Pi Hen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yueeh and the rest of the waiting-maids had realised what a serious aspect the dispute had assumed, and not a sound was to be heard to fall from their lips. They remained standing outside listening to what was going on. When they now overheard Hsi Jen making solicitous entreaties on her knees, they rushed into the apartment in a body; and with one consent they prostrated themselves on the floor.
Pao-yue at once pulled Hsi Jen up. Then with a sigh, he took a seat on the bed. 'Get up,' he shouted to the body of girls, 'and clear out! What would you have me do?' he asked, addressing himself to Hsi Jen. 'This heart of mine has been rent to pieces, and no one has any idea about it!'
While speaking, tears of a sudden rolled down his cheek. At the sight of Pao-yue weeping, Hsi Jen also melted into a fit of crying. Ch'ing Wen was standing by them, with watery eyes. She was on the point of reasoning with them, when espying Lin Tai-yue step into the room, she speedily walked out.
'On a grand holiday like this,' remonstrated Lin Tai-yue smiling, 'how is it that you're snivelling away, and all for nothing? Is it likely that high words have resulted all through that 'dumpling' contest?'
Pao-yue and Lin Tai-yue blurted out laughing.
'You don't tell me, cousin Secundus,' Lin Tai-yue put in, 'but I know all about it, even though I have asked no questions.'
Now she spoke, and now she patted Hsi Jen on the shoulder. 'My dear sister-in-law,' she smiled, 'just you tell me! It must surely be that you two have had a quarrel. Confide in me, your cousin, so that I might reconcile you.'
'Miss Lin,' rejoined Hsi Jen, pushing her off, 'what are you fussing about? I am simply one of our servant- girls; you're therefore rather erratic in your talk!'
'You say that you're only a servant-girl,' smilingly replied Tai-yue, 'and yet I treat you like a sister-in- law.'
'Why do you,' Pao-yue chimed in, 'give her this abusive epithet? But however much she may make allowance for this, can she, when there are so many others who tell idle tales on her account, put up with your coming and telling her all you've said?'
'Miss Lin,' smiled Hsi Jen, 'you're not aware of the purpose of my heart. Unless my breath fails and I die, I shall continue in his service.'
'If you die,' remarked Lin Tai-yue smiling, 'what will others do, I wonder? As for me, I shall be the first to die from crying.'
'Were you to die,' added Pao-yue laughingly, 'I shall become a bonze.'
'You'd better be a little more sober-minded!' laughed Hsi Jen. 'What's the good of coming out with all these things?'
Lin Tai-yue put out two of her fingers, and puckered up her lips. 'Up to this,' she laughed, 'he's become a bonze twice. Henceforward, I'll try and remember how many times you make up your mind to become a Buddhist priest!'
This reminded Pao-yue that she was referring to a remark he had made on a previous occasion, but smiling to himself, he allowed the matter to drop.
After a short interval, Lin Tai-yue went away. A servant then came to announce that Mr. Hsueeh wanted to see him, and Pao-yue had to go. The purpose of this visit was in fact to invite him to a banquet, and as he could not very well put forward any excuse to refuse, he had to remain till the end of the feast before he was able to take his leave. The result was that, on his return, in the evening, he was to a great extent under the effect of wine. With bustling step, he wended his way into his own court. Here he perceived that the cool couch with a back to it, had already been placed in the yard, and that there was some one asleep on it. Prompted by the conviction that it must be Hsi Jen, Pao-yue seated himself on the edge of the couch. As he did so, he gave her a push, and inquired whether her sore place was any better. But thereupon he saw the occupant turn herself round, and exclaim: 'What do you come again to irritate me for?'
Pao-yue, at a glance, realised that it was not Hsi Jen, but Ch'ing Wen. Pao-yue then clutched her and compelled her to sit next to him. 'Your disposition,' he smiled, 'has been more and more spoilt through indulgence. When you let the fan drop this morning, I simply made one or two remarks, and out you came with that long rigmarole. Had you gone for me it wouldn't have mattered; but you also dragged in Hsi Jen, who only interfered with every good intention of inducing us to make it up again. But, ponder now, ought you to have done it; yes or no?'
'With this intense heat,' remonstrated Ch'ing Wen, 'why do you pull me and toss me about? Should any people see you, what will they think? But this person of mine isn't meet to be seated in here.'
'Since you yourself know that it isn't meet,' replied Pao-yue with a smile, 'why then were you sleeping here?'
To this taunt Ch'ing Wen had nothing to say. But she spurted out into fresh laughter. 'It was all right,' she retorted, 'during your absence; but the moment you come, it isn't meet for me to stay! Get up and let me go and have my bath. Hsi Jen and She Yueeh have both had theirs, so I'll call them here!'
'I've just had again a good deal of wine,' remarked Pao-yue, laughingly; 'so a wash will be good for me. And since you've not had your bath, you had better bring the water and let's both have it together.'
'No, no!' smiled Ch'ing Wen, waving her hand, 'I cannot presume to put you to any trouble, Sir. I still remember how when Pi Hen used to look after your bath you occupied fully two or three hours. What you were up to during that time we never knew. We could not very well walk in. When you had however done washing, and we entered your room, we found the floor so covered with water that the legs of the bed were soaking and the matting itself a regular pool. Nor could we make out what kind of washing you'd been having; and for days afterwards we had a laugh over it. But I've neither any time to get the water ready; nor do I see the need for you to have a wash along with me. Besides, to-day it's chilly, and as you've had a bath only a little while back, you can very well just now dispense with one. But I'll draw a basin of water for you to wash your face, and to shampoo your head with. Not long ago, Yuean Yang sent you a few fruits; they were put in that crystal bowl, so you'd better tell them to bring them to you to taste.'
'Well, in that case.' laughed Pao-yue, 'you needn't also have a bath. Just simply wash your hands, and bring the fruit and let's have some together.'
'I'm so shaky,' smiled Ch'ing Wen 'that even fans slip out of my hands, and how could I fetch the fruit for you. Were I also to break the dish, it will be still more dreadful!'
'If you want to break it, break it!' smiled Pao-yue. 'These things are only intended for general use. You like this thing; I fancy that; our respective tastes are not identical. The original use of that fan, for instance, was to fan one's self with; but if you chose to break it for fun, you were quite at liberty to do so. The only thing is, when you get angry don't make it the means of giving vent to your temper! Just like those salvers. They are really meant for serving things in. But if you fancy that kind of sound, then deliberately smash them, that will be all right. But don't, when you are in high dudgeon avail yourself of them to air your resentment! That's what one would call having a fancy for a thing!'
Ch'ing Wen greeted his words with a smile.
'Since that be so,' she said, 'bring me your fan and let me tear it. What most takes my fancy is tearing!'
Upon hearing this Pao-yue smilingly handed it to her. Ch'ing Wen, in point of fact, took it over, and with a crash she rent it in two. Close upon this, the sound of crash upon crash became audible.
Pao-yue was standing next to her. 'How nice the noise is!' he laughed. 'Tear it again and make it sound a little more!'
But while he spoke, She Yueeh was seen to walk in. 'Don't,' she smiled, 'be up to so much mischief!' Pao- yue, however, went up to her and snatching her fan also from her hand, he gave it to Ch'ing Wen. Ch'ing Wen took it and there and then likewise broke it in two. Both he and she then had a hearty laugh.
'What do you call this?' She Yueeh expostulated. 'Do you take my property and make it the means of distracting yourselves!'
'Open the fan-box,' shouted Pao-yue, 'and choose one and take it away! What, are they such fine things!'
'In that case,' ventured She Yueeh, 'fetch the fans and let her break as many as she can. Won't that be nice!'
'Go and bring them at once!' Pao-yue laughed.
