The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes
long-standing
abuses.
The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little
intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
But let us pick up the clue of our story. P'ing Erh bore lady Feng
company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her
mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an
Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect
stillness. Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close
attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the
alert to obey any calls. P'ing Erh stepped into the hall. The two
cousins and their sister-in-law were all three engaged in discussing
some domestic affairs. They were talking about the feast, to which they
had been invited during the new year festivities by Lai Ta's wife, and
various details in connection with the garden she had in her place. But
as soon as she (P'ing Erh) appeared on the scene, T'an Ch'un desired
her to seat herself on her footstool.
"What was exercising my mind," she thereupon observed, "confines itself
to this. I was computing that the head-oil, and rouge and powder, we
use during the course of a month, are also a matter of a couple of
taels; and I was thinking that what with the sum of two taels, already
allotted us every month, and the extra monthly amount given as well to
the maids, allowances are, with the addition again of that of eight
taels for school expenses, we recently spoke about, piled to be sure
one upon another. The thing is, it's true, a mere trifle, and the
amount only a bagatelle, but it doesn't seem to be quite proper. But
how is it that your mistress didn't take this into account?"
P'ing Erh smiled. "There's a why and a wherefore," she answered. "All
the things required by you, young ladies, must absolutely be subject to
a fixed rule; for the different compradores have to lay in a stock of
each every month; and to send them to us by the maids to take charge
of; but purely and simply to keep in readiness for you to use. No such
thing could ever be tolerated as that each of us should have to get
money every day and try and hunt up some one to go and buy these
articles for us! That's how it is that the compradores outside receive
a lump sum, and that they send us, month by month, by the female
servants the supplies allotted for the different rooms. As regards the
two taels monthly allowed you, young ladies, they were not originally
intended that you should purchase any such articles with, but that you
should, if at any time the ladies in charge of the household affairs
happened to be away from home or to have no leisure, be saved the
trouble of having to go in search of the proper persons, in the event
of your suddenly finding yourselves in need of money. This was done
simply because it was feared that you would be subjected to
inconvenience. But an unprejudiced glance about me now shows me that at
least half of our young mistresses in the various quarters invariably
purchase these things with ready money of their own; so I can't help
suspecting that, if it isn't a question of the compradores shirking
their duties, it must be that what they buy is all mere rubbish."
T'an Ch'un and Li Wan laughed. "You must have kept a sharp lookout to
have managed to detect these things!" they said. "But as for shirking
the purchases, they don't actually do so. It's simply that they're
behind time by a good number of days. Yet when one puts on the screw
with them, they get some articles from somewhere or other, who knows
where? These are however only a sham; for, in reality, they aren't fit
for use. But as they're now as ever obtained with cash down, a couple
of taels could very well be given to the brothers or sons of some of
the other people's nurses to purchase them with. They'll then be good
for something! Were we however to employ any of the public domestics in
the establishment, the things will be just as bad as ever. I wonder how
they do manage to get such utter rot as they do?"
"The purchases of the compradores may be what they are," P'ing Erh
smiled; "but were anyone else to buy any better articles, the
compradores themselves won't ever forgive them. Besides other things,
they'll aver that they harbour evil designs, and that they wish to
deprive them of their post. That's how it comes about that the servants
would much rather give offence to you all inside, (by getting inferior
things), and that they have no desire to hurt the feelings of the
managers outside, (by purchasing anything of superior quality). But if
you, young ladies, requisition the services of the nurses, these men
won't have the arrogance to make any nonsensical remarks."
"This accounts for the unhappy state my heart is in," T'an Ch'un
observed. "But as we're called upon to squander money right and left,
and as the things purchased are half of them uselessly thrown away,
wouldn't it, after all, be better for us to eliminate this monthly
allowance to the compradores? This is the first thing. The next I'd
like to ask you is this. When they went, during the new year
festivities, to Lai Ta's house, you also went with them; and what do
think of that small garden as compared with this of ours?"
"It isn't half as big as ours," P'ing Erh laughingly explained. "The
trees and plants are likewise fewer by a good deal."
"When I was having a chat with their daughter," T'an Ch'un proceeded,
"she said that, besides the flowers they wear, and the bamboo shoots,
vegetables, fish and shrimps they eat from this garden of theirs,
there's still enough every year for people to take over under contract,
and that at the close of each year there's a surplus in full of two
hundred taels. Ever since that day is it that I've become alive to the
fact that even a broken lotus leaf, and a blade of withered grass are
alike worth money."
"This is, in very truth, the way wealthy and well-to-do people talk!"
Pao-ch'ai laughed. "But notwithstanding your honourable position, young
ladies, you really understand nothing about these concerns. Yet,
haven't you, with all your book-lore, seen anything of the passage in
the writing of Chu Fu-tzu: 'Throw not thyself away?'"
"I've read it, it's true," T'an Ch'un smiled, "but its object is simply
to urge people to exert themselves; it's as much empty talk as any
random arguments, and how could it be bodily treated as gospel?"
"Chu-tzu's work all as much empty talk as any random arguments?"
Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. "Why every sentence in it is founded on fact.
You've only had the management of affairs in your hands for a couple of
days, and already greed and ambition have so beclouded your mind that
you've come to look upon Chu-tzu as full of fraud and falsehood. But
when you by and bye go out into the world and see all those mighty
concerns reeking with greed and corruption, you'll even go so far as to
treat Confucius himself as a fraud!"
"Haven't you with all your culture read a book like that of Chi-tzu's?"
Pan Ch'un laughed. "Chi-tzu said in bygone days 'that when one descends
into the arena where gain and emoluments are to be got, and enters the
world of planning and plotting, one makes light of the injunctions of
Yao and Shun, and disregards the principles inculcated by Confucius and
Mencius.'"
"What about the next line?" Pao-ch'ai insinuated with a significant
smile.
"I now cut the text short," T'an Ch'un smilingly rejoined, "in order to
adapt the sense to what I want to say. Would I recite the following
sentence, and heap abuse upon my own self; is it likely I would; eh?"
"There's nothing under the heavens that can't be turned to some use,"
Pao-ch'ai added. "And since everything can be utilised, everything must
be worth money. But can it be that a person gifted with such
intelligence as yours can have had no experience in such great matters
and legitimate concerns as these?"
"You send for a person," Li Wan laughingly interposed, 'and you don't
speak about what's right and proper, but you start an argument on
learning."
"Learning is right and proper," Pao-ch'ai answered. "If we made no
allusion to learning, we'd all soon enough drift among the rustic
herd!"
The trio bandied words for a while, after which they turned their
attention again to pertinent affairs.
T'an Ch'un took up once more the thread of the conversation. "This
garden of ours," she argued, "is only half as big as theirs, so if you
double the income they derive, you will see that we ought to reap a net
profit of four hundred taels a year. But were we also now to secure a
contract for our surplus products, the money, we'd earn, would, of
course, be a mere trifle and not one that a family like ours should
hanker after. And were we to depute two special persons (to attend to
the garden), the least permission given by them to any one to turn
anything to improper uses, would, since there be so many things of
intrinsic value, be tantamount to a reckless destruction of the gifts
of heaven. So would it not be preferable to select several quiet,
steady and experienced old matrons, out of those stationed in the
grounds, and appoint them to put them in order and look after things?
Neither will there be any need then to make them pay any rent, or give
any taxes in kind. All we can ask them is to supply the household with
whatever they can afford during the year. In the first place, the
garden will, with special persons to look after the plants and trees,
naturally so improve from year to year that there won't be any bustle
or confusion, whenever the time draws nigh to utilise the grounds.
Secondly, people won't venture to injure or uselessly waste anything.
In the third place, the old matrons themselves will, by availing
themselves of these small perquisites, not labour in the gardens year
after year and day after day all for no good. Fourthly, it will in like
manner be possible to effect a saving in the expenditure for gardeners,
rockery-layers, sweepers and other necessary servants. And this excess
can be utilised for making up other deficiencies. I don't see any
reason why this shouldn't be practicable!"
Pao-ch'ai was standing below contemplating the pictures with characters
suspended on the walls. Upon hearing these suggestions, she readily
nodded her head assentingly and smiled. "Excellent!" she cried.
"'Within three years, there will be no more famines and dearths.'"
"What a first-rate plan!" Li Wan chimed in. "This, if actually adopted,
will delight the heart of Madame Wang. Pecuniary economies are of
themselves a paltry matter; but there will be then in the garden those
to sweep the grounds, and those whose special charge will be to look
after them. Besides, were the persons selected allowed to turn up an
honest cash by selling part of the products, they will be so impelled
by a sense of their responsibilities, and prompted by a desire of gain
that there won't any longer be any who won't acquit themselves of their
duties to the fullest measure."
"It remained for you, miss, to put these suggestions in words," P'ing
Erh remarked. "Our mistress may have entertained the idea, but it is by
no means certain that she thought it nice on her part to give utterance
to it. For as you, young ladies, live at present in the garden, she
could not possibly, unable as she is to supply such additional
ornaments as will make it more showy, contrariwise depute people to
exercise authority in it, and to keep it in order, with a view of
effecting a reduction in expenses. Such a proposal could never have
dropped from her lips."
Pao-ch'ai advanced up to her with alacrity. Rubbing her face: "Open
that mouth of yours wide," she laughed, "and let me see of what stuff
your teeth and tongue are made! Ever since you put your foot out of bed
this morning you've jabbered away up to this very moment! And your song
has all been in one strain. For neither have you been very
complimentary to Miss Tertia, nor have you admitted that your mistress
is, as far as wits go, so much below the mark as to be unable to effect
suitable provision. Yet whenever Miss Tertia advanced any arguments,
you've at once made use of endless words to join issue with her. This
is because the plan devised by Miss Tertia was also hit upon by your
lady Feng. But there must surely have been a reason why she couldn't
carry it into execution. Again, as the young ladies have now their
quarters in the garden, she couldn't, with any decency, direct any one
to go and rule over it, for the mere sake of saving a few cash. Just
consider this. If the garden is actually handed to people to make
profit out of it, the parties interested will, of course, not even
permit a single spray of flowers to be plucked, and not a single fruit
to be taken away. With such as come within the category of senior young
ladies, they won't naturally have the audacity to be particular; but
they'll daily have endless rows with the junior girls. (Lady Feng) has,
with her fears about the future and her misgivings about the present,
shown herself neither too overbearing nor too servile. This mistress of
theirs is not friendly disposed towards us, but when she hears of her
various proposals, shame might induce her to turn over a new leaf."
"Early this morning," T'an Ch'un laughingly observed, "I was very
cross, but as soon as I heard of her (P'ing Erh's) arrival, I casually
remembered that her mistress employed, during her time, such domestics
as were up to all kinds of larks, and at the sight of her, I got more
cross than ever. But, little though one would have thought it, she
behaved from the moment she came, like a rat that tries to get out of
the way of a cat. And as she had had to stand for ever so long, I
pitied her very much; but she took up the thread of the conversation,
and went on to spin that long yarn of hers. Yet, instead of mentioning
that her mistress treats me with every consideration, she, on the
contrary, observed: 'The kindness with which you have all along dealt
with our lady miss, has not been to no purpose.' This remark therefore
not only dispelled my anger, but filled me with so much shame that I
began to feel sore at heart. And, when I came to think carefully over
the matter, I failed to see how I, a mere girl, who had personally done
so much mischief that not a soul cared a straw for me and not a soul
took any interest in me, could possess any such good qualities as to
treat any one kindly…."
When she reached this point, she could not check her tears from
brimming over. Li Wan and her associates perceived how pathetically she
spoke; and, recalling to mind how Mrs. Chao had always run her down,
and how she had ever been involved in some mess or other with Madame
Wang, on account of this Mrs. Chao, they too found it difficult to
refrain from melting into sobs. But they then used their joint efforts
to console her.
"Let's avail ourselves of this quiet day," they suggested, "to try and
find out how we could increase our revenue and remove abuses, so as not
to render futile the charge laid on us by Madame Wang. What use or
purpose is it to allude to such trivial matters?"
"I've already grasped your object," P'ing Erh hastily ventured. "Miss,
speak out; who do you consider fit? And as soon as the proper persons
have been fixed upon, everything will be square enough."
"What you say is all very well," T'an Ch'un rejoined, "but it will be
necessary to let your lady know something about it. It has never been
the proper thing for us in here to scrape together any small profits.
But as your mistress is full of gumption, I adopted the course I did.
Had she been at all narrowminded, with many prejudices and many
jealousies, I wouldn't have shown the least willingness in the matter.
But, as it will look as if I were bent upon pulling her to pieces, how
can I take action without consulting her?"
"In that case," P'ing Erh smiled, "I'll go and tell her something about
it."
With this response, she went on the errand; and only returned after a
long lapse of time. "I said," she laughed, "that it would be perfectly
useless for me to go. How ever could our lady not readily accede to an
excellent proposal like this?"
Hearing this, T'an Ch'un forthwith joined Li Wan in directing a servant
to ask for the roll, containing the names of the matrons in the garden,
and bring it to them. When produced, they all held council together,
and fixing cursorily upon several persons, they summoned them to appear
before them. Li Wan then explained to them the general outline of their
duties; and not one was there among the whole company, who listened to
her, who would not undertake the charge. One said: "If you confide that
bamboo tree for twelve months to my care, it will again next year be a
single tree, but besides the shoots, which will have been eaten at
home, I shall be able, in the course of the year, to also pay in some
money." "Hand me over," another one remarked, "that portion of paddy
field, and there will, during the year, be no need to touch any public
funds on account of the various birds, large and small, which are kept
for mere fun. Besides that, I shall be in a position to give in
something more."
T'an Ch'un was about to pass a remark when a servant reported that the
doctor had come; and that he had entered the garden to see Miss Shih.
So the matrons were obliged to go and usher the doctor in.
"Were there a hundred of you here," promptly expostulated P'ing Erh,
"you wouldn't know what propriety means! Are there perchance no couple
of housekeepers about to push themselves forward and see the doctor
in?"
"There's dame Wu and dame T'an," the servant, who brought the message,
replied. "The two are on duty at the south-west corner at the
'accumulated splendour' gate."
At this answer, P'ing Erh allowed the subject to drop.
After the departure of the matrons, T'an Ch'un inquired of Pao-ch'ai
what she thought of them.
"Such as are diligent at the outset," Pao-ch'ai answered smiling,
"become remiss in the end; and those who have a glib tongue have an eye
to gain."
T'an Ch'un listened to her reply; and nodding her head, she extolled
its wisdom. Then showing them with her finger several names on the
list, she submitted them for the perusal of the trio. P'ing Erh
speedily went and fetched a pen and inkslab.
"This old mother Chu," the trio observed, "is a trustworthy woman.
What's more, this old dame and her sons have generation after
generation done the sweeping of the bamboo groves. So let's now place
the various bamboo trees under her control. This old mother T'ien was
originally a farmer, and everything in the way of vegetables and rice,
in and about the Tao Hsiang village, should, albeit they couldn't,
planted as they are as a mere pastime, be treated in such earnest as to
call for large works and extensive plantations, be entrusted to her
care; for won't they fare better if she can be on the spot and tend
them with extra diligence at the proper times and seasons?"
"What a pity it is," T'an Ch'un proceeded smilingly, "that two places
so spacious as the Heng Wu garden and the I Hung court bring no grit to
the mill."
"Things in the Heng Wu garden are in a worse state," Li Wan hastily
interposed. "Aren't the scented wares and scented herbs sold at present
everywhere in perfumery shops, large fairs and great temples the very
counterpart of these things here? So if you reckon up, you will find
how much greater a return these articles will give than any other kind
of product. As for the I Hung court, we needn't mention other things,
but only take into account the roses that bud during the two seasons of
spring and summer; to how many don't they amount in all? Besides these,
we've got along the whole hedge, cinnamon roses and monthly roses,
stock roses, honey-suckle and westeria. Were these various flowers
dried and sold to the tea and medicine shops, they'd also fetch a good
deal of money."
"Quite so!" T'an Ch'un acquiesced with a smile. "The thing is that
there's no one with any notion how to deal with scented herbs."
"There's Ying Erh who waits on Miss Pao-ch'ai," P'ing Erh promptly
smiled. "Her mother is well-versed in these things. It was only the
other day that she plucked a few, and plaited them, after drying them
well in the sun, into a flower-basket and a gourd, and gave them to me
to play with. But miss can you have forgotten all about it?"
"I was this very minute speaking in your praise," Pao-ch'ai observed
smiling, "and do you come to chaff me?"
"What makes you say so?" exclaimed the trio, in utter astonishment.
"It will on no account do," Pao-ch'ai added. "You employ such a lot of
people in here that they all lead a lazy life and have nothing to put a
hand to, and were I also now to introduce some more, that tribe will
look even upon me with utter contempt. But let me think of some one for
you. There's in the I Hung court, an old dame Yeh; she's Pei Ming's
mother. That woman is an honest old lady; and is furthermore on the
best of terms with our Ying Erh's mother. So wouldn't it be well were
this charge given to this dame Yeh? Should there even be anything that
she doesn't know, there'll be no necessity for us to tell her. She can
go straightway and consult with Ying Erh's mother. And if she can't
attend to everything herself, it won't matter to whom she relegates
some of her duties. These will be purely private favours. In the event
too of any one making any mean insinuations, the blame won't fall on
our shoulders. By adopting this course, you'll be managing things in
such a way as to do extreme justice to all; and the trust itself will
also be placed on a most satisfactory footing."
"Excellent!" ejaculated Li Wan and P'ing Erh simultaneously.
"This may be well and good," T'an Ch'un laughed, "but the fear is that
at the sight of gain, they'll forget all about propriety."
"That's nothing to do with us!" P'ing Erh rejoined a smile playing,
about her lips. "It was only the other day that Ying Erh recognised
dame Yeh as her adopted mother, and invited her to eat and drink with
them, so that the two families are on the most intimate terms."
At this assurance, T'an Ch'un relinquished the topic of conversation,
and, holding council together, they selected several persons, all of
whom the four had ever viewed with impartial favour and they marked off
their names, by dotting them with a pen.
In a little while, the matrons came to report that 'the doctor had
gone;' and they handed the prescription. Their three mistresses then
perused its contents. On the one hand, they despatched domestics to
take it outside, so that the drugs should be got, and to superintend
their decoction. On the other, T'an Ch'un and Li Wan explicitly
explained to the various servants chosen what particular place each had
to look after. "Exclusive," they added, "of what fixed custom requires
for home consumption during the four seasons, you are still at liberty
to pluck whatever remains and have it taken away. As for the profits,
we'll settle accounts at the close of the year."
"I've also bethought myself of something," T'an Ch'un smiled. "If the
settlement of accounts takes place at the end of the year, the money
will, at the time of delivery, be naturally paid into the accountancy.
Those high up will then as usual add a whole lot of controllers; and
these will, on their part, fleece their own share as soon as the money
gets into the palms of their hand. But as by this system, we've now
initiated, you've been singled out for appointment, you've already
ridden so far above their heads, that they foster all sorts of
animosity against you. They don't, however, give vent to their
feelings; but if they don't seize the close of the year, when you have
to deliver your accounts, to play their tricks on you, for what other
chances will they wait? Moreover, they obtain, in everything that comes
under their control during the year, half of every share their masters
get. This is an old custom. Every one is aware of its existence. But
this is a new regime I now introduce in this garden, so don't let the
money find its way into their hands! Whenever the annual settling of
accounts arrives, bring them in to us."
"My idea is," Pao-ch'ai smilingly suggested, "that no accounts need be
handed even inside. This one will have a surplus, that one a deficit,
so that it will involve no end of trouble; wouldn't it be better
therefore if we were to find out who of them would take over this or
that particular kind and let them purvey the various things? These are
for the exclusive use of the inmates of the garden; and I've already
made an estimate of them for you. They amount to just a few sorts, and
simply consist of head-oil, rouge, powder and scented paper; in all of
which, the young ladies and maids are subject to a fixed rule. Then,
besides these, there are the brooms, dust-baskets and poles, wanted in
different localities, and the food for the large and small animals and
birds, and the deer and rabbits. These are the only kinds of things
required. And if they contract for them, there'll be little need for
any one to go to the accountancy for money. But just calculate what a
saving will thus be effected!"
"All these items are, I admit, mere trifles," P'ing Erh smiled, "but if
you lump together what's used during a year, you will find that a
saving of four hundred taels will be effected."
"Again!" smilingly remarked Pao-ch'ai, "it would be four hundred taels
in one year; but eight hundred taels in two years; and with these, we
could purchase a few more houses and let them; and in the way of poor,
sandy land we could also add several acres to those we've already got.
'There will, of course, still remain a surplus; but as they will have
ample trouble and inconvenience to put up with during the year, they
should also be allowed some balance in hand so as to make up what's
wanted for themselves. The main object is, of course, to increase
profits and curtail expenses, yet we couldn't be stingy to any
excessive degree. In fact, were we even able to make any further
economy of over two or three hundred taels, it would never be the
proper thing; should this involve a breach of the main principles of
decorum. With this course duly put into practice, outside, the
accountancy will issue in one year four or five hundred taels less,
without even the semblance of any parsimony; while, inside, the matrons
will obtain, on the other hand, some little thing to supply their wants
with; the nurses, who have no means of subsistence, will likewise be
placed in easy circumstances; and the plants and trees in the garden
will year by year increase in strength and grow more abundantly. In
this wise, you too will have such articles as will be fit for use. So
that this plan will, to some extent, not constitute a breach of the
high principles of propriety. And if ever we want to retrench a little
more from where won't we be able to get money? But if the whole
balance, if any, be put to the credit of the public fund, every one,
inside as well as outside, will fill the streets with the din of
murmurings! And won't this be then a slur upon the code of honour of a
household such as yours? So were any charge to be entrusted to this
one, out of the several tens of old nurses at present employed in the
garden, and not to that one, the remainder will naturally resent such
injustice. As I said a while back all that these women will have to
provide among themselves amounts to a few articles, so they will
unavoidably have ample means. Hence each should be told to contribute,
beyond the articles that fall to her share during the year, a certain
number of tiaos, whether she may or may not realise any balance, and
then jointly lump these sums together, and distribute them among those
nurses only on service in the garden. For although they may not have
anything to do with the control of these things, they themselves will
have to stay in the grounds, to keep an eye over the servants on duty,
to shut the doors, to close the windows and to get up early and retire
late. Whenever it rains in torrents or it snows hard and chairs have to
be carried, for you, young ladies, to go out and come in; or boats have
to be punted, and sledges drawn, these rough and arduous duties come
alike within their sphere of work. They have to labour in the garden
from one year's end to the other, and though, they earn something in
those grounds, it's only right that they should able to get some small
benefits in the discharge of their legitimate duties. But there's
another most trivial point that I would broach with less reserve. If
you only think of your ease, and don't share the profits with them,
they will, of course, never presume to show their displeasure, but in
their hearts they won't cherish you any good feeling. What they'll do
will be to make public business a pretext to serve their own private
ends with; they'll pluck more of your fruits than they should; and cut
greater quantities of your flowers than they ought. And you people will
have a grievance, but you won't have anywhere to go and confide it. But
should they too reap some gain, they'll readily look after such things
on your behalf as you won't have the time to attend to."
The matrons listened to her explanations; (and finding that) they would
be removed from the control of the accountancy, that they would not be
compelled to go and settle accounts with lady Feng, and that all that
they would be called upon to do every year would be to supply a few
more tiaos, were each and all delighted to an exceptional degree. So
much so, that every one of them exclaimed in a chorus that they were
quite prepared to agree to the terms. "It is better," they said, "than
to be obliged to go out and be squeezed by them; and to have to fork
out our own money as well."
Those too not entrusted with the care of any portion of land were also
highly elated, when they heard that at the close of each year they
would, though they had no valid claim, come in for some share of hard
cash.
"They'll have to bear the trouble," they however argued, "to keep
things in order, so it's only right that they should be left with a few
cash to meet their various wants with; and how could we very well
gobble our three meals without doing a stroke of work?"
"Worthy dames," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "you mustn't decline. These duties
are within your province and you should fulfil them. All you need do is
to exert yourselves a bit by day and night, and not be so remiss and
careless as to suffer any of the servants to drink and gamble; that's
all. Otherwise, I myself must have nothing to do with the control. But
you, yourselves, know well enough that it's my aunt who appealed to me
with her own lips three and five times to do it as a favour to her.
'Your eldest sister-in-law,' she represented, 'has at present no
leisure, and the other girls are young,' and then she asked me to look
after things. So if I now don't accede, it's as clear as day that I
shall be the cause of much worry to my aunt. Our lady Feng herself is
seriously ill, and our domestic affairs can't hang fire. I'm really
with nothing to do, so were even a mere neighbour to solicit my help, I
would also feel bound to lend her a hand in her pressure of work. How
much more therefore when it's my own aunt, who invokes my aid? Setting
aside the way I'm execrated by one and all, how would I ever be able to
stare my aunt in the face, if, while I gave my sole mind to winning
fame and fishing for praise, any one got so intoxicated and lost so
much in gambling as to stir up trouble? At such a juncture remorse on
your part will be too late! Even the old reputation you have ever
enjoyed will entirely be lost and gone. Those young ladies and girls
and this vast garden are alike placed under your supervision, purely
and simply because one takes into account that you have been nurses to
three or four generations and that you have most scrupulously observed
the rules of etiquette and propriety. It's but fair that you should
try, with one mind, and show some little regard for what's right and
proper. But if you contrariwise behave with such laxity as to let
people gratify their wishes by guzzling and gambling, and my aunt comes
to hear of these nice doings, a little scolding from her will be of
little consequence. But if the various women, who attend to the
household, get scent of the state of affairs, they will haul you over
the coals, without even so much as breathing one single word beforehand
to my aunt. And venerable people, though you are, you will then,
instead of tendering advice to young people, be called to account by
them. As housekeepers, they exercise, it's true, authority over you;
but why shouldn't you yourselves observe a certain amount of decorum?
And if you do so, will they have any occasion to bully you? The reason
why I've now bethought myself of this special boon for you is that you
should unanimously strain every nerve to diligently attend to the
garden, in order that the powers that be may, at the sight of your
unrelenting care and zeal, have no cause to give way to solicitude. And
won't they inwardly look up to you with regard? Neither will you render
of no effect the various benefits devised for them. But go now and
minutely ponder over all my advice!"
All the women received her words with gratification. "What you say is
quite right," they replied. "From this time forth you, miss, and you,
our lady, can well compose your minds. With the interest both of you
feel on our behalf, may heaven and earth not spare us, if we do not
display a full amount of gratitude for all your kindnesses."
These assurances were still being uttered when they saw Lin
Chih-hsiao's wife walk in. "The family of the Chen mansion of Chiang
Nan," she explained, "arrived in the capital yesterday. To-day, they're
going into the palace to offer their congratulations. But they've now
sent messengers ahead to come and bring presents and pay their
respects."
While she spoke, she produced the list of presents and handed it up.
T'an Ch'un took it over from her. "They consist," she said, perusing
it, "of twelve rolls of brocades and satins embroidered with dragons,
such as are for imperial use; twelve rolls of satins of various
colours, of the kind worn by the Emperor; twelve rolls of every sort of
imperial gauze; twelve rolls of palace silks of the quality used by his
majesty; and twenty rolls of satins, gauzes, silks and thin silks of
different colours, generally worn by officials."
After glancing over the list, Li Wan and T'an Ch'un suggested that a
first-class tip should be given to the messengers who brought them,
after which, they went on to direct a servant to convey the tidings to
dowager lady Chia.
Old lady Chia gave orders to call Li Wan, T'an Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai and the
other girls. On their arrival, the presents were passed under review;
and this over, Li Wan put them aside. "You must wait," she said to the
servants of the inner store-room, "until Madame Wang comes back and
sees them; you can then lock them up."
"This Chen family too," old lady Chia thereupon added, "isn't like any
other family; the highest tips should therefore be conferred upon the
men. But as in a twinkle, they may also send some of their womankind to
come and make their obeisance, silks should be got ready in
anticipation."
Scarcely was this remark concluded before a domestic actually
announced: 'that four ladies of the Chen mansion had come to pay their
respects.'
Upon hearing this, dowager lady Chia hastily directed that they should
be introduced into her presence. The four women ranged from forty years
and over. Their clothing and head-gear were not, in any material
degree, different from those of mistresses. As soon as they presented
their compliments and inquired about their healths, old lady Chia
desired that four footstools should be moved forward. But though the
four women thanked her for bidding them sit down, they only occupied
the stools, after Pao-ch'ai had seated herself.
"When did you enter the capital?" old lady Chia inquired.
The four women jumped to their feet with alacrity. "We entered the
capital yesterday," they answered. "Our lady has taken our young lady
today into the palace to pay their homage. That's why she bade us come
and give you their compliments, and see how the young ladies are
getting on."
"You hadn't paid a visit to the capital for ever so many years,"
dowager lady Chia smilingly observed, "and here you appear now quite
unexpectedly!"
The four women simultaneously smiled again. "Quite so!" they said. "We
received this year imperial orders, summoning us to the capital!"
"Has the whole family come?" old lady Chia asked.
"Our old mistress, our young master, the two young ladies and the other
ladies haven't come up," the four women explained. "Only our lady has
come, together with Miss Tertia."
"Is she engaged to any one?" old lady Chia asked.
"Not yet," rejoined the quartet.
"The two families, that of your senior married lady and that of your
lady Secunda are both on most intimate terms with ours," dowager lady
Chia smilingly added.
"Yes, they are," replied the four women with a smile. "The letters
received each year from our young ladies, assure us that they're
entirely dependent upon the kindness bestowed upon them, in your worthy
mansion, for their well-being."
"What kindness?" old lady Chia exclaimed laughingly. "These two
families are really friends of long standing. In addition to this,
they're old relatives. So what we do is our simple bounden duty. What's
more in the favour of your two young ladies is, that they're not full
of their own importance. That's how it is that we've come to be on such
close terms."
The four women smiled. "This is mainly due to your venerable ladyship's
excessive humility," they answered.
"Is that young gentleman of yours too with your old mistress?" old lady
Chia went on to inquire.
"Yes, he has also come with our old mistress," the four women retorted.
"How old is he?" old lady Chia then asked. "Does he go to school?" she
afterwards inquired.
"He's thirteen this year," the four women said by way of response. "But
all through those good looks of his, our old mistress cherishes him so
fondly that from his youth up, he has been wayward to the extreme, and
that he now daily plays the truant. But our master and mistress as well
don't keep any great check over him."
"Yet, he can't resemble that young fellow of ours," old lady Chia
laughed. "What's the name of your young gentleman?"
"As our old mistress treats him just like a real precious gem," the
quartet explained, "and as his complexion is naturally so white, her
ladyship calls him Pao-yü."
"Here's another one with the name of Pao-yü!" old lady Chia laughingly
said to Li Wan.
Li Wan and her companions hastily made a curtsey. "There have been,
from old times to the present," they smiled, "very many among
contemporaries and persons of different generations as well, who have
borne duplicate names."
The four women also smiled. "After the selection of this infant name,"
they proceeded, "we all, both high or low, began to give way to
surmises, as we could not make out in what relative's or friend's
family there was a lad also called by the same name. But as we hadn't
come to the capital for ten years or so, we couldn't remember."
"That young fellow is my grandson," dowager lady Chia remarked. "Hallo!
some one come here!"
The married women and maids assented and approached several steps.
"Go into the garden," old lady Chia smilingly said, "and call our
Pao-yü here, so that these four housekeeping dames should see how he
compares with their own Pao-yü."
The married women, upon hearing her orders, promptly went off. After a
while, they entered the room pressing round Pao-yü. The moment the four
dames caught sight of him, they speedily rose to their feet. "He has
given us such a start!" they exclaimed smilingly. "Had we not come into
your worthy mansion, and perchance, met him, elsewhere, we would have
taken him for our own Pao-yü, and followed him as far as the capital."
While speaking they came forward and took hold of his hands and
assailed him with questions.
Pao-yü however also put on a smile and inquired after their healths.
"How do his looks compare with those of your young gentleman?" dowager
lady Chia asked as she smiled.
"The way the four dames ejaculated just now," Li Wan and her companions
explained, "was sufficient to show how much they resemble in looks."
"How could there ever he such a coincidence?" old lady Chia laughed.
"Yet, the children of wealthy families are so delicately nurtured that
unless their faces are so deformed as to make them downright ugly,
they're all equally handsome, as far as general appearances go. So
there's nothing strange in this!"
"As we gaze at his features," the quartet added, with smiling faces,
"we find him the very image of him; and from what we gather from your
venerable ladyship, he's also like him in waywardness. But, as far as
we can judge, this young gentleman's disposition is ever so much better
than that of ours."
"What makes you think so?" old lady Chia precipitately inquired.
"We saw it as soon as we took hold of the young gentleman's hands," the
four women laughingly rejoined, "and when he spoke to us. Had it been
that fellow of ours, he would have simply called us fools. Not to speak
of taking his hand in ours, why we daren't even slightly move any of
his things. That's why, those who wait on him are invariably young
girls."
Before the four dames had time to conclude what they had to say, Li Wan
and the rest found it so hard to check themselves that with one voice
they burst into loud laughter.
Old lady Chia also laughed. "Let's also send some one now," she said,
"to have a look at your Pao-yü. When his hand is taken, he too is sure
to make an effort to put up with it. But don't you know that children
of families such as yours and mine are bound, notwithstanding their
numerous perverse and strange defects, to return the orthodox
civilities, when they come across any strangers. But should they not
return the proper civilities, they should, by no manner of means, be
suffered to behave with such perverseness. It's the way that grown-up
people doat on them that makes them what they are. And as they can,
first and foremost, boast of bewitching good looks and they comport
themselves, secondly, towards visitors with all propriety—, in fact,
with less faulty deportment than their very seniors—, they manage to
win the love and admiration of such as only get a glimpse of them.
Hence it is that they're secretly indulged to a certain degree. But if
they don't show the least regard to any one inside or outside, and so
reflect no credit upon their parents, they deserve, with all their
handsome looks, to be flogged to death."
These sentiments evoked a smile from the four dames. "Your words
venerable lady," they exclaimed, "are quite correct. But though our
Pao-yü be wilful and strange in his ways, yet, whenever he meets any
visitors, he behaves with courteousness and good manners; so much so,
that he's more pleasing to watch than even grown-up persons. There is
no one, therefore, who sees him without falling in love with him. But
you'll say: 'why is he then beaten?' You really aren't aware that at
home he has no regard either for precept or for heaven; that he comes
out with things that never suggest themselves to the imagination of
grown-up people, and that he does everything that takes one by
surprise. The result is that his father and mother are driven to their
wits' ends. But wilfulness is natural to young children. Reckless
expenditure is a common characteristic of young men. Antipathy to
school is a common feeling with young people. Yet there are ways and
means to bring him round. The worse with him is that his disposition is
so crotchety and whimsical. Can this ever do?…."
This reply was barely ended when a servant informed them that their
mistress had returned. Madame Wang entered the room, and saluted the
women. The four dames paid their obeisance to her. But they had just
had sufficient time to pass a few general observations, when dowager
lady Chia bade them go and rest. Madame Wang then handed the tea in
person and withdrew from the apartment. But when the four dames got up
to say good-bye, old lady Chia adjourned to Madame Wang's quarters.
After a chat with her on domestic affairs, she however told the women
to go back; so let us put them by without any further allusion to them.
During this while, old lady Chia's spirits waxed so high, that she told
every one and any one she came across that there was another Pao-yü,
and that he was, in every respect, the very image of her grandson.
But as each and all bore in mind that there were many inmates among the
large households of those officials with official ancestors, called by
the same names, that it was an ordinary occurrence for a grandmother to
be passionately fond of her grandson, and that there was nothing
out-of-the-way about it, they treated the matter as of no significance.
Pao-yü alone however was such a hair-brained simpleton that he
conjectured that the statements made by the four dames had been
intended to flatter his grandmother Chia.
But subsequently he betook himself into the garden to see how Shih
Hsiang-yün was getting on.
"Compose your mind now," Shih Hsiang-yün then said to him, "and go on
with your larks! Once, you were as lonely as a single fibre, which
can't be woven into thread, and like a single bamboo, which can't form
a grove, but now you've found your pair. When you exasperate your
parents, and they give you beans, you'll be able to bolt to Nanking in
quest of the other Pao-yü."
"What utter rubbish!" Pao-yü exclaimed. "Do you too believe that
there's another Pao-yü?"
"How is it," Hsiang-yün asked, "that there was some one in the Lieh
state called Lin Hsiang-ju, and that during the Han dynasty there lived
again another person, whose name was Ssu Ma Hsiang-ju?"
"This matter of names is all well enough," Pao-yü rejoined with a
smile. "But as it happens, his very appearance is the counterpart of
mine. Such a thing could never be!"
"How is it," Hsiang-yün inquired, "that when the K'uang people saw
Confucius, they fancied it was Yang Huo?"
"Confucius and Yang Huo," Pao-yü smilingly argued, "may have been alike
in looks, but they hadn't the same names. Lin and Ssu were again,
notwithstanding their identical names, nothing like each other in
appearances. But can it ever be possible that he and I should resemble
each other in both respects?"
Hsiang-yün was at a loss what reply to make to his arguments. "You
may," she consequently remarked smiling, "propound any rubbish you
like, I'm not in the humour to enter into any discussion with you.
Whether there be one or not is quite immaterial to me. It doesn't
concern me at all."
Saying this, she lay herself down.
Pao-yü however began again to exercise his mind with further surmises.
"If I say," he cogitated, "that there can't be one, there seems from
all appearances to be one. And if I say that there is one, I haven't,
on the other hand, seen him with my own eyes."
Sad and dejected he returned therefore to his quarters, and reclining
on his couch, he silently communed with his own thoughts until he
unconsciously became drowsy and fell fast asleep.
Finding himself (in his dream) in some garden or other, Pao-yü was
seized with astonishment. "Besides our own garden of Broad Vista," he
reflected, "is there another such garden?" But while indulging in these
speculations, several girls, all of whom were waiting-maids, suddenly
made their appearance from the opposite direction. Pao-yü was again
filled with surprise. "Besides Yüan Yang, Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh," he
pondered, "are there verily such maidens as these?"
"Pao-yü!" he heard that company of maids observe, with faces beaming
with smiles, "how is it you find yourself in here?"
Pao-yü laboured under the impression that they were addressing him.
With hasty step, he consequently drew near them, and returned their
smiles. "I got here," he answered, "quite listlessly. What old family
friend's garden is this, I wonder? But sisters, pray, take me for a
stroll."
The maids smiled with one consent. "Really!" they exclaimed, "this
isn't our Pao-yü. But his looks too are spruce and nice; and he is as
precocious too with his tongue."
Pao-yü caught their remarks. "Sisters!" he eagerly cried, "is there
actually a second Pao-yü in here?"
"As for the two characters 'Pao-yü,'" the maids speedily explained,
"every one in our house has received our old mistress' and our
mistress' injunctions to use them as a spell to protract his life for
many years and remove misfortune from his path, and when we call him by
that name, he simply goes into ecstasies, at the very mention of it.
But you, young brat, from what distant parts of the world do you hail
that you've recklessly been also dubbed by the same name? But beware
lest we pound that frowzy flesh of yours into mincemeat."
"Let's be off at once!" urged another maid, as she smiled. "Don't let
our Pao-yü see us here and say again that by hobnobbing with this
stinking young fellow, we've been contaminated by all his pollution."
With these words on her lips, they straightway walked off.
Pao-yü fell into a brown study. "There's never been," he mused, "any
one to treat me with such disdain before! But what is it, in fact, that
induces them to behave towards me in this manner? May it not be true
that there lives another human being the very image of myself?"
While lost in reverie, he advanced with heedless step, until he reached
a courtyard. Pao-yü was struck with wonder. "Is there actually," he
cried, "besides the I Hung court another court like it?" Spontaneously
then ascending the steps, he entered an apartment, in which he
discerned some one reclining on a couch. On the off side sat several
girls, busy at needlework; now laughing joyfully; now practising their
jokes; when he overheard the young person on the couch heave a sigh.
"Pao-yü," smilingly inquired a maid, "what, aren't you asleep? What are
you once more sighing for? I presume it's because your sister is ill
that you abandon yourself again to idle fears and immoderate anguish!"
These words fell on Pao-yü's ears, and took him quite aback.
"I've heard grandmother say," he overheard the young person on the
couch observe, "that there lives at Ch'ang An, the capital, another
Pao-yü endowed with the same disposition as myself. I never believed
what she told me; but I just had a dream, and in this dream I found
myself in a garden of the metropolis where I came across several
maidens; all of whom called me a 'stinking young brat,' and would have
nothing whatever to do with me. But after much difficulty, I succeeded
in penetrating into his room. He happened to be fast asleep. There he
lay like a mere bag of bones. His real faculties had flown somewhere or
other; whither it was hard for me to say."
Hearing this, "I've come here," Pao-yü said with alacrity, "in search
of
Pao-yü; and are you, indeed, that Pao-yü?"
The young man on the couch jumped down with all haste and enfolded him
in his arms. "Are you verily Pao-yü?" he laughingly asked. "This isn't
by any means such stuff as dreams are made of!"
"How can you call this a dream?" Pao-yü rejoined. "It's reality, yea,
nothing but reality!"
But scarcely was this rejoinder over, than he heard some one come, and
say: "our master, your father, wishes to see you, Pao-yü."
The two lads started with fear. One Pao-yü rushed off with all
despatch. The other promptly began to shout, "Pao-yü! come back at
once! Pao-yü; be quick and return!"
Hsi Jen, who stood by (Pao-yü), heard him call out his own name, in his
dreams, and immediately gave him a push and woke him up. "Where is
Pao-yü gone to?" she laughed.
Although Pao-yü was by this time aroused from sleep, his senses were as
yet dull, so pointing towards the door, "He's just gone out," he
replied, "he's not far off."
Hsi Jen laughed. "You're under the delusion of a dream," she said. "Rub
your eyes and look carefully! It's your reflection in the mirror."
Pao-yü cast a glance in front of him, and actually caught sight of the
large inlaid mirror, facing him quite opposite, so he himself burst out
laughing. But, presently, a maid handed him a rince-bouche and tea and
salt, and he washed his mouth.
"Little wonder is it," She Yüeh ventured, "if our old mistress has
repeatedly enjoined that it isn't good to have too many mirrors about
in young people's rooms, for as the spirit of young persons is not
fully developed there is every fear, with mirrors casting their
reflections all over the place, of their having wild dreams in their
sleep. And is a bed now placed before that huge mirror there? When the
covers of the mirrors are let down, no harm can befall; but as the
season advances, and the weather gets hot, one feels so languid and
tired, that is one likely to think of dropping them? Just as it
happened a little time back; it slipped entirely from your memory. Of
course, when he first got into bed, he must have played with his face
towards the glass; but upon shortly closing his eyes, he must naturally
have fallen into such confused dreams, that they thoroughly upset his
rest. Otherwise, how is it possible that he should have started
shouting his own name? Would it not be as well if the bed were moved
inside to-morrow? That's the proper place for it."
Hardly had she, however, done, before they perceived a servant, sent by
Madame Wang to call Pao-yü. But what she wanted to tell him is not yet
known, so, reader, listen to the circumstances recorded in the
subsequent chapter.
END OF BOOK II.
[transcriber's note: The second volume of this translation ends thus,
and no more of it was ever published.]
ERRATA
[original book lists no errata; these were found during Project
Gutenberg proofreading. The format is imitated from the list actually
appearing at the end of volume I. If a word is split across a line or
page then the line or page given is that on which the erroneous part of
the word appears.
On several occasions the book uses nested double quotes. One person,
speaking, quotes another person, speaking. "This example," the
proofreader said, "is of when my friend told me, "Don't take any wooden
nickels." So I have always been careful." When these were found, the
inner quotes were changed to single quotes for increased clarity. Such
changes are not noted in the errata. A few other corrections to
punctuation are noted below, but most are not.
The following are not misspellings: "dumfoundered" "parricide" "nobble"
"finicking". "shewing" was very moldy at the time this was written but
still not deceased. The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, was
used as the authority for spellings. I don't know about "per mensem"
Chapter XXXVI page 180, line 18. I don't know about "titify" Chapter XL
page 258, line 21. ]
Chap. XXV Page 8 Line 29: doesn't _not_ does'nt
XXVII " 37 " 10: peccadilloes _not_ peccadiloes
XXVIII " 64 " 6: on _not_ ou
XXVIII " 67 " 19: enumeration _not_ enuneration
XXX " 95 " 29: them," _not_ them."
XXX " 100 " 24: mustn't _not_ musn't
XXXI " 109 " 32: needn't _not_ need'nt
XXXII " 119 " 40: eh!" _not_ eh!
XXXII " 120 " 30: "Who _not_ Who
XXXII " 128 " 13: stitch _not_ stich
XXXIII " 137 " 2: fidgetted _not_ figetted
XXXIV " 147 " 28: promptly _not_ promply
XXXIV " 155 " 32: questions?" _not_ questions?
XXXIV " 157 " 7: contrariwise _not_ contrarivise
XXXV " 163 " 4: eat," _not_ eat"
XXXV " 163 " 13: successive _not_ succcessive
XXXV " 163 " 35: forty _not_ fourty
XXXV " 171 " 12: birthday _not_ brithday
XXXVI " 180 " 2: tael. _not_ tael."
XXXVI " 190 " 20: birthday _not_ brithday
XXXVII " 194 " 18: comes _not_ come's
XXXVII " 198 " 10: To-morrow _not_ To-morow
XXXVII " 199 " 32: "Well," _not_ "Well",
XXXVII " 199 " 33: done." _not_ done?
XXXVII " 199 " 40: fairest _not_ fairiest
XXXVII " 206 " 13: mustn't _not_ musn't
XXXVII " 207 " 36: get _not_ ged
XXXVII " 211 " 16: do?" _not_ do?
XXXVIII " 219 " 6: stomachaches." _not_
stomachaches.
XXXVIII " 228 " 13: while _not_ whily
XXXIX " 232 " 5: with?" _not_ with?,'
XXXIX " 237 " 9: conscious _not_ concious
XXXIX " 242 " 1: temple." _not_ temple.
XL " 245 " 38: little _not_ litte
XL " 248 " 11: silk." _not_ silk?"
XL " 254 " 12: They're _not_ The're
XL " 255 " 8: autograph _not_ authograph
XL " 257 " 16: mustn't _not_ musn't
XL " 258 " 13: fogies _not_ foggies
XL " 258 " 20: predilection _not_ predeliction
XL " 258 " 35: curtains." _not_ curtains.
XL " 258 " 39: enough." _not_ enough.
XL " 263 " 8: peony _not_ peone
XLI " 278 " 11: haven't _not_ have'nt
XLII " 282 " 4: haven't _not_ have'nt
XLII " 282 " 19: haven't _not_ have'nt
XLII " 283 " 14: ensconce _not_ ensconse
XLII " 284 " 26: medicine _not_ medecine
XLII " 284 " 39: medicines _not_ medecines
XLII " 285 " 27: medicines _not_ medecines
XLII " 288 " 5: aren't _not_ are'nt
XLII " 290 " 27: locust _not_ lucust
XLII " 290 " 27: feed.'" _not_ feed.'
XLIII " 309 " 31: grandiloquent _not_ grandeloquent
XLIV " 314 " 12: shouldn't _not_ should'nt
XLIV " 316 " 4: mustn't _not_ must'nt
XLIV " 317 " 6: employed the _not_ employed on
the
XLIV " 322 " 3: differed _not_ differred
XLIV " 322 " 31: swelled _not_ swole
XLIV " 323 " 15: unhappiness _not_ uuhappiness
XLV " 337 " 30: ginseng _not_ ginsing
XLV " 338 " 22: medicines _not_ medecines
XLV " 343 " 30: uselessly _not_ uselesly
XLVI " 352 " 26: mightn't _not_ mighn't
XLVII " 372 " 32: friendship _not_ frienship
XLVII " 378 " 3: proffered _not_ proferred
XLVIII " 380 " 21: worldly _not_ wordly
XLVIII " 386 " 4: antithetical _not_ antetithical
XLVIII " 386 " 23: Ling _not_ Ling,
XLVIII " 386 " 23: smile _not_ smiled
XLVIII " 386 " 35: stanzas _not_ stanaas
XLVIII " 389 " 24: cockatoo _not_ cuckatoo
XLVIII " 391 " 27: 'Tis _not_ T'is
XLVIII " 391 " 31: 'Tis _not_ T'is
XLIX " 393 " 34: would'st _not_ woulds't
XLIX " 393 " 37: 'tis _not_ t'is
XLIX " 401 " 1: simultaneously _not_
simultaneouly
L " 411 " 25: 'tis _not_ t'is
L " 413 " 17: 'tis _not_ t'is
L " 415 " 35: But by and bye _not_ But and bye
L " 417 " 17: 'tis _not_ t'is
L " 417 " 17: 'tis _not_ 't'is
[yes twice in the same line]
L " 417 " 25: 'tis _not_ t'is
L " 418 " 10: haven't _not_ have'nt
L " 423 " 38: blossom _not_ blosson
LI " 437 " 37: matter.'" _not_ matter."
LII " 446 " 21: medicine _not_ medecine
LII " 446 " 27: medicines _not_ medecines
LII " 449 " 5: medicines _not_ medecines
LII " 460 " 3: anniversary _not_ anniversay
LIII " 462 " 13: perspiring _not_ prespiring
LIII " 464 " 7: peonies _not_ peones
LIII " 468 " 23: haven't _not_ have'nt
LIII " 471 " 39: Apparent _not_ Apparrent
LIII " 476 " 9: homage _not_ hommage
LIII " 476 " 14: consonant _not_ consonnant
LIV " 487 " 5: trod _not_ trode
LIV " 487 " 12: "This _not_ This
LIV " 488 " 36: Isn't _not_ Is'nt
LIV " 490 " 15: me?" _not_ me?
LIV " 490 " 19: say, _not_ say,"
LIV " 491 " 23: comfortable _not_ confortable
LIV " 495 " 12: exhilarated _not_ exhilerated
LIV " 495 " 19: smilingly _not_ similingly
LV " 503 " 10: and _not_ aud
LV " 507 " 32: Mrs. _not_ "Mrs.
LV " 507 " 33: making _not_ make
LVI " 525 " 27: Aren't _not_ Are'nt
LVI " 529 " 18: mustn't _not_ musn't
LVI " 535 " 20: notwithstanding _not_
nothwithstanding
LVI " 536 " 36: aren't _not_ are'nt