評論
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the main entrance of the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance， adjoining the street， was opened wide； and on both sides were raised sheds for the musicians， and two companies of players， dressed in blue， discoursed music at the proper times； while one pair after another of the paraphernalia was drawn out so straight as if cut by a knife or slit by an axe. There were also two large carmine boards， carved with gilt inscriptions， erected outside the gate； the designations in bold characters on the upper sides being： Guard of the Imperial Antechamber， charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads， in the Red Prohibited City.
On the opposite side， facing each other， rose， high above the ground， two altars for the services of the Buddhist and Taoist priests， while a placard bore the inscription in bold type： Funeral Obsequies of lady Ch'in， （by marriage） of the Chia mansion， by patent a lady of the fifth rank， consort of the eldest grandson of the hereditary duke of Ning Kuo， and guard of the Imperial Antechamber， charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads in the Red Prohibited City. We， Wan Hsue， by Heaven's commands charged with the perennial preservation of perfect peace in the Kingdom of the Four Continents， as well as of the lands contained therein， Head Controller of the School of Void and Asceticism， and Superior in Chief （of the Buddhist hierarchy）； and Yeh Sheng， Principal Controller， since the creation， of the Disciples of Perfect Excellence and Superior in Chief （of the Taoist priesthood）， and others， having in a reverent spirit purified ourselves by abstinence， now raise our eyes up to Heaven， prostrate ourselves humbly before Buddha， and devoutly pray all the Chia Lans， Chieh Tis， Kung Ts'aos and other divinities to extend their sacred bounties， and from afar to display their spiritual majesty， during the forty-nine days （of the funeral rites）， for the deliverance from judgment and the absolution from retribution （of the spirit of lady Ch'in）， so that it may enjoy a peaceful and safe passage， whether by sea or by land； and other such prayers to this effect， which are in fact not worth the trouble of putting on record.
Chia Chen had， it is true， all his wishes gratified； but， as his wife was laid up in the inner chambers， with a relapse of her old complaint， and was not in a fit state to undertake the direction of the ceremonies， he was very much distressed lest， when the high officials （and their wives） came and went， there should occur any breach of the prescribed conventionalities， which he was afraid would evoke ridicule. Hence it was that he felt in low spirits； but while he was plunged in solicitude Pao-yue， who happened to be close by， readily inquired， "Everything may be safely looked upon as being satisfactorily settled， and why need you， elder brother， still be so full of concern？"
Chia Chen forthwith explained to him how it was that in the ladies' apartments there was no one （to do the honours）， but Pao-yue at these words smiled： "What difficulty is there about it？" he remarked； "I'll recommend some one to take temporary charge of the direction of things for you during the month， and I can guarantee that everything will be properly carried out."
"Who is it？" Chia Chen was quick to ask； but as Pao-yue perceived that there were still too many relatives and friends seated around， he did not feel as if he could very well speak out； so that he went up to Chia Chen and whispered a couple of remarks in his ear.
Chia Chen's joy knew no bounds when he heard this suggestion. "Everything will indeed be properly carried out，" he added laughingly； "but I must now be going at once."
With these words， he drew Pao-yue along， and taking leave of the whole number of visitors， they forthwith came into the drawing rooms.
This day was luckily not a grand occasion， so that few relatives and friends had come. In the inner apartments there were only a small number of ladies of close kinship. Mesdames Hsing and Wang， and lady Feng， and the women of the whole household， were entertaining the guests， when they heard a servant announce that Mr. Chia Chen had come. （This announcement） took the whole body of ladies and young ladies so much by surprise， that， with a rushing sound， they tried to hide in the back rooms； but they were not quick enough （to effect their escape）。
Lady Feng alone composedly stood up. Chia Chen was himself at this time rather unwell， and being also very much cut up， he entered the room shuffling along， propping himself up with a staff.
"You are not well？" therefore remarked madame Hsing and the others， "and you've had besides so much to attend to during these consecutive days， that what you require is rest to get all right； and why do you again come over？"
Chia Chen was， as he leant on his staff， straining every nerve to bend his body so as to fall on his knees and pay his respects to them， and express his sense of obligation for the trouble they had taken， when madame Hsing and the other ladies hastily called Pao-yue to raise him up， bidding a servant move a chair for him to sit on. Chia Chen would not take a seat； but making an effort to return a smile， "Your nephew，" he urged， "has come over， as there's a favour that I want to ask of my two aunts as well as of my eldest cousin."
"What is it？" promptly inquired madame Hsing and the rest.
"My aunts，" Chia Chen replied with all haste， "you surely are aware that your grandson's wife is now no more； your nephew's wife is also laid up unwell， and， as I see that things in the inner apartments are really not what they should properly be， I would trouble my worthy eldest cousin to undertake in here the direction of affairs for a month； and if she does， my mind will be set at ease."
