Volume Ii Part 19 (1/2)

”She is,” replied Tzu Chuan, ”physically all right; but, mentally, her resentment is not quite over.”

”I understand,” continued Pao-yu with a smile. ”But resentment, for what?”

With this inquiry, he wended his steps inside the apartment. He then caught sight of Lin Tai-yu reclining on the bed in the act of crying.

Tai-yu had not in fact shed a tear, but hearing Pao-yu break in upon her, she could not help feeling upset. She found it impossible therefore to prevent her tears from rolling down her cheeks.

Pao-yu a.s.sumed a smiling expression and drew near the bed. ”Cousin, are you quite well again?” he inquired.

Tai-yu simply went on drying her tears, and made no reply of any kind.

Pao-yu approached the bed, and sat on the edge of it. ”I know,” he smiled, ”that you're not vexed with me. But had I not come, third parties would have been allowed to notice my absence, and it would have appeared to them as if we had had another quarrel. And had I to wait until they came to reconcile us, would we not by that time become perfect strangers? It would be better, supposing you wish to beat me or blow me up, that you should please yourself and do so now; but whatever you do, don't give me the cold shoulder!”

Continuing, he proceeded to call her ”my dear cousin” for several tens of times.

Tai-yu had resolved not to pay any more heed to Pao-yu. When she, however, now heard Pao-yu urge: ”don't let us allow others to know anything about our having had a quarrel, as it will look as if we had become thorough strangers,” it once more became evident to her, from this single remark, that she was really dearer and nearer to him than any of the other girls, so she could not refrain from saying sobbingly: ”You needn't have come to chaff me! I couldn't presume henceforward to be on friendly terms with you, Master Secundus! You should treat me as if I were gone!”

At these words, Pao-yu gave way to laughter. ”Where are you off to?” he inquired.

”I'm going back home,” answered Tai-yu.

”I'll go along with you then,” smiled Pao-yu.

”But if I die?” asked Tai-yu.

”Well, if you die,” rejoined Pao-yu, ”I'll become a bonze.”

The moment Tai-yu caught this reply, she hung down her head. ”You must, I presume, be bent upon dying?” she cried. ”But what stuff and nonsense is this you're talking? You've got so many beloved elder and younger cousins in your family, and how many bodies will you have to go and become bonzes, when by and bye they all pa.s.s away! But to-morrow I'll tell them about this to judge for themselves what your motives are!”

Pao-yu was himself aware of the fact that this rejoinder had been recklessly spoken, and he was seized with regret. His face immediately became suffused with blushes. He lowered his head and had not the courage to utter one word more. Fortunately, however, there was no one present in the room.

Tai-yu stared at him for ever so long with eyes fixed straight on him, but losing control over her temper, ”Ai!” she shouted, ”can't you speak?” Then when she perceived Pao-yu reduced to such straits as to turn purple, she clenched her teeth and spitefully gave him, on the forehead, a fillip with her finger. ”Heug!” she cried gnas.h.i.+ng her teeth, ”you, this......” But just as she had p.r.o.nounced these two words, she heaved another sigh, and picking up her handkerchief, she wiped her tears.

Pao-yu treasured at one time numberless tender things in his mind, which he meant to tell her, but feeling also, while he smarted under the sting of self-reproach (for the indiscretion he had committed), Tai-yu give him a rap, he was utterly powerless to open his lips, much though he may have liked to speak, so he kept on sighing and snivelling to himself.

With all these things therefore to work upon his feelings, he unwillingly melted into tears. He tried to find his handkerchief to dry his face with, but unexpectedly discovering that he had again forgotten to bring one with him, he was about to make his coat-sleeve answer the purpose, when Tai-yu, albeit her eyes were watery, noticed at a glance that he was going to use the brand-new coat of grey coloured gauze he wore, and while wiping her own, she turned herself round, and seized a silk kerchief thrown over the pillow, and thrust it into Pao-yu's lap.

But without saying a word, she screened her face and continued sobbing.

Pao-yu saw the handkerchief she threw, and hastily s.n.a.t.c.hing it, he wiped his tears. Then drawing nearer to her, he put out his hand and clasped her hand in his, and smilingly said to her: ”You've completely lacerated my heart, and do you still cry? But let's go; I'll come along with you and see our venerable grandmother.”

Tai-yu thrust his hand aside. ”Who wants to go hand in hand with you?”

she cried. ”Here we grow older day after day, but we're still so full of brazen-faced effrontery that we don't even know what right means?”

But scarcely had she concluded before she heard a voice say aloud: ”They're all right!”

Pao-yu and Tai-yu were little prepared for this surprise, and they were startled out of their senses. Turning round to see who it was, they caught sight of lady Feng running in, laughing and shouting. ”Our old lady,” she said, ”is over there, giving way to anger against heaven and earth. She would insist upon my coming to find out whether you were reconciled or not. 'There's no need for me to go and see,' I told her, 'they will before the expiry of three days, be friends again of their own accord.' Our venerable ancestor, however, called me to account, and maintained that I was lazy; so here I come! But my words have in very deed turned out true. I don't see why you two should always be wrangling! For three days you're on good terms and for two on bad. You become more and more like children. And here you are now hand in hand blubbering! But why did you again yesterday become like black-eyed fighting c.o.c.ks? Don't you yet come with me to see your grandmother and make an old lady like her set her mind at ease a bit?”

While reproaching them, she clutched Tai-yu's hand and was trudging away, when Tai-yu turned her head round and called out for her servant-girls. But not one of them was in attendance.

”What do you want them for again?” lady Feng asked. ”I am here to wait on you!”