugh and whom they can chaff for fun's sake, so let's also to-day get a female family-companion.


Let us too to-day, chaff her for a bit of fun!


You people, don't know even how to perform the least good act! But you're not small children any more, and are you still up to these pranks? Mind, our venerable ancestor might call you to task!


That has nothing whatever to do with you, senior lady, it's my own look out!


Bring that small hard-wood table over, and let our relative Liu sit next to me here!


This is the custom which prevails in our household, and if you disregard it we'll have a laugh at your expense!


Miss, set your mind at ease! These forks, are heavier than the very iron-lever over at my place. How ever can I move them about?


Please (commence), uttered from the near side, where she sat.


Old Liu, old Liu, your eating capacity is as big as that of a buffalo! You've gorged like an old sow and can't raise your head up!


Even the chickens in this place are fine, the eggs they lay are small, but so dainty! How very pretty they are! Let me help myself to one!


This must be the work of that vixen Feng! She has ever been up to tricks like a very imp, so be quick and disbelieve all her yarns!


They're one tael each, be quick, and taste them; they're not nice when they get cold!


A tael! and here it goes without a sound!


Who has now brought out these chopsticks again? We haven't invited any strangers or spread any large banquet! It must be that vixen Feng who gave them out! But don't you yet change them!


They've taken away the gold ones, and here come silver ones! But, after all, they're not as handy as those we use!


Should there be any poison in the viands, you can detect it, as soon as this silver is dipped into them!


If there's poison in such viands as these, why those of ours must be all arsenic! But though it be the death of me, I'll swallow every morsel!


Putting everything else aside, what most takes my fancy is the way things are done in your mansion. It isn't to be wondered at that the adage has it that: 'propriety originates from great families.'


Don't be too touchy, we all made fun of you just now.


Old goody Liu, don't be angry! I tender you my apologies, venerable dame!


What are you saying, Miss? We've coaxed our dowager lady to get a little distraction; and what reason is there to be angry? From the very first moment you spoke to me, I knew at once that it was intended to afford merriment to you all! Had I been angry at heart, I wouldn't have gone so far as to say what I did!


Why, don't you pour a cup of tea for the old dame?


That sister-in-law, gave me a cup a little while back. I've had it already. But you, Miss, must also have something to eat.


Have your meal with us! You'll thus save another fuss by and bye.


From all I see, you people eat just a little and finish. It's lucky you don't feel the pangs of hunger! But it isn't astonishing if a whiff of wind can puff you over!


A good many eatables remained over to-day. Where are they all gone to?


They haven't as yet been apportioned! They're kept in here until they can be given in a lump to them to eat!


They can't get through so many things! You had as well therefore choose two bowls and send them over to that girl P'ing, in your mistress Secundus' rooms.


She has had her repast long ago. There's no need to give her any!


With what she can't eat, herself, she can feed the cats. Where's Su Yun gone to?


They're all in here having their meal together. What do you want her for again?


Well, in that case, never mind,


Hsi Jen isn't here, so tell some one to take her a few things!


Have the partition boxes been filled with wine for by and bye?


They'll be ready, I think, in a little while,


Hurry them up a bit!


You may play with it, but you can't eat it.


This is a green-cicada, this a grasshopper!


You mean scamp! What an awful rumpus you're kicking up! I simply brought you along with me to look at things; and lo, you put on airs;


The dryandra trees by the eaves of the covered passage are growing all right. The only thing is that their foliage is rather sparse. In whose house is there a wedding? This place must be very near the street!


How could one hear what's going on in the street? It's our twelve girls practising on their wind and string instruments!


As they're practising, why not ask them to come in here and practise? They'll be able to have a stroll also, while we, on our part, will derive some enjoyment. Let it be put, in the water-pavilion of the Lotus Fragrance Arbour, for (the music) will borrow the ripple of the stream and sound ever so much more pleasant to the ear. We can by and bye drink our wine in the Cho Chin Hall; we'll thus have ample room, and be able to listen from close! Let's get ahead! The young ladies don't like any one to come in here, for fear lest their quarters should get contaminated; so don't let us show ourselves disregardful of their wishes! The right thing would be to go and have our wine aboard one of those boats!


What's this that you're saying? Please do seat yourselves, venerable senior, and you, Mrs. Hsüeh, and Madame Wang! You can't be going yet?


These three girls of mine are really nice! There are only two mistresses that are simply dreadful. When we get drunk shortly, we'll go and sit in their rooms and have a lark!


This isn't a joke, we're not on the river, it's true, but there are some very deep places about, so be quick and come in. Do it for my sake.


What's there to be afraid of? Compose your mind, worthy ancestor.


All these broken lotus leaves are dreadful! Why don't you yet tell the servants to pull them off?


When was this garden left quiet during all the days of this year? Why, people have come, day after day, to visit it, so was there ever any time to tell the servants to come and clean it?


I have the greatest abhorrence, for Li I's poetical works, but there's only this line in them which I like: 'Leave the dry lotus leaves so as to hear the patter of the rain.' and here you people deliberately mean again not to leave the dry lotus stay where they are.


This is indeed a fine line! We mustn't hereafter let them pull them away!


Are not these Miss Hsüeh's quarters. Eh?


Yes, they are!


This child, is too simple! If you've got nothing to lay about, why not ask your aunt for a few articles? I would never raise any objection. I never thought about them. Your things, of course, have been left at home, and have not been brought over.


She herself wouldn't have them. We really sent over a few, but she refused every one of them and returned them.


In her home also, she does not go in very much for such sort of things.


It will never do! It does, it's true, save trouble; but were some relative to come on a visit, she'll find things in an impossible way. In the second place, such simplicity in the apartments of young ladies of tender age is quite unpropitious! Why, if you young people go on in this way, we old fogies should go further and live in stables! You've all heard what is said in those books and plays about the dreadful luxury, with which young ladies' quarters are got up. And though these girls of ours could not presume to place themselves on the same footing as those young ladies, they shouldn't nevertheless exceed too much the bounds of what constitutes the right thing. If they have any objects ready at hand, why shouldn't they lay them out? And if they have any strong predilection for simplicity, a few things less will do quite as well. I've always had the greatest knack for titifying a room, but being an old woman now I haven't the ease and inclination to attend to such things! These girls are, however, learning how to do things very nicely. I was afraid that there would be an appearance of vulgarity in what they did, and that, even had they anything worth having, they'd so place them about as to spoil them; but from what I can see there's nothing vulgar about them. But let me now put things right for you, and I'll wager that everything will look grand as well as plain. I've got a couple of my own knicknacks, which I've managed to keep to this day, by not allowing Pao-yü to get a glimpse of them; for had he ever seen them, they too would have long ago disappeared! Fetch that marble pot with scenery on it, that gauze screen, and that tripod of transparent stone with black streaks, which you'll find in there, and lay out all three on this table. They'll be ample! Bring likewise those ink pictures and white silk curtains, and change these curtains.


All these articles have been put away in the eastern loft. In what boxes they've been put, I couldn't tell; I must therefore go and find them quietly and if I bring them over to-morrow, it will be time enough.


To-morrow or the day after will do very well; but don't forget, that's all. You'd better choose a few pieces to rehearse out of those you know best,


Let's begin by drinking a couple of cups of wine. But we should also have a game of forfeits to-day, we'll have plenty of fun then.


You, venerable senior, must certainly have a good wine order to impose, but how could we ever comply with it? But if your aim be to intoxicate us, why, we'll all straightway drink one or two cups more than is good for us and finish!


Here's Mrs. Hsüeh beginning to be modest again to-day! But I expect it's because she looks down upon me as being an old hag!


It isn't modesty! It's all a dread lest I shouldn't be able to observe the order and thus incur ridicule.


If you don't give the right answer, you'll only have to drink a cup or two more of wine, and should we get drunk, we can go to sleep; and who'll, pray laugh at us?


I'll agree to the order, but, dear senior, you must, after all, do the right thing and have a cup of wine to start it.


This is quite natural!


If we are to play at forfeits, we'd better invite sister Yüan Yang to come and join us.


As you're to take a part in the game of forfeits, there's no reason why you should stand up. Bring over, a chair and place it at your Mistress Secunda's table.


Drinking rules, resemble very much martial law; so irrespective of high or low, I alone will preside. Any one therefore who disobeys my words will have to suffer a penalty.


Of course, it should be so! so be quick and give out the rule!


Don't, make fun of people in this way, for I'll go home.


This will never do!


Spare me! spare me!


Any one who says one word more, will be fined a whole decanter full. I'll now give out the set of dominoes. I'll begin from our venerable mistress and follow down in proper order until I come to old goody Liu, when I shall stop. So as to illustrate what I meant just now by giving out a set, I'll take these three dominoes and place them apart; you have to begin by saying something on the first, next, to allude to the second, and, after finishing with all three, to take the name of the whole set and match it with a line, no matter whether it be from some stanza or roundelay, song or idyl, set phrases or proverbs. But they must rhyme. And any one making a mistake will be mulcted in one cup.


This rule is splendid; begin at once!


I've got a set, on the left, is the piece 'heaven,' (twelve dots).


Above head stretches the blue heaven,


Good!


In the centre is a five and six,


The fragrance of the plum blossom pierces the bones on the bridge "Six,"


There now remains, one piece, the six and one.


From among the fleecy clouds issues the wheel-like russet sun.


The whole combined, forms 'the devil with dishevelled hair.'


This devil clasps the leg of the 'Chung Pa' devil,


Capital!


I've got another set; the one on the left is a double five.


Bud after bud of the plum bloom dances in the wind,


The one on the right is a ten spot,


In the tenth moon the plum bloom on the hills emits its fragrant smell,


The middle piece is the two and five, making the 'unlike seven;'


The 'spinning damsel' star meets the 'cow-herd' on the eve of the seventh day of the seventh moon,


Together they form: 'Erh Lang strolls on the five mounds;'


Mortals cannot be happy as immortals,


I've got another set! On the left, are distinctly the distant dots of the double ace.


Both sun and moon are so suspended as to shine on heaven and earth,


On the right, are a couple of spots, far apart, which clearly form a one and one.


What time a lonesome flower falls to the ground, no sound is audible,


In the middle, there is the one and four,


The red apricot tree is planted by the sun, and leans against the clouds;


Together they form the 'cherry fruit ripens for the ninth time,'


In the imperial garden it is pecked by birds.


I've got another set, the one on the left is a double three.


The swallows, pair by pair, chatter on the beams;


The right piece is a six,


The marsh flower is stretched by the breeze e'en to the length of a green sash,


The centre piece is a three and six, making a nine spot,


The three hills tower half beyond the azure skies;


Lumped together they form: a 'chain-bound solitary boat,'


Where there are wind and waves, there I feel sad;


On the left, there's a 'heaven.'


A morning fine and beauteous scenery, but, alas, what a day for me!


In the middle there's the 'colour of the embroidered screen, (ten spots, four and six), is beautiful,'


Not e'en Hung Niang to the gauze window comes, any message to bring.


There now remains a two and six, eight in all,


Twice see the jady throne when led in to perform the court ritual,


Together they form 'a basket suitable for putting plucked flowers in,'


The fairy wand smells nice as on it hangs a peony.


On the left, there's a four and five, making a 'different-combined nine.'


The peach blossoms bear heavy drops of rain;


She must be fined! She has made a mistake in the rhyme. Besides, it isn't right!


When we country-people have got nothing to do, a few of us too often come together and play this sort of game; but the answers we give are not so high-flown; yet, as I can't get out of it, I'll likewise make a try!


It's easy enough to say what there is, so just you go on and don't mind!


On the left, there's a double four, i.e. 'man.'


It's a peasant!


Well-said! that's the way.


All we country-people know, is just what comes within our own rough-and-ready wits, so young ladies and ladies pray don't poke fun at me!


In the centre there's the three and four, green matched with red,


The large fire burnt the hairy caterpillar;


This will do very well! go on with what is in your line.


On the right, there's a one and four, and is really pretty.


A turnip and a head of garlic.


Altogether, it's a twig of flowers,


The flower dropped, and a huge melon formed. The flower dropped and a huge melon formed; To speak the truth to-day, my hands and my feet are so rough, and I've had so much wine that I must be careful; or else I might, by a slip of the hand, break the porcelain cups. If you have got any wooden cups, you'd better produce them. It wouldn't matter then if even they were to slip out of my hands and drop on the ground!


Well, if you really want a wooden one, I'll fetch you one at once! But there's just one word I'd like to tell you beforehand. Wooden cups are not like porcelain ones. They go in sets; so you'll have to do the right thing and drink from every cup of the set.


I just now simply spoke in jest about those cups in order to induce them to laugh, but, who would have thought that she actually has some of the kind. I've often been to the large households of village gentry on a visit, and even been to banquets there and seen both gold cups and silver cups; but never have I beheld any wooden ones about! Ah, of course! They must, I expect, be the wooden bowls used by the young children. Their object must be to inveigle me to have a couple of bowlfuls more than is good for me! But I don't mind it. This wine is, verily, like honey, so if I drink a little more, it won't do me any harm. Fetch them! We'll talk about them by and bye.


I know those ten cups of yours, they're small. What's more, a while back you mentioned wooden ones, and if you have bamboo ones brought now, it won't look well; so we'd better get from our place that set of ten large cups, scooped out of whole blocks of aspen roots, and pour the contents of all ten of them down her throat?


Yes, that would be much better,


It will be enough, if you give me that small one.


There's no one, with the capacity to tackle these! Hence it is that not a soul can pluck up courage enough to use them! But as you, old dame, asked for them, and they were fished out, after ever so much trouble, you're bound to do the proper thing and drink out of each, one after the other.


I daren't! My dear lady, do let me off!


Dowager lady Chia, Mrs. Hsüeh and Madame Wang

To speak is to speak, and a joke is a joke, but she mayn't take too much, let her just empty this first cup, and have done.


O-mi-to-fu! I'll only have a small cupful, and put this huge fellow away, and take it home and drink at my leisure.


Gently a bit! Mind you don't choke!


Goody Liu! tell me the name of anything you fancy, and I'll bring it and feed you.


What names can I know? Everything is good!


Bring some egg-plant and salt-fish for her!


You people, daily feed on egg-plants; so taste these of ours and see whether they've been nicely prepared or not.


Don't be making a fool of me! If egg-plants can have such flavour, we ourselves needn't sow any cereals, but confine ourselves to growing nothing but egg-plants!


They're really egg-plants! She's not pulling your leg!


If these be actually egg-plants. I've uselessly eaten them so long! But, my lady, do give me a few more; I'd like to taste the next mouthful carefully! There is, it's true, something about them of the flavour of egg-plant, yet they don't quite taste like egg-plants. But tell me how they're cooked, so that I may prepare them in the same way for myself.


There's nothing hard about it! You take the newly cut egg-plants and pare the skin off. All you want then is some fresh meat. You hash it into fine mince, and fry it in chicken fat. Then you take some dry chicken meat, and mix it with mushrooms, new bamboo shoots, sweet mushrooms, dry beancurd paste, flavoured with five spices, and every kind of dry fruits, and you chop the whole lot into fine pieces. You then bake all these things in chicken broth, until it's absorbed, when you fry them, to finish, in sweet oil, and adding some oil, made of the grains of wine, you place them in a porcelain jar, and close it hermetically. At any time that you want any to eat, all you have to do is to take out some, and mix it with some roasted chicken, and there it is all ready.


My Buddha's ancestor! One wants about ten chickens to prepare this dish! It isn't strange then that it has this flavour!


Haven't you yet had enough to satisfy you? If you haven't, well, then drink another cup.


Dreadful! I shall be soon getting so drunk that it will be the very death of me. I was only looking at it as I admire pretty things like this! But what a trouble it must have cost to turn out!


Have you done with your wine? But, after all, what kind of wood is this cup made of?


It isn't to be wondered at, that you can't make it out Miss! How ever could you people, who live inside golden doors and embroidered apartments, know anything of wood! We have the whole day long the trees in the woods as our neighbours. When weary, we use them as our pillows and go to sleep on them. When exhausted, we sit with our backs leaning against them. When, in years of dearth, we feel the pangs of hunger, we also feed on them. Day after day, we see them with our eyes; day after day we listen to them with our ears; day after day, we talk of them with our mouths. I am therefore well able to tell whether any wood be good or bad, genuine or false. Do let me then see what it is! Such a family as yours, could on no account own mean things! Any wood that is easily procured, wouldn't even find a place in here. This feels so heavy, as I weigh it in my hands, that if it isn't aspen, it must, for a certainty, be yellow cedar.


The young ladies, have got to the Lotus Fragrance pavilion, and they request your commands, as to whether they should start with the rehearsal at once or tarry a while.


I forgot all about them! Tell them to begin rehearsing at once!


With alacrity,


Take over that decanter from her, and press your aunt into a seat. We shall all then feel at ease! Let's all have a couple of cups of wine! It's capital fun to-day! You two cousins! must also have a cup. Your cousin Lin can't take much wine, but even she mustn't be let off.


Just you look at the way old goody Liu is going on!


In days of yore, every species of animal commenced to dance the moment the sounds of music broke forth. She's like a buffalo now.


We've all had our wine, so let's go and stroll about for a time; we can after that sit down again!


What kind of tree is this? What kind of stone is this? What species of flower is that?


Who'd ever have imagined it, not only are the human beings in the city grand, but even the birds are grand. Why, the moment these birds fly into your mansion, they also become beautiful things, and acquire the gift of speech as well!


What birds get transformed into beautiful things and become able to speak?


Those perched on those gold stands, under the verandah, with green plumage and red beaks are parrots. I know them well enough! But those old black crows in the cages there have crests like phoenixes! They can talk too!


After the number of cups of wine I've had. I don't feel hungry. But never mind, bring the things here. We can nibble something at our leisure.


What stuffing have they put in them?


They're with crabs inside,


These fat, greasy viands for such a time! Who'll ever eat these things?


The most ingenious girls in our village could not, even with a pair of scissors, cut out anything like this in paper! I would like to eat it, but I can't make up my mind to! I had better pack up a few and take them home and give them to them as specimens!


When you start for home. I'll give you a whole porcelain jar full of them; so you may as well eat these first, while they are hot!


Buddha's hand Buddha's hand


Really, it's those people, who devote themselves to an ascetic life and have nothing to do, who manage, by constant repairs, to make their places much nicer than those of others! We've just been filling ourselves with wines and meats, and with the josses you've got in here, we shall be guilty of profanity. We'd better therefore sit here! But give us some of that good tea of yours; and we'll get off so soon as we have had a cup of it. I don't care for 'Liu An' tea!


I know it; but this is old 'Chün Mei,'


What water is this?


It's rain water collected last year;


Just you taste this tea!


It's good, of course, but it's rather weak! It would be far better were it brewed a little stronger!


Are you bent upon drinking your own private tea?


Here you rush again to steal our tea. There's none for you!


Don't put that 'Ch'eng' kiln tea-cup by! Go and put it outside!


'The rules observed in the world,' the adage says, 'must be impartial,' But while my two cousins are handling those antique and rare gems, here am I with this coarse object!


Is this a coarse thing? Why, I'm making no outrageous statement when I say that I'm inclined to think that it is by no means certain that you could lay your hand upon any such coarse thing as this in your home!


'Do in the country as country people do,' the proverb says. So when one gets in a place like this of yours, one must naturally look down upon every thing in the way of gold, pearls, jade and precious stones, as coarse rubbish!


Here, there only remains this one! Can you manage this large cup?


I can!


Albeit you have the stomach to tackle all it holds. I haven't got so much tea for you to waste! Have you not heard how that the first cup is the 'taste'-cup; the second 'the stupid-thing-for- quenching-one's-thirst,' and the third 'the drink-mule' cup? But were you now to go in for this huge cup, why what more wouldn't that be? If you've had any tea this time, it's thanks to these two young ladies; for had you come alone, I wouldn't have given you any.


I'm well aware of this, so I too will receive no favour from your hands, but simply express my thanks to these two cousins of mine, and have done!


What you say makes your meaning clear enough!


Is this rain water from last year?


How is it, that a person like you can be such a boor as not to be able to discriminate water, when you taste it? This is snow collected from the plum blossom, five years back, when I was in the P'an Hsiang temple at Hsüan Mu. All I got was that flower jar, green as the devil's face, full, and as I couldn't make up my mind to part with it and drink it, I interred it in the ground, and only opened it this summer. I've had some of it once before, and this is the second time. But how is it you didn't detect it, when you put it to your lips? Has rain water, obtained a year back, ever got such a soft and pure flavour? and how possibly could it be drunk at all?


That cup, is, of course, dirty; but is it not a pity to put it away for no valid reason? To my idea it would be preferable, wouldn't it? to give it to that poor old woman; for were she to sell it, she could have the means of subsistence! What do you say, will it do?


Yes, that will be all right! Lucky for her I've never drunk a drop out of that cup, for had I, I would rather have smashed it to atoms than have let her have it! If you want to give it to her, I don't mind a bit about it; but you yourself must hand it to her! Now, be quick and clear it away at once!


Of course; quite so! How could you ever go and speak to her? Things would then come to a worse pass. You too would be contaminated! If you give it to me, it will be all right. Wait until we've gone out, and I'll call a few servant-boys and bid them carry several buckets of water from the stream and wash the floors; eh, shall I?


Yes, that would be better! The only thing is that you must tell them to bring the water, and place it outside the entrance door by the foot of the wall; for they mustn't come in.


This goes without saying! To-morrow, give this to goody Liu to take with her, when she starts on her way homewards!


Should our old lady yonder send any message, mind you call me at once,


Ai-yoh! What! Is there another big temple here! What are you laughing at? I can decipher the characters on this honorary gateway. Over at our place temples of this kind are exceedingly plentiful; and they've all got archways like this! These characters give the name of the temple. Can you make out from those characters what temple this is? Are'nt these, the four characters 'Pearly Emperor's Precious Hall?'


It won't do in here!


Here's another trellis with flat bean plants creeping on it!


The young ladies, have cast me adrift; they made me knock about, until I found my way in here. Do pictures really so bulge out!


I expect, you went to the trouble of coming to hunt for me, as you didn't see me turn up at home for several days, eh? But what young lady introduced you in here? How ignorant of the ways of the world you are! Seeing the nice flowers in this garden, you at once set to work, forgetful of all consequences, and loaded your pate with them! May it not be, my own self reflected in this glass! These have so far impeded my progress, and how am I to manage to get out?


I'll just have a little rest.


May she not have fallen into the place?


Be quick and tell some one to go and have a look!


She was so drunk, that she's sure to have lost her way, and following this road, got into our back-rooms. Should she have crossed to the inner side of the hedge, she must have come to the door of the backhouse and got in. Nevertheless, the young maids, she must have come across, must know something about her. If she did not get inside the hedge, but continued in a south westerly direction, she's all right, if she made a detour and walked out. But if she hasn't done so, why, she'll have enough of roaming for a good long while! I had better therefore go and see what she's up to.


Miss! I do deserve death! I have done what I shouldn't; but I haven't in any way soiled the bed.


It doesn't matter! I'm here to answer for this. Come along with me! Mind you say, that you were so drunk that you stretched on a boulder and had a snooze!


All right! I will! What young lady's room is this that it is so beautiful? It seemed to me just as if I had gone to the very heavenly palace.


This one? Why, it's our master Secundus', Mr. Pao's bedroom.


We must certainly start for home to-morrow, as soon as it is daylight. I've stayed here, it's true, only two or three days, but in these few days I have reaped experience in everything that I had not seen from old till now. It would be difficult to find any one as compassionate of the poor and considerate to the old as your venerable dame, your Madame Wang, your young ladies, and the girls too attached to the various rooms, have all shown themselves in their treatment of me! When I get home now, I shall have no other means of showing how grateful I am to you than by purchasing a lot of huge joss-sticks and saying daily prayers to Buddha on your behalf; and if he spares you all to enjoy a long life of a hundred years my wishes will be accomplished.


Don't be so exultant! It's all on account of you that our old ancestor has fallen ill, by exposing herself to draughts and that she suffers from disturbed sleep; also that our Ta Chieh-erh has caught a chill and is laid up at home with fever.


Her venerable ladyship, is a person advanced in years and not accustomed to any intense fatigue!


She has never before been in such high spirits as yesterday! As you were here, so anxious was she to let you see everything, that she trudged over the greater part of the garden. And Ta Chieh-erh was given a piece of cake by Madame Wang, when I came to hunt you up, and she ate it, who knows in what windy place, and began at once to get feverish.


Ta Chieh-erh, hasn't, I fancy, often put her foot into the garden; and young people like her mustn't really go into strange places, for she's not like our children, who are able to use their legs! In what graveyards don't they ramble about! A puff of wind may, on the one hand, have struck her, it's not at all unlikely; or being, on the other, so chaste in body, and her eyes also so pure she may, it is to be feared, have come across some spirit or other. I can't help thinking therefore that you should consult some book of exorcisms on her behalf; for mind she may have run up against some evil influence.


Those who fall ill on the 25th day of the 8th moon have come across, in a due westerly quarter, of some flower spirit; they feel heavy, with no inclination for drink or food. Take seven sheets of white paper money, and, advancing forty steps due west, burn them and exorcise the spirit; recovery will follow at once!


There's really no mistake about that! Are there not flower spirits in the garden? But what I dread is that our old lady mayn't have come across one too. It's verily people advanced in years like you, who've gone through many experiences! This Ta Chieh-erh of mine has often been inclined to ail, and it has quite puzzled me to make out how and why it was.


This isn't anything out of the way! Affluent and honourable people bring up their offspring to be delicate. So naturally, they are not able to endure the least hardship! Moreover, that young child of yours is so excessively cuddled that she can't stand it. Were you, therefore, my lady, to pamper her less from henceforth, she'll steadily improve.


There's plenty of reason in that too! But it strikes me that she hasn't as yet got a name, so do give her one in order that she may borrow your long life! In the next place, you are country-people, and are, after all,—I don't expect you'll get angry when I mention it,—somewhat in poor circumstances. Were a person then as poor as you are to suggest a name for her, you may, I trust, have the effect of counteracting this influence for her.


I've no idea of the date of her birth!


She really was born on no propitious date! By a remarkable coincidence she came into the world on the seventh day of the seventh moon!


This is certainly splendid! You had better name her at once Ch'iao Chieh-erh (seventh moon and ingenuity). This is what's generally called: combating poison by poison and attacking fire by fire. If therefore your ladyship fixes upon this name of mine, she will, for a surety, attain a long life of a hundred years; and when she by and bye grows up to be a big girl, every one of you will be able to have a home and get a patrimony! Or if, at any time, there occur anything inauspicious and she has to face adversity, why it will inevitably change into prosperity; and if she comes across any evil fortune, it will turn into good fortune. And this will all arise from this one word, 'Ch'iao' (ingenuity.)


If she be preserved, to accomplish your good wishes, it will be such a good thing! As you and I are bound to be busy to-morrow, and won't, I fear, be able to spare any leisure moments, you'd better, if you have nothing to do now, get ready the presents for old goody Liu, so as to enable her to conveniently start at early dawn to-morrow.


How could I presume to be the cause of such reckless waste? I've already disturbed your peace and quiet for several days, and were I to also take your things away, I'd feel still less at ease in my heart!


There's nothing much! They consist simply of a few ordinary things. But, whether good or bad, do take them along, so that the people in the same street as yourselves and your next-door neighbours may have some little excitement, and that it may look as if you had been on a visit to the city! Goody Liu, come over here and see!


This, is a roll of that green gauze you asked for yesterday. Besides this, our lady Feng gives you a piece of thick bluish-white gauze to use as lining. These are two pieces of pongee, which will do for wadded coats and jupes as well. In this bundle are two pieces of silk, for you to make clothes with, for the end of the year. This is a box containing various home-made cakes. Among them are some you've already tasted and some you haven't; so take them along, and put them in plates and invite your friends; they'll be ever so much better than any that you could buy! These two bags are those in which the melons and fruit were packed up yesterday. This one has been filled with two bushels of fine rice, grown in the imperial fields, the like of which for congee, it would not be easy to get. This one contains fruits from our garden and all kinds of dry fruits. In this packet, you'll find eight taels of silver. These various things are presents for you from our Mistress Secunda. Each of these packets contains fifty taels so that there are in all a hundred taels; they're the gift of Madame Wang. She bids you accept them so as to either carry on any trade, for which no big capital is required, or to purchase several acres of land, in order that you mayn't henceforward have any more to beg favours of relatives, or to depend upon friends. These two jackets, two jupes, four head bands, and a bundle of velvet and thread are what I give you, worthy dame, as my share. These clothes are, it is true, the worse for use, yet I haven't worn them very much. But if you disdain them, I won't be so presuming as to say anything.


Miss! what are you saying? Could I ever disdain such nice gifts as these! Had I even the money, I couldn't buy them anywhere. The only thing is that I feel overpowered with shame. If I keep them, it won't be nice, and if I don't accept them, I shall be showing myself ungrateful for your kind attention.


Don't utter all this irrelevant talk! You and I are friends; so compose your mind and take the things I gave you just now! Besides, I have, on my part, something to ask of you. When the close of the year comes, select a few of your cabbages, dipped in lime, and dried in the sun, as well as some lentils, flat beans, tomatoes and pumpkin strips, and various sorts of dry vegetables and bring them over. We're all, both high or low, fond of such things. These will be quite enough! We don't want anything else, so don't go to any useless trouble! Just you go to sleep, and I'll get the things ready for you and put them in here. As soon as the day breaks to-morrow, I'll send the servant-lads to hire a cart and pack them in; don't you therefore worry yourself in the least on that score!


I'm an old woman! Am I not aged enough to be a mother to that fellow? and am I, pray, to still stand on any ceremonies with him? There's no need to drop the curtain; I'll see him as I am, and have done.


How are you noble doctor? What is the worthy surname of this noble doctor?


His surname is Wang,


There was once a certain Wang Chün-hsiao who filled the chair of President of the College of Imperial Physicians. He excelled in feeling the pulse.


That was, my grand uncle.


Is it really so! We can then call ourselves old friends! Excuse me for the trouble I've put you to! Chen Erh, escort him outside, and do see that he has a cup of tea.


Your worthy senior, has nothing else the matter with her than a slight chill, which she must have inadvertently contracted. She needn't, after all, take any medicines; all she need do is to diet herself and keep warm a little; and she'll get all right. But I'll now write a prescription, in here. Should her venerable ladyship care to take any of the medicine, then prepare a dose, according to the prescription, and let her have it. But should she be loth to have any, well, never mind, it won't be of any consequence.


Mr. Wang,


do also have a look at our Chieh Erh!


Were I to express my views about Chieh Erh, you would again abuse me! If she's, however, kept quiet and allowed to go hungry for a couple of meals, she'll get over this. There's no necessity for her to take any decocted medicines. I'll just send her some pills, which you'll have to dissolve in a preparation of ginger, and give them to her before she goes to sleep; when she has had these, there will be nothing more the matter with her.


When you've got any leisure, do pay us another visit. Do be careful, and see dame Liu safely on her way out; for not being well I can't escort you myself.


These are, several articles of clothing, belonging to our old mistress; they were presented to her in years gone by, by members of our family on her birthdays and various festivals; her ladyship never wears anything made by people outside; yet to hoard these would be a downright pity! Indeed, she hasn't worn them even once. It was yesterday that she told me to get out two costumes and hand them to you to take along with you, either to give as presents, or to be worn by some one in your home; but don't make fun of us! In the box you'll find the flour-fruits, for which you asked. This bundle contains the medicines to which you alluded the other day. There are 'plum-blossom-spotted-tongue pills,' and 'purple-gold- ingot- pills,' also 'vivifying-blood-vessels-pills,' as well as 'driving-offspring and preserving-life pills;' each kind being rolled up in a sheet bearing the prescription; and the whole lot of them are packed up in here. While these two are purses for you to wear in the way of ornaments. Take the purses, but do leave these behind and give them to me.


Miss, you're at perfect liberty to keep them!


I was only joking with you for fun! I've got a good many like these; keep them therefore and give them, at the close of the year, to your young children. This, our master Secundus, Mr. Pao, gives you.


Whence could I begin enumerating the things I got! In what previous existence did I accomplish anything so meritorious as to bring to-day this heap of blessings upon me!


The clothes I gave you the other day, when I asked you to have a bath, were my own, and if you don't think them too mean, I've got a few more, which I would also like to let you have. You can dispense with going! They don't see any one just now! But I'll deliver the message for you by and bye! and call two servant-lads to come here, and help this old dame to take her things away!


P'in Erh! come with me; I've got a question to ask you. Kneel down! I want to examine you about something!


Look here. this chit Pao has gone clean off her senses! What do you want to examine me about?


My dear, precious girl, my dear maiden, what utter trash fills your mouth! Just speak the honest and candid truth, and finish!


What did I say? You're bent upon picking out my faults! Speak out and let me hear what it's all about!


Do you still pretend to be a fool? When we played yesterday that game of wine-forfeits, what did you say? I really couldn't make out any head or tail.


My dear cousin! I really wasn't conscious of what I was saying! It just blurted out of my mouth! But now that you've called me to task, I won't say such things again.


I've no idea of what you were driving at. What I heard you recite sounds so thoroughly unfamiliar to me, that I beg you to enlighten me!


Dear cousin, don't tell anyone else! I won't, in the future, breathe such things again.


Whom do you take me for? I too am wayward; from my youth up, yea ever since I was seven or eight, I've been enough trouble to people! Our family was also what one would term literary. My grandfather's extreme delight was to be ever with a book in his hand. At one time, we numbered many members, and sisters and brothers all lived together; but we had a distaste for wholesome books. Among my brothers, some were partial to verses; others had a weakness for blank poetical compositions; and there were none of such works as the 'Western side-House,' and 'the Guitar,' even up to the hundred and one books of the 'Yüan' authors, which they hadn't managed to get. These books they stealthily read behind our backs; but we, on our part, devoured them, on the sly, without their knowing it. Subsequently, our father came to get wind of it; and some of us he beat, while others he scolded; burning some of the books, and throwing away others. It is therefore as well that we girls shouldn't know anything of letters. Men, who study books and don't understand the right principle, can't, moreover, reach the standard of those, who don't go in for books; so how much more such as ourselves? Even versifying, writing and the like pursuits aren't in the line of such as you and me. Indeed, neither are they within the portion of men. Men, who go in for study and fathom the right principles, should cooperate in the government of the empire, and should rule the nation; this would be a nobler purpose; but one doesn't now-a-days hear of the very existence of such persons! Hence, the study of books makes them worse than they ever were before. But it isn't the books that ruin them; the misfortune is that they make improper use of books! That is why study doesn't come up to ploughing and sowing and trading; as these pursuits exercise no serious pernicious influences. As far, however, as you and I go, we should devote our minds simply to matters connected with needlework and spinning; for we will then be fulfilling our legitimate duties. Yet, it so happens that we too know a few characters. But, as we can read, it behoves us to choose no other than wholesome works; for these will do us no harm! What are most to be shirked are those low books, as, when once they pervert the disposition, there remains no remedy whatever!


Our lady Lien, requests the presence of both of you, young ladies, to consult with you in an important matter. Miss Secunda, Miss Tertia, Miss Quarta, Miss Shih and Mr. Pao, our master Secundus, are there waiting for you.


What's up again?


You and I will know what it is when we get there,


The society has barely been started, and here's one who wants to give us the slip; that girl Quarta wishes to apply for a whole year's leave.


It's that single remark of our worthy senior's yesterday that is at the bottom of it! For by bidding her execute some painting or other of the garden, she has put her in such high feather that she applies for leave!


Don't be so hard upon our dear ancestor! It's entirely due to that allusion of grandmother Liu's.


Quite so! It's all through that remark of hers! But of what branch of the family is she a grandmother? We should merely address her as the 'female locust;' that's all.


When any mortal language finds its way into that girl Feng's mouth, she knows how to turn it to the best account! What a fortunate thing it is that that vixen Feng has no idea of letters and can't boast of much culture! Her forte is simply such vulgar things as suffice to raise a laugh! Worse than her is that P'in Erh with that coarse tongue! She has recourse to the devices of the 'Ch'un Ch'iu'! By selecting, from the vulgar expressions used in low slang, the most noteworthy points, she eliminates what's commonplace, and makes, with the addition of a little elegance and finish, her style so much like that of the text that each sentence has a peculiar character of its own! The three words representing 'female locust' bring out clearly the various circumstances connected with yesterday! The wonder is that she has been so quick in devising them!


Pray, let's consult as to how many days' leave to grant her! I gave her a month, but she thinks it too little. What do you say about it?


Properly speaking, one year isn't much! The laying out of this garden occupied a whole year; and to paint a picture of it now will certainly need two years' time. She'll have to rub the ink, to moisten the pencils, to stretch the paper, to mix the pigments, and to…. If she goes on so leisurely to work, won't she require two years' time?


Her innuendoes are full of zest! But what takes the cake is that last remark about leisurely going to work, for if she weren't to paint at all, how could she ever finish her task? Hence those jokes cracked yesterday were, sufficient, of course, to evoke laughter, but, on second thought, they're devoid of any fun! Just you carefully ponder over P'in Erh's words! Albeit they don't amount to much, you'll nevertheless find, when you come to reflect on them, that there's plenty of gusto about them. I've really had such a laugh over them that I can scarcely move!


It's the way that cousin Pao-ch'ai puffs her up, that makes her so much the more arrogant that she turns me also into a laughing-stock now!


Let me ask you, are you only going to paint the garden, or will you insert us in it as well?


My original idea was to have simply painted the garden, but our worthy senior told me again yesterday that a mere picture of the grounds would resemble the plan of a house, and recommended that I should introduce some inmates too so as to make it look like what a painting should. I've neither the knack for the fine work necessary for towers and terraces, nor have I the skill to draw representations of human beings; but as I couldn't very well raise any objections, I find myself at present on the horns of a dilemma about it!


Human beings are an easy matter! What beats you are insects.


Here you are again with your trash! Will there be any need to also introduce insects in it? As far, however, as birds go, it may probably be advisable to introduce one or two kinds!


If any other insects are not put in the picture, it won't matter; but without yesterday's female locust in it, it will fall short of the original? Begin painting at once! I've even got the title all ready. The name I've chosen is, 'Picture of a locust brought in to have a good feed.'


Is this, doing what you're told and showing us how to do needlework and teaching us manners? Why, instead of that, you press us to come here and have a good romp and a hearty laugh!


Just you listen to her perverse talk. She takes the lead and kicks up a rumpus, and incites people to laugh, and then she throws the blame upon me! In real truth, she's a despicable thing! What I wish is that you should soon get some dreadful mother-in-law, and several crotchety and abominable older and younger sisters-in-law, and we'll see then whether you'll still be as perverse or not!


Let us, give her a whole year's leave!


I've got an impartial remark to make. Listen to me all of you! Albeit the girl, Ou, may have some idea about painting, all she can manage are just a few outline sketches, so that unless, now that she has to accomplish the picture of this garden, she can lay a claim to some ingenuity, will she ever be able to succeed in effecting a painting? This garden resembles a regular picture. The rockeries and trees, towers and pavilions, halls and houses are, as far as distances and density go, neither too numerous, nor too few. Such as it is, it is fitly laid out; but were you to put it on paper in strict compliance with the original, why, it will surely not elicit admiration. In a thing like this, it's necessary to pay due care to the various positions and distances on paper, whether they should be large or whether small; and to discriminate between main and secondary; adding what is needful to add, concealing and reducing what should be concealed and reduced, and exposing to view what should remain visible. As soon as a rough copy is executed, it should again be considered in all its details, for then alone will it assume the semblance of a picture. In the second place, all these towers, terraces and structures must be distinctly delineated; for with just a trifle of inattention, the railings will slant, the pillars will be topsy-turvy, doors and windows will recline in a horizontal position, steps will separate, leaving clefts between them, and even tables will be crowded into the walls, and flower-pots piled on portières; and won't it, instead of turning out into a picture, be a mere caricature? Thirdly, proper care must also be devoted, in the insertion of human beings, to density and height, to the creases of clothing, to jupes and sashes, to fingers, hands, and feet, as these are most important details; for if even one stroke be not thoroughly executed, then, if the hands be not swollen, the feet will be made to look as if they were lame. The colouring of faces and the drawing of the hair are minor points; but, in my own estimation, they really involve intense difficulty. Now a year's leave is, on one hand, too excessive, and a month's is, on the other, too little; so just give her half a year's leave. Depute, besides, cousin Pao-yü to lend her a hand in her task. Not that cousin Pao knows how to give any hints about painting; that in itself would be more of a drawback; but in order that, in the event of there being anything that she doesn't comprehend, or of anything perplexing her as to how best to insert it, cousin Pao may take the picture outside and make the necessary inquiries of those gentlemen, who excel in painting. Matters will thus be facilitated for her.


This proposal is first-rate! The towers and terraces minutely executed by Chan Tzu-liang are so perfect, and the beauties painted by Ch'eng Jih-hsing so extremely fine that I'll go at once and ask them of them!


I've always said that you fuss for nothing! I merely passed a cursory remark, and there you want to go immediately and ask for things. Do wait until we arrive at some decision in our deliberations, and then you can go! But let's consider now what would be best to use to paint the picture on?


I've got, in my quarters, some snow-white, wavy paper, which is both large in size, and proof against ink as well.


I do maintain, that you are a perfectly useless creature! That snow-white, wavy paper is good for pictures consisting of characters and for outline drawings. Or else, those who have the knack of making landscapes, use it for depicting scenery of the southern Sung era, as it resists ink and is strong enough to bear coarse painting. But were you to employ this sort of paper to make a picture of this garden on, it will neither stand the colours, nor will it be easy to dry the painting by the fire. So not only won't it be suitable, but it will be a pity too to waste the paper. I'll tell you a way how to get out of this. When this garden was first laid out, some detailed plan was used, which although executed by a mere house-decorator, was perfect with regard to sites and bearings. You'd better therefore ask for it of your worthy mother, and apply as well to lady Feng for a piece of thick glazed lustring of the size of that paper, and hand them to the gentlemen outside, and request them to prepare a rough copy for you, with any alterations or additions as might be necessary to make so as to accord with the style of these grounds. All that will remain to be done will be to introduce a few human beings; no more. Then when you have to match the azure and green pigments as well as the ground gold and ground silver, you can get those people again to do so for you. But you'll also have to bring an extra portable stove, so as to have it handy for melting the glue, and for washing your pencils, after you've taken the glue off. You further require a large table, painted white and covered with a cloth. That lot of small dishes you have aren't sufficient; your pencils too are not enough. It will be well consequently for you to purchase a new set of each.


Do I own such a lot of painting materials! Why, I simply use any pencil that first comes under my hand to paint with; that's all. And as for pigments, I've only got four kinds, ochrey stone, 'Kuang' flower paint, rattan yellow and rouge. Besides these, all I have amount to a couple of pencils for applying colours; no more.


Why didn't you say so earlier? I've still got some of these things remaining. But you don't need them, so were I to give you any, they'd lie uselessly about. I'll put them away for you now for a time, and, when you want them, I'll let you have some. You should, however, keep them for the exclusive purpose of painting fans; for were you to paint such big things with them it would be a pity! I'll draw out a list for you to-day to enable you to go and apply to our worthy senior for the items; as it isn't likely that you people can possibly know all that's required. I'll dictate them, and cousin Pao can write them down! Four pencils of the largest size, four of the third size; four of the second size; four pencils for applying colours on big ground; four on medium ground; four for small ground; ten claws of large southern crabs; ten claws of small crabs; ten pencils for painting side-hair and eyebrows; twenty for laying heavy colours; twenty for light colours; ten for painting faces; twenty willow-twigs; four ounces of 'arrow head' pearls; four ounces of southern ochre; four ounces of stone yellow; four ounces of dark green; four ounces of malachite; four ounces of tube-yellow; eight ounces of 'kuang' flower; four boxes of lead powder; ten sheets of rouge; two hundred sheets of thin red-gold leaves; two hundred sheets of lead; four ounces of smooth glue, from the two Kuang; and four ounces of pure alum. The glue and alum for sizing the lustring are not included, so don't bother yourselves about them, but just take the lustring and give it to them outside to size it with alum for you. You and I can scour and clarify all these pigments, and thus amuse ourselves, and prepare them for use as well. I feel sure you'll have an ample supply to last you a whole lifetime. But you must also get ready four sieves of fine lustring; a pair of coarse ones; four brush-pencils; four bowls, some large, some small; twenty large, coarse saucers; ten five-inch plates; twenty three-inch coarse, white plates; two stoves; four large and small earthenware pans; two new porcelain jars; four new water buckets; four one-foot-long bags, made of white cloth; two catties of light charcoal; one or two catties of willow-wood charcoal; a wooden box with three drawers; a yard of thick gauze, two ounces of fresh ginger; half a catty of soy;…


An iron kettle and an iron shovel,


To do what with them?


You ask for fresh ginger, soy and all these condiments, so I indent for an iron kettle for you to cook the paints and eat them.


What do you, P'in Erh, know about these things? I am not certain in my mind that you won't put those coarse coloured plates straightway on the fire. But unless you take the precaution beforehand of rubbing the bottom with ginger juice, mixed with soy, and of warming them dry, they're bound to crack, the moment they experience the least heat.


It's really so, they exclaimed with one voice, after this explanation. Just see, we want to paint a picture, and she goes on indenting for a number of water jars and boxes! But, I presume, she's got so muddled, that she inserts a list of articles needed for her trousseau.


Cousin Pao, don't you wring her mouth? Just ask her what disparaging things she said about you.


Why need I ask? Is it likely, pray, that you can get ivory out of a cur's mouth?


My dear cousin, spare me! P'in Erh is young in years; all she knows is to talk at random; she has no idea of what's proper and what's improper. But you are my elder cousin, so teach me how to behave. If you, cousin, don't let me off, to whom can I go and address my entreaties?


She's right there. So much is she to be pitied that even we have been mollified; do spare her and finish!


It's you, after all, elder cousin. Had it been I, I wouldn't have let any one off.


It is no wonder, that our dear ancestor doats on you and that every one loves you. Even I have to-day felt my heart warm towards you! But come here and let me put your hair up for you!


We've done with what there was to write, so you'd better tomorrow go and tell grandmother about the things. If there be any at home, well and good; but if not, get some money to buy them with. I'll then help you both in your preparations.


Pray, may I ask, whether you're feeling nearly well again now?


I'm quite all right to-day. I've tasted the young-pheasant soup you sent me a little time back and find it full of relish. I've also had two pieces of meat, so I feel quite comfortable within me.


These dainties were presented to you, dear ancestor, by that girl Feng. It only shows how sincere her filial piety is. She does not render futile the love, which you, venerable senior, ever lavish on her.


She's too kind to think of me! But should there be any more uncooked, let them fry a couple of pieces; and, if these be thoroughly immersed in wine, the congee will taste well with them. The soup is, it's true, good, but it shouldn't, properly speaking, be prepared with fine rice. I sent the servant for you, not for anything else, but for the birthday of that girl Feng, which falls on the second. I had made up my mind two years ago to celebrate her birthday in proper style, but when the time came, there happened to be again something important to attend to, and it went by without anything being done. But this year, the inmates are, on one hand, all here, and there won't, I fancy, be, on the other, anything to prevent us, so we should all do our best to enjoy ourselves thoroughly for a day.


I was thinking the same thing, and, since it's your good pleasure, venerable senior, why, shouldn't we deliberate at once and decide upon something?


To the best of my recollection, whenever in past years I've had any birthday celebrations for any one of us, no matter who it was, we have ever individually sent our respective presents; but this method is common and is also apt, I think, to look very much as if there were some disunion. But I'll now devise a new way; a way, which won't have the effect of creating any discord, and will be productive of good cheer.


Let whatever way you may think best, dear ancestor, be adopted.


My idea is, that we too should follow the example of those poor families and raise a subscription among ourselves, and devote the whole of whatever we may collect to meet the outlay for the necessary preparations. What do you say, will this do or not?


This is a splendid idea! But what will, I wonder, be the way adopted for raising contributions?


I'll give twenty taels!


I'll follow your lead, dear senior, and also subscribe twenty taels.


We don't presume to place ourselves on an equal footing with your ladyship. We, of course, come one degree lower; each of us therefore will contribute sixteen taels.


We too naturally rank one step lower, so we'll each give twelve taels.


You're a widow, and have lost all your estate, so how could we drag you into all this outlay! I'll contribute for you!


Don't be in such high feather dear senior, but just look to your accounts before you saddle yourself with this burden! You've already taken upon yourself two portions; and do you now also volunteer sixteen taels on behalf of my elder sister-in-law? You may willingly do so, while you speak in the abundance of your spirits, but when you, by and bye, come to ponder over what you've done, you'll feel sore at heart again! 'It's all that girl Feng that's driven me to spend the money,' you'll say in a little time; and you'll devise some ingenious way to inveigle me to fork out three or four times as much as your share and thus make up your deficit in an underhand way; while I will still be as much in the clouds as if I were in a dream!


According to you, what should be done?


My birthday hasn't yet come, and already now I've been the recipient of so much more than I deserve that I am quite unhappy. But if I don't contribute a single cash, I shall feel really ill at ease for the trouble I shall be giving such a lot of people. It would be as well, therefore, that I should bear this share of my senior sister-in-law; and, when the day comes, I can eat a few more things, and thus be able to enjoy some happiness.


Quite right!


There's something more I'd like to add. I think that it's fair enough that you, worthy ancestor, should, besides your own twenty taels, have to stand two shares as well, the one for cousin Liu, the other for cousin Pao-yü, and that Mrs. Hsüeh should, beyond her own twenty taels, likewise bear cousin Pao-ch'ai's portion. But it's somewhat unfair that the two ladies Mesdames Hsing and Wang should each only give sixteen taels, when their share is small, and when they don't subscribe anything for any one else. It's you, venerable senior, who'll be the sufferer by this arrangement.


It's this hussey Feng, who, after all, takes my side! What you say is quite right. Hadn't it been for you, I would again have been duped by them!


Dear senior! Just hand over our two cousins to those two ladies and let each take one under her charge and finish. If you make each contribute one share, it will be square enough.


This is perfectly fair. Let this suggestion be carried out!


This is such a subversion of right, that I'll put my back up on account of the two ladies. She's a son's wife, on the other side, and, in here, only a wife's brother's child; and yet she doesn't incline towards her mother-in-law and her aunt, but takes other people's part. This son's wife has therefore become a perfect stranger; and a close niece has, in fact, become a distant niece! If the junior ladies subscribe twelve taels each, we must, as a matter of course, also come one degree lower; eh?


This won't do! You naturally should rank one degree lower, but you're all, I am well aware, wealthy people; and, in spite of your status being somewhat lower, your funds are more flourishing than theirs. It's only just then that you should be placed on the same standing as those people! The young ladies, should merely give something for the sake of appearances! If each one contributes a sum proportionate to her monthly allowance, it will be ample! Yüan Yang! a few of you should assemble in like manner, and consult as to what share you should take in the matter. So bring them along! Can it be, that you don't want any birthday celebrated for your mistress, that you don't range yourself also among them?


The other money I gave. I gave privately, and is extra. This is what I am publicly bound to contribute along with the lot.


That's a good child!


Those above as well as those below have all alike given their share. But there are still those two secondary wives; are they to give anything or not? Do go and ask them! It's but right that we should go to the extreme length and include them. Otherwise, they'll imagine that we've looked down upon them!


Just so! How is it that we forgot all about them? The only thing is, I fear, they've got no time to spare; yet, tell a servant-girl to go and ask them what they'll do!


Each of them, will likewise contribute two taels.


Fetch a pen and inkslab, and let's calculate how much they amount to, all together.


I'll take you, you mean covetous creature, and … ! All these mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law have come forward and raised money to celebrate your birthday, and are you yet not satisfied that you must also drag in those two miserable beings! But what do you do it for?


Try and talk less trash! We'll be leaving this place in a little time and then I'll square up accounts with you! But why ever are those two miserable? When they have money, they uselessly give it to other people; and isn't it better that we should get hold of it, and enjoy ourselves with it?


We couldn't possibly run through all this for a day's theatricals and banquet!


As no outside guests are to be invited, and the number of tables won't also be many, there will be enough to cover two or three days' outlay! First of all, there won't be anything to spend for theatricals, so we'll effect a saving on that item.


Just call whatever troupe that girl Feng may say she likes best,


We've heard quite enough of the performances of that company of ours, let's therefore spend a little money and send for another, and see what they can do.


I leave that to you, brother Chen's wife, in order that our girl Feng should have occasion to trouble her mind with as little as possible, and be able to enjoy a day's peace and quiet. It's only right that she should.


Don't ask me! Do whatever will please our worthy ancestor.


What a fine thing you are to come across such a mighty piece of luck! I was wondering what had happened that she summoned us all! Why, was it simply on this account? Not to breathe a word about the money that I'll have to contribute, must I have trouble and annoyance to bear as well? How will you show me any thanks?


Don't bring shame upon yourself! I didn't send for you; so why should I be thankful to you! If you funk the exertion, go at once and let our venerable senior know, and she'll depute some one else and have done.


You go on like this as you see her in such excellent spirits, that's why! It would be well, I advise you, to pull in a bit; for if you be too full of yourself, you'll get your due reward! Who brought it?


Nurse Lin,


Call her in,


This is what's subscribed by us servants. and so I collected it and brought it over first. As for the contributions of our venerable mistress, and those of the ladies, they aren't ready yet.


Our lady of the other mansion and Mrs. Hsüeh have sent over some one with their portions.


You mean wenches! All the gumption you've got is to simply bear in mind this sort of nonsense! In a fit of good cheer, your old mistress yesterday purposely expressed a wish to imitate those poor people, and raise a subscription. But you at once treasured it up in your memory, and, when the thing came to be canvassed by you, you treated it in real earnest! Don't you yet quick bundle yourselves out, and bring the money in! Be careful and give them some tea before you see them off. Whose shares are wanting?


Those of our old lady, of Madame Wang, the young ladies, and of our girls below are still missing,


There's also that of your senior lady,


You'd better hurry over, my lady, for as this money will be issued through our mistress Secunda, she'll nobble the whole of it.


Is it all there?


Yes, it is, so you might as well take it away at once; for if it gets mislaid, I've nothing to do with it.


I'm somewhat distrustful, so I'd like to check it in your presence. I said that you were up to tricks! How is it that your elder sister-in-law's isn't here?


There's all that money; and isn't it yet enough? If there's merely a portion short it shouldn't matter! Should the money prove insufficient, I can then look you up, and give it to you.


When the others were present yesterday, you were ready enough to act as any human being would; but here you're again to-day prevaricating with me! I won't, by any manner of means, agree to this proposal of yours! I'll simply go and ask for the money of our venerable senior.


I see how dreadful you are! But when something turns up by and bye, I'll also be very punctilious; so don't you then bear me a grudge!


Well, never mind if you don't give your quota! Were it not that I consider the dutiful attentions you've all along shown me would I ever be ready to humour you? P'ing Erh, come here, take this share of yours and put it away! Should the money collected turn out to be below what's absolutely required, I'll make up the sum for you.


My lady, it would come to the same thing if you were to first spend what you want and to give me afterwards any balance that may remain of it.


Is your mistress alone to be allowed to do dishonest acts, and am I not to be free to bestow a favour? I want to see, where your mistress, who is so extremely careful, will run through all the money, we've raised! If she can't spend it, why she'll take it along with her in her coffin, and make use of it there.


There's no use for these! Your lot, ladies, is a pitiful one! How can you afford all this spare money! That hussey Feng is well aware of the fact. I'm here to answer for you!


This is, the proper day for our literary gathering, so don't forget it. If Pao-yü hasn't appeared, it must, I presume, be that his mind is so preoccupied with the fuss that's going on that he has lost sight of all pure and refined things. Go and see what he is up to! and be quick and tell him to come.


Sister Hua says, that he went out of doors, soon after daylight this morning.


He can't have gone out!


This girl is stupid, and doesn't know how to speak.


It's really true, that he has gone out of doors. He gave out that a friend of his was dead, and that he was going to pay a visit of condolence.


There's certainly nothing of the kind. But whatever there might have been to call him away, it wasn't right of him to go out on an occasion like the present one! Just call Hsi Jen here, and let me ask her!


No matter what he may have had to attend to to-day, he shouldn't have gone out! In the first place, it's your mistress Secunda's birthday, and our dowager lady is in such buoyant spirits that the various inmates, whether high or low, are coming from either mansion to join in the fun; and lo, he goes off! Secondly, this is the proper day as well for holding our first literary gathering, and he doesn't so as apply for leave, but stealthily sneaks away.


He said last night, that he had something very important to do this morning; that he was going as far as Prince Pei Ching's mansion, but that he would hurry back. I advised him not to go; but, of course, he wouldn't listen to me. When he got out of bed, at daybreak this morning, he asked for his plain clothes and put them on, so, I suppose, some lady of note belonging to the household of Prince Pei Ching must have departed this life; but who can tell?


If such be truly the case, it's quite right that he should have gone over for a while; but he should have taken care to be back in time !


Let's write our verses,


and we can fine him on his return.


As I shall be going out of doors to-morrow at daybreak, you'd better get ready two horses and wait at the back door! No one else need follow as an escort! Tell Li Kuei that I've gone to the Pei mansion. In the event of any one wishing to start in search of me, bid him place every obstacle in the way, as all inquiries can well be dispensed with! Let him simply explain that I've been detained in the Pei mansion, but that I shall surely be back shortly.


Where are we off to?


Where does this road lead to?


This is the main road leading out of the northern gate. Once out of it, everything is so dull and dreary that there's nothing worth seeing!


I was just thinking that a dull and dreary place would be just the thing!


Is there any place here, where incense is sold?


Incense! yes, there is; but what kind of incense it is I don't know.


All other incense is worth nothing. We should get sandalwood, conifer and cedar, these three.


These three sorts are very difficult to get. What do you want incense for? Master Secundus, I've often seen you wear a small purse, about your person, full of tiny pieces of incense; and why don't you see whether you've got it with you?


Don't think of such things! Where could they be procured in a deserted and lonely place like this? If you needed them, why didn't you speak somewhat sooner, and we could have brought them along with us? Would not this have been more convenient?


You stupid thing! Had we been able to bring them along, we wouldn't have had to run in this way as if for life!


I've thought of something, but I wonder what you'll think about it, Master Secundus! You don't, I expect, only require these things; you'll need others too, I presume. But this isn't the place for them; so let's move on at once another couple of lis, when we'll get to the 'Water Spirit' monastery.


Is the 'Water Spirit' monastery in this neighbourhood? Yes, that would be better; let's press forward. The nun in this 'Water Spirit' monastery, frequently comes on a visit to our house, so that when we now get there and ask her for the loan of a censer, she's certain to let us have it.


Not to mention that that's a place where our family burns incense, she could not dare to raise any objections, to any appeal from us for a loan, were she even in a temple quite unknown to us. There's only one thing, I've often been struck with the strong dislike you have for this 'Water Spirit' monastery, master, and how is that you're now, so delighted with the idea of going to it?


I've all along had the keenest contempt for those low-bred persons, who, without knowing why or wherefore, foolishly offer sacrifices to the spirits, and needlessly have temples erected. The reason of it all is, that those rich old gentlemen and unsophisticated wealthy women, who lived in past days, were only too ready, the moment they heard of the presence of a spirit anywhere, to take in hand the erection of temples to offer their sacrifices in, without even having the faintest notion whose spirits they were. This was because they readily credited as gospel-truth such rustic stories and idle tales as chanced to reach their ears. Take this place as an example. Offerings are presented in this 'Water Spirit' nunnery to the spirit of the 'Lo' stream; hence the name of 'Water Spirit' monastery has been given to it. But people really don't know that in past days, there was no such thing as a 'Lo' spirit! These are, indeed, no better than legendary yarns invented by Ts'ao Tzu-chien, and who would have thought it, this sort of stupid people have put up images of it, to which they offer oblations. It serves, however, my purpose to-day, so I'll borrow of her whatever I need to use.


Take the censer, and go out into the back garden and find a clean spot!


What about, the platform round that well?


I, Pei Ming, have been in the service of Master Secundus for several years. Of the secrets of Mr. Secundus' heart there are none, which I have not known, save that with regard to this sacrifice to-day; the object of which, he has neither told me; nor have I had the presumption to ask. But thou, oh spirit! who art the recipient of these sacrificial offerings, must, I expect, unknown though thy surname and name be to me, be a most intelligent and supremely beautiful elder or younger sister, unique among mankind, without a peer even in heaven! As my Master Secundus cannot give vent to the sentiments, which fill his heart, allow me to pray on his behalf! Should thou possess spirituality, and holiness be thy share, do thou often come and look up our Mr. Secundus, for persistently do his thoughts dwell with thee! And there is no reason why thou should'st not come! But should'st thou be in the abode of the dead, grant that our Mr. Secundus too may, in his coming existence, be transformed into a girl, so that he may be able to amuse himself with you all! And will not this prove a source of pleasure to both sides?


Don't talk such stuff and nonsense! Were any looker-on to overhear what you say, he'd jeer at you!


I've already, told the nun that you hadn't as yet had anything to eat, Master Secundus, and I bade her get a few things ready for you, so you must force yourself to take something. I know very well that a grand banquet will be spread in our mansion to-day, that exceptional bustle will prevail, and that you have, on account of this, Sir, come here to get out of the way. But as you're, after all, going to spend a whole day in peace and quiet in here, you should try and divert yourself as best you can. It won't, therefore, by any manner of means do for you to have nothing to eat.


I won't be at the theatrical performance to have any wine, so what harm will there be in my having a drink here, as the fancy takes me?


Quite so! But there's another consideration. You and I have run over here; but there must be some whose minds are ill at ease. Were there no one uneasy about us, well, what would it matter if we got back into town as late as we possibly could? But if there be any solicitous on your account, it's but right, Master Secundus, that you should enter the city and return home. In the first place, our worthy old mistress and Madame Wang, will thus compose their minds; and secondly, you'll observe the proper formalities, if you succeed in doing nothing else. But even supposing that, when once you get home, you feel no inclination to look at the plays and have anything to drink, you can merely wait upon your father and mother, and acquit yourself of your filial piety! Well, if it's only a matter of fulfilling this obligation, and you don't care whether our old mistress and our lady, your mother, experience concern or not, why, the spirit itself, which has just been the recipient of your oblations, won't feel in a happy frame of mind! You'd better therefore, master, ponder and see what you think of my words!


I see what you're driving at! You keep before your mind the thought that you're the only servant, who has followed me as an attendant out of town, and you give way to fear that you will, on your return, have to bear the consequences. You hence have recourse to these grandiloquent arguments to shove words of counsel down my throat! I've come here now with the sole object of satisfying certain rites, and then going to partake of the banquet and be a spectator of the plays; and I never mentioned one single word about any intention on my part not to go back to town for a whole day! I've, however, already accomplished the wish I fostered in my heart, so if we hurry back to town, so as to enable every one to set their solicitude at rest, won't the right principle be carried out to the full in one respect as well as another?


Yes, that would be better! Master Secundus! be careful how you ride! That horse hasn't been ridden very much, so hold him in tight a bit.


O-mi-to-fu! you've come! You've all but driven Miss Hua mad from despair! In the upper quarters, they're just seated at the feast, so be quick, Mr. Secundus, and go and join them.


Where are they holding the banquet?


They're in the newly erected large reception pavilion,


Ai! the phoenix has alighted! go in at once! Hadn't you come for another minute, every one would have been quite upset!


Just try and guess where I've been?


Where have you been, that you come back at this hour? Don't you yet go and pay your congratulations to your cousin? Your cousin has no idea of what's right and what's wrong. Even though he may have had something pressing to do, why didn't he utter just one word, but stealthily bolted away on his own hook? Will this sort of thing ever do? But should you behave again in this fashion by and bye, I shall, when your father comes home, feel compelled to tell him to chastise you.


Congratulations are a small matter? But, cousin Pao, you must, on no account, sneak away any more without breathing a word to any one, and not sending for some people to escort you, for carriages and horses throng the streets. First and foremost, you're the means of making people uneasy at heart; and, what's more, that isn't the way in which members of a family such as ours should go out of doors!


Why, do you all listen to him and readily go wherever he pleases without even reporting a single word? But where did you really go? Did you have anything to eat? Or did you get any sort of fright, eh?


A beloved wife of the duke of Pei Ching departed this life, and I went to-day to express my condolences to him. I found him in such bitter anguish that I couldn't very well leave him and come back immediately. That's the reason why I tarried with him a little longer.


If hereafter you do again go out of doors slyly and on your own hook, without first telling me, I shall certainly bid your father give you a caning!


Venerable senior! you can well dispense with flying into a rage! He has already promised that he won't venture to go out again. Besides, he has come back without any misadventure, so we should all compose our minds and enjoy ourselves a bit!


This Wang Shih-p'eng, is very stupid! It would be quite immaterial where he offered his sacrifices, and why must he repair to the riverside? 'At the sight of an object,' the proverb has it, 'one thinks of a person. All waters under the heavens revert but to one source.' So had he baled a bowlful from any stream, and given way to his lamentations, while gazing on it, he could very well have satisfied his feelings.


Do let that girl Feng have the seat of honour, and mind be careful in doing the honours for me, for she is subjected to endless trouble from one year's end to another!


Very well. I fancy, that little used as she is to filling the place of honour, she's bound, if she takes the high seat, to be so much at a loss how to behave, as to be loth even to have any wine!


Well, if you can't succeed, wait and I'll come and offer it to her.


Venerable ancestor! don't believe all they tell you! I've already had several cups!


Quick, pull her out, and shove her into a chair, and let all of you drink by turns to her health! If she then doesn't drink, I'll come myself in real earnest and make her have some!


You've got from one year's end to another, the trouble and annoyance of conferring dutiful attentions upon our venerable senior, upon Madame Wang and upon myself, so, as I've nothing to-day, with which to prove my affection for you, have a sip, from my hand, my own dear, of this cup of wine I poured for you myself!


If you deliberately wish to present me a glass, fall on your knees and I'll drink at once!


What's this you say? And who are you, I wonder? But let me tell you this once for all and finish that though we've succeeded, after ever so many difficulties, in getting up this entertainment to-day, there's no saying whether we shall in the future be able to have anything more the like of this or not. Let's avail ourselves then of the present to put our capacity to the strain and drink a couple of cups!


Dear sisters, do spare me! I'll drink some more to-morrow!


Quite so! we're a mean lot. But now that we stand in the presence of your ladyship, do condescend to look upon us favourably! We've always enjoyed some little consideration, and do you put on the airs of a mistress on an occasion like the present, when there's such a crowd of people standing by? Really, I shouldn't have come. But, as you won't touch our wine, we might as well be quick and retire!


Dear sister. I'll drink some and have done! Get the tips ready! I'm off to wash my face a bit.


Call two boy-servants from among those on duty at the second gate, to bring a whip of twisted cords, and to take this young wench, who has no regard for her mistress, and beat her to shreds. I'm really no ghost! So you must have seen me! Don't you know what good manners mean and stand still? Why did you instead persist in running on?


I truly did not see your ladyship coming. I was, besides, much concerned as there was no one in the rooms; that's why I was running on.


If there's no one in the rooms, who told you to come out again? And didn't you see me, together with P'ing Erh, at your heels, stretching out our necks and calling out to you about ten times? But the more we shouted, the faster you ran! You weren't far off from us either, so is it likely that you got deaf? And are you still bent upon bandying words with me?


My lady! be careful you'll be hurting your hand!


Go on, pommel her, and ask her what made her run! and, if she doesn't tell you, just you take her mouth and tear it to pieces for her!


Our Master Secundus, Mr. Lien, is at home, and he sent me here to watch your movements, my lady; bidding me go ahead, when I saw you leave the banquet, and convey the message to him. But, contrary to his hopes, your ladyship came back just now!


What did he ask you to watch me for? Can it be, pray, that he dreaded to see me return home? There must be some other reason; so be quick and tell it to me and I shall henceforward treat you with regard. If you don't minutely confess all to me, I shall this very moment take a knife and pare off your flesh!


I'll tell your ladyship everything, but you mustn't say that it was I who told you.


Mr. Secundus himself arrived only a few minutes back. The moment, however, he came, he opened a bog, and, taking two pieces of silver, two hairpins, and a couple of rolls of silk, he bade me stealthily take them to Pao Erh's wife and tell her to come in. As soon as she put the things away, she hurried to our house, and Master Secundus ordered me to keep an eye on your ladyship; but of what happened after that, I've no idea whatever.


I was just going to tell your ladyship, and here you come! What a strange coincidence!


Tell me what?


That Mr. Secundus is at home, and has done so and so.


Ts'ui! What were you up to before? Now, that I've seen you, you come and try to clear yourself!


When that queen-of-hell sort of wife of yours dies, it will be a good riddance!


When she's gone, and I marry another, the like of her, what will I again do?


When she's dead and gone, just raise P'ing Erh to the rank of primary wife. I think she'll turn out considerably better than she has.


At present, she won't even let me enjoy P'ing Erh's society! P'ing Erh herself is full of displeasure; yet she dares not speak. How is it that it has been my fate to bring upon myself the influence of this evil star?


What a fine wench! You make a paramour of your mistress' husband, and then you wish to compass your master's wife's death, for P'ing Erh to transfer her quarters in here! You base hirelings! You're all of the same stamp, thoroughly jealous of me; you try to cajole me by your outward display!


You people, go and do a lot of shameful things, and then you also deliberately involve me; but why?


What a vixen! Are you likewise going to start knocking people about?


Why do you implicate me, in things you say behind my back?


You put your heads together to do me harm, and, when I overhear your designs, you people conspire to frighten me! But strangle me and have done.


There's no need for any one of you to commit suicide! I too am thoroughly exasperated, so I'll kill the whole lot of you and pay the penalty with my own life! We'll all then be free from further trouble!


What's the matter? There was nothing up just now, so why is all this row for?


Venerable ancestor! help me! Mr. Chia Lien wishes to kill me.


What's up?


I was just going to my rooms to change my dress, when I unexpectedly found Mr. Chia Lien at home, talking with some one. Fancying that visitors had come, I was quite taken aback, and not presuming to enter, I remained outside the window and listened. It turned out, in fact, to be Pao Erh's wife holding council with him. She said that I was dreadful, and that she meant to poison me so as to get me out of the way and enable P'ing Erh to be promoted to be first wife. At this, I lost my temper. But not venturing, none the less, to have a row with him, I simply gave P'ing Erh two slaps; and then I asked him why he wished to do me harm. But so stricken did he get with shame that he tried there and then to despatch me.


Dreadful! Bring here at once that low-bred offspring!


You mean thing! Your crime is more heinous, for our venerable senior is in here!


It's all because our worthy ancestor spoils her, that she behaved as she did and took upon herself to rate even me!


I'm well aware, that you haven't the least consideration for any one of us. Tell some one to go and call his father here and we'll see whether he doesn't clear out. Why, what serious matter could it ever have been? But children of tender years are like greedy kittens, and how can one say for certain that they won't do such things? Human beings have, from their very infancy, to go through experiences of this kind! It's all my fault, however, for pressing you to have a little more wine than was good for you. But you've also gone and drunk the vinegar of jealousy! Compose your mind! To-morrow I'll send for him to apologise to you; but, you'd better to-day not go over, as you might put him to shame! I've always thought highly of that wench, and how is it that she's turned out to be secretly so bad?


P'ing Erh isn't to blame! It's lady Feng who makes people her tools to give vent to her spite! Husband and wife could not very well come to blows face to face, so they combined in using P'ing Erh as their scapegoat! What injuries haven't fallen to P'ing Erh's lot! And do you, venerable senior, still go on blowing her up?


Is it really so! I always said that that girl wasn't anything like that artful shrew! Well, in that case, she is to be pitied, for she has had to bear the brunt of her anger, and all through no fault of hers! Go, and tell P'ing Erh all I enjoin you; 'that I know that she has been insulted and that to-morrow I'll send for her mistress to make amends, but that being her mistress' birthday to-day, I won't have her give rise to any reckless fuss'!


You are an intelligent person, and how considerately has your lady treated you all along! It was simply because she has had a little too much wine that she behaved as she did to-day! But had she not made you the means of giving vent to her spite, is it likely that she could very well have aired her grievances upon any one else? Besides, any one else would have laughed at her for acting in a sham way!


I meant, to be the first to ask you, but as our senior lady, Chia Chu, and the young ladies invited you, I couldn't very well do so myself.


Many thanks! How words ever commenced between us; when there was no provocation, I can't tell! But without rhyme or reason, I came in for a spell of resentment.


Our lady Secunda has always been very good to you, so she must have done this in a sudden fit of exasperation!


Our lady Secunda did not, after all, say anything to me. It was that wench that blew me up. And she deliberately made a laughing-stock of me. But that fool also of a master of ours struck me!


My dear sister, don't wound your heart! I'm quite ready to express my apologies on behalf of that pair!


What business is that of yours?


We cousins, whether male or female, are all alike. So when they hurt any one's feelings, I apologise for them; it's only right that I should do so. What a pity; these new clothes too have been stained! But you'll find your sister Hua's costumes in here, and why don't you put one on, and take some hot wine and spurt it over yours and iron them out? You might also remake your coiffure.


You must, dear girl, also apply a little cosmetic and powder, otherwise you'll look as if you were angry with lady Feng. It's her birthday, besides; and our old ancestor has sent some one again to come and cheer you up. This isn't lead powder. This is made of the seeds of red jasmine, well triturated, and compounded with suitable first class ingredients. The cosmetic one buys in the market isn't clean; Its colour is faint as well. But this is cosmetic of superior quality. The juice was squeezed out, strained clear, mixed with perfume of flowers and decocted. All you need do is to take some with that hair-pin and rub it on your lips, that will be enough; and if you dissolve some in a little water, and rub it on the palm of your hand, it will be ample for you to cover your whole face with.


What was the matter?


I really had too much wine yesterday. I must have given you a fright, worthy ancestor, so I come to-day to receive condign punishment.


You mean fellow! You go and glut yourself with spirits, and, not to speak of your not going to stretch yourself like a corpse and sleep it off, you contrariwise start beating your wife! But that vixen Feng brags away the whole day long, as if she were a human being as valiant as any tyrant, and yet yesterday she got into such a funk that she presented a woeful sight! Had it not been for me, you would have done her bodily harm; and what would you feel like now? Don't lady Feng and P'ing Erh possess the charms of handsome women? And aren't you yet satisfied with them that you must, of a day, go slyly prowling and gallavanting about, dragging indiscriminately into your rooms frowsy and filthy people? Is it for the sake of this sort of wenches that you beat your wife and belabour the inmates of your quarters? You've nevertheless had the good fortune of starting in life as the scion of a great family; and do you, with eyes wide open, bring disgrace upon your own head? If you have any regard for me, well, then get up and I'll spare you! And if you make your apologies in a proper manner to your wife and take her home, I'll be satisfied. But if you don't, just you clear out of this, for I won't even presume to have any of your genuflexions!


After your advice, venerable senior. I couldn't be so bold as not to accede to your wishes! But this is shewing her more indulgence than ever!


What nonsense! I am well aware that with her extreme decorum she couldn't hurt any one's susceptibilities. But should she, in the future, wrong you in any way, I shall, of course, take the law into my own hands and bid you make her submit to your authority and finish.


It was really my fault, so don't be angry, lady Secunda,


Now, my girl Feng, you are not to lose your temper; for if you do, I'll lose mine too!


The injuries, to which you were subjected yesterday, Miss, were entirely due to my shortcoming. If your lady hurt your feelings, it was likewise all through me that the thing began. So I express my regret; but, besides this, I tender my apologies as well on behalf of your mistress.


I do deserve death, for provoking your ladyship to wrath on the day of your birthday! I've waited upon your ladyship for all these years, and you've never so much as given me a single fillip; and yet, you beat me yesterday. But I don't bear you any grudge, my lady, for it was that wench, who was at the bottom of it all. Nor do I wonder that your ladyship lost control over your temper.


Escort those three home! If any one of them makes the least allusion to the subject, come at once and tell me of it; for without any regard as to who it may be, I shall take my staff and give him or her a sound flogging.


How is it, that I'm like a queen of hell, or like a 'Yakcha' demon? That courtesan swore at me and wished me dead; and did you too help her to curse me? If I'm not nice a thousand days, why, I must be nice on some one day! But if, poor me, I'm so bad as not even to compare with a disorderly woman, how can I have the face to come and spend my life with you here?


Aren't you yet gratified? Just reflect carefully who was most to blame yesterday! And yet, in the presence of so many people, it was I who, after all, fell to-day on my knees and made apologies as well. You came in for plenty of credit, and do you now go on jabber, jabber? Can it be that you'd like to make me kneel at your feet before you let matters rest? If you try and play the bully beyond bounds, it won't be a good thing for you!


She's all right again!


But I'm really quite at a loss what to do with this one.


Pao Erh's wife has committed suicide by hanging herself,


Dead, eh? What a riddance! What's the use of making such a fuss about a mere trifle?


Pao Erh's wife has hung herself, and her mother's relatives want to take legal proceedings.


That's all right! I myself was just thinking about lodging a complaint!


I and the others tried to dissuade them. And by having recourse to intimidation as well as to promises of money, they, at last, agreed to our terms.


I haven't got a cash. Had I even any money, I wouldn't let them have it; so just let them go and lodge any charge they fancy. You needn't either dissuade them or intimidate them. Let them go and complain as much as they like. But if they fail to establish a case against me, they'll, after all, be punished for trying to make the corpse the means of extorting money out of me!


I'll go out and see what they're up to!


Mind, I won't have you give them any money!


By and bye, I'll choose a nice wife for you.


I drank yesterday, a little more wine than was good for me, so don't bear me a grudge. Where did I strike you, let me see?