by Xueqin Cao
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Tai-yue loves Pao-yue with extreme affection; but, on account of this affection, her female cousin gets indignant. Hsueeh P'an commits a grave mistake; but Pao-ch'ai makes this mistake a pretext to tender advice to her brother.
When Hsi Jen saw dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other members ofthe family take their leave, our narrative says, she entered the room.and, taking a seat next to Pao-yue, she asked him, while she did all shecould to hide her tears: "How was it that he beat you to such extremes?"
Pao-yue heaved a sigh. "It was simply," he replied, "about those trifles.But what's the use of your asking me about them? The lower part of mybody is so very sore! Do look and see where I'm bruised!"
At these words, Hsi Jen put out her hand, and inserting it gently underhis clothes, she began to pull down the middle garments. She had butslightly moved them, however, when Pao-yue ground his teeth and groaned"ai-ya." Hsi Jen at once stayed her hand. It was after three or foursimilar attempts that she, at length, succeeded in drawing them down.Then looking closely, Hsi Jen discovered that the upper part of his legswas all green and purple, one mass of scars four fingers wide, andcovered with huge blisters.
Hsi Jen gnashed her teeth. "My mother!" she ejaculated, "how is it thathe struck you with such a ruthless hand! Had you minded the least bit ofmy advice to you, things wouldn't have come to such a pass! Luckily, noharm was done to any tendon or bone; for had you been crippled by thethrashing you got, what could we do?"
In the middle of these remarks, she saw the servant-girls come, and theytold her that Miss Pao-ch'ai had arrived. Hearing this, Hsi Jen saw wellenough that she had no time to put him on his middle garments, soforthwith snatching a double gauze coverlet, she threw it over Pao-yue.This done, she perceived Pao-ch'ai walk in, her hands laden with pillsand medicines.
"At night," she said to Hsi Jen, "take these medicines and dissolve themin wine and then apply them on him, and, when the fiery virus from thatstagnant blood has been dispelled, he'll be all right again."
After these directions, she handed the medicines to Hsi Jen. "Is hefeeling any better now?" she proceeded to inquired.
"Thanks!" rejoined Pao-yue. "I'm feeling better," he at the same timewent on to say; after which, he pressed her to take a seat.
Pao-ch'ai noticed that he could open his eyes wide, that he could speakand that he was not as bad as he had been, and she felt considerableinward relief. But nodding her head, she sighed. "If you had long agolistened to the least bit of the advice tendered to you by people thingswould not have reached this climax to-day," she said. "Not to speak ofthe pain experienced by our dear ancestor and aunt Wang, the sight ofyou in this state makes even us feel at heart...."
Just as she had uttered half of the remark she meant to pass, shequickly suppressed the rest; and smitten by remorse for having spokentoo hastily, she could not help getting red in the face and lowering herhead.
Pao-yue was realising how affectionate, how friendly and how replete withdeep meaning were the sentiments that dropped from her month, when, of asudden, he saw her seal her lips and, flashing crimson, droop her head,and simply fumble with her girdle. Yet so fascinating was she in thosetimid blushes, which completely baffle description, that his feelingswere roused within him to such a degree, that all sense of pain flew atonce beyond the empyrean. "I've only had to bear a few blows," hereflected, "and yet every one of them puts on those pitiful lookssufficient to evoke love and regard; so were, after all, any mishap oruntimely end to unexpectedly befall me, who can tell how much moreafflicted they won't be! And as they go on in this way, I shall havethem, were I even to die in a moment, to feel so much for me; so therewill indeed be no reason for regret, albeit the concerns of a wholelifetime will be thus flung entirely to the winds!"
While indulging in these meditations, ha overheard Pao-ch'ai ask HsiJen: "How is it that he got angry, without rhyme or reason, and startedbeating him?" and Hsi Jen tell her, in reply, the version given to herby Pei Ming.
Pao-yue had, in fact, no idea as yet of what had been said by Chia Huan,and, when he heard Hsi Jen's disclosures, he eventually got to know whatit was; but as it also criminated Hsueeh P'an, he feared lest Pao-ch'aimight feel unhappy, so he lost no time in interrupting Hsi Jen.
"Cousin Hsueeh," he interposed, "has never been like that; you peoplemustn't therefore give way to idle surmises!"
These words were enough to make Pao-ch'ai see that Pao-yue had thought itexpedient to say something to stop Hsi Jen's mouth, apprehending thather suspicions might get roused; and she consequently secretly musedwithin herself: "He has been beaten to such a pitch, and yet, heedlessof his own pains and aches, he's still so careful not to hurt people'sfeelings. But since you can be so considerate, why don't you take alittle more care in greater concerns outside, so that your father shouldfeel a little happier, and that you also should not have to suffer suchbitter ordeals! But notwithstanding that the dread of my feeling hurthas prompted you to interrupt Hsi Jen in what she had to tell me, is itlikely that I am blind to the fact that my brother has ever followed hisfancies, allowed his passions to run riot, and never done a thing toexercise any check over himself? His temperament is such that he sometime back created, all on account of that fellow Ch'in Chung, a rumpusthat turned heaven and earth topsy-turvy; and, as a matter of course,he's now far worse than he was ever before!"
"You people," she then observed aloud, at the close of thesecogitations, "shouldn't bear this one or that one a grudge. I can't helpthinking that it's, after all, because of your usual readiness, cousinPao-yue, to hobnob with that set that your father recently lost controlover his temper. But assuming that my brother did speak in a carelessmanner and did casually allude to you cousin Pao-yue, it was with nodesign to instigate any one! In the first place, the remarks he madewere really founded on actual facts; and secondly, he's not one to evertrouble himself about such petty trifles as trying to guard againstanimosities. Ever since your youth up, Miss Hsi, you've simply hadbefore your eyes a person so punctilious as cousin Pao-yue, but have youever had any experience of one like that brother of mine, who neitherfears the powers in heaven or in earth, and who readily blurts out allhe thinks?"
Hsi Jen, seeing Pao-yue interrupt her, at the bare mention of Hsueeh P'an,understood at once that she must have spoken recklessly and gave way tomisgivings lest Pao-ch'ai might not have been placed in a falseposition, but when she heard the language used by Pao-ch'ai, she wasfilled with a keener sense of shame and could not utter a word. Pao-yuetoo, after listening to the sentiments, which Pao-ch'ai expressed, felt,partly because they were so magnanimous and noble, and partly becausethey banished all misconception from his mind, his heart and soul throbwith greater emotion then ever before. When, however, about to put inhis word, he noticed Pao-ch'ai rise to her feet.
"I'll come again to see you to-morrow," she said, "but take good care ofyourself! I gave the medicines I brought just now to Hsi Jen; let herrub you with them at night and I feel sure you'll get all right."
With these recommendations, she walked out of the door.
Hsi Jen hastened to catch her up and escorted her beyond the court."Miss," she remarked, "we've really put you to the trouble of coming.Some other day, when Mr. Secundus is well, I shall come in person tothank you."
"What's there to thank me for?" replied Pao-ch'ai, turning her headround and smiling. "But mind, you advise him to carefully tend hishealth, and not to give way to idle thoughts and reckless ideas, andhe'll recover. If there's anything he fancies to eat or to amuse himselfwith, come quietly over to me and fetch it for him. There will be no useto 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, atthe time, come of it; but if by and bye he finds it to be true, we'll,doubtless, suffer for it!"
While tendering this advice, she went on her way.
Hsi Jen retraced her steps and returned into the room, fostering genuinefeelings of gratitude for
Pao-ch'ai. But on entering, she espied Pao-yuesilently lost in deep thought, and looking as if he were asleep, and yetnot quite asleep, so she withdrew into the outer quarters to comb herhair and wash.
Pao-yue meanwhile lay motionless in bed. His buttocks tingled with pain,as if they were pricked with needles, or dug with knives; giving him toboot a fiery sensation just as if fire were eating into them. He triedto change his position a bit, but unable to bear the anguish, he burstinto groans. The shades of evening were by this time falling. Perceivingthat though Hsi Jen had left his side there remained still two or threewaiting-maids in attendance, he said to them, as he could find nothingfor them to do just then, "You might as well go and comb your hair andperform your ablutions; come in, when I call you."
Hearing this, they likewise retired. During this while, Pao-yue fell intoa drowsy state. Chiang Yue-han then rose before his vision and told himall about his capture by men from the Chung Shun mansion. Presently,Chin Ch'uan-erh too appeared in his room bathed in tears, and explainedto him the circumstances which drove her to leap into the well. ButPao-yue, who was half dreaming and half awake, was not able to give hismind to anything that was told him. Unawares, he became conscious ofsome one having given him a push; and faintly fell on his ear theplaintive tones of some person in distress. Pao-yue was startled out ofhis dreams. On opening his eyes, he found it to be no other than LinTai-yue. But still fearing that it was only a dream, he promptly raisedhimself, and drawing near her face he passed her features under a minutescrutiny. Seeing her two eyes so swollen, as to look as big as peaches,and her face glistening all over with tears: "If it is not Tai-yue," (hethought), "who else can it be?"
Pao-yue meant to continue his scrutiny, but the lower part of his persongave him such unbearable sharp twitches that finding it a hard task tokeep up, he, with a shout of "Ai-yo," lay himself down again, as heheaved a sigh. "What do you once more come here for?" he asked. "Thesun, it is true, has set; but the heat remaining on the ground hasn'tyet 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 inthis fashion, it's all put on to work upon their credulity, so that theymay go and spread the reports outside in such a way as to reach myfather's ear. Really it's all sham; so you mustn't treat it as a fact!"
Though Lin Tai-yue was not giving way at the time to any wails or loudsobs, yet the more she indulged in those suppressed plaints of hers, theworse she felt her breath get choked and her throat obstructed; so thatwhen Pao-yue's assurances fell on her ear, she could not express a singlesentiment, though she treasured thousands in her mind. It was only aftera long pause that she at last could observe, with agitated voice: "Youmust after this turn over a new leaf."
At these words, Pao-yue heaved a deep sigh. "Compose your mind," heurged. "Don't speak to me like this; for I am quite prepared to even laydown my life for all those persons!"
But scarcely had he concluded this remark than some one outside thecourt was heard to say: "Our lady Secunda has arrived."
Lin Tai-yue readily concluded that it was lady Feng coming, so springingto her feet at once, "I'm off," she said; "out by the back-court. I'lllook you up again by and bye."
"This is indeed strange!" exclaimed Pao-yue as he laid hold of her andtried to detain her. "How is it that you've deliberately started livingin fear and trembling of her!"
Lin Tai-yue grew impatient and stamped her feet. "Look at my eyes!" sheadded in an undertone. "Must those people amuse themselves again bypoking fun at me?"
After this response, Pao-yue speedily let her go.
Lin Tai-yue with hurried step withdrew behind the bed; and no sooner hadshe issued into the back-court, than lady Feng made her appearance inthe room by the front entrance.
"Are you better?" she asked Pao-yue. "If you fancy anything to eat, mindyou send some one over to my place to fetch it for you."
Thereupon Mrs. Hsueeh also came to pay him a visit. Shortly after, amessenger likewise arrived from old lady Chia (to inquire after him).
When the time came to prepare the lights, Pao-yue had a couple ofmouthfuls of soup to eat, but he felt so drowsy and heavy that he fellasleep.
Presently, Chou Jui's wife, Wu Hsin-teng's wife and Cheng Hao-shih'swife, all of whom were old dames who frequently went to and fro, heardthat Pao-yue had been flogged and they too hurried into his quarters.
Hsi Jen promptly went out to greet them. "Aunts," she whispered,smiling, "you've come a little too late; Master Secundus is sleeping."Saying this, she led them into the room on the opposite side, and,pressing then to sit down, she poured them some tea.
After sitting perfectly still for a time, "When Master Secundus awakes"the dames observed, "do send us word!"
Hsi Jen assured them that she would, and escorted them out. Just,however, as she was about to retrace her footsteps, she met an oldmatron, sent over by Madame Wang, who said to her: "Our mistress wantsone of Master Secundus attendants to go and see her."
Upon hearing this message, Hsi Jen communed with her own thoughts. Thenturning round, she whispered to Ch'ing Wen, She Yueeh, Ch'iu Wen, and theother maids: "Our lady wishes to see one of us, so be careful and remainin the room while I go. I'll be back soon."
At the close of her injunctions, she and the matron made their exit outof the garden by a short cut, and repaired into the drawing-room.
Madame Wang was seated on the cool couch, waving a banana-leaf fan. Whenshe became conscious of her arrival: "It didn't matter whom you sent,"she remarked, "any one would have done. But have you left him again?Who's there to wait on him?"
At this question, Hsi Jen lost no time in forcing a smile. "MasterSecundus," she replied, "just now fell into a sound sleep. Those four orfive girls are all right now, they are well able to attend to theirmaster, so please, Madame, dispel all anxious thoughts! I was afraidthat your ladyship might have some orders to give, and that if I sentany of them, they might probably not hear distinctly, and thus occasiondelay in what there was to be done."
"There's nothing much to tell you," added Madame Wang. "I only wish toask how his pains and aches are getting on now?"
"I applied on Mr. Secundus," answered Hsi Jen, "the medicine, which MissPao-ch'ai brought over; and he's better than he was. He was so sore atone time that he couldn't lie comfortably; but the deep sleep, in whichhe is plunged now, is a clear sign of his having improved."
"Has he had anything to eat?" further inquired Madame Wang.
"Our dowager mistress sent him a bowl of soup," Hsi Jen continued, "andof this he has had a few mouthfuls. He shouted and shouted that hismouth was parched and fancied a decoction of sour plums, but rememberingthat sour plums are astringent things, that he had been thrashed only ashort time before, and that not having been allowed to groan, he must,of course, have been so hard pressed that fiery virus and heated bloodmust unavoidably have accumulated in the heart, and that were he to putanything of the kind within his lips, it might be driven into thecardiac regions and give rise to some serious illness; and what thenwould we do? I therefore reasoned with him for ever so long and at lastsucceeded in deterring him from touching any. So simply taking thatsyrup of roses, prepared with sugar, I mixed some with water and he hadhalf a small cup of it. But he drank it with distaste; for, beingsurfeited with it, he found it neither scented nor sweet."
"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Madame Wang. "Why didn't you come earlier and tellme? Some one sent me the other day several bottles of scented water. Imeant at one time to have given him some, but as I feared that it wouldbe mere waste, I didn't let him have any. But since he is so sick andtired 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 ina cup of water, it will impart to it a very strong perfume."
So saying, she hastened to tell Ts'ai Yuen to fetch the bottles ofscented water, which she had received as a present a few days before.
"Let her only bring a couple of them, they'll be enough!" Hsi Jen chimedin. "If
you give us more, it will be a useless waste! If it isn'tenough, I can come and fetch a fresh supply. It will come to the samething!"
Having listened to all they had to say, Ts'ai Yuen left the room. Aftersome considerable time, she, in point of fact, returned with only acouple of bottles, which she delivered to Hsi Jen.
On examination, Hsi Jen saw two small glass bottles, no more than threeinches in size, with screwing silver stoppers at the top. On thegosling-yellow labels was written, on one: "Pure extract of _oleafragrans_," on the other, "Pure extract of roses."
"What fine things these are!" Hsi Jen smiled. "How many small bottlesthe like of this can there be?"
"They are of the kind sent to the palace," rejoined Madame Wang. "Didn'tyou notice that gosling-yellow slip? But mind, take good care of themfor him; don't fritter them away!"
Hsi Jen assented. She was about to depart when Madame Wang called herback. "I've thought of something," she said, "that I want to ask you."
Hsi Jen hastily came back.
Madame Wang made sure that there was no one in the room. "I've heard afaint rumour," she then inquired, "to the effect that Pao-yue got athrashing on this occasion on account of something or other whichHuan-Erh told my husband. Have you perchance heard what it was that hesaid? If you happen to learn anything about it, do confide in me, and Iwon't make any fuss and let people know that it was you who told me."
"I haven't heard anything of the kind," answered Hsi Jen. "It wasbecause Mr. Secundus forcibly detained an actor, and that people cameand asked master to restore him to them that he got flogged."
"It was also for this," continued Madame Wang as she nodded her head,"but there's another reason besides."
"As for the other reason, I honestly haven't the least idea about it,"explained Hsi Jen. "But I'll make bold to-day, and say something in yourpresence, Madame, about which I don't know whether I am right or wrongin speaking. According to what's proper...."
She had only spoken half a sentence, when hastily she closed her mouthagain.
"You are at liberty to proceed," urged Madame Wang.
"If your ladyship will not get angry, I'll speak out," remarked Hsi Jen.
"Why should I get angry?" observed Madame Wang. "Proceed!"
"According to what's proper," resumed Hsi Jen, "our Mr. Secundus shouldreceive our master's admonition, for if master doesn't hold him incheck, there's no saying what he mightn't do in the future."
As soon as Madame Wang heard this, she clasped her hands and uttered theinvocation, "O-mi-to-fu!" Unable to resist the impulse, she drew nearHsi Jen. "My dear child," she added, "you have also luckily understoodthe real state of things. What you told me is in perfect harmony with myown views! Is it likely that I don't know how to look after a son? Informer days, when your elder master, Chu, was alive, how did I succeedin keeping him in order? And can it be that I don't, after all, nowunderstand 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 womanpast fifty, that of my children there only remains this single one, thathe too is developing a delicate physique, and that, what's more, ourdear senior prizes him as much as she would a jewel, that were he keptunder strict control, and anything perchance to happen to him, shemight, an old lady as she is, sustain some harm from resentment, andthat 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 byover-indulgence. Time and again I reason with him. Sometimes, I talk tohim; sometimes, I advise him; sometimes, I cry with him. But though, forthe time being, he's all right, he doesn't, later on, worry his mind inany way about what I say, until he positively gets into some other mess,when he settles down again. But should any harm befall him, throughthese floggings, upon whom will I depend by and bye?"
As she spoke, she could not help melting into tears.
At the sight of Madame Wang in this disconsolate mood, Hsi Jen herselfunconsciously grew wounded at heart, and as she wept along with her,"Mr. Secundus," she ventured, "is your ladyship's own child, so howcould you not love him? Even we, who are mere servants, think it a pieceof good fortune when we can wait on him for a time, and all parties canenjoy peace and quiet. But if he begins to behave in this manner, evenpeace and quiet will be completely out of the question for us. On whatday, and at what hour, don't I advise Mr. Secundus; yet I can't manageto stir him up by any advice! But it happens that all that crew are everready to court his friendship, so it isn't to be wondered that he iswhat he is! The truth is that he thinks the advice we give him is notright 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'vebeen anxious to come and confide it to your ladyship and to solicit yourguidance, but I've been in fear and dread lest you should give way tosuspicion. 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 myremains could be laid."
Madame Wang perceived that her remarks were prompted by some purpose."My dear child," she eagerly urged; "go on, speak out! When I recentlyheard one and all praise you secretly behind your back, I simply fanciedthat it was because you were careful in your attendance on Pao-yue; orpossibly because you got on well with every one; all on account of minorconsiderations like these; (but I never thought it was on account ofyour 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 myideas, so speak out freely, if you have aught to say! Only let no oneelse know anything about it, that is all that is needed."
"I've got nothing more to say," proceeded Hsi Jen. "My sole idea was tosolicit 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 thingswill get all right then."
This allusion much alarmed Madame Wang. Speedily taking Hsi Jen's handin hers: "Is it likely," she inquired, "that Pao-yue has been up to anymischief with any one?"
"Don't be too suspicious!" precipitately replied Hsi Jen. "It wasn't atanything of the kind that I was hinting. I merely expressed my humbleopinion. Mr. Secundus is a young man now, and the young ladies insideare no more children. More than that, Miss Lin and Miss Pao may be twofemale maternal first cousins of his, but albeit his cousins, there isnevertheless the distinction of male and female between them; and dayand night, as they are together, it isn't always convenient, when theyhave to rise and when they have to sit; so this cannot help making onegive way to misgivings. Were, in fact, any outsider to see what's goingon, it would not look like the propriety, which should exist in greatfamilies. The proverb appositely says that: 'when there's no trouble,one should make provision for the time of trouble.' How many concernsthere are in the world, of which there's no making head or tail, mostlybecause what persons do without any design is construed by suchdesigning people, as chance to have their notice attracted to it, ashaving been designedly accomplished, and go on talking and talking till,instead of mending matters, they make them worse! But if precautions benot taken beforehand, something improper will surely happen, for yourladyship is well aware of the temperament Mr. Secundus has shown allalong! Besides, his great weakness is to fuss in our midst, so if nocaution be exercised, and the slightest mistake be sooner or latercommitted, there'll be then no question of true or false: for whenpeople are many one says one thing and another, and what is there thatthe months of that mean lot will shun with any sign of respect? Why, iftheir hearts be well disposed, they will maintain that he is farsuperior to Buddha himself. But if their hearts be badly disposed, theywill at once knit a tissue of lies to show that he cannot even reach thestandard 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 heperchance give reason to any one to breathe the slightest disparagingremark, 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 madeten thousand times more serious than it is? These thin
gs are allcommonplace trifles; but won't Mr. Secundus' name and reputation besubsequently done for for life? Secondly, it's no easy thing for yourladyship to see anything of our master. A proverb also says: 'Theperfect man makes provision beforehand;' so wouldn't it be better thatwe should, this very minute, adopt such steps as will enable us to guardagainst such things? Your ladyship has much to attend to, and youcouldn'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 toour minds; but since they have, we should be the more to blame did wenot tell you anything about them, Madame. Of late, I have racked mymind, both day and night on this score; and though I couldn't very wellconfide to any one, my lamp alone knows everything!"
After listening to these words, Madame Wang felt as if she had beenblasted by thunder and struck by lightning; and, as they fitted soappositely with the incident connected with Chin Ch'uan-erh, her heartwas more than ever fired with boundless affection for Hsi Jen. "My deargirl," she promptly smiled, "it's you, who are gifted with enoughforesight to be able to think of these things so thoroughly. Yet, did Inot also think of them? But so busy have I been these several times thatthey slipped from my memory. What you've told me to-day, however, hasbrought 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 hadthe 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'llhand him over to your charge; please be careful of him. If you preservehim from harm, it will be tantamount to preserving me from harm, and Ishall certainly not be ungrateful to you for it."
Hsi Jen said several consecutive yes's, and went on her way. She gotback just in time to see Pao-yue awake. Hsi Jen explained all about thescented water; and, so intensely delighted was Pao-yue, that he at onceasked that some should be mixed and brought to him to taste. In verydeed, he found it unusually fragrant and good. But as his heart was aprey to anxiety on Tai-yue's behalf, he was full of longings to despatchsome one to look her up. He was, however, afraid of Hsi Jen. Readilytherefore he devised a plan to first get Hsi Jen out of the way, bydespatching her to Pao-ch'ai's, to borrow a book. After Hsi Jen'sdeparture, he forthwith called Ch'ing Wen. "Go," he said, "over to MissLin's and see what she's up to. Should she inquire about me, all youneed tell her is that I'm all right."
"What shall I go empty-handed for?" rejoined Ch'ing Wen. "If I were, atleast, to give her a message, it would look as if I had gone forsomething."
"I have no message that you can give her," added Pao-yue.
"If it can't be that," suggested Ch'ing Wen; "I might either takesomething over or fetch something. Otherwise, when I get there, whatexcuse will I be able to find?"
After some cogitation, Pao-yue stretched out his hand and, laying hold ofa couple of handkerchiefs, he threw them to Ch'ing Wen. "These will do,"he smiled. "Just tell her that I bade you take them to her."
"This is strange!" exclaimed Ch'ing Wen. "Will she accept these two halfworn-out handkerchiefs! She'll besides get angry and say that you weremaking fun of her."
"Don't worry yourself about that;" laughed Pao-yue. "She will certainlyknow what I mean."
Ch'ing Wen, at this rejoinder, had no help but to take the handkerchiefsand to go to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, where she discovered Ch'un Hsien inthe act of hanging out handkerchiefs on the railings to dry. As soon asshe saw her walk in, she vehemently waved her hand. "She's gone tosleep!" she said. Ch'ing Wen, however, entered the room. It was inperfect darkness. There was not even so much as a lantern burning, andTai-yue was already ensconced in bed. "Who is there?" she shouted.
"It's Ch'ing Wen!" promptly replied Ch'ing Wen.
"What are you up to?" Tai-yue inquired.
"Mr. Secundus," explained Ch'ing Wen, "sends you some handkerchiefs,Miss."
Tai-yue's spirits sunk as soon as she caught her reply. "What can he havesent me handkerchiefs for?" she secretly reasoned within herself. "Whogave him these handkerchiefs?" she then asked aloud. "They must be fineones, so tell him to keep them and give them to some one else; for Idon't need such things at present."
"They're not new," smiled Ch'ing Wen. "They are of an ordinary kind, andold."
Hearing this, Lin Tai-yue felt downcast. But after minutely searching herheart, she at last suddenly grasped his meaning and she hastilyobserved: "Leave them and go your way."
Ch'ing Wen was compelled to put them down; and turning round, she betookherself back again. But much though she turned things over in her mindduring the whole of her way homewards, she did not succeed in solvingtheir import.
When Tai-yue guessed the object of the handkerchief, her very soulunawares flitted from her. "As Pao-yue has gone to such pains," shepondered, "to try and probe this dejection of mine, I have, on one hand,sufficient cause to feel gratified; but as there's no knowing what mydejection will come to in the future there is, on the other, enough tomake me sad. Here he abruptly and deliberately sends me a couple ofhandkerchiefs; and, were it not that he has divined my inmost feelings,the mere sight of these handkerchiefs would be enough to make me treatthe whole thing as ridiculous. The secret exchange of presents betweenus," she went on to muse, "fills me also with fears; and the thoughtthat those tears, which I am ever so fond of shedding to myself, are ofno avail, drives me likewise to blush with shame."
And by dint of musing and reflecting, her heart began, in a moment, tobubble over with such excitement that, much against her will, herthoughts in their superabundance rolled on incessantly. So speedilydirecting that a lamp should be lighted, she little concerned herselfabout avoiding suspicion, shunning the use of names, or any other suchthings, and set to work and rubbed the ink, soaked the pen, and thenwrote the following stanzas on the two old handkerchiefs:
Vain in my eyes the tears collect; those tears in vain they flow, Which I in secret shed; they slowly drop; but for whom though? The silk kerchiefs, which he so kindly troubled to give me, How ever could they not with anguish and distress fill me?
The second ran thus:
Like falling pearls or rolling gems, they trickle on the sly. Daily I have no heart for aught; listless all day am I. As on my pillow or sleeves' edge I may not wipe them dry, I let them dot by dot, and drop by drop to run freely.
And the third:
The coloured thread cannot contain the pearls cov'ring my face. Tears were of old at Hsiang Chiang shed, but faint has waxed each trace. Outside my window thousands of bamboos, lo, also grow, But whether they be stained with tears or not, I do not know.
Lin Tai-yue was still bent upon going on writing, but feeling her wholebody burn like fire, and her face scalding hot, she advanced towards thecheval-glass, and, raising the embroidered cover, she looked in. She sawat a glance that her cheeks wore so red that they, in very truth, puteven the peach blossom to the shade. Yet little did she dream that fromthis date her illness would assume a more serious phase. Shortly, shethrew herself on the bed, and, with the handkerchiefs still grasped inher hand, she was lost in a reverie.
Putting her aside, we will now take up our story with Hsi Jen. She wentto pay a visit to Pao-ch'ai, but as it happened, Pao-ch'ai was not inthe garden, but had gone to look up her mother. Hsi Jen, however, couldnot very well come back with empty hands so she waited until the secondwatch, when Pao-ch'ai eventually returned to her quarters.
Indeed, so correct an estimate of Hsueeh P'an's natural disposition didPao-ch'ai ever have, that from an early moment she entertained withinherself some faint suspicion that it must have been Hsueeh P'an, who hadinstigated some person or other to come and lodge a complaint againstPao-yue. And when she also unexpectedly heard Hsi Jen's disclosures onthe subject, she became more positive in her surmises. The one, who had,in fact, told Hsi Jen was Pei Ming. But Pei Ming too had arrived at theconjecture in his own mind, and could not adduce any definite proof, sothat every one treated his statements as founded partly on meresuppositions, and part
ly on actual facts; but, despite this, they feltquite certain that it was (Hsueeh P'an) who had intrigued.
Hsueeh P'an had always enjoyed this reputation; but on this particularinstance the harm was not, actually, his own doing; yet as every one,with one consent, tenaciously affirmed that it was he, it was no easymatter for him, much though he might argue, to clear himself of blame.
Soon after his return, on this day, from a drinking bout out of doors,he came to see his mother; but finding Pao-ch'ai in her rooms, theyexchanged a few irrelevant remarks. "I hear," he consequently asked,"that cousin Pao-yue has got into trouble; why is it?"
Mrs. Hsueeh was at the time much distressed on this score. As soontherefore as she caught this question, she gnashed her teeth with rage,and shouted: "You good-for-nothing spiteful fellow! It's all you who areat the bottom of this trouble; and do you still have the face to comeand ply me with questions?"
These words made Hsueeh P'an wince. "When did I stir up any trouble?" hequickly asked.
"Do you still go on shamming!" cried Mrs. Hsueeh. "Every one knows fullwell that it was you, who said those things, and do you yetprevaricate?"
"Were every one," insinuated Hsueeh P'an, "to assert that I had committedmurder, would you believe even that?"
"Your very sister is well aware that they were said by you." Mrs. Hsueehcontinued, "and is it likely that she would accuse you falsely, pray?"
"Mother," promptly interposed Pao-ch'ai, "you shouldn't be brawling withbrother just now! If you wait quietly, we'll find out the plain andhonest truth." Then turning towards Hsueeh P'an: "Whether it's you, whosaid those things or not," she added, "it's of no consequence. The wholeaffair, besides, is a matter of the past, so what need is there for anyarguments; they will only be making a mountain of a mole-hill! I havejust one word of advice to give you; don't, from henceforward, be up toso much reckless mischief outside; and concern yourself a little lesswith other people's affairs! All you do is day after day to associatewith your friends and foolishly gad about! You are a happy-go-lucky sortof creature! If nothing happens well and good; but should by and byeanything 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!"
Hsueeh P'an was naturally open-hearted and plain-spoken, and could notbrook anything in the way of innuendoes, so, when on the one side,Pao-ch'ai advised him not to foolishly gad about, and his mother, on theother, hinted that he had a foul tongue, and that he was the cause thatPao-yue had been flogged, he at once got so exasperated that he jumpedabout in an erratic manner and did all in his power, by vowing andswearing, to explain matters. "Who has," he ejaculated, heaping abuseupon every one, "laid such a tissue of lies to my charge! I'd like totake the teeth of that felon and pull them out! It's clear as day thatthey shove me forward as a target; for now that Pao-yue has been floggedthey find no means of making a display of their zeal. But, is Pao-yueforsooth the lord of the heavens that because he has had a thrashingfrom his father, the whole household should be fussing for days? Theother time, he behaved improperly, and my uncle gave him two whacks. Butour venerable ancestor came, after a time, somehow or other, I don'tknow 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 dragme in as much as they like, I don't fear a rap! But won't it be betterfor me to go into the garden, and take Pao-yue and give him a bit of mymind and kill him? I can then pay the penalty by laying down my life forhis, and one and all will enjoy peace and quiet!"
While he clamoured and shouted, he looked about him for the bar of thedoor, and, snatching it up, he there and then was running off, to theconsternation of Mrs. Hsueeh, who clutched him in her arms. "Youmurderous child of retribution!" she cried. "Whom would you go and beat?come first and assail me?"
From excitement Hsueeh P'an's eyes protruded like copper bells. "What areyou up to," he vociferated, "that you won't let me go where I please,and that you deliberately go on calumniating me? But every day thatPao-yue lives, the longer by that day I have to bear a false charge, soit's as well that we should both die that things be cleared up?"
Pao-ch'ai too hurriedly rushed forward. "Be patient a bit!" she exhortedhim. "Here's mamma in an awful state of despair. Not to mention that itshould be for you to come and pacify her, you contrariwise kick up allthis rumpus! Why, saying nothing about her who is your parent, were evena perfect stranger to advise you, it would be meant for your good! Butthe good counsel she gave you has stirred up your monkey instead."
"From the way you're now speaking," Hsueeh P'an rejoined, "it must beyou, who said that it was I; no one else but you!"
"You simply know how to feel displeased with me for speaking," arguedPao-ch'ai, "but you don't feel displeased with yourself for thatreckless way of yours of looking ahead and not minding what is behind!"
"You now bear me a grudge," Hsueeh P'an added, "for looking to what isahead and not to what is behind; but how is it you don't feel indignantwith Pao-yue for stirring up strife and provoking trouble outside?Leaving aside everything else, I'll merely take that affair of Ch'iKuan-erh's, which occurred the other day, and recount it to you as aninstance. My friends and I came across this Ch'i Kuan-erh, ten times atleast, but never has he made a single intimate remark to me, and how isit that, as soon as he met Pao-yue the other day, he at once produced hissash, and gave it to him, though he did not so much as know what hissurname and name were? Now is it likely, forsooth, that this too wassomething that I started?"
"Do you still refer to this?" exclaimed Mrs. Hsueeh and Pao-ch'ai, out ofpatience. "Wasn't it about this that he was beaten? This makes it clearenough that it's you who gave the thing out."
"Really, you're enough to exasperate one to death!" Hsueeh P'anexclaimed. "Had you confined yourselves to saying that I had started theyarn, I wouldn't have lost my temper; but what irritates me is that sucha fuss should be made for a single Pao-yue, as to subvert heaven andearth!"
"Who fusses?" shouted Pao-ch'ai. "You are the first to arm yourself tothe teeth and start a row, and then you say that it's others who are upto mischief!"
Hsueeh P'an, seeing that every remark, made by Pao-ch'ai, contained somuch reasonableness that he could with difficulty refute it, and thather words were even harder for him to reply to than were those utteredby his mother, he was consequently bent upon contriving a plan to makeuse of such language as could silence her and compel her to return toher room, so as to have no one bold enough to interfere with hisspeaking; but, his temper being up, he was not in a position to weighhis speech. "Dear Sister!" he readily therefore said, "you needn't beflying into a huff with me! I've long ago divined your feelings. Mothertold me some time back that for you with that gold trinket, must beselected some suitor provided with a jade one; as such a one will be asuitable match for you. And having treasured this in your mind, and seenthat Pao-yue has that rubbishy thing of his, you naturally now seizeevery occasion to screen him...."
However, before he could finish, Pao-ch'ai trembled with anger, andclinging to Mrs. Hsueeh, she melted into tears. "Mother," she observed,"have you heard what brother says, what is it all about?"
Hsueeh P'an, at the sight of his sister bathed in tears, became alive tothe fact that he had spoken inconsiderately, and, flying into a rage, hewalked away to his own quarters and retired to rest. But we can welldispense with any further comment on the subject.
Pao-ch'ai was, at heart, full of vexation and displeasure. She meant togive vent to her feelings in some way, but the fear again of upsettingher mother compelled her to conceal her tears. She therefore took leaveof her parent, and went back all alone. On her return to her chamber,she sobbed and sobbed throughout the whole night. The next day, she gotout of bed, as soon as it dawned; but feeling even no inclination tocomb her chevelure or perform her ablutions, she carelessly adjusted herclothes and came out of the garden to see her moth
er.
As luck would have it, she encountered Tai-yue standing alone under theshade of the trees, who inquired of her: "Where she was off to?"
"I'm going home," Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai replied. And as she uttered thesewords, she kept on her way.
But Tai-yue perceived that she was going off in a disconsolate mood; and,noticing that her eyes betrayed signs of crying, and that her manner wasunlike that of other days, she smilingly called out to her from behind:"Sister, you should take care of yourself a bit. Were you even to cry somuch as to fill two water jars with tears, you wouldn't heal the woundsinflicted by the cane."
But as what reply Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai gave is not yet known to you, reader,lend an ear to the explanation contained in the next chapter.
