HUNG LOU MENG, BOOK II
OR, THE DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER, A CHINESE NOVEL IN TWO BOOKS
BY
CAO XUEQIN
Translated by H. BENCRAFT JOLY
H.B.M. CONSULAR SERVICE, CHINA.
BOOK II
CHAPTER XXV.
By a demoniacal art, a junior uncle and an elder brother's wife (Pao-yue and lady Feng) come across five devils. The gem of Spiritual Perception meets, in a fit of torpor, the two perfect men.
Hsiao Hung, the story continues, was much unsettled in her mind. Herthoughts rolled on in one connected string. But suddenly she becamedrowsy, and falling asleep, she encountered Chia Yuen, who tried to carryout his intention to drag her near him. She twisted herself round, andendeavoured to run away; but was tripped over by the doorstep. This gaveher such a start that she woke up. Then, at length, she realised that itwas only a dream. But so restlessly did she, in consequence of thisfright, keep on rolling and tossing that she could not close her eyesduring the whole night. As soon as the light of the next day dawned, shegot up. Several waiting-maids came at once to tell her to go and sweepthe floor of the rooms, and to bring water to wash the face with. HsiaoHung did not even wait to arrange her hair or perform her ablutions;but, turning towards the looking-glass, she pinned her chevelure upanyhow; and, rinsing her hands, and, tying a sash round her waist, sherepaired directly to sweep the apartments.
Who would have thought it, Pao-yue also had set his heart upon her themoment he caught sight of her the previous day. Yet he feared, in thefirst place, that if he mentioned her by name and called her over intohis service, Hsi Jen and the other girls might feel the pangs ofjealousy. He did not, either in the second place, have any idea what herdisposition was like. The consequence was that he felt downcast; so muchso, that when he got up at an early hour, he did not even comb his hairor wash, but simply remained seated, and brooded in a state ofabstraction. After a while, he lowered the window. Through the gauzeframe, from which he could distinctly discern what was going on outside,he espied several servant-girls, engaged in sweeping the court. All ofthem were rouged and powdered; they had flowers inserted in their hair,and were grandly got up. But the only one, of whom he failed to get aglimpse, was the girl he had met the day before.
Pao-yue speedily walked out of the door with slipshod shoes. Under thepretence of admiring the flowers, he glanced, now towards the east; nowtowards the west. But upon raising his head, he descried, in thesouthwest corner, some one or other leaning by the side of the railingunder the covered passage. A crab-apple tree, however, obstructed theview and he could not see distinctly who it was, so advancing a stepfurther in, he stared with intent gaze. It was, in point of fact, thewaiting-maid of the day before, tarrying about plunged in a reverie. Hiswish was to go forward and meet her, but he did not, on the other hand,see how he could very well do so. Just as he was cogitating withinhimself, he, of a sudden, perceived Pi Hen come and ask him to go andwash his face. This reminder placed him under the necessity of betakinghimself into his room. But we will leave him there, without furtherdetails, so as to return to Hsiao Hung.
She was communing with her own thoughts. But unawares perceiving Hsi Jenwave her hand and call her by name, she had to walk up to her.
"Our watering-pot is spoilt," Hsi Jen smiled and said, "so go to MissLin's over there and find one for us to use."
Hsiao Hung hastened on her way towards the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan.
When she got as far as the Ts'ui Yen bridge, she saw, on raising herhead and looking round, the mounds and lofty places entirely shut in byscreens, and she bethought herself that labourers were that day to planttrees in that particular locality.
At a great distance off, a band of men were, in very deed, engaged indigging up the soil, while Chia Yuen was seated on a boulder on the hill,superintending the works. The time came for Hsiao Hung to pass by, butshe could not muster the courage to do so. Nevertheless she had no othercourse than to quietly proceed to the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan. Then gettingthe watering-pot, she sped on her way back again. But being in lowspirits, she retired alone into her room and lay herself down. One andall, however, simply maintained that she was out of sorts, so they didnot pay any heed to her.
A day went by. On the morrow fell, in fact, the anniversary of the birthof Wang Tzu-t'eng's spouse, and some one was despatched from hisresidence to come and invite dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang. MadameWang found out however that dowager lady Chia would not avail herself ofthe invitation, and neither would she go. So Mrs. Hsueeh went along withlady Feng, and the three sisters of the Chia family, and Pao-ch'ai andPao-yue, and only returned home late in the evening.
Madame Wang was sitting in Mrs. Hsueeh's apartments, whither she had justcrossed, when she perceived Chia Huan come back from school, and shebade him transcribe incantations out of the Chin Kang Canon and intonatethem. Chia Huan accordingly came and seated himself on the stove-couch,occupied by Madame Wang, and, directing a servant to light the candles,he started copying in an ostentatious and dashing manner. Now he calledTs'ai Hsia to pour a cup of tea for him. Now he asked Yu Ch'uan to takethe scissors and cut the snuff of the wick. "Chin Ch'uan!" he nextcried, "you're in the way of the rays of the lamp."
The servant-girls had all along entertained an antipathy for him, andnot one of them therefore worried her mind about what he said. Ts'aiHsia was the only one who still got on well with him, so pouring a cupof tea, she handed it to him. But she felt prompted to whisper to him:"Keep quiet a bit! what's the use of making people dislike you?"
"I know myself how matters stand," Chia Huan rejoined, as he cast asteady glance at her; "so don't you try and befool me! Now that you areon intimate terms with Pao-yue, you don't pay much heed to me. I've alsoseen through it myself."
Ts'ai Hsiao set her teeth together, and gave him a fillip on the head."You heartless fellow!" she cried. "You're like the dog, that bit LueT'ung-pin. You have no idea of what's right and what's wrong!"
While these two nagged away, they noticed lady Feng and Madame Wangcross together over to them. Madame Wang at once assailed him withquestions. She asked him how many ladies had been present on that day,whether the play had been good or bad, and what the banquet had beenlike.
But a brief interval over, Pao-yue too appeared on the scene. Aftersaluting Madame Wang, he also made a few remarks, with all decorum; andthen bidding a servant remove his frontlet, divest him of his long gownand pull off his boots, he rushed head foremost, into his mother's lap.
Madame Wang caressed and patted him. But while Pao-yue clung to hismother's neck, he spoke to her of one thing and then another.
"My child," said Madame Wang, "you've again had too much to drink; yourface is scalding hot, and if you still keep on rubbing and scraping it,why, you'll by and bye stir up the fumes of wine! Don't you yet go andlie down quietly over there for a little!"
Chiding him the while, she directed a servant to fetch a pillow. Pao-yuetherefore lay himself down at the back of Madame Wang, and called Ts'aiHsia to come and stroke him.
Pao-yue then began to bandy words with Ts'ai Hsia. But perceiving thatTs'ai Hsia was reserved, and, that instead of paying him any attention,she kept her eyes fixed upon Chia Huan, Pao-yue eagerly took her hand."My dear girl!" he said; "do also heed me a little;" and as he gaveutterance to this appeal, he kept her hand clasped in his.
Ts'ai Hsia, however, drew her hand away and would not let him hold it."If you go on in this way," she vehemently exclaimed, "I'll shout out atonce."
These two were in the act of wrangling, when verily Chia Huan overheardwhat was going on. He had, in fact, all along hated Pao-yue; so when onthis occasion, he espied him up to his larks with Ts'ai Hsia, he couldmuch less than ever stifle
feelings of resentment in his heart. Aftersome reflection, therefore, an idea suggested itself to his mind, andpretending that it was by a slip of the hand, he shoved the candle,overflowing with tallow, into Pao-yue's face.
"Ai ya!" Pao-yue was heard to exclaim. Every one in the whole room wasplunged in consternation. With precipitate haste, the lanterns, standingon the floor, were moved over; and, with the first ray of light, theydiscovered that Pao-yue's face was one mass of tallow.
Madame Wang gave way to anger as well as anxiety. At one time, sheissued directions to the servants to rub and wash Pao-yue clean. Atanother, she heaped abuse upon Chia Huan.
Lady Feng jumped on to the stone-couch by leaps and bounds. But whileintent upon removing the stuff from Pao-yue's face, she simultaneouslyejaculated: "Master Tertius, are you still such a trickster! I'll tellyou what, you'll never turn to any good account! Yet dame Chao shouldever correct and admonish him."
This single remark suggested the idea to Madame Wang, and she lost notime in sending for Mrs. Chao to come round.
"You bring up," she berated her, "such a black-hearted offspring likethis, and don't you, after all, advise and reprove him? Time and again Ipaid no notice whatever to what happened, and you and he have becomemore audacious, and have gone from worse to worse!"
Mrs. Chao had no alternative but to suppress every sense of injury,silence all grumblings, and go herself and lend a hand to the others intidying Pao-yue. She then perceived that a whole row of blisters hadrisen on the left side of Pao-yue's face, but that fortunately no injuryhad been done to his eyes.
When Madame Wang's attention was drawn to them she felt her heart sore.It fell a prey to fears also lest when dowager lady Chia made anyinquiries about them she should find it difficult to give her anysatisfactory reply. And so distressed did she get that she gave Mrs.Chao another scolding. But while she tried to comfort Pao-yue, she, atthe same time, fetched some powder for counteracting the effects of thevirus, and applied it on his face.
"It's rather sore," said Pao-yue, "but it's nothing to speak of. Tomorrowwhen my old grandmother asks about it, I can simply explain that Iscalded it myself; that will be quite enough to tell her."
"If you say that you scalded it yourself," lady Feng observed, "why,she'll also call people to task for not looking out; and a fit of ragewill, beyond doubt, be the outcome of it all."
Madame Wang then ordered the servants to take care and escort Pao-yueback to his room. On their arrival, Hsi Jen and his other attendants sawhim, and they were all in a great state of flurry.
As for Lin Tai-yue, when she found that Pao-yue had gone out of doors, shecontinued the whole day a prey to ennui. In the evening, she deputedmessengers two and three times to go and inquire about him. But when shecame to know that he had been scalded, she hurried in person to come andsee him. She then discovered Pao-yue all alone, holding a glass andscanning his features in it; while the left side of his face wasplastered all over with some medicine.
Lin Tai-yue imagined that the burn was of an extremely serious nature,and she hastened to approach him with a view to examine it. Pao-yue,however, screened his face, and, waving his hand, bade her leave theroom; for knowing her usual knack for tidiness he did not feel inclinedto let her get a glimpse of his face. Tai-yue then gave up the attempt,and confined herself to asking him: "whether it was very painful?"
"It isn't very sore," replied Pao-yue, "if I look after it for a day ortwo, it will get all right."
But after another short stay, Lin Tai-yue repaired back to her quarters.
The next day Pao-yue saw dowager lady Chia. But in spite of hisconfession that he himself was responsible for the scalding of his face,his grandmother could not refrain from reading another lecture to theservants who had been in attendance.
A day after, Ma, a Taoist matron, whose name was recorded as Pao-yue'sgodmother, came on a visit to the mansion. Upon perceiving Pao-yue, shewas very much taken aback, and asked all about the circumstances of theaccident. When he explained that he had been scalded, she forthwithshook her head and heaved a sigh; then while making with her fingers afew passes over Pao-yue's face, she went on to mutter incantations forseveral minutes. "I can guarantee that he'll get all right," she added,"for this is simply a sadden and fleeting accident!"
Turning towards dowager lady Chia: "Venerable ancestor," she observed,"Venerable Buddha! how could you ever be aware of the existence of theportentous passage in that Buddhistic classic, 'to the effect that a sonof every person, who holds the dignity of prince, duke or highfunctionary, has no sooner come into the world and reached a certain agethan numerous evil spirits at once secretly haunt him, and pinch him,when they find an opportunity; or dig their nails into him; or knock hisbowl of rice down, during, meal-time; or give him a shove and send himover, while he is quietly seated.' So this is the reason why themajority of the sons and grandsons of those distinguished families donot grow up to attain manhood."
Dowager lady Chia, upon hearing her speak in this wise, eagerly asked:"Is there any Buddhistic spell, by means of which to check theirinfluence or not?"
"This is an easy job!" rejoined the Taoist matron Ma, "all one need dois to perform several meritorious deeds on his account so as tocounteract the consequences of retribution and everything will then beput right. That canon further explains: 'that in the western part of theworld there is a mighty Buddha, whose glory illumines all things, andwhose special charge is to cast his lustre on the evil spirits in darkplaces; that if any benevolent man or virtuous woman offers himoblations with sincerity of heart, he is able to so successfullyperpetuate the peace and quiet of their sons and grandsons that thesewill no more meet with any calamities arising from being possessed bymalevolent demons.'"
"But what, I wonder," inquired dowager lady Chia, "could be offered tothis god?"
"Nothing of any great value," answered the Taoist matron, Ma. "Exclusiveof offerings of scented candles, several catties of scented oil can beadded, each day, to keep the lantern of the Great Sea alight. This'Great Sea' lantern is the visible embodiment and Buddhisticrepresentation of this divinity, so day and night we don't venture tolet it go out!"
"For a whole day and a whole night," asked dowager lady Chia, "how muchoil is needed, so that I too should accomplish a good action?"
"There is really no limit as to quantity. It rests upon the goodwill ofthe donor," Ma, the Taoist matron, put in by way of reply. "In myquarters, for instance, I have several lanterns, the gifts of theconsorts of princes and the spouses of high officials living in variouslocalities. The consort of the mansion of the Prince of Nan Au has beenprompted in her beneficence by a liberal spirit; she allows each dayforty-eight catties of oil, and a catty of wick; so that her 'Great Sea'lamp is only a trifle smaller than a water-jar. The spouse of themarquis of Chin Hsiang comes next, with no more than twenty catties aday. Besides these, there are several other families; some giving tencatties; some eight catties; some three; some five; subject to no fixedrule; and of course I feel bound to keep the lanterns alight on theirbehalf."
Dowager lady Chia nodded her head and gave way to reflection.
"There's still another thing," continued the Taoist matron, Ma. "If itbe on account of father or mother or seniors, any excessive donationwould not matter. But were you, venerable ancestor, to bestow too muchin your offering for Pao-yue, our young master won't, I fear, be equal tothe gift; and instead of being benefited, his happiness will be snapped.If you therefore want to make a liberal gift seven catties will do; if asmall one, then five catties will even be sufficient."
"Well, in that case," responded dowager lady Chia, "let us fix upon fivecatties a day, and every month come and receive payment of the wholelump sum!"
"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed Ma, the Taoist matron, "Oh merciful, and mightyP'u Sa!"
Dowager lady Chia then called the servants and impressed on their mindsthat whenever Pao-yue went out of doors in the future, they should giveseveral strings of cash to the pages to bestow on charity among thebonze
s and Taoist priests, and the poor and needy they might meet on theway.
These directions concluded, the Taoist matron trudged into the variousquarters, and paid her respects, and then strolled leisurely about.Presently, she entered Mrs. Chao's apartments. After the two ladies hadexchanged salutations, Mrs. Chao bade a young servant-girl hand herguest a cup of tea. While Mrs. Chao busied herself pasting shoes, Ma,the Taoist matron, espied, piled up in a heap on the stove-couch, sundrypieces of silks and satins. "It just happens," she consequentlyremarked, "that I have no facings for shoes, so my lady do give me a fewodd cuttings of silk and satin, of no matter what colour, to make myselfa pair of shoes with."
Mrs. Chao heaved a sigh. "Look," she said, "whether there be still amongthem any pieces good for anything. But anything that's worth anythingdoesn't find its way in here. If you don't despise what's worthless,you're at liberty to select any two pieces and to take them away, andhave done."
The Taoist matron, Ma, chose with alacrity several pieces and shovedthem in her breast.
"The other day," Mrs. Chao went on to inquire, "I sent a servant overwith five hundred cash; have you presented any offerings before the godof medicine or not?"
"I've offered them long ago for you," the Taoist matron Ma rejoined.
"O-mi-to-fu!" ejaculated Mrs. Chao with a sigh, "were I a little betteroff, I'd also come often and offer gifts; but though my will beboundless, my means are insufficient!"
"Don't trouble your mind on this score," suggested Ma, the Taoistmatron. "By and bye, when Mr. Huan has grown up into a man and obtainedsome official post or other, will there be then any fear of your notbeing able to afford such offerings as you might like to make?"
At these words Mrs. Chao gave a smile. "Enough, enough!" she cried."Don't again refer to such contingencies! the present is a faircriterion. For up to whom in this house can my son and I come? Pao-yue isstill a mere child; but he is such that he wins people's love. Those bigpeople may be partial to him, and love him a good deal, I've nothing tosay to it; but I can't eat humble pie to this sort of mistress!"
While uttering this remark, she stretched out her two fingers.
Ma, the Taoist matron, understood the meaning she desired to convey."It's your lady Secunda, Lien, eh?" she forthwith asked.
Mrs. Chao was filled with trepidation. Hastily waving her hand, she gotto her feet, raised the portiere, and peeped outside. Perceiving thatthere was no one about, she at length retraced her footsteps."Dreadful!" she then said to the Taoist matron. "Dreadful! But speakingof this sort of mistress, I'm not so much as a human being, if shedoesn't manage to shift over into her mother's home the whole of thisfamily estate."
"Need you tell me this!" Ma, the Taoist matron, at these words, remarkedwith a view to ascertain what she implied. "Haven't I, forsooth,discovered it all for myself? Yet it's fortunate that you don't troubleyour minds about her; for it's far better that you should let her haveher own way."
"My dear woman," rejoined Mrs. Chao, "Not let her have her own way! why,is it likely that any one would have the courage to tell her anything?"
"I don't mean to utter any words that may bring upon me retribution,"added Ma, the Taoist matron, "but you people haven't got the wits. Butit's no matter of surprise. Yet if you daren't openly do anything, why,you could stealthily have devised some plan. And do you still tarry upto this day?"
Mrs. Chao realised that there lurked something in her insinuation, andshe felt an inward secret joy. "What plan could I stealthily devise?"she asked. "I've got the will right enough, but I'm not a person giftedwith this sort of gumption. So were you to impart to me some way orother, I would reward you most liberally."
When the Taoist matron, Ma, heard this, she drew near to her."O-mi-to-fu! desist at once from asking me!" she designedly exclaimed."How can I know anything about such matters, contrary as they are towhat is right?"
"There you are again!" Mrs. Chao replied. "You're one ever most ready tosuccour those in distress, and to help those in danger, and is it likelythat you'll quietly look on, while some one comes and compasses my deathas well as that of my son? Are you, pray, fearful lest I shouldn't giveyou any reward?"
Ma, the Taoist matron, greeted this remark with a smile. "You're rightenough in what you say," she ventured, "of my being unable to bear thesight of yourself and son receiving insult from a third party; but asfor your mention of rewards, why, what's there of yours that I stillcovet?"
This answer slightly reassured Mrs. Chao's mind. "How is it," shespeedily urged, "that an intelligent person like you should have becomeso dense? If, indeed, the spell prove efficacious, and we exterminatethem both, is there any apprehension that this family estate won't beours? and when that time comes, won't you get all you may wish?"
At this disclosure, Ma, the Taoist matron, lowered her head for a longtime. "When everything," she observed, "shall have been settledsatisfactorily, and when there'll be, what's more, no proof at all, willyou still pay any heed to me?"
"What's there hard about this?" remarked Mrs. Chao. "I've saved severaltaels from my own pin-money, and have besides a good number of clothesand head-ornaments. So you can first take several of these away withyou. And I'll further write an I.O.U., and entrust it to you, and whenthat time does come, I'll pay you in full."
"That will do!" answered the Taoist matron, Ma.
Mrs. Chao thereupon dismissed even a young servant-girl, who happened tobe in the room, and hastily opening a trunk, she produced severalarticles of clothing and jewelry, as well as a few odd pieces of silverfrom her own pocket-money. Then also writing a promissory note for fiftytaels, she surrendered the lot to Ma, the Taoist matron. "Take these,"she said, "in advance for presents in your temple."
At the sight of the various articles and of the promissory note, theTaoist matron became at once unmindful of what was right and what waswrong; and while her mouth was full of assent, she stretched out herarm, and first and foremost laid hold of the hard cash, and nextclutched the I.O.U. Turning then towards Mrs. Chao, she asked for asheet of paper; and taking up a pair of scissors, she cut out two humanbeings and gave them to Mrs. Chao, enjoining her to write on the upperpart of them the respective ages of the two persons in question. Lookingfurther for a sheet of blue paper, she cut out five blue-faced devils,which she bade her place together side by side with the paper men, andtaking a pin she made them fast. "When I get home," she remarked, "I'llhave recourse to some art, which will, beyond doubt, prove efficacious."
When she however had done speaking, she suddenly saw Madame Wang'swaiting-maid make her appearance inside the room. "What! my dame, areyou in here!" the girl exclaimed. "Why, our lady is waiting for you!"
The two dames then parted company.
But passing them over, we will now allude to Lin Tai-y mu. As Pao-yue hadscalded his face, and did not go out of doors very much, she often cameto have a chat with him. On this particular day she took up, after hermeal, some book or other and read a couple of pages out of it. Next, shebusied herself a little with needlework, in company with Tzu Chuan. Shefelt however thoroughly dejected and out of sorts. So she strolled outof doors along with her. But catching sight of the newly sprouted bambooshoots, in front of the pavilion, they involuntarily stepped out of theentrance of the court, and penetrated into the garden. They cast theireyes on all four quarters; but not a soul was visible. When they becameconscious of the splendour of the flowers and the chatter of the birds,they, with listless step, turned their course towards the I Hung court.There they found several servant-girls baling out water; while a bevy ofthem stood under the verandah, watching the thrushes having their bath.They heard also the sound of laughter in the rooms.
The fact is that Li Kung-ts'ai, lady Feng, and Pao-ch'ai were assembledinside. As soon as they saw them walk in, they with one voice shouted,smiling: "Now, are not these two more!"
"We are a full company to-day," laughed Tai-yue, "but who has issued thecards and invited us here?"
"The other day," interposed lady Feng,
"I sent servants with a presentof two caddies of tea for you, Miss Lin; was it, after all, good?"
"I had just forgotten all about it," Tai-yue rejoined, "many thanks foryour kind attention!
"I tasted it," observed Pao-yue. "I did not think it anything good. But Idon't know how others, who've had any of it, find it."
"Its flavour," said Tai-yue, "is good; the only thing is, it has nocolour."
"It's tribute tea from the Laos Kingdom," continued lady Feng. "When Itried it, I didn't either find it anything very fine. It's not up towhat we ordinarily drink."
"To my taste, it's all right," put in Tai-yue. "But what your palates arelike, I can't make out."
"As you say it's good," suggested Pao-yue, "you're quite at liberty totake all I have for your use."
"I've got a great deal more of it over there," lady Feng remarked.
"I'll tell a servant-girl to go and fetch it," Tai-yue replied.
"No need," lady Feng went on. "I'll send it over with some one. I alsohave a favour to ask of you to-morrow, so I may as well tell the servantto bring it along at the same time."
When Lin Tai-yue heard these words, she put on a smile. "You just markthis," she observed. "I've had to-day a little tea from her place, andshe at once begins making a tool of me!"
"Since you've had some of our tea," lady Feng laughed, "how is it thatyou have not yet become a wife in our household?"
The whole party burst out laughing aloud. So much so, that they found itdifficult to repress themselves. But Tai-yue's face was suffused withblushes. She turned her head the other way, and uttered not a word.
"Our sister-in-law Secunda's jibes are first-rate!" Pao-ch'ai chimed inwith a laugh.
"What jibes!" exclaimed Tai-yue; "they're purely and simply the prattleof a mean mouth and vile tongue! They're enough to evoke people'sdispleasure!"
Saying this, she went on to sputter in disgust.
"Were you," insinuated lady Feng, "to become a wife in my family, whatis there that you would lack?" Pointing then at Pao-yue, "Look here!" shecried--"Is not this human being worthy of you? Is not his station inlife good enough for you? Are not our stock and estate sufficient foryou? and in what slight degree can he make you lose caste?"
Tai-yue rose to her feet, and retired immediately. But Pao-ch'ai shoutedout: "Here's P'in Erh in a huff! Don't you yet come back? when you'vegone, there will really be no fun!"
While calling out to her, she jumped up to pull her back. As soon,however, as she reached the door of the room, she beheld Mrs. Chao,accompanied by Mrs. Chou; both coming to look up Pao-yue. Pao-yue and hiscompanions got up in a body and pressed them into a seat. Lady Feng wasthe sole person who did not heed them.
But just as Pao-ch'ai was about to open her lips, she perceived aservant-girl, attached to Madame Wang's apartments, appear on the scene."Your maternal uncle's wife has come," she said, "and she requests you,ladies and young ladies, to come out and see her."
Li Kung-ts'ai hurriedly walked away in company with lady Feng. The twodames, Mrs. Chao and Mrs. Chou, in like manner took their leave andquitted the room.
"As for me, I can't go out," Pao-yue shouted. "But whatever you do, pray,don't ask aunt to come in here." "Cousin Lin," he went on to say, "dostay on a while; I've got something to tell you."
Lady Feng overheard him. Turning her head towards Lin Tai-yue, "There'ssome one," she cried; "who wants to speak to you." And forthwith layinghold of Lin Tai-yue, she pushed her back and then trudged away, alongwith Li Kung-ts'ai.
During this time, Pao-yue clasped Tai-yue's hand in his. He did nothingthan smile. But not a word did he utter. Tai-yue naturally, therefore,got crimson in the face, and struggled to escape his importunities.
"Ai-ya!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "How my head is sore!"
"It should be!" rejoined Tai-yue. "O-mi-to-fu."
Pao-yue then gave vent to a loud shout. His body bounced three or fourfeet high from the ground. His mouth was full of confused shrieks. Butall he said was rambling talk.
Tai-yue and the servant-girls were full of consternation, and, with allpossible haste, they ran and apprised Madame Wang and dowager lady Chia.
Wang Tzu-t'eng's wife was, at this time, also with them, so they allcame in a body to see him. Pao-yue behaved more and more as if determinedto clutch a sword or seize a spear to put an end to his existence. Heraged in a manner sufficient to subvert the heavens and upset the earth.
As soon as dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang caught sight of him, theywere struck with terror. They trembled wildly like a piece of clothingthat is being shaken. Uttering a shout of: "My son," and another of: "Myflesh," they burst out into a loud fit of crying. Presently, all theinmates were seized with fright. Even Chia She, Madame Hsing, ChiaCheng, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Jung, Chia Yuen, Chia P'ing, Mrs.Hsueeh, Hsueeh P'an, Chou Jui's wife, and the various members of thehousehold, whether high or low, and the servant-girls and married womentoo, rushed into the garden to see what was up.
The confusion that prevailed was, at the moment, like entangled flax.Every one was at a loss what to do, when they espied lady Feng dash intothe garden, a glistening sword in hand, and try to cut down everythingthat came in her way, ogle vacantly whomsoever struck her gaze, and makeforthwith an attempt to despatch them. A greater panic than ever brokeout among the whole assemblage. But placing herself at the head of ahandful of sturdy female servants, Chou Jui's wife precipitated herselfforward, and clasping her tight, they succeeded in snatching the swordfrom her grip, and carrying her back into her room.
P'ing Erh, Feng Erh, and the other girls began to weep. They invoked theheavens and appealed to the earth. Even Chia Cheng was distressed atheart. One and all at this stage started shouting, some, one thing;some, another. Some suggested exorcists. Some cried out for theposture-makers to attract the devils. Others recommended that Chang, theTaoist priest, of the Yue Huang temple, should catch the evil spirits. Athorough turmoil reigned supreme for a long time. The gods wereimplored. Prayers were offered. Every kind of remedy was tried, but nobenefit whatever became visible.
After sunset, the spouse of Wang Tzu-t'eng said good-bye and took herdeparture. On the ensuing day, Wang Tzu-t'eng himself also came to makeinquiries. Following closely upon him, arrived, in a body, messengersfrom the young marquis Shih, Madame Hsing's young brother, and theirvarious relatives to ascertain for themselves how (lady Feng and Pao-yue)were progressing. Some brought charm-water. Some recommended bonzes andTaoist priests. Others spoke highly of doctors. But that young fellowand his elder brother's wife fell into such greater and greater stuporthat they lost all consciousness. Their bodies were hot like fire. Asthey lay prostrate on their beds, they talked deliriously. With the fallof the shades of night their condition aggravated. So much so, that thematrons and servant-girls did not venture to volunteer their attendance.They had, therefore, to be both moved into Madame Wang's quarters, whereservants were told off to take their turn and watch them.
Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang, Madame Hsing and Mrs. Hsueeh did notbudge an inch or a step from their side. They sat round them, and didnothing but cry. Chia She and Chia Cheng too were a prey, at thisjuncture, to misgivings lest weeping should upset dowager lady Chia. Dayand night oil was burnt and fires were, mindless of expense, keptalight. The bustle and confusion was such that no one, either master orservant, got any rest.
Chia She also sped on every side in search of Buddhist and Taoistpriests. But Chia Cheng had witnessed how little relief these thingscould afford, and he felt constrained to dissuade Chia She from hisendeavours. "The destiny," he argued, "of our son and daughter isentirely dependent upon the will of Heaven, and no human strength canprevail. The malady of these two persons would not be healed, even wereevery kind of treatment tried, and as I feel confident that it is thedesign of heaven that things should be as they are, all we can do is toallow it to carry out its purpose."
Chia She, however, paid no notice to his remonstrances and continued ashitherto to fuss in every imaginable way. In
no time three days elapsed.Lady Feng and Pao-yue were still confined to their beds. Their verybreaths had grown fainter. The whole household, therefore, unanimouslyarrived at the conclusion that there was no hope, and with all despatchthey made every necessary preparation for the subsequent requirements ofboth their relatives.
Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang, Chia Lien, P'ing Erh, Hsi Jen and theothers indulged in tears with keener and keener anguish. They hungbetween life and death. Mrs. Chao alone was the one who assumed anoutward sham air of distress, while in her heart she felt her wishesgratified.
The fourth day arrived. At an early hour Pao-yue suddenly opened his eyesand addressed himself to his grandmother Chia. "From this day forward,"he said, "I may no longer abide in your house, so you had better send meoff at once!"
These words made dowager lady Chia feel as if her very heart had beenwrenched out of her. Mrs. Chao, who stood by, exhorted her. "Youshouldn't, venerable lady," she said, "indulge in excessive grief. Thisyoung man has been long ago of no good; so wouldn't it be as well todress him up and let him go back a moment sooner from this world. You'llalso be thus sparing him considerable suffering. But, if you persist, innot reconciling yourself to the separation and this breath of his is notcut off, he will lie there and suffer without any respite...."
Her arguments were scarcely ended, when she was spat upon by dowagerlady Chia. "You rotten-tongued, good-for-nothing hag!" she criedabusively. "What makes you fancy him of no good! You wish him dead andgone; but what benefit will you then derive? Don't give way to anydreams; for, if he does die, I'll just exact your lives from you! It'sall because you've been continuously at him, inciting and urging him toread and write, that his spirit has become so intimidated that, at thesight of his father, he behaves just like a rat trying to get out of theway of a cat! And is not all this the result of the bullying of such amean herd of women as yourselves! Could you now drive him to death, yourwishes would immediately be fulfilled; but which of you will I let off?"
Now she shed tears; now she gave vent to abuse.
Chia Cheng, who stood by, heard these invectives; and they so enhancedhis exasperation that he promptly shouted out and made Mrs. Chaowithdraw. He then exerted himself for a time to console (his senior) byusing kindly accents. But suddenly some one came to announce that thetwo coffins had been completed. This announcement pierced, like adagger, dowager lady Chia to the heart; and while weeping with despairmore intense, she broke forth in violent upbraidings.
"Who is it,"--she inquired; "who gave orders to make the coffins? Bringat once the coffin-makers and beat them to death!"
A stir ensued sufficient to convulse the heavens and to subvert theearth. But at an unforeseen moment resounded in the air the gentlerapping of a 'wooden fish' bell. A voice recited the sentence: "Ave!Buddha able to unravel retribution and dispel grievances! Should anyhuman being lie in sickness, and his family be solicitous on hisaccount; or should any one have met with evil spirits and come acrossany baleful evils, we have the means to effect a cure."
Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang at once directed servants to go outinto the street and find out who it was. It turned out to be, in fact, amangy-headed bonze and a hobbling Taoist priest. What was the appearanceof the bonze?
His nose like a suspended gall; his two eyebrows so long, His eyes, resembling radiant stars, possessed a precious glow, His coat in tatters and his shoes of straw, without a home; Rolling in filth, and, a worse fate, his head one mass of boils.
And the Taoist priest, what was he like?
With one leg perched high he comes, with one leg low; His whole frame drenching wet, bespattered all with mud. If you perchance meet him, and ask him where's his home, "In fairyland, west of the 'Weak Water,' he'll say."
Chia Cheng ordered the servants to invite them to walk in. "On whathill," he asked those two persons, "do you cultivate the principles ofreason?
"Worthy official!" the bonze smiled, "you must not ask too manyquestions! It's because we've learnt that there are inmates of yourhonourable mansion in a poor state of health that we come with theexpress design of working a cure."
"There are," explained Chia Cheng, "two of our members, who have beenpossessed of evil spirits. But, is there, I wonder, any remedy by meansof which they could he healed?"
"In your family," laughingly observed the Taoist priest, "you have readyat hand a precious thing, the like of which is rare to find in theworld. It possesses the virtue of alleviating the ailment, so why needyou inquire about remedies?"
Chia Cheng's mind was forthwith aroused. "It's true," he consequentlyrejoined, "that my son brought along with him, at the time of his birth,a piece of jade, on the surface of which was inscribed that it had thevirtue of dispelling evil influences, but we haven't seen any efficacyin it."
"There is, worthy officer," said the bonze, "something in it which youdo not understand. That precious jade was, in its primitive state,efficacious, but consequent upon its having been polluted by music,lewdness, property and gain it has lost its spiritual properties. Butproduce now that valuable thing and wait till I have taken it into myhands and pronounced incantations over it, when it will become as fullof efficacy as of old!"
Chia Cheng accordingly unclasped the piece of jade from Pao-yue's neck,and handed it to the two divines. The Buddhist priest held it withreverence in the palm of his hand and heaving a deep sigh, "Since ourparting," he cried, "at the foot of the Ch'ing Keng peak, about thirteenyears have elapsed. How time flies in the mortal world! Thine earthlydestiny has not yet been determined. Alas, alas! how admirable were thequalities thou did'st possess in those days!
"By Heaven unrestrained, without constraint from Earth, No joys lived in thy heart, but sorrows none as well; Yet when perception, through refinement, thou did'st reach, Thou went'st among mankind to trouble to give rise. How sad the lot which thou of late hast had to hear! Powder prints and rouge stains thy precious lustre dim. House bars both day and night encage thee like a duck. Deep wilt thou sleep, but from thy dream at length thou'lt wake, Thy debt of vengeance, once discharged, thou wilt depart."
At the conclusion of this recital, he again rubbed the stone for awhile, and gave vent to some nonsensical utterances, after which hesurrendered it to Chia Cheng. "This object," he said, "has alreadyresumed its efficacy; but you shouldn't do anything to desecrate it.Hang it on the post of the door in his bed-room, and with the exceptionof his own relatives, you must not let any outside female pollute it.After the expiry of thirty-three days, he will, I can guarantee, be allright."
Chia Cheng then gave orders to present tea; but the two priests hadalready walked away. He had, however, no alternative but to comply withtheir injunctions, and lady Feng and Pao-yue, in point of fact, gotbetter from day to day. Little by little they returned to their sensesand experienced hunger. Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, at length,felt composed in their minds. All the cousins heard the news outside.Tai-yue, previous to anything else, muttered a prayer to Buddha; whilePao-ch'ai laughed and said not a word.
"Sister Pao," inquired Hsi Ch'un, "what are you laughing for?"
"I laugh," replied Pao-ch'ai, "because the 'Thus-Come' Joss has more todo than any human being. He's got to see to the conversion of allmankind, and to take care of the ailments, to which all flesh is heir;for he restores every one of them at once to health; and he has as wellto control people's marriages so as to bring them about through his aid;and what do you say, has he ample to do or not? Now, isn't this enoughto make one laugh, eh?"
Lin Tai-yue blushed. "Ts'ui!" she exclaimed; "none of you are goodpeople. Instead of following the example of worthy persons, you try torival the mean mouth of that hussey Feng."
As she uttered these words, she raised the portiere and made her exit.
But, reader, do you want to know any further circumstances? If so, thenext chapter will explain them to you.