CHAPTER XI.

In honour of Chia Ching's birthday, a family banquet is spread in the

Ning Mansion.

At the sight of Hsi-feng, Chia Jui entertains feelings of licentious

love.

We will now explain, in continuation of our story, that on the day of

Chia Ching's birthday, Chia Chen began by getting ready luscious

delicacies and rare fruits, which he packed in sixteen spacious present

boxes, and bade Chia Jung take them, along with the servants belonging

to the household, over to Chia Ching.

Turning round towards Chia Jung: "Mind," he said, "that you observe

whether your grandfather be agreeable or not, before you set to work and

pay your obeisance! 'My father,' tell him, 'has complied with your

directions, venerable senior, and not presumed to come over; but he has

at home ushered the whole company of the members of the family (into

your apartments), where they all paid their homage facing the side of

honour.'"

After Chia Jung had listened to these injunctions, he speedily led off

the family domestics, and took his departure. During this interval, one

by one arrived the guests. First came Chia Lien and Chia Se, who went to

see whether the seats in the various places (were sufficient). "Is there

to be any entertainment or not?" they also inquired.

"Our master," replied the servants, "had, at one time, intended to

invite the venerable Mr. Chia Ching to come and spend this day at home,

and hadn't for this reason presumed to get up any entertainment. But

when the other day he came to hear that the old gentleman was not

coming, he at once gave us orders to go in search of a troupe of young

actors, as well as a band of musicians, and all these people are now

engaged making their preparations on the stage in the garden."

Next came, in a group, mesdames Hsing and Wang, lady Feng and Pao-yü,

followed immediately after by Chia Chen and Mrs. Yu; Mrs. Yu's mother

having already arrived and being in there in advance of her. Salutations

were exchanged between the whole company, and they pressed one another

to take a seat. Chia Chen and Mrs. Yu both handed the tea round.

"Our venerable lady," they explained, as they smiled, "is a worthy

senior; while our father is, on the other hand, only her nephew; so that

on a birthday of a man of his age, we should really not have had the

audacity to invite her ladyship; but as the weather, at this time, is

cool, and the chrysanthemums, in the whole garden, are in luxuriant

blossom, we have requested our venerable ancestor to come for a little

distraction, and to see the whole number of her children and

grand-children amuse themselves. This was the object we had in view,

but, contrary to our expectations, our worthy senior has not again

conferred upon us the lustre of her countenance."

Lady Feng did not wait until madame Wang could open her mouth, but took

the initiative to reply. "Our venerable lady," she urged, "had, even so

late as yesterday, said that she meant to come; but, in the evening,

upon seeing brother Pao eating peaches, the mouth of the old lady once

again began to water, and after partaking of a little more than the half

of one, she had, about the fifth watch, to get out of bed two

consecutive times, with the result that all the forenoon to-day, she

felt her body considerably worn out. She therefore bade me inform our

worthy senior that it was utterly impossible for her to come to-day;

adding however that, if there were any delicacies, she fancied a few

kinds, but that they should be very tender."

When Chia Chen heard these words, he smiled. "Our dowager lady," he

replied, "is, I argued, so fond of amusement that, if she doesn't come

to-day, there must, for a certainty, be some valid reason; and that's

exactly what happens to be the case."

"The other day I heard your eldest sister explain," interposed madame

Wang, "that Chia Jung's wife was anything but well; but what's after all

the matter with her?"

"She has," observed Mrs. Yu, "contracted this illness verily in a

strange manner! Last moon at the time of the mid-autumn festival, she

was still well enough to be able to enjoy herself, during half the

night, in company with our dowager lady and madame Wang. On her return,

she continued in good health, until after the twentieth, when she began

to feel more and more languid every day, and loth, likewise, to eat

anything; and this has been going on for well-nigh half a month and

more; she hasn't besides been anything like her old self for two

months."

"May she not," remarked madame Hsing, taking up the thread of the

conversation, "be ailing for some happy event?"

But while she was uttering these words, some one from outside announced:

"Our senior master, second master and all the gentlemen of the family

have come, and are standing in the Reception Hall!" Whereupon Chia Chen

and Chia Lien quitted the apartment with hurried step; and during this

while, Mrs. Yu reiterated how that some time ago a doctor had also

expressed the opinion that she was ailing for a happy event, but that

the previous day, had come a doctor, recommended by Feng Tzu-ying--a

doctor, who had from his youth up made medicine his study, and was very

proficient in the treatment of diseases,--who asserted, after he had

seen her, that it was no felicitous ailment, but that it was some grave

complaint. "It was only yesterday," (she explained,) "that he wrote his

prescription; and all she has had is but one dose, and already to-day

the giddiness in the head is considerably better; as regards the other

symptoms they have as yet shown no marked improvement."

"I maintain," remarked lady Feng, "that, were she not quite unfit to

stand the exertion, would she in fact, on a day like this, be unwilling

to strain every nerve and come round."

"You saw her," observed Mrs. Yu, "on the third in here; how that she

bore up with a violent effort for ever so long, but it was all because

of the friendship that exists between you two, that she still longed for

your society, and couldn't brook the idea of tearing herself away."

When lady Feng heard these words, her eyes got quite red, and after a

time she at length exclaimed: "In the Heavens of a sudden come wind and

rain; while with man, in a day and in a night, woe and weal survene! But

with her tender years, if for a complaint like this she were to run any

risk, what pleasure is there for any human being to be born and to

sojourn in the world?"

She was just speaking, when Chia Jung walked into the apartment; and

after paying his respects to madame Hsing, madame Wang, and lady Feng,

he then observed to Mrs. Yu: "I have just taken over the eatables to our

venerable ancestor; and, at the same time, I told him that my father was

at home waiting upon the senior, and entertaining the junior gentlemen

of the whole family, and that in compliance with grandfather's orders,

he did not presume to go over. The old gentleman was much delighted by

what he heard me say, and having signified that that was all in order,

bade me tell father and you, mother, to do all you can in your

attendance upon the senior gentlemen and ladies, enjoining me to

entertain, with all propriety, my uncles, aunts, and my cousins. He also

went on to urge me to press the men to cut, with all despatch, the

blocks for the Record of Meritorious Deeds, and to print ten thousand

copies for distribution. All these messages I have duly delivered to my

father, but I must now be quick and go out, so as to send the eatables

for the elder as well as for the younger gentlemen of the entire

household."

"Brother Jung Erh," exclaimed lady Feng, "wait a moment. How is your

wife getting on? how is she, after all, to-day?"

"Not well," replied Chia Jung. "But were you, aunt, on your return to go

in and see her, you will find out for yourself."

Chia Jung forthwith left the room. During this interval, Mrs. Yu

addressed herself to mesdames Hsing and Wang; "My ladies," she asked,

"will you have your repast in here, or will you go into the garden for

it? There are now in the garden some young actors engaged in making

their preparations?"

"It's better in here," madame Wang remarked, as she turned towards

madame Hsing.

Mrs. Yu thereupon issued directions to the married women and matrons to

be quick in serving the eatables. The servants, in waiting outside the

door, with one voice signified their obedience; and each of them went

off to fetch what fell to her share. In a short while, the courses were

all laid out, and Mrs. Yu pressed mesdames Hsing and Wang, as well as

her mother, into the upper seats; while she, together with lady Feng and

Pao-yü, sat at a side table.

"We've come," observed mesdames Hsing and Wang, "with the original idea

of paying our congratulations to our venerable senior on the occasion of

his birthday; and isn't this as if we had come for our own birthdays?"

"The old gentleman," answered lady Feng, "is a man fond of a quiet life;

and as he has already consummated a process of purification, he may well

be looked upon as a supernatural being, so that the purpose to which

your ladyships have given expression may be considered as manifest to

his spirit, upon the very advent of the intention."

As this sentence was uttered the whole company in the room burst out

laughing. Mrs. Yu's mother, mesdames Hsing and Wang, and lady Feng

having one and all partaken of the banquet, rinsed their mouths and

washed their hands, which over, they expressed a wish to go into the

garden.

Chia Jung entered the room. "The senior gentlemen," he said to Mrs. Yu,

"as well as all my uncles and cousins, have finished their repast; but

the elder gentleman Mr. Chia She, who excused himself on the score of

having at home something to attend to, and Mr. Secundus (Chia Cheng),

who is not partial to theatrical performances and is always afraid that

people will be too boisterous in their entertainments, have both of them

taken their departure. The rest of the family gentlemen have been taken

over by uncle Secundus Mr. Lien, and Mr. Se, to the other side to listen

to the play. A few moments back Prince Nan An, Prince Tung P'ing, Prince

Hsi Ning, Prince Pei Ching, these four Princes, with Niu, Duke of Chen

Kuo, and five other dukes, six in all, and Shih, Marquis of Chung Ching,

and other seven, in all eight marquises, sent their messengers with

their cards and presents. I have already told father all about it; but

before I did so, the presents were put away in the counting room, the

lists of presents were all entered in the book, and the 'received with

thanks' cards were handed to the respective messengers of the various

mansions; the men themselves were also tipped in the customary manner,

and all of them were kept to have something to eat before they went on

their way. But, mother, you should invite the two ladies, your mother

and my aunt, to go over and sit in the garden."

"Just so!" observed Mrs. Yu, "but we've only now finished our repast,

and were about to go over."

"I wish to tell you, madame," interposed lady Feng, "that I shall go

first and see brother Jung's wife and then come and join you."

"All right," replied madame Wang; "we should all have been fain to have

paid her a visit, did we not fear lest she should look upon our

disturbing her with displeasure, but just tell her that we would like to

know how she is getting on!"

"My dear sister," remarked Mrs. Yu, "as our son's wife has a ready ear

for all you say, do go and cheer her up, (and if you do so,) it will

besides set my own mind at ease; but be quick and come as soon as you

can into the garden."

Pao-yü being likewise desirous to go along with lady Feng to see lady

Ch'in, madame Wang remarked, "Go and see her just for a while, and then

come over at once into the garden; (for remember) she is your nephew's

wife, (and you couldn't sit in there long)."

Mrs. Yu forthwith invited mesdames Wang and Hsing, as well as her own

mother, to adjourn to the other side, and they all in a body walked into

the garden of Concentrated Fragrance; while lady Feng and Pao-yü betook

themselves, in company with Chia Jung, over to this side.

Having entered the door, they with quiet step walked as far as the

entrance of the inner chamber. Mrs. Ch'in, upon catching sight of them,

was bent upon getting up; but "Be quick," remonstrated lady Feng, "and

give up all idea of standing up; for take care your head will feel

dizzy."

Lady Feng hastened to make a few hurried steps forward and to grasp Mrs.

Ch'in's hand in hers. "My dear girl!" she exclaimed; "How is it that

during the few days I've not seen you, you have grown so thin?"

Readily she then took a seat on the rug, on which Mrs. Ch'in was seated,

while Pao-yü, after inquiring too about her health, sat in the chair on

the opposite side.

"Bring the tea in at once," called out Chia Jung, "for aunt and uncle

Secundus have not had any tea in the drawing room."

Mrs. Ch'in took lady Feng's hand in her own and forced a smile. "This is

all due to my lack of good fortune; for in such a family as this, my

father and mother-in-law treat me just as if I were a daughter of their

own flesh and blood! Besides, your nephew, (my husband,) may, it is

true, my dear aunt, be young in years, but he is full of regard for me,

as I have regard for him, and we have had so far no misunderstanding

between us! In fact, among the senior generation, as well as that of the

same age as myself, in the whole clan, putting you aside, aunt, about

whom no mention need be made, there is not one who has not ever had

anything but love for me, and not one who has not ever shown me anything

but kindness! But since I've fallen ill with this complaint, all my

energy has even every bit of it been taken out of me, so that I've been

unable to show to my father and mother-in-law any mark of filial

attention, yea so much as for one single day and to you, my dear aunt,

with all this affection of yours for me, I have every wish to be dutiful

to the utmost degree, but, in my present state, I'm really not equal to

it; my own idea is, that it isn't likely that I shall last through this

year."

Pao-yü kept, while (she spoke,) his eyes fixed intently upon a picture

on the opposite side, representing some begonias drooping in the spring

time, and upon a pair of scrolls, with this inscription written by Ch'in

Tai-hsü:

A gentle chill doth circumscribe the dreaming man because the spring

is cold!

The fragrant whiff which wafts itself into man's nose, is the perfume

of wine!

And he could not help recalling to mind his experiences at the time when

he had fallen asleep in this apartment, and had, in his dream, visited

the confines of the Great Void. He was just plunged in a state of

abstraction, when he heard Mrs. Ch'in give utterance to these

sentiments, which pierced his heart as if they were ten thousand arrows,

(with the result that) tears unwittingly trickled from his eyes.

Lady Feng perceiving him in tears felt it extremely painful within

herself to bear the sight; but she was on pins and needles lest the

patient should detect their frame of mind, and feel, instead (of

benefit), still more sore at heart, which would not, after all, be quite

the purpose of her visit; which was to afford her distraction and

consolation. "Pao-yü," she therefore exclaimed, "you are like an old

woman! Ill, as she is, simply makes her speak in this wise, and how ever

could things come to such a pass! Besides, she is young in years, so

that after a short indisposition, her illness will get all right!"

"Don't," she said as she turned towards Mrs. Ch'in, "give way to silly

thoughts and idle ideas! for by so doing won't you yourself be

aggravating your ailment?"

"All that her sickness in fact needs," observed Chia Jung, "is, that she

should be able to take something to eat, and then there will be nothing

to fear."

"Brother Pao," urged lady Feng, "your mother told you to go over, as

soon as you could, so that don't stay here, and go on in the way you're

doing, for you after all incite this lady also to feel uneasy at heart.

Besides, your mother over there is solicitous on your account." "You had

better go ahead with your uncle Pao," she consequently continued,

addressing herself to Chia Jung, "while I sit here a little longer."

When Chia Jung heard this remark, he promptly crossed over with Pao-yü

into the garden of Concentrated Fragrance, while lady Feng went on both

to cheer her up for a time, and to impart to her, in an undertone, a

good deal of confidential advice.

Mrs. Yu had despatched servants, on two or three occasions, to hurry

lady Feng, before she said to Mrs. Ch'in: "Do all you can to take good

care of yourself, and I'll come and see you again. You're bound to get

over this illness; and now, in fact, that you've come across that

renowned doctor, you have really nothing more to fear."

"He might," observed Mrs. Ch'in as she smiled, "even be a supernatural

being and succeed in healing my disease, but he won't be able to remedy

my destiny; for, my dear aunt, I feel sure that with this complaint of

mine, I can do no more than drag on from day to day."

"If you encourage such ideas," remonstrated lady Feng, "how can this

illness ever get all right? What you absolutely need is to cast away all

these notions, and then you'll improve. I hear moreover that the doctor

asserts that if no cure be effected, the fear is of a change for the

worse in spring, and not till then. Did you and I moreover belong to a

family that hadn't the means to afford any ginseng, it would be

difficult to say how we could manage to get it; but were your father and

mother-in-law to hear that it's good for your recovery, why not to speak

of two mace of ginseng a day, but even two catties will be also within

their means! So mind you do take every care of your health! I'm now off

on my way into the garden."

"Excuse me, my dear aunt," added Mrs. Ch'in, "that I can't go with you;

but when you have nothing to do, I entreat you do come over and see me!

and you and I can sit and have a long chat."

After lady Feng had heard these words, her eyes unwillingly got quite

red again. "When I'm at leisure I shall, of course," she rejoined, "come

often to see you;" and forthwith leading off the matrons and married

women, who had come over with her, as well as the women and matrons of

the Ning mansion, she passed through the inner part of the house, and

entered, by a circuitous way, the side gate of the park, when she

perceived: yellow flowers covering the ground; white willows flanking

the slopes; diminutive bridges spanning streams, resembling the Jo Yeh;

zigzag pathways (looking as if) they led to the steps of Heaven; limpid

springs dripping from among the rocks; flowers hanging from hedges

emitting their fragrance, as they were flapped by the winds; red leaves

on the tree tops swaying to and fro; groves picture-like, half stripped

of foliage; the western breeze coming with sudden gusts, and the wail of

the oriole still audible; the warm sun shining with genial rays, and the

cicada also adding its chirp: structures, visible to the gaze at a

distance in the South-east, soaring high on various sites and resting

against the hills; three halls, visible near by on the North-west,

stretching in one connected line, on the bank of the stream; strains of

music filling the pavilion, imbued with an unwonted subtle charm; and

maidens in fine attire penetrating the groves, lending an additional

spell to the scene.

Lady Feng, while engaged in contemplating the beauties of the spot,

advanced onwards step by step. She was plunged in a state of ecstasy,

when suddenly, from the rear of the artificial rockery, egressed a

person, who approached her and facing her said, "My respects to you,

sister-in-law."

Lady Feng was so startled by this unexpected appearance that she drew

back. "Isn't this Mr. Jui?" she ventured.

"What! sister-in-law," exclaimed Chia Jui, "don't you recognise even

me?"

"It isn't that I didn't recognise you," explained lady Feng, "but at the

sudden sight of you, I couldn't conceive that it would possibly be you,

sir, in this place!"

"This was in fact bound to be," replied Chia Jui; "for there's some

subtle sympathy between me and you, sister-in-law. Here I just

stealthily leave the entertainment, in order to revel for a while in

this solitary place when, against every expectation, I come across you,

sister-in-law; and isn't this a subtle sympathy?"

As he spoke, he kept his gaze fixed on lady Feng, who being an

intelligent person, could not but arrive, at the sight of his manner, at

the whole truth in her surmises. "It isn't to be wondered at," she

consequently observed, as she smiled hypocritically, "that your eldest

brother should make frequent allusion to your qualities! for after

seeing you on this occasion, and hearing you utter these few remarks, I

have readily discovered what an intelligent and genial person you are! I

am just now on my way to join the ladies on the other side, and have no

leisure to converse with you; but wait until I've nothing to attend to,

when we can meet again."

"I meant to have gone over to your place and paid my respects to you,

sister-in-law," pleaded Chia Jui, "but I was afraid lest a person of

tender years like yourself mightn't lightly receive any visitors!"

Lady Feng gave another sardonic smile. "Relatives," she continued, "of

one family, as we are, what need is there to say anything of tender

years?"

After Chia Jui had heard these words, he felt his heart swell within him

with such secret joy that he was urged to reflect: "I have at length

to-day, when least I expected it, obtained this remarkable encounter

with her!"

But as the display of his passion became still more repulsive, lady Feng

urged him to go. "Be off at once," she remarked, "and join the

entertainment; for mind, if they find you out, they will mulct you in so

many glasses of wine!"

By the time this suggestion had reached Chia Jui's ears, half of his

body had become stiff like a log of wood; and as he betook himself away,

with lothful step, he turned his head round to cast glances at her. Lady

Feng purposely slackened her pace; and when she perceived that he had

gone a certain distance, she gave way to reflection. "This is indeed,"

she thought, "knowing a person, as far as face goes, and not as heart!

Can there be another such a beast as he! If he really continues to

behave in this manner, I shall soon enough compass his death, with my

own hands, and he'll then know what stuff I'm made of."

Lady Feng, at this juncture moved onward, and after turning round a

chain of hillocks, she caught sight of two or three matrons coming along

with all speed. As soon as they espied lady Feng they put on a smile.

"Our mistress," they said, "perceiving that your ladyship was not

forthcoming, has been in a great state of anxiety, and bade your

servants come again to request you to come over.

"Is your mistress," observed lady Feng, "so like a quick-footed demon?"

While lady Feng advanced leisurely, she inquired, "How many plays have

been recited?" to which question one of the matrons replied, "They have

gone through eight or nine." But while engaged in conversation, they had

already reached the back door of the Tower of Celestial Fragrance, where

she caught sight of Pao-yü playing with a company of waiting-maids and

pages. "Brother Pao," lady Feng exclaimed, "don't be up to too much

mischief!" "The ladies are all sitting upstairs," interposed one of the

maids. "Please, my lady, this is the way up."

At these words lady Feng slackened her pace, raised her dress, and

walked up the stairs, where Mrs. Yu was already at the top of the

landing waiting for her.

"You two," remarked Mrs. Yu, smiling, "are so friendly, that having met

you couldn't possibly tear yourself away to come. You had better

to-morrow move over there and take up your quarters with her and have

done; but sit down and let me, first of all, present you a glass of

wine."

Lady Feng speedily drew near mesdames Hsing and Wang, and begged

permission to take a seat; while Mrs. Yu brought the programme, and

pressed lady Feng to mark some plays.

"The senior ladies occupy the seats of honour," remonstrated lady Feng,

"and how can I presume to choose?"

"We, and our relative by marriage, have selected several plays,"

explained mesdames Hsing and Wang, "and it's for you now to choose some

good ones for us to listen to."

Standing up, lady Feng signified her obedience; and taking over the

programme, and perusing it from top to bottom, she marked off one

entitled, the "Return of the Spirit," and another called "Thrumming and

Singing;" after which she handed back the programme, observing, "When

they have done with the 'Ennoblement of two Officers,' which they are

singing just at present, it will be time enough to sing these two."

"Of course it will," retorted madame Wang, "but they should get it over

as soon as they can, so as to allow your elder Brother and your

Sister-in-law to have rest; besides, their hearts are not at ease."

"You senior ladies don't come often," expostulated Mrs. Yu, "and you and

I will derive more enjoyment were we to stay a little longer; it's as

yet early in the day!"

Lady Feng stood up and looked downstairs. "Where have all the gentlemen

gone to?" she inquired.

"The gentlemen have just gone over to the Pavilion of Plenteous

Effulgence," replied a matron, who stood by; "they have taken along with

them ten musicians and gone in there to drink their wine."

"It wasn't convenient for them," remarked lady Feng, "to be over here;

but who knows what they have again gone to do behind our backs?"

"Could every one," interposed Mrs. Yu, "resemble you, a person of such

propriety!"

While they indulged in chatting and laughing, the plays they had chosen

were all finished; whereupon the tables were cleared of the wines, and

the repast was served. The meal over, the whole company adjourned into

the garden, and came and sat in the drawing-room. After tea, they at

length gave orders to get ready the carriages, and they took their leave

of Mrs. Yu's mother. Mrs. Yu, attended by all the secondary wives,

servants, and married women, escorted them out, while Chia Chen, along

with the whole bevy of young men, stood by the vehicles, waiting in a

group for their arrival.

After saluting mesdames Hsing and Wang, "Aunts," they said, "you must

come over again to-morrow for a stroll."

"We must be excused," observed madame Wang, "we've sat here the whole

day to-day, and are, after all, feeling quite tired; besides, we shall

need to have some rest to-morrow."

Both of them thereupon got into their carriages and took their

departure, while Chia Jui still kept a fixed gaze upon lady Feng; and it

was after Chia Chen had gone in that Li Kuei led round the horse, and

that Pao-yü mounted and went off, following in the track of mesdames

Hsing and Wang.

Chia Chen and the whole number of brothers and nephews belonging to the

family had, during this interval, partaken of their meal, and the whole

party at length broke up. But in like manner, all the inmates of the

clan and the guests spent on the morrow another festive day, but we need

not advert to it with any minuteness.

After this occasion, lady Feng came in person and paid frequent visits

to Mrs. Ch'in; but as there were some days on which her ailment was

considerably better, and others on which it was considerably worse, Chia

Chen, Mrs. Yu, and Chia Jung were in an awful state of anxiety.

Chia Jui, it must moreover be noticed, came over, on several instances,

on a visit to the Jung mansion; but it invariably happened that he found

that lady Feng had gone over to the Ning mansion.

This was just the thirtieth of the eleventh moon, the day on which the

winter solstice fell; and the few days preceding that season, dowager

lady Chia, madame Wang and lady Feng did not let one day go by without

sending some one to inquire about Mrs. Ch'in; and as the servants, on

their return, repeatedly reported that, during the last few days,

neither had her ailment aggravated, nor had it undergone any marked

improvement, madame Wang explained to dowager lady Chia, that as a

complaint of this nature had reached this kind of season without getting

any worse, there was some hope of recovery.

"Of course there is!" observed the old lady; "what a dear child she is!

should anything happen to her, won't it be enough to make people die

from grief!" and as she spake she felt for a time quite sore at heart.

"You and she," continuing, she said to lady Feng, "have been friends for

ever so long; to-morrow is the glorious first (and you can't go), but

after to-morrow you should pay her a visit and minutely scrutinise her

appearance: and should you find her any better, come and tell me on your

return! Whatever things that dear child has all along a fancy for, do

send her round a few even as often as you can by some one or other!"

Lady Feng assented to each of her recommendations; and when the second

arrived, she came, after breakfast, to the Ning mansion to see how Mrs.

Ch'in was getting on; and though she found her none the worse, the flesh

all over her face and person had however become emaciated and parched

up. She readily sat with Mrs. Ch'in for a long while, and after they had

chatted on one thing and another, she again reiterated the assurances

that this illness involved no danger, and distracted her for ever so

long.

"Whether I get well or not," observed Mrs. Ch'in, "we'll know in spring;

now winter is just over, and I'm anyhow no worse, so that possibly I may

get all right; and yet there's no saying; but, my dear sister-in-law, do

press our old lady to compose her mind! yesterday, her ladyship sent me

some potato dumplings, with minced dates in them, and though I had two,

they seem after all to be very easily digested!"

"I'll send you round some more to-morrow," lady Feng suggested; "I'm now

going to look up your mother-in-law, and will then hurry back to give my

report to our dowager lady."

"Please, sister-in-law," Mrs. Ch'in said, "present my best respects to

her venerable ladyship, as well as to madame Wang."

Lady Feng signified that she would comply with her wishes, and,

forthwith leaving the apartment, she came over and sat in Mrs. Yu's

suite of rooms.

"How do you, who don't see our son's wife very often, happen to find

her?" inquired Mrs. Yu.

Lady Feng drooped her head for some time. "There's no help," she

ventured, "for this illness! but you should likewise make every

subsequent preparation, for it would also be well if you could scour it

away."

"I've done so much as to secretly give orders," replied Mrs. Yu, "to get

things ready; but for that thing (the coffin), there's no good timber to

be found, so that it will have to be looked after by and by."

Lady Feng swallowed hastily a cup of tea, and after a short chat, "I

must be hurrying back," she remarked, "to deliver my message to our

dowager lady!"

"You should," urged Mrs. Yu, "be sparse in what you tell her lady ship

so as not to frighten an old person like her!"

"I know well enough what to say," replied lady Feng.

Without any further delay, lady Feng then sped back. On her arrival at

home she looked up the old lady. "Brother Jung's wife," she explained,

"presents her compliments, and pays obeisance to your venerable

ladyship; she says that she's much better, and entreats you, her worthy

senior, to set your mind at ease! That as soon as she's a little better

she will come and prostrate herself before your ladyship."

"How do you find her?" inquired dowager lady Chia.

"For the present there's nothing to fear," continued lady Feng; "for her

mien is still good."

After the old lady had heard these words, she was plunged for a long

while in deep reflection; and as she turned towards lady Feng, "Go and

divest yourself of your toilette," she said, "and have some rest."

Lady Feng in consequence signified her obedience, and walked away,

returning home after paying madame Wang a visit. P'ing Erh helped lady

Feng to put on the house costume, which she had warmed by the fire, and

lady Feng eventually took a seat and asked "whether there was anything

doing at home?"

P'ing Erh then brought the tea, and after going over to hand the cup:

"There's nothing doing," she replied; "as regards the interest on the

three hundred taels, Wang Erh's wife has brought it in, and I've put it

away. Besides this, Mr. Jui sent round to inquire if your ladyship was

at home or not, as he meant to come and pay his respects and to have a

chat."

"Heng!" exclaimed lady Feng at these words. "Why should this beast

compass his own death? we'll see when he comes what is to be done."

"Why is this Mr. Jui so bent upon coming?' P'ing Erh having inquired,

lady Feng readily gave her an account of how she had met him in the

course of the ninth moon in the Ning mansion, and of what had been said

by him.

"What a mangy frog to be bent upon eating the flesh of a heavenly

goose!" ejaculated P'ing Erh. "A stupid and disorderly fellow with no

conception of relationship, to harbour such a thought! but we'll make

him find an unnatural death!"

"Wait till he comes," added lady Feng, "when I feel certain I shall find

some way."

What happened, however, when Chia Jui came has not, as yet, been

ascertained, but listen, reader, to the explanation given in the next

chapter.