CHAPTER XLIII.
Having time to amuse themselves, the Chia inmates raise, when least expected, funds to celebrate lady Feng's birthday. In his ceaseless affection for Chin Ch'uen, Pao-yue uses, for the occasion, a pinch of earth as incense and burns it.
When Madame Wang saw, for we will now proceed with our narrative, thatthe extent of dowager lady Chia's indisposition, contracted on the dayshe had been into the garden of Broad Vista, amounted to a simple chill,that no serious ailment had supervened, and that her health had improvedsoon after the doctor had been sent for and she had taken a couple ofdoses of medicine, she called lady Feng to her and asked her to getready a present of some kind for her to take to her husband, Chia Cheng.But while they were engaged in deliberation, they perceived awaiting-maid arrive. She came from their old senior's part to invitethem to go to her. So, with speedy step, Madame Wang led the way forlady Feng, and they came over into her quarters.
"Pray, may I ask," Madame Wang then inquired, "whether you're feelingnearly well again now?"
"I'm quite all right to-day," old lady Chia replied. "I've tasted theyoung-pheasant soup you sent me a little time back and find it full ofrelish. I've also had two pieces of meat, so I feel quite comfortablewithin me."
"These dainties were presented to you, dear ancestor, by that girlFeng," Madame Wang smiled. "It only shows how sincere her filial pietyis. She does not render futile the love, which you, venerable senior,ever lavish on her."
Dowager lady Chia nodded her head assentingly. "She's too kind to thinkof me!" she answered smiling. "But should there be any more uncooked,let them fry a couple of pieces; and, if these be thoroughly immersed inwine, the congee will taste well with them. The soup is, it's true,good, but it shouldn't, properly speaking, be prepared with fine rice."
After listening to her wishes, lady Feng expressed with alacrity herreadiness to see them executed, and directed a servant to go and deliverthe message in the cook-house.
"I sent the servant for you," dowager lady Chia meanwhile said to MadameWang with a smile, "not for anything else, but for the birthday of thatgirl Feng, which falls on the second. I had made up my mind two yearsago to celebrate her birthday in proper style, but when the time came,there happened to be again something important to attend to, and it wentby without anything being done. But this year, the inmates are, on onehand, all here, and there won't, I fancy, be, on the other, anything toprevent us, so we should all do our best to enjoy ourselves thoroughlyfor a day."
"I was thinking the same thing," Madame Wang rejoined, laughingly, "and,since it's your good pleasure, venerable senior, why, shouldn't wedeliberate at once and decide upon something?"
"To the best of my recollection," dowager lady Chia resumed smiling,"whenever in past years I've had any birthday celebrations for any oneof us, no matter who it was, we have ever individually sent ourrespective presents; but this method is common and is also apt, I think,to look very much as if there were some disunion. But I'll now devise anew way; a way, which won't have the effect of creating any discord, andwill be productive of good cheer."
"Let whatever way you may think best, dear ancestor, be adopted." MadameWang eagerly rejoined.
"My idea is," old lady Chia laughingly continued, "that we too shouldfollow the example of those poor families and raise a subscription amongourselves, and devote the whole of whatever we may collect to meet theoutlay for the necessary preparations. What do you say, will this do ornot?"
"This is a splendid idea!" Madame Wang acquiesced. "But what will, Iwonder, be the way adopted for raising contributions?"
Old lady Chia was the more inspirited by her reply. There and then shedespatched servants to go and invite Mrs. Hsueeh, Madame Hsing and therest of the ladies, and bade others summon the young ladies and Pao-yue.But from the other mansion, Chia Chen's spouse, Lai Ta's wife, even upto the wives of such stewards as enjoyed a certain amount ofrespectability, were likewise to be asked to come round.
The sight of their old mistress' delight filled the waiting-maids andmarried women with high glee as well; and each hurried with vehemence toexecute her respective errand. Those that were to be invited wereinvited, and those that had to be sent for were sent for; and, beforethe lapse of such time as could suffice to have a meal in, the old aswell as young, the high as well as low, crammed, in a black mass, everybit of the available space in the rooms.
Only Mrs. Hsueeh and dowager lady Chia sat opposite to each other.Mesdames Hsing and Wang simply seated themselves on two chairs, whichfaced the door of the apartment. Pao-ch'ai and her five or six cousinsoccupied the stove-couch. Pao-yue sat on his grandmother's lap. Below,the whole extent of the floor was crowded with inmates on their feet.But old lady Chia forthwith desired that a few small stools should befetched. When brought, these were proffered to Lai Ta's mother and someother nurses, who were advanced in years and held in respect; for it wasthe custom in the Chia mansion that the family servants, who had waitedupon any of the fathers or mothers, should enjoy a higher status thaneven young masters and mistresses. Hence it was that while Mrs. Yu, ladyFeng and other ladies remained standing below, Lai Ta's mother and threeor four other old nurses had, after excusing themselves for theirrudeness, seated themselves on small stools.
Dowager lady Chia recounted, with a face beaming with smiles, thesuggestions she had shortly made, for the benefit of the various inmatespresent; and one and all, of course, were only too ready to contributefor the entertainment. More, some of them, were on friendly terms withlady Feng, so they, of their own free will, adopted the proposal; otherslived in fear and trembling of lady Feng, and these were only tooanxious to make up to her. Every one, besides, could well afford themeans, so that, as soon as they heard of the proposed subscriptions,they, with one consent, signified their acquiescence.
"I'll give twenty taels!" old lady Chia was the first to say with asmile playing round her lips.
"I'll follow your lead, dear senior," Mrs. Hsueeh smiled, "and alsosubscribe twenty taels."
"We don't presume to place ourselves on an equal footing with yourladyship," Mesdames Hsing and Wang pleaded. "We, of course, come onedegree lower; each of us therefore will contribute sixteen taels."
"We too naturally rank one step lower," Mrs. Yu and Li Wan also smiled,"so we'll each give twelve taels."
"You're a widow," dowager lady Chia eagerly demurred, addressing herselfto Li Wan, "and have lost all your estate, so how could we drag you intoall this outlay! I'll contribute for you!"
"Don't be in such high feather dear senior," lady Feng hastily observedlaughing, "but just look to your accounts before you saddle yourselfwith this burden! You've already taken upon yourself two portions; anddo you now also volunteer sixteen taels on behalf of my eldersister-in-law? You may willingly do so, while you speak in the abundanceof your spirits, but when you, by and bye, come to ponder over whatyou've done, you'll feel sore at heart again! 'It's all that girl Fengthat's driven me to spend the money,' you'll say in a little time; andyou'll devise some ingenious way to inveigle me to fork out three orfour times as much as your share and thus make up your deficit in anunderhand way; while I will still be as much in the clouds as if I werein a dream!"
These words made every one laugh.
"According to you, what should be done?" dowager lady Chia laughinglyinquired.
"My birthday hasn't yet come," lady Feng smiled; "and already now I'vebeen the recipient of so much more than I deserve that I am quiteunhappy. But if I don't contribute a single cash, I shall feel reallyill at ease for the trouble I shall be giving such a lot of people. Itwould be as well, therefore, that I should bear this share of my seniorsister-in-law; and, when the day comes, I can eat a few more things, andthus be able to enjoy some happiness."
"Quite right!" cried Madame Hsing and the others at this suggestion. Soold lady Chia then signified her approval.
"There's something more I'd like to add," lady Feng pursued smiling. "Ithink that it's fair enough that you, worthy ances
tor, should, besidesyour own twenty taels, have to stand two shares as well, the one forcousin Liu, the other for cousin Pao-yue, and that Mrs. Hsueeh should,beyond her own twenty taels, likewise bear cousin Pao-ch'ai's portion.But it's somewhat unfair that the two ladies Mesdames Hsing and Wangshould each only give sixteen taels, when their share is small, and whenthey don't subscribe anything for any one else. It's you, venerablesenior, who'll be the sufferer by this arrangement."
Dowager lady Chia, at these words, burst out into a boisterous fit oflaughter. "It's this hussey Feng," she observed, "who, after all, takesmy side! What you say is quite right. Hadn't it been for you, I wouldagain have been duped by them!"
"Dear senior!" lady Feng smiled. Just hand over our two cousins to thosetwo ladies and let each take one under her charge and finish. If youmake each contribute one share, it will be square enough."
"This is perfectly fair," eagerly rejoined old lady Chia. "Let thissuggestion be carried out!"
Lai Ta's mother hastily stood up. "This is such a subversion of right,"she smiled, "that I'll put my back up on account of the two ladies.She's a son's wife, on the other side, and, in here, only a wife'sbrother's child; and yet she doesn't incline towards her mother-in-lawand her aunt, but takes other people's part. This son's wife hastherefore become a perfect stranger; and a close niece has, in fact,become a distant niece!"
As she said this, dowager lady Chia and every one present began tolaugh. "If the junior ladies subscribe twelve taels each," Lai Ta'smother went on to ask, "we must, as a matter of course, also come onedegree lower; eh?"
Upon hearing this, old lady Chia remonstrated. "This won't do!" sheobserved. "You naturally should rank one degree lower, but you're all, Iam well aware, wealthy people; and, in spite of your status beingsomewhat lower, your funds are more flourishing than theirs. It's onlyjust then that you should be placed on the same standing as thosepeople!"
The posse of nurses expressed with promptness their acceptance of theproposal their old mistress made.
"The young ladies," dowager lady Chia resumed, "should merely givesomething for the sake of appearances! If each one contributes a sumproportionate to her monthly allowance, it will be ample!" Turning herhead, "Yuean Yang!" she cried, "a few of you should assemble in likemanner, and consult as to what share you should take in the matter. Sobring them along!"
Yuean Yang assured her that her desires would be duly attended to andwalked away. But she had not been absent for any length of time, whenshe appeared on the scene along with P'ing Erh, Hsi Jen, Ts'ai Hsia andother girls, and a number of waiting-maids as well. Of these, somesubscribed two taels; others contributed one tael.
"Can it be," dowager lady Chia then said to P'ing Erh, "that you don'twant any birthday celebrated for your mistress, that you don't rangeyourself also among them?"
"The other money I gave," P'ing Erh smiled, "I gave privately, and isextra." "This is what I am publicly bound to contribute along with thelot."
"That's a good child!" lady Chia laughingly rejoined.
"Those above as well as those below have all alike given their share,"lady Feng went on to observe with a smile. "But there are still thosetwo secondary wives; are they to give anything or not? Do go and askthem! It's but right that we should go to the extreme length and includethem. Otherwise, they'll imagine that we've looked down upon them!"
"Just so!" eagerly answered lady Chia, at these words. "How is it thatwe forgot all about them? The only thing is, I fear, they've got no timeto spare; yet, tell a servant-girl to go and ask them what they'll do!"
While she spoke, a servant-girl went off. After a long absence, shereturned. "Each of them," she reported, "will likewise contribute twotaels."
Dowager lady Chia was delighted with the result. "Fetch a pen andinkslab," she cried, "and let's calculate how much they amount to, alltogether."
Mrs. Yu abused lady Feng in a low tone of voice. "I'll take you, youmean covetous creature, and ... ! All these mothers-in-law andsisters-in-law have come forward and raised money to celebrate yourbirthday, and are you yet not satisfied that you must also drag in thosetwo miserable beings! But what do you do it for?"
"Try and talk less trash!" lady Feng smiled; also in an undertone."We'll be leaving this place in a little time and then I'll square upaccounts with you! But why ever are those two miserable? When they havemoney, they uselessly give it to other people; and isn't it better thatwe should get hold of it, and enjoy ourselves with it?"
While she uttered these taunts, they computed that the collections wouldreach a sum over and above one hundred and fifty taels.
"We couldn't possibly run through all this for a day's theatricals andbanquet!" old lady Chia exclaimed.
"As no outside guests are to be invited," Mrs. Yu interposed, "and thenumber of tables won't also be many, there will be enough to cover twoor three days' outlay! First of all, there won't be anything to spendfor theatricals, so we'll effect a saving on that item."
"Just call whatever troupe that girl Feng may say she likes best,"dowager lady Chia suggested.
"We've heard quite enough of the performances of that company of ours,"lady Feng said; "let's therefore spend a little money and send foranother, and see what they can do."
"I leave that to you, brother Chen's wife," old lady Chia pursued, "inorder that our girl Feng should have occasion to trouble her mind withas little as possible, and be able to enjoy a day's peace and quiet.It's only right that she should."
Mrs. Yu replied that she would be only too glad to do what she could.They then prolonged their chat for a little longer, until one and allrealised that their old senior must be quite fagged out, and theygradually dispersed.
After seeing Mesdames Hsing and Wang off, Mrs. Yu and the other ladiesadjourned into lady Feng's rooms to consult with her about the birthdayfestivities.
"Don't ask me!" lady Feng urged. "Do whatever will please our worthyancestor."
"What a fine thing you are to come across such a mighty piece of luck!"Mrs. Yu smiled. "I was wondering what had happened that she summoned usall! Why, was it simply on this account? Not to breathe a word about themoney that I'll have to contribute, must I have trouble and annoyance tobear as well? How will you show me any thanks?"
"Don't bring shame upon yourself!" lady Feng laughed. "I didn't send foryou; so why should I be thankful to you! If you funk the exertion, go atonce and let our venerable senior know, and she'll depute some one elseand have done."
"You go on like this as you see her in such excellent spirits, that'swhy!" Mrs. Yu smilingly answered. "It would be well, I advise you, topull in a bit; for if you be too full of yourself, you'll get your duereward!"
After some further colloquy, these two ladies eventually parted company.
On the next day, the money was sent over to the Ning Kuo Mansion at thevery moment that Mrs. Yu had got up, and was performing her toilette andablutions. "Who brought it?" she asked.
"Nurse Lin," the servant-girl said by way of response.
"Call her in," Mrs. Yu said.
The servant-girls walked as far as the lower rooms and called LinChih-hsiao's wife to come in. Mrs. Yu bade her seat herself on thefootstool. While she hurriedly combed her hair and washed her face andhands, she wanted to know how much the bundle contained in all.
"This is what's subscribed by us servants." Lin Chih-hsiao's wifereplied, "and so I collected it and brought it over first. As for thecontributions of our venerable mistress, and those of the ladies, theyaren't ready yet."
But simultaneously with this reply, the waiting-maids announced: "Ourlady of the other mansion and Mrs. Hsueeh have sent over some one withtheir portions."
"You mean wenches!" Mrs. Yu cried, scolding them with a smile. "All thegumption you've got is to simply bear in mind this sort of nonsense! Ina fit of good cheer, your old mistress yesterday purposely expressed awish to imitate those poor people, and raise a subscription. But you atonce treasured it up in your memory, and, when the thing came to becanvassed by you
, you treated it in real earnest! Don't you yet quickbundle yourselves out, and bring the money in! Be careful and give themsome tea before you see them off."
The waiting-maids smilingly hastened to go and take delivery of themoney and bring it in. It consisted, in all, of two bundles, andcontained Pao-ch'ai's and Tai-yue's shares as well.
"Whose shares are wanting?" Mrs. Yu asked.
"Those of our old lady, of Madame Wang, the young ladies, and of ourgirls below are still missing," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife explained.
"There's also that of your senior lady," Mrs. Yu proceeded.
"You'd better hurry over, my lady," Lin Chih-hsiao's wife said; "for asthis money will be issued through our mistress Secunda, she'll nobblethe whole of it."
While conversing, Mrs. Yu finished arranging her coiffure and performingher ablutions; and, giving orders to see that the carriage was gotready, she shortly arrived at the Jung mansion. First and foremost shecalled on lady Feng. Lady Feng, she discovered, had already put themoney into a packet, and was on the point of sending it over.
"Is it all there?" Mrs. Yu asked.
"Yes, it is," lady Feng smiled, "so you might as well take it away atonce; for if it gets mislaid, I've nothing to do with it."
"I'm somewhat distrustful," Mrs. Yu laughed, "so I'd like to check it inyour presence."
These words over, she verily checked sum after sum. She found Li Wan'sshare alone wanting. "I said that you were up to tricks!" laughinglyobserved Mrs. Yu. "How is it that your elder sister-in-law's isn'there?"
"There's all that money; and isn't it yet enough?" lady Feng smiled. "Ifthere's merely a portion short it shouldn't matter! Should the moneyprove insufficient, I can then look you up, and give it to you."
"When the others were present yesterday," Mrs. Yu pursued, "you wereready enough to act as any human being would; but here you're againto-day prevaricating with me! I won't, by any manner of means, agree tothis proposal of yours! I'll simply go and ask for the money of ourvenerable senior."
"I see how dreadful you are!" lady Feng laughed. "But when somethingturns up by and bye, I'll also be very punctilious; so don't you thenbear me a grudge!"
"Well, never mind if you don't give your quota!" Mrs. Yu smilinglyrejoined. "Were it not that I consider the dutiful attentions you've allalong shown me would I ever be ready to humour you?"
So rejoining, she produced P'ing Erh's share. "P'ing Erh, come here,"she cried, "take this share of yours and put it away! Should the moneycollected turn out to be below what's absolutely required, I'll make upthe sum for you."
P'ing Erh apprehended her meaning. "My lady," she answered, with acheerful countenance, "it would come to the same thing if you were tofirst spend what you want and to give me afterwards any balance that mayremain of it."
"Is your mistress alone to be allowed to do dishonest acts," Mrs. Yulaughed, "and am I not to be free to bestow a favour?"
P'ing Erh had no option, but to retain her portion.
"I want to see," Mrs. Yu added, "where your mistress, who is soextremely careful, will run through all the money, we've raised! If shecan't spend it, why she'll take it along with her in her coffin, andmake use of it there."
While still speaking, she started on her way to dowager lady Chia'ssuite of rooms. After first paying her respects to her, she made a fewgeneral remarks, and then betook herself into Yuean Yang's quarters whereshe held a consultation with Yuean Yang. Lending a patient ear to allthat Yuean Yang; had to recommend in the way of a programme, and as tohow best to give pleasure to old lady Chia, she deliberated with heruntil they arrived at a satisfactory decision. When the time came forMrs. Yu to go, she took the two taels, contributed by Yuean Yang, andgave them back to her. "There's no use for these!" she said, and withthese words still on her lips, she straightway quitted her presence andwent in search of Madame Wang.
After a short chat, Madame Wang stepped into the family shrine reservedfor the worship of Buddha, so she likewise restored Ts'ai Yuen's share toher; and, availing herself of lady Feng's absence, she presentlyreimbursed to Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Chao the amount of their respectivecontributions.
These two dames would not however presume to take their money back."Your lot, ladies, is a pitiful one!" Mrs. Yu then expostulated. "Howcan you afford all this spare money! That hussey Feng is well aware ofthe fact. I'm here to answer for you!"
At these assurances, both put the money away, with profuse expressionsof gratitude.
In a twinkle, the second day of the ninth moon arrived. The inmates ofthe garden came to find out that Mrs. Yu was making preparations on anextremely grand scale; for not only was there to be a theatricalperformance, but jugglers and women storytellers as well; and theycombined in getting everything ready that could conduce to affordamusement and enjoyment.
"This is," Li Wan went on to say to the young ladies, "the proper dayfor our literary gathering, so don't forget it. If Pao-yue hasn'tappeared, it must, I presume, be that his mind is so preoccupied withthe fuss that's going on that he has lost sight of all pure and refinedthings."
Speaking, "Go and see what he is up to!" she enjoined a waiting-maid;"and be quick and tell him to come."
The waiting-maid returned after a long absence. "Sister Hua says," shereported, "that he went out of doors, soon after daylight this morning."
The result of the inquiries filled every one with surprise. "He can'thave gone out!" they said. "This girl is stupid, and doesn't know how tospeak." They consequently also directed Ts'ui Mo to go and ascertain thetruth. In a little time, Ts'ui Mo returned. "It's really true," sheexplained, "that he has gone out of doors. He gave out that a friend ofhis was dead, and that he was going to pay a visit of condolence."
"There's certainly nothing of the kind," T'an Ch'un interposed. "Butwhatever there might have been to call him away, it wasn't right of himto go out on an occasion like the present one! Just call Hsi Jen here,and let me ask her!"
But just as she was issuing these directions, she perceived Hsi Jenappear on the scene. "No matter what he may have had to attend toto-day," Li Wan and the rest remarked, "he shouldn't have gone out! Inthe first place, it's your mistress Secunda's birthday, and our dowagerlady is in such buoyant spirits that the various inmates, whether highor low, are coming from either mansion to join in the fun; and lo, hegoes off! Secondly, this is the proper day as well for holding our firstliterary gathering, and he doesn't so as apply for leave, but stealthilysneaks away."
Hsi Jen heaved it sigh. "He said last night," she explained, "that hehad something very important to do this morning; that he was going asfar as Prince Pei Ching's mansion, but that he would hurry back. Iadvised him not to go; but, of course, he wouldn't listen to me. When hegot out of bed, at daybreak this morning, he asked for his plain clothesand put them on, so, I suppose, some lady of note belonging to thehousehold of Prince Pei Ching must have departed this life; but who cantell?"
"If such be truly the case," Li Wan and her companions exclaimed, "it'squite right that he should have gone over for a while; but he shouldhave taken care to be back in time !"
This remark over, they resumed their deliberations. "Let's write ourverses," they said, "and we can fine him on his return."
As these words were being spoken, they espied a messenger despatched bydowager lady Chia to ask them over, so they at once adjourned to thefront part of the compound.
Hsi Jen then reported to his grandmother what Pao-yue had done. Old ladyChia was upset by the news; so much so, that she issued immediate ordersto a few servants to go and fetch him.
Pao-yue had, in fact, been brooding over some affair of the heart. A dayin advance he therefore gave proper injunctions to Pei Ming. "As I shallbe going out of doors to-morrow at daybreak," he said, "you'd better getready two horses and wait at the back door! No one else need follow asan escort! Tell Li Kuei that I've gone to the Pei mansion. In the eventof any one wishing to start in search of me, bid him place everyobstacle in the way, as all inquiries can well be dispensed with! Le
thim simply explain that I've been detained in the Pei mansion, but thatI shall surely be back shortly."
Pei Ming could not make out head or tail of what he was driving at; buthe had no alternative than to deliver his message word for word. At thefirst blush of morning of the day appointed, he actually got ready twohorses and remained in waiting at the back gate. When daylight set in,he perceived Pao-yue make his appearance from the side door; got up, fromhead to foot, in a plain suit of clothes. Without uttering a word, hemounted his steed; and stooping his body forward, he proceeded at aquick step on his way down the road. Pei Ming had no help but to followsuit; and, springing on his horse, he smacked it with his whip, andovertook his master. "Where are we off to?" he eagerly inquired, frombehind.
"Where does this road lead to?" Pao-yue asked.
"This is the main road leading out of the northern gate." Pei Mingreplied. "Once out of it, everything is so dull and dreary that there'snothing worth seeing!"
Pao-yue caught this answer and nodded his head. "I was just thinking thata dull and dreary place would be just the thing!" he observed. Whilespeaking, he administered his steed two more whacks. The horse quicklyturned a couple of corners, and trotted out of the city gate. Pei Mingwas more and more at a loss what to think of the whole affair; yet hisonly course was to keep pace closely in his master's track. With onegallop, they covered a distance of over seven or eight lis. But it wasonly when human habitations became gradually few and far between thatPao-yue ultimately drew up his horse. Turning his head round: "Is thereany place here," he asked, "where incense is sold?"
"Incense!" Pei Ming shouted, "yes, there is; but what kind of incense itis I don't know."
"All other incense is worth nothing," Pao-yue resumed, after a moment'sreflection. "We should get sandalwood, conifer and cedar, these three."
"These three sorts are very difficult to get," Pei Ming smiled.
Pao-yue was driven to his wits' ends. But Pei Ming noticing his dilemma,"What do you want incense for?" he felt impelled to ask. "MasterSecundus, I've often seen you wear a small purse, about your person,full of tiny pieces of incense; and why don't you see whether you've gotit with you?"
This allusion was sufficient to suggest the idea to Pao-yue's mind.Forthwith, he drew back his hand and felt the purse suspended on thelapel of his coat. It really contained two bits of 'Ch'en Su.' At thisdiscovery, his heart expanded with delight. The only thing that (dampedhis spirits) was the notion that there was a certain want of reverencein his proceedings; but, on second consideration, he concluded that whathe had about him was, after all, considerably superior to any he couldpurchase, and, with alacrity, he went on to inquire about a censer andcharcoal.
"Don't think of such things!" Pei Ming urged. "Where could they beprocured in a deserted and lonely place like this? If you needed them,why didn't you speak somewhat sooner, and we could have brought themalong with us? Would not this have been more convenient?"
"You stupid thing!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "Had we been able to bring themalong, we wouldn't have had to run in this way as if for life!"
Pei Ming indulged in a protracted reverie, after which, he gave a smile."I've thought of something," he cried, "but I wonder what you'll thinkabout it, Master Secundus! You don't, I expect, only require thesethings; you'll need others too, I presume. But this isn't the place forthem; so let's move on at once another couple of lis, when we'll get tothe 'Water Spirit' monastery."
"Is the 'Water Spirit' monastery in this neighbourhood?" Pao-yue eagerlyinquired, upon hearing his proposal. "Yes, that would be better; let'spress forward."
With this reply, he touched his horse with his whip. While advancing ontheir way, he turned round. "The nun in this 'Water Spirit' monastery,"he shouted to Pei Ming, "frequently comes on a visit to our house, sothat when we now get there and ask her for the loan of a censer, she'scertain to let us have it."
"Not to mention that that's a place where our family burns incense," PeiMing answered, "she could not dare to raise any objections, to anyappeal from us for a loan, were she even in a temple quite unknown tous. There's only one thing, I've often been struck with the strongdislike you have for this 'Water Spirit' monastery, master, and how isthat you're now, so delighted with the idea of going to it?"
"I've all along had the keenest contempt for those low-bred persons,"Pao-yue rejoined, "who, without knowing why or wherefore, foolishly offersacrifices to the spirits, and needlessly have temples erected. Thereason of it all is, that those rich old gentlemen and unsophisticatedwealthy women, who lived in past days, were only too ready, the momentthey heard of the presence of a spirit anywhere, to take in hand theerection of temples to offer their sacrifices in, without even havingthe faintest notion whose spirits they were. This was because theyreadily credited as gospel-truth such rustic stories and idle tales aschanced to reach their ears. Take this place as an example. Offeringsare presented in this 'Water Spirit' nunnery to the spirit of the 'Lo'stream; hence the name of 'Water Spirit' monastery has been given to it.But people really don't know that in past days, there was no such thingas a 'Lo' spirit! These are, indeed, no better than legendary yarnsinvented by Ts'ao Tzu-chien, and who would have thought it, this sort ofstupid people have put up images of it, to which they offer oblations.It serves, however, my purpose to-day, so I'll borrow of her whatever Ineed to use."
While engaged in talking, they reached the entrance. The old nun sawPao-yue arrive, and was thoroughly taken aback. So far was this visitbeyond her expectations, that well did it seem to her as if a livedragon had dropped from the heavens. With alacrity, she rushed up tohim; and making inquiries after his health, she gave orders to an oldTaoist to come and take his horse.
Pao-yue stepped into the temple. But without paying the least homage tothe image of the 'Lo' spirit, he simply kept his eyes fixed intently onit; for albeit made of clay, it actually seemed, nevertheless, toflutter as does a terror-stricken swan, and to wriggle as a dragon inmotion. It looked like a lotus, peeping its head out of the greenstream, or like the sun, pouring its rays upon the russet clouds in theearly morn. Pao-yue's tears unwittingly trickled down his cheeks.
The old nun presented tea. Pao-yue then asked her for the loan of acenser to burn incense in. After a protracted absence, the old nunreturned with some incense as well as several paper horses, which shehad got ready for him to offer. But Pao-yue would not use any of thethings she brought. "Take the censer," he said to Pei Ming, "and go outinto the back garden and find a clean spot!"
But having been unable to discover one; "What about, the platform roundthat well?" Pei Ming inquired.
Pao-yue nodded his head assentingly. Then along with him, he repaired tothe platform of the well. He deposited the censer on the ground, whilePei Ming stood on one side. Pao-yue produced the incense, and threw it onthe fire. With suppressed tears, he performed half of the ceremony, and,turning himself round, he bade Pei Ming clear the things away. Pei Mingacquiesced; but, instead of removing the things, he speedily fell on hisface, and made several prostrations, as his lips uttered this prayer:"I, Pei Ming, have been in the service of Master Secundus for severalyears. Of the secrets of Mr. Secundus' heart there are none, which Ihave not known, save that with regard to this sacrifice to-day; theobject of which, he has neither told me; nor have I had the presumptionto ask. But thou, oh spirit! who art the recipient of these sacrificialofferings, must, I expect, unknown though thy surname and name be to me,be a most intelligent and supremely beautiful elder or younger sister,unique among mankind, without a peer even in heaven! As my MasterSecundus cannot give vent to the sentiments, which fill his heart, allowme to pray on his behalf! Should thou possess spirituality, and holinessbe thy share, do thou often come and look up our Mr. Secundus, forpersistently do his thoughts dwell with thee! And there is no reason whythou should'st not come! But should'st thou be in the abode of the dead,grant that our Mr. Secundus too may, in his coming existence, betransformed into a girl, so that he may be able to amuse himself withyou all! And will not
this prove a source of pleasure to both sides?"
At the close of his invocation, he again knocked his head several timeson the ground, and, eventually, rose to his feet.
Pao-yue lent an ear to his utterances, but, before they had been broughtto an end, he felt it difficult to repress himself from laughing. Givinghim a kick, "Don't talk such stuff and nonsense!" he shouted. "Were anylooker-on to overhear what you say, he'd jeer at you!"
Pei Ming got up and put the censer away. While he walked along withPao-yue, "I've already," he said, "told the nun that you hadn't as yethad anything to eat, Master Secundus, and I bade her get a few thingsready for you, so you must force yourself to take something. I know verywell that a grand banquet will be spread in our mansion to-day, thatexceptional bustle will prevail, and that you have, on account of this,Sir, come here to get out of the way. But as you're, after all, going tospend a whole day in peace and quiet in here, you should try and divertyourself as best you can. It won't, therefore, by any manner of means dofor you to have nothing to eat."
"I won't be at the theatrical performance to have any wine," Pao-yueremarked, "so what harm will there be in my having a drink here, as thefancy takes me?"
"Quite so!" rejoined Pei Ming. "But there's another consideration. Youand I have run over here; but there must be some whose minds are ill atease. Were there no one uneasy about us, well, what would it matter ifwe got back into town as late as we possibly could? But if there be anysolicitous on your account, it's but right, Master Secundus, that youshould enter the city and return home. In the first place, our worthyold mistress and Madame Wang, will thus compose their minds; andsecondly, you'll observe the proper formalities, if you succeed in doingnothing else. But even supposing that, when once you get home, you feelno inclination to look at the plays and have anything to drink, you canmerely wait upon your father and mother, and acquit yourself of yourfilial piety! Well, if it's only a matter of fulfilling this obligation,and you don't care whether our old mistress and our lady, your mother,experience concern or not, why, the spirit itself, which has just beenthe recipient of your oblations, won't feel in a happy frame of mind!You'd better therefore, master, ponder and see what you think of mywords!"
"I see what you're driving at!" Pao-yue smiled. "You keep before yourmind the thought that you're the only servant, who has followed me as anattendant out of town, and you give way to fear that you will, on yourreturn, have to bear the consequences. You hence have recourse to thesegrandiloquent arguments to shove words of counsel down my throat! I'vecome here now with the sole object of satisfying certain rites, and thengoing to partake of the banquet and be a spectator of the plays; and Inever mentioned one single word about any intention on my part not to goback to town for a whole day! I've, however, already accomplished thewish I fostered in my heart, so if we hurry back to town, so as toenable every one to set their solicitude at rest, won't the rightprinciple be carried out to the full in one respect as well as another?"
"Yes, that would be better!" exclaimed Pei Ming.
Conversing the while, they wended their way into the Buddhistic hall.Here the nun had, in point of fact, got ready a table with lentenviands. Pao-yue hurriedly swallowed some refreshment and so did Pei Ming;after which, they mounted their steeds and retraced their stepshomewards, by the road they had come.
Pei Ming followed behind. "Master Secundus!" he kept on shouting, "becareful how you ride! That horse hasn't been ridden very much, so holdhim in tight a bit."
As he urged him to be careful, they reached the interior of the citywalls, and, making their entrance once more into the mansion by the backgate, they betook themselves, with all possible despatch, into the IHung court. Hsi Jen and the other maids were not at home. Only a few oldwomen were there to look after the rooms. As soon as they saw himarrive, they were so filled with gratification that their eyebrowsdilated and their eyes smiled. "O-mi-to-fu!" they said laughingly,"you've come! You've all but driven Miss Hua mad from despair! In theupper quarters, they're just seated at the feast, so be quick, Mr.Secundus, and go and join them."
At these words, Pao-yue speedily divested himself of his plain clothesand put on a coloured costume, reserved for festive occasions, which hehunted up with his own hands. This done, "Where are they holding thebanquet?" he inquired.
"They're in the newly erected large reception pavilion," the old womenresponded.
Upon catching their reply, Pao-yue straightway started for thereception-pavilion. From an early moment, the strains of flageolets andpipes, of song and of wind-instruments faintly fell on his ear. Themoment he reached the passage on the opposite side, he discerned YueCh'uan-erh seated all alone under the eaves of the verandah giving wayto tears. As soon as she became conscious of Pao-yue's arrival, she drewa long, long breath. Smacking her lips, "Ai!" she cried, "the phoenixhas alighted! go in at once! Hadn't you come for another minute, everyone would have been quite upset!"
Pao-yue forced a smile. "Just try and guess where I've been?" heobserved.
Yue Ch'uan-erh twisted herself round, and, paying no notice to him, shecontinued drying her tears. Pao-yue had, therefore, no option but toenter with hasty step. On his arrival in the reception-hall, he paid hisgreetings to his grandmother Chia, to Madame Wang, and the otherinmates, and one and all felt, in fact, as happy to see him back as ifthey had come into the possession of a phoenix.
"Where have you been," dowager lady Chia was the first to ask, "that youcome back at this hour? Don't you yet go and pay your congratulations toyour cousin?" And smiling she proceeded, addressing herself to ladyFeng, "Your cousin has no idea of what's right and what's wrong. Eventhough he may have had something pressing to do, why didn't he utterjust one word, but stealthily bolted away on his own hook? Will thissort of thing ever do? But should you behave again in this fashion byand bye, I shall, when your father comes home, feel compelled to tellhim to chastise you."
Lady Feng smiled. "Congratulations are a small matter?" she observed."But, cousin Pao, you must, on no account, sneak away any more withoutbreathing a word to any one, and not sending for some people to escortyou, for carriages and horses throng the streets. First and foremost,you're the means of making people uneasy at heart; and, what's more,that isn't the way in which members of a family such as ours should goout of doors!"
Dowager lady Chia meanwhile went on reprimanding the servants, whowaited on him. "Why," she said, "do you all listen to him and readily gowherever he pleases without even reporting a single word? But where didyou really go?" Continuing, she asked, "Did you have anything to eat? Ordid you get any sort of fright, eh?"
"A beloved wife of the duke of Pei Ching departed this life," Pao-yuemerely returned for answer, "and I went to-day to express my condolencesto him. I found him in such bitter anguish that I couldn't very wellleave him and come back immediately. That's the reason why I tarriedwith him a little longer."
"If hereafter you do again go out of doors slyly and on your own hook,"dowager lady Chia impressed on his mind, "without first telling me, Ishall certainly bid your father give you a caning!"
Pao-yue signified his obedience with all promptitude. His grandmotherChia was then bent upon having the servants, who were on attendance onhim, beaten, but the various inmates did their best to dissuade her."Venerable senior!" they said, "you can well dispense with flying into arage! He has already promised that he won't venture to go out again.Besides, he has come back without any misadventure, so we should allcompose our minds and enjoy ourselves a bit!"
Old lady Chia had, at first, been full of solicitude. She had, as amatter of course, been in a state of despair and displeasure; but,seeing Pao-yue return in safety, she felt immoderately delighted, to sucha degree, that she could not reconcile herself to visit her resentmentupon him. She therefore dropped all mention of his escapade at once. Andas she entertained fears lest he may have been unhappy or have had, whenhe was away, nothing to eat, or got a start on the road, she did notpunish him, but had, contrariwise, recourse to every sort of indu
cementto coax him to feel at ease. But Hsi Jen soon came over and attended tohis wants, so the company once more turned their attention to thetheatricals. The play acted on that occasion was, "The record of theboxwood hair-pin." Dowager lady Chia, Mrs. Hsueeh and the others weredeeply impressed by what they saw and gave way to tears. Some, however,of the inmates were amused; others were provoked to anger; others gavevent to abuse.
But, reader, do you wish to know the sequel? If so, the next chapterwill explain it.