第一○八回

第一○八回 强欢笑蘅芜庆生辰 死缠绵潇湘闻鬼哭

却说贾政先前曾将房产并大观园奏请入官，内廷不收，又无人居住，只好封锁。因园子接连尤氏惜春住宅，太觉旷阔无人，遂将包勇罚看荒园。此时贾政理家，又奉了贾母之命将人口渐次减少，诸凡省俭，尚且不能支持。幸喜凤姐为贾母疼惜，王夫人等虽则不大喜欢，若说治家办事尚能出力，所以将内事仍交凤姐办理。但近来因被抄以后，诸事运用不来，也是每形拮据。那些房头上下人等原是宽裕惯的，如今较之往日，十去其七，怎能周到，不免怨言不绝。凤姐也不敢推辞，扶病承欢贾母。过了些时，贾赦、贾珍各到当差地方，恃有用度，暂且自安，写书回家，都言安逸，家中不必挂念。于是贾母放心，邢夫人尤氏也略略宽怀。

一日，史湘云出嫁回门，来贾母这边请安。贾母提起他女婿甚好，史湘云也将那里过日平安的话说了，请老太太放心。又提起黛玉去世，不免大家泪落。贾母又想起迎春苦楚，越觉悲伤起来。史湘云劝解一回，又到各家请安问好毕，仍到贾母房中安歇，言及“薛家这样人家被薛大哥闹的家破人亡。今年虽是缓决人犯，明年不知可能减等？”贾母道：“你还不知道呢，昨儿蟠儿媳妇死的不明白，几乎又闹出一场大事来。还幸亏老佛爷有眼，叫他带来的丫头自己供出来了，那夏奶奶才没的闹了，自家拦住相验。你姨妈这里才将皮裹肉〔一〕的[2]打发出去了。你说说，真真是六亲同运[3]！薛家是这样了，姨太太守着薛蝌过日，为这孩子有良心，他说哥哥在监里尚未结局，不肯娶亲。你邢妹妹在大太太那边也就很苦。琴姑娘为他公公死了尚未满服，梅家尚未娶去。二太太的娘家舅太爷一死，凤丫头的哥哥也不成人，那二舅太爷也是个小气的，又是官项不清[4]，也是打饥荒。甄家自从抄家以后别无信息。”湘云道：“三姐姐去了曾有书字回家么？”贾母道：“自从嫁了去，二老爷回来说，你三姐姐在海疆甚好。只是没有书信，我也日夜惦记。为着我们家连连的出些不好事，所以我也顾不来。如今四丫头也没有给他提亲。环儿呢，谁有功夫提起他来。如今我们家的日子比你从前在这里的时候更苦些。只可怜你宝姐姐，自过了门，没过一天安逸日子。你二哥哥还是这样疯疯颠颠，这怎么处呢！”湘云道：“我从小儿在这里长大的，这里那些人的脾气我都知道的。这一回来了，竟都改了样子了。我打量我隔了好些时没来，他们生疏我。我细想起来，竟不是的，就是见了我，瞧他们的意思原要像先前一样的热闹，不知道怎么，说说就伤心起来了。我所以坐坐就到老太太这里来了。”贾母道：“如今这样日子在我也罢了，你们年轻轻儿的人还了得！我正要想个法儿叫他们还热闹一天才好，只是打不起这个精神来。”湘云道：“我想起来了，宝姐姐不是后儿的生日吗，我多住一天，给他拜过寿，大家热闹一天。不知老太太怎么样？”贾母道：“我真正气糊涂了。你不提我竟忘了，后日可不是他的生日！我明日拿出钱来，给他办个生日。他没有定亲的时候倒做过好几次，如今他过了门，倒没有做。宝玉这孩子头里很伶俐很淘气，如今为着家里的事不好，把这孩子越发弄的话都没有了。倒是珠儿媳妇还好，他有的时候是这么着，没的时候他也是这么着，带着兰儿静静儿的过日子，倒难为他。”湘云道：“别人还不离，独有琏二嫂子连模样儿都改了，说话也不伶俐了。明日等我来引导他们，看他们怎么样。但是他们嘴里不说，心里要抱怨我，说我有了——”湘云说到那里，却把脸飞红了。贾母会意，道：“这怕什么。原来姊妹们都是在一处乐惯了的，说说笑笑，再别要留这些心。大凡一个人，有也罢没也罢，总要受得富贵耐得贫贱才好。你宝姐姐生来是个大方的人，头里他家这样好，他也一点儿不骄傲，后来他家坏了事，他也是舒舒坦坦的。如今在我家里，宝玉待他好，他也是那样安顿；一时待他不好，不见他有什么烦恼。我看这孩子倒是个有福气的。你林姐姐那是个最小性儿又多心的，所以到底不长命。凤丫头也见过些事，很不该略见些风波就改了样子，他若这样没见识，也就是小器了。后儿宝丫头的生日，我替另拿出银子来，热热闹闹给他做个生日，也叫他喜欢这一天。”湘云答应道：“老太太说得很是。索性把那些姐妹们都请来了，大家叙一叙。”贾母道：“自然要请的。”一时高兴道：“叫鸳鸯拿出一百银子来交给外头，叫他明日起预备两天的酒饭。”鸳鸯领命，叫婆子交了出去。一宿无话。

次日传话出去，打发人去接迎春，又请了薛姨妈、宝琴，叫带了香菱来。又请李婶娘。不多半日，李纹、李绮都来了。宝钗本没有知道，听见老太太的丫头来请，说：“薛姨太太来了，请二奶奶过去呢。”宝钗心里喜欢，便是随身衣服过去，要见他母亲。只见他妹子宝琴并香菱都在这里，又见李婶娘等人也都来了。心想：“那些人必是知道我们家的事情完了，所以来问候的。”便去问了李婶娘好，见了贾母，然后与他母亲说了几句话，便与李家姐妹们问好。湘云在旁说道：“太太们请都坐下，让我们姐妹们给姐姐拜寿。”宝钗听了倒呆了一呆，回来一想：“可不是明日是我的生日吗！”便说：“妹妹们过来瞧老太太是该的，若说为我的生日，是断断不敢的。”正推让着，宝玉也来请薛姨妈、李婶娘的安。听见宝钗自己推让，他心里本早打算过宝钗生日，因家中闹得七颠八倒，也不敢在贾母处提起，今见湘云等众人要拜寿，便喜欢道：“明日才是生日，我正要告诉老太太来。”湘云笑道：“扯臊，老太太还等你告诉。你打量这些人为什么来？是老太太请的！”宝钗听了，心下未信。只听贾母合他母亲道：“可怜宝丫头做了一年新媳妇，家里接二连三的有事，总没有给他做过生日。今日我给他做个生日，请姨太太、太太们来大家说说话儿。”薛姨妈道：“老太太这些时心里才安，他小人儿家还没有孝敬老太太，倒要老太太操心。”湘云道：“老太太最疼的孙子是二哥哥，难道二嫂子就不疼了么！况且宝姐姐也配老太太给他做生日。”宝钗低头不语。宝玉心里想道：“我只说史妹妹出了阁是换了一个人了，我所以不敢亲近他，他也不来理我。如今听他的话，原是和先前一样的。为什么我们那个过了门更觉得腼腆了，话都说不出来了呢？”

正想着，小丫头进来说：“二姑奶奶回来了。”随后李纨、凤姐都进来，大家厮见一番。迎春提起他父亲出门，说：“本要赶来见见，只是他拦着不许来，说是咱们家正是晦气时候，不要沾染在身上。我扭不过，没有来，直哭了两三天。”凤姐道：“今儿为什么肯放你回来？”迎春道：“他又说咱们家二老爷又袭了职，还可以走走，不妨事的，所以才放我来。”说着，又哭起来。贾母道：“我原为气得慌，今日接你们来给孙子媳妇过生日，说说笑笑解个闷儿。你们又提起这些烦事来，又招起我的烦恼来了。”迎春等都不敢作声了。凤姐虽勉强说了几句有兴的话，终不似先前爽利，招人发笑。贾母心里要宝钗喜欢，故意的怄凤姐儿说话。凤姐也知贾母之意，便竭力张罗，说道：“今儿老太太喜欢些了。你看这些人好几时没有聚在一处，今儿齐全。”说着回过头去，看见婆婆、尤氏不在这里，又缩住了口。贾母为着“齐全”两字，也想邢夫人等，叫人请去。邢夫人、尤氏、惜春等听见老太太叫，不敢不来，心内也十分不愿意，想着家业零败，偏又高兴给宝钗做生日，到底老太太偏心，便来了也是无精打彩的。贾母问起岫烟来，邢夫人假说病着不来。贾母会意，知薛姨妈在这里有些不便，也不提了。

一时摆下果酒。贾母说：“也不送到外头，今日只许咱们娘儿们乐一乐。”宝玉虽然娶过亲的人，因贾母疼爱，仍在里头打混，但不与湘云、宝琴等同席，便在贾母身旁设着一个坐儿，他代宝钗轮流敬酒。贾母道：“如今且坐下大家喝酒，到挨晚儿再到各处行礼去。若如今行起来了，大家又闹规矩，把我的兴头打回去就没趣了。”宝钗便依言坐下。贾母又叫人来道：“咱们今儿索性洒脱些，各留一两个人伺候。我叫鸳鸯带了彩云、莺儿、袭人、平儿等在后间去，也喝一钟酒。”鸳鸯等说：“我们还没有给二奶奶磕头，怎么就好喝酒去呢。”贾母道：“我说了，你们只管去，用的着你们再来。”鸳鸯等去了。这里贾母才让薛姨妈等喝酒，见他们都不是往常的样子，贾母着急道：“你们到底是怎么着？大家高兴些才好。”湘云道：“我们又吃又喝，还要怎样！”凤姐道：“他们小的时候儿都高兴，如今都碍着脸不敢混说，所以老太太瞧着冷净了。”

宝玉轻轻的告诉贾母道：“话是没有什么说的，再说就说到不好的上头来了。不如老太太出个主意，叫他们行个令儿罢。”贾母侧着耳朵听了，笑道：“若是行令，又得叫鸳鸯去。”宝玉听了，不待再说，就出席到后间去找鸳鸯，说：“老太太要行令，叫姐姐去呢。”鸳鸯道：“小爷，让我们舒舒服服的喝一杯罢，何苦来又来搅什么。”宝玉道：“当真老太太说，得叫你去呢，与我什么相干。”鸳鸯没法，说道：“你们只管喝，我去了就来。”便到贾母那边。老太太道：“你来了，不是要行令吗。”鸳鸯道：“听见宝二爷说老太太叫，我敢不来吗。不知老太太要行什么令儿？”贾母道：“那文的怪闷的慌，武的又不好，你倒是想个新鲜顽意儿才好。”鸳鸯想了想道：“如今姨太太有了年纪，不肯费心，倒不如拿出令盆骰子来，大家掷个曲牌名儿赌输赢酒罢。”贾母道：“这也使得。”便命人取骰盆放在桌上。鸳鸯说：“如今用四个骰子掷去，掷不出名儿来的罚一杯，掷出名儿来，每人喝酒的杯数儿掷出来再定。”众人听了道：“这是容易的，我们都随着。”鸳鸯便打点儿。众人叫鸳鸯喝了一杯，就在他身上数起，恰是薛姨妈先掷。薛姨妈便掷了一下，却是四个幺。鸳鸯道：“这是有名的，叫做‘商山四皓’[5]。有年纪的喝一杯。”于是贾母、李婶娘、邢王两夫人都该喝。贾母举酒要喝，鸳鸯道：“这是姨太太掷的，还该姨太太说个曲牌名儿，下家儿接一句《千家诗》[6]。说不出的罚一杯。”薛姨妈道：“你又来算计我了，我那里说得上来。”贾母道：“不说到底寂寞，还是说一句的好。下家儿就是我了，若说不出来，我陪姨太太喝一钟就是了。”薛姨妈便道：“我说个‘临老入花丛’[7]。”贾母点点头儿道：“将谓偷闲学少年。”[8]说完，骰盆过到李纹，便掷了两个四两个二。鸳鸯说：“也有名了，这叫作‘刘阮入天台’[9]。”李纹便接着说了个“二士入桃源。”下手儿便是李纨，说道：“寻得桃源〔二〕好避秦。”[11]大家又喝了一口。骰盆又过到贾母跟前，便掷了两个二两个三。贾母道：“这要喝酒了？”鸳鸯道：“有名儿的，这是‘江燕引雏’[12]。众人都该喝一杯。”凤姐道：“雏是雏，倒飞了好些了。”众人瞅了他一眼，凤姐便不言语。贾母道：“我说什么呢？‘公领孙’罢。”下手是李绮，便说道：“闲看儿童捉柳花。”[13]众人都说好。宝玉巴不得要说，只是令盆轮不到，正想着，恰好到了跟前，便掷了一个二两个三一个幺，便说道：“这是什么？”鸳鸯笑道：“这是个‘臭’[14]，先喝一杯再掷罢。”宝玉只得喝了又掷，这一掷掷了两个三两个四。鸳鸯道：“有了，这叫做‘张敞画眉’[15]。”宝玉明白打趣他，宝钗的脸也飞红了。凤姐不大懂得，还说：“二兄弟快说了，再找下家儿是谁。”宝玉明知难说，自认“罚了罢，我也没下家。”过了令盆轮到李纨，便掷了一下儿。鸳鸯道：“大奶奶掷的是‘十二金钗’。”宝玉听了，赶到李纨身旁看时，只见红绿对开，便说：“这一个好看得很。”忽然想起十二钗的梦来，便呆呆的退到自己座上，心里想，“这十二钗说是金陵的，怎么家里这些人如今七大八小的就剩了这几个。”复又看看湘云、宝钗，虽说都在，只是不见了黛玉，一时按捺不住，眼泪便要下来。恐人看见，便说身上躁的很，脱脱衣服去，挂了筹[16]出席去了。这史湘云看见宝玉这般光景，打量宝玉掷不出好的，被别人掷了去，心里不喜欢，便去了；又嫌那个令儿没趣，便有些烦。只见李纨道：“我不说了，席间的人也不齐，不如罚我一杯。”贾母道：“这个令儿也不热闹，不如蠲了罢。让鸳鸯掷一下，看掷出个什么来。”小丫头便把令盆放在鸳鸯跟前。鸳鸯依命便掷了两个二一个五，那一个骰子在盆中只管转，鸳鸯叫道：“不要五！”那骰子单单转出一个五来。鸳鸯道：“了不得！我输了。”贾母道：“这是不算什么的吗？”鸳鸯道：“名儿倒有，只是我说不上曲牌名来。”贾母道：“你说名儿，我给你诌。”鸳鸯道：“这是浪扫浮萍？”贾母道：“这也不难，我替你说个‘秋鱼入菱窠’。”鸳鸯下手的就是湘云，便道：“白萍吟尽楚江秋。”[17]众人都道：“这句很确。”贾母道：“这令完了。咱们喝两杯吃饭罢。”回头一看，见宝玉还没进来，便问道：“宝玉那里去了，还不来？”鸳鸯道：“换衣服去了。”贾母道：“谁跟了去的？”那莺儿便上来回道：“我看见二爷出去，我叫袭人姐姐跟了去了。”贾母王夫人才放心。

等了一回，王夫人叫人去找来。小丫头子到了新房，只见五儿在那里插蜡。小丫头便问：“宝二爷那里去了？”五儿道：“在老太太那边喝酒呢。”小丫头道：“我在老太太那里，太太叫我来找的。岂有在那里倒叫我来找的理。”五儿道：“这就不知道了，你到别处找去罢。”小丫头没法，只得回来，遇见秋纹，便道：“你见二爷那里去了？”秋纹道：“我也找他。太太们等他吃饭，这会子那里去了呢？你快去回老太太去，不必说不在家，只说喝了酒不大受用不吃饭了，略躺一躺再来，请老太太们吃饭罢。”小丫头依言回去告诉珍珠，珍珠依言回了贾母。贾母道：“他本来吃不多，不吃也罢了。叫他歇歇罢。告诉他今儿不必过来，有他媳妇在这里。”珍珠便向小丫头道：“你听见了？”小丫头答应着，不便说明，只得在别处转了一转，说告诉了。众人也不理会，便吃毕饭，大家散坐说话。不题。

且说宝玉一时伤心，走了出来，正无主意，只见袭人赶来，问是怎么了。宝玉道：“不怎么，只是心里烦得慌。何不趁他们喝酒咱们两个到珍大奶奶那里逛逛去。”袭人道：“珍大奶奶在这里，去找谁？”宝玉道：“不找谁，瞧瞧他现在这里住的房屋怎么样。”袭人只得跟着，一面走，一面说。走到尤氏那边，又一个小门儿半开半掩，宝玉也不进去。只见看园门的两个婆子坐在门槛上说话儿。宝玉问道：“这小门开着么？”婆子道：“天天是不开的。今儿有人出来说，今日预备老太太要用园里的果子，故开着门等着。”宝玉便慢慢的走到那边，果见腰门半开，宝玉便走了进去。袭人忙拉住道：“不用去，园里不干净，常没有人去，不要撞见什么。”宝玉仗着酒气，说：“我不怕那些。”袭人苦苦的拉住不容他去。婆子们上来说道：“如今这园子安静的了。自从那日道士拿了妖去，我们摘花儿、打果子一个人常走的。二爷要去，咱们都跟着，有这些人怕什么。”宝玉喜欢，袭人也不便相强，只得跟着。

宝玉进得园来，只见满目凄凉，那些花木枯萎，更有几处亭馆，彩色久经剥落，远远望见一丛修竹，倒还茂盛。宝玉一想，说：“我自病时出园住在后边，一连几个月不准我到这里，瞬息荒凉。你看独有那几杆翠竹菁葱，这不是潇湘馆么！”袭人道：“你几个月没来，连方向都忘了。咱们只管说话，不觉将怡红院走过了。”回过头来用手指着道：“这才是潇湘馆呢。”宝玉顺着袭人的手一瞧，道：“可不是过了吗！咱们回去瞧瞧。”袭人道：“天晚了，老太太必是等着吃饭，该回去了。”宝玉不言，找着旧路，竟往前走。

你道宝玉虽离了大观园将及一载，岂遂忘了路径？只因袭人恐他见了潇湘馆，想起黛玉又要伤心，所以用言混过。岂知宝玉只望里走，天又晚，恐招了邪气，故宝玉问他，只说已走过了，欲宝玉不去。不料宝玉的心惟在潇湘馆内。袭人见他往前急走，只得赶上，见宝玉站着，似有所见，如有所闻，便道：“你听什么？”宝玉道：“潇湘馆倒有人住着么？”袭人道：“大约没有人罢。”宝玉道：“我明明听见有人在内啼哭，怎么没有人！”袭人道：“你是〔三〕疑心。素常你到这里，常听见林姑娘伤心〔四〕，所以如今还是那样。”宝玉不信，还要听去。婆子们赶上说道：“二爷快回去罢。天已晚了，别处我们还敢走走，只是这里路又隐僻，又听得人说这里林姑娘死后常听见有哭声，所以人都不敢走的。”宝玉袭人听说，都吃了一惊。宝玉道：“可不是。”说着，便滴下泪来，说：“林妹妹，林妹妹，好好儿的是我害了你了！你别怨我，只是父母作主，并不是我负心。”愈说愈痛，便大哭起来。袭人正在没法，只见秋纹带着些人赶来对袭人道：“你好大胆，怎么领了二爷到这里来！老太太、太太他们打发人各处都找到了，刚才腰门上有人说是你同二爷到这里来了，唬得老太太、太太们了不得，骂着我，叫我带人赶来，还不快回去么！”宝玉犹自痛哭。袭人也不顾他哭，两个人拉着就走，一面替他拭眼泪，告诉他老太太着急。宝玉没法，只得回来。

袭人知老太太不放心，将宝玉仍送到贾母那边。众人都等着未散。贾母便说：“袭人，我素常知你明白，才把宝玉交给你，怎么今儿带他园里去！他的病才好，倘或撞着什么，又闹起来，这便怎么处？”袭人也不敢分辩，只得低头不语。宝钗看宝玉颜色不好，心里着实的吃惊。倒还是宝玉恐袭人受委屈，说道：“青天白日怕什么。我因为好些时没到园里逛逛，今儿趁着酒兴走走。那里就撞着什么了呢！”凤姐在园里吃过大亏的，听到那里寒毛倒竖，说：“宝兄弟胆子忒大了。”湘云道：“不是胆大，倒是心实。不知是会芙蓉神去了，还是寻什么仙去了。”宝玉听着，也不答言。独有王夫人急的一言不发。贾母问道：“你到园里可曾唬着么？这回不用说了，以后要逛，到底多带几个人才好。不然大家早散了。回去好好的睡一夜，明日一早过来，我还要找补，叫你们再乐一天呢。不要为他又闹出什么原故来。”众人听说，辞了贾母出来。薛姨妈便到王夫人那里住下。史湘云仍在贾母房中。迎春便往惜春那里去了。馀者各自回去。不题。独有宝玉回到房中，嗳声叹气。宝钗明知其故，也不理他，只是怕他忧闷，勾出旧病来，便进里间叫袭人来细问他宝玉到园怎么的光景。未知袭人怎生回说，下回分解。

〔一〕 “将皮裹肉”，原无“皮”字，藤本、王本同。从程乙本补。

[2] 将皮裹肉——喻仅够对付、刚刚够。

[3] 六亲同运——指近支亲族休戚相关、命运相同。六亲：古说不一，或指父、母、兄、弟、妻、子，或指父、子、兄、弟、夫、妇等。封建宗法社会中，往往一人获罪，九族株连；反之，一人得宠，鸡犬飞升。

[4] 官项不清——公款不清，闹亏空的意思。

[5] 商山四皓——秦末东园公、绮里季、夏黄公、角（音lù禄，一作甪）里先生四人年皆八十有馀，须眉皓白，隐居商山，时称“商山四皓”。这里是指骰子的“四个幺”。

[6] 《千家诗》——旧时流行的儿童启蒙读物之一。宋代谢枋得选，王相注；也有说是根据宋代刘克庄所编《唐宋千家诗》选出的。但都经后人增删，版本很多。所选唐宋诗歌二百馀首，限于绝律二体，便于背诵，流传很广。

[7] 临老入花丛——依上文应是“曲牌名”，实际上，这和下面的“二士入桃源”、“公领孙”、“秋鱼入菱窠”等都是“骨牌副儿”的名称，是依照所掷相应的骰子色点而起的，这里仍指“四个幺”。

[8] 将谓偷闲学少年——见《千家诗》中宋代程颢《春日偶成》。

[9] 刘阮入天台——传说汉代刘晨、阮肇入天台山遇到了二位仙女。下文的“二士入桃源”也指同一故事。

〔二〕 “桃源”，原作“桃花”，藤本、程乙本均同。从金本、王本改。

[11] 寻得桃源好避秦——见《千家诗》中宋代谢枋得《庆全庵桃花》。

[12] 江燕引雏——唐代殷遥《春晚山行》诗：“野花成子落，江燕引雏飞。”

[13] 闲看儿童捉柳花——见《千家诗》中宋代杨万里《初夏睡起》。

[14] 这是个“臭”——意为所掷点数不好，是要输的。

[15] 张敞画眉——张敞：西汉宣帝时任京兆尹等官，曾为妻子画眉，传为佳话。见《汉书·张敞传》。这里是给骰子色点起的名称。

[16] 挂筹——行酒令时告假离席叫挂筹。筹：竹、木、象牙等制成的小片或小棍，主要作计数用；这里指行酒令时用以计数的酒筹。

[17] 白萍吟尽楚江秋——见《千家诗》中宋代程颢《题淮南寺》，原句作“白萍吹尽楚江秋”。

〔三〕 “你是”，原作“我是”，程乙作“是你”。从藤本改。

〔四〕 “常听见林姑娘伤心”，“伤心”原在“常听”前，藤本同。从程乙本改。

CHAPTER 108. A birthday party held for Sister Allspice necessitates a false display of jollity And ghostly weeping heard at the Naiad’s House provokes a fresh outburst of grief

We have already told how the Emperor rejected Jia Zheng’s plea to donate both Rong-guo House and Prospect Garden to the throne. None of the Jia family lived in the Garden any longer, and its gates were permanently locked. You-shi and Xi-chun, whose temporary lodgings in Rong-guo House adjoined the Garden wall, found it an eerie and desolate place to be near, and it was partly for this reason that Bao Yong had been appointed caretaker.

Jia Zheng now applied himself in earnest to the practicalities of the household, and in accordance with Grandmother Jia’s instructions endeavoured to implement a gradual reduction in the size of the staff, and a range of other economies. But he soon found the task too much for him, and turned for help to Xi-feng. Although Lady Wang had little affection left for her, Xi-feng was still a favourite of Grandmother Jia’s, and Jia Zheng judged that one way or another, despite everything, she must have retained some of her flair for business. She accepted the responsibility with a good grace, only to discover that the depredations of the Embroidered Jackets and the financial after-effects of the raid had made it impossible to get anything done in Rong-guo House. The necessary funds were simply not forthcoming. The ladies and their maids, from the highest to the lowest, used as they were to a life of ease, and finding that in their new and greatly reduced circumstances many of their old everyday luxuries could no longer be afforded, did nothing but complain. Xi-feng did her utmost to fulfil her duties, and despite her illness tried to please Grandmother Jia as best she could.

Jia She and Cousin Zhen eventually arrived at their designated places of exile. Thanks to the sums of money they had taken with them, they were comfortable enough, for the present at any rate, and both wrote home that they were well and that the family was not to worry on their account. Grandmother Jia was much relieved, and the news brought a little comfort to their wives.

Some days later, Shi Xiang-yun, who was now married and had paid her Ninth Day visit to her own home, came to call on Grandmother Jia. The old lady said what a favourable report she had heard of her husband, while Xiang-yun confirmed that married life was turning out happily for her, and begged Grandmother Jia to set her mind at rest. At the mention of Dai-yu’s death they both shed tears, and Grandmother Jia’s distress was further increased by the thought of Ying-chun and her trials. Xiang-yun remained with her for a time, doing her best to cheer her up, then went to call on the others, and returned later in the day to Grandmother Jia’s apartment to rest. The conversation that evening turned to the Xue family, and Xiang-yun learned from Grandmother Jia how as the result of Pan’s escapade the Xues were now facing total ruin. Pan’s death sentence had, it is true, been suspended, and he was still alive in gaol; but there was no telling whether or not they would be able to save his life by having the sentence commuted the following year.

‘And you still haven’t heard about Pan’s wife,’ Grandmother Jia went on. ‘She came to a very nasty end, and there was nearly the most dreadful scandal. But Lord Buddha in his all-seeing wisdom caused her own maid to come forward and tell us the whole story. Mrs Xia for all her antics could do nothing in the face of the truth, and ended up asking herself for the inquest to be waived. Your aunt Xue gave Pan’s wife a makeshift burial. She has young Ke living with her now. What a wonderful lad he is. Such a strong sense of duty! He feels he should postpone his own wedding until his cousin Pan is released from gaol and his murder case has been resolved. Of course that makes things rather hard meanwhile for poor Xiu-yan, who has to stay on with her aunt Xing. And it’s not much better for Bao-qin, who can’t marry her young Mr Mei until after his period of mourning for his father. Dear oh dear! What with one thing and another, our relations seem to be in much the same case as we are ourselves. Let me see now, what other news is there? In the Wang family, your aunt Wang’s elder brother, your great-uncle Zi-teng, has passed away; Fengie’s elder brother Ren has disgraced himself; and her second uncle Zi-sheng, your other great-uncle Wang, has turned out badly too. He couldn’t settle his elder brother’s debts, and had to come running to us to bale him out. We’ve had no news of the Zhens, ever since they too were raided and had their property confiscated.’

‘Have you had any news from Tan since she left?’ asked Xiang-yun.

‘Since her marriage, your uncle Zheng has returned from his post and he tells me that Tan is very happy at her new home, even though of course it is so far away down there on the coast. We still haven’t heard from her directly, and I do worry about her a great deal. We’ve had so many other troubles to contend with here, I simply haven’t had time to do anything for her. And then there’s Xi-chun. I still haven’t been able to find a husband for her. The less said about young Huan the better. Oh, things have changed greatly since you were here, my dear – greatly for the worse, I’m afraid. Your poor cousin Chai has not had a day’s peace ever since she married into our family. And Bao-yu is still as addle-pated as ever. Dear oh dearie me! We really are in a sorry state!’

‘I grew up here,’ said Xiang-yun, ‘so of course I know everyone very well. I can see for myself how they’ve changed. At first I wondered if perhaps they were just being a little distant towards me, because I’ve been away so long. But then I thought it over and could see it wasn’t that at all. They wanted to be their old cheerful selves with me, but somehow as soon as we started talking they got upset. That’s why I didn’t stay long and came back here to you, Grannie.’

‘I’m old enough to take what’s happened in my stride,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘But the young people seem to go to pieces. I wanted to find some way of cheering them all up for a day, but then I just couldn’t summon up the energy.’

‘I have an idea,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Isn’t it Bao-chai’s birthday the day after tomorrow? Why don’t I stay on to wish her a happy birthday – then we can all enjoy ourselves for a day. What do you say, Grannie?’

‘Goodness! I am getting gaga!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia. ‘If you hadn’t mentioned it I should have forgotten altogether. Of course you’re right! Tomorrow I’ll give the cooks some money and we’ll have a party. Before Chai married Bao-yu, we must have celebrated her birthday several times. But not since she’s been part of the family. Bao-yu, poor child, who used to be such a bundle of mischief and fun, has been so badly affected by our troubles that he can hardly put two words together. I can still count on Wan. She never changes, whether times are good or bad. She and little Lan still spend their days quietly together. She’s a marvel!’

‘Xi-feng is the most changed,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘She looks so different for a start, and no longer speaks with her old zest. Tomorrow I must see if I can draw them out and cheer them all up. But I’m afraid that, although they won’t say so, in their hearts they may resent me for being so lucky and for having …’

She stopped short and blushed fiercely. Grandmother Jia understood what she meant.

‘There’s no cause for you to worry on that score, my dear. You and your cousins grew up together as children. You used to play with each other, you were always chatting and laughing together. Don’t think of them in that way. We should all learn to accept life’s ups and downs. We should know how to enjoy prosperity while it lasts, and how to endure poverty with patience. Your cousin Chai has always taken a broad view of life. In the old days, when her family were so well off, she never used to put on airs; and since they’ve fallen on hard times she has been quite unshaken by it all. Now that she’s part of our family, when Bao-yu is nice to her she is as quiet and content as ever, and if he leads her a bit of a song and dance occasionally, I’ve never seen her get ruffled. That girl seems blessed with the most wonderful disposition. Your cousin Dai-yu was so different – quick to criticize others and take offence herself. It was hardly surprising that she died so young, poor child. As for Feng, she’s seen something of life, she should know better than to let little trials and tribulations get her down. It’s a weakness in her character … Yes, I shall set aside a special sum of money for Chai’s birthday, and we’ll make a jolly little party of it and let her enjoy herself properly for once.’

‘That does sound a good idea, Grandmother,’ replied Xiang-yun. ‘I’ll go ahead then and invite all the girls, and we can have a real reunion!’

‘Yes, you go ahead,’ said Grandmother Jia. In her enthusiasm she called Faithful over and said:

‘Take a hundred taels of silver and tell accounts that we want food and drink for a two-day party, starting tomorrow.’

Faithful gave the money to an old serving-woman to take out to the accounts office. The remainder of that evening and night passed without any further event.

The next day a servant was sent to fetch Ying-chun for the party. Aunt Xue and Bao-qin were invited, and were asked to bring Caltrop with them. Mrs Li was also invited, and later that day she arrived together with Li Wen and Li Qi.

These preparations were kept secret from Bao-chai. One of Grandmother Jia’s maids simply came to tell her that her mother had called, and to invite her over to the old lady’s apartment. Bao-chai was pleased to hear of her mother’s arrival, and went dressed as she was to greet her. She found her cousin Bao-qin and Caltrop there, and Mrs Li with the Li sisters, and presumed that they had all come to call upon hearing that the family troubles were over. She greeted Mrs Li, then Grandmother Jia, then exchanged a few words with her mother and said hello to the Li sisters.

‘Now, will the ladies please be seated,’ said Xiang-yun from the side, ‘and we can congratulate our cousin and wish her a long and happy life on this very special occasion.’

Bao-chi looked rather bewildered for a moment. Then she thought to herself, ‘Of course! Tomorrow’s my birthday!’ ‘It’s quite right for you to come and visit Grandmother,’ she protested. ‘But you certainly shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble on my account.’

Bao-yu heard this as he came in to greet Aunt Xue and Mrs Li. He had originally been thinking of organizing something for Bao-chai’s birthday himself, but had said nothing to Grandmother Jia because of the general confusion of the past few weeks. He was delighted that Xiang-yun had taken the initiative.

‘Yes, tomorrow’s her birthday,’ he said. ‘I was meaning to remind you, Grannie.’

‘Shame on you!’ cried Xiang-yun with a playful laugh. ‘As if Grannie needed you to remind her! Who do you think invited everyone here but Grannie?’

Bao-chai secretly doubted this. But then she heard Grandmother Jia say to her mother:

‘Poor Chai – it’s been more than a year since she married Bao-yu, and somehow with one thing after another, we’ve never celebrated her birthday. Today I wanted to do it properly, so I invited you and Mrs Li over. I thought it would be a nice opportunity for us all to have a chat.’

‘You’re only just starting to feel better, Lady Jia,’ protested Aunt Xue. ‘It is my daughter who should be thinking how best to do her duty and show you her love and respect. You really shouldn’t go to such lengths on young Chai’s account.’

‘Bao-yu is Grannie’s favourite grandson,’ said Xiang-yun, ‘so of course Grannie has a soft spot for Chai as well! Anyway Chai deserves it!’

Bao-chai hung her head in modest silence.

Bao-yu meanwhile was marvelling to himself at Xiang-yun’s forthrightness:

‘I always imagined that Xiang-yun would change once she was married; that’s why yesterday I was rather reserved with her. As a result I suppose she herself decided to keep her distance. But to hear her talk now, she seems quite the same as ever. Why has marriage made my wife more modest and bashful than before, more tongue-tied than ever?’

While these thoughts were passing through his mind, a junior maid came in to announce the arrival of Ying-chun. Shortly afterwards Li Wan and Xi-feng arrived, and they all exchanged greetings. Ying-chun referred to her father’s departure:

‘I wanted to come and see him before he left, but my husband wouldn’t allow me to. He said he didn’t want his family to be infected by our bad luck. He wouldn’t listen to anything I said, and there was nothing I could do. I cried for two or three days.’

‘Why did he let you come today then?’ asked Xi-feng.

‘This time he said that since Uncle Zheng had been given the title, there was no harm in renewing contact.’

She burst into tears.

‘I’ve been feeling quite wretched myself,’ Grandmother Jia upbraided her, ‘and I asked you all here to celebrate my granddaughter-in-law’s birthday and to have a bit of fun. I thought there’d be lots of laughter to cheer us up – and there you go mentioning this unhappy business of yours and upsetting me all over again.’

Ying-chun and the rest were silenced.

Xi-feng tried her hardest to put on a brave front for the occasion and to jolly the old lady along; but somehow she seemed to have lost the knack of making people laugh, and her efforts all fell flat. Grandmother Jia herself was anxious to make it a happy occasion for Bao-chai, and deliberately egged Xi-feng on.

‘You’re a lot more cheerful today, aren’t you, Grannie?’ said Xi-feng, trying her best to oblige. ‘Here we all are gathered together again after such a long time. It’s quite a reunion!’

Even as she said the words, she looked around her, noticed the all too obvious absence of Lady Xing and You-shi, and fell silent. The word ‘reunion’ had also jolted Grandmother Jia’s memory, and she sent word at once to invite the missing ladies. Lady Xing, You-shi and Xi-chun knew they must obey a summons from Grandmother Jia, even though a party was the very last thing they felt like. The mere fact that Grandmother Jia was celebrating Bao-chai’s birthday in the midst of their misfortune was proof enough of where her affections lay. They came into the room looking a picture of misery. Grandmother Jia enquired after Xiu-yan, and Lady Xing concocted an illness that had prevented her niece from attending the party. Grandmother Jia herself knew quite well that Xiu-yan’s absence was prompted by the presence at the party of Aunt Xue, the aunt of her husband-to-be.

Presently wine and sweetmeats were served.

‘There’s no need to send any out to the men,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘Today can be ladies’ day.’

Though Bao-yu was a married man, as Grannie’s favourite he was allowed to join in the fun. He was placed not at a table with Xiang-yun and Bao-qin, but on a special chair next to Grandmother Jia. He went round with Bao-chai, pouring a cup of wine for each of the guests on her behalf.

‘Sit down now both of you,’ commanded Grandmother Jia, ‘and let’s all have a drink. Later in the evening you can do your duty to everyone. But if you start getting all formal now and make everyone stand on ceremony, you’ll spoil my mood and take all the fun out of the party.’

They obeyed and sat down. Grandmother Jia turned to the others:

‘For goodness’ sake let’s relax a bit. We only need one or two maids each to wait on us. Faithful, take Suncloud, Parrot, Aroma and Patience off to the back and have a cup of wine together.’

‘But we still haven’t kowtowed to Mrs Bao,’ protested Faithful. ‘How can we go and drink without having done that?’

‘If I say so, then you can. Now, off with you!’ ordered Grandmother Jia. ‘We’ll send for you later if we need you.’

Faithful and her fellow maids obeyed.

Grandmother Jia now pressed her guests to drink up. But she soon discovered that they were not at all their old party-going selves.

‘What’s the matter with you all?’ she asked fretfully. ‘Why can’t everyone cheer up a bit?’

‘We’re eating and drinking,’ replied Xiang-yun. ‘What more do you expect of us?’

‘When they were still children,’ said Xi-feng, ‘it was easy for them to be carefree and happy. Now that they’re grown up, they’re too self-conscious and well mannered to let themselves go. That’s why they seem so dull.’

Bao-yu said confidentially to Grandmother Jia:

‘It’s best if we don’t say anything, Grannie. If we so much as open our mouths we’re bound to upset someone. Why don’t you suggest a drinking game instead?’

Grandmother Jia had inclined her head to one side to listen to him.

‘If it’s to be a game,’ she replied with a laugh, ‘we’ll have to call Faithful back!’

Bao-yu needed no second bidding, but went straight out to the rear of the apartment to find Faithful.

‘Grandmother wants to play a game and needs your help.’

‘Mr Bao, can’t we relax and drink a cup of wine in peace? Do you have to invent ways of disturbing us?’

‘It’s nothing to do with me. Honestly. It’s Grandmother. She sent me to fetch you.’

‘Oh very well then,’ said Faithful, resigning herself to her fate. ‘You all stay here and drink your wine. I’ll be back shortly.’

She set off to Grandmother Jia’s apartment.

‘There you are!’ cried Grandmother Jia when she appeared. ‘We’re going to play a drinking game.’

‘Mr Bao said you wanted me, Your Old Ladyship,’ said Faithful, ‘so I came straight away. What kind of game were you thinking of playing?’

‘Well not one of those clever bookish ones, for a start. They’re too boring. And not one of those rowdy ones either. Think of something new and entertaining for us.’

Faithful pondered for a moment:

‘As Mrs Xue is one of our visitors, and seeing that she is an elderly lady and won’t want to rack her brains too much, why don’t we just get out the dice-bowl and throw for song-titles? The loser has to drink a cup of wine.’

‘That sounds a good idea,’ said Grandmother Jia. She told one of the maids to put the dice-bowl on the table.

‘We’ll throw four dice;’ said Faithful. ‘If the combination has no particular name, the thrower’s forfeit is one cup of wine. If it does have a name, the number of cups the others have to drink will depend on the combination.’

‘That sounds easy enough,’ they replied. ‘We’ll follow your lead.’ Faithful threw two dice to determine who should start. They insisted that Faithful should drink a cup first herself, then counting from her they came to Aunt Xue, who threw, and came up with four ‘ones’.

‘That has a name,’ said Faithful. ‘ “The Four Old Hermits of Mount Shang”. All senior guests must drink a cup.’

Grandmother Jia, Mrs Li, Lady Xing and Lady Wang complied.

Just as Grandmother Jia was raising her cup to her lips, Faithful said:

‘Since that was Mrs Xue’s throw, she must now think of a song-title to match it; and the person next to her must cap it with a line from “The Standard Poets”. Forfeit for failure in either case is one cup.’

‘This is a plot!’ cried Aunt Xue. ‘I don’t stand a chance!’

‘Go on,’ Grandmother Jia encouraged her. ‘Have a go. You’ll spoil the fun if you back out. I’m next, and I’m sure to fail, so then we’ll be in the same boat.’

Aunt Xue tried her hand:

‘How’s this: “Greybeard sporting in the Flowers”?’

Grandmother Jia nodded, and recited the line:

‘ “They deem it idle mimicry of youth …” ’

The dice-bowl passed to Li Wen, who threw two ‘fours’ and two ‘twos’.

‘That has a name too,’ said Faithful. “ ‘Two Travellers Lost in the Tiantai Mountains”.’

Li Wen proposed the song-title ‘Two Scholars at Peach-blossom Spring’, and Li Wan, who was sitting next to her, recited the line:

‘ “Searching for Peach-blossom Spring to flee the tyranny of Qin“.’

Everyone had a drink, and the dice-bowl passed to Grandmother Jia, who threw two ‘twos’ and two ‘threes’.

‘I suppose I shall have to drink a forfeit.’

‘No,’ said Faithful. ‘That has a name. “A Swallow over the River Guiding her Chicks”. Everyone has to drink a cup.’

‘Most of your chicks have flown the nest, haven’t they, Grannie?’ quipped Xi-feng.

They gave her a meaningful look, and she immediately fell silent.

‘Now what shall I say for my song?’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘What about “The Sire Leading his Grandson”?’

Li Qi was next to her, and quoted the line:

‘ “Lazily watching the children catch willowfloss”.’

Everyone applauded her choice.

Bao-yu was longing to have a go, but so far the dice-bowl had not reached him. Now at last it was his turn. He threw a ‘two’, two ‘threes’ and a ‘one’.

‘What’s that?’ he asked.

Faithful laughed.

‘A dud! Drink a forfeit and throw again.’

Bao-yu did as he was told. This time he threw two ‘threes’ and two ‘fours’.

‘That’s better,’ said Faithful. ‘That’s “Zhang Chang Painting his Wife’s Eyebrows”.’

Bao-yu knew she was making fun of him, and Bao-chai blushed fiercely too. Xi-feng didn’t seem to have noticed anything out of the ordinary, and told him to hurry up and think of a song.

‘Then we’ll see whose turn it is next.’

Bao-yu was too embarrassed:

‘I’ll pay the forfeit. And there’s no one sitting next to me anyway.’

The bowl came next to Li Wan. She threw, and Faithful announced the name of the combination as ‘The Twelve Beauties’. Bao-yu hurried over to Li Wan’s side and studied the dice: the red and green pips were symmetrically paired.

‘Doesn’t that look pretty!’ he exclaimed.

Suddenly he recalled his dream, and the registers of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling. He wandered back to his seat in a daze.

‘In my dream they were twelve,’ he mused. ‘But of my fair cousins, most have been scattered to the four winds. Why have so few been spared?’

He gazed around him. Xiang-yun and Bao-chai were present that day, it was true; but the absence of Dai-yu struck him with a sudden and overwhelming force and he knew that he was about to burst into tears. Not wanting the others to witness his distress, he pretended to feel hot, and expressed a desire to go and change. He begged leave to ‘hand in his tally’ and left the party.

Xiang-yun noted his departure, and thought he was probably peeved by the fact that he had not had a good throw and had been outshone by the others. She herself began to feel rather bored and irritated by the game.

‘I can’t think of anything,’ said Li Wan, who had thrown the ‘Twelve Beauties’. ‘We are missing one of the party now anyway. I’d better just drink my forfeit and be done with it.’

‘This game is not turning out to be much fun,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘Why don’t we call it a day? Let Faithful have one last throw.’

A junior maid placed the bowl in front of Faithful, who did as Grandmother Jia told her and threw the dice. She had two ‘twos’ and a ‘five’. As the last dice continued to rattle in the dice-bowl, Faithful cried out:

‘Pray I don’t get another “five”!’

Finally it came to rest; there it was, five pips as plain as could be.

‘Oh dear!’ exclaimed Faithful. ‘I’ve lost.’

‘Doesn’t that have a name?’ asked Grandmother Jia.

‘It does,’ said Faithful. ‘But I’ll never be able to think of a song to match it.’

‘Well, you tell us the name, and I’ll try to think of something.’

‘This one’s called “Waves Sweep the Floating Duckweed”.’

‘There’s nothing particularly hard about that,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘Here’s a song for you: “Autumn Fish in a Den of Caltrops”.’

Xiang-yun, who was sitting next to Faithful, proposed the line: ‘ “The white duckweed moans, as autumn descends on the south-ern river.” ’

‘Very apt!’ they all exclaimed.

‘The game’s finished,’ announced Grandmother Jia. ‘Let’s all have two more cups of wine and then eat our dinner.’

She looked round and noticed that Bao-yu was still absent.

‘Where’s Bao-yu gone? Why isn’t he back yet?’

‘He went to change,’ Faithful informed her.

‘Who went with him?’

Oriole came forward:

‘When I saw that Mr Bao was going out, I told Aroma to go with him.’

This set the ladies’ minds at rest. They waited a little longer for him to return, and then, since there was still no sign of him, Lady Wang sent one of the junior maids out to look for him. The maid went to his new apartment, but the only person there was Fivey, setting out candles.

‘Where’s Mr Bao gone?’ the maid asked her.

‘He’s over at Her Old Ladyship’s for the party,’ replied Fivey.

‘No he’s not. I’ve just come from there. Her Ladyship sent me to fetch him. She’d hardly do that if he was there in the first place.’

‘Well, in that case, I don’t know where he is. You’d better look somewhere else.’

The maid was obliged to return and on her way met Ripple.

‘Did you see where Mr Bao went?’

‘I’m looking for him too,’ said Ripple. ‘Her Ladyship and the others are waiting for him so that they can start dinner. Where can he have got to? You’d better hurry back and report to Her Old Ladyship. Don’t say we can’t find him, just say the wine didn’t agree with him and he won’t be having any dinner. Say he’ll be over when he’s had a little lie-down. Ask Her Old Ladyship and Their Ladyships to start without him.’

The junior maid carried Ripple’s message to Pearl, who passed it on to Grandmother Jia.

‘He doesn’t usually eat much anyway,’ commented the old lady. ‘He may as well miss out on dinner then, and have a rest. Tell him he needn’t come back at all today. His wife is here, and that will do.’

‘Is that clear?’ said Pearl to the junior maid.

‘Yes, Miss Pearl,’ said the maid, not daring to explain what had really happened. She went out and walked around for a bit, then returned, claiming to have conveyed the message to Bao-yu. No one took a great deal of notice. They ate their dinner and then sat chatting.

Our narrative leaves them and returns to Bao-yu. Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of grief, he had quit the party and was wandering aimlessly outside. Aroma hurried after him and asked what the matter was.

‘Nothing really,’ he replied. ‘I just feel very miserable all of a sudden. Why don’t we go for a little stroll over to the apartment where Cousin Zhen’s wife is living, and leave them to their drinking?’

‘But Mrs Zhen is at the party,’ said Aroma. ‘Who do you want to visit in her apartment?’

‘No one,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘I just thought I might drop in on her for a second. I’d forgotten she was at the party. I’d still like to go and see what sort of an apartment it is that she is living in.’

Aroma went along with him, and the two of them talked as they went. They soon came to You-shi’s apartment, and noticed that the small side gate next to it leading into the Garden was half-ajar. Bao-yu did not go into You-shi’s apartment at all; instead he went up to the two old serving-women in charge of the side gate, who were sitting there on the threshold having a conversation, and asked them:

‘Is this side gate kept open?’

‘Not usually,’ replied one of them. ‘But today we were told that Her Old Ladyship might be wanting some fruit from the Garden, so it’s to be kept open in case.’

Bao-yu walked slowly up to the gate and, having confirmed for himself that it was open, made as if to go in; but Aroma held him back anxiously.

‘You mustn’t go in there. The Garden is haunted. It’s been empty for ages. You might bump into something nasty like the others did!’ Bao-yu was tipsy enough to feel a little daring, and replied:

‘I’m not afraid of such things!’

Aroma tugged at him with all her might and wouldn’t let go. The serving-woman came up:

‘Nowadays the Garden is ever so quiet and peaceful. Since the priests came and drove away the evil spirits, we often go in on our own to pick flowers and fruit. If Mr Bao wants to have a look, we’ll go in with him. With so many of us, there’s surely nothing to be afraid of.’

Bao-yu was delighted; and Aroma was obliged to abandon her attempts to dissuade him, and followed them in herself.

As Bao-yu entered the Garden, a scene of utter desolation greeted his eyes whichever way he turned. The flowers and trees seemed every one to be wilting, to be more dead than alive, and the paint had long since started to peel from the walls of many of the buildings. In the distance he espied a thicket of bamboo, an isolated patch of brilliant green foliage.

Bao-yu contemplated the view for a moment.

‘Ever since I fell ill and left the Garden,’ he said, ‘I’ve been living at Grannie’s. It must be months since I’ve been here. What a wilderness it has become in that time! But look over there at that single clump of green bamboo that’s doing so well – surely that’s the Naiad’s House?’

‘You’ve been away too long,’ said Aroma. ‘You’ve lost your sense of direction. While we’ve been talking we’ve already walked past Green Delights. And look –’ (she turned back and pointed) – there’s the Naiad’s House, over there!’

Bao-yu’s eyes followed the direction of her pointing hand.

‘If we’ve already passed it, then let’s go back and have a look.’

‘It’s getting rather late now,’ said Aroma. ‘Her Old Ladyship will be waiting for you to start dinner. We’d better go back to the party.’

Bao-yu said nothing. He walked on, along the route he imagined he had trodden so many times in the past, and began making his way towards his ‘Naiad’s House’. Percipient Reader, it will no doubt have surprised you to hear that Bao-yu had lost his way in the Garden after an absence of less than a year. The truth of the matter is that Bao-yu was quite correct in his orientation; it was Aroma who, anticipating his reaction to the sight of the Naiad’s House, had at first deliberately kept him occupied with conversation, and then when she saw him walking instinctively in that direction despite her efforts – heading, as she feared, straight into the arms of evil spirits – had tried to convince him that they had already walked past the place. Bao-yu’s heart was fixed, however; his compass was firmly set, and he was not to be so easily diverted.

He pressed ahead, and reluctantly Aroma followed. Suddenly he stood still. He seemed to be listening and watchin.

‘What is it?’ asked Aroma.

‘Is there someone living there now?’ he asked.

‘I should hardly think so,’ she replied.

‘I could have sworn I heard someone weeping inside! There must be someone!’

‘You’re imagining things,' said Aroma. ‘It’s because you always used to come here and find Miss Lin crying.’

Bao-yu was unconvinced and still wanted to approach and listen from a closer distance. The old women hurried forward:

‘It’s getting rather late now, sir. Time to be getting back. We’re not afraid of going anywhere else in the Garden, but just here the way is so dark and you never know … We’ve heard tell that since Miss Lin died they’re always hearing sounds of weeping here. No one will come near the place.’

Bao-yu and Aroma both started when they heard this.

‘You see! I told you!’ cried Bao-yu, the tears springing to his eyes. ‘Oh, Cousin Lin! Cousin Lin!’ he sobbed. ‘How could I have wounded you so! Please don’t reproach me! Don’t feel bitter towards me! It was my father and mother who made the choice. In my heart I was always true to you!’

With each word he became more and more distraught, and finally broke into a great wail of grief. Aroma was wondering what on earth to do, when she saw Ripple hurrying towards her with a cohort of serving-women.

‘Are you quite out of your mind!’ cried Ripple. ‘Bringing Mr Bao here of all places! Her Old Ladyship and Her Ladyship are dreadfully worried and have sent everywhere to look for him. Just now the women on the side gate said they’d seen the two of you come in here. Their Ladyships had the fright of their lives when they heard! They scolded me and told me to form a search party and come straight here. Hurry up now, we’d better be quick!’

Bao-yu was still sobbing pitifully, but Aroma and Ripple dragged him away, wiping the tears from his eyes and chiding him with a description of the anxiety his grandmother was suffering on his account. In the end he gave in and followed them back.

Aroma could imagine only too vividly how worried Grandmother Jia would be and she took Bao-yu straight back to the old lady’s apartment. None of the party had gone home; they were all there waiting for Bao-yu’s return.

‘Aroma!’ cried Grandmother Jia severely. ‘I thought you were a sensible girl. That’s why I’ve always trusted you with Bao-yu. How could you take him into the Garden? He’s only just beginning to get better, and a nasty experience might set him right back. And then where would we be?’

Aroma did not dare say a word in her own defence, but hung her head in shame. Bao-chai for her part was deeply shocked to see how pale Bao-yu seemed on his return. Bao-yu refused to watch Aroma take the blame, and spoke up on her behalf:

‘When we went in it was broad daylight, and there was nothing to be afraid of. I haven’t been for a walk in the Garden for such a long time, and today I’d had a little wine at the party and was feeling in the mood for a stroll. Why did you think I would have a nasty experience?’

At this last remark of his, Xi-feng, who had herself been so badly scared in the Garden, shuddered and said:

‘Bao, you shouldn’t be so reckless!’

‘It’s not recklessness,’ countered Xiang-yun. ‘It’s devotion. He probably went there to find the Hibiscus Fairy. Or maybe it was some other sprite …’

Bao-yu made no reply. Lady Wang seemed too agitated to speak.

‘So there wasn’t anything frightening in the Garden then?’ asked Grandmother Jia. ‘Well, don’t let’s talk about it any more. But in future, if you want to go walking there, you must at least take more people with you. If it hadn’t been for this little escapade of yours, our guests would have left long ago. Off you go now, all of you, and have a good night’s sleep. Come back early in the morning. Tomorrow I shall make up for today and see that you enjoy yourselves properly. And this time we won’t let him spoil things!’

They all said goodbye to Grandmother Jia and the party broke up. Aunt Xue stayed the night with Lady Wang, Xiang-yun with Grandmother Jia, while Ying-chun went to stay with Xi-chun. The others all returned to their respective apartments.

When Bao-yu reached home, he was still a picture of misery. Bao-chai knew the cause of his endless sighing, and deliberately turned a deaf ear to it. She was concerned however that if he continued like this he might fall into a serious depression and revert to his old idiocy. Going into the inner room she called Aroma aside and questioned her in detail about Bao-yu’s excursion in the Garden. To learn of Aroma’s response, you must read the next chapter.