by Xueqin Cao
CHAPTER LI.
The young maiden Hsueeh Pao-ch'in devises, in novel style, odes bearing on antiquities. A stupid doctor employs, in reckless manner, drugs of great strength.
When the party heard, the story goes, that Pao-ch'in had made the oldplaces of interest she had, in days gone by, visited in the variousprovinces, the theme of her verses, and that she had composed tenstanzas with four lines in each, which though referring to relics ofantiquity, bore covertly on ten common objects, they all opined thatthey must be novel and ingenious, and they vied with each other inexamining the text. On perusal, they read:
On the relics of Ch'ih Pi:
Deep in Ch'ih Pi doth water lie concealed which does not onward flow. There but remains a name and surname contained in an empty boat. When with a clamorous din the fire breaks out, the sad wind waxes cold. An endless host of eminent spirits wander about inside.
On the ancient remains in Chiao Chih:
Posts of copper and walls of gold protect the capital. Its fame is spread beyond the seas, scattered in foreign lands. How true it is that Ma Yuean's achievements have been great. The flute of iron need not trouble to sing of Tzu Fang.
On the vestiges of former times in Chung Shan:
Renown and gain do they, at any time, fall to a woman's share? For no reason have I been bidden come into the mortal world. How hard a task, in point of fact, it is to stop solicitude! Don't bear a grudge against such people as may oft times jeer at you!
On things of historic interest in Huai Yin:
The sturdy man must ever mind the insults of the vicious dog. Th' official's rank in San Ch'i was but fixed when his coffin was closed Tell all people that upon earth do dwell to look down upon none. The bounty of one single bowl of rice should be treasured till death.
On events of old in Kuang Lin:
Cicadas chirp; crows roost; but, in a twinkle, they are gone. How fares these latter days the scenery in Sui T'i? It's all because he has so long enjoyed so fine a fame, That he has given rise around to so many disputes.
On the ancient remains of the T'ao Yeh ferry:
Dry grass and parched plants their reflex cast upon the shallow pond. The peach tree branches and peach leaves will bid farewell at last. What a large number of structures in Liu Ch'ao raise their heads. A small picture with a motto hangs on the hollow wall.
On the antique vestiges of Ch'ing Chung:
The black stream stretches far and wide, but hindered is its course. What time were no more thrummed the frozen cords, the songs waxed sad. The policy of the Han dynasty was in truth strange! A worthless officer must for a thousand years feel shame.
On things of historic renown in Ma Wei:
Quiet the spots of rouge with sweat pile up and shine. Gentleness in a moment vanishes and goes. It is because traces remain of his fine looks, That to this day his clothes a fragrance still emit.
On events of the past connected with the Pu Tung temple:
The small red lamp is wholly made of thin bone, and is light. Furtively was it brought along but by force was it stol'n. Oft was it, it is true, hung by the mistress' own hands, But long ere this has she allured it to speed off with her.
On the scenery about the Mei Hua (Plum Bloom) monastery.
If not by the plum trees, then by the willows it must be. Has any one picked up in there the likeness of a girl? Don't fret about meeting again; in spring its scent returns. Soon as it's gone, and west winds blow, another year has flown.
When the party had done reading the verses, they with perfect unanimityextolled their extraordinary excellence. Pao-ch'ai was, however, thefirst to raise any objections. "The first eight stanzas," she said, "arefounded upon the testimony of the historical works. But as for the lasttwo stanzas, there's no knowing where they come from. Besides, we don'tquite fathom their meaning. Wouldn't it be better then if two otherstanzas were written?"
Tai-yue hastened to interrupt her. "The lines composed by cousin Paoch'in are indeed devised in a too pigheaded and fast-and-loose sort ofway," she observed. "The two stanzas are, I admit, not to be traced inthe historical works, but though we've never read such outsidetraditions, and haven't any idea what lies at the bottom of them, havewe not likely seen a couple of plays? What child of three years oldhasn't some notion about them, and how much more such as we?"
"What she says is perfectly correct," T'an Ch'un chimed in.
"She has besides," Li Wan then remarked, "been to these places herself.But though there be no mention anywhere of these two references,falsehoods have from old till now been propagated, and busybodies have,in fact, intentionally invented such relics of ancient times with a viewof bamboozling people. That year, for instance, in which we travelled uphere to the capital, we came across graves raised to Kuan, the sage, inthree or four distinct places. Now the circumstances of the wholeexistence of Kuan the sage are established by actual proof, so how couldthere again in his case exist a lot of graves? This must arise from theesteem in which he is held by posterity for the way he acquitted himselfof his duties during his lifetime. And it is presumably to this esteemthat this fiction owes its origin. This is quite possible enough. Evenin the 'Kuang Yue Chi', you will see that not only are numerous tombs ofthe sage Kuan spoken of, but that bygone persons of note are assignedtombs not few in number. But there are many more relics of antiquity,about which no testimony can be gathered. The matter treated in the twostanzas, now in point, is, of course, not borne out by any actualrecord; yet in every story, that is told, in every play, that is sung,and on the various slips as well used for fortune telling, it isinvariably to be found. Old and young, men and women, do all understandit and speak of it, whether in proverbs or in their everyday talk. Theydon't resemble, besides, the ballads encountered in the 'Hsi HsiangChi,' and 'Mou Tan T'ing,' to justify us to fear that we might besetting eyes upon some corrupt text. They are quite harmless; so we'dbetter keep them!"
Pao-ch'ai, after these arguments, dropped at length all discussion. Theythereupon tried for a time to guess the stanzas. None, however, of theirsolutions turned out to be correct. But as the days in winter are short,and they saw that it was time for their evening meal, they adjourned tothe front part of the compound for their supper.
The servants at this stage announced to Madame Wang that Hsi Jen's elderbrother, Hua Tzu-fang, was outside, and reported to her that he hadentered the city to say that his mother was lying in bed dangerouslyill, and that she was so longing to see her daughter that he had come tobeg for the favour of taking Hsi Jen home on a visit. As soon as MadameWang heard the news, she dilated for a while upon people's mothers anddaughters, and of course she did not withhold her consent. Sendingtherefore at the same time for lady Feng, she communicated the tidingsto her, and enjoined her to deliberate, and take suitable action.
Lady Feng signified her willingness to do what was necessary, and,returning to her quarters, she there and then commissioned Chou Jui'swife to go and break the news to Hsi Jen. "Send also," she went on todirect Mrs. Chou, "for one of the married-women, who are in attendancewhen we go out-of-doors, and let you two, together with a couple ofyoung maids, follow Hsi Jen home. But despatch four cart attendants,well up in years, to look everywhere for a spacious curricle for you aswell as her, and a small carriage for the maids."
"All right!" acquiesced Chou Jui's wife. But just as she was about tostart, lady Feng continued her injunctions. "Hsi Jen," she added; "is aperson not fond of any fuss, so tell her that it's I who have given theorders; and impress upon her that she must put on several nice, colouredclothes, and pack up a large valise full of wearing apparel. Her valise,must be a handsome one; and she must take a decent hand-stove. Bid hertoo first come and look me up here when she's about to start."
Mrs. Chou promised to execute her directions and went on her way.
After a long interval, (lady Feng) actually saw Hsi Jen arrive, got upin full costume and head-gear, and with her two waiting-maids and
ChouJui's wife, who carried the hand-stove and the valise packed up withclothes. Lady Feng's eye was attracted by several golden hairpins andpearl ornaments of great brilliancy and beauty, which Hsi Jen wore inher coiffure. Her gaze was further struck by the peach-red stiff silkjacket she had on, brocaded with all sorts of flowers and lined withermine, by her leek-green wadded jupe, artistically ornamented withcoils of gold thread, and by the bluish satin and grey squirrel pelisseshe was wrapped in.
"These three articles of clothing, given to you by our dowager lady,"lady Feng smiled, "are all very nice; but this pelisse is somewhat tooplain. If you wear this, you'll besides feel cold, so put on one withlong fur."
"Our Madame Wang," Hsi Jen laughingly rejoined, "gave me this one withthe grey squirrel. I've also got one with ermine. She says that when theend of the year draws nigh, she'll let me have one with long fur."
"I've got one with long fur," lady Feng proceeded with a smile. "I don'tfancy it much as the fringe does not hang with grace. I was on the pointof having it changed; but, never mind, I'll let you first use it; and,when at the close of the year, Madame Wang has one made for you, I canthen have mine altered, and it will come to the same thing as if youwere returning it like that to me."
One and all laughed. "That's the way of talking into which her ladyshiphas got!" they observed. "There she is the whole year round recklesslycarelessly and secretly making good, on Madame Wang's account, ever somany things; how many there is no saying; for really the things forwhich compensation is made, cannot be so much as enumerated; and doesshe ever go, and settle scores with Madame Wang? and here she comes, onthis occasion, and gives vent again to this mean language, in order topoke fun at people!"
"How could Madame Wang," lady Feng laughed, "ever give a thought to suchtrifles as these? They are, in fact, matters of no consequence. Yet wereI not to look after them, it would be a disgrace to all of us, andneedless to say, I would myself get into some scrape. It's far betterthat I should dress you all properly, and so get a fair name and finish;for were each of you to cut the figure of a burnt cake, people wouldfirst and foremost ridicule me, by saying that in looking after thehousehold I have, instead of doing good, been the means of makingbeggars of you!"
After hearing her out, the whole party heaved a sigh. "Who could everbe," they exclaimed, "so intuitively wise as you, to show, above, suchregard for Madame Wang, and below, such consideration for hersubordinates?"
In the course of these remarks, they noticed lady Feng bid P'ing Erhfind the dark green stiff silk cloak with white fox, she had worn theday before, and give it to Hsi Jen. But perceiving, also, that in theway of a valise, she only had a double one made of black spotted,figured sarcenet, with a lining of light red pongee silk, and that itscontents consisted merely of two wadded jackets, the worse for wear, anda pelisse, lady Feng went on to tell P'ing Erh to fetch a woollenwrapper, lined with jade-green pongee. But she ordered her besides topack up a snow-cloak for her.
P'ing Erh walked away and produced the articles. The one was made ofdeep-red felt, and was old. The other was of deep-red soft satin,neither old nor new.
"I don't deserve so much as a single one of these," Hsi Jen said.
"Keep this felt one for yourself," P'ing Erh smiled, "and take this onealong with you and tell some one to send it to that elderly girl, whowhile every one, in that heavy fall of snow yesterday, was rolled up insoft satin, if not in felt, and while about ten dark red dresses werereflected in the deep snow and presented such a fine sight, was the onlyone attired in those shabby old clothes. She seems more than ever toraise her shoulders and double her back. She is really to be pitied; sotake this now and give it to her!"
"She surreptitiously wishes to give my things away!" lady Feng laughed."I haven't got enough to spend upon myself and here I have you, betterstill, to instigate me to be more open-handed!"
"This comes from the filial piety your ladyship has ever displayedtowards Madame Wang," every one laughingly remarked, "and the fond lovefor those below you. For had you been mean and only thought of makingmuch of things and not cared a rap for your subordinates, would thatgirl have presumed to behave in this manner?"
"If any one therefore has read my heart, it's she," lady Feng rejoinedwith a laugh, "but yet she only knows it in part."
At the close of this rejoinder, she again spoke to Hsi Jen. "If yourmother gets well, all right," she said; "but if anything happens to her,just stay over, and send some one to let me know so that I may speciallydespatch a servant to bring you your bedding. But whatever you do,don't, use their bedding, nor any of their things to comb your hairwith. As for you people," continuing, she observed to Mrs. Chou Jui,"you no doubt are aware of the customs, prevailing in thisestablishment, so that I can dispense with giving you any injunctions."
"Yes, we know them all," Mrs. Chou Jui assented. "As soon as we getthere, we'll, of course, request their male inmates to retire out of theway. And in the event of our having to stay over, we'll naturally applyfor one or two extra inner rooms."
With these words still on her lips, she followed Hsi Jen out of theapartment. Then directing the servant-boys to prepare the lanterns,they, in due course, got into their curricle, and came to Hua Tzu-fang'squarters, where we will leave them without any further comment.
Lady Feng, meanwhile, sent also for two nurses from the I Hung court. "Iam afraid," she said to them, "that Hsi Jen won't come back, so if therebe any elderly girl, who has to your knowledge, so far, had her witsabout her, depute her to come and keep night watch in Pao-yue's rooms.But you nurses must likewise take care and exercise some control, foryou mustn't let Pao-yue recklessly kick up any trouble!"
"Quite so," answered the two nurses, agreeing to her directions, afterwhich, they quitted her presence. But not a long interval expired beforethey came to report the result of their search. "We've set our choiceupon Ch'ing Wen and She Yueeh to put up in his rooms," they reported. "Wefour will take our turn and look after things during the night."
When lady Feng heard these arrangements, she nodded her head. "Atnight," she observed, "urge him to retire to bed soon; and in themorning press him to get up at an early hour."
The nurses replied that they would readily carry out her orders andreturned alone into the garden.
In a little time Chou Jui's wife actually brought the news, which sheimparted to lady Feng, that: "as her mother was already beyond hope, HsiJen could not come back."
Lady Feng then explained things to Madame Wang, and sent, at the sametime, servants to the garden of Broad Vista to fetch (Hsi Jen's) beddingand toilet effects.
Pao-yue watched Ch'ing Wen and She Yueeh get all her belongings in properorder. After the things had been despatched, Ch'ing Wen and She Yueehdivested themselves of their remaining fineries and changed their jupesand jackets. Ch'ing Wen seated herself round a warming-frame.
"Now," She Yueeh smiled, "you're not to put on the airs of a young lady!I advise you to also move about a bit."
"When you're all clean gone," Ch'ing Wen returned for answer, "I shallhave ample time to budge. But every day that you people are here, Ishall try and enjoy peace and quiet."
"My dear girl," She Yueeh laughed, "I'll make the bed, but drop the coverover that cheval-glass and put the catches right; you are so much tallerthan I."
So saying, she at once set to work to arrange the bed for Pao-yue.
"Hai!" ejaculated Ch'ing Wen smiling, "one just sits down to warm one'sself, and here you come and disturb one!"
Pao-yue had at this time been sitting, plunged in a despondent mood. Thethought of Hsi Jen's mother had crossed through his mind and he waswondering whether she could be dead or alive, when unexpectedlyoverhearing Ch'ing Wen pass the remarks she did, he speedily sprung up,and came out himself and dropped the cover of the glass, and fastenedthe contrivance, after which he walked into the room. "Warm yourselves,"he smiled, "I've done all there was to be done."
"I can't manage," Ch'ing Wen rejoined smiling, "to get warm at all. Itjust also strike
s me that the warming-pan hasn't yet been brought."
"You've had the trouble to think of it!" She Yueeh observed. "But you'venever wanted a chafing-dish before. It's so warm besides on thatwarming-frame of ours; not like the stove-couch in that room, which isso cold; so we can very well do without it to-day."
"If both of you are to sleep on that," Pao-yue smiled, "there won't be asoul with me outside, and I shall be in an awful funk. Even you won't beable to have a wink of sleep during the whole night!"
"As far as I'm concerned," Ch'ing Wen put in, "I'm going to sleep inhere. There's She Yueeh, so you'd better induce her to come and sleepoutside."
But while they kept up this conversation, the first watch drew near, andShe Yueeh at once lowered the mosquito-curtain, removed the lamp, burntthe joss-sticks, and waited upon Pao-yue until he got into bed. The twomaids then retired to rest. Ch'ing Wen reclined all alone on thewarming-frame, while She Yueeh lay down outside the winter apartments.
The third watch had come and gone, when Pao-yue, in the midst of a dream,started calling Hsi Jen. He uttered her name twice, but no one was aboutto answer him. And it was after he had stirred himself out of sleep thathe eventually recalled to mind that Hsi Jen was not at home, and he hada hearty fit laughter to himself.
Ch'ing Wen however had been roused out of her sleep, and she called SheYueeh. "Even I," she said, "have been disturbed, fast asleep though Iwas; and, lo, she keeps a look-out by his very side and doesn't as yetknow anything about his cries! In very deed she is like a stiff corpse!"
She Yueeh twisted herself round and yawned. "He calls Hsi Jen," shesmilingly rejoined, "so what's that to do with me? What do you want?"proceeding, she then inquired of him.
"I want some tea," Pao-yue replied.
She Yueeh hastily jumped out of bed, with nothing on but a short waddedcoat of red silk.
"Throw my pelisse over you;" Pao-yue cried; "for mind it's cold!"
She Yueeh at these words put back her hands, and, taking the warmpelisse, lined even up to the lapel, with fur from the neck of thesable, which Pao-yue had put on on getting up, she threw it over hershoulders and went below and washed her hands in the basin. Then fillingfirst a cup with tepid water, she brought a large cuspidor for Pao-yue towash his mouth. Afterwards, she drew near the tea-case, and getting acup, she first rinsed it with lukewarm water, and pouring half a cup oftea from the warm teapot, she handed it to Pao-yue. After he had done,she herself rinsed her mouth, and swallowed half a cupful of tea.
"My dear girl," Ch'ing Wen interposed smiling, "do give me also a sip."
"You put on more airs than ever," She Yueeh laughed.
"My dear girl;" Ch'ing Wen added, "to-morrow night, you needn't budge;I'll wait on you the whole night long. What do you say to that?"
Hearing this, She Yueeh had no help but to attend to her as well, whileshe washed her mouth, and to pour a cup of tea and give it to her todrink.
"Won't you two go to sleep," She Yueeh laughed, "but keep on chatting?I'll go out for a time; I'll be back soon."
"Are there any evil spirits waiting for you outside?" Ch'ing Wen smiled.
"It's sure to be bright moonlight out of doors," Pao-yue observed, "sogo, while we continue our chat."
So speaking, he coughed twice.
She Yueeh opened the back-door, and raising the woollen portiere andlooking out, she saw what a beautiful moonlight there really was.
Ch'ing Wen allowed her just time enough to leave the room, when she felta wish to frighten her for the sake of fun. But such reliance did shehave in her physique, which had so far proved better than that ofothers, that little worrying her mind about the cold, she did not eventhrow a cloak over her, but putting on a short jacket, she descended,with gentle tread and light step, from the warming-frame and was makingher way out to follow in her wake, when "Hallo!" cried Pao-yue warningher. "It's freezing; it's no joke!"
Ch'ing Wen merely responded with a wave of the hand and sallied out ofthe door to go in pursuit of her companion. The brilliancy of the moon,which met her eye, was as limpid as water. But suddenly came a slightgust of wind. She felt it penetrate her very flesh and bore through herbones. So much so, that she could not help shuddering all over. "Littlewonder is it," she argued within herself, "if people say 'that onemustn't, when one's body is warm, expose one's self to the wind.' Thiscold is really dreadful!" She was at the same time just on the point ofgiving (She Yueeh) a start, when she heard Pao-yue shout from inside,"Ch'ing Wen has come out."
Ch'ing Wen promptly turned back and entered the room. "How could I everfrighten her to death?" she laughed. "It's just your way; you're asgreat a coward as an old woman!"
"It isn't at all that you might do her harm by frightening her," Pao-yuesmiled, "but, in the first place, it wouldn't be good for you to getfrost-bitten; and, in the second, you would take her so much off herguard that she won't be able to prevent herself from uttering a shout.So, in the event of rousing any of the others out of their sleep, theywon't say that we are up to jokes, but maintain instead that just as HsiJen is gone, you two behave as if you'd come across ghosts or seen evilspirits. Come and tuck in the coverlets on this side!"
When Ch'ing Wen heard what he wanted done she came accordingly andtucked in the covers, and, putting out her hands, she inserted themunder them, and set to work to warm the bedding.
"How cold your hand is!" Pao-yue laughingly exclaimed. "I told you tolook out or you'd freeze!"
Noticing at the same time that Ch'ing Wen's cheeks were as red as rouge,he rubbed them with his hands. But as they felt icy cold to his touch,"Come at once under the cover and warm yourself!" Pao-yue urged.
Hardly, however, had he concluded these words, than a sound of 'lo teng'reached their ears from the door, and She Yueeh rushed in all in atremor, laughing the while.
"I've had such a fright," she smiled, as she went on speaking. "Goodnessme! I saw in the black shade, at the back of the boulders on that hill,some one squatting, and was about to scream, when it turned out to benothing else than that big golden pheasant. As soon as it caught sightof a human being, it flew away. But it was only when it reached amoonlit place that I at last found out what it was. Had I been soheedless as to scream, I would have been the means of getting people outof their beds!"
Recounting her experiences, she washed her hands.
"Ch'ing Wen, you say, has gone out," she proceeded laughing, "but how isit I never caught a glimpse of her? She must certainly have gone tofrighten me!"
"Isn't this she?" Pao-yue inquired with a smile. "Is she not here warmingherself? Had I not been quick in shouting, she would verily have givenyou a fright."
"There was no need for me to go and frighten her," Ch'ing Wen laughinglyobserved. "This hussy has frightened her own self."
With these words she ensconced herself again under her own coverlet."Did you forsooth go out," She Yueeh remarked, "in this smart dress of acircus-performer?"
"Why, of course, she went out like this!" Pao-yue smiled.
"You wouldn't know, for the life of you, how to choose a felicitousday!" She Yueeh added. "There you go and stand about on a fruitlesserrand. Won't your skin get chapped from the frost?"
Saying this, she again raised the copper cover from the brasier, and,picking up the shovel, she buried the live charcoal deep with ashes, andtaking two bits of incense of Cambodia fragrant wood, she threw themover them. She then re-covered the brasier, and repairing to the back ofthe screen, she gave the lamp a thorough trimming to make it throw outmore light; after which, she once more laid herself down.
As Ch'ing Wen had some time before felt cold, and now began to get warmagain, she unexpectedly sneezed a couple of times.
"How about that?" sighed Pao-yue. "There you are; you've after all caughta chill!"
"Early this morning," She Yueeh smiled, "she shouted that she wasn'tfeeling quite herself. Neither did she have the whole day a proper bowlof food. And now, not to speak of her taking so little care of herself,she is still bent upon play
ing larks upon people! But if she falls illby and bye, we'll let her suffer what she will have brought uponherself."
"Is your head hot?" Pao-yue asked.
"It's nothing at all!" Ch'ing Wen rejoined, after coughing twice. "Whendid I get so delicate?"
But while she spoke, they heard the striking clock, suspended on thepartition wall in the outer rooms, give two sounds of 'tang, tang,' andthe matron, on the night watch outside, say: "Now, young girls, go tosleep. To-morrow will be time enough for you to chat and laugh!"
"Don't let's talk!" Pao-yue then whispered, "for, mind, we'll also inducethem to start chattering." After this, they at last went to sleep.
The next day, they got up at an early hour. Ch'ing Wen's nose was indeedconsiderably stopped. Her voice was hoarse; and she felt no inclinationto move.
"Be quick," urged Pao-yue, "and don't make a fuss, for your mistress, mymother, may come to know of it, and bid you also shift to your house andnurse yourself. Your home might, of course, be all very nice, but it'sin fact somewhat cold. So isn't it better here? Go and lie down in theinner rooms, and I'll give orders to some one to send for the doctor tocome quietly by the back door and have a look at you. You'll then getall right again."
"In spite of what you say," Ch'ing Wen demurred, "you must really saysomething about it to our senior lady, Mrs. Chia Chu; otherwise thedoctor will be coming unawares, and people will begin to ask questions;and what answer could one give them?"
Pao-yue found what she said so full of reason that he called an oldnurse. "Go and deliver this message to your senior mistress," heenjoined her. "Tell her that Ch'ing Wen got a slight chill yesterday.That as it's nothing to speak of, and Hsi Jen is besides away, therewould be, more than ever, no one here to look after things, were she togo home and attend to herself, so let her send for a doctor to comequietly by the back entrance and see what's the matter with her; butdon't let her breathe a word about it to Madame Wang, my mother."
The old nurse was away a considerable time on the errand. On her return,"Our senior mistress," she reported, "has been told everything. She saysthat: 'if she gets all right, after taking a couple of doses ofmedicine, it will be well and good. But that in the event of notrecovering, it would, really, be the right thing for her to go to herown home. That the season isn't healthy at present, and that if theother girls caught her complaint it would be a small thing; but that thegood health of the young ladies is a vital matter.'"
Ch'ing Wen was lying in the winter apartment, coughing and coughing,when overhearing (Li Wan's) answer, she lost control over her temper."Have I got such a dreadful epidemic," she said, "that she fears that Ishall bring it upon others? I'll clear off at once from this place; formind you don't get any headaches and hot heads during the course of yourlives."
"While uttering her grievances, she was bent upon getting upimmediately, when Pao-yue hastened to smile and to press her down.
"Don't lose your temper," he advised her. "This is a responsibilitywhich falls upon her shoulders, so she is afraid lest Madame Wang mightcome to hear of it, and call her to task. She only made a harmlessremark. But you've always been prone to anger, and now, as a matter ofcourse your spleen is larger than ever."
But in the middle of his advice to her, a servant came and told him thatthe doctor had arrived. Pao-yue accordingly crossed over to the off side,and retired behind the bookcase; from whence he perceived two or threematrons, whose duty it was to keep watch at the back door, usher thedoctor in.
The waiting-maids, meanwhile, withdrew out of the way. Three or four oldnurses dropped the deep-red embroidered curtain, suspended in the winterapartment. Ch'ing Wen then simply stretched out her hand from among thefolds of the curtain. But the doctor noticed that on two of the fingersof her hand, the nails, which measured fully two or three inches inlength, still bore marks of the pure red dye from the China balsam, andforthwith he turned his head away. An old nurse speedily fetched a toweland wiped them for her, when the doctor set to work and felt her pulsefor a while, after which he rose and walked into the outer chamber.
"Your young lady's illness," he said to the old nurses, "arises fromexternal sources, and internal obstructive influences, caused by theunhealthiness of the season of late. Yet it's only a slight chill, afterall. Fortunately, the young lady has ever been moderate in her drinkingand eating. The cold she has is nothing much. It's mainly because shehas a weak constitution that she has unawares got a bit of a chill. Butif she takes a couple of doses of medicine to dispel it with, she'll bequite right."
So saying, he followed once more the matron out of the house.
Li Wan had, by this time, sent word to the various female domestics atthe back entrance, as well as to the young maids in the different partsof the establishment to keep in retirement. All therefore that thedoctor perceived as he went along was the scenery in the garden. But nota single girl did he see.
Shortly, he made his exit out of the garden gate, and taking a seat inthe duty-lodge of the servant-lads, who looked after thegarden-entrance, he wrote a prescription.
"Sir," urged an old nurse, "don't go yet. Our young master is fretfuland there may be, I fancy, something more to ask you."
"Wasn't the one I saw just now a young lady," the doctor exclaimed witheagerness, "but a young man, eh? Yet the rooms were such as are occupiedby ladies. The curtains were besides let down. So how could the patientI saw have ever been a young man?"
"My dear sir," laughed the old nurse, "it isn't strange that aservant-girl said just now that a new doctor had been sent for on thisoccasion, for you really know nothing about our family matters. Thatroom is that of our young master, and that is a girl attached to theapartments; but she's really a servant-maid. How ever were those a younglady's rooms? Had a young lady fallen ill, would you ever havepenetrated inside with such ease?"
With these words, she took the prescription and wended her way into thegarden.
When Pao-yue came to peruse it, he found, above, such medicines mentionedas sweet basil, platycodon, carraway seeds, mosla dianthera, and thelike; and, below, citrus fusca and sida as well.
"He deserves to be hanged! He deserves death!" Pao-yue shouted. "Here hetreats girls in the very same way as he would us men! How could thisever do? No matter what internal obstruction there may be, how could sheever stand citrus and sida? Who asked him to come? Bundle him off atonce; and send for another, who knows what he's about."
"Whether he uses the right medicines or not," the old nurse pleaded, "weare not in a position to know. But we'll now tell a servant-lad to goand ask Dr. Wang round. It's easy enough! The only thing is that as thisdoctor wasn't sent for through the head manager's office his fee must bepaid to him."
"How much must one give him?" Pao-yue inquired.
"Were one to give him too little, it wouldn't look nice," a matronventured. "He should be given a tael. This would be quite the thing withsuch a household as ours."
"When Dr. Wang comes," Pao-yue asked, "how much is he given?"
"Whenever Dr. Wang and Dr. Chang come," a matron smilingly explained,"no money is ever given them. At the four seasons of each year howeverpresents are simply sent to them in a lump. This is a fixed annualcustom. But this new doctor has come only this once so he should begiven a tael."
After this explanation, Pao-yue readily bade She Yueeh go and fetch themoney.
"I can't make out where sister Hua put it;" She Yueeh rejoined.
"I've often seen her take money out of that lacquered press, ornamentedwith designs made with shells;" Pao-yue added; "so come along with me,and let's go and search."
As he spoke, he and She Yueeh came together into what was used as astore-room by Hsi Jen. Upon opening the shell-covered press, they foundthe top shelf full of pens, pieces of ink, fans, scented cakes, variouskinds of purses, handkerchiefs and other like articles, while on thelower shelf were piled several strings of cash. But, presently theypulled out the drawer, when they saw, in a small wicker basket, severalpieces of silver, and a steelyard.
She Yueeh quickly snatched a piece of silver. Then raising the steelyard,"Which is the one tael mark?" she asked.
Pao-yue laughed. "It's amusing that you should appeal to me!" he said."You really behave as if you had only just come!"
She Yueeh also laughed, and was about to go and make inquiries of someone else, when Pao-yue interfered. "Choose a piece out of those big onesand give it to him, and have done," he said. "We don't go in for buyingand selling, so what's the use of minding such trifles!"
She Yueeh, upon hearing this, dropped the steelyard, and selected apiece, which she weighed in her hand. "This piece," she smiled, "must, Ifancy, be a tael. But it would be better to let him have a little more.Don't let's give too little as those poor brats will have a laugh at ourexpense. They won't say that we know nothing about the steelyard; butthat we are designedly mean."
A matron who stood at the threshold of the door, smilingly chimed in."This ingot," she said, "weighs five taels. Even if you cut half of itoff, it will weigh a couple of taels, at least. But there are no syceeshears at hand, so, miss, put this piece aside and choose a smallerone."
She Yueeh had already closed the press and walked out. "Who'll go andfumble about again?" she laughed. "If there's a little more, well, youtake it and finish."
"Be quick," Pao-yue remarked, "and tell Pei Ming to go for anotherdoctor. It will be all right."
The matron received the money and marched off to go and settle matters.
Presently, Dr. Wang actually arrived, at the invitation of Pei Ming.First and foremost he felt the pulse and then gave the same diagnosis ofthe complaint (as the other doctor did) in the first instance. The onlydifference being that there was, in fact, no citrus or sida or othersimilar drugs, included in the prescription. It contained, however,false sarsaparilla roots, dried orange peel, peonia albifora, and othersimilar medicines. But the quantities were, on the other hand,considerably smaller, as compared with those of the drugs mentioned inthe former prescription.
"These are the medicines," Pao-yue ejaculated exultingly, "suitable forgirls! They should, it's true, be of a laxative nature, but never overand above what's needful. When I fell ill last year, I suffered from achill, but I got such an obstruction in the viscera that I could neithertake anything liquid or substantial, yet though he saw the state I wasin, he said that I couldn't stand sida, ground gypsum, citrus and othersuch violent drugs. You and I resemble the newly-opened white begonia,Yuen Erh sent me in autumn. And how could you resist medicines which aretoo much for me? We're like the lofty aspen trees, which grow inpeople's burial grounds. To look at, the branches and leaves are ofluxuriant growth, but they are hollow at the core."
"Do only aspen trees grow in waste burial grounds?" She Yueeh smiled. "Isit likely, pray, that there are no fir and cypress trees? What's moreloathsome than any other is the aspen. For though a lofty tree, it onlyhas a few leaves; and it makes quite a confused noise with the slightestpuff of wind! If you therefore deliberately compare yourself to it,you'll also be ranging yourself too much among the common herd!"
"I daren't liken myself to fir or cypress;" Pao-yue laughingly retorted."Even Confucius says: 'after the season waxes cold, one finds that thefir and cypress are the last to lose their foliage,' which makes itevident that these two things are of high excellence. Thus it's thoseonly, who are devoid of every sense of shame, who foolishly likenthemselves to trees of the kind!"
While engaged in this colloquy, they perceived the old matron bring thedrugs, so Pao-yue bade her fetch the silver pot, used for boilingmedicines in, and then he directed her to prepare the decoction on thebrasier.
"The right thing would be," Ch'ing Wen suggested, "that you should letthem go and get it ready in the tea-room; for will it ever do to fillthis room with the smell of medicines?"
"The smell of medicines," Pao-yue rejoined, "is far nicer than thatemitted by the whole lot of flowers. Fairies pick medicines and preparemedicines. Besides this, eminent men and cultured scholars gathermedicines and concoct medicines; so that it constitutes a most excellentthing. I was just thinking that there's everything and anything in theserooms and that the only thing that we lack is the smell of medicines;but as luck would have it, everything is now complete."
Speaking, he lost no time in giving orders to a servant to put themedicines on the fire. Next, he advised She Yueeh to get ready a fewpresents and bid a nurse take them and go and look up Hsi Jen, andexhort her not to give way to excessive grief. And when he had settledeverything that had to be seen to, he repaired to the front to dowagerlady Chia's and Madame Wang's quarters, and paid his respects and hadhis meal.
Lady Feng, as it happened, was just engaged in consulting with old ladyChia and Madame Wang. "The days are now short as well as cold," sheargued, "so wouldn't it be advisable that my senior sister-in-law, Mrs.Chia Chu, should henceforward have her repasts in the garden, along withthe young ladies? When the weather gets milder, it won't at all matter,if they have to run backward and forward."
"This is really a capital idea!" Madame Wang smiled. "It will be soconvenient during windy and rainy weather. To inhale the chilly airafter eating isn't good. And to come quite empty, and begin piling up alot of things in a stomach full of cold air isn't quite safe. It wouldbe as well therefore to select two cooks from among the women, who have,anyhow, to keep night duty in the large five-roomed house, inside thegarden back entrance, and station them there for the special purpose ofpreparing the necessary viands for the girls. Fresh vegetables aresubject to some rule of distribution, so they can be issued to them fromthe general manager's office. Or they might possibly require money or bein need of some things or other. And it will be all right if a few ofthose pheasants, deer, and every kind of game, be apportioned to them."
"I too was just thinking about this," dowager lady Chia observed. "Theonly thing I feared was that with the extra work that would again bethrown upon the cook-house, they mightn't have too much to do."
"There'll be nothing much to do," lady Feng replied. "The sameapportionment will continue as ever. In here, something may be added;but in there something will be reduced. Should it even involve a littletrouble, it will be a small matter. If the girls were exposed to thecold wind, every one else might stand it with impunity; but how couldcousin Lin, first and foremost above all others, resist anything of thekind? In fact, brother Pao himself wouldn't be proof against it. What'smore, none of the various young ladies can boast of a strongconstitution."
What rejoinder old lady Chia made to lady Feng, at the close of herrepresentations, is not yet ascertained; so, reader, listen to theexplanations you will find given in the next chapter.
