红楼梦Chapter31

Pao-chai avails herself of the excuse afforded her by a fan to administer a couple of raps. While Chun Ling traces， in a absent frame of mind， the outlines of the character Chiang， a looker-on appears on the scene.

Lin Tai-yue herself， for we will now resume our narrative， was also， ever since her tiff with Pao-yue， full of self-condemnation， yet as she did not see why she should run after him， she continued， day and night， as despondent as she would have been had she lost some thing or other belonging to her.

Tzu Chuean surmised her sentiments. As regards what happened the other day， she advised her， you were， after all， Miss， a little too hasty; for if others dont understand that temperament of Pao-yues， have you and I， surely， also no idea about it? Besides， havent there been already one or two rows on account of that very jade?

Tsui! exclaimed Tai-yue. Have you come， on behalf of others， to find fault with me? But how ever was I hasty?

Why did you， smiled Tzu Chuean， take the scissors and cut that tassel when there was no good reason for it? So isnt Pao-yue less to blame than yourself， Miss? Ive always found his behaviour towards you， Miss， without a fault. Its all that touchy disposition of yours， which makes you so often perverse， that induces him to act as he does.

Lin Tai-yue had every wish to make some suitable reply， when she heard some one calling at the door. Tzu Chuean discerned the tone of voice. This sounds like Pao-yues voice， she smiled. I expect hes come to make his apologies.

I wont have any one open the door， Tai-yue cried at these words.

Here you are in the wrong again， Miss， Tzu Chuean observed. How will it ever do to let him get a sunstroke and come to some harm on a day like this， and under such a scorching sun?

Saying this， she speedily walked out and opened the door. It was indeed Pao-yue. While ushering him in， she gave him a smile. I imagined， she said， that you would never again put your foot inside our door， Master Secundus. But here you are once more and quite unexpectedly!

You have by dint of talking， Pao-yue laughed， made much ado of nothing; and why shouldnt I come， when theres no reason for me to keep away? Were I even to die， my spirit too will come a hundred times a day! But is cousin quite well?

She is， replied Tzu Chuean， physically all right; but， mentally， her resentment is not quite over.

I understand， continued Pao-yue with a smile. But resentment， for what?

With this inquiry， he wended his steps inside the apartment. He then caught sight of Lin Tai-yue reclining on the bed in the act of crying. Tai-yue had not in fact shed a tear， but hearing Pao-yue break in upon her， she could not help feeling upset. She found it impossible therefore to prevent her tears from rolling down her cheeks.

Pao-yue assumed a smiling expression and drew near the bed. Cousin， are you quite well again? he inquired.

Tai-yue simply went on drying her tears， and made no reply of any kind.

Pao-yue approached the bed， and sat on the edge of it. I know， he smiled， that youre not vexed with me. But had I not come， third parties would have been allowed to notice my absence， and it would have appeared to them as if we had had another quarrel. And had I to wait until they came to reconcile us， would we not by that time become perfect strangers? It would be better， supposing you wish to beat me or blow me up， that you should please yourself and do so now; but whatever you do， dont give me the cold shoulder!

Continuing， he proceeded to call her my dear cousin for several tens of times.

Tai-yue had resolved not to pay any more heed to Pao-yue. When she， however， now heard Pao-yue urge： dont let us allow others to know anything about our having had a quarrel， as it will look as if we had become thorough strangers， it once more became evident to her， from this single remark， that she was really dearer and nearer to him than any of the other girls， so she could not refrain from saying sobbingly： You neednt have come to chaff me! I couldnt presume henceforward to be on friendly terms with you， Master Secundus! You should treat me as if I were gone!

At these words， Pao-yue gave way to laughter. Where are you off to? he inquired.

m going back home， answered Tai-yue.

ll go along with you then， smiled Pao-yue.

But if I die? asked Tai-yue.

Well， if you die， rejoined Pao-yue， ll become a bonze.

the moment Tai-yue caught this reply， she hung down her head. You must， I presume， be bent upon dying? she cried. But what stuff and nonsense is this youre talking? Youve got so many beloved elder and younger cousins in your family， and how many bodies will you have to go and become bonzes， when by and bye they all pass away! But to-morrow Ill tell them about this to judge for themselves what your motives are!

Pao-yue was himself aware of the fact that this rejoinder had been recklessly spoken， and he was seized with reGREt. His face immediately became suffused with blushes. He lowered his head and had not the courage to utter one word more. Fortunately， however， there was no one present in the room.

Tai-yue stared at him for ever so long with eyes fixed straight on him， but losing control over her temper， Ai! she shouted， cant you speak? then when she perceived Pao-yue reduced to such straits as to turn purple， she clenched her teeth and spitefully gave him， on the forehead， a fillip with her finger. Heug! she cried gnashing her teeth， you， this But just as she had pronounced these two words， she heaved another sigh， and picking up her handkerchief， she wiped her tears.

Pao-yue treasured at one time numberless tender things in his mind， which he meant to tell her， but feeling also， while he smarted under the sting of self-reproach (for the indiscretion he had committed)， Tai-yue give him a rap， he was utterly powerless to open his lips， much though he may have liked to speak， so he kept on sighing and snivelling to himself. With all these things therefore to work upon his feelings， he unwillingly melted into tears. He tried to find his handkerchief to dry his face with， but unexpectedly discovering that he had again forgotten to bring one with him， he was about to make his coat-sleeve answer the purpose， when Tai-yue， albeit her eyes were watery， noticed at a glance that he was going to use the brand-new coat of GREy coloured gauze he wore， and while wiping her own， she turned herself round， and seized a silk kerchief thrown over the pillow， and thrust it into Pao-yues lap. But without saying a word， she screened her face and continued sobbing.

Pao-yue saw the handkerchief she threw， and hastily snatching it， he wiped his tears. Then drawing nearer to her， he put out his hand and clasped her hand in his， and smilingly said to her： Youve completely lacerated my heart， and do you still cry? But let Ill come along with you and see our venerable grandmother.

Tai-yue thrust his hand aside. Who wants to go hand in hand with you? she cried. Here we grow older day after day， but were still so full of brazen-faced effrontery that we dont even know what right means?

But scarcely had she concluded before she heard a voice say aloud： theyre all right!

Pao-yue and Tai-yue were little prepared for this surprise， and they were startled out of their senses. Turning round to see who it was， they caught sight of lady Feng running in， laughing and shouting. Our old lady， she said， is over there， giving way to anger against heaven and earth. She would insist upon my coming to find out whether you were reconciled or not. Theres no need for me to go and see， I told her， they will before the expiry of three days， be friends again of their own accord. Our venerable ancestor， however， called me to account， and maintained that I was lazy; so here I come! But my words have in very deed turned out true. I dont see why you two should always be wrangling! For three days youre on good terms and for two on bad. You become more and more like children. And here you are now hand in hand blubbering! But why did you again yesterday become like black-eyed fighting cocks? Dont you yet come with me to see your grandmother and make an old lady like her set her mind at ease a bit?

While reproaching them， she clutched Tai-yues hand and was trudging away， when Tai-yue turned her head round and called out for her servant-girls. But not one of them was in attendance.

What do you want them for again? lady Feng asked. I am here to wait on you!

Still speaking， she pulled her along on their way， with Pao-yue following in their footsteps. Then making their exit out of the garden gate， they entered dowager lady Chias suite of rooms. I said that it was superfluous for any one to trouble， lady Feng smiled， as they were sure of themselves to become reconciled; but you， dear ancestor， so little believed it that you insisted upon my going to act the part of mediator. Yet when I got there， with the intention of inducing them to make it up， I found them， though one did not expect it， in each others company， confessing their faults， and laughing and chatting. Just like a yellow eagle clutching the feet of a kite were those two hanging on to each other. So where was the necessity for any one to go?

these words evoked laughter from every one in the room. Pao-chai， however， was present at the time so Lin Tai-yue did not retort， but went and ensconced herself in a seat near her grandmother.

When Pao-yue noticed that no one had anything to say， he smilingly addressed himself to Pao-chai. On cousin Hsueeh Ps birth-day， he remarked， I happened again to be unwell， so not only did I not send him any presents， but I failed to go and knock my head before him. Yet cousin knows nothing about my having been ill， and it will seem to him that I had no wish to go， and that I brought forward excuses so as to avoid paying him a visit. If to-morrow you find any leisure， cousin， do therefore explain matters for me to him.

This is too much punctiliousness! smiled Pao-chai. Even had you insisted upon going， we wouldnt have been so arrogant as to let you put yourself to the trouble， and how much less when you were not feeling well? You two are cousins and are always to be found together the whole day; if you encourage such ideas， some estrangement will， after all， arise between you.

Cousin， continued Pao-yue smilingly， you know what to say; and so long as youre lenient with me all will be all right. But how is it， he went on to ask， that you havent gone over to see the theatricals?

I couldnt stand the heat rejoined Pao-chai. I looked on while two plays were being sung， but I found it so intensely hot， that I felt anxious to retire. But the visitors not having dispersed， I had to give as an excuse that I wasnt feeling up to the mark， and so came away at once.

Pao-yue， at these words， could not but feel ill at ease. All he could do was to feign another smile. Its no wonder， he observed， that they compare you， cousin， to Yang Kuei-fei; for she too was fat and afraid of hot weather.

Hearing this， Pao-chai involuntarily flew into a violent rage. Yet when about to call him to task， she found that it would not be nice for her to do so. After some reflection， the colour rushed to her cheeks. Smiling ironically twice， I may resemble， she said， Yang Kuei-fei， but theres not one of you young men， whether senior or junior， good enough to play the part of Yang Kuo-chung.

While they were bandying words， a servant-girl Ching Erh， lost sight of her fan and laughingly remarked to Pao-chai： It must be you， Miss Pao， who have put my fan away somewhere or other; dear mistress， do let me have it!

Youd better be mindful! rejoined Pao-chai， shaking her finger at her. With whom have I ever been up to jokes， that you come and suspect me? Have I hitherto laughed and smirked with you? Theres that whole lot of girls， go and ask them about it!

At this suggestion， Ching Erh made her escape.

the consciousness then burst upon Pao-yue， that he had again been inconsiderate in his speech， in the presence of so many persons， and he was overcome by a GREater sense of shame than when， a short while back， he had been speaking with Lin Tai-yue. Precipitately turning himself round， he went， therefore， and talked to the others as well.

the sight of Pao-yue poking fun at Pao-chai gratified Tai-yue immensely. She was just about to put in her word and also seize the opportunity of chaffing her， but as Ching Erh unawares asked for her fan and Pao-chai added a few more remarks， she at once changed her purpose. Cousin Pao-chai， she inquired， what two plays did you hear?

Pao-chai caught the expression of gratification in Tai-yues countenance， and concluded that she had for a certainty heard the raillery recently indulged in by Pao-yue and that it had fallen in with her own wishes; and hearing her also suddenly ask the question she did， she answered with a significant laugh： What I saw was： Li Kuei blows up Sung Chiang and subsequently again tenders his apologies

Pao-yue smiled. How is it， he said， that with such wide knowledge of things new as well as old; and such general information as you possess， you arent even up to the name of a play， and that youve come out with such a whole string of words. Why， the real name of the play is： Carrying a birch and begging for punishment.

Is it truly called： Carrying a birch and begging for punishment? Pao-chai asked with laugh. But you people know all things new and old so are able to understand the import of carrying a birch and begging for punishment. As for me Ive no idea whatever what carrying a birch and begging for punishment implies.

One sentence was scarcely ended when Pao-yue and Tai-yue felt guilty in their consciences; and by the time they heard all she said， they were quite flushed from shame. Lady Feng did not， it is true， fathom the gist of what had been said， but at the sight of the expression betrayed on the faces of the three cousins， she readily got an inkling of it. On this broiling hot day， she inquired laughing also; who still eats raw ginger?

None of the party could make out the import of her insinuation. Theres no one eating raw ginger， they said.

Lady Feng intentionally then brought her hands to her cheeks， and rubbing them， she remarked with an air of utter astonishment， Since theres no one eating raw ginger， how is it that you are all so fiery in the face?

Hearing this， Pao-yue and Tai-yue waxed more uncomfortable than ever. So much so， that Pao-chai， who meant to continue the conversation， did not think it nice to say anything more when she saw how utterly abashed Pao-yue was and how changed his manner. Her only course was therefore to smile and hold her peace. And as the rest of the inmates had not the faintest notion of the drift of the remarks exchanged between the four of them， they consequently followed her lead and put on a smile.

In a short while， however， Pao-chai and lady Feng took their leave.

Youve also tried your strength with them， Tai-yue said to Pao-yue laughingly. But theyre far worse than I. Is every one as simple in mind and dull of tongue as I am as to allow people to say whatever they like.

Pao-yue was inwardly giving way to that unhappiness， which had been occasioned by Pao-chs touchiness， so when he also saw Tai-yue approach him and taunt him， displeasure keener than ever was aroused in him. A desire then asserted itself to speak out his mind to her， but dreading lest Tai-yue should he in one of her sensitive moods， he， needless to say， stifled his anger and straightway left the apartment in a state of mental depression.

It happened to be the season of the GREatest heat. Breakfast time too was already past， and masters as well as servants were， for the most part， under the influence of the lassitude felt on lengthy days. As Pao-yue therefore strolled， from place to place， his hands behind his back he heard not so much as the caw of a crow. Issuing out of his grandmothers compound on the near side， he wended his steps westwards， and crossed the passage， on which lady Fengs quarters gave. As soon as he reached the entrance of her court， he perceived the door ajar. But aware of lady Fengs habit of taking， during the hot weather， a couple of hours siesta at noon， he did not feel it a convenient moment to intrude. Walking accordingly through the corner door， he stepped into Madame Wangs apartment. Here he discovered several waiting-maids， dosing with their needlework clasped in their hands. Madame Wang was asleep on the cool couch in the inner rooms. Chin Chuan-erh was sitting next to her massaging her legs. But she too was quite drowsy， and her eyes wore all awry. Pao-yue drew up to her with gentle tread. The moment， however， that he unfastened the pendants from the earrings she wore， Chin Chuan opened her eyes， and realised that it was no one than Pao-yue.

Are you feeling so worn out! he smilingly remarked in a low tone of voice.

Chin Chuan pursed up her lips and gave him a smile. then waving her hand so as to bid him quit the room， she again closed her eyes.

Pao-yue， at the sight of her， felt considerable affection for her and unable to tear himself away， so quietly stretching his head forward， and noticing that Madame Wangs eyes were shut， he extracted from a purse， suspended about his person， one of the scented-snow-for-moistening-mouth pills， with which it was full， and placed it on Chin Chuan-erhs lips. Chin Chuan-erh， however， did not open her eyes， but simply held (the pill) in her mouth. Pao-yue then approached her and took her hand in his. ll ask you of your mistress， he gently observed smiling， and you and I will live together.

To this Chin Chuan-erh said not a word.

If that wont do， Pao-yue continued， ll wait for your mistress to wake and appeal to her at once.

Chin Chuan-erh distended her eyes wide， and pushed Pao-yue off. Whats the hurry? she laughed. A gold hair-pin may fall into the well; but if its yours it will remain yours only. Is it possible that you dont even see the spirit of this proverb? But Ill tell you a smart thing. Just you go into the small court， on the east side， and youll find for yourself what Mr. Chia Huau and Tsai Yun are up to!