評論
打印
Tai-yue had in days gone by heard her mother explain that she had a nephew， born into the world， holding a piece of jade in his mouth， who was perverse beyond measure， who took no pleasure in his books， and whose sole GREat delight was to play the giddy dog in the inner apartments； that her maternal grandmother， on the other hand， loved him so fondly that no one ever presumed to call him to account， so that when， in this instance， she heard madame Wang's advice， she at once felt certain that it must be this very cousin.
"Isn't it to the cousin born with jade in his mouth， that you are alluding to， aunt？" she inquired as she returned her smile. "When I was at home， I remember my mother telling me more than once of this very cousin， who （she said） was a year older than I， and whose infant name was Pao-yue. She added that his disposition was really wayward， but that he treats all his cousins with the utmost consideration. Besides， now that I have come here， I shall， of course， be always together with my female cousins， while the boys will have their own court， and separate quarters； and how ever will there be any cause of bringing any slur upon myself by provoking him？"
"You don't know the reasons （that prompt me to warn you），" replied madame Wang laughingly. "He is so unlike all the rest， all because he has， since his youth up， been doated upon by our old lady！ The fact is that he has been spoilt， through over-indulgence， by being always in the company of his female cousins！ If his female cousins pay no heed to him， he is， at any rate， somewhat orderly， but the day his cousins say one word more to him than usual， much trouble forthwith arises， at the outburst of delight in his heart. That's why I enjoin upon you not to heed him. From his mouth， at one time， issue sugared words and mellifluous phrases； and at another， like the heavens devoid of the sun， he becomes a raving fool； so whatever you do， don't believe all he says."
Tai-yue was assenting to every bit of advice as it was uttered， when unexpectedly she beheld a waiting-maid walk in. "Her venerable ladyship over there，" she said， "has sent word about the evening meal."
Madame Wang hastily took Tai-yue by the hand， and emerging by the door of the back-room， they went eastwards by the verandah at the back. Past the side gate， was a roadway， running north and south. On the southern side were a pavilion with three divisions and a Reception Hall with a colonnade. On the north， stood a large screen wall， painted white； behind it was a very small building， with a door of half the ordinary size.
"these are your cousin Feng's rooms，" explained madame Wang to Tai-yue， as she pointed to them smiling. "You'll know in future your way to come and find her； and if you ever lack anything， mind you mention it to her， and she'll make it all right."
At the door of this court， were also several youths， who had recently had the tufts of their hair tied together， who all dropped their hands against their sides， and stood in a respectful posture. Madame Wang then led Tai-yue by the hand through a corridor， running east and west， into what was dowager lady Chia's back-court. Forthwith they entered the door of the back suite of rooms， where stood， already in attendance， a large number of servants， who， when they saw madame Wang arrive， set to work setting the tables and chairs in order.
Chia Chu's wife， nee Li， served the eatables， while Hsi-feng placed the chopsticks， and madame Wang brought the soup in. Dowager lady Chia was seated all alone on the divan， in the main part of the apartment， on the two sides of which stood four vacant chairs.
Hsi-feng at once drew Tai-yue， meaning to make her sit in the foremost chair on the left side， but Tai-yue steadily and concedingly declined.
"Your aunts and sisters-in-law， standing on the right and left，" dowager lady Chia smilingly explained， "won't have their repast in here， and as you're a guest， it's but proper that you should take that seat."
then alone it was that Tai-yue asked for permission to sit down， seating herself on the chair.
Madame Wang likewise took a seat at old lady Chia's instance； and the three cousins， Ying Ch'un and the others， having craved for leave to sit down， at length came forward， and Ying Ch'un took the first chair on the right， T'an Ch'un the second， and Hsi Ch'un the second on the left. Waiting maids stood by holding in their hands， flips and finger-bowls and napkins， while Mrs. Li and lady Feng， the two of them， kept near the table advising them what to eat， and pressing them to help themselves.
In the outer apartments， the married women and waiting-maids in attendance， were， it is true， very numerous； but not even so much as the sound of the cawing of a crow could be heard.
the repast over， each one was presented by a waiting-maid， with tea in a small tea tray； but the Lin family had all along impressed upon the mind of their daughter that in order to show due regard to happiness， and to preserve good health， it was essential， after every meal， to wait a while， before drinking any tea， so that it should not do any harm to the intestines. When， therefore， Tai-yue perceived how many habits there were in this establishment unlike those which prevailed in her home， she too had no alternative but to conform herself to a certain extent with them. Upon taking over the cup of tea， servants came once more and presented finger-bowls for them to rinse their mouths， and Tai-yue also rinsed hers； and after they had all again finished washing their hands， tea was eventually served a second time， and this was， at length， the tea that was intended to be drunk.
"You can all go，" observed dowager lady Chia， "and let us alone to have a chat."
Madame Wang rose as soon as she heard these words， and having made a few irrelevant remarks， she led the way and left the room along with the two ladies， Mrs. Li and lady Feng.
Dowager lady Chia， having inquired of Tai-yue what books she was reading， "I have just begun reading the Four Books，" Tai-yue replied. "What books are my cousins reading？" Tai-yue went on to ask.
"Books， you say！" exclaimed dowager lady Chia； "why all they know are a few characters， that's all."
the sentence was barely out of her lips， when a continuous sounding of footsteps was heard outside， and a waiting maid entered and announced that Pao-yue was coming. Tai-yue was speculating in her mind how it was that this Pao-yue had turned out such a good-for-nothing fellow， when he happened to walk in.
He was， in fact， a young man of tender years， wearing on his head， to hold his hair together， a cap of gold of purplish tinge， inlaid with precious gems. Parallel with his eyebrows was attached a circlet， embroidered with gold， and representing two dragons snatching a pearl. He wore an archery-sleeved deep red jacket， with hundreds of butterflies worked in gold of two different shades， interspersed with flowers； and was girded with a sash of variegated silk， with clusters of designs， to which was attached long tassels； a kind of sash worn in the palace. Over all， he had a slate-blue fringed coat of Japanese brocaded satin， with eight bunches of flowers in relief； and wore a pair of light blue satin white-soled， half-dress court-shoes.
