評(píng)論
打印
Mrs. Yu， the wife of Chia Chen， and Mrs. Ch'in， the wife of Mr. Chia Jung， the two sisters-in-law， had， along with a number of maids， waiting-girls， and other servants， come as far as the ceremonial gate to receive them， and Mrs. Yu， upon meeting lady Feng， for a while indulged， as was her wont， in humorous remarks， after which， leading Pao-yue by the hand， they entered the drawing room and took their seats， Mrs. Ch'in handed tea round.
"What have you people invited me to come here for？" promptly asked lady Feng； "if you have anything to present me with， hand it to me at once， for I've other things to attend to."
Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Ch'in had barely any time to exchange any further remarks， when several matrons interposed， smilingly： "Had our lady not come to-day， there would have been no help for it， but having come， you can't have it all your own way."
While they were conversing about one thing and another， they caught sight of Chia Jung come in to pay his respects， which prompted Pao-yue to inquire， "Isn't my elder brother at home to-day？"
"He's gone out of town to-day，" replied Mrs. Yu， "to inquire after his grandfather. You'll find sitting here，" she continued， "very dull， and why not go out and have a stroll？"
"A strange coincidence has taken place to-day，" urged Mrs. Ch'in， with a smile； "some time back you， uncle Pao， expressed a wish to see my brother， and to-day he too happens to be here at home. I think he's in the library； but why not go and see for yourself， uncle Pao？"
Pao-yue descended at once from the stove-couch， and was about to go， when Mrs. Yu bade the servants to mind and go with him. "Don't you let him get into trouble，" she enjoined. "It's a far different thing when he comes over under the charge of his grandmother， when he's all right."
"If that be so，" remarked lady Feng， "why not ask the young gentleman to come in， and then I too can see him. There isn't， I hope， any objection to my seeing him？"
"Never mind！ never mind！" observed Mrs. Yu， smilingly； "it's as well that you shouldn't see him. This brother of mine is not， like the boys of our Chia family， accustomed to roughly banging and knocking about. Other people's children are brought up politely and properly， and not in this vixenish style of yours. Why， you'd ridicule him to death！"
"I won't laugh at him then， that's all，" smiled lady Feng； "tell them to bring him in at once."
"He's shy，" proceeded Mrs. Ch'in， "and has seen nothing much of the world， so that you are sure to be put out when you see him， sister."
"What an idea！" exclaimed lady Feng. "Were he even No Cha himself， I'd like to see him； so don't talk trash； if， after all， you don't bring him round at once， I'll give you a good slap on the mouth."
"I daren't be obstinate，" answered Mrs. Ch'in smiling； "I'll bring him round！"
In a short while she did in fact lead in a young lad， who， compared with Pao-yue， was somewhat more slight but， from all appearances， superior to Pao-yue in eyes and eyebrows， （good looks）， which were so clear and well-defined， in white complexion and in ruddy lips， as well as graceful appearance and pleasing manners. He was however bashful and timid， like a girl.
In a shy and demure way， he made a bow to lady Feng and asked after her health.
Lady Feng was simply delighted with him. "You take a low seat next to him！" she ventured laughingly as she first pushed Pao-yue back. then readily stooping forward， she took this lad by the hand and asked him to take a seat next to her. Presently she inquired about his age， his studies and such matters， when she found that at school he went under the name of Ch'in Chung.
the matrons and maids in attendance on lady Feng， perceiving that this was the first time their mistress met Ch'in Chung， （and knowing） that she had not at hand the usual presents， forthwith ran over to the other side and told P'ing Erh about it.
P'ing Erh， aware of the close intimacy that existed between lady Feng and Mrs. Ch'in， speedily took upon herself to decide， and selecting a piece of silk， and two small gold medals， （bearing the wish that he should attain） the highest deGREe， the senior wranglership， she handed them to the servants who had come over， to take away.
Lady Feng， however， explained that her presents were too mean by far， but Mrs. Ch'in and the others expressed their appreciation of them； and in a short time the repast was over， and Mrs. Yu， lady Feng and Mrs. Ch'in played at dominoes， but of this no details need be given； while both Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung sat down， got up and talked， as they pleased.
Since he had first glanced at Ch'in Chung， and seen what kind of person he was， he felt at heart as if he had lost something， and after being plunged in a dazed state for a time， he began again to give way to foolish thoughts in his mind.
