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却说黛玉自立意自戕之后，渐渐不支，一日竟至绝粒。从前十几天内，贾母等轮流看望，他有时还说几句话；这两日索性不大言语。心里虽有时昏晕，却也有时清楚。贾母等见他这病不似无因而起，也将紫鹃雪雁盘问过两次，两个那里敢说。便是紫鹃欲向侍书打听消息，又怕越闹越真，黛玉更死得快了，所以见了侍书，毫不提起。那雪雁是他传话弄出这样缘故来，此时恨不得长出百十个嘴来说“我没说”，自然更不敢提起。到了这一天黛玉绝粒之日，紫鹃料无指望了，守着哭了会子，因出来偷向雪雁道：“你进屋里来好好儿的守着他。我去回老太太、太太和二奶奶去，今日这个光景大非往常可比了。”雪雁答应，紫鹃自去。

这里雪雁正在屋里伴着黛玉，见他昏昏沉沉，小孩子家那里见过这个样儿，只打谅如此便是死的光景了，心中又痛又怕，恨不得紫鹃一时回来才好。正怕着，只听窗外脚步走响，雪雁知是紫鹃回来，才放下心了，连忙站起来掀着里间帘子等他。只见外面帘子响处，进来了一个人，却是侍书。那侍书是探春打发来看黛玉的，见雪雁在那里掀着帘子，便问道：“姑娘怎么样？”雪雁点点头儿叫他进来。侍书跟进来，见紫鹃不在屋里，瞧了瞧黛玉，只剩得残喘微延，唬的惊疑不止，因问：“紫鹃姐姐呢？”雪雁道：“告诉上屋里去了。”那雪雁此时只打谅黛玉心中一无所知了，又见紫鹃不在面前，因悄悄的拉了侍书的手问道：“你前日告诉我说的什么王大爷给这里宝二爷说了亲，是真话么？”侍书道：“怎么不真。”雪雁道：“多早晚放定的？”侍书道：“那里就放定了呢。那一天我告诉你时，是我听见小红说的。后来我到二奶奶那边去，二奶奶正和平姐姐说呢，说那都是门客们借着这个事讨老爷的喜欢，往后好拉拢的意思。别说大太太说不好，就是大太太愿意，说那姑娘好，那大太太眼里看的出什么人来！再者老太太心里早有了人了，就在咱们园子里的。大太太那里摸的着底呢。老太太不过因老爷的话，不得不问问罢咧。又听见二奶奶说，宝玉的事，老太太总是要亲上作亲的，凭谁来说亲，横竖不中用。”雪雁听到这里，也忘了神了，因说道：“这是怎么说，白白的送了我们这一位的命了！”侍书道：“这是从那里说起？”雪雁道：“你还不知道呢。前日都是我和紫鹃姐姐说来着，这一位听见了，就弄到这步田地了。”侍书道：“你悄悄儿的说罢，看仔细他听见了。”雪雁道：“人事都不省了，瞧瞧罢，左不过在这一两天了。”正说着，只见紫鹃掀帘进来说：“这还了得！你们有什么话，还不出去说，还在这里说。索性逼死他就完了。”侍书道：“我不信有这样奇事。”紫鹃道：“好姐姐，不是我说，你又该恼了。你懂得什么呢！懂得也不传这些舌了。”

这里三个人正说着，只听黛玉忽然又嗽了一声。紫鹃连忙跑到炕沿前站着，侍书雪雁也都不言语了。紫鹃弯着腰，在黛玉身后轻轻问道：“姑娘喝口水罢。”黛玉微微答应了一声。雪雁连忙倒了半钟滚白水，紫鹃接了托着，侍书也走近前来。紫鹃和他摇头儿，不叫他说话，侍书只得咽住了。站了一回，黛玉又嗽了一声。紫鹃趁势问道：“姑娘喝水呀？”黛玉又微微应了一声，那头似有欲抬之意，那里抬得起。紫鹃爬上炕去，爬在黛玉旁边，端着水试了冷热，送到唇边，扶了黛玉的头，就到碗边，喝了一口。紫鹃才要拿时，黛玉意思还要喝一口，紫鹃便托着那碗不动。黛玉又喝了一口，摇摇头儿不喝了，喘了一口气，仍旧躺下。半日，微微睁眼说道：“刚才说话不是侍书么？”紫鹃答应道：“是。”侍书尚未出去，因连忙过来问候。黛玉睁眼看了，点点头儿，又歇了一歇，说道：“回去问你姑娘好罢。”侍书见这番光景，只当黛玉嫌烦，只得悄悄的退出去了。

原来那黛玉虽则病势沉重，心里却还明白。起先侍书雪雁说话时，他也模糊听见了一半句，却只作不知，也因实无精神答理。及听了雪雁侍书的话，才明白过前头的事情原是议而未成的，又兼侍书说是凤姐说的，老太太的主意亲上作亲，又是园中住着的，非自己而谁？因此一想，阴极阳生，心神顿觉清爽许多，所以才喝了两口水，又要想问侍书的话。恰好贾母、王夫人、李纨、凤姐听见紫鹃之言，都赶着来看。黛玉心中疑团已破，自然不似先前寻死之意了。虽身体软弱，精神短少，却也勉强答应一两句了。凤姐因叫过紫鹃问道：“姑娘也不至这样，这是怎么说，你这样唬人。”紫鹃道：“实在头里看着不好，才敢去告诉的，回来见姑娘竟好了许多，也就怪了。”贾母笑道：“你也别怪他，他懂得什么。看见不好就言语，这倒是他明白的地方，小孩子家，不嘴懒脚懒就好。”说了一回，贾母等料着无妨，也就去了。正是：

心病终须心药治，解铃还是系铃人。

不言黛玉病渐减退，且说雪雁紫鹃背地里都念佛。雪雁向紫鹃说道：“亏他好了，只是病的奇怪，好的也奇怪。”紫鹃道：“病的倒不怪，就只好的奇怪。想来宝玉和姑娘必是姻缘，人家说的‘好事多磨’，又说道‘是姻缘棒打不回’。这样看起来，人心天意，他们两个竟是天配的了。再者，你想那一年我说了林姑娘要回南去，把宝玉没急死了，闹得家翻宅乱。如今一句话，又把这一个弄得死去活来。可不说的三生石上百年前结下的么。”说着，两个悄悄的抿着嘴笑了一回。雪雁又道：“幸亏好了。咱们明儿再别说了，就是宝玉娶了别的人家儿的姑娘，我亲见他在那里结亲，我也再不露一句话了。”紫鹃笑道：“这就是了。”不但紫鹃和雪雁在私下里讲究，就是众人也都知道黛玉的病也病得奇怪，好也好得奇怪，三三两两，唧唧哝哝议论着。不多几时，连凤姐儿也知道了，邢、王二夫人也有些疑惑，倒是贾母略猜着了八九。

那时正值邢、王二夫人凤姐等在贾母房中说闲话，说起黛玉的病来。贾母道：“我正要告诉你们，宝玉和林丫头是从小儿在一处的，我只说小孩子们，怕什么？以后时常听得林丫头忽然病，忽然好，都为有了些知觉了。所以我想他们若尽着搁在一块儿，毕竟不成体统。你们怎么说？”王夫人听了，便呆了一呆，只得答应道：“林姑娘是个有心计儿的。至于宝玉，呆头呆恼，不避嫌疑是有的，看起外面，却还都是个小孩儿形象。此时若忽然或把那一个分出园外，不是倒露了什么痕迹了么。古来说的：‘男大须婚，女大须嫁。’老太太想，倒是赶着把他们的事办办也罢了。”贾母皱了一皱眉，说道：“林丫头的乖僻，虽也是他的好处，我的心里不把林丫头配他，也是为这点子。况且林丫头这样虚弱，恐不是有寿的。只有宝丫头最妥。”王夫人道：“不但老太太这么想，我们也是这样。但林姑娘也得给他说了人家儿才好，不然女孩儿家长大了，那个没有心事？倘或真与宝玉有些私心，若知道宝玉定下宝丫头，那倒不成事了。”贾母道：“自然先给宝玉娶了亲，然后给林丫头说人家，再没有先是外人后是自己的。况且林丫头年纪到底比宝玉小两岁。依你们这样说，倒是宝玉定亲的话不许叫他知道倒罢了。”凤姐便吩咐众丫头们道：“你们听见了，宝二爷定亲的话，不许混吵嚷。若有多嘴的，提防着他的皮。”贾母又向凤姐道：“凤哥儿，你如今自从身上不大好，也不大管园里的事了。我告诉你，须得经点儿心。不但这个，就像前年那些人喝酒耍钱，都不是事。你还精细些，少不得多分点心儿，严紧严紧他们才好。况且我看他们也就只还服你。”凤姐答应了。娘儿们又说了一回话，方各自散了。

从此凤姐常到园中照料。一日，刚走进大观园，到了紫菱洲畔，只听见一个老婆子在那里嚷。凤姐走到跟前，那婆子才瞧见了，早垂手侍立，口里请了安。凤姐道：“你在这里闹什么？”婆子道：“蒙奶奶们派我在这里看守花果，我也没有差错，不料邢姑娘的丫头说我们是贼。”凤姐道：“为什么呢？”婆子道：“昨儿我们家的黑儿跟着我到这里顽了一回，他不知道，又往邢姑娘那边去瞧了一瞧，我就叫他回去了。今儿早起听见他们丫头说丢了东西了。我问他丢了什么，他就问起我来了。”凤姐道：“问了你一声，也犯不着生气呀。”婆子道：“这里园子到底是奶奶家里的，并不是他们家里的。我们都是奶奶派的，贼名儿怎么敢认呢。”凤姐照脸啐了一口，厉声道：“你少在我跟前唠唠叨叨的！你在这里照看，姑娘丢了东西，你们就该问哪，怎么说出这些没道理的话来。把老林叫了来，撵出他去。”丫头们答应了。只见邢岫烟赶忙出来，迎着凤姐陪笑道：“这使不得，没有的事，事情早过去了。”凤姐道：“姑娘，不是这个话。倒不讲事情，这名分上太岂有此理了。”岫烟见婆子跪在地下告饶，便忙请凤姐到里边去坐。凤姐道：“他们这种人我知道，他除了我，其馀都没上没下的了。”岫烟再三替他讨饶，只说自己的丫头不好。凤姐道：“我看着邢姑娘的分上，饶你这一次。”婆子才起来，磕了头，又给岫烟磕了头，才出去了。

这里二人让了坐。凤姐笑问道：“你丢了什么东西了？”岫烟笑道：“没有什么要紧的，是一件红小袄儿，已经旧了的。我原叫他们找，找不着就罢了。这小丫头不懂事，问了那婆子一声，那婆子自然不依了。这都是小丫头糊涂不懂事，我也骂了几句，已经过去了，不必再提了。”凤姐把岫烟内外一瞧，看见虽有些皮绵衣服，已是半新不旧的，未必能暖和。他的被窝多半是薄的。至于房中桌上摆设的东西，就是老太太拿来的，却一些不动，收拾的干干净净。凤姐心上便很爱敬他，说道：“一件衣服原不要紧，这时候冷，又是贴身的，怎么就不问一声儿呢。这撒野的奴才了不得了！”说了一回，凤姐出来，各处去坐了一坐，就回去了。到了自己房中，叫平儿取了一件大红洋绉的小袄儿，一件松花色绫子一斗珠儿的小皮袄，一条宝蓝盘锦[2]镶花绵裙，一件佛青[3]银鼠褂子，包好叫人送去。

那时岫烟被那老婆子聒噪了一场，虽有凤姐来压住，心上终是不安。想起“许多姊妹们在这里，没有一个下人敢得罪他的，独自我这里，他们言三语四，刚刚凤姐来碰见。”想来想去，终是没意思，又说不出来。正在吞声饮泣，看见凤姐那边的丰儿送衣服过来。岫烟一看，决不肯受。丰儿道：“奶奶吩咐我说，姑娘要嫌是旧衣裳，将来送新的来。”岫烟笑谢道：“承奶奶的好意，只是因我丢了衣服，他就拿来，我断不敢受。你拿回去千万谢你们奶奶，承你奶奶的情，我算领了。”倒拿个荷包给了丰儿。那丰儿只得拿了去了。不多时，又见平儿同着丰儿过来，岫烟忙迎着问了好，让了坐。平儿笑说道：“我们奶奶说，姑娘特外道的了不得。”岫烟道：“不是外道，实在不过意。”平儿道：“奶奶说，姑娘要不收这衣裳，不是嫌太旧，就是瞧不起我们奶奶。刚才说了，我要拿回去，奶奶不依我呢。”岫烟红着脸笑谢道：“这样说了，叫我不敢不收。”又让了一回茶。

平儿同丰儿回去，将到凤姐那边，碰见薛家差来的一个老婆子，接着问好。平儿便问道：“你那里来的？”婆子道：“那边太太姑娘叫我来请各位太太、奶奶、姑娘们的安。我才刚在奶奶前问起姑娘来，说姑娘到园中去了。可是从邢姑娘那里来么？”平儿道：“你怎么知道？”婆子道：“方才听见说。真真的二奶奶和姑娘们的行事叫人感念。”平儿笑了一笑说：“你回来坐着罢。”婆子道：“我还有事，改日再过来瞧姑娘罢。”说着走了。平儿回来，回复了凤姐。不在话下。

且说薛姨妈家中被金桂搅得翻江倒海，看见婆子回来，述起岫烟的事，宝钗母女二人不免滴下泪来。宝钗道：“都为哥哥不在家，所以叫邢姑娘多吃几天苦。如今还亏凤姐姐不错。咱们底下也得留心，到底是咱们家里人。”说着，只见薛蝌进来说道：“大哥哥这几年在外头相与的都是些什么人，连一个正经的也没有，来一起子，都是些狐群狗党。我看他们那里是不放心，不过将来探探消息儿罢咧。这两天都被我干[4]出去了。以后吩咐了门上，不许传进这种人来。”薛姨妈道：“又是蒋玉菡那些人哪？”薛蝌道：“蒋玉菡却倒没来，倒是别人。”薛姨妈听了薛蝌的话，不觉又伤心起来，说道：“我虽有儿，如今就像没有的了，就是上司准了，也是个废人。你虽是我侄儿，我看你还比你哥哥明白些，我这后辈子全靠你了。你自己从今更要学好。再者，你聘下的媳妇儿，家道不比往时了。人家的女孩儿出门子不是容易，再没别的想头，只盼着女婿能干，他就有日子过了。若邢丫头也像这个东西，”说着把手往里头一指，道，“我也不说了。邢丫头实在是个有廉耻有心计儿的，又守得贫，耐得富。只是等咱们的事情过去了，早些把你们的正经事完结了，也了我一宗心事。”薛蝌道：“琴妹妹还没有出门子，这倒是太太烦心的一件事。至于这个，可算什么呢。”大家又说了一回闲话。

薛蝌回到自己房中，吃了晚饭，想起邢岫烟住在贾府园中，终是寄人篱下，况且又穷，日用起居，不想可知。况兼当初一路同来，模样儿性格儿都知道的。可知天意不均：如夏金桂这种人，偏教他有钱，娇养得这般泼辣；邢岫烟这种人，偏教他这样受苦。阎王判命的时候，不知如何判法的。想到闷来也想吟诗一首，写出来出出胸中的闷气。又苦自己没有工夫，只得混写道：

蛟龙失水似枯鱼，两地情怀感索居[5]。

同在泥涂多受苦，不知何日向清虚。

写毕看了一回，意欲拿来粘在壁上，又不好意思。自己沉吟道：“不要被人看见笑话。”又念了一遍，道：“管他呢，左右粘上自己看着解闷儿罢。”又看了一回，到底不好，拿来夹在书里。又想自己年纪可也不小了，家中又碰见这样飞灾横祸，不知何日了局，致使幽闺弱质，弄得这般凄凉寂寞。

正在那里想时，只见宝蟾推门进来，拿着一个盒子，笑嘻嘻放在桌上。薛蝌站起来让坐。宝蟾笑着向薛蝌道：“这是四碟果子，一小壶儿酒，大奶奶叫给二爷送来的。”薛蝌陪笑道：“大奶奶费心。但是叫小丫头们送来就完了，怎么又劳动姐姐呢。”宝蟾道：“好说。自家人，二爷何必说这些套话。再者我们大爷这件事，实在叫二爷操心，大奶奶久已要亲自弄点什么儿谢二爷，又怕别人多心。二爷是知道的，咱们家里都是言合意不合，送点子东西没要紧，倒没的惹人七嘴八舌的讲究。所以今日些微的弄了一两样果子，一壶酒，叫我亲自悄悄儿的送来。”说着，又笑瞅了薛蝌一眼，道：“明儿二爷再别说这些话，叫人听着怪不好意思的。我们不过也是底下的人，服侍的着大爷就服侍的着二爷，这有何妨呢。”薛蝌一则秉性忠厚，二则到底年轻，只是向来不见金桂和宝蟾如此相待，心中想到刚才宝蟾说为薛蟠之事也是情理，因说道：“果子留下罢，这个酒儿，姐姐只管拿回去。我向来的酒上实在很有限，挤住了偶然喝一钟，平日无事是不能喝的。难道大奶奶和姐姐还不知道么。”宝蟾道：“别的我作得主，独这一件事，我可不敢应。大奶奶的脾气儿，二爷是知道的，我拿回去，不说二爷不喝，倒要说我不尽心了。”薛蝌没法，只得留下。宝蟾方才要走，又到门口往外看看，回过头来向着薛蝌〔一〕一笑，又用手指着里面说道：“他还只怕要来亲自给你道乏呢。”薛蝌不知何意，反倒讪讪的起来，因说道：“姐姐替我谢大奶奶罢。天气寒，看凉着。再者，自己叔嫂，也不必拘这些个礼。”宝蟾也不答言，笑着走了。

薛蝌始而以为金桂为薛蟠〔二〕之事，或者真是不过意，备此酒果给自己道乏，也是有的。及见了宝蟾这种鬼鬼祟祟不尴不尬的光景，也觉了几分。却自己回心一想：“他到底是嫂子的名分，那里就有别的讲究了呢。或者宝蟾不老成，自己不好意思怎么样，却指着金桂的名儿，也未可知。然而到底是哥哥的屋里人，也不好。”忽又一转念：“那金桂素性为人毫无闺阁理法，况且有时高兴，打扮得妖调非常，自以为美，又焉知不是怀着坏心〔三〕呢？不然，就是他和琴妹妹也有了什么不对的地方儿，所以设下这个毒法儿，要把我拉在浑水里，弄一个不清不白的名儿，也未可知。”想到这里，索性倒怕起来。正在不得主意的时候，忽听窗外扑哧的笑了一声，把薛蝌倒唬了一跳。未知是谁，下回分解。

[1] 嗷嘈——吵闹。

[2] 盘锦——用金线在丝织物上盘出图案。

[3] 佛青——绘画颜料，又名头青，石青中之最深者，近群青。如来佛像头部的螺髻着色用头青，故称“佛头青”或“佛青”。

[4] 干（ɡān甘）——这里是冷落不睬、使人尴尬之意。

[5] 索居——独处。索：孤独。

〔一〕 “薛蝌”，原作“薛蟾”，从藤本改。

〔二〕 “薛蟠”，原作“薛蝌”，从藤本改。

〔三〕 “怀着坏心”，“坏”原作“墩”，从藤本改。

CHAPTER 90. A poor girl loses a padded jacket and puts up with some obstreperous behaviour A young man accepts a tray of sweetmeats and is put out by some devious goings-on

During the first week or so of Dai-yu’s decline, when Grandmother Jia and her aunts had taken it in turns to visit her, she had still possessed strength enough to make an occasional response to their inquiries. But now she would eat nothing whatsoever, and for several days had hardly said a word. The strange thing was that although at times she seemed unconscious, there were periods when she was perfectly lucid. They began to suspect something, and interrogated Nightingale and Snowgoose more than once. But the maids were too scared to say what they knew. Nightingale for her part, while she would have liked to discover the latest news from Scribe, feared that the truth would only provide a further shock and hasten the hour of Dai-yu’s death, and so when she saw Scribe, she avoided the subject completely. Snowgoose, as the transmitter of the news, felt responsible for Dai-yu’s condition and longed for a hundred tongues to cry out ‘I never said a word!’ She too, when questioned, maintained a close silence.

Nightingale, seeing that Dai-yu would eat nothing, and judging that all hope was now gone, stood by her bedside crying for a while, then went outside and whispered to Snowgoose:

‘Go in and watch her carefully. I’m going straight over to tell Her Old Ladyship, Her Ladyship and Mrs Lian. She has definitely taken a turn for the worse today.’

She departed, and Snowgoose went in to take her place. She found Dai-yu lying very still, as if in a deep sleep. Being only a child with no experience of such things, she took this state for death itself, and began to feel both tearful and frightened. If only Nightingale would hurry up and come back! At that very moment she heard footsteps outside the window. That must be Nightingale now! Breathing a sigh of relief, she stood up at once and went to the doorway of the inner chamber, lifting the door-curtain in expectation. She heard the swish of the outer door-curtain, and in came not Nightingale but Scribe, sent by Tan-chun to inquire how Dai-yu was. Seeing Snowgoose standing in the inner doorway, she asked:

‘How is Miss Lin?’

Snowgoose nodded to her to come in and Scribe entered the inner room with her. She noticed that Nightingale was not there, and when she looked at Dai-yu and saw how feebly she was breathing, a look of horror came over her face.

‘Where’s Nightingale gone?’ she asked.

To tell their Ladyships,’ replied Snowgoose.

Certain that Dai-yu, if not actually dead, was by this time at any rate ‘dead to the world’, Snowgoose decided to take advantage of Nightingale’s absence to question Scribe. Taking her by the hand, she asked in a whisper:

‘Did you really mean what you said the other day – about Mr Wang, and Master Bao’s betrothal?’

‘Of course I did!’ replied Scribe.

‘When was it settled?’

‘I never said it was! What I told you was just what I’d heard from Crimson. Later I was at Mrs Lian’s myself, and heard her say to Patience that the whole thing was something the Master’s literary gentlemen had thought up, to please him and provide themselves with a connection. As it happened Lady Xing didn’t even think it a good match. But even if she had approved, everyone knows how unreliable her judgement is. Besides, Her Old Ladyship already has someone else in mind for Master Bao, someone here in the Garden. Lady Xing had no idea of that, of course, and Her Old Ladyship only allowed them to go ahead with the normal inquiries for the Master’s sake. Mrs Lian said Her Old Ladyship wants Bao-yu to marry one of his cousins, and her mind is quite made up, so any other proposals are a waste of time.’

Snowgoose was beside herself.

Then our mistress is dying for nothing!’ she exclaimed.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Scribe.

‘Don’t you know? The other day Miss Lin overheard me telling Nightingale about the betrothal – that’s why she has brought herself to this terrible state now.’

‘Sh!’ whispered Scribe. ‘She might hear you!’

‘She’s completely dead to the world,’ replied Snowgoose. ‘Look – she can’t last more than a day or two now.’

As she was speaking, the door-curtain was drawn aside and in came Nightingale.

‘For goodness’ sake!’ she exclaimed. ‘Can’t you two do your gossiping somewhere else? You might as well drive her to her death!’

‘I simply cannot believe such strange goings-on,’ muttered Scribe.

‘My dear Scribe,’ retorted Nightingale, ‘don’t misunderstand me please. I didn’t mean to offend you, But you must be so stupid to gossip like that.’

The three of them were interrupted by a sudden cough from Dai-yu’s bed on the kang. Nightingale hurried to the bedside, while Snowgoose and Scribe stood in silence. Nightingale bent down and whispered to Dai-yu, who was lying with her face to the wall:

‘Would you like some water, Miss?’

There was a barely audible ‘yes’ and Snowgoose promptly filled a cup half-full with hot water and handed it to Nightingale, who held it in the palm of her hand. Scribe meanwhile had moved towards the kang and was about to speak to Dai-yu when Nightingale motioned to her not to say anything and she checked herself. They stood waiting. After a short interval Dai-yu coughed again and Nightingale inquired at once:

‘Would you like the water now, Miss?’

There was another faint ‘yes’ and Dai-yu seemed to want to lift her head, but was too feeble to do so. Nightingale climbed up onto the kang by her side and, holding the cup in her hand, first tested the water to make sure it was not too hot, then raised it to Dai-yu’s mouth, supporting her head until the rim of the cup reached her lips. Dai-yu took a sip, and Nightingale was about to remove the cup when she saw that Dai-yu wanted some more. She held the cup where it was. Dai-yu drank again, shook her head to show that it was enough, took a deep breath and lay down once more. After a pause she opened her eyes a fraction and asked:

‘Was that Scribe I heard talking just now?’

‘Yes, Miss,’ replied Nightingale.

Scribe was still in the room and came up to the kang at once to convey Tan-chun’s message. Dai-yu stared at her for a minute and nodded. After a pause she said:

‘When you go home, give Miss Tan my regards will you?’

Scribe took this to mean that Dai-yu wanted her to leave and made her way quietly out of the room.

Now although Dai-yu’s condition was extremely grave, her power of reason was unimpaired. She was aware of Scribe’s arrival and vaguely heard the first words she exchanged with Snowgoose. She felt too exhausted to cope with a visitor, and so pretended to be asleep. But as the conversation progressed, it became clear to her that what she had taken to be a fact had never been more than a proposal. And then she heard Scribe repeat Xi-feng’s words, that Grandmother Jia intended to marry Bao-yu to one of his cousins, to one that lived in the Garden; and who could that be but herself? Just as at the winter solstice Yin gives birth to Yang, so now in her mind darkness gave way to light. She suddenly felt much clearer within herself, decided to drink some water and even spoke to Scribe.

It was at this moment that Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, Li Wan and Xi-feng arrived on the scene, in response to Nightingale’s urgent summons. Now that Dai-yu’s inner doubts had been so dramatically dissipated, she no longer presented the spectacle of the dying maiden that Nightingale had led them to expect. She was still weak and low in spirits, but was able with an effort to say a few words in reply to their inquiries. Xi-feng called Nightingale over and questioned her:

‘Miss Lin is not nearly as ill as you made out. Why did you exaggerate so? We were most alarmed.’

‘Honestly, ma’am,’ replied Nightingale, ‘only a while ago she was in a bad way. That’s why I came over. I would never have dared to bother you otherwise. She does seem a lot better now. It’s most strange.’

Grandmother Jia said to Xi-feng with a smile:

‘You shouldn’t take what she says so seriously, my dear. She doesn’t understand such things. Mind you she was quite right to speak up if she noticed anything the matter. I’ve no time for young people who never say a word or do anthing for fear of appearing foolish.’

The ladies stayed for a few minutes chatting, then, deciding that all was well, returned to their apartments.

Truly:

No remedy but love

Can make the lovesick well;

Only the hand that tied the knot

Can loose the tiger’s bell.

After this Dai-yu’s condition continued to improve steadily, and Snowgoose and Nightingale offered many a secret prayer of thanks to the Lord Buddha.

‘Thank goodness she’s better!’ said Snowgoose to Nightingale. ‘But what an odd illness! And what an odd way to get better!’

‘We know what caused it,’ said Nightingale. ‘It’s this sudden recovery that’s puzzling. I think Bao-yu and Miss Lin must be destined to be married after all. ‘The course of true love never did run smooth’, but ‘Marriages made in heaven can never be broken’ either! You can tell they are destined to be together. That’s what they both want in their hearts, and that must be what Heaven has decreed for them. Remember what happened to Bao-yu last year, when I told him Miss Lin was going home to the South? He nearly died of shock, and made the most terrible scene. And now that one remark of ours has nearly been the death of her. Theirs must be a bond from some previous life, made a century ago at the Rock of Rebirth!’

They exchanged a secret smile at this romantic theory, and Snowgoose exclaimed:

‘Thank goodness she’s better anyway! We must never mention it again! Even if Bao-yu were to marry another lady and I witnessed the wedding with my own eyes, I swear I wouldn’t breathe a word of it to anyone.’

Nightingale laughed.

‘Well said!’

Theirs were not the only secret discussions on this subject. Dai-yu’s strange illness and stranger recovery gave rise to a great deal of whispering and speculation in the household, which soon reached the ears of Xi-feng. Lady Wang and Lady Xing vaguely suspected something, and Grandmother Jia herself had a shrewd idea what was at the bottom of it all. The four ladies were gathered one day in Grandmother Jia’s apartment, and in the course of their conversation the subject of Dai-yu’s illness came up.

‘There is something I want to say to you all,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘Bao-yu and Miss Lin have been together ever since they were little, and this has never troubled me, as I have always thought of them as children. But of late I have noticed how frequent these illnesses of hers are becoming – how suddenly they come, and how suddenly they go – a sure sign that she is growing up. It really won’t do to allow them to stay together indefinitely. What do you all think?’

After a thoughtful silence Lady Wang replied, choosing her words with care:

‘Miss Lin reads such a lot into things. And Bao-yu’s childish manner is deceptive: he can be extremely stupid and tactless. If we remove either one of them from the Garden, won’t it be too obvious? It has always been said that every boy becomes a groom and every girl becomes a bride. Don’t you think, Mother, that a better solution would be to go ahead as quickly as possible and get them both married?’

Grandmother Jia frowned.

‘I know that Miss Lin’s peculiar temperament is in some ways attractive. But I don’t think we could possibly have her as a wife for Bao-yu. Besides, I’m afraid that with such a delicate constitution she is unlikely to live to any age. I’m sure Bao-chai is in every respect the more suitable choice.’

‘Of course we all agree with you there, Mother,’ said Lady Wang. ‘But we must find a husband for Miss Lin too. If we do not, and if she has taken a fancy to Bao-yu – after all, it is only natural for a girl to have such feelings as she grows up – it might make things very difficult if she were then to discover that he was already betrothed to Bao-chai.’

‘There can be no question,’ replied Grandmother Jia, ‘of marrying an outsider before one of the family. The order must be: first to marry Bao-yu, then to have Miss Lin betrothed. Besides Miss Lin is two years younger than Bao-yu anyway. If I understand you correctly, we shall have to conceal Bao-yu’s betrothal from her…’

Xi-feng turned at once to the various maids present:

‘Is that clear? Not a word of Master Bao’s betrothal to anyone! If I catch one of you talking about it I shall show no mercy.’

‘Feng dear,’ continued Grandmother Jia, ‘I have noticed that since your illness you have taken less interest in what happens in the Garden. You really must give it more of your attention. It’s not just the sort of thing we have been talking about. Any repetition of that disgraceful drinking and gambling that was discovered among the servants last year must be prevented at all costs. Be rather more particular, will you, and keep a watchful eye on what goes on. They need to be disciplined, and you seem to be the one they respect most.’

‘Yes, Grannie,’ said Xi-feng.

The ladies sat talking for a while longer, then left to go their separate ways.

*

From now on Xi-feng began to inspect the Garden on a more regular basis. One day, in the course of one of her tours of inspection, she was walking along the bank by Amaryllis Eyot when she heard an old woman shouting outside the courtyard and went to investigate. As she drew near the old serving-woman caught sight of her, dropped her hands to her side and stood to attention, mumbling a confused ‘Good morning, ma’am.’

‘Why are you making such a racket out here?’ asked Xi-feng.

‘You and Mrs Zhu have given me a job to do here, ma’am,’ replied the woman, ‘looking after the flowerbeds and fruit-trees. I’d done nothing wrong, and Miss Xing’s maid accused us of stealing…’

‘And why should she do that?’ asked Xi-feng.

‘Yesterday our Blackie came with me here to play,’ replied the woman. ‘She didn’t know any better and went inside Miss Xing’s apartment to have a look around. I sent her home straight away. Then early this morning I heard one of the maids say they’d lost something. When I asked what it was, she started questioning me all about it…’

‘That’s no cause for you to lose your temper,’ retorted Xi-feng.

‘This Garden belongs to Mrs Zhu’s family not hers!’ protested the old woman. ‘We work for Mrs Zhu and I won’t be called a thief!’

Xi-feng spat straight in the old woman’s face and said harshly:

‘Hold your tongue! That’s quite enough! You’re responsible for things here and if something is lost the maids are quite right to hold you accountable for it. How dare you talk such nonsense! Call Steward Lin and have her dismissed!’

The maids were carrying out her orders when Xing Xiu-yan came hurrying out. She greeted Xi-feng and said with an anxious smile:

‘You mustn’t do that! It was nothing really. And it’s all over now.’

‘My dear girl,’ said Xi-feng, ‘that is not the right attitude to take. It’s the principle I’m concerned with. The servants must learn to know their place.’

Xiu-yan saw that the woman was on her knees begging for mercy, and asked Xi-feng at once to go inside with her and sit down.

‘I know her sort,’ said Xi-feng. ‘They think they can get away with anything – except when I’m around.’

When Xiu-yan continued to plead for the woman, however, and insisted on putting the blame on her own maid, she relented.

‘Out of consideration for Miss Xing,’ she announced, ‘I shall let you off this once.’

The old woman came forward to kotow first to Xi-feng then to Xiu-yan, and left.

Once she had gone, Xiu-yan asked Xi-feng to be seated.

‘What was it that you lost?’ inquired Xi-feng pleasantly.

‘Nothing of any importance,’ replied Xiu-yan with a smile. ‘Just an old red padded jacket of mine. I told them to look for it and when it didn’t turn up thought no more about it. My maid was silly to question that woman. She was bound to take offence. My maid was very thoughtless and I’ve already given her a good talking to. The whole affair is over and best forgotten.’

While she was speaking, Xi-feng had been inspecting Xiu-yan’s clothes and the general appearance of her apartment. Her few padded or fur-lined clothes looked rather worn and ineffective as protection against the cold. Most of her quilted bedding looked on the thin side too. She glanced at the furniture and the ornaments on her table, all of them provided by Grandmother Jia, and noticed how immaculately clean and tidy they had been kept. Xi-feng felt a warm respect towards her.

‘I know a jacket is nothing to fuss over,’ she said. ‘But the weather is growing cold, and you need it to keep you warm. Of course you were right to question her. Honestly! The insolent way these servants carry on!’

She sat talking with Xiu-yan for a while and then left to continue her tour of inspection, stopping off in all the various residences before returning to her own apartment. There she instructed Patience to make up a parcel of her clothes to be sent over to Xiu-yan: it was to contain two padded jackets, one of dark-red imported silk, the other of viridian damask-silk lined with pearly lambswool, a long turquoise worsted skirt with brocade appliqué panels and an embroidered border, and a deep-blue ermine-lined jacket.

Despite Xi-feng’s intervention on her behalf, Xiu-yan was still most mortified by the woman’s rudeness. ‘Of all the girls who live here,’ she thought to herself, ‘I’m the only one the servants would dare to offend in that way. They say things about me all the time. And now Feng has seen it for herself!’

The more she thought about it the more depressing her position seemed. And yet it was impossible for her to confide in anyone. Bowing to her fate, she was just beginning to weep when she saw Xi-feng’s maid Felicity come in carrying a bundle of clothes. Soon realizing whose they were, she absolutely refused to accept them.

‘But Miss,’ protested Felicity, ‘Mrs Lian says that if you think they are too old she will change them for newer ones.’

Xiu-yan smiled politely.

‘It’s very thoughtful of her. But I can’t possibly let her give me some of her clothes just because I’ve lost one of mine. Please take them back and thank her most kindly for me. I do appreciate the thought.’

She gave her a little purse, and Felicity departed with some reluctance, carrying the bundle. Minutes later she was back, this time accompanied by Patience. Xiu-yan hurried out to greet them and asked them both to be seated. Patience smiled and said:

‘Mrs Lian says you should accept them as one of the family and not be so polite.’

‘But I’m not being polite,’ replied Xiu-yan. ‘Honestly. I’d be embarrassed to take them.’

‘Mrs Lian says,’ persisted Patience, ‘that if you won’t take them it must either be because they’re too old or because you don’t like the idea of wearing her things. She says that if I take them back she’ll be cross with me.’

Xiu-yan blushed and smiled gratefully:

‘Well, in that case, how can I possibly refuse? Please convey my thanks to Mrs Lian.’

She served them both tea, after which Felicity and Patience left. They were almost home again when they met one of Aunt Xue’s women. She greeted them, and Patience asked her where she was going.

‘Mrs Xue and our young lady sent me over to convey their regards to all their Ladyships and young madams and young ladies. I was at Mrs Lian’s just now asking for you, and she told me you’d gone into the Garden. Have you just been to Miss Xing’s by any chance?’

‘Why, how did you know that?’ asked Patience.

‘Oh, a little birdie told me… It’s most generous I think, what you and your mistress are doing…’

Patience gave a little laugh.

‘Won’t you come in and have a chat later on?’

‘I still have things to do. Another day,’ replied the old woman and went on her way, while Patience went in to report to Xi-feng.

*

When the serving-woman returned to the Xue household, which was in its usual state of upheaval, thanks to the disruptive behaviour of Xia Jin-gui, she recounted the story of Xing Xiu-yan’s humiliation, and both Aunt Xue and Bao-chai began to weep.

‘It’s only because Pan’s away,’ said Bao-chai, ‘that she has to go on suffering like this. We are lucky that Feng has been looking after her. In future we must keep more of an eye on her ourselves. She is after all practically one of the family now.’

As she was speaking Xue Ke came in.

‘In all the years he’s spent here Pan hasn’t made a single decent friend!’ he said. ‘They’re a pack of rogues the lot of them! I’m sure they don’t care in the slightest what happens to him. They’re only curious to know the latest news. This last couple of days I’ve told them all to go away, and I’ve given the janitors instructions not to let any of them in.’

‘Is it that actor Jiang and his friends again?’ asked Aunt Xue.

‘No, as a matter of fact he hasn’t been here at all. It’s a different crowd.’

Xue Ke’s words intensified Aunt Xue’s anxiety.

‘Though I have a son,’ she said, ‘it is as though I had none. Even if Pan wins this reprieve, his life is ruined. You are only my nephew, Ke, but you show much more sense than Pan. I can see that from now on I shall have to depend on you. Be sure to work hard and make the most of your life. And think of your bride-to-be, who comes from a family that has fallen on hard times. It is always hard when a daughter goes out into the world and gets married. One can only pray that her husband will turn out well and be capable of providing for her. Imagine if Xiu-yan were to turn out like this creature here…’

Gesturing in the direction of Xia Jin-gui’s room Aunt Xue continued:

‘But I don’t want to talk about her. I know Xiu-yan to be an honest and thoughtful girl, thrifty and unspoilt. The sooner Pan’s business is settled, the sooner we can get the two of you married and set my poor heart at rest.’

‘Don’t forget that Bao-qin is still waiting to be married,’ Xue Ke reminded his aunt. ‘I know how concerned you are about that. Don’t worry on our account.’

They stayed chatting together for a few minutes longer and then Xue Ke returned to his room. He ate his dinner and began to think about Xiu-yan in the Garden, forced by poverty to be so utterly dependent on the Jias. The two of them had travelled by the same boat on their original journey to the capital, and he had been able to see for himself that she was a pretty, good-natured girl. How unjust of destiny to give a creature like Xia Jin-gui a life of wealth and luxury and turn her into a spoilt shrew, while for a girl like Xiu-yan there was nothing but hardship! What was in the mind of the Great Arbiter Yama when he made such a dispensation?

These gloomy thoughts stirred Xue Ke to express his sense of injustice in poetic form. His was an untutored pen, but he did as best he could.

As the flood-dragon flounders on the shore,

So our two hearts languish under like privations.

When will we drink this bitter cup no more

And soar unfettered through the constellations?

He read the lines through and thought of sticking them up on his wall. He felt a little self-conscious however, and thought to himself:

‘What if someone sees them and makes fun of me…’

He read them through again.

‘Oh who cares! I will put them up. I can read them anyway, to cheer myself up.’

A final reading made him change his mind yet again, however, and he slipped them between the pages of a book.

‘I’m old enough for us to be married now,’ he mused to himself. ‘But who could have foreseen this family crisis, and who knows when it will ever end? What an ordeal for a gentle girl like Xiu-yan! How lonely and wretched she must feel!’

At that moment the door was pushed open and Moonbeam came in carrying a round covered-tray and a jug of wine, which she deposited with a simpering smile on the table. He rose and asked her to be seated. Still smiling she said:

‘Four plates of sweetmeats and a small jug of wine, with Mrs Pan’s compliments, Master Ke.’

‘It’s most kind of her,’ replied Ke, ‘but surely she could have sent one of the younger maids? She didn’t need to bother you, Miss Moonbeam.’

‘Oh Master Ke, there’s no need to be so polite. It’s all in the family after all… Mrs Pan knows what trouble you’ve been put to on account of Mr Pan, and she’s been meaning for a long time to thank you herself but was afraid the others might take it the wrong way. In this household, as I think you know, sir, there’s a lot goes on beneath the surface. People are only waiting to pounce on a little thing like a present, and then they start inventing all kinds of stories. That’s why she’s been ever so slightly discreet and asked me to come over personally with these few things today when no one was looking…’

She gave Xue Ke a saucy smile and continued:

‘And please, no more of that ‘Miss’ Moonbeam – it makes me feel most uncomfortable. We are only here to serve, and if we can serve Mr Pan, then why not you as well?’

Xue Ke was young and had a trusting nature. It was odd that Pan’s womenfolk should suddenly start treating him like this; but Moonbeam’s explanation was a plausible one, he reflected.

‘You can leave the sweetmeats,’ he said. ‘But take the wine back with you. I’ve never been much of a drinker. Occasionally if pushed to it I can manage a cup, but usually I don’t drink at all. Surely you and Mrs Pan knew that?’

‘Ask anything else of me!’ pleaded Moonbeam. ‘But I wouldn’t dare take it back – you know Mrs Pan’s temper. If I tell her you don’t drink, she’ll never believe me; she’ll say I’ve failed in my duty.’

Reluctantly Xue Ke allowed her to leave the wine too. Moonbeam began to leave, but on reaching the doorway she took a quick look outside and glanced back at Xue Ke with a smile. Pointing in the direction of Xia Jin-gui’s apartment she said:

‘I think she might even come over herself to thank you for all you’ve done…’

Xue Ke was not sure how to take this, and began to feel rather nervous.

‘Please convey my thanks to Mrs Pan will you? The weather is cold, and she must be careful not to catch a chill. Besides she is my cousin’s wife and there’s no need for her to go to such lengths.’

Moonbeam said nothing but tittered and went on her way.

At first Xue Ke had been prepared to accept the offering as a genuine expression of gratitude on Jin-gui’s part. But now Moonbeam’s suggestive behaviour had aroused his suspicions, and he began to think there was something fishy going on.

‘But surely Jin-gui would never think of such a thing?’ he argued with himself. ‘She is my sister-in-law… Perhaps it’s Moonbeam up to no good. She can’t very well act on her own initiative. Maybe she is using Jin-gui as a cover… But then she’s Pan’s chamber-wife so that’s hardly very…’

Suddenly it occurred to him:

‘Of course! Jin-gui’s no lady! Sometimes when she’s in the mood, she gets herself up like a regular harlot – she obviously fancies herself as some sort of man-killer! Another possibility is that she’s fallen out with Bao-qin and this is a plot to disgrace me and drag the family name in the mud…’

Xue Ke could not help finding all this rather daunting, and was racking his brains for some means of dealing with the situation, when to his great alarm he heard a splutter of laughter outside the window. But to discover who was laughing, you must turn to the next chapter.