《红楼梦》杨宪益和霍克斯翻译对照--39

曹雪芹 杨宪益 霍布斯

CHAPTER 39

An inventive old county woman tells a story

of somewhat

questionable veracity

And an impressionable young listener

insists on getting to

the bottom of the matter

第三十九回 Chapter 39

村姥姥是信口开合 An Old Village Woman

情哥哥偏寻根究底 Tells

Tall Stories

A Romantic Youth Insists

on

Following Them Up

话说众人见平儿来On Pinger's return she

了，都说："你们奶奶was asked, "What's your

作什么呢，怎么不来mistress doing? Why hasn't

了？" she come back?"

平儿笑道："他那里得"She's too busy," replied

空儿来。因为说没有Pinger, smiling. "As she

好生吃得，又不得来，didn't get a chance to eat

所以叫我来问还有没properly and can't come,

有，叫我要几个拿了she's nt me to ask whether

家去吃罢。" there are any crabs left. If

so, I'm to take a few back

for her to eat."

湘云道："有，多着呢。"There are plenty left,"

"忙令人拿了十个极Xiang yun assured her.

大的。 She promptly ordered

ten of the largest crabs to be

brought.

"Mostly female ones

平儿道："多拿几个团if you plea!" added

脐的。" Pinger.

众人又拉平儿坐，平They tried to make

儿不肯。 her take a at, but she

refud.

PATIENCE, you will recall, had just

returned to the party.

‘What’s happened to your mistress?’ the

others asked her. ‘Why doesn’t she come

back and join us?’

‘She hasn’t got time,’ said Patience,

laughing. ‘She’s nt me to ask if you’ve

got any crabs left. She says she didn’t get a

proper chance to eat any earlier on, and as

she hasn’t got time to come here herlf,

would I ask you, if you’ve still got any, to

let me take a few back for her.’

‘We’ve got plenty left,’ said

Xiang-yun, and gave orders for ten of the

largest to be put in a box for her to take.

‘Pick as many as you can with the round

‘navels’,’ said Patience to the old rvant

who was departing to do Xiang-yun’s

bidding.

Li Wan tried to make Patience sit down

with them, but she refud。

李纨拉着他笑道：""We insist!" cried Li

偏要你坐。"拉着他身Wan laughingly. She forced

边坐下，端了一杯酒her on to the at beside her

送到他嘴边。平儿忙own, filled a cup with wine

喝了一口就要走。 and held it to her lips. But

after one hurried sip Pinger

ro to go.

李纨道："偏不许你"Oh no, you don't," said Li

去。显见得只有凤丫Wan. "I can e the only one

头，就不听我的话了。who counts for you is

" Xifeng. You won't listen to

what I say."

说着又命嬷嬷们："She ordered some

先送了盒子去，就说matrons to deliver the

我留下平儿了。" hamper of crabs and tell

Xifeng that she was keeping

Pinger there.

那婆子一时拿了盒子Prently a matron

回来说："二奶奶说，returned with the empty

叫奶奶和姑娘们别笑hamper.

话要嘴吃。这个盒子"Madam Lian says

里是方才舅太太那里you and the young ladies

送来的菱粉糕和鸡油mustn't laugh at her

卷儿，给奶奶姑娘们greediness, madam," she

吃的。" reported. "In this hamper are

some caltrop cakes and

chicken-fat rolls nt by

Aunt Wang for you, madam,

and the young ladies."

又向平儿道："说使你She then turned to

来你就贪住顽不去Pinger. "She says she knew,

了。劝你少喝一杯儿once she nt you here,

罢。" you'd stay to amu

yourlf; but you mustn't

drink too much."

平儿笑道：'多喝了又"And what if I do?" retorted

把我怎么样？"一面Pinger, as she went on

‘You shall sit down!’ said Li Wan,

eyeing her skittishly; and taking her by the

hand, she drew her down beside her and

held a cup of wine up to her lips so that she

was forced to drink. Patience gulped down

a mouthful of it and then ro again to go.

‘I won’t let you go!’ said Li Wan.

‘The only person you ever take any notice

of is that precious Feng of yours; you think

you don’t need to obey me; but you shall.’

She turned to the old woman, now waiting

in readiness with the box of crabs, and told

her to go on ahead with them and tell

Xi-feng that Patience was being detained.

The old woman went away.

She returned a short while after, still

carrying the box, with a message.

‘Mrs Lian says thank you very much,

and she hopes you didn’t think her greedy

for asking. She’s put some caltrop-cakes

and some chicken-fat rolls in the box, that

have just been nt her by the elder Lady

Wang. She thought you and the young

ladies might like to try them.’

There was a further message for

Patience:

‘Mrs Lian says she thought she nt

you to fetch something for her, not to stay

here and amu yourlf. Anyway, she

says, tell her not to drink too much.’

‘Oh,’ said Patience, laughing, ‘and

what will happen to me if I do?’ As if in

defiance of her mistress’s instructions, she

说，一面只管喝，又helping herlf to wine and

吃螃蟹。 crab.

李纨揽着他笑道：""Such a lovely girl!"

可惜这么个好体面模cried Li Wan, taking her

样儿，命却平常，只arm. "What a pity she's

落得屋里使唤。不知fated to wait on other

道的人，谁不拿你当people. Anyone not in the

作奶奶太太看。" know would take you for

the mistress of the hou."

平儿一面和宝钗湘云Pinger, eating and

等吃喝，一面回头笑drinking with Baochai and

道："奶奶，别只摸的Xiangyun, turned her head

我怪痒的。" to protest with a smile,

"Don't tickle me, madam."

李氏道："嗳哟！这硬"My, what are the

的是什么？" hard things?" asked Li Wan.

平儿道："钥匙。" "Keys," was the

李氏道："什么钥匙？answer.

要紧梯己东西怕人偷"Why, what valuables

了去，却带在身上。are you afraid of people

我成日家和人说笑，stealing that you carry the

有个唐僧取经，就有keys about on you? It's as I

个白马来驮他，刘智always say: When Monk

远打天下，就有个瓜Tripitaka was arching for

精来送盔甲，有个凤Buddhist scriptures, a white

丫头，就有个你。你hor turned up to carry

就是你奶奶的一把总him; when Liu Zhiyuan

钥匙，还要这钥匙作was fighting for the empire,

什么。" a melon spirit appeared to

give him armour. In the

same way, Xifeng has you.

You're her master-key.

What does she want the

keys for?"

平儿笑道："奶奶吃了Pinger laughed."Now you're

酒，又拿了我来打趣making fun of me in your

着取笑儿了。" cups, madam."

1

2

fell to eating and drinking with great gusto.

Li Wan meanwhile encircled her

waist in an affectionate embrace. ‘What a

pity that so distinguished-looking a young

woman should have been born to so humble

a fate!’ said Li Wan. ‘It’s you who should

have been the mistress. You would have

made such a good lady. No one who didn’t

know would ever take you for a maid.’

Patience, who had continued eating

and drinking with Bao-chai and Xiang-yun

while Li Wan was saying this, now turned

round and looked at her with a giggle.

‘Stop it, Mrs Zhu! You’re tickling

me!’

‘Aiyo I’ said Li Wan. ‘What’s this great

hard thing here?’

‘Keys,’ said Patience.

‘Keys ?’ said Li Wan. ‘What has your

mistress got so precious that you need to

carry keys round all the time? Do you know

what I tell people about you? I tell them:

Just as you can’t imagine a Tripitaka going

off to India to fetch the scriptures without

his white hor or a Liu Zhi-yuan conquer-

ing the Empire without a Spirit of the

Melon Fields to give him his armour, so

you can’t imagine a Wang Xi-feng without

a Patience alongside helping her. You are

your mistress’s master-key. What does she

need to make you carry the things around

with you for?’

Patience laughed embarrasdly. ‘You

are making fun of me, Mrs Zhu. I’m afraid

you’ve had too much to drink.’

宝钗笑道："这倒是真"It's true all the same,"

话。我们没事评论起said Baochai. "When we've

人来，你们这几个都nothing to do but gossip, we

是百个里头挑不出一always agree that each

个来，妙在各人有各single one of you girls is

人的好处。" one in a hundred. And the

wonderful thing is that each

one of you has her own

good qualities."

李纨道："大小都有个"Providence orders all

天理。比如老太太屋things, great and small,"

里，要没那个鸳鸯如chimed in Li Wan. "For

何使得。从太太起，instance, what would the old

那一个敢驳老太太的lady do without Yuanyang?

回，现在他敢驳回。Nobody el, not eyen Lady

偏老太太只听他一个Wang, dares contradict the

人的话。老太太那些old lady; but when

穿戴的，别人不记得，Yuanyang does, the old lady

他都记得，要不是他listens to her. Nobody el

经管着，不知叫人诓can remember all the clothes

骗了多少去呢。那孩and trinkets the old lady has,

子心也公道，虽然这but Yuanyang remembers. If

样，倒常替人说好话not for her being in charge,

儿，还倒不依势欺人goodness knows how many

的。" things would have been

swindled out of them. Even

so, the girl's broad-minded

and instead of throwing her

weight about she often puts

in a good word for others."

惜春笑道："老太太"Only yesterday,"

昨儿还说呢，他比我remarked Xichun with a

们还强呢。"平儿道：smile, "the old lady was

"那原是个好的，我们saying she's better than any

那里比的上他。"宝玉of us."

道："太太屋里的彩"She's really fine,"

霞，是个老实人。"agreed Pinger. "We others

探春道："可不是，外can't compare with her."

头老实，心里有数儿。"Caixia in my

太太是那么佛爷似mother's apartments is an

的，事情上不留心，honest girl too," put in

‘No ,it’s true,’ said Bao-chai.

‘Whenever we start gossiping about

personalities, we nearly always end up by

agreeing what exceptional people you and

the other chief maids are. And all

exceptional in your own different ways,

too— that’s what’s so interesting.’

‘It’s almost as though Nature had in

each ca designed the mistress and the

maid to suit each other,’ said Li Wan.

‘Take Grandmother and Faithful, for

example. Grandmother would be

completely lost without Faithful. Who in

the family from Lady Wang downwards

would ever dare answer Grandmother

back? Yet Faithful does. And what’s more,

Grandmother will listen to her. And look at

all the things that Grandmother has. No one

el could ever remember them the way

that Faithful can. Just think how

Grandmother would be plundered and

cheated if Faithful weren’t there to look

after them. And on top of it all, she’s a very

fair person. She’ll often put in a good word

for someone. And though she has so much

influence with Grandmother, she never,

never us it to do anyone el down.’

Xi-chun smiled.

‘Yesterday when Grannie was talking

about Faithful she said, “She’s better than

all you grandchildren!”’

‘Faithful’s a good sort,’ said Patience.

‘I don’t consider mylf in her class at all.’

‘Mother’s Suncloud is a good, honest

soul,’ said Bao-yu.

‘She certainly is,’ said Tan-chun.

‘She’s got a mind of her own, though. You

know what a Holy Buddha Mother is: she

他都知道。凡百一应Baoyu."Yes, she appears

事都是他提着太太simple," said Tanchun, "yet

行。连老爷在家出外she's smart. Her Ladyship is

去的一应大小事，他as unworldly as a Buddha,

都知道。太太忘了，but if she overlooks

他背地里告诉太太。" anything Caixia es to it

for her. She keeps an eye on

everything down to the least

details of our father's affairs

at home and outside. So if

her mistress forgets

anything she quietly

reminds her."

李纨道："那也罢了。"True enough," said Li

"指着宝玉道："这一Wan. She pointed at Baoyu,

个小爷屋里要不是袭"And think what would

人，你们度量到个什happen in this young

么田地！凤丫头就是gentleman's rooms, if not

楚霸王，也得这两只for Xiren's good judgement.

膀子好举千斤鼎。他As for Xifeng, why, even if

不是这丫头，就得这she had the strength of the

么周到了！" Conqueror of Chu who

could lift a tripod weighing

a thousand catties, how

could she handle everything

without Pinger here?"

平儿笑道："先时陪了"Four of us came with our

四个丫头，死的死，mistress at the time of her

去的去，只剩下我一marriage," said Pinger. "But

个孤鬼了。" the others have either died

or gone, so that now I'm the

only one left."

李纨道："你倒是有造"So much the better

化的。凤丫头也是有for you as well as for

造化的。想当初你珠Xifeng," commented Li

大爷在日，何曾也没Wan. "When your Master

两个人。你们看我还Zhu was alive we had two

是那容不下人的？天maids too, and I'm not the

天只见他两个不自jealous type, am I? But they

doesn’t notice a half of what goes on

around her. But Sun-cloud does. And she is

the one who always has to remind Mother

about everything. She even knows about

outside matters. When Father is at home,

it’s Suncloud who has to remind Mother

about them when she forgets.’

‘I don’t know about Mother and

Suncloud,’ said Li Wan, ‘but what about

this young gentleman here?’ She pointed to

Bao-yu. ‘Can you imagine the sort of state

he would be in if he hadn’t got his Aroma

to look after him? And Feng too. Even

though she’s a regular Tyrant King, she still

needs her Patience in order to be so

efficient, just as much as the real Tyrant

King needed his two strong arms in order to

be able to lift up tho hundredweight

tripods.’

‘There were four of us when I first

came here with Mrs Lian,’ said Patience,

‘but the others all either died or left. I’m the

only one who’s stayed with her all along.’

‘You’re lucky then,’ said Li Wan.

‘And Feng is lucky, too. When I first came

here to Mr Zhu, I had veral maids, too,

but—I don’t know why it was, for I’m sure

you wouldn’t call me a hard mistress—they

were always dissatisfied. So when Mr Zhu

在。所以你珠大爷一bickered so much every day

没了，趁年轻我都打that after his death I married

发了。若有一个守得them both off while they

住，我倒有个膀臂。"were still young. If there'd

说着滴下泪来。 been just one worth

keeping, I'd have someone

to help me now." Tears ran

down her cheeks.

众人都道："又何必伤"Why let this upt

心，不如散了倒好。"you?" said the others.

说着便都洗了手，大"You're better off without

家约往贾母王夫人处them."

问安。 So saying they

washed their hands and

went to pay their respects to

the Lady Dowager and Lady

Wang.

众婆子丫头打扫亭 While the other

子，收拾杯盘。袭人maids swept the pavilion

和平儿同往前去，让and cleared away the cups

平儿到房里坐坐，再and dishes, Xiren took

喝一杯茶。平儿说："Pinger back with her to her

不喝茶了，再来罢。"room. And once ated there

说着便要出去。袭人she asked her: "Why has no

又叫住问道："这个月one received the allowance

的月钱，连老太太和for this month yet?"

太太还没放呢，是为

什么？"

平儿见问，忙转身至"It'll be coming in a

袭人跟前，见方近无couple of days," Pinger

人，才悄悄说道："whispered. "My mistress got

你快别问，横竖再迟this month's allowance some

几天就放了。"袭人笑time ago but has loaned it

道："这是为什么，唬out. She'll distribute it as

得你这样？ "平儿悄soon as she's collected the

悄告诉他道："这个月interest. But mind you don't

died, I took advantage of their being still

young to get rid of them all. If only I’d had

a dependable girl like you that I could have

kept on with me, I shouldn’t feel quite so

helpless now.’Her eyes began to redden as

she said this, and she emed about to cry.

‘Oh, come now!’ said the others.

‘There’s no need to upt yourlf. If

you’re going to be like this, we might just

as well break up the party.’

They did in fact begin washing their

hands then and prently decided to go off

in a body to pay their duty calls on

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang.

Meanwhile the old women and maids

busied themlves with sweeping out the

pavilion and stacking and washing up the

cups and dishes. Aroma left in the company

of Patience. On the way back she asked

Patience into Green Delights. She made

her sit down and invited her to take tea, but

Patience declined, saying that she would

drop in another time, and ro to go. Aroma

had something to ask her, however, and

called after her as she was going.‘What’s

happened to this month’s allowances ?’ she

said. ‘Even Her Old Ladyship’s and Her

Ladyship’s people haven’t had theirs yet.’

Patience spun round when she heard

this and came back again.

‘Don’t ask me about that, plea!’ she

said in a low, agitated voice, after first

glancing round to make sure that no one

el was prent. ‘Whatever it is, you’ll

only have another day or two to wait, I

的月钱，我们奶奶早pass this on."

已支了，放给人使呢。"I can't believe she's short of

等别处的利钱收了money. Why should she put

来，凑齐了才放呢。herlf to all that trouble?"

因为是你，我才告诉

你，你可不许告诉一

个人去。"袭人道： "

难道他还短钱使，还

没个足厌？何苦还操

这心。"

平儿笑道："何曾不是Pinger smiled.

呢。这几年拿着这一"The last few years

项银子，翻出有几百she's been lending out this

来了。他的公费月例money for the monthly

又使不着，十两八两allowances together with

零碎攒了放出去，只her own. The interest she

他这梯己利钱，一年gets on the loans comes to

不到，上千的银子呢。more than a thousand taels

" of silver a year.

袭人笑道："拿着我们"So the two of you, mistress

的钱，你们主子奴才and maid, have been using

赚利钱，哄的我们呆our money to get interest

呆的等着。 and kept us waiting like

平儿道："你又说没良regular fools!" said Xiren

心的话。你难道还少with a smile."There you go

钱使？"袭人道："我again, talking in that

promi you.’

Aroma was amud to e her so

agitated.

‘Why, what’s the matter? Why should

you be in such a state about it?’

Patience dropped her voice even

lower.

‘Mrs Lian has already put the money

for this month’s allowances out at interest.

She’s waiting for the interest on some of

her other loans to pay your allowances

with. It’s all right for me to tell you this,

but whatever you do, don’t let anyone el

know about it!’

Aroma laughed.

‘But she’s not short of money, she’s

got plenty. What does she want to go giving

herlf all this extra worry for?’

‘She’s certainly not short of money,’

said Patience. ‘Just in the few years since

she started doing this, the amount she has

got out on loan must have grown to veral

hundred times the original premium. And

she doesn’t spend all of her own allowance)

either. Whenever she’s got nine or ten taels

saved up out of it, she invests them too.

Why, just her profits alone after she’s

deducted the allowances from the interest

must be in the region of a thousand taels a

year.’

‘You and your mistress are a nice

pair, I must say!’ said Aroma. Keeping the

rest of us short while you u our money to

feather your own nests with!’

‘That’s most unfair!’ said Patience

indignantly. ‘Any way, I’m sure you can’t

虽不少，只是我也没heartless way! You're not

地方使去，就只预备short,are you?"

我们那一个。"平儿"No, I'm not. I've

道："你倘若有要紧的nothing to spend money on,

事用钱使时，我那里but I need a rerve for

还有几两银子，你先him."

拿来使，明儿我扣下"If you need money

你的就是了。"袭人urgently, I still have a few

道："此时也用不着，taels you can be going on

怕一时要用起来不够with. I'll deduct it later from

了，我打发人去取就your allowance."

是了。" "I don't need any at

the moment, but if we run

out I'll nd somebody to

fetch it."

平儿答应着，一Pinger, having agreed

径出了园门，来至家to this, left the Garden and

内，只见凤姐儿不在returned to her own

房里。忽见上回来打quarters.

抽丰的那刘姥姥和板Xifeng was out when

儿又来了，坐在那边she got back. But ated in

屋里，还有张材家的her room, accompanied by

周瑞家的陪着，又有the wives of Zhang Cai and

两三个丫头在地下倒Zhou Rui, were Granny Liu

口袋里的枣子倭瓜并and Baner who had called

些野菜。众人见他进before to ask for help. A

来，都忙站起来了。few maids were emptying

刘姥姥因上次来过，on to the floor some sacks

知道平儿的身分，忙of dates, pumpkins and

跳下地来问"姑娘好other farm produce. They

"，又说："家里都问stood up when Pinger came

好。早要来请姑奶奶in. Granny Liu, who knew

的安看姑娘来的，因Pinger's status from her last

为庄家忙。好容易今visit, scrambled off the kang

年多打了两石粮食，to greet her. "All at home

瓜果菜蔬也丰盛。这nd their compliments,"

是头一起摘下来的，she said. "We'd have come

并没敢卖呢，留的尖before this to pay our

儿孝敬姑奶奶姑娘们respects to the mistress and

尝尝。姑娘们天天山to you, miss, but we've been

珍海味的也吃腻了，very busy on the farm. This

really be short of money.’

‘Not mylf, it’s true’ said Aroma. ‘In

any ca, I haven’t got anything to spend it

on. I was thinking more of my young

gentleman. I like to keep some by me in

ca he ever needs any.’

‘Look, if you’re in urgent need of

money, I’ve got a few taels put by mylf

that I can let you have,’ said Patience. ‘You

can have them as an advance on this

month’s allowance, if you like.’

‘I don’t really need any at the

moment,’ said Aroma, ‘but may I take you

up on your offer if I ever do?’

‘Of cour,’ said Patience, and left

without further ceremony.

Outside the courtyard gate a maid

from xi-feng was looking for her.

‘The Mistress wants to e you about

something.’

‘What has she got so urgent that she

has to keep pestering me like this?’ said

Patience. ‘I’ve just had Mrs Zhu all over

me to make me stay and talk to her. It’s not

as if I’d run away.’

‘Better ask her yourlf,’ said the girl.

‘It wasn’t my idea to fetch you.’

‘Cheeky devil!’ said Patience, and

continued on her way.

When she got there, however, it was

not Xi-feng she found waiting for her, but

the old countrywoman she had admitted on

a previous occasion as a suppliant, Grannie

Liu, with her little grandson Ban-er. They

were sitting in the side room on the kang

with Zhang Cai’s wife and Zhou Rui’s wife

on either side of them, while maids were

emptying sacks of jujubes, melons and

这个吃个野意儿，也year we managed to get in a

算是我们的穷心。" couple of piculs more of

grain and a good crop of

pumpkins, fruit and

vegetables. The here are

our first pickings. We didn't

like to ll them but kept the

best for you to taste. You

young ladies must be tired

of the delicacies you eat

every day, and you may care

to try our country fare. This

is just our poor way of

showing our gratitude."

Pinger thanked her for

her trouble and asked her to

平儿忙道："多谢费take a at. Having sat down

心。"又让坐，自己也herlf she urged Mrs.

坐了。又让"张婶子周Zhang and Mrs. Zhou to be

大娘坐"，又令小丫头ated too, then told a maid

子倒茶去。周瑞张材to bring tea.

两家的因笑道： "姑"You're rather flushed

娘今儿脸上有些春today, miss," remarked the

色，眼圈儿都红了。"stewards' wives. "Why, even

平儿笑道："可不是。your eyes are red."

我原是不吃的，大奶"I know," replied

奶和姑娘们只是拉着Pinger. "I really can't drink,

死灌，不得已喝了两but Madam Li Wan and the

盅，脸就红了。"张材young ladies simply forced

家的笑道："我倒想着me. I had to swallow one or

other farm produce on the floor below. The

company ro hurriedly to their feet as

Patience entered. Grannie Liu, who

recognized her from her last visit,

scrambled down from the kang and greeted

her at once as ‘Miss Patience’ without any

of the previous time’s confusion.

‘The family all nd their regards,

Miss. They’d have come themlves long

since to e you and pay their respects to

their Aunt Lian, only they’ve been too busy

with the farm-work. Anyways, they’ve had

a good harvest this year, thanks be, and it’s

been a good year for the fruit and

vegetables. This here that I’ve brought is

the first pickings. We didn’t like to ll

them, becau we wanted our first-fruits to

go to Mrs Lian and the young ladies. We

thought that mayhap eating the rarities of

earth and a every day of their lives they

might sometimes tire of delicate food and

fancy a bit of plain country stuff for a

change. Anyway, there you are! It’s a poor

gift, but it’s given with a warm heart!’

‘It’s very good of you to have brought

it,’ said Patience, and begged her to be

ated, sitting down herlf as she did so.

She invited Zhou Rui’s wife and Zhang

Cai’s wife to be ated as well, and ordered

one of the junior maids to pour tea.

Mesdames Zhou and Zhang chaffed

her on her appearance.

‘You’ve got the spring in your face,

Miss. Your eyes are all red.’

Patience laughed.

‘I know. I don’t drink normally, but

today Mrs Zhou and the young ladies got

hold of me and just forced it down me. I

was made to drink, against my will. That’s

要吃呢，又没人让我。two cups, which made my

明儿再有人请姑娘，face red."

可带了我去罢。"说着"I wouldn't mind a

大家都笑了。 drink mylf, but nobody

treats me," joked Mrs.

Zhang. "Next time you get

an invitation, miss, I hope

you'll take me along."

Everybody laughed.

"I saw tho crabs this

morning," remarked Mrs.

Zhou. "I reckon two or three

of them must weigh a catty.

周瑞家的道： "早起Three big crates like tho

我就看见那螃蟹了，must have weighed nearly

一斤只好秤两个三eighty catties." She added,

个。这么三大篓，想"Still, I don't suppo there

是有七八十斤呢。"were enough for everyone,

周瑞家的道： "若是high and low."

上上下下只怕还不"Of cour not," said

够。"平儿道："那里Pinger. "Only people of

够，不过都是有名儿some conquence had a

的吃两个子。那些散couple. Of the others, some

众的，也有摸得着的，were lucky and some

也有摸不着的。"刘姥weren't."

姥道："这样螃蟹，今"Crabs that size cost

年就值五分一斤。十five silver cents a catty this

斤五钱，五五二两五，year," put in Granny Liu.

三五一十五，再搭上"That's fifty cents for ten

酒菜，一共倒有二十catties. Five times fifty

多两银子。阿弥陀佛！ makes two taels fifty; three

这一顿的钱够我们庄times five makes fifteen.

家人过一年了。" Together with the wine and

eatables, that adds up to

more than twenty taels of

silver. Gracious Buddha!

That's enough to keep us

country folk for a whole

year."

平儿因问："想是见过"Have you en our

奶奶了？" mistress yet?" Pinger asked

her.

why my face is so red.’

‘Well I don’t know,’ said Zhang Cai’s

wife. ‘Here’s me just dying for a drink, but

nobody offers me one. Next time anyone

invites you, Miss, you must take me with

you.’

The others laughed.

‘I saw tho crabs this morning,’ said

Zhou Rui’s wife. ‘Great big things. There

couldn’t have been more than two or three

to a catty. And I should think altogether

there must have been venty or eighty

catties in tho hampers. Even so,’ she said

reflectively, ‘there probably wouldn’t have

been enough for all the staff to have some.’

‘Lots of them didn’t,’ said Patience.

‘It was only the top ones that got one or

two crabs to themlves. The rest of them

only got a taste - some of them not even

that.’

‘Good crabs like that are lling at a

pennyweight a catty this year,’ said Grannie

Liu. ‘If one catty is a pennyweight, fifty

catties is two taels ten, and another thirty is

one and ten; ten and two is twelve and

twice ten is a tael, that’s thirteen, and then

there’s the wine and the other dishes. It

couldn’t have cost less than twenty taels in

all. Bless us and save us that’d keep a

farmer and his family for a year I’

‘I take it you’ve already en Mrs

Lian,’ said Patience.

刘姥姥道："见过了，"Yes," replied Granny

叫我们等着呢。"说着Liu. "She told us to wait."

又往窗外看天气，说Looking out of the window

道："天好早晚了，我at the sky she added, "It's

们也去罢，别出不去getting late. We ought to be

城才是饥荒呢。" going. If we found the city

gate clod we'd be in a fine

fix."

周瑞家的道："这话倒"True," said Mrs. Zhou.

是，我替你瞧瞧去。""I'll go and e what she's

说着一径去了，半日doing."

方来，笑道："可是你She went out and

老的福来了，竟投了reappeared after some time,

这两个人的缘了。" beaming.

平儿等问怎么样，周"Luck must be with

瑞家的笑道："二奶奶you today, granny," she

在老太太的跟前呢。announced. "The two ladies

我原是悄悄的告诉二have taken quite a fancy to

奶奶，`刘姥姥要家去you."

呢，怕晚了赶不出城Pinger and the others

去。'二奶奶说：`大asked her what she meant.

远的，难为他扛了那"Madam Lian was

些沉东西来，晚了就with the old lady," replied

住一夜明儿再去。'Mrs. Zhou. "I told her

这可不是投上二奶奶quietly, 'Granny Lin wants

的缘了。这也罢了，to leave, so as to reach the

偏生老太太又听见city gate before it's clod.'

了，问刘姥姥是谁。She said, 'She's come all

二奶奶便回明白了。that way with a load of

老太太说：`我正想个things; let her spend the

积古的老人家说话night here and go back

儿，请了来我见一见。tomorrow.' Doesn't that

' 这可不是想不到天show she's taken a fancy to

上缘分了。"说着，催you?

刘姥姥下来前去。 "That's not all either.

The old lady happened to

overhear us and asked,

'Who's this Granny Liu?'

When that was explained by

Madam Lian she said, 'I've

‘Yes,’ said Grannie Lu. ‘She told us

to wait.’

She glanced through the open window

as she said this and noticed that the day was

drawing on towards evening.

‘It’s getting dark earlier the days,’

she said. ‘We’d better be on our way. We

don’t want to find the city gates shut, or we

shall be in a proper pickle.’

‘Just wait while I slip over and find

out what the Mistress is up to,’ said Zhou

Rui’s wife. She left the room and was gone

for some considerable time. When she

eventually returned, she was full of smiles.

‘It’s Grannie’s lucky day,’ she said.

‘She’s struck lucky with both of them.’

‘How do you mean ?’ said Patience.

‘Well,’ said Zhou Rui’s wife, ‘Mrs

Lian was with Her Old Ladyship when I

got there, so I went up to her and told her

on the side that Grannie wanted to go now

to make sure of getting to the gates in time.

“Oh” she said, “she came such a long way

with all that stuff. If it’s getting late, she’d

better spend the night here and leave

tomorrow morning.” Well, that was one

piece of luck; but that’s nothing to what

followed, becau Her Old Ladyship had

overheard this and asked her who this

“Grannie Liu” was, and when Mrs Lian

told her, she said, “Oh, I’ve been just

longing for someone with a bit of age and

experience to talk to! Bring her here!

Introduce her to me!” Now that really was a

stroke of luck!’

She urged Grannie Liu to leave her

place on the kang and go over to the other

apartment; but the old countrywoman was

been wanting to have a chat

with some experienced old

soul. Ask her over to e

me.' Who could have

imagined such a stroke of

luck?"

She urged Granny Liu

to go at once to the Lady

Dowager.

刘姥姥道："我这生像"I'm not fit to be

儿怎好见的。好嫂子，en," objected Granny Liu.

你就说我去了罢。" "Good sister, just tell her

平儿忙道："你快去I've left."

罢，不相干的。我们"Go on, don't worry

老太太最是惜老怜贫about that," said Pinger.

的，比不得那个狂三"Our old lady is good ness

诈四的那些人。想是itlf to the old and needy.

你怯上，我和周大娘She's not haughty and

送你去。"说着，同周high-handed like some

瑞家的引了刘姥姥往people. If you're shy, Mrs.

贾母这边来。 Zhou and I can come with

you.

So she and Zhou Rui's

wife t out with Granny

Lin for the Lady Dowager's

quarters.

二门口该班的小When the pages on

厮们见了平儿出来，duty at the inner gate saw

都站起来了，又有两Pinger, they all stood at

个跑上来，赶着平儿attention. Then two of them

叫"姑娘"。 ran over to her, calling out a

respectful greeting.

"Now what is it?" she

平儿问："又说什么？asked.

"那小厮笑道："这会"It's late, miss," said

子也好早晚了，我妈one boy, smiling. "My

病了，等着我去请大mother's ill and wants me to

夫。好姑娘，我讨半go for a doctor. Can I have a

日假可使的？" few hours off, plea?"

ized with a sudden attack of shyness.

‘Look at me! Dear soul, I’m in no fit

state to e her now! Tell her I’ve already

left!’

‘Go on, you go and e her!’ said

Patience. ‘It’ll be all right. Our old lady is

always very nice to poor or elderly people

She’s not the least bit pretentious or

stuck-up like some I could mention. If

you’re nervous about meeting high-ups,

Mrs Zhou and I will go with you to give

you confidence.’

She proceeded, with Mrs Zhou’s

assistance, to conduct the old woman to her

interview.

When they saw Patience coming out

of the courtyard, the pages on duty at the

gate stood up, and two of them came run-

ning up to her.

‘Miss! Miss!’

‘What’s it this time?’ said Patience.

‘I’ve been waiting to catch you for

hours, Miss,’ said the first of the boys. ‘My

ma’s took ill and I’ve got to go and fetch

the doctor for her. Will it be all right if I

take the night off?’

平儿道："你们倒好，"A fine lot you are,"

都商议定了，一天一cried Pinger. "Ganging up to

个告假，又不回奶奶，ask for leave in turn every

只和我胡缠。前儿住day, and not reporting to the

儿去了，二爷偏生叫mistress either but pestering

他，叫不着，我应起me instead. After Zhuer

来了，还说我作了情。went the other day, Master

你今儿又来了。" Lian happened to call for

him; and when he wasn't to

be found I was blamed for

giving him leave. Now

you're trying it on.

"It's quite true that his

周瑞家的道："当真的mother is ill," Mrs. Zhou

他妈病了，姑娘也替confirmed. "Do let him go,

他应着，放了他罢。" miss."

"Come back early

平儿道："明儿一早tomorrow then," stipulated

来。听着，我还要使Pinger. "And listen, I've an

你呢，再睡的日头晒errand for you, so don't wait

着屁股再来！你这一till the sun bakes your

去，带个信儿给旺儿，behind before coming back.

就说奶奶的话，问着And take a message for me

他那剩的利钱。明儿on your way to Lai Wang.

若不交了来，奶奶也Tell him from the mistress

不要了，就越性送他that if he doesn't bring in the

使罢。" rest of that interest

tomorrow, she doesn't want

it -- he can keep it for

那小厮欢天喜地答应himlf."

去了。 The boy asnted and

made off in high spirits.

平儿等来至贾母房Pinger and the two

中，彼时大观园中姊others proceeded then to the

妹们都在贾母前承Lady Dowager's apartments

奉。刘姥姥进去，只where all the girls from the

见满屋里珠围翠绕，Graden were asmbled.

花枝招展，并不知都Granny Liu had no idea who

系何人。只见一张榻all the beauties decked out

‘You’re a nice lot!’ said Patience. ‘It’s

my belief that you’ve got it all worked out

between you so that one of you gets a

holiday every day. And instead of telling

the Mistress proper-1 y, as you’re suppod

to do, you come round to me with the sad

stories and make me take the responsibility.

When Stoppo did this the other day, the

Master called for him while he was still

away and I got into trouble by speaking jip

for him. The Master accud me of doing

favours. And now you want to do the same

thing.’

‘His ma really is ill, Miss,’ said Zhou

Rui’s wife. ‘I’m sure it would be in order

for you to let him go.’

‘All right, then. But mind you’re back

first thing tomorrow,’ Patience told the boy.

‘Now you heard that, didn’t you? First

thing. Becau I’ve got work for you to do.

No lying in bed until you can feel the sun

on your backside I And I want you to take a

message to Brightie for me on the way. Tell

him the Mistress says that if he hasn’t

handed in the test of that interest by

tomorrow, she won’t ask him for it again,

becau she’ll know that he’s keeping it for

himlf.’

The boy promid to deliver the

message and scampered off, delighted to be

relead.

By the time Patience and her charges

arrived at Grandmother Jia’s apartment, all

the young denizens of Prospect Garden had

for some time been asmbled there in

attendance, so that as Grannie Liu entered

the room, she was confronted by a bevy of

unfamiliar young ladies, all resplendent in

上歪着一位老婆婆，with pearls and emeralds

身后坐着一个纱罗裹could be; but she saw an old

的美人一般的一个丫lady on a couch with a

鬟在那里捶腿，凤姐pretty silk-clad girl

儿站着正说笑。刘姥massaging her legs while

姥便知是贾母了，忙Xifeng stood chatting to her.

上来陪着笑，福了几Concluding that this was the

福，口里说："请老寿Lady Dowager, the old

星安。" woman stepped forward,

smiling, and curtyed to

her.

"Greetings, Goddess

of Long Life!" she cried.

贾母亦欠身问好，又The Lady Dowager

命周瑞家的端过椅子raid herlf to greet her in

来坐着。那板儿仍是return and ordered Mrs.

怯人，不知问候。贾Zhou to fetch a chair for

母道："老亲家，你今her. Baner, of cour, was

年多大年纪了？ "刘still too shy to pay his

姥姥忙立身答道："respects.

我今年七十五了。"

Granny Liu ro to

answer, "Seventy-five."

贾母向众人道："这么"So old, yet so hale

大年纪了，还这么健and hearty! Why, you're

朗。比我大好几岁呢。older than I am by veral

我要到这么大年纪，years. If I live to your age, I

还不知怎么动不得doubt whether I shall be so

呢。" spry.

刘姥姥笑道："我们生"We're born to put up

来是受苦的人，老太with hardships, madam, and

太生来是享福的。若you to enjoy good fortune,"

我们也这样，那些庄replied Granny Liu with a

家活也没人作了。" smile. "If we were all like

you, who'd do the farming?"

"How old are you,

venerable kinswoman?"

asked the Lady Dowager.

ornaments of pearl and kingfisher, like a

bed of beautiful flowers, none of which she

could give a name to. In their midst a

venerable old lady reclined on a couch. A

young woman, pretty as a picture and

dresd in silk and satin from top to toe, sat

behind her, gently pounding her legs.

Xi-feng, the only person there she could

recognize, was standing to one side of her,

evidently in the midst of telling her

something amusing. Deducing that the old

lady on the couch must be Grandmother

Jia, Grannie Liu hurried up to her and made

her an antique curty.

‘Your rvant, my lady!’

Grandmother Jia inclined herlf

politely from the couch and asked Zhou

Rui’s wife to bring up a chair for her to sit

on. Ban-er, bashful as ever, would not

attempt a greeting.

‘Now, old kinswoman,’ said

Grandmother Jia, ‘and what would your age

be?’

Seventy-five this year,’ said Grannie

Liu.

Grandmother Jia turned round to the

others prent.

‘That’s veral years older than me.

Fancy still being so fit and lively Heaven

only knows what I shall be like at that age!’

Grannie Liu laughed.

‘I was born for a hard life, d’ye e,

just as Your Ladyship was born for a soft

one. We couldn’t all be like Your

Lady-ship, or there’d be no one to do the

farming.’

贾母道： "眼睛牙齿"And your eyes and

都还好？"刘姥姥道：teeth, are they still good?"

"都还好，就是今年左"I can't complain. But

边的槽牙活动了。" this year one of my back

teeth on the left side has

come loo."

贾母道："我老了，都"I'm old and uless

不中用了，眼也花，now," rejoined the Lady

耳也聋，记性也没了。Dowager. "My sight's

你们这些老亲戚，我failing, I'm hard of hearing,

都不记得了。亲戚们and my memory's going. I

来了，我怕人笑我，can't even remember all our

我都不会，不过嚼的old relatives. When they call

动的吃两口，睡一觉，I don't e them for fear

闷了时和这些孙子孙they'll laugh at me, I've

女儿顽笑一回就完become so helpless. All I

了。" can do is eat pap, sleep, or

amu mylf for a while

with the grandchildren

when I'm bored."

刘姥姥笑道："这正是Granny Liu smiled.

老太太的福了。我们"That's your good

想这么着也不能。" fortune, madam. We

couldn't manage it even if

贾母道："什么福，不we wanted to."

过是个老废物罢了。""Good fortune? I'm

说的大家都笑了。 nothing but a uless old

thing."

Everyone laughed at

that.

贾母又笑道："我才听"Just now Xifeng told

见凤哥儿说，你带了me you've brought us a lot

好些瓜菜来，叫他快of pumpkins and

收拾去了，我正想个vegetables," the Lady

地里现撷的瓜儿菜儿Dowager went on. "I've

吃。外头买的，不象asked to have them cooked

你们田地里的好吃。" at once. I've been longing

for some freshly picked

things of this kind. Tho

we buy outside aren't as

‘Are your eyes and teeth still good?’

Grandmother Jia asked her.

‘All bar a back tooth on the left-hand

side that’s getting a bit loo this year.’

‘There! and I’m already a uless old

woman,’ said Grand-mother Jia. ‘Poor

eyesight, poor hearing, memory going—I

can’t even remember the names of old

kinsfolk like yourlf any longer. I’m

scared to meet them when they come

visiting, for fear they might laugh at me.

There’s not much I can do nowadays except

eat—what I can get my teeth into—and