How is it, that with such wide knowledge of things new as well as old; and such general information as you possess, you aren't even up to the name of a play, and that you've come out with such a whole string of words. Why, the real name of the play is: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'.


Is it truly called: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'? But you people know all things new and old so are able to understand the import of 'carrying a birch and begging for punishment.' As for me I've no idea whatever what 'carrying a birch and begging for punishment' implies.


On this broiling hot day, who still eats raw ginger? Since there's no one eating raw ginger, how is it that you are all so fiery in the face?


Are you feeling so worn out!


I'll ask you of your mistress, and you and I will live together. If that won't do. I'll wait for your mistress to wake and appeal to her at once.


What's the hurry? 'A gold hair-pin may fall into the well; but if it's yours it will remain yours only.' Is it possible that you don't even see the spirit of this proverb? But I'll tell you a smart thing. Just you go into the small court, on the east side, and you'll find for yourself what Mr. Chia Huau and Ts'ai Yun are up to!


Let them be up to whatever they like. I shall simply stick to your side!


You mean wench! it's you, and the like of you, who corrupt these fine young fellows with all the nice things you teach them! Go and tell your mother, to fetch your elder sister away.


I won't venture to do it again. If you, Madame, wish to flog me, or to scold me do so at once, and as much as you like but don't send me away. You will thus accomplish an act of heavenly grace! I've been in attendance on your ladyship for about ten years, and if you now drive me away, will I be able to look at any one in the face?


Can it be possible, that this girl too is stupid? Can she also be following P'in Erh's example and come to inter flowers? Why if she's likewise really burying flowers, this can aptly be termed: 'Tung Shih tries to imitate a frown.' But not only is what she does not original, but it is despicable to boot. You needn't, try and copy Miss Lin's example. How fortunate, that I didn't make any reckless remark! It was all because of my inconsiderate talk on the last two occasions, that P'in Erh got angry with me, and that Pao-ch'ai felt hurt. And had I now given them offence also, I would have been in a still more awkward fix!


She too, must have been bent upon writing verses, or supplying some line or other, and at the sight now of the flowers, the idea must have suggested itself to her mind. Or it may very likely be that having spontaneously devised a couplet, she got suddenly elated and began, for fear it should slip from her memory, to trace it on the ground so as to tone the rhythm. Yet there's no saying. Let me see, however, what she's going to write next.


This girl must, for a certainty, have something to say, or some unspeakable momentous secret that she goes on like this. But if outwardly she behaves in this wise, who knows what anguish she mayn't suffer at heart? And yet, with a frame to all appearances so very delicate, how could she ever resist much inward anxiety! Woe is me that I'm unable to transfer some part of her burden on to my own shoulders! It's pouring, and how can a frame like hers resist the brunt of such a squall. Leave off writing! See, it's pouring; you're wet through!


Leave off writing.


It's pouring!


Many thanks, sister, for recalling me to my senses. Yet is there forsooth anything outside there to protect you from the rain? Ai-yah. This will never do,


who's it now knocking at the door? There's no one to go and open.


It's I,


It's Miss Pao-ch'ai's tone of voice,


Nonsense! What would Miss Pao-ch'ai come over to do at such an hour?


Let me go, and see through the fissure in the door, and if we can open, we'll open; for we mustn't let her go back, wet through. How could I ever have known, that you had returned, Sir! Yet how is it that you've run back in this heavy rain? Ai-yah!


You mean things! It's because I've always treated you so considerately that you don't respect me in the least! And you now go to the length of making a laughing-stock of me! Hallo! is it you who've come? Where did I kick you?


Instead of kicking, don't you yet go and change your clothes?


Up to the age I've reached, this is the first instance on which I've ever so thoroughly lost control over my temper as to strike any one; and, contrary to all my thoughts, it's you that happened to come in my way?


I've been here from the very first, so in all things, whether large or small, good or bad, it has naturally fallen to my share to bear the brunt. But not to say another word about your assault on me, why, to-morrow you'll indulge your hand and start beating others!


I did not strike you intentionally just now,


Who ever said, that you did it intentionally! It has ever been the duty of that tribe of servant-girls to open and shut the doors, yet they've got into the way of being obstinate, and have long ago become such an abomination that people's teeth itch to revenge themselves on them. They don't know, besides, what fear means. So had you first assured yourself that it was they and given them a kick, a little intimidating would have done them good. But I'm at the bottom of the mischief that happened just now, for not calling those, upon whom it devolves, to come and open for you.


Oh me! What are you up to?


You groaned in your dreams, so I must have kicked you hard. Do let me see!


My head feels giddy. My throat foul and sweet; throw the light on the floor!


Dreadful!


that the lives of young people, who expectorate blood, are uncertain, and that although they may live long, they are, after all, mere wrecks,


What's it that preys on your mind?


There's no rhyme or reason for anything, so what can it be? My troubling you is of no matter, but were I to put ever so many people to inconvenience, they'll bear me a grudge for my impudence. Not a soul, it's clear enough, knows anything about it now, but were you to make such a bustle as to bring it to people's notice, you'll be in an awkward fix, and so will I. The proper thing, therefore, is for you to send a page to-morrow to request Dr. Wang to prepare some medicine for me. When I take this I shall be all right. And as neither any human being nor spirit will thus get wind of it, won't it be better?


It's simply a bruise; nothing more,


You stupid thing! what a dunce! what next will you be up to by and bye? When, in a little time, you get married and have a home of your own, will you, forsooth, still go on in this happy-go-lucky careless sort of way?


Master Secundus, your temper is of late dreadfully fiery, and time and again it leaks out on your very face! The other day you even beat Hsi Jen and here you are again now finding fault with us! If you feel disposed to kick or strike us, you are at liberty, Sir, to do so at your pleasure; but for a fan to slip on the ground is an everyday occurrence! How many of those crystal jars and cornelian bowls were smashed the other time, I don't remember, and yet you were not seen to fly into a tantrum; and now, for a fan do you distress yourself so? What's the use of it? If you dislike us, well pack us off and select some good girls to serve you, and we will quietly go away. Won't this be better?


You needn't be in a hurry! There will be a day of parting by and bye.


what are you up to again? why, there's nothing to put your monkey up! I'm perfectly right in my assertion that when I'm away for any length of time, something is sure to happen.


Sister, since you've got the gift of the gab, you should have come at once; you would then have spared your master his fit of anger. It's you who have from bygone days up to the present waited upon master; we've never had anything to do with attending on him; and it's because you've served him so faithfully that he repaid you yesterday with a kick on the stomach. But who knows what punishment mayn't be in store for us, who aren't fit to wait upon him decently!


Dear sister, you had better be off for a stroll! it's really we, who are to blame!


I can't make out, who you may mean. But don't make me blush on your account! Even those devilish pranks of yours can't hoodwink me! How and why is it that you've started styling yourself as 'we?' Properly speaking, you haven't as yet so much as attained the designation of 'Miss!' You're simply no better than I am, and how is it then that you presume so high as to call yourself 'we.'


I'll actually raise her to-morrow to a higher status!


She's a stupid girl, what's the use of arguing with her? What's more, you've so far borne with them and overlooked ever, so many other things more grievous than this; and what are you up to to-day?


If I'm really a stupid girl, am I a fit person for you to hold converse with? Why, I'm purely and simply a slave-girl; that's all.


Are you, after all, bickering with me, or with Master Secundus? If you bear me a grudge, you'd better then address your remarks to me alone; albeit it isn't right that you should kick up such a hullaballoo in the presence of Mr. Secundus. But if you have a spite against Mr. Secundus, you shouldn't be shouting so boisterously as to make thousands of people know all about it! I came in, a few minutes back, merely for the purpose of setting matters right, and of urging you to make up your quarrels so that we should all be on the safe side; and here I have the unlucky fate of being set upon by you, Miss! Yet you neither seem to be angry with me, nor with Mr. Secundus! But armed cap-à-pie as you appear to be, what is your ultimate design? I won't utter another word, but let you have your say!


I've guessed the secret of your heart, so I'll go and tell mother that as you've also attained a certain age, she should send you away. Will this please you, yes or no?


Why should I go away? If even you be so prejudiced against me as to try and devise means to pack me off, you won't succeed.


You're certainly bent upon going! I might as well therefore let mother know so as to bundle you off!


Where are you off to?


I'm going to tell mother,


It's no use whatever! you may be in real earnest to go and tell her, but aren't you afraid of putting her to shame? If even she positively means to leave, you can very well wait until you two have got over this bad blood. And when everything is past and gone, it won't be any too late for you to explain, in the course of conversation, the whole case to our lady, your mother. But if you now go in hot haste and tell her, as if the matter were an urgent one, won't you be the means of making our mistress give way to suspicion?


is sure not to entertain any suspicions, as all I will explain to her is that she insists upon leaving.


When did I ever insist upon going? You fly into a rage, and then you have recourse to threats to intimidate me. But you're at liberty to go and say anything you like; for as I'll knock my brains out against the wall, I won't get alive out of this door.


This is, indeed, strange! If you won't go, what's the good of all this fuss? I can't stand this bawling, so it will be a riddance if you would get out of the way!


What would you have me do? This heart of mine has been rent to pieces, and no one has any idea about it!


On a grand holiday like this, how is it that you're snivelling away, and all for nothing? Is it likely that high words have resulted all through that 'dumpling' contest? You don't tell me, cousin Secundus, but I know all about it, even though I have asked no questions. My dear sister-in-law, just you tell me! It must surely be that you two have had a quarrel. Confide in me, your cousin, so that I might reconcile you.


Miss Lin, what are you fussing about? I am simply one of our servant-girls; you're therefore rather erratic in your talk!


and yet I treat you like a sister-in-law.


Why do you, give her this abusive epithet? But however much she may make allowance for this, can she, when there are so many others who tell idle tales on her account, put up with your coming and telling her all you've said?


Miss Lin, you're not aware of the purpose of my heart. Unless my breath fails and I die, I shall continue in his service.


what will others do, I wonder? As for me, I shall be the first to die from crying.


Were you to die. I shall become a bonze.


You'd better be a little more sober-minded! What's the good of coming out with all these things?


Up to this, he's become a bonze twice. Henceforward, I'll try and remember how many times you make up your mind to become a Buddhist priest!


Your disposition, has been more and more spoilt through indulgence. When you let the fan drop this morning, I simply made one or two remarks, and out you came with that long rigmarole. Had you gone for me it wouldn't have mattered; but you also dragged in Hsi Jen, who only interfered with every good intention of inducing us to make it up again. But, ponder now, ought you to have done it; yes or no?


With this intense heat, why do you pull me and toss me about? Should any people see you, what will they think? But this person of mine isn't meet to be seated in here.


Since you yourself know that it isn't meet, why then were you sleeping here?


It was all right, during your absence; but the moment you come, it isn't meet for me to stay! Get up and let me go and have my bath. Hsi Jen and She Yüeh have both had theirs, so I'll call them here!


I've just had again a good deal of wine, so a wash will be good for me. And since you've not had your bath, you had better bring the water and let's both have it together.


No, no! I cannot presume to put you to any trouble, Sir. I still remember how when Pi Hen used to look after your bath you occupied fully two or three hours. What you were up to during that time we never knew. We could not very well walk in. When you had however done washing, and we entered your room, we found the floor so covered with water that the legs of the bed were soaking and the matting itself a regular pool. Nor could we make out what kind of washing you'd been having; and for days afterwards we had a laugh over it. But I've neither any time to get the water ready; nor do I see the need for you to have a wash along with me. Besides, to-day it's chilly, and as you've had a bath only a little while back, you can very well just now dispense with one. But I'll draw a basin of water for you to wash your face, and to shampoo your head with. Not long ago, Yüan Yang sent you a few fruits; they were put in that crystal bowl, so you'd better tell them to bring them to you to taste.


Well, in that case. you needn't also have a bath. Just simply wash your hands, and bring the fruit and let's have some together.


I'm so shaky, that even fans slip out of my hands, and how could I fetch the fruit for you. Were I also to break the dish, it will be still more dreadful!


If you want to break it, break it! These things are only intended for general use. You like this thing; I fancy that; our respective tastes are not identical. The original use of that fan, for instance, was to fan one's self with; but if you chose to break it for fun, you were quite at liberty to do so. The only thing is, when you get angry don't make it the means of giving vent to your temper! Just like those salvers. They are really meant for serving things in. But if you fancy that kind of sound, then deliberately smash them, that will be all right. But don't, when you are in high dudgeon avail yourself of them to air your resentment! That's what one would call having a fancy for a thing!


Since that be so, bring me your fan and let me tear it. What most takes my fancy is tearing!


How nice the noise is! Tear it again and make it sound a little more!


Don't, be up to so much mischief!


Open the fan-box, and choose one and take it away! What, are they such fine things!


In that case, fetch the fans and let her break as many as she can. Won't that be nice!


Go and bring them at once!


I'm feeling tired. I'll therefore tear some more to-morrow again.


'that a thousand ounces of gold cannot purchase a single laugh'! What can a few fans cost?


I don't see why,


you wear all these things!'


It's entirely at aunt Secunda's bidding, that I put them on. Why, would any one of her own accord wear so many things!


Aunt, you're not aware that what most delights her in the matter of dress is to don other people's clothes! Yes, I remember how, during her stay here in the third and fourth moons of last year, she used to wear cousin Pao's pelisses. She even put on his shoes, and attached his frontlets as well round her head. At a casual glance, she looked the very image of cousin Pao; what was superfluous was that pair of earrings of hers. As she stood at the back of that chair she so thoroughly took in our venerable ancestor that she kept on shouting: 'Pao-yü, come over! Mind the tassels suspended on that lamp; for if you shake the dust off, it may get into your eyes!' But all she did was to laugh; she did not budge; and it was only after every one found it hard to keep their countenance that our worthy senior also started laughing. 'You do look well in male habiliments!' she said to her.


What about that! why, she had scarcely been here with us a couple of days in the first moon of last year, when we sent and fetched her, that we had a fall of snow. You, venerable senior, and her maternal aunt had on that day, I remember so well, just returned from worshipping the images of our ancestors, and a brand-new deep red felt wrapper of yours, dear grandmother, had been lying over there, when suddenly it disappeared. But, lo, she it was who had put it on! Being, however, too large and too long for her, she took a couple of handkerchiefs, and fastened them round her waist. She was then trudging into the back court with the servant-girls to make snow men when she tripped and fell flat in front of the drain, and got covered all over with mud.


Dame Chou, is your young lady always as fond of pranks as ever or not?


Pranks are nothing. What I do detest is her fondness for tittle-tattle! I've never seen any one who, even when asleep, goes on chatter-chatter; now laughing, and now talking, as she does. Nor can I make out where she gets all those idle yarns of hers.


I think she's better of late. The other day some party or other came and they met; so she's to have a mother-in-law very soon; and can she still be comporting herself like that!


Are you going to stay to-day, or going back home?


Your venerable ladyship has not seen what an amount of clothes we've brought. We mean, of course, to stay a couple of days.


Is cousin Pao-yü not at home?


There she's again! She doesn't think of others. She only thinks of her cousin Pao-yü. They're both so fond of larks! This proves that she hasn't yet got rid of that spirit of mischief.


You're all now grown up, and you shouldn't allude to infant names.


Cousin Yün, have you come? How is it that you wouldn't come the other day when some one was despatched to fetch you?


It's only a few minutes, since our venerable senior called that one to task, and now here he comes and refers to names and surnames!


Your cousin Pao, has something good, which he has been waiting to give you.


What good thing is it?


Do you believe what she says? But how many days is it that I have not seen you, and you've grown so much taller!


Is cousin Hsi Jen all right?


She's all right. Many thanks for your kind thought of her.


I've brought something nice for her. What's this something nice?


Wouldn't it have been better if you'd brought her a couple of those rings with streaked stones of the kind you sent the other day?


Why, what's this?


what a girl she is! Had you, when sending that fellow the other day to bring ours, given him these also to bring along with him, wouldn't it have saved trouble? Instead of that, here you fussily bring them yourself to-day! I presumed that it was something out of the way again; but is it really only these things? In very truth, you're a mere dunce!


It's you who behave like a dunce now! I’ll speak out here and let every one judge for themselves who is the dunce. The servant, deputed to bring the things to you, had no need to open his mouth and say anything; for, as soon as they were brought in, it was of course evident, at a glance, that they were to be presented to you young ladies. But had he been the bearer of these things for them, I would have been under the necessity of explaining to him which was intended for this servant-girl, and which for that. Had the messenger had his wits about him, well and good; but had he been at all stupid he wouldn't have been able to remember so much as the names of the girls! He would have made an awful mess of it, and talked a lot of nonsense. So instead of being of any use he would have even muddled, hickledy-pickledy, your things. Had a female servant been despatched, it would have been all right. But as it happened, a servant-boy was again sent the other day, so how could he have mentioned the names of the waiting-girls? And by my bringing them in person to give them to them, doesn't it make things clearer? One is for sister Hsi Jen, one is for sister Yüan Yang. One for sister Chin Ch'uan-erh, and one for sister P'ing Erh. They are only for these four girls; but would the servant-boys too forsooth have remembered them so clearly!


She doesn't spare any one!


If she didn't know how to use her tongue, would she deserve to wear that unicorn of gold!


How is it, that these lotus flowers have not yet opened?


The proper season hasn't yet arrived,


resemble those in our pond; they are double flowers.


These here, are not however up to ours.


They have over there, a pomegranate tree, with four or five branches joined one to another, just like one storey raised above another storey. What trouble it must have cost them to rear!


Flowers and plants, are precisely like the human race. With sufficient vitality, they grow up in a healthy condition.


I can't credit these words. If you maintain that they are like human beings, how is it that I haven't seen any person, with one head growing over another.


I tell you not to talk, but you will insist upon talking! How do you expect people to be able to answer every thing you say! All things, whether in heaven or on earth come into existence by the co-operation of the dual powers, the male and female. So all things, whether good or bad, novel or strange, and all those manifold changes and transformations arise entirely from the favourable or adverse influence exercised by the male and female powers. And though some things seldom seen by mankind might come to life, the principle at work is, after all, the same.


In the face of these arguments, everything, from old till now, from the very creation itself, embodies a certain proportion of the Yin and Yang principles.


You stupid thing! the more you talk, the more stuff and nonsense falls from your lips! What about everything embodying a certain proportion of the principles Yin and Yang! Besides, the two words Yin and Yang are really one word; for when the Yang principle is exhausted, it becomes the Yin; and when the Yin is exhausted, it becomes Yang. And it isn't that, at the exhaustion of the Yin, another Yang comes into existence; and that, at the exhaustion of the Yang, a second Yin arises.


This trash is sufficient to kill me! What are the Yin and Yang? Why, they are without substance or form! But pray, Miss, tell me what sort of things these Yin and Yang can be!


The Yin and Yang, are no more than spirits, but anything affected by their influence at once assumes form. The heavens, for instance, are Yang, and the earth is Yin; water is Yin and fire is Yang; the sun is Yang and the moon Yin.


Quite so! quite so! I've at length attained perception! It isn't strange then that people invariably call the sun 'T'ai-yang.' While astrologers keep on speaking of the moon as 'T'ai-yin-hsing,' or something like it. It must be on account of this principle.


O-mi-to-fu! you have at last understood!


All these things possess the Yin and Yang; that's all right. But is there any likelihood that all those mosquitoes, flees and worms, flowers, herbs, bricks and tiles have, in like manner, anything to do with the Yin and Yang?


How don't they! For example, even the leaves of that tree are distinguished by Yin and Yang. The side, which looks up and faces the sun, is called Yang; while that in the shade and looking downwards, is called Yin.


Is it really so! Now I know all about it! But which is Yang and which Yin in these fans we're holding.


This side, the front, is Yang, and that, the reverse, is Yin.


This, Miss, cannot likely also have any Yin and Yang!


The beasts of the field and the birds of the air, are, the cock birds, Yang, and the hen birds, Yin. The females of beasts are Yin; and the males, Yang; so how is there none?


Is this male, or is this female?


Ts'ui! what about male and female! Here you are with your nonsense again.


Well, never mind about that. But how is it that all things have Yin and Yang, and that we human beings have no Yin and no Yang?


You low-bred thing! But it's better for us to proceed on our way, for the more questions you ask, the nicer they get.


What's there in this that you can't tell me? But I know all about it, so there's no need for you to keep me on pins and needles.


What do you know?


That you, Miss, are Yang, and that I'm Yin. What I say must be right for you to laugh in this way,


Perfectly right, perfectly right!


People say, that masters are Yang, and that servant-girls are Yin; don't I even apprehend this primary principle?


You apprehend it thoroughly. Do you see that? What is it?


Let us find out whether it's Yin or Yang! It's a precious gem. You mayn't see it, Miss. Where can it be from? How very strange it is! I've never seen any one in here with anything of the kind.


Give it to me and let me look at it,


Yes, Miss, please look at it!


What are you two, doing here in the sun? How is it you don't go and find Hsi Jen?


We were just going, so let us all go together.


You should have come earlier. I've got something nice and was only waiting for you. Ai-ya! Have you perchance put that thing away?


What thing?


The unicorn. I got the other day.


You've daily worn it about you, and how is it you ask me?


I've lost it! Where can I go and look for it!


When did you too, get a unicorn?


I got it the other day, after ever so much trouble; but I can't make out when I can have lost it! I've also become quite addle-headed.


Fortunately, it's only a sort of a toy! Still, are you so careless? Just see, is it this or not?


Lucky enough it was you who picked it up! But when did you find it?


Fortunately it was only this! If you by and bye also lose your seal, will you likely banish it at once from your mind, and never make an effort to discover it?


After all, the loss of a seal is an ordinary occurrence. But had I lost this, I would have deserved to die.


Miss Senior. I heard that you had occasion the other day to be highly pleased. Here you are again full of shame! But do you remember when we were living, about ten years back, in those warm rooms on the west side and you confided in me one evening, you didn't feel any shame then; and how is it you blush like this now?


Do you still speak about that! You and I were then great friends. But when our mother subsequently died and I went home for a while, how is it you were at once sent to be with my cousin Secundus, and that now that I've come back you don't treat me as you did once?


Are you yet harping on this! Why, at first, you used to coax me with a lot of endearing terms to comb your hair and to wash your face, to do this and that for you. But now that you've become a big girl, you assume the manner of a young mistress towards me, and as you put on these airs of a young mistress, how can I ever presume to be on a familiar footing with you?


O-mi-to-fu. What a false accusation! If I be guilty of anything of the kind, may I at once die! Just see what a broiling hot day this is, and yet as soon as I arrived I felt bound to come and look you up first. If you don't believe me, well, ask Lü Erh! And while at home, when did I not at every instant say something about you?


We were only joking, but you've taken everything again as gospel. What! are you still so impetuous in your temperament!


You don't say, that your words are hard things to swallow, but contrariwise, call people's temperaments impetuous!


When; you sent those to your cousin the other day, I got one also; and here you yourself bring me another to-day! It's clear enough therefore that you haven't forgotten me. This alone has been quite enough to test you. As for the ring itself, what is its worth? but it's a token of the sincerity of your heart!


Who gave it to you?


Miss Pao let me have it.


I was under the impression, that it was a present from cousin Lin. But is it really cousin Pao, that gave it to you! When I was at home, I day after day found myself reflecting that among all these cousins of mine, there wasn't one able to compare with cousin Pao, so excellent is she. How I do regret that we are not the offspring of one mother! For could I boast of such a sister of the same flesh and blood as myself, it wouldn't matter though I had lost both father and mother!


Never mind! never mind! Why need you speak of these things!


If I do allude to this, what does it matter? I know that weak point of yours. You're in fear and trembling lest your cousin Lin should come to hear what I say, and get angry with me again for eulogising cousin Pao! Now isn't it this, eh!


Ch'ih! Miss Yün, now that you've grown up to be a big girl you've become more than ever openhearted and outspoken.


When I contend; that it is difficult to say a word to any one of you I'm indeed perfectly correct!


My dear cousin, don't go on in that strain! You'll provoke me to displeasure. When you are with me all you are good for is to talk and talk away; but were you to catch a glimpse of cousin Lin, you would once more be quite at a loss to know what best to do!


Now, enough of your jokes! I have a favour to crave of you.


What is it?


I've got a pair of shoes, for which I've stuck the padding together; but I'm not feeling up to the mark these last few days, so I haven't been able to work at them. If you have any leisure, do finish them for me.


This is indeed strange! Putting aside all the skilful workers engaged in your household, you have besides some people for doing needlework and others for tailoring and cutting; and how is it you appeal to me to take your shoes in hand? Were you to ask any one of those men to execute your work, who could very well refuse to do it?


Here you are in another stupid mood! Can it be that you don't know that our sewing in these quarters mayn't be done by these needleworkers.


Since that be the case. I'll work them for you. There's however one thing. I'll readily attend to any of yours, but I will have nothing to do with any for other people.


There you are again! Who am I to venture to trouble you to make shoes for me? I'll tell you plainly, however, that they are not mine. But no matter whose they are, it is anyhow I who'll be the recipient of your favour; that is sufficient.


To speak the truth, you've put me to the trouble of working, I don't know how many things for you. The reason why I refuse on this occasion should be quite evident to you!


I can't nevertheless make it out!


I heard the other day, that while the fan-case, I had worked, was being held and compared with that of some one else, it too was slashed away in a fit of high dudgeon. This reached my ears long ago, and do you still try to dupe me by asking me again now to make something more for you? Have I really become a slave to you people?


As to what occurred the other day. I positively had no idea that that thing was your handiwork.


He never knew that you'd done it. I deceived him by telling him that there had been of late some capital hands at needlework outside, who could execute any embroidery with surpassing beauty, and that I had asked them to bring a fan-case so as to try them and to see whether they could actually work well or not. He at once believed what I said. But as he produced the case and gave it to this one and that one to look at, he somehow or other, I don't know how, managed again to put some one's back up, and she cut it into two. On his return, however, he bade me hurry the men to make another; and when at length I explained to him that it had been worked by you, he felt, I can't tell you, what keen regret!


This is getting stranger and stranger! It wasn't worth the while for Miss Lin to lose her temper about it. But as she plies the scissors so admirably, why, you might as well tell her to finish the shoes for you.


She couldn't, for besides other things our venerable lady is still in fear and trembling lest she should tire herself in any way. The doctor likewise says that she will continue to enjoy good health, so long as she is carefully looked after; so who would wish to ask her to take them in hand? Last year she managed to just get through a scented bag, after a whole year's work. But here we've already reached the middle of the present year, and she hasn't yet taken up any needle or thread!


that the gentleman who lived in the Hsing Lung Street had come. Our master, bids you, Mr. Secundus, come out and greet him.


Why there's father, to sit with him; that should be enough; and must he, on every visit he pays, insist upon seeing me!


It is, of course, because you have such a knack for receiving and entertaining visitors that Mr. Chia Cheng will have you go out,


Is it father's doing? Why, it's he himself who asks that I should be sent for to see him.


'When a host is courteous, visitors come often,' so it's surely because you possess certain qualities, which have won his regard, that he insists upon seeing you.


But I am not what one would call courteous. I am, of all coarse people, the coarsest. Besides, I do not choose to have any relations with such people as himself.


Here's again that unchangeable temperament of yours! But you're a big fellow now, and you should at least, if you be loth to study and go and pass your examinations for a provincial graduate or a metropolitan graduate, have frequent intercourse with officers and ministers of state and discuss those varied attainments, which one acquires in an official career, so that you also may be able in time to have some idea about matters in general; and that when by and bye you've made friends, they may not see you spending the whole day long in doing nothing than loafing in our midst, up to every imaginable mischief.


Miss, pray go and sit in some other girl's room, for mind one like myself may contaminate a person who knows so much of attainments and experience as you do.


Miss, drop this at once! Last time Miss Pao too tendered him this advice, but without troubling himself as to whether people would feel uneasy or not, he simply came out with an ejaculation of 'hai,' and rushed out of the place. Miss Pao hadn't meanwhile concluded her say, so when she saw him fly, she got so full of shame that, flushing scarlet, she could neither open her lips, nor hold her own counsel. But lucky for him it was only Miss Pao. Had it been Miss Lin, there's no saying what row there may not have been again, and what tears may not have been shed! Yet the very mention of all she had to tell him is enough to make people look up to Miss Pao with respect. But after a time, she also betook herself away. I then felt very unhappy as I imagined that she was angry; but contrary to all my expectations, she was by and bye just the same as ever. She is, in very truth, long-suffering and indulgent! This other party contrariwise became quite distant to her, little though one would have thought it of him; and as Miss Pao perceived that he had lost his temper, and didn't choose to heed her, she subsequently made I don't know how many apologies to him.


Did Miss Lin ever talk such trash! Had she ever talked such stuff and nonsense, I would have long ago become chilled towards her.


What you say is all trash!


Hsiang-yün


In the foreign traditions and wild stories, introduced here of late by Pao-yü, literary persons and pretty girls are, for the most part, brought together in marriage, through the agency of some trifling but ingenious nick-nack. These people either have miniature ducks, or phoenixes, jade necklets or gold pendants, fine handkerchiefs or elegant sashes; and they have, through the instrumentality of such trivial objects, invariably succeeded in accomplishing the wishes they entertained throughout their lives.


Cousin Lin has never indulged in such stuff and nonsense. Had she ever uttered any such trash, I would have become chilled even towards her!


because, he has, in the presence of so many witnesses, displayed such partiality as to speak in my praise, and has shown such affection and friendliness for me as to make no attempt whatever to shirk suspicion. for since,


Cousin Lin, where are you off to? How is it that you're crying again? Who has once more hurt your feelings?


Why should I be crying, when there is no reason to do so?


Look here! The tears in your eyes are not dry yet and do you still tell me a fib?


Are you again bent, upon compassing your own death! Then why do you knock your hands and kick your feet about in this wise?


While intent upon speaking, I forgot, all about propriety and gesticulated, yet quite inadvertently. But what care I whether I die or live!


To die would, after all be for you of no matter; but you'll leave behind some gold or other, and a unicorn too or other; and what would they do?


Do you still give vent to such language? Why, it's really tantamount to invoking imprecations on me! What, are you yet angry with me!


Now don't you distress your mind! I verily said what I shouldn't! Yet what is there in this to make your veins protrude, and to so provoke you as to bedew your whole face with perspiration?


Do set your mind at ease!


What's there to make my mind uneasy? I can't make out what you're driving at; tell me what's this about making me easy or uneasy?


Don't you truly fathom the depth of my words? Why, do you mean to say that I've throughout made such poor use of my love for you as not to be able to even divine your feelings? Well, if so, it's no wonder that you daily lose your temper on my account!


I actually don't understand what you mean by easy or uneasy,


My dear girl. Don't be making a fool of me! For if you can't make out these words, not only have I ever uselessly lavished affection upon you, but the regard, with which you have always treated me, has likewise been entirely of no avail! And it's mostly because you won't set your mind at ease that your whole frame is riddled with disease. Had you taken things easier a bit, this ailment of yours too wouldn't have grown worse from day to day!


My dear cousin, do stop a bit! Let me tell you just one thing; after that, you may go.


What can you have to tell me? I know. all you have to say.


You left, without even taking a fan with you. Happily I noticed it, and so hurried to catch you up and bring it to you.


My dear cousin. I couldn't hitherto muster enough courage to disclose the secrets of my heart; but on this occasion I shall make bold and give utterance to them. For you I'm quite ready to even pay the penalty of death. I have too for your sake brought ailments upon my whole frame. It's in here! But I haven't ventured to breathe it to any one. My only alternative has been to bear it patiently, in the hope that when you got all right, I might then perchance also recover. But whether I sleep, or whether I dream, I never, never forget you.


Oh spirits, oh heaven, oh Buddha, he's compassing my death! what is it you're saying? May it be that you are possessed by some evil spirit! Don't you quick get yourself off?


What! are you dreaming away in a hot broiling sun like this?


Those two birds, were having a fight, and such fun was it that I stopped to watch them.


I just caught sight of him, as he went by. I meant to have called out and stopped him, but as he, of late, talks greater rubbish than ever, I didn't challenge him, but let him go past.


Our master, sent for him to go out.


Ai-yah! What does he want him for, on a scalding day like this? Might he not have thought of something and got so angry about it as to send for him to give him a lecture!


If it isn't this, some visitor must, I presume, have come and he wishes him to meet him.


With weather like this, even visitors afford no amusement! Why don't they, while this fiery temperature lasts, stay at home, where it's much cooler, instead of gadding about all over the place?


Could you tell them so?


What was that girl Hsiang-yün doing in your quarters?


She only came to chat with us on irrelevant matters. But did you see the pair of shoes I was pasting the other day? Well, I meant to ask her to-morrow to finish them for me.


How is it, that you, who have so much gumption, don't ever show any respect for people's feelings? I've been of late keeping an eye on Miss Yün's manner, and, from what I can glean from the various rumours afloat, she can't be, in the slightest degree, her own mistress at home! In that family of theirs, so little can they stand the burden of any heavy expenses that they don't employ any needlework-people, and ordinary everyday things are mostly attended to by their ladies themselves. (If not), why is it that every time she has come to us on a visit, and she and I have had a chat, she at once broached the subject of their being in great difficulties at home, the moment she perceived that there was no one present? Yet, whenever I went on to ask her a few questions about their usual way of living, her very eyes grew red, while she made some indistinct reply; but as for speaking out, she wouldn't. But when I consider the circumstances in which she is placed, for she has certainly had the misfortune of being left, from her very infancy, without father and mother, the very sight of her is too much for me, and my heart begins to bleed within me.


Quite so! Quite so! It isn't strange then if she let me have the ten butterfly knots I asked her to tie for me only after ever so many days, and if she said that they were coarsely done, but that I should make the best of them and use them elsewhere, and that if I wanted any nice ones, I should wait until by and bye when she came to stay here, when she would work some neatly for me. What you've told me now reminds me that, as she had found it difficult to find an excuse when we appealed to her, she must have had to slave away, who knows how much, till the third watch in the middle of the night. What a stupid thing I was! Had I known this sooner, I would never have told her a word about it.


Last time; she told me that when she was at home she had ample to do, that she kept busy as late as the third watch, and that, if she did the slightest stitch of work for any other people, the various ladies, belonging to her family, did not like it.


But as it happens, that mulish-minded and perverse-tempered young master of ours won't allow the least bit of needlework, no matter whether small or large, to be made by those persons employed to do sewing in the household. And as for me, I have no time to turn my attention to all these things.


Why mind him? Simply ask some one to do the work and finish.


How could one bamboozle him? Why, he'll promptly find out everything. Such a thing can't even be suggested. The only thing I can do is to quietly slave away, that's all.


You shouldn't work so hard. What do you say to my doing a few things for you?


Are you in real earnest! Well, in that case, it is indeed a piece of good fortune for me! I'll come over myself in the evening. Where does the report come from, that Miss Chin Ch'uan-erh has gone, for no rhyme or reason, and committed suicide by jumping into the well? Which Chin Ch'uan-erh is it,


Where are two Chin Ch'uan-erhs to be found! It's the one in our Mistress,' Madame Wang's, apartments, who was the other day sent away for something or other, I don't know what. On her return home, she raised her groans to the skies and shed profuse tears, but none of them worried their minds about her, until, who'd have thought it, they could see nothing of her. A servant, however, went just now to draw water and he says that 'while he was getting it from the well in the south-east corner, he caught sight of a dead body, that he hurriedly called men to his help, and that when they fished it out, they unexpectedly found that it was she, but that though they bustled about trying to bring her round, everything proved of no avail'


This is odd!


Where do you come from?


I come from inside the garden,


As you come from the garden, did you see anything of your cousin Pao-yü?


I saw him just now, go out, dressed up in his fineries. But where he is gone to, I don't know.


Have you perchance heard of any strange occurrence? Why, Chin Ch'uan Erh jumped into the well and committed suicide.


How is it that she jumped into the well when there was nothing to make her do so? This is indeed a remarkable thing!


The fact is, that she spoilt something the other day, and in a sudden fit of temper, I gave her a slap and sent her away, simply meaning to be angry with her for a few days and then bring her in again. But, who could have ever imagined that she had such a resentful temperament as to go and drown herself in a well! And is not this all my fault?


It's because you are such a kind-hearted person, aunt, that such ideas cross your mind! But she didn't jump into the well when she was in a tantrum; so what must have made her do so was that she had to go and live in the lower quarters. Or, she might have been standing in front of the well, and her foot slipped, and she fell into it. While in the upper rooms, she used to be kept under restraint, so when this time she found herself outside, she must, of course, have felt the wish to go strolling all over the place in search of fun. How could she have ever had such a fiery disposition? But even admitting that she had such a temper, she was, after all, a stupid girl to do as she did; and she doesn't deserve any pity.


In spite of what you say. I really feel unhappy at heart.


You shouldn't, aunt, distress your mind about it! Yet, if you feel very much exercised, just give her a few more taels than you would otherwise have done, and let her be buried. You'll thus carry out to the full the feelings of a mistress towards her servant.


I just now gave them fifty taels for her. I also meant to let them have some of your cousin's new clothes to enshroud her in. But, who'd have thought it, none of the girls had, strange coincidence, any newly-made articles of clothing; and there were only that couple of birthday suits of your cousin Lin's. But as your cousin Lin has ever been such a sensitive child and has always too suffered and ailed, I thought it would be unpropitious for her, if her clothes were also now handed to people to wrap their dead in, after she had been told that they were given her for her birthday. So I ordered a tailor to get a suit for her as soon as possible. Had it been any other servant-girl, I could have given her a few taels and have finished. But Chin Ch'uan-erh was, albeit a servant-maid, nearly as dear to me as if she had been a daughter of mine.


Aunt! What earthly use is it of hurrying a tailor just now to prepare clothes for her? I have a couple of suits I made the other day and won't it save trouble were I to go and bring them for her? Besides, when she was alive, she used to wear my old clothes. And what's more our figures are much alike.


What you say is all very well, but can it be that it isn't distasteful to you?


Compose your mind. I have never paid any heed to such things.


Hallo!


Why are you, drooping your head in such a melancholy mood, and indulging in all these moans? When Yü-ts'un came just now and he asked to see you, you only put in your appearance after a long while. But though you did come, you were not in the least disposed to chat with anything like cheerfulness and animation; you behaved, as you ever do, like a regular fool. I detected then in your countenance a certain expression of some hidden hankering and sadness; and now again here you are groaning and sighing! Does all you have not suffice to please you? Are you still dissatisfied? You've no reason to be like this, so why is it that you go on in this way?


You come, Sir, at the instance of his royal highness, but what, I wonder, are the commands you have to give me? I hope you will explain them to your humble servant, worthy Sir, in order to enable him to carry them out effectively.


There's nothing to carry out,


All you, venerable Sir, have to do is to utter one single word and the whole thing will be effected. There is in our mansion a certain Ch'i Kuan, who plays the part of young ladies. He hitherto stayed quietly in the mansion; but for the last three or five days or so no one has seen him return home. Search has been instituted in every locality, yet his whereabouts cannot be discovered. But throughout these various inquiries, eight out of the ten tenths of the inhabitants of the city have, with one consent, asserted that he has of late been on very friendly terms with that honourable son of yours, who was born with the jade in his mouth. This report was told your servant and his colleagues, but as your worthy mansion is unlike such residences as we can take upon ourselves to enter and search with impunity, we felt under the necessity of laying the matter before our imperial master. 'Had it been any of the other actors,' his highness also says, 'I wouldn't have minded if even one hundred of them had disappeared; but this Ch'i Kuan has always been so ready with pat repartee, so respectful and trustworthy that he has thoroughly won my aged heart, and I could never do without him.' He entreats you, therefore, worthy Sir, to, in your turn, plead with your illustrious scion, and request him to let Ch'i Kuan go back, in order that the feelings, which prompt the Prince to make such earnest supplications, may, in the first place, be satisfied: and that, in the next, your mean servant and his associates may be spared the fatigue of toiling and searching.


What a regular scoundrel you are! It is enough that you won't read your books at home; but will you also go in for all these lawless and wrongful acts? That Ch'i Kuan is a person whose present honourable duties are to act as an attendant on his highness the Prince of Chung Shun, and how extremely heedless of propriety must you be to have enticed him, without good cause, to come away, and thus have now brought calamity upon me?


I really don't know anything about the matter! To what do, after all, the two words Ch'i Kuan refer, I wonder! Still less, besides, am I aware what entice can imply!


Young gentleman,


you shouldn't conceal anything! if he be either hidden in your home, or if you know his whereabouts, divulge the truth at once; so that less trouble should fall to our lot than otherwise would. And will we not then bear in mind your virtue, worthy scion!


I positively don't know. There must, I fear, be some false rumour abroad; for I haven't so much as seen anything of him.


There's evidence at hand,


so if you compel me to speak out before your venerable father, won't you, young man, have to suffer the consequences? But as you assert that you don't know who this person is, how is it that that red sash has come to be attached to your waist?


Sir, how is it that despite your acquaintance with all these minute details, you have no inkling of his having purchased a house? Are you ignorant of an essential point like this? I've heard people say that he's, at present, staying in the eastern suburbs at a distance of twenty li from the city walls; at some place or other called Tzu T'an Pao, and that he has bought there several acres of land and a few houses. So I presume he's to be found in that locality; but of course there's no saying.


According to your version,


he must for a certainty be there. I shall therefore go and look for him. If he's there, well and good; but if not, I shall come again and request you to give me further directions.


What are you running about for? These menials of yours do not mind you, but go who knows where, and let you roam about like a wild horse! Where are the attendants who wait on you at school?


I wasn't running about just now But as I was passing by the side of that well, I caught sight, for in that well a servant-girl was drowned, of a human head that large, a body that swollen, floating about in really a frightful way and I therefore hastily rushed past.


There's been nothing up, so who has gone and jumped into the well? Never has there been anything of the kind in my house before! Ever since the time of our ancestors, servants have invariably been treated with clemency and consideration. But I expect that I must of late have become remiss in my domestic affairs, and that the managers must have arrogated to themselves the right of domineering and so been the cause of bringing about such calamities as violent deaths and disregard of life. Were these things to reach the ears of people outside, what will become of the reputation of our seniors? Call Chia Lien and Lai Ta here!


Father, why need you be angry? Excluding the people in Madame Wang's rooms, this occurrence is entirely unknown to any of the rest; and I have heard my mother mention…. My mother, told me that when brother Pao-yü was, the other day, in Madame Wang's apartments, he seized her servant-maid Chin Ch'uan-erh with the intent of dishonouring her. That as he failed to carry out his design, he gave her a thrashing, which so exasperated Chin Ch'uan-erh that she threw herself into the well and committed suicide….


Bring Pao-yü here,


Bring Pao-yü! Bring Pao-yü! Fetch a big stick; bring a rope and tie him up; close all the doors! If any one does communicate anything about it in the inner rooms, why, I'll immediately beat him to death.


Go in, at once and tell them that my father wishes to beat me to death. Be quick, be quick, for it's urgent, there's no time to be lost.


If she wants to jump into the well, let her do so. What's there to make you fear, Master Secundus?


Go out, and tell my page to come.


What's there left unsettled? Everything has been finished long ago! A tip has also been given them; so how is it things are not settled?


Gag his mouth and positively beat him till he dies!


You people, had better ask him whether the tricks he has been up to deserve to be overlooked or not! It's you who have all along so thoroughly spoilt him as to make him reach this degree of depravity! And do you yet come to advise me to spare him? When by and bye you've incited him to commit parricide or regicide, you will at length, then, give up trying to dissuade me, eh?


Of course, of course, what you want to do to-day is to make me succumb to anger!


Pao-yü does, I admit, merit to be beaten, but you should also, my lord, take good care of yourself! The weather, besides, is extremely hot, and our old lady is not feeling quite up to the mark. Were you to knock Pao-yü about and kill him, it would not matter much; but were perchance our venerable senior to suddenly fall ill, wouldn't it be a grave thing?


Better not talk about such things! By my bringing up such a degenerate child of retribution I have myself become unfilial! Whenever I've had to call him to account, there has always been a whole crowd of you to screen him; so isn't it as well for me to avail myself of to-day to put an end to his cur-like existence and thus prevent future misfortune?


My lord and master, it is your duty, of course, to keep your son in proper order, but you should also regard the relationship of husband and wife. I'm already a woman of fifty and I've only got this scapegrace. Was there any need for you to give him such a bitter lesson? I wouldn't presume to use any strong dissuasion; but having, on this occasion, gone so far as to harbour the design of killing him, isn't this a fixed purpose on your part to cut short my own existence? But as you are bent upon strangling him, be quick and first strangle me before you strangle him! It will be as well that we, mother and son, should die together, so that if even we go to hell, we may be able to rely upon each other!


Chia Chu, if but you were alive, I would not care if even one hundred died!


Our dowager lady has come!


If you were to beat me to death and then despatch him, won't you be clear of us!


On a hot broiling day like this, what made you, mother, get so angry as to rush over in person? Had you anything to enjoin me, you could have sent for me, your son, and given me your orders.


Are you really chiding me? It's I who should call you to task! But as the son, I've brought up, isn't worth a straw, to whom can I go and address a word?


The reason why, your son corrects his offspring is a desire to reflect lustre on his ancestors and splendour on his seniors; so how can I, your son, deserve the rebuke with which you greet me, mother?


I made just one remark, and you couldn't stand it, and can Pao-yü likely put up with that death-working cane? You say that your object in correcting your son is to reflect lustre on your ancestors and splendour on your seniors, but in what manner did your father correct you in days gone by?


Mother; you shouldn't distress yourself! Your son did it in a sudden fit of rage, but from this time forth I won't touch him again.


But you shouldn't get into a huff with me! He's your son, so if you choose to flog him, you can naturally do so, but I cannot help thinking that you're sick and tired of me, your mother, of your wife and of your son, so wouldn't it be as well that we should get out of your way, the sooner the better, as we shall then be able to enjoy peace and quiet? Go and look after the chairs. I and your lady as well as Pao-yü will, without delay, return to Nanking. You needn't indulge in sorrow! Pao-yü is now young, and you cherish him fondly; but does it follow that when in years to come he becomes an official, he'll remember that you are his mother? You mustn't therefore at present lavish too much of your affection upon him, so that you may by and bye, spare yourself, at least, some displeasure.


Your remarks mother, cut the ground under your son's very feet.


You distinctly act in a way, sufficient to deprive me of any ground to stand upon, and then you, on the contrary, go and speak about yourself! But when we shall have gone back, your mind will be free of all trouble. We'll see then who'll interfere and dissuade you from beating people!


You stupid things, won't you open your eyes and see! How ever could he be raised and made to walk in the state he's in! Don't you yet instantly run inside and fetch some rattan slings and a bench to carry him out of this on?


My flesh; My son, if you had died sooner, instead of Chu Erh, and left Chu Erh behind you, you would have saved your father these fits of anger, and even I would not have had to fruitlessly worry and fret for half of my existence! Were anything to happen now to make you forsake me, upon whom will you have me depend?


If your son isn't good, it is naturally for you to exercise control over him. But you shouldn't beat him to such a pitch! Don't you yet bundle yourself away? What are you dallying in here for? Is it likely, pray, that your heart is not yet satisfied, and that you wish to feast your eyes by seeing him die before you go?


Why is it, that he was beaten just now without the least provocation; and that you didn't run over soon to tell me a word about it?


It happened, that I wasn't present. It was only after he had given him half the flogging that I heard what was going on, and lost no time in ascertaining what it was all about. It's on account of those affairs connected with Ch'i Kuan and that girl Chin Ch'uan.


How did these things come to master's knowledge?


As for that affair with Ch'i Kuan, it is very likely Mr. Hsüeh P'an who has let it out; for as he has ever been jealous, he may, in the absence of any other way of quenching his resentment, have instigated some one or other outside, who knows, to come and see master and add fuel to his anger. As for Chin Ch'uan-erh's affair it has presumably been told him by Master Tertius. This I heard from the lips of some person, who was in attendance upon master.


How was it that he beat you to such extremes?


It was simply, about those trifles. But what's the use of your asking me about them? The lower part of my body is so very sore! Do look and see where I'm bruised! ai-ya.


My mother! how is it that he struck you with such a ruthless hand! Had you minded the least bit of my advice to you, things wouldn't have come to such a pass! Luckily, no harm was done to any tendon or bone; for had you been crippled by the thrashing you got, what could we do?


At night, take these medicines and dissolve them in wine and then apply them on him, and, when the fiery virus from that stagnant blood has been dispelled, he'll be all right again. Is he feeling any better now?


Thanks! I'm feeling better,


If you had long ago listened to the least bit of the advice tendered to you by people things would not have reached this climax to-day. Not to speak of the pain experienced by our dear ancestor and aunt Wang, the sight of you in this state makes even us feel at heart….


How is it that he got angry, without rhyme or reason, and started beating him?


Cousin Hsüeh, has never been like that; you people mustn't therefore give way to idle surmises!


He has been beaten to such a pitch, and yet, heedless of his own pains and aches, he's still so careful not to hurt people's feelings. But since you can be so considerate, why don't you take a little more care in greater concerns outside, so that your father should feel a little happier, and that you also should not have to suffer such bitter ordeals! But notwithstanding that the dread of my feeling hurt has prompted you to interrupt Hsi Jen in what she had to tell me, is it likely that I am blind to the fact that my brother has ever followed his fancies, allowed his passions to run riot, and never done a thing to exercise any check over himself? His temperament is such that he some time back created, all on account of that fellow Ch'in Chung, a rumpus that turned heaven and earth topsy-turvy; and, as a matter of course, he's now far worse than he was ever before! You people, shouldn't bear this one or that one a grudge. I can't help thinking that it's, after all, because of your usual readiness, cousin Pao-yü, to hobnob with that set that your father recently lost control over his temper. But assuming that my brother did speak in a careless manner and did casually allude to you cousin Pao-yü, it was with no design to instigate any one! In the first place, the remarks he made were really founded on actual facts; and secondly, he's not one to ever trouble himself about such petty trifles as trying to guard against animosities. Ever since your youth up, Miss Hsi, you've simply had before your eyes a person so punctilious as cousin Pao-yü, but have you ever had any experience of one like that brother of mine, who neither fears the powers in heaven or in earth, and who readily blurts out all he thinks?


I'll come again to see you to-morrow, but take good care of yourself! I gave the medicines I brought just now to Hsi Jen; let her rub you with them at night and I feel sure you'll get all right.


Miss, we've really put you to the trouble of coming. Some other day, when Mr. Secundus is well, I shall come in person to thank you.


What's there to thank me for? But mind, you advise him to carefully tend his health, and not to give way to idle thoughts and reckless ideas, and he'll recover. If there's anything he fancies to eat or to amuse himself with, come quietly over to me and fetch it for him. There will be no use to disturb either our old lady, or Madame Wang, or any of the others; for in the event of its reaching Mr. Chia Cheng's ear, nothing may, at the time, come of it; but if by and bye he finds it to be true, we'll, doubtless, suffer for it!


You might as well go and comb your hair and perform your ablutions; come in, when I call you.


Ai-yo. What do you once more come here for? The sun, it is true, has set; but the heat remaining on the ground hasn't yet gone, so you may, by coming over, get another sunstroke. Of course, I've had a thrashing but I don't feel any pains or aches. If I behave in this fashion, it's all put on to work upon their credulity, so that they may go and spread the reports outside in such a way as to reach my father's ear. Really it's all sham; so you mustn't treat it as a fact!


You must after this turn over a new leaf.


Compose your mind. Don't speak to me like this; for I am quite prepared to even lay down my life for all those persons!


Our lady Secunda has arrived.


I'm off, out by the back-court. I'll look you up again by and bye.


This is indeed strange! How is it that you've deliberately started living in fear and trembling of her!


Look at my eyes! Must those people amuse themselves again by poking fun at me?


Are you better? If you fancy anything to eat, mind you send some one over to my place to fetch it for you.


Aunts, you've come a little too late; Master Secundus is sleeping.


Chou Jui's wife, Wu Hsin-teng's wife and Cheng Hao-shih's wife

When Master Secundus awakes do send us word!


Our mistress wants one of Master Secundus attendants to go and see her.


Our lady wishes to see one of us, so be careful and remain in the room while I go. I'll be back soon.


It didn't matter whom you sent, any one would have done. But have you left him again? Who's there to wait on him?


Master Secundus, just now fell into a sound sleep. Those four or five girls are all right now, they are well able to attend to their master, so please, Madame, dispel all anxious thoughts! I was afraid that your ladyship might have some orders to give, and that if I sent any of them, they might probably not hear distinctly, and thus occasion delay in what there was to be done.


There's nothing much to tell you. I only wish to ask how his pains and aches are getting on now?


I applied on Mr. Secundus, the medicine, which Miss Pao-ch'ai brought over; and he's better than he was. He was so sore at one time that he couldn't lie comfortably; but the deep sleep, in which he is plunged now, is a clear sign of his having improved.


Has he had anything to eat?


Our dowager mistress sent him a bowl of soup, and of this he has had a few mouthfuls. He shouted and shouted that his mouth was parched and fancied a decoction of sour plums, but remembering that sour plums are astringent things, that he had been thrashed only a short time before, and that not having been allowed to groan, he must, of course, have been so hard pressed that fiery virus and heated blood must unavoidably have accumulated in the heart, and that were he to put anything of the kind within his lips, it might be driven into the cardiac regions and give rise to some serious illness; and what then would we do? I therefore reasoned with him for ever so long and at last succeeded in deterring him from touching any. So simply taking that syrup of roses, prepared with sugar, I mixed some with water and he had half a small cup of it. But he drank it with distaste; for, being surfeited with it, he found it neither scented nor sweet.


Ai-yah! Why didn't you come earlier and tell me? Some one sent me the other day several bottles of scented water. I meant at one time to have given him some, but as I feared that it would be mere waste, I didn't let him have any. But since he is so sick and tired of that preparation of roses, that he turns up his nose at it, take those two bottles with you. If you just mix a teaspoonful of it in a cup of water, it will impart to it a very strong perfume.


Let her only bring a couple of them, they'll be enough! If you give us more, it will be a useless waste! If it isn't enough, I can come and fetch a fresh supply. It will come to the same thing! What fine things these are! How many small bottles the like of this can there be?


They are of the kind sent to the palace. Didn't you notice that gosling-yellow slip? But mind, take good care of them for him; don't fritter them away! I've thought of something, that I want to ask you. I've heard a faint rumour, to the effect that Pao-yü got a thrashing on this occasion on account of something or other which Huan-Erh told my husband. Have you perchance heard what it was that he said? If you happen to learn anything about it, do confide in me, and I won't make any fuss and let people know that it was you who told me.


I haven't heard anything of the kind. It was because Mr. Secundus forcibly detained an actor, and that people came and asked master to restore him to them that he got flogged.


It was also for this, but there's another reason besides.


As for the other reason, I honestly haven't the least idea about it. But I'll make bold to-day, and say something in your presence, Madame, about which I don't know whether I am right or wrong in speaking. According to what's proper….


You are at liberty to proceed,


If your ladyship will not get angry, I'll speak out,


Why should I get angry? Proceed!


According to what's proper, our Mr. Secundus should receive our master's admonition, for if master doesn't hold him in check, there's no saying what he mightn't do in the future.


O-mi-to-fu! My dear child, you have also luckily understood the real state of things. What you told me is in perfect harmony with my own views! Is it likely that I don't know how to look after a son? In former days, when your elder master, Chu, was alive, how did I succeed in keeping him in order? And can it be that I don't, after all, now understand how to manage a son? But there's a why and a wherefore in it. The thought is ever present in my mind now, that I'm already a woman past fifty, that of my children there only remains this single one, that he too is developing a delicate physique, and that, what's more, our dear senior prizes him as much as she would a jewel, that were he kept under strict control, and anything perchance to happen to him, she might, an old lady as she is, sustain some harm from resentment, and that as the high as well as the low will then have no peace or quiet, won't things get in a bad way? So I feel prompted to spoil him by over-indulgence. Time and again I reason with him. Sometimes, I talk to him; sometimes, I advise him; sometimes, I cry with him. But though, for the time being, he's all right, he doesn't, later on, worry his mind in any way about what I say, until he positively gets into some other mess, when he settles down again. But should any harm befall him, through these floggings, upon whom will I depend by and bye?


Mr. Secundus, is your ladyship's own child, so how could you not love him? Even we, who are mere servants, think it a piece of good fortune when we can wait on him for a time, and all parties can enjoy peace and quiet. But if he begins to behave in this manner, even peace and quiet will be completely out of the question for us. On what day, and at what hour, don't I advise Mr. Secundus; yet I can't manage to stir him up by any advice! But it happens that all that crew are ever ready to court his friendship, so it isn't to be wondered that he is what he is! The truth is that he thinks the advice we give him is not right and proper! As you have to-day, Madame, alluded to this subject, I've got something to tell you which has weighed heavy on my mind. I've been anxious to come and confide it to your ladyship and to solicit your guidance, but I've been in fear and dread lest you should give way to suspicion. For not only would then all my disclosures have been in vain, but I would have deprived myself of even a piece of ground wherein my remains could be laid.


My dear child, go on, speak out! When I recently heard one and all praise you secretly behind your back, I simply fancied that it was because you were careful in your attendance on Pao-yü; or possibly because you got on well with every one; all on account of minor considerations like these; (but I never thought it was on account of your good qualities). As it happens, what you told me just now concerns, in all its bearings, a great principle, and is in perfect accord with my ideas, so speak out freely, if you have aught to say! Only let no one else know anything about it, that is all that is needed.


I've got nothing more to say. My sole idea was to solicit your advice, Madame, as to how to devise a plan to induce Mr. Secundus to move his quarters out of the garden by and bye, as things will get all right then.


Is it likely, that Pao-yü has been up to any mischief with any one?


Don't be too suspicious! It wasn't at anything of the kind that I was hinting. I merely expressed my humble opinion. Mr. Secundus is a young man now, and the young ladies inside are no more children. More than that, Miss Lin and Miss Pao may be two female maternal first cousins of his, but albeit his cousins, there is nevertheless the distinction of male and female between them; and day and night, as they are together, it isn't always convenient, when they have to rise and when they have to sit; so this cannot help making one give way to misgivings. Were, in fact, any outsider to see what's going on, it would not look like the propriety, which should exist in great families. The proverb appositely says that: 'when there's no trouble, one should make provision for the time of trouble.' How many concerns there are in the world, of which there's no making head or tail, mostly because what persons do without any design is construed by such designing people, as chance to have their notice attracted to it, as having been designedly accomplished, and go on talking and talking till, instead of mending matters, they make them worse! But if precautions be not taken beforehand, something improper will surely happen, for your ladyship is well aware of the temperament Mr. Secundus has shown all along! Besides, his great weakness is to fuss in our midst, so if no caution be exercised, and the slightest mistake be sooner or later committed, there'll be then no question of true or false: for when people are many one says one thing and another, and what is there that the mouths of that mean lot will shun with any sign of respect? Why, if their hearts be well disposed, they will maintain that he is far superior to Buddha himself. But if their hearts be badly disposed, they will at once knit a tissue of lies to show that he cannot even reach the standard of a beast! Now, if people by and bye speak well of Mr. Secundus, we'll all go on smoothly with our lives. But should he perchance give reason to any one to breathe the slightest disparaging remark, won't his body, needless for us to say, be smashed to pieces, his bones ground to powder, and the blame, which he might incur, be made ten thousand times more serious than it is? These things are all commonplace trifles; but won't Mr. Secundus' name and reputation be subsequently done for for life? Secondly, it's no easy thing for your ladyship to see anything of our master. A proverb also says: 'The perfect man makes provision beforehand;' so wouldn't it be better that we should, this very minute, adopt such steps as will enable us to guard against such things? Your ladyship has much to attend to, and you couldn't, of course, think of these things in a moment. And as for us, it would have been well and good, had they never suggested themselves to our minds; but since they have, we should be the more to blame did we not tell you anything about them, Madame. Of late, I have racked my mind, both day and night on this score; and though I couldn't very well confide to any one, my lamp alone knows everything!


My dear girl, it's you, who are gifted with enough foresight to be able to think of these things so thoroughly. Yet, did I not also think of them? But so busy have I been these several times that they slipped from my memory. What you've told me to-day, however, has brought me to my senses! It's, thanks to you, that the reputation of me, his mother, and of him, my son, is preserved intact! I really never had the faintest idea that you were so excellent! But you had better go now; I know of a way. Yet, just another word. After your remarks to me, I'll hand him over to your charge; please be careful of him. If you preserve him from harm, it will be tantamount to preserving me from harm, and I shall certainly not be ungrateful to you for it.


Go, over to Miss Lin's and see what she's up to. Should she inquire about me, all you need tell her is that I'm all right.


What shall I go empty-handed for? If I were, at least, to give her a message, it would look as if I had gone for something.


I have no message that you can give her,


If it can't be that. I might either take something over or fetch something. Otherwise, when I get there, what excuse will I be able to find?


These will do. Just tell her that I bade you take them to her.


This is strange! Will she accept these two half worn-out handkerchiefs! She'll besides get angry and say that you were making fun of her.


Don't worry yourself about that; She will certainly know what I mean.


She's gone to sleep! It's Ch'ing Wen!


What are you up to?


Mr. Secundus, sends you some handkerchiefs, Miss.


What can he have sent me handkerchiefs for? Who gave him these handkerchiefs? They must be fine ones, so tell him to keep them and give them to some one else; for I don't need such things at present.


They're not new. They are of an ordinary kind, and old.


Leave them and go your way.


I hear,


that cousin Pao-yü has got into trouble; why is it?


You good-for-nothing spiteful fellow! It's all you who are at the bottom of this trouble; and do you still have the face to come and ply me with questions?


When did I stir up any trouble?


Do you still go on shamming! Every one knows full well that it was you, who said those things, and do you yet prevaricate?


Were every one, to assert that I had committed murder, would you believe even that?


Your very sister is well aware that they were said by you. and is it likely that she would accuse you falsely, pray?


Mother, you shouldn't be brawling with brother just now! If you wait quietly, we'll find out the plain and honest truth. Whether it's you, who said those things or not, it's of no consequence. The whole affair, besides, is a matter of the past, so what need is there for any arguments; they will only be making a mountain of a mole-hill! I have just one word of advice to give you; don't, from henceforward, be up to so much reckless mischief outside; and concern yourself a little less with other people's affairs! All you do is day after day to associate with your friends and foolishly gad about! You are a happy-go-lucky sort of creature! If nothing happens well and good; but should by and bye anything turn up, every one will, though it be none of your doing, imagine again that you are at the bottom of it! Not to speak of others, why I myself will be the first to suspect you!


Who has, laid such a tissue of lies to my charge! I'd like to take the teeth of that felon and pull them out! It's clear as day that they shove me forward as a target; for now that Pao-yü has been flogged they find no means of making a display of their zeal. But, is Pao-yü forsooth the lord of the heavens that because he has had a thrashing from his father, the whole household should be fussing for days? The other time, he behaved improperly, and my uncle gave him two whacks. But our venerable ancestor came, after a time, somehow or other, I don't know how, to hear about it, and, maintaining that it was all due to Mr. Chia Chen, she called him before her, and gave him a good blowing up. And here to-day, they have gone further, and involved me. They may drag me in as much as they like, I don't fear a rap! But won't it be better for me to go into the garden, and take Pao-yü and give him a bit of my mind and kill him? I can then pay the penalty by laying down my life for his, and one and all will enjoy peace and quiet!


You murderous child of retribution! Whom would you go and beat? come first and assail me?


What are you up to, that you won't let me go where I please, and that you deliberately go on calumniating me? But every day that Pao-yü lives, the longer by that day I have to bear a false charge, so it's as well that we should both die that things be cleared up?


Be patient a bit! Here's mamma in an awful state of despair. Not to mention that it should be for you to come and pacify her, you contrariwise kick up all this rumpus! Why, saying nothing about her who is your parent, were even a perfect stranger to advise you, it would be meant for your good! But the good counsel she gave you has stirred up your monkey instead.


From the way you're now speaking, it must be you, who said that it was I; no one else but you!


You simply know how to feel displeased with me for speaking, but you don't feel displeased with yourself for that reckless way of yours of looking ahead and not minding what is behind!


You now bear me a grudge, for looking to what is ahead and not to what is behind; but how is it you don't feel indignant with Pao-yü for stirring up strife and provoking trouble outside? Leaving aside everything else, I'll merely take that affair of Ch'i Kuan-erh's, which occurred the other day, and recount it to you as an instance. My friends and I came across this Ch'i Kuan-erh, ten times at least, but never has he made a single intimate remark to me, and how is it that, as soon as he met Pao-yü the other day, he at once produced his sash, and gave it to him, though he did not so much as know what his surname and name were? Now is it likely, forsooth, that this too was something that I started?


Do you still refer to this? Wasn't it about this that he was beaten? This makes it clear enough that it's you who gave the thing out.


Really, you're enough to exasperate one to death! Had you confined yourselves to saying that I had started the yarn, I wouldn't have lost my temper; but what irritates me is that such a fuss should be made for a single Pao-yü, as to subvert heaven and earth!


Who fusses? You are the first to arm yourself to the teeth and start a row, and then you say that it's others who are up to mischief!


Dear Sister! you needn't be flying into a huff with me! I've long ago divined your feelings. Mother told me some time back that for you with that gold trinket, must be selected some suitor provided with a jade one; as such a one will be a suitable match for you. And having treasured this in your mind, and seen that Pao-yü has that rubbishy thing of his, you naturally now seize every occasion to screen him….


Mother, have you heard what brother says, what is it all about?


Where she was off to?


I'm going home,


Sister, you should take care of yourself a bit. Were you even to cry so much as to fill two water jars with tears, you wouldn't heal the wounds inflicted by the cane.


Miss, you had better go and take your medicine! The hot water too has got cold.


What do you, after all, mean by keeping on pressing me so? Whether I have it or not, what's that to you?


Your cough, has recently got a trifle better, and won't you again take your medicine? This is, it's true, the fifth moon, and the weather is hot, but you should, nevertheless, take good care of yourself a bit! Here you've been at this early hour of the morning standing for ever so long in this damp place; so you should go back and have some rest!


In that lone nook some one saunters about, White dew coldly bespecks the verdant moss. Shuang Wen, had of course a poor fate; but she nevertheless had a widowed mother and a young brother; but in the unhappy destiny, to which I, Tai-yü, am at present doomed, I have neither a widowed mother nor a young brother. Are you bent upon compassing your own death! You've covered my head all over with dust again!


Hsüeh Yen, quick, raise the portiere! Miss is come!


Have his food and water been replenished?


Here I am fain these flowers to inter, but humankind will laugh me as a fool. Who knows who will in years to come commit me to my grave.


This is what you were repeating some time back, Miss. How did he ever manage to commit it to memory?


Why do you run over at this early hour of the morning?


To see, whether you were all right or not, mother. Did he come again, I wonder, after I left yesterday and make any more trouble or not?


My child, don't feel aggrieved! Wait, and I'll call that child of wrath to order; for were anything to happen to you, from whom will I have anything to hope?


My dear sister, forgive me this time. The fact is that I took some wine yesterday; I came back late, as I met a few friends on the way. On my return home, I hadn't as yet got over the fumes, so I unintentionally talked a lot of nonsense. But I don't so much as remember anything about all I said. It isn't worth your while, however, losing your temper over such a thing!


You can well dispense with all this sham! I'm well aware that you so dislike us both, that you're anxious to devise some way of inducing us to part company with you, so that you may be at liberty.


Sister, what makes you say so? once upon a time, you weren't so suspicious and given to uttering anything so perverse!


All you know, is to find fault with your sister's remarks as being perverse; but can it be that what you said last night was the proper thing to say? In very truth, you were drunk!


There's no need for you to get angry, mother! nor for you sister either; for from this day, I shan't any more make common cause with them nor drink wine or gad about. What do you say to that?


That's equal to an acknowledgment of your failings,


Could you exercise such strength of will, why, the dragon too would lay eggs.


If I again go and gad about with them, and you, sister, come to hear of it, you can freely spit in my face and call me a beast and no human being. Do you agree to that? But why should you two be daily worried; and all through me alone? For you, mother, to be angry on my account is anyhow excusable; but for me to keep on worrying you, sister, makes me less then ever worthy of the name of a human being! If now that father is no more, I manage, instead of showing you plenty of filial piety, mamma, and you, sister, plenty of love, to provoke my mother to anger, and annoy my sister, why I can't compare myself to even a four-footed creature!


You've already, been the cause of quite enough trouble, and do you now provoke mother to have another cry?


When did I, make mother cry? But never mind; enough of this! let's drop the matter, and not allude to it any more! Call Hsiang Ling to come and give you a cup of tea, sister!


I don't want any tea. I'll wait until mother has finished washing her hands and then go with her into the garden.


Let me see your necklet, sister. I think it requires cleaning.


It is so yellow and bright, and what's the use of cleaning it again?


Sister, you must now add a few more clothes to your wardrobe, so tell me what colour and what design you like best.


I haven't yet worn out all the clothes I have, and why should I have more made?


I'm considerably better; All I do, is to disturb you, aunt, and you, my cousin, but I don't deserve such attentions.


Mind you tell me whatever may take your fancy!


If I do fancy anything. I shall certainly send to you, aunt, for it. There's nothing that I care for, though the soup made for me the other day, with young lotus leaves, and small lotus cores was, I thought, somewhat nice.


From what I hear, its flavour is nothing very grand. It involves, however, a good deal of trouble to concoct; and here you deliberately go and fancy this very thing.


Go and get it ready!


Venerable ancestor, don't you bother yourself about it! Let me try and remember who can have put the moulds away! Go and bid, the chief in the cook-house go and apply for them! Yes, I remember, they were handed up, but I can't recollect to whom they were given. Possibly they're in the tea-room.


In your mansion, everything has been amply provided for! Have you got all these things to prepare a plate of soup with! Hadn't you told me, and I happened to see them, I wouldn't have been able to make out what they were intended for!


Aunt, how could you ever have divined that these were used last year for the imperial viands! They thought of a way by which they devised, somehow or other, I can't tell how, some dough shapes, which borrow a little of the pure fragrance of the new lotus leaves. But as all mainly depends upon the quality of the soup, they're not, after all, of much use! Yet who often goes in for such soup! It was made once only, and that at the time when the moulds were brought; and how is it that he has come to think of it to-day?


You are sharper than a monkey!


This is a mere bagatelle! Even I can afford to stand you such a small treat! Tell them in the cook-house, to please make an extra supply, and that they'll get the money from me.


During the few years that have gone by since I've come here, I've carefully noticed that sister-in-law Secunda, cannot, with all her acumen, outwit our venerable ancestor.


My dear child! I'm now quite an old woman, and how can there still remain any wit in me! When I was, long ago, of your manlike cousin Feng's age, I had far more wits about me than she has! Albeit she now avers that she can't reach our standard, she's good enough; and compared with your aunt Wang, why, she's infinitely superior. Your aunt, poor thing, won't speak much! She's like a block of wood; and when with her father and mother-in-law, she won't show herself off to advantage. But that girl Feng has a sharp tongue, so is it a wonder if people take to her.


From what you say, those who don't talk much are not loved.


Those who don't speak much, possess the endearing quality of reserve. But among those, with glib tongues, there's also a certain despicable lot; thus it's better, in a word, not to have too much to say for one's self.


Quite so, yet though senior sister-in-law Chia Chu doesn't, I must confess, talk much, you, venerable ancestor, treat her just as you do cousin Feng. But if you maintain that those alone, who can talk, are worthy of love, then among all these young ladies, sister Feng and cousin Lin are the only ones good enough to be loved.


With regard to the young ladies, it isn't that I have any wish to flatter your aunt Hsüeh in her presence, but it is a positive and incontestable fact that there isn't, beginning from the four girls in our household, a single one able to hold a candle to that girl Pao-ch'ai.


Dear venerable senior! you're rather partial in your verdict.


Our dear senior, has often told me in private how nice your daughter Pao-ch'ai is; so this is no lie.


you do have the happy knack of putting her on her mettle; but though she has often got things ready for you, you've, after all, not eaten very much of them.


Aunt, don't make such statements! If our worthy senior hasn't eaten me up it's purely and simply because she dislikes human flesh as being sour. Did she not look down upon it as sour, why, she would long ago have gobbled me up!


the mouth of our mistress Secunda is enough to terrify people to death!


You've been standing for so long, that you must be feeling tired.


Here you've again forgotten! Avail yourself now that Miss Pao-ch'ai is in the court to tell her to kindly bid their Ying Erh come and plait a few girdles with twisted cords.


How lucky it is you've reminded me? Cousin Pao-ch'ai, when you've had your repast, do tell Ying Erh to come over. I would like to ask her to plait a few girdles for me. Has she got the time to spare?


How about no time? I'll tell her by and bye to come; it will be all right.


My dear child, do let her come and twist a few girdles for your cousin! And should you be in need of any one for anything, I have over at my place a whole number of servant-girls doing nothing! Out of them, you are at liberty to send for any you like to wait on you!


We'll send her to plait them! What can we want her for? she also daily idles her time way and is up to every mischief!


She can't carry it single-handed,


Don't distress yourself! I know how to do it.


How is it, that you two drop in just the nick of time? Have you come together?


Is your mother all right,


all right,


Who told you to bring these things over to me?


The ladies,


My dear girl, bring that soup and let me taste it!


I've never been in the habit of feeding people. You'd better wait till the others return; you can have some then.


I don't want you to feed me. It's because I can't move about that I appeal to you. Do let me have it! You'll then get back early and be able, when you've handed over the things, to have your meal. But were I to go on wasting your time, won't you feel upset from hunger? Should you be lazy to budge, well then, I'll endure the pain and get down and fetch it myself.


Lie down! In what former existence did you commit such evil that your retribution in the present one is so apparent? Which of my eyes however can brook looking at you going on in that way?


My dear girl; if you want to show temper, better do so here! When you see our venerable senior and madame, my mother, you should be a little more even-tempered, for if you still behave like this, you'll at once get a scolding!


Eat away, eat away! There's no need for you to be so sweet-mouthed and honey-tongued with me. I don't put any faith in such talk!


It isn't nice, it isn't nice!


Omi-to-fu! If this isn't nice, what's nice?


There's no flavour about it at all. If you don't believe me taste it, and you'll find out for yourself. Well, it is nice!


As, at one moment, you say you don't want any, and now you say it is nice, I won't give you any.


Two nurses, have arrived from the household of Mr. Fu, Secundus, to present his compliments. They have now come to see you, Mr. Secundus.


How did this happen! You yourself, have been scalded, and do you keep on asking about myself?


It isn't strange, if people say that this Pao-yü of theirs is handsome in appearance, but stupid as far as brains go. Nice enough a thing to look at but not to put to one's lips; rather idiotic in fact; for he burns his own hand, and then he asks some one else whether she's sore or not. Now, isn't this being a regular fool?


The last time I came. I heard that many inmates of his family feel ill-will against him. In real truth he is a fool! For there he drips in the heavy downpour like a water fowl, and instead of running to shelter himself, he reminds other people of the rain, and urges them to get quick out of the wet. Now, tell me, isn't this ridiculous, eh? Time and again, when no one is present, he cries to himself, then laughs to himself. When he sees a swallow, he instantly talks to it; when he espies a fish, in the river, he forthwith speaks to it. At the sight of stars or the moon, if he doesn't groan and sigh, he mutters and mutters. Indeed, he hasn't the least bit of character; so much so, that he even puts up with the temper shown by those low-bred maids. If he takes a fancy to a thing, it's nice enough even though it be a bit of thread. But as for waste, what does he mind? A thing may be worth a thousand or ten thousand pieces of money, he doesn't worry his mind in the least about it.


I was just now so bent upon talking, that I forgot all about you. I put you to the trouble of coming, not for anything else, but that you should also make me a few nets.


Nets! To put what in?


Don't concern yourself about what they are for! Just make me a few of each kind!


Could this ever be done! If you want all that lot, why, they couldn't be finished in ten years time.


My dear girl, work at them for me then whenever you are at leisure, and have nothing better to do.


How could you get through them all in a little time? First choose now therefore such as are most urgently needed and make a couple of them.


They are merely used for fans, scented pendants and handkerchiefs.


Nets for handkerchiefs will do all right.


What's the colour of your handkerchief?


It's a deep red one.


For a deep red one, a black net will do very nicely, or one of dark green. Both these agree with the colour.


What goes well with brown?


Peach-red goes well with brown.


That will make them look gaudy! Yet with all their plainness, they should be somewhat gaudy.


Leek-green and willow-yellow are what are most to my taste,


Yes, they'll also do! But make one of peach-red too and then one of leek-green.


Of what design?


How many kinds of designs are there?


There are 'the stick of incense,' 'stools upset towards heaven,' 'part of elephant's eyes,' 'squares,' 'chains,' 'plum blossom,' and 'willow leaves.


What was the kind of design you made for Miss Tertia the other day?


It was the 'plum blossom with piled cores,'


Yes, that's nice.


Go and have your meal,


and come back quick after you've had it.


There are visitors here, and how can I very well go?


It's only right and proper that you should go and have your food at once and then return.


I'm sixteen. What was your original surname?


It was Huang;


That's just the thing, for in real truth there's the 'Huang Ying-erh;' (oriole).


My name, at one time, consisted of two characters. I was called Chin Ying; but Miss Pao-ch'ai didn't like it, as it was difficult to pronounce, and only called me Ying Erh; so now I've come to be known under that name.


One can very well say that cousin Pao-ch'ai is fond of you! By and bye, when she gets married, she's sure to take you along with her. I've often told Hsi Jen, that I can't help wondering who'll shortly be the lucky ones to win your mistress and yourself.


You aren't aware, that our young mistress possesses several qualities not to be found in a single person in this world; her face is a second consideration.


Where do her qualities lie? My dear girl, please tell me!


If I tell you, you must, on no account, let her know anything about it again.


This goes without saying,


How is it that everything is so quiet?


Your idea is splendid, cousin. I'd forgotten all about it! The only thing is what colour will suit it best?


It will never do to use mixed colours. Deep red will, on one hand, clash with the colour; while yellow is not pleasing to the eye; and black, on the other hand, is too sombre. But wait, I'll try and devise something. Bring that gold cord and use it with the black beaded cord; and if you twist one of each together, and make a net with them, it will look very pretty!