The Dream of the Red Chamber

his daughter's tutor, to his consideration - Dowager lady Chia sends to fet

eed with ou

u-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some

t, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yü-ts'un, to

e a few remarks, in a great hurry, each took

to propose a plan, advising Yü-ts'un to request Lin Ju-hai, in

suggestion, and part

the Metropolitan Gazette, and having ascertained that the news was a

has not yet started. I was, this very moment, cogitating to send my daughter to the capital. And in view of the obligation, under which I am to you for the instruction you have heretofore conferred upon her, remaining as yet unrequited, there is no reason why, when such an opportunity as this presents itself, I should not do my utmost to find means to make proper acknowledgment. I have already, in anticipation,

ressed his appreciation i

and what is his official capacity? But I fear I'm too coarse in m

his style Ngen-hou. My second brother-in-law's name is Cheng, his style is Tzu-chou. His present post is that of a Second class Secretary in the Board of Works. He is modest and kindhearted, and has much in him of the habits of his grandfather; not one of that purse-proud and

had been told him by Tzu-hsing the day before, and he lost no

umed the c

ughter's departure for the capital, and, if you, brother mine, were to travel a

s he listened to his proposal; feelin

nts for the journey, which (when completed,) Yü-ts'un took over one by one. His pupil could not, at first, brook the

th, you have, above, no mother of your own to take care of you, and below, no sisters to attend to you. If you now go and have your maternal grandmother, as well as your mo

im in a flood of tears and followed her nurse and several old matron

th two youths to wait on him, he prose

adjusting his hat and clothes, came, attended by a youth, to the do

letter, and he speedily asked him to walk in. When they met

to lend a helping hand to the needy and to succour the distressed, and was, to a great extent, like his grandfather. As it was besides a wish intima

the expiry of two months, Yü-t'sun was forthwith selected to fill the appointment of prefect of Ying T'ien in Chin Ling. Taking leave

ent she put her foot on shore, there were forthwith at her disposal chairs

tendants of the three grades, (sent to wait upon her,) in attire, in their fare, in all their articles of use, "how much more," (she thought to herself) "now that I am going to her home, mu

s she looked around, through the gauze window, at the bustle in the streets and public places an

rs representing) the heads of animals. In front of these gates, sat, in a row, about ten men in coloured hats and fine attire. The main gate was not open. It was only through the side gates, on

er's eldest son's resid

ree more high gateways, likewise of the same kind as t

main gate; but simply made their e

hastily put down the chairs. The matrons, who came behind, one and all also dismounted. (The bearers) were changed for four youths of se

all the youths stepped back and retired. The matrons came forward,

r with the creepers, resti

of which was a door-screen of Ta Li marble, set in an ebony frame. On the other side of this screen were thr

ars ornamented. On either side, were covered avenues, resembling passages through a rock. In the side

advanced, with beaming faces, to greet them, when they saw the party approach. "Her venerable ladyship,

in raising the door curtain, while at the same time

onvinced that this lady must be her grandmother, she was about to prostrate herself and pay her obeisance, when she was quickly clasped in the arms

eded in consoling her, and Tai-yü at length paid her obeisance to her grandmother. Her ladyship thereupon pointed them out one by one to Tai-yü. "This," she said, "is the wife

ach one of them (

"tell them a guest from afar has just arrived, one who comes

d their obedience, and two of them s

e first was somewhat plump in figure and of medium height; her cheeks had a congealed appearance, like

the egg of a goose. Her eyes so beautiful, with their well-curved eyebrows, possessed in their gaze a be

medium size, and her mie

, and dress, the get-up of the t

upon the servants brought the tea. Their conversation was confined to Tai-yü's mother,- how she had fallen ill, what doctors had attended

nd now in a twinkle, she has passed away, before me too, and I've not been ab

way to sobs; and it was only after the members of the family had quickly made use of mu

untenance, (she seemed as if) unable to bear the very weight of her clothes, she possessed, however, a certain captivating air. And as they readily noticed the symptom

he would take me along, and make a nun of me; but my father and mother would, on no account, give their consent. 'As you cannot bear to part from her and to give her up,' he then remarked, 'her ailment will, I fear, never, throughout her life, be cured. If you wish to see her all right, it is only to be done by not letting her, from this day forward,

"some of these pills are being compounded here, and I'll s

was heard from the back courtyard. "Here I am too late!" the

r peace and suppresses the very breath of her mouth; and who

ht sight of a crowd of married women and waiting-maids e

ins, at the head of each of which were five phoenixes in a rampant position, with pendants of pearls. On her neck, she had a reddish gold necklet, like coiled dragons, with a fringe of tassels. On her person, she wore a tight-sleeved jacket, of dark red flowered satin,

at each temple, like willow leaves. Her stature was elegant; her figure graceful; her powdered face like

ly rose and

ng vixen, who has made quite a name in this establishment! In Nanking, she went

her, when all her cousins informed Tai-

cle Chia She's son, Chia Lien, had married the niece of Madame Wang, her second brother's wife, a girl who had, from her i

sister-in-law. This Hsi-feng laid hold of Tai-yü's hand, and minutely scrutinised her, for a while, f

in fact look like your granddaughter-in-law, our worthy ancestor, but in every way like your ladyship's own kindred- granddaughter! It's no wonder then that your venerable ladyship should have, day after d

hastily took her handkerchief an

start me? Your cousin has only now arrived from a distant journey, and she is so delicate to boot! Besides, we have a fe

hese words, lost no time in c

s absorbed in her, and I felt happy, and yet wounded at heart: but having disr

ines are you taking? while you live here, you mustn't feel homesick; and if there's anything you would like to eat, or to play with,

gage and effects been brought in? How many servants has she brought along with he

eady been served, and Hsi-feng herself han

replied: "The issue of the money has also been completed; but a few moments back, when I went along with several servants to the back upper-loft, in search of the

take out," she therefore went on to add, "any two pieces which first come under your hand, for this cousin of

n would be arriving within these two days, I have had everything got ready for her. And when you

d her head assentingly, but utt

yü to go and see her two maternal uncles; whereupon Chia She's wife, madame Hsing, hastily stood up and wit

miling; "you can go home too, and there w

e whole party escorted them as far as the door of the Entrance Hall, hung with creepers, whe

matrons put the curtain down, and then bade the youths raise the carriage; who dragged it

f the Jung mansion, and entered a lofty doorway painted black. On the arrival in front of the ceremonial gate

st have been originally converted from a piece p

which, though on a small scale, were full of artistic and unique beauty. They were nothing like the lofty, imposing, massive and luxurio

ing maids, got up in gala dress, were already there to greet them. Madame Hsing pressed Tai-yü in

ng each other, that he advises Miss Lin not to feel despondent or homesick; that she ought to feel quite at home with her venerable ladyship, (her grandmother,) as well as her maternal aunts; that her cousins are, it is true, blunt, but that i

to stay for the repast and then leave, Tai-yü smiled and said, "I shouldn't under ordinary circumstances refuse the invitation to dinner, which you, aunt, in your love kindly extend to me, but I have still to cross over

hey had come a while back, Tai-yü thereupon took her leave; madame Hsing escorting her as far as the ceremonial gate, where she gave some further dir

ern direction, at the back of the Large Hall. On the inner side of a ceremonial gate, and at the upper end of a spacious court, stood a large main building, with five apartments, flanked on both sides by out-houses (stretching out) like

tering the Hall, and raising her head, she first of all perceived before her a large tablet with blue ground, upon which figured nine dragons of reddish

s bearing the autograph of the Emperor. On the large black ebony table, engraved with dragons, were placed three antique blue and green bronze tripods, about three feet in height. On the wall hung a large picture representing black

ck-wood antithetical tablets, inlaid with the stro

ne resplendent pear

he Hall fa?ade gle

e hand of Mu Shih, a fellow-countryman and old friend of the family, who, for his mer

esting, in this main apartment, but in three side-rooms on the east, so

on with gold-cash-spotted dragons. On the two sides, stood one of a pair of small teapoys of foreign lacquer of peach-blossom pattern. On the teapoy on the left, were spread out Wen Wang tripods, spoons, chopsticks

rs, embroidered with silverish-red flowers, while below, at the feet of these chairs, stood four footstools. On

cks need not be m

ns, placed one opposite the other, she thought of the gradation of seats, and did not therefore place herself on the couch, but on

maids, which she really found so unlike what she had seen in other households. She had hardly finished her tea, wh

ome over and sit with her," she

shered Tai-yü again out of this apartment, into the t

couch-table, at the upper end of which were laid out, in a heap, books and a tea service. Against the partit

likewise placed a rather shabby blue satin sitting-rug, with a back-cushion; a

ying, next to the couch, a row of three chairs, covered with antimacassars, strewn with em

nd again to sit on the couch, Tai-yü h

ework, or whenever, at any time, you romp and laugh together, find them all most obliging; but there's one thing that causes me very much concern. I have here one, who is the very root of retribution, the incarnation of all mischief, one who is a ne'er-do-well, a prince of malignant spirits in this family. He is gone to-day

k no pleasure in his books, and whose sole great delight was to play the giddy dog in the inner apartments; that her maternal grandmother, on the other hand, loved him so fon

(she said) was a year older than I, and whose infant name was Pao-yü. She added that his disposition was really wayward, but that he treats all his cousins with the utmost consideration. Besides, now that I have come he

, by being always in the company of his female cousins! If his female cousins pay no heed to him, he is, at any rate, somewhat orderly, but the day his cousins say one word more to him than usual, much trouble forthwith arises, at the outburst of delight i

unexpectedly she beheld a waiting-maid walk in. "Her venerable lad

the side gate, was a roadway, running north and south. On the southern side were a pavilion with three divisions and a Reception Hall with a

ted to them smiling. "You'll know in future your way to come and find her; and if

pectful posture. Madame Wang then led Tai-yü by the hand through a corridor, running east and west, into what was dowager lady Chia's back-court. Forthwith they entered the door of

d madame Wang brought the soup in. Dowager lady Chia was seated all alone on the divan

her sit in the foremost chair on the left side

ger lady Chia smilingly explained, "won't have their repast in here,

sked for permission to sit down

orward, and Ying Ch'un took the first chair on the right, T'an Ch'un the second, and Hsi Ch'un the second on the left. Waiting maids stood by holding in their hands,

in attendance, were, it is true, very numerous; but not eve

fore drinking any tea, so that it should not do any harm to the intestines. When, therefore, Tai-yü perceived how many habits there were in this establishment unlike those which prevailed in her home, she too had no alternative but to conform herself to a certain extent with them. Upon taking o

dowager lady Chia, "and l

ing made a few irrelevant remarks, she led the way and lef

reading, "I have just begun reading the Four Books," Tai-yü repl

er lady Chia; "why all they know

nd a waiting maid entered and announced that Pao-yü was coming. Tai-yü was speculating in her mind ho

dragons snatching a pearl. He wore an archery-sleeved deep red jacket, with hundreds of butterflies worked in gold of two different shades, interspersed with flowers; and was girded with a sash of variegated silk, with clusters of designs, to whic

if chiselled with a knife; his eyebrows, as if pencilled with ink; his nose like a suspended gallbladder (a well-cut and shape

th a fringe; also a cord of variegated silk, t

as if I had seen him somewhere or other, for his face appears extremely familiar to my eyes;" when she noticed Pao-yü face dowager lady Chia and m

ich looked as black and as glossy as lacquer. Between the crown of the head and the extremity of the queue, hung a string of four large pearls, with pendants of gold, representing the eight precious things. On his person, he wore a long silvery-red coat, more or less old, bestrewn with embroidery of

eyes, they brimmed with love. When he gave utterance to speech, he seemed to smile. But the chief natural pleasing feature was mainly centred in the curv

ng to the highest degree, but yet it was no

poet, (after the excellent rhythm of the) Hsi Chiang

lays run a

assion prone,

dlike was he

forsooth, fine

howling waste

in that nothin

read essays

earing, in te

ensure he h

lth to enjoy h

poverty he c

ter waste of

family what

ells below he

him none up

d with sumptuous

youth's footst

ceed with

dowager lady Chia, "before being introduced to the

ther than the daughter of his aunt Lin. He hastened to advance up to her, and make his bow; and after their introduction

prints of sorrow stamped on her two dimpled cheeks. She was beautiful, but her whole frame was the prey of a hereditary disease. The tears in her eyes glistened like small specks. Her balmy breath was so gentle. She was as demure as a lovely flo

her, put on a smile and said, "This cou

se," exclaimed lady Chia, sneeringly;

ook at her face, it seems so familiar, and to my mind, it would appear as if we had bee

d dowager lady Chia; "such being the

g a seat next to her, continued to look at her

any books, co

books, as I have only been to school for a y

" Pao-yü went on to ask; whereupon

yü; to which question Tai-y

ü smilingly; "won't the double style 'P'

ard books does that come?" T

he western quarter, there exists a stone, called Tai, (black,) which can be used, in lieu of ink, to blacken the eyebrows with. Besides the ey

rism, I fear," observed T'an

ed; and is it only I, perchance, who plagiarise? Have you got any jade or not?" he went on to

, "that he asks me whether I have one or not.- No; I haven't one," she replied.

disdainfully on the floor. "Rare object, indeed!" he shouted, as he heaped invective on it; "it has no idea how to discriminate t

nd in a body they pressed forward, vying wit

child of wrath," she exclaimed. "When you get into a passion, it's easy enough fo

ed, as he sobbed, "have no gem, and if it's only I to have one, there's no fun in it, I maintain! and now come

the gem belonging to her (daughter), along with her (in the grave); so that, in the first place, by the fulfilment of the rites of burying the living with the dead might be accomplished the filial piety of your cousin; and in the second place, that the spirit of your aunt might also, for the time being, use it to gratify

k the jade over from the hand of the waiting

indulged in reflection, but could not e

e warm room of my suite of apartments, and put your mistress, Miss Lin, temporarily in the green gauze house; and when the rest of the win

en gauze house is very comfortable; and what need is there again for m

one of you have a nurse, as well as a waiting-maid to attend on you; the other servants

ant round with a grey flowered curtain, embroidered

ther hand, too aged, conjectured that Tai-yü would, in all her wants, not have things as she liked, so she detached two waiting-maids, who were her own personal attendants, named Tzu Chüan and Ying Ko, and attached them to Tai-yü's service. Just as had Ying Ch'un and the other girls, each one of who

-yü in the green gauze rooms, while Pao-yü's wet-nurse, dame Li, together with an

As her venerable ladyship, in her tender love for Pao-yü, had feared that Pao-yü's servant girls were not equal to their d

of an ancient poet, the line "the fragrance of flowers wafts itself into man," lost no t

r venerable ladyship, and her alone; and now in her attendance upon Pao-yü, her heart and her eyes were again full of Pao-yü, and him

ner chambers, Tai-yü, Ying Ko and the others had not as yet retir

uired smiling, "that you h

ister," she rejoined, pressing her to take

ars. 'It's only to-day that I've come,' she said, 'and I've already been the cause of the outbreak of your young master's failing. Now had he broken that jade, as he hur

more strange and ridiculous than this; and if you allow yourself to be wounded and affected to such a degree by a conduct

eplied Tai-yü, "I shall bear in

d for some time, before they at le

ing to madame Wang's apartments, they happened to find madame Wang and Hsi-feng together, opening the letters which had arrived from Chin

her's sister, married in the Hsüeh family, in the city of Chin Ling, a cousin of theirs, Hsüeh P'an, who relying upon his wealth

to bring over the news to the Chia family. But the next chapter will explain what was the ultimate