第八十四回

第八十四回 试文字宝玉始提亲 探惊风贾环重结怨

却说薛姨妈一时因被金桂这场气怄得肝气上逆，左肋作痛。宝钗明知是这个原故，也等不及医生来看，先叫人去买了几钱钩藤[1]来，浓浓的煎了一碗，给他母亲吃了。又和秋菱给薛姨妈捶腿揉胸，停了一会儿，略觉安顿。这薛姨妈只是又悲又气，气的是金桂撒泼，悲的是宝钗有涵养，倒觉可怜。宝钗又劝了一回，不知不觉的睡了一觉，肝气也渐渐平复了。宝钗便说道：“妈妈，你这种闲气不要放在心上才好。过几天走的动了，乐得往那边老太太姨妈处去说说话儿散散闷也好。家里横竖有我和秋菱照看着，谅他〔一〕也不敢怎么样。”薛姨妈点点头道：“过两日看罢了。”

且说元妃疾愈之后，家中俱各喜欢。过了几日，有几个老公走来，带着东西银两，宣贵妃娘娘之命，因家中省问勤劳，俱有赏赐。把物件银两一一交代清楚。贾赦贾政等禀明了贾母，一齐谢恩毕，太监吃了茶去了。大家回到贾母房中，说笑了一回。外面老婆子传进来说：“小厮们来回道，那边有人请大老爷说要紧的话呢。”贾母便向贾赦道：“你去罢。”贾赦答应着，退出来自去了。

这里贾母忽然想起，和贾政笑道：“娘娘心里却甚实惦记着宝玉，前儿还特特的问他来着呢。”贾政陪笑道：“只是宝玉不大肯念书，辜负了娘娘的美意。”贾母道：“我倒给他上了个好儿，说他近日文章都做上来了。”贾政笑道：“那里能像老太太的话呢。”贾母道：“你们时常叫他出去作诗作文，难道他都没作上来么。小孩子家慢慢的教导他，可是人家说的，‘胖子也不是一口儿吃的’。”贾政听了这话，忙陪笑道：“老太太说的是。”贾母又道：“提起宝玉，我还有一件事和你商量。如今他也大了，你们也该留神看一个好孩子给他定下。这也是他终身的大事。也别论远近亲戚，什么穷啊富的，只要深知那姑娘的脾性儿好模样儿周正的就好。”贾政道：“老太太吩咐的很是。但只一件，姑娘也要好，第一要他自己学好才好，不然不稂不莠[3]的，反倒耽误了人家的女孩儿，岂不可惜。”贾母听了这话，心里却有些不喜欢，便说道：“论起来，现放着你们作父母的，那里用我去张心〔二〕。但只我想宝玉这孩子从小儿跟着我，未免多疼他一点儿，耽误了他成人的正事也是有的。只是我看他那生来的模样儿也还齐整，心性儿也还实在，未必一定是那种没出息的，必至糟踏了人家的女孩儿。也不知是我偏心，我看着横竖比环儿略好些，不知你们看着怎么样。”几句话说得贾政心中甚实不安，连忙陪笑道：“老太太看的人也多了，既说他好有造化的，想来是不错的。只是儿子望他成人性儿太急了一点，或者竟和古人的话相反，倒是‘莫知其子之美’[5]了。”一句话把贾母也怄笑了，众人也都陪着笑了。贾母因说道：“你这会子也有了几岁年纪，又居着官，自然越历练越老成。”说到这里，回头瞅着邢夫人和王夫人笑道：“想他那年轻的时候，那一种古怪脾气，比宝玉还加一倍呢。直等娶了媳妇，才略略的懂了些人事儿。如今只抱怨宝玉，这会子我看宝玉比他还略体些人情儿呢。”说的邢夫人王夫人都笑了。因说道：“老太太又说起逗笑儿的话儿来了。”说着，小丫头子们进来告诉鸳鸯：“请示老太太，晚饭伺候下了。”贾母便问：“你们又咕咕唧唧的说什么？”鸳鸯笑着回明了。贾母道：“那么着，你们也都吃饭去罢，单留凤姐儿和珍哥媳妇跟着我吃罢。”贾政及邢、王二夫人都答应着，伺候摆上饭来，贾母又催了一遍，才都退出各散。

却说邢夫人自去了。贾政同王夫人进入房中。贾政因提起贾母方才的话来，说道：“老太太这样疼宝玉，毕竟要他有些实学，日后可以混得功名，才好不枉老太太疼他一场，也不至糟踏了人家的女儿。”王夫人道：“老爷这话自然是该当的。”贾政因着个屋里的丫头传出去告诉李贵：“宝玉放学回来，索性吃饭后再叫他过来，说我还要问他话呢。”李贵答应了“是”。至宝玉放了学刚要过来请安，只见李贵道：“二爷先不用过去。老爷吩咐了，今日叫二爷吃了饭再过去呢，听见还有话问二爷呢。”宝玉听了这话，又是一个闷雷。只得见过贾母，便回园吃饭。三口两口吃完，忙漱了口，便往贾政这边来。

贾政此时在内书房坐着，宝玉进来请了安，一旁侍立。贾政问道：“这几日我心上有事，也忘了问你。那一日你说你师父叫你讲一个月的书就要给你开笔[6]，如今算来将两个月了，你到底开了笔了没有？”宝玉道：“才做过三次。师父说且不必回老爷知道，等好些再回老爷知道罢。因此这两天总没敢回。”贾政道：“是什么题目？”宝玉道：“一个是《吾十有五而志于学》[7]，一个是《人不知而不愠》[8]，一个是《则归墨》[9]三字。”贾政道：“都有稿儿么？”宝玉道：“都是作了抄出来师父又改的。”贾政道：“你带了家来了还是在学房里呢？”宝玉道：“在学房里呢。”贾政道：“叫人取了来我瞧。”宝玉连忙叫人传话与焙茗：“叫他往学房中去，我书桌子抽屉里有一本薄薄儿竹纸本子，上面写着‘窗课’[10]两字的就是，快拿来。”一回儿焙茗拿了来递给宝玉。宝玉呈与贾政。贾政翻开看时，见头一篇写着题目是《吾十有五而志于学》。他原本破的是“圣人有志于学，幼而已然矣。”代儒却将幼字抹去，明用“十五”。贾政道：“你原本‘幼’字便扣不清题目了。‘幼’字是从小起至十六以前都是‘幼’。这章书是圣人自言学问工夫与年俱进的话，所以十五、三十、四十、五十、六十、七十俱要明点出来，才见得到了几时有这么个光景，到了几时又有那么个光景。师父把你‘幼’字改了‘十五’，便明白了好些。”看到承题[11]，那抹去的原本云：“夫不志于学，人之常也。”贾政摇头道：“不但是孩子气，可见你本性不是个学者的志气。”又看后句“圣人十五而志之，不亦难乎”，说道：“这更不成话了。”然后看代儒的改本云：“夫人孰不学，而志于学者卒鲜。此圣人所为自信于十五时欤。”便问“改的懂得么？”宝玉答应道：“懂得。”又看第二艺[12]，题目是《人不知而不愠》，便先看代儒的改本云：“不以不知而愠者，终无改其说乐矣。”方觑着眼看那抹去的底本，说道：“你是什么？——‘能无愠人之心，纯乎学者也。’上一句似单做了‘而不愠’三个字的题目，下一句又犯了下文君子的分界。必如改笔才合题位[13]呢。且下句找清上文，方是书理[14]。须要细心领略。”宝玉答应着。贾政又往下看，“夫不知，未有不愠者也；而竟不然。是非由说而乐者，曷克臻此。”原本末句“非纯学者乎。”贾政道：“这也与破题同病的。这改的也罢了，不过清楚〔三〕，还说得去。”第三艺是《则归墨》，贾政看了题目，自己扬着头想了一想，因问宝玉道：“你的书讲到这里了么？”宝玉道：“师父说，《孟子》好懂些，所以倒先讲《孟子》，大前日才讲完了。如今讲‘上论语’呢。”贾政因看这个破承倒没大改。破题云：“言于舍杨之外，若别无所归者焉。”贾政道：“第二句倒难为你。”“夫墨，非欲归者也；而墨之言已半天下矣，则舍杨之外，欲不归于墨，得乎？”贾政道：“这是你做的么？”宝玉答应道：“是。”贾政点点头儿，因说道：“这也并没有什么出色处，但初试笔能如此，还算不离。前年我在任上时，还出过《惟士为能》[16]这个题目。那些童生都读过前人这篇，不能自出心裁，每多抄袭。你念过没有？”宝玉道：“也念过。”贾政道：“我要你另换个主意，不许雷同了前人，只做个破题也使得。”宝玉只得答应着，低头搜索枯肠。贾政背着手，也在门口站着作想。只见一个小小厮往外飞走，看见贾政，连忙侧身垂手站住。贾政便问道：“作什么？”小厮回道：“老太太那边姨太太来了，二奶奶传出话来，叫预备饭呢。”贾政听了，也没言语。那小厮自去了。

谁知宝玉自从宝钗搬回家去，十分想念，听见薛姨妈来了，只当宝钗同来，心中早已忙了，便乍着胆子回道：“破题倒作了一个，但不知是不是。”贾政道：“你念来我听。”宝玉念道：“天下不皆士也，能无产者亦仅矣。”贾政听了，点着头道：“也还使得。以后作文，总要把界限分清，把神理想明白了再去动笔。你来的时候老太太知道不知道？”宝玉道：“知道的。”贾政道：“既如此，你还到老太太处去罢。”宝玉答应了个“是”，只得拿捏[17]着慢慢的退出，刚过穿廊月洞门的影屏，便一溜烟跑到老太太院门口。急得焙茗在后头赶着叫：“看跌倒了！老爷来了。”宝玉那里听得见。刚进得门来，便听见王夫人、凤姐、探春等笑语之声。

丫鬟们见宝玉来了，连忙打起帘子，悄悄告诉道：“姨太太在这里呢。”宝玉赶忙进来给薛姨妈请安，过来才给贾母请了晚安。贾母便问：“你今儿怎么这早晚才散学？”宝玉悉把贾政看文章并命作破题的话述了一遍。贾母笑容满面。宝玉因问众人道：“宝姐姐在那里坐着呢？”薛姨妈笑道：“你宝姐姐没过来，家里和香菱作活呢。”宝玉听了，心中索然，又不好就走。只见说着话儿已摆上饭来，自然是贾母薛姨妈上坐，探春等陪坐。薛姨妈道：“宝哥儿呢？”贾母忙笑说道：“宝玉跟着我这边坐罢。”宝玉连忙回道：“头里散学时李贵传老爷的话，叫吃了饭过去。我赶着要了一碟菜，泡茶吃了一碗饭，就过去了。老太太和姨妈姐姐们用罢。”贾母道：“既这么着，凤丫头就过来跟着我。你太太才说他今儿吃斋，叫他们自己吃去罢。”王夫人也道：“你跟着老太太姨太太吃罢，不用等我，我吃斋呢。”于是凤姐告了坐，丫头安了杯箸，凤姐执壶斟了一巡，才归坐。

大家吃着酒。贾母便问道：“可是才姨太太提香菱，我听见前儿丫头们说‘秋菱’，不知是谁，问起来才知道是他。怎么那孩子好好的又改了名字呢？”薛姨妈满脸飞红，叹了口气道：“老太太再别提起。自从蟠儿娶了这个不知好歹的媳妇，成日家咕咕唧唧，如今闹的也不成个人家了。我也说过他几次，他牛心不听说，我也没那么大精神和他们尽着吵去，只好由他们去。可不是他嫌这丫头的名儿不好改的。”贾母道：“名儿什么要紧的事呢？”薛姨妈道：“说起来我也怪臊的，其实老太太这边有什么不知道的。他那里是为这名儿不好，听见说他因为是宝丫头起的，他才有心要改。”贾母道：“这又是什么原故呢？”薛姨妈把手绢子不住的擦眼泪，未曾说，又叹了一口气，道：“老太太还不知道呢，这如今媳妇子专和宝丫头怄气。前日老太太打发人看我去，我们家里正闹呢。”贾母连忙接着问道：“可是前儿听见姨太太肝气疼，要打发人看去，后来听见说好了，所以没着人去。依我，劝姨太太竟把他们别放在心上。再者，他们也是新过门的小夫妻，过些时自然就好了。我看宝丫头性格儿温厚和平，虽然年轻，比大人还强几倍。前日那小丫头子回来说，我们这边还都赞叹了他一会子。都像宝丫头那样心胸儿脾气儿，真是百里挑一的。不是我说句冒失话，那给人家作了媳妇儿，怎么叫公婆不疼，家里上上下下的不宾服[18]呢。”宝玉头里已经听烦了，推故要走，及听见这话，又坐了呆呆的往下听。薛姨妈道：“不中用。他虽好，到底是女孩儿家。养了蟠儿这个糊涂孩子，真真叫我不放心，只怕在外头喝点子酒，闹出事来。幸亏老太太这里的大爷二爷常和他在一块儿，我还放点儿心。”宝玉听到这里，便接口道：“姨妈更不用悬心。薛大哥相好的都是些正经买卖大客人，都是有体面的，那里就闹出事来。”薛姨妈笑道：“依你这样说，我敢只不用操心了。”说话间，饭已吃完。宝玉先告辞了，晚间还要看书，便各自去了。

这里丫头们刚捧上茶来，只见琥珀走过来向贾母耳朵旁边说了几句，贾母便向凤姐儿道：“你快去罢，瞧瞧巧姐儿去罢。”凤姐听了，还不知何故，大家也怔了。琥珀遂过来向凤姐道：“刚才平儿打发小丫头子来回二奶奶，说巧姐儿身上不大好，请二奶奶忙着些过来才好呢。”贾母因说道：“你快去罢，姨太太也不是外人。”凤姐连忙答应，在薛姨妈跟前告了辞。又见王夫人说道：“你先过去，我就去。小孩子家魂儿还不全呢，别叫丫头们大惊小怪的，屋里的猫儿狗儿，也叫他们留点神儿。尽着孩子贵气，偏有这些琐碎。”凤姐答应了，然后带了小丫头回房去了。

这里薛姨妈又问了一回黛玉的病。贾母道：“林丫头那孩子倒罢了，只是心重些，所以身子就不大很结实了。要赌灵性儿，也和宝丫头不差什么；要赌宽厚待人里头，却不济他宝姐姐有耽待、有尽让了。”薛姨妈又说了两句闲话儿，便道：“老太太歇着罢。我也要到家里去看看，只剩下宝丫头和香菱了。打那么同着姨太太看看巧姐儿。”贾母道：“正是。姨太太上年纪的人看看是怎么不好，说给他们，也得点主意儿。”薛姨妈便告辞，同着王夫人出来，往凤姐院里去了。

却说贾政试了宝玉一番，心里却也喜欢，走向外面和那些门客闲谈。说起方才的话来，便有新进到来最善大棋[19]的一个王尔调名作梅的说道：“据我们看来，宝二爷的学问已是大进了。”贾政道：“那有进益，不过略懂得些罢咧，‘学问’两个字早得很呢。”詹光道：“这是老世翁过谦的话。不但王大兄这般说，就是我们看，宝二爷必定要高发的。”贾政笑道：“这也是诸位过爱的意思。”那王尔调又道：“晚生还有一句话，不揣冒昧，和老世翁商议。”贾政道：“什么事？”王尔调陪笑道：“也是晚生的相与，做过南韶道的张大老爷家有一位小姐，说是生得德容功貌[20]俱全，此时尚未受聘。他又没有儿子，家资巨万。但是要富贵双全的人家，女婿又要出众，才肯作亲。晚生来了两个月，瞧着宝二爷的人品学业，都是必要大成的。老世翁这样门楣，还有何说。若晚生过去，包管一说就成。”贾政道：“宝玉说亲却也是年纪了，并且老太太常说起。但只张大老爷素来尚未深悉。”詹光道：“王兄所提张家，晚生却也知道。况和大老爷那边是旧亲，老世翁一问便知。”贾政想了一回，道：“大老爷那边不曾听得这门亲戚。”詹光道：“老世翁原来不知，这张府上原和邢舅太爷那边有亲的。”贾政听了，方知是邢夫人的亲戚。坐了一回，进来了，便要同王夫人说知，转问邢夫人去。谁知王夫人陪了薛姨妈到凤姐那边看巧姐儿去了。那天已经掌灯时候，薛姨妈去了，王夫人才过来了。贾政告诉了王尔调和詹光的话，又问巧姐儿怎么了。王夫人道：“怕是惊风的光景。”贾政道：“不甚利害呀？”王夫人道：“看着是搐风的来头，只还没搐出来呢。”贾政听了，便不言语，各自安歇，一宿晚景不提。

却说次日邢夫人过贾母这边来请安，王夫人便提起张家的事，一面回贾母，一面问邢夫人。邢夫人道：“张家虽系老亲，但近年来久已不通音信，不知他家的姑娘是怎么样的。倒是前日孙亲家太太打发老婆子来问安，却说起张家的事，说他家有个姑娘，托孙亲家那边有对劲的提一提。听见说只这一个女孩儿，十分娇养，也识得几个字，见不得大阵仗儿，常在房中不出来的。张大老爷又说，只有这一个女孩儿，不肯嫁出去，怕人家公婆严，姑娘受不得委屈，必要女婿过门赘在他家，给他料理些家事。”贾母听到这里，不等说完便道：“这断使不得。我们宝玉别人服侍他还不够呢，倒给人家当家去。”邢夫人道：“正是老太太这个话。”贾母因向王夫人道：“你回来告诉你老爷，就说我的话，这张家的亲事是作不得的。”王夫人答应了。贾母便问：“你们昨日看巧姐儿怎么样？头里平儿来回我说很不大好，我也要过去看看呢。”邢、王二夫人道：“老太太虽疼他，他那里耽的住。”贾母道：“却也不止为他，我也要走动走动，活活筋骨儿。”说着，便吩咐：“你们吃饭去罢，回来同我过去。”邢、王二夫人答应着出来，各自去了。

一时吃了饭，都来陪贾母到凤姐房中。凤姐连忙出来接了进去。贾母便问巧姐儿到底怎么样。凤姐儿道：“只怕是搐风的来头。”贾母道：“这么着还不请人赶着瞧！”凤姐道：“已经请去了。”贾母因同邢、王二夫人进房来看，只见奶子抱着，用桃红绫子小绵被儿裹着，脸皮趣青[21]，眉梢鼻翅微有动意。贾母同邢、王二夫人看了看，便出外间坐下。正说间，只见一个小丫头回凤姐道：“老爷打发人问姐儿怎么样。”凤姐道：“替我回老爷，就说请大夫去了。一会儿开了方子，就过去回老爷。”贾母忽然想起张家的事来，向王夫人道：“你该就去告诉你老爷，省得人家去说了回来又驳回。”又问邢夫人道：“你们和张家如今为什么不走了？”邢夫人因又说：“论起那张家行事，也难和咱们作亲，太啬克，没的玷辱了宝玉。”凤姐听了这话，已知八九，便问道：“太太不是说宝兄弟的亲事？”邢夫人道：“可不是么。”贾母接着因把刚才的话告诉凤姐。凤姐笑道：“不是我当着老祖宗太太们跟前说句大胆的话，现放着天配的姻缘，何用别处去找。”贾母笑问道：“在那里？”凤姐道：“一个‘宝玉’，一个‘金锁’，老太太怎么忘了？”贾母笑了一笑，因说：“昨日你姑妈在这里，你为什么不提？”凤姐道：“老祖宗和太太们在前头，那里有我们小孩子家说话的地方儿。况且姨妈过来瞧老祖宗，怎么提这些个，这也得太太们过去求亲才是。”贾母笑了，邢、王二夫人也都笑了。贾母因道：“可是我背晦了。”

说着人回：“大夫来了。”贾母便坐在外间，邢、王二夫人略避。那大夫同贾琏进来，给贾母请了安，方进房中。看了出来，站在地下躬身回贾母道：“妞儿一半是内热，一半是惊风。须先用一剂发散风痰药，还要用四神散[22]才好，因病势来得不轻。如今的牛黄都是假的，要找真牛黄方用得。”贾母道了乏，那大夫同贾琏出去开了方子，去了。凤姐道：“人参家里常有，这牛黄倒怕未必有，外头买去，只是要真的才好。”王夫人道：“等我打发人到姨太太那边去找找。他家蟠儿是向与那些西客[23]们做买卖，或者有真的也未可知。我叫人去问问。”正说话间，众姊妹都来瞧来了，坐了一回，也都跟着贾母等去了。

这里煎了药给巧姐儿灌了下去，只见喀的一声，连药带痰都吐出来，凤姐才略放了一点儿心。只见王夫人那边的小丫头拿着一点儿的小红纸包儿说道：“二奶奶，牛黄有了。太太说了，叫二奶奶亲自把分两对准了呢。”凤姐答应着接过来，便叫平儿配齐了真珠、冰片、朱砂，快熬起来。自己用戥子按方秤了，搀在里面，等巧姐儿醒了好给他吃。只见贾环掀帘进来说：“二姐姐，你们巧姐儿怎么了？妈叫我来瞧瞧他。”凤姐见了他母子便嫌，说：“好些了。你回去说，叫你们姨娘想着。”那贾环口里答应，只管各处瞧看。看了一回，便问凤姐儿道：“你这里听的说有牛黄，不知牛黄是怎么个样儿，给我瞧瞧呢。”凤姐道：“你别在这里闹了，妞儿才好些。那牛黄都煎上了。”贾环听了，便去伸手拿那铞子瞧时，岂知措手不及，沸的一声，铞子倒了，火已泼灭了一半。贾环见不是事，自觉没趣，连忙跑了。凤姐急的火星直爆，骂道：“真真那一世的对头冤家！你何苦来还来使促狭！从前你妈要想害我，如今又来害妞儿。我和你几辈子的仇呢！”一面骂平儿不照应。正骂着，只见丫头来找贾环。凤姐道：“你去告诉赵姨娘，说他操心也太苦了。巧姐儿死定了，不用他惦着了！”平儿急忙在那里配药再熬，那丫头摸不着头脑，便悄悄问平儿道：“二奶奶为什么生气？”平儿将环哥弄倒药铞子说了一遍。丫头道：“怪不得他不敢回来，躲了别处去了。这环哥儿明日还不知怎么样呢。平姐姐，我替你收拾罢。”平儿说：“这倒不消。幸亏牛黄还有一点，如今配好了，你去罢。”丫头道：“我一准回去告诉赵姨奶奶，也省得他天天说嘴。”

丫头回去果然告诉了赵姨娘。赵姨娘气的叫：“快找环儿！”环儿在外间屋子里躲着，被丫头找了来。赵姨娘便骂道：“你这个下作种子！你为什么弄洒了人家的药，招的人家咒骂。我原叫你去问一声，不用进去。你偏进去，又不就走，还要虎头上捉虱子。你看我回了老爷，打你不打！”这里赵姨娘正说着，只听贾环在外间屋子里更说出些惊心动魄的话来。未知何言，下回分解。

[1] 钩藤——茜草科，常绿攀援状灌木，通常在叶腋处生有由花序柄变成的弯钩两枚，故名。中医以带钩的茎枝入药，有清热平肝、熄风定惊等功效。

〔一〕 “谅他”，原作“靠他”，从藤本、王本改。

[3] 不稂（lánɡ郎）不莠（yǒu有）——稂：又名童粱，仅生穗不结实的禾谷；一说即狼尾草。莠：又叫莠子，一种茎叶穗皆似粟的草，俗称狗尾草。不稂不莠，语出《诗经·小雅·大田》，原谓庄稼长得好，既无童粱，又无莠子。元、明以后，比喻人之不成材有“不郎不秀”一语，见田艺衡《留青日札》卷三十五。后人遂渐将“不稂不莠”混同为“不郎不秀”，以喻人之不成材、没出息。

〔二〕 “张心”，程乙本同，藤本、王本作“操心”。

[5] 莫知其子之美——《大学》：“故谚有之曰：人莫知其子之恶。”意谓父母因偏爱自己的孩子而看不到他的缺点。这里贾政有意改“恶”字为“美”，意在讨贾母喜欢。

[6] 开笔——旧时称学童开始作文为开笔，也叫试笔。

[7] 吾十有五而志于学——见《论语·为政》。这是孔子老年时回顾自身经历所说的话，说他在十五岁就立志学习。

[8] 人不知而不愠（yùn运）——人家不了解我，我也不怨恨。语见《论语·学而》。愠：怨，愤恨。

[9] 则归墨——《孟子·滕文公下》：“天下之言不归杨，则归墨。”意谓人们的言论主张，不是属于杨朱一派，就是属于墨翟一派。杨朱、墨翟：战国时期的思想家，皆创立了自己的学派。

[10] 窗课——明清时读书人的作文本上常写有“窗课”二字，表示是八股文的习作。

[11] 破、承题——破：八股文起首两句须说破题目要义，称为破题。紧承破题申述题义的，叫“承题”。

[12] 第二艺——即第二篇、第二文。《书·舜典》：“艺，文也。”

[13] 合题位——合乎文章的命题，犹今之所谓切题或扣题。

[14] 书理——即文理，文辞之义理和脉络。

〔三〕 “清楚”，原作“清苦”，从藤本改。

[16] 惟士为能——《孟子·梁惠王上》：“无恒产而有恒心者，惟士为能。”意谓无固定产业收入而有一定道德观念和行为准则的，只有士人才能做到。

[17] 拿捏——装样子，故作恭谨。

[18] 宾服——《礼记·乐记》：“暴民不作，诸侯宾服。”本指诸侯或边远部落按期向天子朝贡，表示归顺。这里是心悦诚服的意思。

[19] 大棋——即围棋。

[20] 德容功貌——本为德言功容，封建礼教规定妇女应具的四种德行，即品行、辞令、仪态、女工。

[21] 趣青——很青。气色不好。趣，同“黢（qū）”，黑。

[22] 四神散——这里即指下文所述由牛黄、真珠、冰片、朱砂四药配成的方剂，与《证治准绳方》中所载六种“四神散”皆不同。

[23] 西客——此指专向西域一带做生意的客商。

CHAPTER 84. Bao-yu is given an impromptu examination, and his betrothal is discussed for the first time Jia Huan visits a convulsive child, and old hostilities are resumed

Bao-chai diagnosed her mother’s sudden pain as an upward movement of humour from the liver into the chest, brought on by the recent scene with Jin-gui. Without waiting for a doctor, she sent a servant out instantly to buy a few drams of Woody Vine Hooks, and made a strong brew for Aunt Xue to drink. Then Caltrop helped administer a leg-pummelling and chest-massage. The pain eased a little; but Aunt Xue’s anger at Jin-gui’s outrageous behaviour, and her distress that Bao-chai should have had to submit to such humiliation, continued unabated.

Eventually, after another dose of daughterly reasoning, she fell asleep, and the humour was given a chance to subside.

‘Now please don’t worry any more, Mama,’ pleaded Bao-chai, when she awoke. ‘In a day or two, when you feel up to it, why not go over and see Lady Jia and Aunt Wang? It would do you a world of good. Caltrop and I can take care of things here while you’re away. And I’m sure there will be no more trouble from her.’

Aunt Xue nodded.

‘Perhaps I will in a couple of days.’

*

The news finally arrived that Yuan-chun had recovered, and everyone in the Jia family was greatly relieved. A day or two later a party of eunuchs arrived from the palace with a consignment of presents and parcels of money. They announced that it. was Her Grace’s wish to reward the family for the diligence they had shown in visiting her during her Indisposition. The eunuchs handed over the carefully labelled gifts one by one. Jia She, Jia Zheng and the other menfolk went in to report to Grandmother Jia, and then all returned to express their thanks for the largesse. When the eunuchs had drunk their tea and gone, there was a family gathering in Grandmother Jia’s apartment. After a few minutes, while they were still chatting, an old serving-woman came in with a message:

‘The pages have reported that there’s a visitor at the other side on important business for Sir She, milady.’

With Grandmother Jia’s permission, Jia She left to see to his own affairs. When he had gone, she suddenly thought of something and her face lit up with a smile.

‘It’s so touching,’ she said, turning to Jia Zheng, ‘the way Her Grace remembers Bao-yu! The other day she made a point of asking about him.’

‘Her solicitude,’ replied Jia Zheng with a sarcastic smile, ‘is as generous as it is undeserved. Increasing idleness is the only fruit that young tree will ever bear.’

‘But I gave him a glowing report!’ protested Grandmother Jia. ‘I said how well he was doing at his compositions.’

‘I only wish it were the truth,’ said Jia Zheng with a crushing smile.

‘But you and your friends are always asking him to write verses and things for you – I’m sure he’s making progress, whatever you say. He’s still young, be patient with him. “A single spoonful never made a bouncing babe,” as the saying goes.’

Jia Zheng affected a dutiful smile.

‘Yes, Mother.’

‘Which brings me,’ the old lady continued, ‘to the other thing I want to talk about. Now that Bao-yu is growing up, it’s time you and his mother started thinking seriously of choosing a nice wife for him. Marriage is going to be a most important step in his life. We needn’t worry too much how closely related to us she is, or how much money they’ve got; but we must be sure that she’s sweet-natured, and a pretty sort of girl.’

‘Thank you for reminding me, Mother,’ replied Jia Zheng rather stiffly. ‘But although of course I appreciate the importance of choosing a suitable bride, the first step, as I see it, must lie with Bao-yu himself. Without a marked improvement on his part, any alliance we might hope to arrange would be doomed, and would certainly be a regrettable error for the young lady concerned. His present shiftless attitude can only spell matrimonial disaster.’

His response did not please Grandmother Jia.

‘I know that it’s your decision!’ she replied testily, ‘and that I’m an interfering old busybody! But let me say just this: even if I did rather spoil him when he was little, and even if he isn’t quite as grown-up and responsible as you think he ought to be, I still think he has always been a nice, well-mannered, honest boy. I think you’re quite wrong to treat him as a ne’er-do-well, or as some sort of threat to a young girl’s happiness. He’s not like that at all. Oh perhaps I am prejudiced! He’s preferable to young Huan, anyway. Or would you like to correct me there as well?’

Jia Zheng was by now feeling extremely uncomfortable. ‘You are of course by far the more experienced judge of character, Mother,’ he replied swiftly. ‘You may be right in thinking that fate has favoured him. Perhaps it is my own – how shall I put it! – impatience to detect a sense of purpose in the lad that has made of me a crabbed old father, and of Bao-yu the – eh – “crab-apple of my eye”?’

The labour required on his part in the manufacture of this sparkling piece of verbal merriment did not quite nullify its object, viz. the humouring of the old lady, and she smiled, whereupon the other ladies contributed a polite round of laughter.

‘Yes,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘and don’t forget how much older you are. It’s that and your experience as a civil servant that have made you so mellow and wise.’

She turned to Lady Xing and Lady Wang with a formidable glance and went on mischievously:

‘If you could have seen him when he was a boy! He was quite impossible! Far worse than Bao-yu! It was only marriage that taught him a thing or two about life. And now he won’t stop complaining about poor Bao. If anything, the boy is more mature for his age than his father was.’

The ladies thought this assault on the bastion of Jia Zheng’s dignity a great joke, and started laughing and calling Grandmother Jia a tease. Then the junior maids came in and informed Faithful that lunch was ready to be served.

‘Speak up!’ called out Grandmother Jia, her good humour quite restored. ‘Let me in on the secret!’

Faithful smiled and passed on the message.

‘Well in that case,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘everyone can go home for lunch, except Feng and Cousin Zhen’s wife. I’d like them to stay and keep me company.’

Jia Zheng, Lady Wang and Lady Xing waited until lunch was served and then, after a few more prods from the old lady, they left and went their separate ways.

*

On their return, Jia Zheng, in the course of conversation with Lady Wang, brought up the subject of his recent contretemps with Grandmother Jia:

‘How Mother idolizes that boy! If only he can do well enough to scrape through his exam, then she will have something to feel proud of, a return for all her love, and he will have something to offer in the event of his marriage.’

‘How true!’ concurred Lady Wang.

Jia Zheng sent a maid out at once with the following orders for Li Gui:

‘Tell Bao-yu I wish to see him this evening. Instead of coming to see me after school, he is to have his dinner first and come straight to my study afterwards. There are some questions I wish to put to him.’

Li Gui intercepted Bao-yu on his way home from school that afternoon, just as he was about to go in and pay his respects to his father. Bao-yu seemed thunderstruck by the ominous summons; he went to see Grandmother Jia, hurried back to Green Delights, ate a scanty meal, quickly rinsed his mouth and set off again for his father’s apartment.

Jia Zheng was waiting for him in the inner study. Bao-yu entered, made his bow and stood attentively to one side.

‘As you know,’ Jia Zheng began, ‘I have been rather preoccupied recently and have not had an opportunity to question you on the progress of your studies. Let me see, I recall that the Preceptor had set you a month for revision, after which time he was to give you your Maiden Theme. That must have been at least two months ago. You should have made a start by now, I think.’

‘I have, sir,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘I have written three compositions. I have been waiting for my work to improve before venturing to trouble you with any specimens of it. Those were the Preceptor’s instructions, sir.’

‘What were your first three Themes?’

The first was from Analects, sir, Book Two,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘ “Annos Quindecim natus: The Sage Bent upon Learning in his Fifteenth Year.” The second was also from Analects, Book One: “Obscuritatem Aequo Animo Toler-atam: Lack of Acclaim Borne with Equanimity.” And the third was from Mencius, Book Three, Part Two: “Tunc Accedunt Micium: They Succumb to the Mician Heresy.” ’

‘And have you kept your draft versions?’ asked Jia Zheng.

‘I have fair copies of all three, sir, with the Preceptor’s emendations.’

‘Are they at home, or in the schoolroom?’

‘In the schoolroom, sir.’

‘Then have someone go and fetch them at once. I should like to see them.’

Bao-yu sent an ‘express’ message through to Tealeaf: ‘Go to the schoolroom; in the drawer of my desk is a thin bamboo-paper copybook with Tasks written on the cover. Bring it here, quickly!’

In a short while Tealeaf returned with the book, which he handed to Bao-yu who presented it to his father. Jia Zheng opened it at the first page and began reading the first of the eight ‘legs’ of Bao-yu’s Maiden Task.

AMPLICATIO PRIMA THEMA: ANNOS QUINDECIM NATUS CRUS PRIMUM: APERTURA Sapiens perfectusque Vir a puero quidem se ad Philosopbiam applicavit.

Jia Zheng glanced at the emendation and asked Bao-yu to construe his Apertura orally. Bao-yu began:

‘The Sage, while still a boy… forsooth… was wholly Bent upon Learning.’

Jia Zheng looked up.

‘Your use of puer betrays an inadequate comprehension of the Theme. I see the Preceptor has substituted the annos quindecim natus of the original. Good. Pueritia, you see, covers the whole span of boyhood up to and including the age of sixteen, whereas here the Sage is alluding to specific milestones in his own life. We must echo the numbers he uses, if we are to preserve the correct sequence of his moral and intellectual development.’

Jia Zheng continued with the second ‘leg’.

CRUS SECUNDUM: CONTINUATIO Tantam autem Applicationem Rarissimam esse confiteor.

‘And what,’ he asked with a shake of the head, ‘do you mean by this?’

‘That the Sage’s application,’ replied Bao-yu, ‘is a thing ordinary mortals scarcely ever achieve.’

‘Childish nonsense, my boy! It only shows what a creature of indolence you are. I am glad to see that the Preceptor has rewritten the entire Continuatio for you. Kindly construe, from “omnibus enim”.’

Bao-yu obliged:

‘For many are those who aspire to Learning. But how few alas possess the application necessary for the fulfilment of this Aspiration. Does not the Sage’s achievement testify to the strength of his Moral Convictions in his Fifteenth Year?’

‘I thank you. I trust you understand the emendation?’

‘Yes sir.’

Jia Zheng passed on to the second Theme:* ‘Lack of Acclaim Borne with Equanimity.’ Jia Zheng read the Preceptor’s emended version, translating to himself as he went along:

‘If a man is able to view Worldly Acclaim with Equanimity, nothing can affect his Pleasure and Delight’.

He screwed up his eyes to decipher Bao-yu’s original:

‘What’s all this? “Equanimity is the Essence of Scholarship.” You have completely failed to treat the first element in your Theme, Obscuritas, and have embarked prematurely on a discussion of Nobilitas which should be kept for a later section. Your Preceptor’s emendation shows a correct Dispositio. I hope you notice the way in which he uses Amoenitatem Delectationemque Animi to allude to the passage in Analects immediately preceding the rubric? Do you recall? Nonne quidem amoenum? Nonne quidem delectabile? You must study this sort of thing carefully.’

First Theme – reiterate need for Youthful Zeal.

Second Theme – clarify point raised during second day’s oral exegesis, viz. Worldly Success versus Moral Achievement.

Third Theme – Orthodoxy versus Heresy.

‘Yes sir.’

Jia Zheng went on to read Bao-yu’s Continuatio. There was another reference here to the Essence of Scholarship, which had once again been emended by the Preceptor to Pleasure and Delight.

‘The same fault as in your Apertura,’ commented Jia Zheng. ‘The emendation is tolerable. Not particularly stylish, but clear.’

He moved on to the third and last Theme: ‘The Mician Heresy’. As he recollected the provenance of the quotation, he looked up in surprise and after a moment’s thought asked Bao-yu:

‘Have you reached this far in Mencius?’

‘Yes sir,’ Bao-yu hastened to assure him. ‘The Preceptor decided to go through Mencius with me first, as it is the easiest of the Four Books. We finished the whole of Mencius three days ago, and now we are doing Analects Part One.’

Jia Zheng continued reading. By the time Bao-yu had come to write this third composition, he had more or less mastered the ‘ignoble art of the Octopartite’, and had learned to handle the necessary rhetorical constructions with a certain glib dexterity. Jia Zheng studied the first two ‘legs’, and observed that in this case the Preceptor had paid the young essayist the compliment of a total suspension of the corrective brush. The Apertura lamented the fact that those who rejected the Hedonist Doctrine of Yanxius (Yanxianam illam Voluptatis Doctrinam) were still unable to find the True Path of Confucian Orthodoxy (Orthodoxiae Confucianae Veram Viam), but were instead blindly drawn into the fold of that prevalent (and deplorable) Mician Heresy of Universal Love (Micianam illam Caritatis Universae Heterodoxiam).

‘Nicely put,’ Jia Zheng commented, and continued reading. A little further on he paused. ‘Tell me,’ he asked, evidently impressed by what he read, ‘did you write this unaided?’

‘Yes sir.’

He nodded pensively.

‘Nothing brilliant about it of course, but for a first attempt not at all bad, I must say. Ah, Mencius! I recall how during my tour of duty as an examiner I had occasion to set as one of my Themes “Soli Nobilitatis Sapientiaeque Alumni sunt potis”. All the first-degree candidates, I regret to say, had their heads crammed full of the standard compositions on the Theme, and not a single one of them could come up with anything original. All plagiarisms. Are you familiar with the quotation?’

‘Yes sir. Mencius, Book One, Part Two: “Only Good Breeding and a Heritage of Culture have the power to sustain a man in the face of Adversity”.’

‘Good,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘I should like you to show me what you can do. Something of your own, please, not another feat of memorization. An Apertura will do.’

Bao-yu lowered his head in concentration and began racking his brains for a pithy opening phrase, while Jia Zheng stood thoughtfully in the doorway, hands clasped behind his back. Just at that moment, a diminutive page-boy went flashing past. As he caught sight of the Master in the doorway, he froze, his body slightly inclined, his arms hanging limp at his side.

‘What is your errand, boy?’ asked Jia Zheng brusquely.

‘Please, sir, Mrs Xue has just arrived at Her Old Ladyship’s and Mrs Lian has sent me with special instructions to the kitchen, sir,’ jabbered the unfortunate boy. Jia Zheng made no reply, and he fled.

Now Bao-yu assumed that if Aunt Xue had come over for a visit, then Bao-chai (whom he had greatly missed since her departure from the Garden) was sure to have come with her. His excitement at the thought of seeing her again spurred him on.

‘Sir,’ he ventured, ‘I have a draft Apertura for your approval.’

‘Go ahead.’

Bao-yu intoned his opening sentence:

‘Non omnes Sapientiae Alumni sunt, neque possunt ca-rere Stabili Patrimonio.’

Jia Zheng nodded.

‘Thank you. That will do for today. In future, please bear in mind these two Golden Rules for Composition. Before raising your brush, always be certain of the sequence of your Dispositio and the clarity of your Inventio. Tell me, was your grandmother aware that I sent for you?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Off you go then. You had better go over and see her now.’

‘Sir!’

Bao-yu manoeuvred his way backwards out of the study and set off along the covered way, imitating to perfection the scholar’s leisurely gait. As soon as he reached the moon-gate, however, and had placed its large protective screen between himself and the study, he broke into a run and raced ahead towards Grandmother Jia’s apartment.

‘Careful you don’t trip!’ Tealeaf shouted after him. ‘The Master’s coming.’

Bao-yu was much too excited to pay any attention. As he neared the entrance to Grandmother Jia’s apartment, he could hear the sounds of conversation and laughter coming from within. He could make out, among others, the voices of Lady Wang, Xi-feng and Tan-chun.

When the maids saw him coming, they quickly drew aside the portière and whispered in his ear as he passed through:

‘Mrs Xue is here, you know.’

Bao-yu hurried in to greet his aunt, and then paid his respects to Grandmother Jia. He gave her a full account of his interview with Jia Zheng, and her face radiated pride and delight.

‘Where’s Cousin Chai?’ he asked, turning to the assembled company.

‘She couldn’t come with me today,’ said Aunt Xue, with a rather unconvincing smile. ‘She and Caltrop have a lot of sewing to catch up on at home.’

Bao-yu was very disappointed, and only a sense of duty kept him from leaving at once. Dinner was served and Grandmother Jia and Aunt Xue sat up at the table of honour, while Tan-chun and the others took their places down below.

‘Where will Bao-yu be sitting?’ asked Aunt Xue.

‘Up here with me,’ said Grandmother Jia with a smile.

‘Li Gui told me to have my dinner before seeing Father,’ Bao-yu hastily informed her. ‘So I asked for a quick meal when I got in from school. I had a dish of something and a bowl of rice steeped in tea. You all go ahead, please.’

‘In that case,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘Feng can come and sit with us. Your mother says it’s one of her vegetarian days today, so she can eat alone.’

‘That’s right,’ said Lady Wang to Xi-feng. ‘You eat with them. Don’t wait for me. I shall be having my vegetables at home.’

Xi-feng politely took her seat and the maids put out the wine cups and chopsticks. Then Xi-feng went round with the wine kettle, and, when everyone’s cup was filled, returned to her seat.

After they had all had a drink of wine, Grandmother Jia asked Aunt Xue:

‘Didn’t I hear you say Caltrop just then? That’s funny. One of my maids was talking only the other day about someone called Lily, and I couldn’t for the life of me think who she meant. When I asked her, she told me it was Caltrop’s new name. Do tell me what she wants to go and change her name for?’

The colour rose in Aunt Xue’s cheeks and she sighed:

‘Please don’t ever mention it again. Since the day Pan married that wretched wife we haven’t had a moment’s peace. The bickering, the nastiness, it’s been too awful. I’ve tried talking to her several times, but she is quite impervious to reason. And I can’t bear quarrelling with them all the time, so I just end up trying to turn a blind eye. Yes, she decided to change Caltrop’s name because she said she didn’t like it.’

‘Oh well,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘what’s in a name when all’s said and done?’

‘I shall die for shame!’ cried Aunt Xue. ‘I’m sure all of you know the real reason. It wasn’t the name. It was the fact that Bao-chai had thought of it in the first place. That’s what she really objected to.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Grandmother Jia.

Aunt Xue had been dabbing at her eyes all the while with her handkerchief. She heaved another deep sigh before she was able to continue.

‘Surely you must know? Every single thing my daughter-in-law does is aimed at provoking Bao-chai. She won’t leave her alone. The other day, when you sent someone round to see me, we were in the middle of one of our scenes!’

‘That must have been the day I heard you had a little bit of a liver upset,’ said Grandmother Jia tactfully. ‘I was going to send someone over to see how you were, but then I heard that you were feeling better so I thought no more about it. You should take my advice, dear, and stop worrying. They’re a newly married couple and you must give them time to settle down. And you’re so lucky to have Chai. She is such a gentle, unflappable girl. She may be young, but my word, she has the aplomb of someone twice her age! When my maid came back and told us what had happened that day, and the way she coped with it, we were all singing her praises. Such a wonderful disposition! She’s a girl in a million. When she gets married, if you don’t mind my saying so, her mother-in-law will take her to her bosom and the whole household will be devoted to her, I am certain of it.’

Earlier, Bao-yu had found the general tenor of the conversation rather distasteful, and was just saying something about having to leave when his grandmother embarked upon this eulogy of Bao-chai, and he found himself listening with rapt attention.

‘What’s the use?’ said Aunt Xue. ‘Whatever her qualities, she is still only a daughter. With a son as hopeless as Pan, I can have no peace; I never stop worrying in case he has gone off to one of his haunts, had too much to drink again and landed himself in another brawl. In fact the only time I ever feel at all reassured is when he’s over here with his cousins Zhen and Lian.’

At this, Bao-yu chirped up:

‘There’s really nothing to fear, Auntie. I can vouch for Cousin Pan’s friends. They are all serious businessmen and far too respectable to get into trouble.’

‘In that case,’ said Aunt Xue with a smile, ‘perhaps I shouldn’t worry.’

Supper was over by now, and Bao-yu excused himself, saying he still had some preparation to do that evening. The maids were serving tea, when Amber came into the room and whispered something in Grandmother Jia’s ear. She turned to Xi-feng:

‘You’d better go quickly, my dear. It’s Qiao-jie.’

Xi-feng had no idea what the matter could be and the others were as puzzled as she was.

‘Patience sent one of the younger maids round with a message for you, Mrs Lian,’ explained Amber, crossing over to where Xi-feng sat. ‘Miss Qiao-jie does not seem at all well and would you please go over as soon as possible.’

You’d better go straight away,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘You don’t have to stand on ceremony for your Aunt Xue.’

‘Yes Grannie,’ said Xi-feng, and she took her leave of Aunt Xue. As she was on her way out she heard Lady Wang say:

‘You go ahead. I’ll be along shortly. Tell the maids to be quiet and not to make a lot of fuss. Little ones get so easily unsettled. And make sure that kitten and puppy are kept well out of the way. Poor child! I suppose little upsets are to be expected in a family as greatly blessed as ours.’

Xi-feng promised Lady Wang to carry out her instructions and left with her maid. After her departure, Aunt Xue went on to inquire after Dai-yu’s health.

‘Miss Lin is all right,’ replied Grandmother Jia. ‘She just takes everything too seriously. That’s what is undermining her health, if you ask me. She may be as clever as Bao-chai, but she lacks your daughter’s easy way with people. Chai is so responsible and considerate.’

The conversation continued a little longer, and then Aunt Xue said she must be going.

‘I’ll leave you in peace now. I’d better see how Chai and Caltrop are getting on at home. I’ll go along with Aunt Wang and have a look at Qiao-jie on my way.’

‘What a good idea,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘With your experience you will be able to give them some helpful advice, I’m sure.’

Aunt Xue took her leave and went with Aunt Wang to Xi-feng’s apartment.

To return to Jia Zheng: he had been pleasantly surprised by Bao-yu’s performance that evening, and mentioned it later in the course of conversation with his literary friends in the outer study. A newcomer among them, an excellent Go-player by the name of Wang Er-tiao (also called Go-between Wang), remarked:

‘I think we have all noticed a marked progress in Master Bao, sir. He is becoming quite a cultured young fellow.’

‘I hardly think so,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘His powers of comprehension have improved, I grant you. But culture? No, he has a long way to go yet.’

‘Come come, Sir Zheng!’ said Zhan Guang. ‘You are being too modest. Friend Wang’s opinion is one we all share. Master Bao will surely go far.’

‘I’m afraid you are allowing your partiality for the boy to sway your judgement,’ was their patron’s reply, but he was visibly pleased.

‘With your leave, sir,’ continued Wang, ‘there is another matter in this connection that I should like to broach if I may.’

‘By all means.’

Wang gave a smarmy smile.

‘An acquaintance of mine, Excellency Zhang, who used to be Taotai of the Nanshao Circuit, has a daughter, sir, a most attractive, industrious and generally commendable child, so I am told, and as yet unbetrothed. Excellency Zhang has no sons of his own and is, I should add, a man of enormous wealth. He is most particular in this matter, and stipulates that his son-in-law must come from an eminent and prosperous family, and must be a young man of distinguished character himself. In the two months I have been here, sir, I have become aware of the moral and intellectual calibre of young Master Bao, the promise of great things to come. If the proposal were known to come from a family as illustrious as your own, sir, it would I am sure need but a single visit from me for the betrothal to be as good as settled.’

‘It is true that Bao-yu has reached a marriageable age,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘Lady Jia has reminded me of it more than once. But who is this Excellency Zhang? I’m afraid I don’t know him.’

‘Allow me to clarify, if I may,’ ventured Zhan. ‘I am acquainted with the Zhang family friend Wang refers to. They are related to Sir She’s family, in point of fact, and it should be easy enough to elicit more information from them.’

‘Really?’ said Jia Zheng thoughtfully. ‘I can’t say I have ever heard the name of any such relation mentioned at my brother’s.’

‘Well, strictly speaking, sir,’ explained Zhan, ‘they are related by marriage to Lady Xing’s elder brother.’

‘So, that’s where the relationship lies,’ thought Jia Zheng.

A little later he went in, with the intention of talking this new proposal over with Lady Wang and asking her to sound out Lady Xing about the Zhang family. He found, however, that his wife was out, visiting Qiao-jie with Aunt Xue. At lighting-up time, when Aunt Xue went home and Lady Wang returned, Jia Zheng discussed the proposal with her. He also asked after Qiao-jie.

‘We think it’s convulsions,’ she said.

‘Nothing serious, I hope?’

‘It’s too early to tell. The fits have still not passed.’

Jia Zheng sighed but said no more, and they retired for the night.

*

Next day, when Lady Xing came to pay her morning respects to Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang mentioned the marriage proposal and took the opportunity of asking Lady Xing about the Zhang family.

‘Yes, they are relations of ours,’ divulged Lady Xing. ‘But we’ve had no contact with them for years now, so I’ve no notion what this Miss Zhang is like. Now that you mention it, Ying’s mother-in-law, Mrs Sun, sent one of her women to call on me a day or two ago, and she mentioned the Zhangs. She told me they had a daughter and had asked the Suns to look out for a suitable husband for her. Apparently she is an only child and rather delicate. She has had a little education and sounds a quiet, shy sort of girl, used to staying at home. As she is an only child, her father won’t contemplate her leaving home. He is afraid the severity of a mother-in-law might be too much of a strain for her and insists on her husband coming to live with them and taking on his share of their family responsibilities.’

‘Out of the question!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia. ‘Bao-yu is difficult enough for us to look after as it is. Can you imagine sending him out to be the head of some strange family?’

‘You are absolutely right of course,’ said Lady Xing.

Grandmother Jia turned to Lady Wang.

‘Be sure to tell Zheng when you go home that I say this match is definitely off.’

‘Yes Mother.’

‘Tell me,’ the old lady continued, ‘how was Qiao-jie when you went to see her yesterday? Patience gave me the impression earlier on that it was something serious. I should like to go and see her myself.’

The two ladies thanked Grandmother Jia for the kind thought, but begged her not to trouble herself for Qiao-jie’s sake.

‘It’s not only for her sake. It’s the exercise. I’d like to stretch my legs a bit,’ said the old lady. ‘You two have your lunch and then we can all go over together.’

Lady Wang and Lady Xing went home for lunch. Afterwards they collected Grandmother Jia and escorted her to Xi-feng’s apartment. Xi-feng greeted them at the door and conducted them inside.

‘How is she?’ asked Grandmother Jia.

‘It seems to be an attack of convulsions,’ Xi-feng informed her.

‘Hadn’t you better call the doctor straight away?’

‘We already have, Grannie dear.’

Grandmother Jia went in with Lady Wang and Lady Xing and found Qiao-jie in the arms of her nurse, wrapped in a little padded quilt of pink damask-silk, her face deathly white, her eyebrows and nostrils quivering slightly. After a brief inspection, they withdrew to the outer room, and sat down to talk. Presently a junior maid from Lady Wang’s apartment came in with a message for Xi-feng:

‘The Master has sent to inquire how Qiao-jie is, Mrs Lian.’

‘Tell him we have sent for the doctor,’ replied Xi-feng, ‘and that I will report as soon as he has made out his prescription.’

The maid’s arrival reminded Grandmother Jia of the recently aired marriage proposal. She turned to Lady Wang:

‘You ought to go and tell Zheng straight away about that business, dear. If we put a stop to it now, before someone talks to the Zhang family, we will save ourselves the trouble of having to say no to them later.’

She turned to Lady Xing.

‘Why is it you haven’t seen much of the Zhangs lately, anyway?’

‘As a matter of fact,’ replied Lady Xing, ‘they’re very mean and not the right sort of family for us at all. It would have been a needless humiliation for Bao-yu.’

‘That must be Bao-yu’s betrothal you are talking about, Mother?’ said Xi-feng, who had already formed a shrewd idea of what was going on.

‘Why yes, we are actually,’ said Lady Xing.

Grandmother Jia told Xi-feng about the Zhang proposal. Xi-feng laughed:

‘I hope you’ll excuse me, Grannie, Mother, Auntie Wang, for speaking out of turn, but what need is there to go looking for a wife for Bao-yu, when we have a “predestined affinity” here before our very eyes?’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Grandmother Jia, intrigued.

‘Surely, Grannie, you can’t have forgotten Bao’s Magic Jade and Chai’s Golden Locket?’

Grandmother Jia laughed.

‘Of course! But why on earth didn’t you mention it while Aunt Xue was here yesterday?’

‘It would hardly have been right for me to speak up in the presence of my elders and betters,’ replied Xi-feng. ‘Besides, Aunt Xue had come on a social call and it would have been out of place. If we are to do the thing properly, Mother and Aunt Wang must go over and ask Aunt Xue formally for Bao-chai’s hand.’

They all laughed at her.

‘Bless you, Fengie,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘I really must be going gaga.’

Meanwhile the doctor was announced and Grandmother Jia took a seat in the outer room, while the two ladies discreetly withdrew. The doctor entered with Jia Lian and paid his respects to Grandmother Jia before proceeding into Qiao-jie’s room. When he returned, he bowed to Grandmother Jia and pronounced his diagnosis.

‘The little girl is suffering from a convulsive attack complicated by an internal fever. She must first take a single dose of a combined anti-spasmodic and expectorant, and then I want you to give her a course of Four Prodigies Powders. It is quite a serious attack.

‘You will notice Cow’s Bezoar-stone in my prescription. I should mention that a lot of the Bezoars sold by the apothecaries nowadays are not genuine. It is important that you procure the real thing.’

Grandmother Jia thanked him for coming, and the doctor went out with Jia Lian, wrote out his prescription and left.

There’s always Ginseng in the house,’ said Xi-feng, ‘but I don’t think we’ve any Bezoar. We’ll have to buy some and make sure it’s genuine.’

‘Wait until I’ve sent someone round to my sister’s,’ said Lady Wang. ‘I know Pan has often done business with merchants from overseas. They might easily have some real Bezoar.’

As she was speaking, several of the girls arrived to see Qiao-jie. They stayed for a short while, and then left with Grandmother Jia and the others.

Qiao-jie’s expectorant was now prepared and poured down her throat. There was a retching sound and up it came, medicine, phlegm and all, much to Xi-feng’s relief. One of Lady Wang’s junior maids arrived with a little red paper packet.

‘We found some Bezoar, ma’am. Her Ladyship says you’re to weigh out the correct amount and take as much as you need.’

Xi-feng asked the maid to convey her thanks to Lady Wang, took the package and told Patience to mix Pulverized Pearl, Baros Camphor and Cinnabar in the prescribed proportions and bring them to the boil. She herself weighed out the correct amount of powdered Bezoar on the scales and added it to the mixture. She waited for Qiao-jie to wake again before administering the potion.

Who should lift the door-blind and walk in at this very moment but Jia Huan.

‘How’s Qiao-jie, Cousin Feng? Mother sent me to inquire.’

The sight of either Aunt Zhao or her son invariably made Xi-feng’s hackles rise.

‘She’s a little better,’ she replied in rather a caustic tone. ‘When you go back, please tell your mother I’m sorry to have caused her so much trouble.’

Jia Huan mumbled something about going, but started nosing round the room.

‘I say,’ he said after a while. ‘I heard you had some of that Bezoar stuff in here. I’ve never seen any before. Let’s have a look.’

‘Qiao-jie is only just on the mend,’ said Xi-feng, ‘so do you mind not crashing around in here? The Bezoar has all been used for her potion anyway.’

Hearing this, Jia Huan reached out clumsily for the chafing-skillet to have a look. He lost his grip, and there was a great hiss as the skillet tipped over and the precious medicine spilled into the brazier, half extinguishing the fire. Jia Huan could see he was in for trouble and beat a hasty retreat. Xi-feng was so furious she seemed to emit sparks of rage.

‘You vile harpy’s brat!’ she screamed after him. ‘Bane of my life! What can I have done in a past life to deserve such spite? Your mother tried to do me in, now it’s Qiao-jie’s turn! How many generations must this feud go on for?’

Patience had her share of the blame too, for not being more careful. While Xi-feng was in full spate, a maid came in to fetch Jia Huan home.

‘Go and tell Mrs Zhao,’ ordered Xi-feng, ‘that she is putting herself to too much trouble. Qiao-jie is as good as dead already, so she needn’t go to such lengths!’

The maid, nonplussed by Xi-feng’s remarks, went over to Patience, who was busy mixing up another dose of medicine, and asked her in a whisper:

‘What’s made Mrs Lian so angry?’

Patience told her about Jia Huan’s disastrous episode.

‘No wonder he ran away and didn’t dare come home!’ exclaimed the maid. ‘Goodness knows how that Huan will turn out! Can I help you tidy up, Patience?’

‘Don’t worry. Luckily we had a little Bezoar left and it’s all mixed now, so you might as well go.’

‘I’ll certainly tell Mrs Zhao the minute I get back. Perhaps that will stop her bragging about him all the time.’

The maid returned and, true to her word, gave Aunt Zhao a detailed account of Jia Huan’s débâcle.

‘Bring him to me!’ cried Aunt Zhao in an agitated tone.

After a brief search, the maid discovered him skulking in the adjoining room, and Aunt Zhao immediately began discharging a volley of abuse in his direction:

‘You miserable little runt! What did you have to go and get yourself into trouble for, spilling their medicine all over the place? I said go and ask how she was, not go barging in! But you had to, didn’t you? And when you were in, you had to stay and goad the dragon on. You must have known you were playing with fire! You wait till I tell your father about this! He’ll give you, the thrashing you deserve!’

Even stronger words had already been let loose in reply from the other room. But to hear for yourself, please turn to the next chapter.