評論
打印
"Whether you mean to have anything to eat or not，" Hsi Jen advised， "you should after all sit for a time with our old mistress and our lady， and have a romp with the young ladies； after which you can come back again； while I， by quietly keeping lying down， will also feel the better."
When Pao-yue heard this suggestion， he had no help but to accede， and， after she had divested herself of her hair-pins and earrings， and he saw her lie down， he betook himself into the drawing-rooms， where he had his repast with old lady Chia. But the meal over， her ladyship felt still disposed to play at cards with the nurses， who had looked after the household for many years； and Pao-yue， bethinking himself of Hsi Jen， hastened to return to his apartments； where seeing that Hsi Jen was drowsily falling asleep， he himself would have wished to go to bed， but the hour was yet early. And as about this time Ch'ing Wen， I Hsia， Ch'in Wen， Pi Hen had all， in their desire of getting some excitement， started in search of Yuean Yang， Hu Po and their companions， to have a romp with them， and he espied She Yueeh alone in the outer room， having a game of dominoes by lamp-light， Pao-yue inquired full of smiles： "How is it you don't go with them？"
"I've no money，" She Yueeh replied.
"Under the bed，" continued Pao-yue， "is heaped up all that money， and isn't it enough yet for you to lose from？"
"Had we all gone to play，" She Yueeh added， "to whom would the charge of this apartment have been handed over？ That other one is sick again， and the whole room is above， one mass of lamps， and below， full of fire； and all those old matrons， ancient as the heavens， should， after all their exertions in waiting upon you from morning to night， be also allowed some rest； while the young servant girls， on the other hand， have likewise been on duty the whole day long， and shouldn't they even at this hour be left to go and have some distraction？ and that's why I am in here on watch."
When Pao-yue heard these words， which demonstrated distinctly that she was another Hsi Jen， he consequently put on a smile and remarked： "I'll sit in here， so you had better set your mind at ease and go！"
"Since you remain in here， there's less need for me to go，" resumed She Yueeh， "for we two can chat and play and laugh； and won't that be nice？"
"What can we two do？ it will be awfully dull！ but never mind，" Pao-yue rejoined； "this morning you said that your head itched， and now that you have nothing to do， I may as well comb it for you."
"Yes！ do so！" readily assented She Yueeh， upon catching what he suggested； and while still speaking， she brought over the dressing-case containing a set of small drawers and looking-glass， and taking off her ornaments， she dishevelled her hair； whereupon Pao-yue picked up the fine comb and passed it repeatedly through her hair； but he had only combed it three or five times， when he perceived Ch'ing Wen hurriedly walk in to fetch some money. As soon as she caught sight of them both： "You haven't as yet drunk from the marriage cup，" she said with a smile full of irony， "and have you already put up your hair？"
"Now that you've come， let me also comb yours for you，" Pao-yue continued.
