評論
打印
Chia Cheng gives good advice to his wayward son. Li Kuei receives a reprimand. Chia Jui and Li Kuei rebuke the obstinate youths！ Ming Yen causes trouble in the school-room.
But to return to our story. Mr. Ch'in， the father， and Ch'in Chung， his son， only waited until the receipt， by the hands of a servant， of a letter from the Chia family about the date on which they were to go to school. Indeed， Pao-yue was only too impatient that he and Ch'in Chung should come together， and， without loss of time， he fixed upon two days later as the day upon which they were definitely to begin their studies， and he despatched a servant with a letter to this effect.
On the day appointed， as soon as it was daylight， Pao-yue turned out of bed. Hsi Jen had already by that time got books， pencils and all writing necessaries in perfect readiness， and was sitting on the edge of the bed in a moping mood； but as soon as she saw Pao-yue approach， she was constrained to wait upon him in his toilette and ablutions.
Pao-yue， noticing how despondent she was， made it a point to address her. "My dear sister，" he said， "how is it you aren't again yourself？ Is it likely that you bear me a grudge for being about to go to school， because when I leave you， you'll all feel dull？"
Hsi Jen smiled. "What an ideal" she replied. "Study is a most excellent thing， and without it a whole lifetime is a mere waste， and what good comes in the long run？ There's only one thing， which is simply that when engaged in reading your books， you should set your mind on your books； and that you should think of home when not engaged in reading. Whatever you do， don't romp together with them， for were you to meet our master， your father， it will be no joke！ Although it's asserted that a scholar must strain every nerve to excel， yet it's preferable that the tasks should be somewhat fewer， as， in the first place， when one eats too much， one cannot digest it； and， in the second place， good health must also be carefully attended to. This is my view on the subject， and you should at all times consider it in practice."
While Hsi Jen gave utterance to a sentence， Pao-yue nodded his head in sign of approval of that sentence. Hsi Jen then went on to speak. "I've also packed up，" she continued， "your long pelisse， and handed it to the pages to take it over； so mind， when it's cold in the school-room， please remember to put on this extra clothing， for it's not like home， where you have people to look after you. The foot-stove and hand-stove， I've also sent over； and urge that pack of lazy-bones to attend to their work， for if you say nothing， they will be so engrossed in their frolics， that they'll be loth to move， and let you， all for nothing， take a chill and ruin your constitution."
"Compose your mind，" replied Pao-yue； "when I go out， I know well enough how to attend to everything my own self. But you people shouldn't remain in this room， and mope yourselves to death； and it would be well if you would often go over to cousin Lin's for a romp."
While saying this， he had completed his toilette， and Hsi Jen pressed him to go and wish good morning to dowager lady Chia， Chia Cheng， madame Wang， and the other members of the family.
Pao-yue， after having gone on to give a few orders to Ch'ing Wen and She Yueh， at length left his apartments， and coming over， paid his obeisance to dowager lady Chia. Her venerable Ladyship had likewise， as a matter of course， a few recommendations to make to him， which ended， he next went and GREeted madame Wang； and leaving again her quarters， he came into the library to wish Chia Cheng good morning.
As it happened， Chia Cheng had on this day returned home at an early hour， and was， at this moment， in the library， engaged in a friendly chat with a few gentlemen， who were family companions. Suddenly perceiving Pao-yue come in to pay his respects， and report that he was about to go to school， Chia Cheng gave a sardonic smile. "If you do again，" he remarked， "make allusions to the words going to school， you'll make even me blush to death with shame！ My advice to you is that you should after all go your own way and play； that's the best thing for you； and mind you don't pollute with dirt this floor by standing here， and soil this door of mine by leaning against it！"
the family companions stood up and smilingly expostulated.
"Venerable Sir，" they pleaded， "why need you be so down upon him？ Our worthy brother is this day going to school， and may in two or three years be able to display his abilities and establish his reputation. He will， beyond doubt， not behave like a child， as he did in years gone past. But as the time for breakfast is also drawing nigh， you should， worthy brother， go at once."
When these words had been spoken， two among them， who were advanced in years， readily took Pao-yue by the hand， and led him out of the library.
"Who are in attendance upon Pao-yue？" Chia Cheng having inquired， he heard a suitable reply， "We， Sir！" given from outside； and three or four sturdy fellows entered at an early period and fell on one knee， and bowed and paid their obeisance.
