第三十五回　白玉釧親嚐蓮葉羹　黃金鶯巧結梅花絡 Baichuan Tastes the Lotus-Leaf Broth; Yinger Deftly Plaits a Plum-Blossom Net

話說寶釵分明聽見林黛玉刻薄他，因記挂著母親哥哥，并不回頭，一徑去了。The story goes that Baochai clearly heard Lin Daiyu's biting remark about her, but with her mind on her mother and brother, she did not turn back and went straight on.這里林黛玉還自立于花陰之下，遠遠的卻向怡紅院內望著，只見李宮裁，迎春，探春，惜春并各項人等都向怡紅院內去過之後，一起一起的散盡了，只不見鳳姐兒來，心里自己盤算道：“如何他不來瞧寶玉？Here Lin Daiyu was still standing alone in the shade of the flowers, gazing from afar toward Happy Red Court; she saw Li Gongcai, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, and all the others go in one after another and then disperse group by group, but Xifeng was nowhere to be seen, and she thought to herself: 'Why hasn't she come to see Baoyu?便是有事纏住了，他必定也是要來打個花胡哨，討老太太和太太的好兒才是。Even if something were keeping her busy, she would surely still come to put on a show and curry favor with the Old Ancestress and Madam.今兒這早晚不來，必有原故。”一面猜疑，一面抬頭再看時，只見花花簇簇一群人又向怡紅院內來了。For her not to have come by this hour today, there must be a reason.' So she wondered, and as she raised her head to look again, she saw a bright, colorful crowd coming once more toward Happy Red Court.定眼看時，只見賈母搭著鳳姐兒的手，後頭邢夫人王夫人跟著周姨娘并丫鬟媳婦等人都進院去了。Fixing her eyes on them, she saw the Lady Dowager with her hand on Xifeng's arm, followed by Lady Xing and Lady Wang, with Concubine Zhou and the maids and matrons behind them, all going into the courtyard.黛玉看了不覺點頭，想起有父母的人的好處來，早又淚珠滿面。Seeing this, Daiyu nodded unconsciously, thinking of the good fortune of those who still had parents, and before she knew it her face was covered with tears again.少頃，只見寶釵薛姨媽等也進入去了。A little while later, Baochai and Aunt Xue and the others went in as well.忽見紫鵑從背後走來，說道：“姑娘吃藥去罷，開水又冷了。”黛玉道：“你到底要怎麼樣？Suddenly she saw Zijuan come up from behind her and say, 'Miss, come take your medicine — the boiled water has gone cold again.' Daiyu said, 'What is it you really want?只是催，我吃不吃，管你什麼相干！”紫鵑笑道：“咳嗽的才好了些，又不吃藥了。All you do is nag me — whether I take it or not is none of your business!' Zijuan said with a smile, 'Your cough has only just gotten a little better, and now you won't take your medicine again.如今雖然是五月里，天氣熱，到底也該還小心些。Even though it's the fifth month now and the weather is warm, you really ought to still be careful.大清早起，在這個潮地方站了半日，也該回去歇息歇息了。”一句話提醒了黛玉，方覺得有點腿酸，呆了半日，方慢慢的扶著紫鵑，回瀟湘館來。You've been standing here in this damp spot since early this morning — you really should go back and rest a while.' These words reminded Daiyu, and only then did she notice her legs were a little sore; she stood dazed for a long while, then slowly leaned on Zijuan and returned to Bamboo Lodge.

话说宝钗分明听见林黛玉刻薄他，因记挂著母亲哥哥，并不回头，一径去了。这里林黛玉还自立于花阴之下，远远的却向怡红院内望著，只见李宫裁，迎春，探春，惜春并各项人等都向怡红院内去过之后，一起一起的散尽了，只不见凤姐儿来，心里自己盘算道：“如何他不来瞧宝玉？便是有事缠住了，他必定也是要来打个花胡哨，讨老太太和太太的好儿才是。今儿这早晚不来，必有原故。”一面猜疑，一面抬头再看时，只见花花簇簇一群人又向怡红院内来了。定眼看时，只见贾母搭著凤姐儿的手，后头邢夫人王夫人跟著周姨娘并丫鬟媳妇等人都进院去了。黛玉看了不觉点头，想起有父母的人的好处来，早又泪珠满面。少顷，只见宝钗薛姨妈等也进入去了。忽见紫鹃从背后走来，说道：“姑娘吃药去罢，开水又冷了。”黛玉道：“你到底要怎么样？只是催，我吃不吃，管你什么相干！”紫鹃笑道：“咳嗽的才好了些，又不吃药了。如今虽然是五月里，天气热，到底也该还小心些。大清早起，在这个潮地方站了半日，也该回去歇息歇息了。”一句话提醒了黛玉，方觉得有点腿酸，呆了半日，方慢慢的扶著紫鹃，回潇湘馆来。

一進院門，只見滿地下竹影參差，苔痕濃淡，不覺又想起《西廂記》中所云“幽僻處可有人行，點蒼苔白露泠泠”二句來，因暗暗的歎道：“雙文，雙文，誠為命薄人矣。As soon as she entered the courtyard gate, she saw the bamboo shadows scattered unevenly across the ground and the moss marks light and dark, and she could not help recalling the two lines from The Romance of the Western Chamber: 'In this secluded spot, does anyone pass by? Only dots of dark moss and cold white dew.' Thereupon she sighed inwardly, 'Shuangwen, Shuangwen, you were truly a woman of thin fate.然你雖命薄，尚有孀母弱弟，今日林黛玉之命薄，一并連孀母弱弟俱無。Yet though your fate was thin, you still had a widowed mother and a young brother; but today Lin Daiyu's thin fate is such that she has not even a widowed mother or a young brother.古人云‘佳人命薄’，然我又非佳人，何命薄胜于雙文哉！”一面想，一面只管走，不防廊上的鸚哥見林黛玉來了，嘎的一聲扑了下來，倒嚇了一跳，因說道：“作死的，又扇了我一頭灰。”那鸚哥仍飛上架去，便叫：“雪雁，快掀帘子，姑娘來了。”黛玉便止住步，以手扣架道：“添了食水不曾？”。The ancients said, 'Fair maidens have thin fates,' but I am not even a fair maiden — how is it my fate is thinner than Shuangwen's!' So she thought as she kept on walking, when unexpectedly the parrot on the veranda, seeing Lin Daiyu approach, gave a squawk and swooped down, giving her quite a start, so that she said, 'You wretch, you've fanned a headful of dust over me again.' The parrot flew back up onto its perch and called out, 'Xueyan, hurry and lift the curtain, Miss is here.' Daiyu stopped in her tracks and, tapping the perch with her hand, said, 'Has it been given food and water yet?'那鸚哥便長歎一聲，竟大似林黛玉素日吁嗟音韻，接著念道：“儂今葬花人笑痴，他年葬儂知是誰？The parrot then gave a long sigh, sounding remarkably like the very tone of Lin Daiyu's own habitual sighing, and went on to recite: 'Today I bury the flowers, and people laugh at my folly; in years to come, who will be the one to bury me?試看春盡花漸落，便是紅顏老死時。Just watch — when spring ends and the flowers gradually fall, that will be the time when rosy cheeks grow old and die.一朝春盡紅顏老，花落人亡兩不知！”黛玉紫鵑聽了都笑起來。One morning spring will end and rosy cheeks will age; the flowers will fall and the person will die, and neither will the other know!' When Daiyu and Zijuan heard this, they both burst out laughing.紫鵑笑道：“這都是素日姑娘念的，難為他怎麼記了。”黛玉便令將架摘下來，另挂在月洞窗外的鉤上，于是進了屋子，在月洞窗內坐了。Zijuan said with a laugh, 'These are all just the lines Miss usually recites — it's remarkable that it managed to remember them.' Daiyu then had the perch taken down and hung instead on a hook outside the moon-gate window, and then went into the room and sat down inside the moon-gate window.吃畢藥，只見窗外竹影映入紗來，滿屋內陰陰翠潤，幾簟生涼。After she finished taking her medicine, she saw the bamboo shadows outside the window cast onto the gauze, filling the whole room with a shady, moist green, and a coolness rose from the table and mat.黛玉無可釋悶，便隔著紗窗調逗鸚哥作戲，又將素日所喜的詩詞也教與他念。With nothing to relieve her boredom, Daiyu amused herself by teasing the parrot through the gauze window, and also taught it to recite the poems and verses she was fond of.這且不在話下。But that is not our concern for now.

一进院门，只见满地下竹影参差，苔痕浓淡，不觉又想起《西厢记》中所云“幽僻处可有人行，点苍苔白露泠泠”二句来，因暗暗的叹道：“双文，双文，诚为命薄人矣。然你虽命薄，尚有孀母弱弟，今日林黛玉之命薄，一并连孀母弱弟俱无。古人云‘佳人命薄’，然我又非佳人，何命薄胜于双文哉！”一面想，一面只管走，不防廊上的鹦哥见林黛玉来了，嘎的一声扑了下来，倒吓了一跳，因说道：“作死的，又扇了我一头灰。”那鹦哥仍飞上架去，便叫：“雪雁，快掀帘子，姑娘来了。”黛玉便止住步，以手扣架道：“添了食水不曾？”。那鹦哥便长叹一声，竟大似林黛玉素日吁嗟音韵，接著念道：“侬今葬花人笑痴，他年葬侬知是谁？试看春尽花渐落，便是红颜老死时。一朝春尽红颜老，花落人亡两不知！”黛玉紫鹃听了都笑起来。紫鹃笑道：“这都是素日姑娘念的，难为他怎么记了。”黛玉便令将架摘下来，另挂在月洞窗外的钩上，于是进了屋子，在月洞窗内坐了。吃毕药，只见窗外竹影映入纱来，满屋内阴阴翠润，几簟生凉。黛玉无可释闷，便隔著纱窗调逗鹦哥作戏，又将素日所喜的诗词也教与他念。这且不在话下。

且說薛寶釵來至家中，只見母親正自梳頭呢。Now to speak of Xue Baochai — when she arrived home, she found her mother just then combing her hair.一見他來了，便說道：“你大清早起跑來作什麼？”寶釵道：“我瞧瞧媽身上好不好。As soon as her mother saw her come in, she said, 'What have you come running here for so early in the morning?' Baochai said, 'I came to see how you're feeling, Mother.昨兒我去了，不知他可又過來鬧了沒有？”一面說，一面在他母親身旁坐了，由不得哭將起來。After I left yesterday, I didn't know whether he came and made more trouble or not.' As she spoke, she sat down beside her mother, and could not help bursting into tears.薛姨媽見他一哭，自己撐不住，也就哭了一場，一面又勸他：“我的兒，你別委曲了，你等我處分他。Seeing her cry, Aunt Xue could not hold back herself either, and had a good cry too, while at the same time comforting her: 'My child, don't feel so wronged — just wait, I'll deal with him.你要有個好歹，我指望那一個來！”薛蟠在外邊聽見，連忙跑了過來，對著寶釵，左一個揖，右一個揖，只說：“好妹妹，恕我這一次罷！If anything should happen to you, who else would I have to depend on!' Xue Pan, overhearing this from outside, hurried in, and bowing to Baochai left and right, said over and over, 'Good sister, forgive me this once!原是我昨兒吃了酒，回來的晚了，路上撞客著了，來家未醒，不知胡說了什麼，連自己也不知道，怨不得你生氣。”寶釵原是掩面哭的，聽如此說，由不得又好笑了，遂抬頭向地下啐了一口，說道：“你不用做這些像生兒。It's just that I'd been drinking yesterday and came home late, and I must have run into some evil spirit on the road, so that I hadn't sobered up by the time I got home, and I don't know what nonsense I talked — I don't even know myself, so no wonder you're angry.' Baochai had been crying with her face covered, but hearing this she could not help but find it funny too, and raising her head she spat on the floor and said, 'You needn't put on this little performance.我知道你的心里多嫌我們娘兒兩個，是要變著法兒叫我們離了你，你就心淨了。”薛蟠聽說，連忙笑道：“妹妹這話從那里說起來的，這樣我連立足之地都沒了。I know perfectly well that in your heart you resent the two of us, mother and daughter, and you're scheming one way or another to make us leave you, so you can finally have your peace.' Hearing this, Xue Pan hastily said with a laugh, 'Sister, wherever did you get such an idea — if it's like this, I won't have a leg to stand on.妹妹從來不是這樣多心說歪話的人。”薛姨媽忙又接著道：“你只會聽見你妹妹的歪話，難道昨兒晚上你說的那話就應該的不成？Sister has never before been the kind of person to be so suspicious and speak such crooked words.' Aunt Xue hastily broke in, 'All you can do is hear your sister's "crooked words" — was what you said last night, then, perfectly proper?當真是你發昏了！”薛蟠道：“媽也不必生氣，妹妹也不用煩惱，從今以後我再不同他們一處吃酒閒逛如何？”寶釵笑道：“這不明白過來了！”薛姨媽道：“你要有這個橫勁，那龍也下蛋了。”薛蟠道：“我若再和他們一處逛，妹妹聽見了只管啐我，再叫我畜生，不是人，如何？You really must have taken leave of your senses!' Xue Pan said, 'Mother, there's no need to be angry, and Sister needn't worry either — from now on I won't go drinking and idling about with those people anymore, how about that?' Baochai said with a smile, 'Now isn't that seeing sense at last!' Aunt Xue said, 'If you actually had that kind of resolve, dragons would be laying eggs.' Xue Pan said, 'If I ever go carousing with them again, Sister, you just spit on me the moment you hear of it, and call me a beast, not fit to be human — how would that be?何苦來，為我一個人，娘兒兩個天天操心！What's the use of it all — over me alone, the two of you, mother and daughter, worrying yourselves day after day!媽為我生氣還有可恕，若只管叫妹妹為我操心，我更不是人了。If Mother gets angry over me, that can still be forgiven, but if I keep making Sister worry over me too, then I'm even less than human.如今父親沒了，我不能多孝順媽多疼妹妹，反教娘生氣妹妹煩惱，真連個畜生也不如了。”口里說著，眼睛里禁不起也滾下淚來。Now that Father is gone, instead of being more filial to Mother and more caring toward Sister, I make Mother angry and Sister troubled — I'm truly not even as good as a beast.' As he spoke, tears could not help rolling down from his eyes too.薛姨媽本不哭了，聽他一說又勾起傷心來。Aunt Xue had already stopped crying, but hearing him say this stirred up her sorrow again.寶釵勉強笑道：“你鬧夠了，這會子又招著媽哭起來了。”薛蟠聽說，忙收了淚，笑道：“我何曾招媽哭來！Baochai forced a smile and said, 'Haven't you carried on enough — now you've gone and set Mother off crying again.' Hearing this, Xue Pan hastily wiped away his tears and said with a laugh, 'When did I ever set Mother off crying!罷，罷，罷，丟下這個別提了。Enough, enough, enough — let's drop this and not mention it anymore.叫香菱來倒茶妹妹吃。”寶釵道：“我也不吃茶，等媽洗了手，我們就過去了。”薛蟠道：“妹妹的項圈我瞧瞧，只怕該炸一炸去了。”寶釵道：“黃澄澄的又炸他作什麼？”薛蟠又道：“妹妹如今也該添補些衣裳了。Let me call Xiangling to pour Sister some tea.' Baochai said, 'I won't have tea either — as soon as Mother finishes washing her hands, we'll go over.' Xue Pan said, 'Let me have a look at Sister's necklace — I'm afraid it needs to be re-polished.' Baochai said, 'It's still bright golden — why would it need polishing?' Xue Pan went on, 'Sister ought to have some more clothes made up now too.要什麼顏色花樣，告訴我。”寶釵道：“連那些衣服我還沒穿遍了，又做什麼？”一時薛姨媽換了衣裳，拉著寶釵進去，薛蟠方出去了。Tell me what colors and patterns you'd like.' Baochai said, 'I haven't even finished wearing through the clothes I already have — why make more?' In a little while Aunt Xue changed her clothes and, taking Baochai by the hand, went inside, and only then did Xue Pan go out.

且说薛宝钗来至家中，只见母亲正自梳头呢。一见他来了，便说道：“你大清早起跑来作什么？”宝钗道：“我瞧瞧妈身上好不好。昨儿我去了，不知他可又过来闹了没有？”一面说，一面在他母亲身旁坐了，由不得哭将起来。薛姨妈见他一哭，自己撑不住，也就哭了一场，一面又劝他：“我的儿，你别委曲了，你等我处分他。你要有个好歹，我指望那一个来！”薛蟠在外边听见，连忙跑了过来，对著宝钗，左一个揖，右一个揖，只说：“好妹妹，恕我这一次罢！原是我昨儿吃了酒，回来的晚了，路上撞客著了，来家未醒，不知胡说了什么，连自己也不知道，怨不得你生气。”宝钗原是掩面哭的，听如此说，由不得又好笑了，遂抬头向地下啐了一口，说道：“你不用做这些像生儿。我知道你的心里多嫌我们娘儿两个，是要变著法儿叫我们离了你，你就心净了。”薛蟠听说，连忙笑道：“妹妹这话从那里说起来的，这样我连立足之地都没了。妹妹从来不是这样多心说歪话的人。”薛姨妈忙又接著道：“你只会听见你妹妹的歪话，难道昨儿晚上你说的那话就应该的不成？当真是你发昏了！”薛蟠道：“妈也不必生气，妹妹也不用烦恼，从今以后我再不同他们一处吃酒闲逛如何？”宝钗笑道：“这不明白过来了！”薛姨妈道：“你要有这个横劲，那龙也下蛋了。”薛蟠道：“我若再和他们一处逛，妹妹听见了只管啐我，再叫我畜生，不是人，如何？何苦来，为我一个人，娘儿两个天天操心！妈为我生气还有可恕，若只管叫妹妹为我操心，我更不是人了。如今父亲没了，我不能多孝顺妈多疼妹妹，反教娘生气妹妹烦恼，真连个畜生也不如了。”口里说著，眼睛里禁不起也滚下泪来。薛姨妈本不哭了，听他一说又勾起伤心来。宝钗勉强笑道：“你闹够了，这会子又招著妈哭起来了。”薛蟠听说，忙收了泪，笑道：“我何曾招妈哭来！罢，罢，罢，丢下这个别提了。叫香菱来倒茶妹妹吃。”宝钗道：“我也不吃茶，等妈洗了手，我们就过去了。”薛蟠道：“妹妹的项圈我瞧瞧，只怕该炸一炸去了。”宝钗道：“黄澄澄的又炸他作什么？”薛蟠又道：“妹妹如今也该添补些衣裳了。要什么颜色花样，告诉我。”宝钗道：“连那些衣服我还没穿遍了，又做什么？”一时薛姨妈换了衣裳，拉著宝钗进去，薛蟠方出去了。

這里薛姨媽和寶釵進園來瞧寶玉，到了怡紅院中，只見抱廈里外回廊上許多丫鬟老婆站著，便知賈母等都在這里。Here Aunt Xue and Baochai went into the Garden to see Baoyu, and on reaching Happy Red Court they saw many maids and matrons standing about in the lean-to and along the surrounding veranda, and so knew that the Lady Dowager and the others were all there.母女兩個進來，大家見過了，只見寶玉躺在榻上。The mother and daughter went in, and after everyone had exchanged greetings, they saw Baoyu lying on the couch.薛姨媽問他可好些。Aunt Xue asked him whether he was feeling any better.寶玉忙欲欠身，口裡答應著：“好些。”又說：“只管驚動姨娘姐姐，我當不起。”薛姨媽忙扶他睡下，又問他：“想要什麼，只管告訴我。”寶玉笑道：“我想起來，自然和姨娘要去的。”王夫人又問：“你想什麼吃？Baoyu hastily tried to raise himself up, answering, 'Better,' and adding, 'To keep troubling you and Sister like this — I really don't deserve it.' Aunt Xue quickly helped him lie back down, and asked him again, 'If there's anything you want, just tell me.' Baoyu said with a smile, 'If I think of something, I'll naturally come and ask you, Aunt.' Lady Wang then asked, 'What would you like to eat?回來好給你送來的。”寶玉笑道：“也倒不想什麼吃，倒是那一回做的那小荷葉兒小蓮蓬兒的湯還好些。”鳳姐一旁笑道：“聽聽，口味不算高貴，只是太磨牙了。Tell me, so it can be sent to you later.' Baoyu said with a smile, 'There's nothing in particular I want to eat, though that soup with the little lotus leaves and little lotus pods that was made once before was rather good.' Xifeng put in with a laugh, 'Just listen to that — the taste isn't especially extravagant, it's just terribly fussy to make.巴巴的想這個吃了。”賈母便一疊聲的叫人做去。Of all things, he had to go and crave that.' The Lady Dowager at once called out repeatedly for someone to go make it.鳳姐兒笑道：“老祖宗別急，等我想一想這模子誰收著呢。”因回頭吩咐個婆子去問管廚房的要去。Xifeng said with a laugh, 'Old Ancestress, don't be in such a hurry — let me think a moment who has the molds put away.' So saying, she turned and told a matron to go ask whoever was in charge of the kitchen for them.那婆子去了半天，來回說：“管廚房的說，四副湯模子都交上來了。”鳳姐兒聽說，想了一想，道：“我記得交給誰了，多半在茶房里。”一面又遣人去問管茶房的，也不曾收。The matron was gone a good while and came back to report, 'The one in charge of the kitchen says all four sets of soup molds were already handed over.' Hearing this, Xifeng thought for a moment and said, 'I remember handing them to someone — most likely they're in the tea pantry.' She then sent someone else to ask whoever was in charge of the tea pantry, but they had not received them either.次後還是管金銀器皿的送了來。In the end it was the one in charge of the gold and silver vessels who finally brought them.

这里薛姨妈和宝钗进园来瞧宝玉，到了怡红院中，只见抱厦里外回廊上许多丫鬟老婆站著，便知贾母等都在这里。母女两个进来，大家见过了，只见宝玉躺在榻上。薛姨妈问他可好些。宝玉忙欲欠身，口里答应著：“好些。”又说：“只管惊动姨娘姐姐，我当不起。”薛姨妈忙扶他睡下，又问他：“想要什么，只管告诉我。”宝玉笑道：“我想起来，自然和姨娘要去的。”王夫人又问：“你想什么吃？回来好给你送来的。”宝玉笑道：“也倒不想什么吃，倒是那一回做的那小荷叶儿小莲蓬儿的汤还好些。”凤姐一旁笑道：“听听，口味不算高贵，只是太磨牙了。巴巴的想这个吃了。”贾母便一叠声的叫人做去。凤姐儿笑道：“老祖宗别急，等我想一想这模子谁收著呢。”因回头吩咐个婆子去问管厨房的要去。那婆子去了半天，来回说：“管厨房的说，四副汤模子都交上来了。”凤姐儿听说，想了一想，道：“我记得交给谁了，多半在茶房里。”一面又遣人去问管茶房的，也不曾收。次后还是管金银器皿的送了来。

薛姨媽先接過來瞧時，原來是個小匣子，里面裝著四副銀模子，都有一尺多長，一寸見方，上面鑿著有豆子大小，也有菊花的，也有梅花的，也有蓮蓬的，也有菱角的，共有三四十樣，打的十分精巧。Aunt Xue was the first to take it and look — it turned out to be a small case, inside which were four sets of silver molds, each more than a foot long and an inch square, engraved with shapes about the size of a bean: some in the form of chrysanthemums, some plum blossoms, some lotus pods, some water chestnuts — thirty or forty designs in all, wrought with great delicacy.因笑向賈母王夫人道：“你們府上也都想絕了，吃碗湯還有這些樣子。So she said with a laugh to the Lady Dowager and Lady Wang, 'Your household really does think of everything — even a bowl of soup has all these fancy shapes.若不說出來，我見這個也不認得這是作什麼用的。”鳳姐兒也不等人說話，便笑道：“姑媽那里曉得，這是舊年備膳，他們想的法兒。If no one had told me, I wouldn't even have recognized what these were for.' Xifeng, without waiting for anyone else to speak, said with a laugh, 'How would Auntie know — this was something they thought up last year when preparing a meal.不知弄些什麼面印出來，借點新荷葉的清香，全仗著好湯，究竟沒意思，誰家常吃他了。Some kind of dough was pressed out with these, to borrow a bit of the fresh fragrance of new lotus leaves, but it all really depends on the soup being good — in the end it's not much to speak of, and who would eat it as an everyday thing.那一回呈樣的作了一回，他今日怎麼想起來了。”說著接了過來，遞與個婦人，吩咐廚房里立刻拿幾只雞，另外添了東西，做出十來碗來。That time it was only made once, as a sample to be shown — how is it he's thought of it again today?' So saying, she took the case and handed it to a matron, instructing the kitchen to take a few chickens at once, add other ingredients besides, and make up some ten bowls.王夫人道：“要這些做什麼？”鳳姐兒笑道：“有個原故：這一宗東西家常不大作，今兒寶兄弟提起來了，單做給他吃，老太太，姑媽，太太都不吃，似乎不大好。Lady Wang said, 'What do we need so much for?' Xifeng said with a smile, 'There's a reason for it: this sort of thing isn't often made at home, and today, now that Cousin Bao has brought it up, if it were made only for him to eat while the Old Ancestress, Auntie, and Madam all had none, that wouldn't seem quite right.不如借勢兒弄些大家吃，托賴連我也上個俊兒。”賈母聽了，笑道：“猴兒，把你乖的！Better to take the occasion to make enough for everyone to share, and thanks to that I get to look good too.' Hearing this, the Lady Dowager laughed and said, 'You little monkey, aren't you the clever one!拿著官中的錢你做人。”說的大家笑了。Using the household's common funds to buy yourself credit.' This made everyone laugh.鳳姐也忙笑道：“這不相干。Xifeng too hastily said with a laugh, 'That's no matter at all.這個小東道我還孝敬的起。”便回頭吩咐婦人，”說給廚房里，只管好生添補著做了，在我的帳上來領銀子。”婦人答應著去了。This little treat I can well afford to offer myself.' Then she turned and instructed the matron, 'Tell the kitchen to go ahead and add whatever is needed to make it properly, and to draw the silver against my account.' The matron assented and left.

薛姨妈先接过来瞧时，原来是个小匣子，里面装著四副银模子，都有一尺多长，一寸见方，上面凿著有豆子大小，也有菊花的，也有梅花的，也有莲蓬的，也有菱角的，共有三四十样，打的十分精巧。因笑向贾母王夫人道：“你们府上也都想绝了，吃碗汤还有这些样子。若不说出来，我见这个也不认得这是作什么用的。”凤姐儿也不等人说话，便笑道：“姑妈那里晓得，这是旧年备膳，他们想的法儿。不知弄些什么面印出来，借点新荷叶的清香，全仗著好汤，究竟没意思，谁家常吃他了。那一回呈样的作了一回，他今日怎么想起来了。”说著接了过来，递与个妇人，吩咐厨房里立刻拿几只鸡，另外添了东西，做出十来碗来。王夫人道：“要这些做什么？”凤姐儿笑道：“有个原故：这一宗东西家常不大作，今儿宝兄弟提起来了，单做给他吃，老太太，姑妈，太太都不吃，似乎不大好。不如借势儿弄些大家吃，托赖连我也上个俊儿。”贾母听了，笑道：“猴儿，把你乖的！拿著官中的钱你做人。”说的大家笑了。凤姐也忙笑道：“这不相干。这个小东道我还孝敬的起。”便回头吩咐妇人，”说给厨房里，只管好生添补著做了，在我的帐上来领银子。”妇人答应著去了。

寶釵一旁笑道：“我來了這麼幾年，留神看起來，鳳丫頭憑他怎麼巧，再巧不過老太太去。”賈母聽說，便答道：“我如今老了，那里還巧什麼。Baochai said from the side with a laugh, 'In all the years I've been here, watching closely, however clever Xifeng may be, she can never be cleverer than the Old Ancestress.' Hearing this, the Lady Dowager answered, 'I'm old now — what cleverness could I still have.當日我象鳳哥兒這麼大年紀，比他還來得呢。In my day, when I was about Xifeng's age, I could outdo even her.他如今雖說不如我們，也就算好了，比你姨娘強遠了。As for her, though she's said to be no match for us, she's already quite good enough, far better than your aunt.你姨娘可怜見的，不大說話，和木頭似的，在公婆跟前就不大顯好。Your aunt, poor thing, doesn't talk much, and is like a block of wood — in front of her parents-in-law she never showed to much advantage.鳳兒嘴乖，怎麼怨得人疼他。”寶玉笑道：“若這麼說，不大說話的就不疼了？”賈母道：“不大說話的又有不大說話的可疼之處，嘴乖的也有一宗可嫌的，倒不如不說話的好。”寶玉笑道：“這就是了。Xifeng has a sweet tongue, so how could anyone help but dote on her?' Baoyu said with a smile, 'If that's so, then does that mean people who don't talk much aren't doted on?' The Lady Dowager said, 'Those who don't talk much have their own lovable points too, and those with sweet tongues have their objectionable side as well — it's really better to be the quiet sort.' Baoyu said with a smile, 'That settles it then.我說大嫂子倒不大說話呢，老太太也是和鳳姐姐的一樣看待。I did say Cousin Li doesn't talk much, yet the Old Ancestress treats her just the same as Cousin Feng.若是單是會說話的可疼，這些姊妹里頭也只是鳳姐姐和林妹妹可疼了。”賈母道：“提起姊妹，不是我當著姨太太的面奉承，千真萬真，從我們家四個女孩兒算起，全不如寶丫頭。”薛姨媽聽說，忙笑道：“這話是老太太說偏了。”王夫人忙又笑道：“老太太時常背地里和我說寶丫頭好，這倒不是假話。”寶玉勾著賈母原為贊林黛玉的，不想反贊起寶釵來，倒也意出望外，便看著寶釵一笑。If only those who are good talkers were to be doted on, then among all these sisters it would only be Cousin Feng and Cousin Lin who deserved it.' The Lady Dowager said, 'Speaking of the sisters, I'm not just flattering you to your face, Aunt — it's the plain truth: counting from our own four girls on down, not one of them matches up to Baochai.' Hearing this, Aunt Xue hastily said with a laugh, 'That's the Old Ancestress being partial in her words.' Lady Wang too hastily said with a laugh, 'The Old Ancestress often tells me privately how good Baochai is — that's certainly no lie.' Baoyu had been leading the Lady Dowager on in hopes of getting her to praise Lin Daiyu, and had not expected her to end up praising Baochai instead; taken quite by surprise, he looked over at Baochai and smiled.寶釵早扭過頭去和襲人說話去了。But Baochai had already turned her head away and was talking with Xiren.忽有人來請吃飯，賈母方立起身來，命寶玉好生養著，又把丫頭們囑咐了一回，方扶著鳳姐兒，讓著薛姨媽，大家出房去了。Just then someone came to announce that the meal was ready, and the Lady Dowager at last rose to her feet, told Baoyu to take good care of himself, and after giving the maids some further instructions, leaned on Xifeng and, with Aunt Xue at her side, led everyone out of the room.因問湯好了不曾，又問薛姨媽等：“想什麼吃，只管告訴我，我有本事叫鳳丫頭弄了來咱們吃。”薛姨媽笑道：“老太太也會慪他的。She asked whether the soup was ready yet, and also asked Aunt Xue and the others, 'If there's anything you'd like to eat, just tell me — I have the means to get Xifeng to make it for us.' Aunt Xue said with a laugh, 'The Old Ancestress does love to tease her.時常他弄了東西孝敬，究竟又吃不了多少。”鳳姐兒笑道：“姑媽倒別這樣說。She's always fixing something to offer you out of respect, and in the end you can't really eat much of it anyway.' Xifeng said with a laugh, 'Auntie, please don't say that.我們老祖宗只是嫌人肉酸，若不嫌人肉酸，早已把我還吃了呢。”Our Old Ancestress only objects that human flesh is too sour-tasting — if she didn't mind the sourness of human flesh, she would have eaten me up long ago!

宝钗一旁笑道：“我来了这么几年，留神看起来，凤丫头凭他怎么巧，再巧不过老太太去。”贾母听说，便答道：“我如今老了，那里还巧什么。当日我象凤哥儿这么大年纪，比他还来得呢。他如今虽说不如我们，也就算好了，比你姨娘强远了。你姨娘可怜见的，不大说话，和木头似的，在公婆跟前就不大显好。凤儿嘴乖，怎么怨得人疼他。”宝玉笑道：“若这么说，不大说话的就不疼了？”贾母道：“不大说话的又有不大说话的可疼之处，嘴乖的也有一宗可嫌的，倒不如不说话的好。”宝玉笑道：“这就是了。我说大嫂子倒不大说话呢，老太太也是和凤姐姐的一样看待。若是单是会说话的可疼，这些姊妹里头也只是凤姐姐和林妹妹可疼了。”贾母道：“提起姊妹，不是我当著姨太太的面奉承，千真万真，从我们家四个女孩儿算起，全不如宝丫头。”薛姨妈听说，忙笑道：“这话是老太太说偏了。”王夫人忙又笑道：“老太太时常背地里和我说宝丫头好，这倒不是假话。”宝玉勾著贾母原为赞林黛玉的，不想反赞起宝钗来，倒也意出望外，便看著宝钗一笑。宝钗早扭过头去和袭人说话去了。忽有人来请吃饭，贾母方立起身来，命宝玉好生养著，又把丫头们嘱咐了一回，方扶著凤姐儿，让著薛姨妈，大家出房去了。因问汤好了不曾，又问薛姨妈等：“想什么吃，只管告诉我，我有本事叫凤丫头弄了来咱们吃。”薛姨妈笑道：“老太太也会怄他的。时常他弄了东西孝敬，究竟又吃不了多少。”凤姐儿笑道：“姑妈倒别这样说。我们老祖宗只是嫌人肉酸，若不嫌人肉酸，早已把我还吃了呢。”

一句話沒說了，引的賈母眾人都哈哈的笑起來。Before she had even finished this sentence, it set the Lady Dowager and everyone else laughing heartily.寶玉在房里也撐不住笑了。Even Baoyu, back in his room, could not help laughing too.襲人笑道：“真真的二奶奶的這張嘴怕死人！”寶玉伸手拉著襲人笑道：“你站了這半日，可乏了？”一面說，一面拉他身旁坐了。Xiren said with a laugh, 'Really, Second Mistress's tongue is enough to scare a person to death!' Baoyu reached out and, taking hold of Xiren's hand with a smile, said, 'You've been standing all this while — aren't you tired?' As he spoke, he pulled her down to sit beside him.襲人笑道：“可是又忘了。Xiren said with a laugh, 'Ah, I nearly forgot again.趁寶姑娘在院子里，你和他說，煩他鶯兒來打上幾根絡子。”寶玉笑道：“虧你提起來。”說著，便仰頭向窗外道：“寶姐姐，吃過飯叫鶯兒來，煩他打幾根絡子，可得閒兒？”寶釵聽見，回頭道：“怎麼不得閒兒，一會叫他來就是了。”賈母等尚未聽真，都止步問寶釵。While Miss Bao is still in the courtyard, speak to her and ask if she'd trouble Yingr to come and braid a few netted cords.' Baoyu said with a smile, 'Good thing you brought it up.' So saying, he raised his head toward the window and called out, 'Sister Bao, after you've eaten, would you send Yingr over — could I trouble her to braid a few cords, if she has the time?' Baochai, hearing this, turned her head and said, 'Of course she has the time — I'll just have her come over shortly.' The Lady Dowager and the others had not caught it clearly, and all stopped to ask Baochai what was said.寶釵說明了，大家方明白。Once Baochai explained, everyone understood.賈母又說道：“好孩子，叫他來替你兄弟作幾根。The Lady Dowager then said, 'Good child, have her come and make a few for your cousin.你要無人使喚，我那里閒著的丫頭多呢，你喜歡誰，只管叫了來使喚。”薛姨媽寶釵等都笑道：“只管叫他來作就是了，有什麼使喚的去處。If you're short of hands, I have plenty of idle maids on my side — whichever one you like, just call her over to use.' Aunt Xue, Baochai, and the others all said with a laugh, 'Just have her come and do it — there's no need to trouble about other hands.他天天也是閒著淘氣。”She's idle and up to mischief every day anyway.

一句话没说了，引的贾母众人都哈哈的笑起来。宝玉在房里也撑不住笑了。袭人笑道：“真真的二奶奶的这张嘴怕死人！”宝玉伸手拉著袭人笑道：“你站了这半日，可乏了？”一面说，一面拉他身旁坐了。袭人笑道：“可是又忘了。趁宝姑娘在院子里，你和他说，烦他莺儿来打上几根络子。”宝玉笑道：“亏你提起来。”说著，便仰头向窗外道：“宝姐姐，吃过饭叫莺儿来，烦他打几根络子，可得闲儿？”宝钗听见，回头道：“怎么不得闲儿，一会叫他来就是了。”贾母等尚未听真，都止步问宝钗。宝钗说明了，大家方明白。贾母又说道：“好孩子，叫他来替你兄弟作几根。你要无人使唤，我那里闲著的丫头多呢，你喜欢谁，只管叫了来使唤。”薛姨妈宝钗等都笑道：“只管叫他来作就是了，有什么使唤的去处。他天天也是闲著淘气。”

大家說著，往前邁步正走，忽見史湘雲，平兒，香菱等在山石邊掐鳳仙花呢，見了他們走來，都迎上來了。As they talked and walked on, they suddenly saw Shi Xiangyun, Pinger, Xiangling, and the others picking touch-me-not blossoms by the rockery; seeing them coming, they all came forward to meet them.少頃至園外，王夫人恐賈母乏了，便欲讓至上房內坐。In a little while, once they were outside the Garden, Lady Wang, fearing the Lady Dowager might be tired, wished to have her come sit in the main hall.賈母也覺腿酸，便點頭依允。The Lady Dowager too felt her legs were sore, and nodded her assent.王夫人便令丫頭忙先去舖設坐位。Lady Wang then had the maids hurry ahead to arrange the seats.那時趙姨娘推病，只有周姨娘與眾婆娘丫頭們忙著打帘子，立靠背，舖褥子。At that time Concubine Zhao had pleaded illness, and it was only Concubine Zhou together with the matrons and maids who were busy raising the curtains, setting up backrests, and spreading the cushions.賈母扶著鳳姐兒進來，與薛姨媽分賓主坐了。The Lady Dowager, leaning on Xifeng, came in and sat down with Aunt Xue, one as host and one as guest.薛寶釵史湘雲坐在下面。Xue Baochai and Shi Xiangyun sat below.王夫人親捧了茶奉與賈母，李宮裁奉與薛姨媽。Lady Wang herself carried the tea and presented it to the Lady Dowager, while Li Gongcai presented it to Aunt Xue.賈母向王夫人道：“讓他們小妯娌伏侍，你在那里坐了，好說話兒。”王夫人方向一張小杌子上坐下，便吩咐鳳姐兒道：“老太太的飯在這里放，添了東西來。”鳳姐兒答應出去，便令人去賈母那邊告訴，那邊的婆娘忙往外傳了，丫頭們忙都赶過來。The Lady Dowager said to Lady Wang, 'Let the young daughters-in-law attend to things — you sit down over there, so we can talk properly.' Only then did Lady Wang sit down on a small stool, and she instructed Xifeng, 'Set the Old Ancestress's meal out here, and bring some extra dishes.' Xifeng assented and went out, and had someone go tell the Lady Dowager's quarters; the matrons there hurried to pass the word on outside, and the maids all hastened over.王夫人便令“請姑娘們去”。Lady Wang then gave the order, 'Go invite the young ladies.'請了半天，只有探春惜春兩個來了，迎春身上不耐煩，不吃飯，林黛玉自不消說，平素十頓飯只好吃五頓，眾人也不著意了。After a good while of inviting, only Tanchun and Xichun came; Yingchun was feeling unwell and did not eat, and as for Lin Daiyu, it goes without saying — ordinarily out of ten meals she could manage only five, so no one paid it any particular mind.少頃飯至，眾人調放了桌子。Presently the food arrived, and everyone arranged the tables.鳳姐兒用手巾裹著一把牙箸站在地下，笑道：“老祖宗和姑媽不用讓，還聽我說就是了。”賈母笑向薛姨媽道：“我們就是這樣。”薛姨媽笑著應了。Xifeng, wrapping a bundle of ivory chopsticks in a napkin, stood on the floor and said with a laugh, 'Old Ancestress and Auntie, there's no need to defer to each other — just listen to what I say.' The Lady Dowager said to Aunt Xue with a laugh, 'That's just how we do things here.' Aunt Xue laughingly agreed.于是鳳姐放了四雙：上面兩雙是賈母薛姨媽，兩邊是薛寶釵史湘雲的。So Xifeng set out four pairs: the two at the head of the table for the Lady Dowager and Aunt Xue, and the two at the sides for Xue Baochai and Shi Xiangyun.王夫人李宮裁等都站在地下看著放菜。Lady Wang, Li Gongcai, and the others all stood on the floor watching as the dishes were set out.鳳姐先忙著要乾淨家伙來，替寶玉揀菜。Xifeng busied herself first with getting clean utensils, to pick out food for Baoyu.

大家说著，往前迈步正走，忽见史湘云，平儿，香菱等在山石边掐凤仙花呢，见了他们走来，都迎上来了。少顷至园外，王夫人恐贾母乏了，便欲让至上房内坐。贾母也觉腿酸，便点头依允。王夫人便令丫头忙先去铺设坐位。那时赵姨娘推病，只有周姨娘与众婆娘丫头们忙著打帘子，立靠背，铺褥子。贾母扶著凤姐儿进来，与薛姨妈分宾主坐了。薛宝钗史湘云坐在下面。王夫人亲捧了茶奉与贾母，李宫裁奉与薛姨妈。贾母向王夫人道：“让他们小妯娌伏侍，你在那里坐了，好说话儿。”王夫人方向一张小杌子上坐下，便吩咐凤姐儿道：“老太太的饭在这里放，添了东西来。”凤姐儿答应出去，便令人去贾母那边告诉，那边的婆娘忙往外传了，丫头们忙都赶过来。王夫人便令“请姑娘们去”。请了半天，只有探春惜春两个来了，迎春身上不耐烦，不吃饭，林黛玉自不消说，平素十顿饭只好吃五顿，众人也不著意了。少顷饭至，众人调放了桌子。凤姐儿用手巾裹著一把牙箸站在地下，笑道：“老祖宗和姑妈不用让，还听我说就是了。”贾母笑向薛姨妈道：“我们就是这样。”薛姨妈笑著应了。于是凤姐放了四双：上面两双是贾母薛姨妈，两边是薛宝钗史湘云的。王夫人李宫裁等都站在地下看著放菜。凤姐先忙著要干净家伙来，替宝玉拣菜。

少頃，荷葉湯來，賈母看過了。Presently the lotus-leaf soup arrived, and the Lady Dowager looked it over.王夫人回頭見玉釧兒在那邊，便令玉釧與寶玉送去。Lady Wang, turning her head and seeing Yuchuan over there, told her to take it to Baoyu.鳳姐道：“他一個人拿不去。”可巧鶯兒和喜兒都來了。Xifeng said, 'She can't carry it all by herself.' Just then, as it happened, Yingr and Xier both arrived.寶釵知道他們已吃了飯，便向鶯兒道：“寶兄弟正叫你去打絡子，你們兩個一同去罷。”鶯兒答應，同著玉釧兒出來。Baochai, knowing they had already eaten, said to Yingr, 'Cousin Bao was just asking for you to go braid some cords — the two of you go together.' Yingr assented, and went out together with Yuchuan.鶯兒道：“這麼遠，怪熱的，怎麼端了去？”玉釧笑道：“你放心，我自有道理。”說著，便令一個婆子來，將湯飯等物放在一個捧盒里，令他端了跟著，他兩個卻空著手走。Yingr said, 'It's so far, and terribly hot besides — how are we to carry it there?' Yuchuan said with a smile, 'Don't worry, I have my own way of managing it.' So saying, she had a matron come, put the soup and rice and the rest into a carrying box, and had her bring it along following them, while the two of them walked along empty-handed.一直到了怡紅院門內，玉釧兒方接了過來，同鶯兒進入寶玉房中。Not until they reached inside the gate of Happy Red Court did Yuchuan take the box over herself, and then went with Yingr into Baoyu's room.襲人，麝月，秋紋三個人正和寶玉頑笑呢，見他兩個來了，都忙起來，笑道：“你兩個怎麼來的這麼碰巧，一齊來了。”一面說，一面接了下來。Xiren, Sheyue, and Qiuwen were just then joking and laughing with Baoyu; seeing the two of them come in, they all hastily rose, saying with a laugh, 'How did the two of you happen to come at just the same time?' As they spoke, they took the things from her.玉釧便向一張杌子上坐了，鶯兒不敢坐下。Yuchuan then went and sat down on a stool, but Yingr did not dare to sit.襲人便忙端了個腳踏來，鶯兒還不敢坐。Xiren hastily brought over a footstool, but Yingr still did not dare to sit.寶玉見鶯兒來了，卻倒十分歡喜，忽見了玉釧兒，便想到他姐姐金釧兒身上，又是傷心，又是慚愧，便把鶯兒丟下，且和玉釧兒說話。Baoyu, seeing Yingr had come, was in fact quite delighted, but the moment he caught sight of Yuchuan, his thoughts turned to her elder sister Jinchuan, and he felt both grief and shame; so he set Yingr aside for the moment and spoke instead with Yuchuan.襲人見把鶯兒不理，恐鶯兒沒好意思的，又見鶯兒不肯坐，便拉了鶯兒出來，到那邊房里去吃茶說話兒去了。Xiren, seeing Yingr left unattended and fearing she might feel awkward, and seeing too that Yingr would not sit down, drew her out and took her to the room on the other side to have tea and talk.

少顷，荷叶汤来，贾母看过了。王夫人回头见玉钏儿在那边，便令玉钏与宝玉送去。凤姐道：“他一个人拿不去。”可巧莺儿和喜儿都来了。宝钗知道他们已吃了饭，便向莺儿道：“宝兄弟正叫你去打络子，你们两个一同去罢。”莺儿答应，同著玉钏儿出来。莺儿道：“这么远，怪热的，怎么端了去？”玉钏笑道：“你放心，我自有道理。”说著，便令一个婆子来，将汤饭等物放在一个捧盒里，令他端了跟著，他两个却空著手走。一直到了怡红院门内，玉钏儿方接了过来，同莺儿进入宝玉房中。袭人，麝月，秋纹三个人正和宝玉顽笑呢，见他两个来了，都忙起来，笑道：“你两个怎么来的这么碰巧，一齐来了。”一面说，一面接了下来。玉钏便向一张杌子上坐了，莺儿不敢坐下。袭人便忙端了个脚踏来，莺儿还不敢坐。宝玉见莺儿来了，却倒十分欢喜，忽见了玉钏儿，便想到他姐姐金钏儿身上，又是伤心，又是惭愧，便把莺儿丢下，且和玉钏儿说话。袭人见把莺儿不理，恐莺儿没好意思的，又见莺儿不肯坐，便拉了莺儿出来，到那边房里去吃茶说话儿去了。

這里麝月等預備了碗箸來伺候吃飯。Here Sheyue and the others got the bowls and chopsticks ready to attend Baoyu at his meal.寶玉只是不吃，問玉釧兒道：“你母親身子好？”玉釧兒滿臉怒色，正眼也不看寶玉，半日，方說了一個“好”字。But Baoyu simply would not eat, and asked Yuchuan, 'Is your mother keeping well?' Yuchuan, her face full of anger, would not even look straight at Baoyu, and only after a long while did she utter the single word 'Well.'寶玉便覺沒趣，半日，只得又陪笑問道：“誰叫你給我送來的？”玉釧兒道：“不過是奶奶太太們！”寶玉見他還是這樣哭喪，便知他是為金釧兒的原故，待要虛心下氣磨轉他，又見人多，不好下氣的，因而變盡方法，將人都支出去，然後又陪笑問長問短。Baoyu felt quite put out at this, and after a long while had no choice but to force a smile and ask again, 'Who was it that told you to bring this to me?' Yuchuan said, 'Who else but the mistresses and ladies!' Seeing that she still looked so sullen, Baoyu knew it was on account of Jinchuan, and wanted to humble himself and soften his manner to win her around, but seeing there were too many people about, he found it awkward to be so accommodating; so he used every means to send everyone else away, and only then, smiling, began asking her all sorts of things.那玉釧兒先雖不悅，只管見寶玉一些性子沒有，憑他怎麼喪謗，他還是溫存和氣，自己倒不好意思的了，臉上方有三分喜色。Yuchuan, though displeased at first, seeing that Baoyu showed not the least temper no matter how sullenly she scowled at him and remained gentle and mild throughout, gradually felt embarrassed herself, and a trace of pleasure at last appeared on her face.寶玉便笑求他：“好姐姐，你把那湯拿了來我嘗嘗。”玉釧兒道：“我從不會喂人東西，等他們來了再吃。”寶玉笑道：“我不是要你喂我。Baoyu then begged her with a smile, 'Good sister, bring me that soup so I can have a taste.' Yuchuan said, 'I've never been one to feed people — wait until the others come back and eat then.' Baoyu said with a smile, 'I'm not asking you to feed me.我因為走不動，你遞給我吃了，你好赶早兒回去交代了，你好吃飯的。It's just that I can't get up and move about, so if you hand it to me to eat, you can hurry back early and report in, so that you can go have your own meal.我只管耽誤時候，你豈不餓坏了。If I keep delaying things, won't you end up starving?你要懶待動，我少不了忍了疼下去取來。”說著便要下床來，扎掙起來，禁不住噯喲之聲。If you'd rather not bother moving, then I'll just have to bear the pain and go get it myself.' So saying, he made as if to get down from the bed, struggling to rise, and could not help letting out a groan of pain.玉釧兒見他這般，忍不住起身說道：“躺下罷！Seeing him like this, Yuchuan could not help but rise and say, 'Lie back down!那世里造了來的業，這會子現世現報。What sins did I commit in a former life, that in this one I should get instant retribution for them.教我那一個眼睛看的上！”一面說，一面哧的一聲又笑了，端過湯來。How could I possibly bear to watch you like that!' As she spoke, she gave a little snort of laughter despite herself, and brought the soup over.寶玉笑道：“好姐姐，你要生氣只管在這里生罷，見了老太太，太太可放和氣些，若還這樣，你就又捱罵了。”玉釧兒道：“吃罷，吃罷！Baoyu said with a smile, 'Good sister, if you want to be angry, just be angry here with me — when you see the Old Ancestress and Madam, do put on a gentler face; if you're still like this there, you'll get scolded again.' Yuchuan said, 'Just eat, just eat!不用和我甜嘴蜜舌的，我可不信這樣話！”說著，催寶玉喝了兩口湯。There's no need to sweet-talk me — I don't believe a word of it!' So saying, she urged Baoyu to drink a couple of mouthfuls of the soup.寶玉故意說：“不好吃，不吃了。”玉釧兒道：“阿彌陀佛！Baoyu deliberately said, 'It doesn't taste good, I won't drink any more.' Yuchuan said, 'Amitabha!這還不好吃，什麼好吃。”寶玉道：“一點味兒也沒有，你不信，嘗一嘗就知道了。”玉釧兒真就賭氣嘗了一嘗。If this doesn't taste good, what would?' Baoyu said, 'It hasn't the least bit of flavor — if you don't believe me, taste it yourself and you'll see.' Yuchuan, out of sheer pique, actually did taste it.寶玉笑道：“這可好吃了。”玉釧兒聽說，方解過意來，原是寶玉哄他吃一口，便說道：“你既說不好吃，這會子說好吃也不給你吃了。”寶玉只管央求陪笑要吃，玉釧兒又不給他，一面又叫人打發吃飯。Baoyu said with a smile, "Now that's delicious." Only then did Yuchuan catch his meaning — that Baoyu had been coaxing her into tasting a mouthful — and she said, "Since you said it wasn't good, now that you say it's good I won't give you any." Baoyu kept pleading with smiles, begging for a taste, but Yuchuan still wouldn't give him any, and meanwhile told someone to bring the meal.

这里麝月等预备了碗箸来伺候吃饭。宝玉只是不吃，问玉钏儿道：“你母亲身子好？”玉钏儿满脸怒色，正眼也不看宝玉，半日，方说了一个“好”字。宝玉便觉没趣，半日，只得又陪笑问道：“谁叫你给我送来的？”玉钏儿道：“不过是奶奶太太们！”宝玉见他还是这样哭丧，便知他是为金钏儿的原故，待要虚心下气磨转他，又见人多，不好下气的，因而变尽方法，将人都支出去，然后又陪笑问长问短。那玉钏儿先虽不悦，只管见宝玉一些性子没有，凭他怎么丧谤，他还是温存和气，自己倒不好意思的了，脸上方有三分喜色。宝玉便笑求他：“好姐姐，你把那汤拿了来我尝尝。”玉钏儿道：“我从不会喂人东西，等他们来了再吃。”宝玉笑道：“我不是要你喂我。我因为走不动，你递给我吃了，你好赶早儿回去交代了，你好吃饭的。我只管耽误时候，你岂不饿坏了。你要懒待动，我少不了忍了疼下去取来。”说著便要下床来，扎挣起来，禁不住嗳哟之声。玉钏儿见他这般，忍不住起身说道：“躺下罢！那世里造了来的业，这会子现世现报。教我那一个眼睛看的上！”一面说，一面哧的一声又笑了，端过汤来。宝玉笑道：“好姐姐，你要生气只管在这里生罢，见了老太太，太太可放和气些，若还这样，你就又挨骂了。”玉钏儿道：“吃罢，吃罢！不用和我甜嘴蜜舌的，我可不信这样话！”说著，催宝玉喝了两口汤。宝玉故意说：“不好吃，不吃了。”玉钏儿道：“阿弥陀佛！这还不好吃，什么好吃。”宝玉道：“一点味儿也没有，你不信，尝一尝就知道了。”玉钏儿真就赌气尝了一尝。宝玉笑道：“这可好吃了。”玉钏儿听说，方解过意来，原是宝玉哄他吃一口，便说道：“你既说不好吃，这会子说好吃也不给你吃了。”宝玉只管央求陪笑要吃，玉钏儿又不给他，一面又叫人打发吃饭。

丫頭方進來時，忽有人來回話：“傅二爺家的兩個嬤嬤來請安，來見二爺。”寶玉聽說，便知是通判傅試家的嬤嬤來了。Just as the maid was coming in, someone came to report, "Two old nurses from Master Fu the Second's household have come to pay their respects and see the young master." Hearing this, Baoyu knew at once that these were nurses from the household of Fu Shi, the sub-prefect.那傅試原是賈政的門生，歷年來都賴賈家的名勢得意，賈政也著實看待，故與別個門生不同，他那里常遣人來走動。This Fu Shi had originally been a disciple of Jia Zheng's, and over the years had relied on the Jia family's name and influence to get ahead; Jia Zheng too treated him with real regard, quite differently from his other disciples, so people were often sent over from his household to keep up the connection.寶玉素習最厭愚男蠢女的，今日卻如何又令兩個婆子過來？Baoyu had always detested stupid men and foolish women — so why, today, did he have these two old women shown in?其中原來有個原故：只因那寶玉聞得傅試有個妹子，名喚傅秋芳，也是個瓊閨秀玉，常聞人傳說才貌俱全，雖自未親睹，然遐思遙愛之心十分誠敬，不命他們進來，恐薄了傅秋芳，因此連忙命讓進來。There was in fact a reason: Baoyu had heard that Fu Shi had a younger sister named Fu Qiufang, herself a jewel of a maiden, and people often said she was gifted in both talent and beauty; though he had never seen her himself, his heart, in its distant longing, held her in the sincerest regard, and fearing that not receiving them would slight Fu Qiufang, he hastily gave orders to let them in.那傅試原是暴發的，因傅秋芳有幾分姿色，聰明過人，那傅試安心仗著妹妹要與豪門貴族結姻，不肯輕意許人，所以耽誤到如今。This Fu Shi had risen suddenly from obscurity, and since Fu Qiufang had considerable beauty and was far cleverer than most, he had set his heart on using his sister to marry into some rich and noble house, refusing to betroth her lightly to anyone — and so the matter had dragged on until now.目今傅秋芳年已二十三歲，尚未許人。By now Fu Qiufang was already twenty-three years old, and still not betrothed.爭奈那些豪門貴族又嫌他窮酸，根基淺薄，不肯求配。But try as he might, those rich and noble families looked down on his family as poor and shabby upstarts of shallow standing, and none would seek the match.那傅試與賈家親密，也自有一段心事。That Fu Shi kept up such close ties with the Jia family had, of course, its own private motive behind it.今日遣來的兩個婆子偏生是极無知識的，聞得寶玉要見，進來只剛問了好，說了沒兩句話。The two old women sent over today happened to be utterly witless; hearing that Baoyu wished to see them, they came in, exchanged barely a greeting, and had said scarcely two sentences—那玉釧見生人來，也不和寶玉廝鬧了，手里端著湯只顧聽話。when Yuchuan, seeing strangers had arrived, stopped teasing with Baoyu and, bowl of soup still in hand, gave all her attention to listening to the talk.寶玉又只顧和婆子說話，一面吃飯，一面伸手去要湯。Baoyu, for his part, was so absorbed in talking with the old women that as he ate he reached out a hand for the soup at the same time.兩個人的眼睛都看著人，不想伸猛了手，便將碗碰翻，將湯潑了寶玉手上。Both their eyes were fixed on the visitors, and before they knew it his hand shot out too fast, knocking the bowl over and spilling the soup onto Baoyu's hand.玉釧兒倒不曾燙著，唬了一跳，忙笑了，“這是怎麼說！”慌的丫頭們忙上來接碗。Yuchuan herself was not scalded, but she gave a start and then laughed in a fluster, "Now what's the meaning of this!" The maids, all flustered, hurried up to take the bowl away.寶玉自己燙了手倒不覺的，卻只管問玉釧兒：“燙了那里了？Baoyu himself, though scalded, seemed not to notice it at all, and instead kept asking Yuchuan, "Where did it scald you?疼不疼？”玉釧兒和眾人都笑了。Does it hurt?" Yuchuan and everyone else burst out laughing.玉釧兒道：“你自己燙了，只管問我。”寶玉聽說，方覺自己燙了。Yuchuan said, "You're the one who got scalded, and here you are asking me!" Only then, hearing this, did Baoyu realize that he himself had been scalded.眾人上來連忙收拾。Everyone hurried over to clean up the mess.寶玉也不吃飯了，洗手吃茶，又和那兩個婆子說了兩句話。Baoyu gave up on his meal, washed his hands, drank some tea, and exchanged a few more words with the two old women.然後兩個婆子告辭出去，晴雯等送至橋邊方回。The two old women then took their leave, and Qingwen and the others saw them off as far as the bridge before turning back.

丫头方进来时，忽有人来回话：“傅二爷家的两个嬷嬷来请安，来见二爷。”宝玉听说，便知是通判傅试家的嬷嬷来了。那傅试原是贾政的门生，历年来都赖贾家的名势得意，贾政也著实看待，故与别个门生不同，他那里常遣人来走动。宝玉素习最厌愚男蠢女的，今日却如何又令两个婆子过来？其中原来有个原故：只因那宝玉闻得傅试有个妹子，名唤傅秋芳，也是个琼闺秀玉，常闻人传说才貌俱全，虽自未亲睹，然遐思遥爱之心十分诚敬，不命他们进来，恐薄了傅秋芳，因此连忙命让进来。那傅试原是暴发的，因傅秋芳有几分姿色，聪明过人，那傅试安心仗著妹妹要与豪门贵族结姻，不肯轻意许人，所以耽误到如今。目今傅秋芳年已二十三岁，尚未许人。争奈那些豪门贵族又嫌他穷酸，根基浅薄，不肯求配。那傅试与贾家亲密，也自有一段心事。今日遣来的两个婆子偏生是极无知识的，闻得宝玉要见，进来只刚问了好，说了没两句话。那玉钏见生人来，也不和宝玉厮闹了，手里端著汤只顾听话。宝玉又只顾和婆子说话，一面吃饭，一面伸手去要汤。两个人的眼睛都看著人，不想伸猛了手，便将碗碰翻，将汤泼了宝玉手上。玉钏儿倒不曾烫著，唬了一跳，忙笑了，“这是怎么说！”慌的丫头们忙上来接碗。宝玉自己烫了手倒不觉的，却只管问玉钏儿：“烫了那里了？疼不疼？”玉钏儿和众人都笑了。玉钏儿道：“你自己烫了，只管问我。”宝玉听说，方觉自己烫了。众人上来连忙收拾。宝玉也不吃饭了，洗手吃茶，又和那两个婆子说了两句话。然后两个婆子告辞出去，晴雯等送至桥边方回。

那兩個婆子見沒人了，一行走，一行談論。Once the two old women saw there was no one else about, they fell to talking as they walked.這一個笑道：“怪道有人說他家寶玉是外像好里頭糊涂，中看不中吃的，果然有些呆氣。One of them said with a laugh, "No wonder people say their Baoyu looks fine on the outside but is muddled within — good to look at but no good for use. He really does have a touch of foolishness about him.他自己燙了手，倒問人疼不疼，這可不是個呆子？”那一個又笑道：“我前一回來，聽見他家里許多人抱怨，千真萬真的有些呆氣。He scalds his own hand and then asks other people whether it hurts — isn't that just what a fool would do?" The other one laughed too and said, "The last time I came, I heard no end of complaints from the people in that house — it's the plain truth, he really is a bit touched.大雨淋的水雞似的，他反告訴別人‘下雨了，快避雨去罷。’你說可笑不可笑？Once he got caught in a heavy rain and was drenched like a drowned chicken, and instead of minding himself he told others, 'It's raining, hurry and take shelter.' Isn't that a laugh?時常沒人在跟前，就自哭自笑的，看見燕子，就和燕子說話，河里看見了魚，就和魚說話，見了星星月亮，不是長吁短歎，就是咕咕噥噥的。Often when no one is around, he cries or laughs all by himself; if he sees a swallow, he talks to the swallow; if he spots a fish in the river, he talks to the fish; and when he looks at the stars and the moon, he's either sighing long sighs or muttering under his breath.且是連一點剛性也沒有，連那些毛丫頭的氣都受的。And what's more, he hasn't a shred of backbone — he even puts up with the airs of those young serving-girls.愛惜東西，連個線頭兒都是好的，糟踏起來，那怕值千值萬的都不管了。”兩個人一面說，一面走出園來，辭別諸人回去，不在話下。When he takes a fancy to something, even a scrap of thread is precious to him, but when he's careless with things, he doesn't care if they're worth a thousand or ten thousand." Talking all the while, the two of them walked out of the garden, took leave of everyone, and went their way — no more of that for now.

那两个婆子见没人了，一行走，一行谈论。这一个笑道：“怪道有人说他家宝玉是外像好里头糊涂，中看不中吃的，果然有些呆气。他自己烫了手，倒问人疼不疼，这可不是个呆子？”那一个又笑道：“我前一回来，听见他家里许多人抱怨，千真万真的有些呆气。大雨淋的水鸡似的，他反告诉别人‘下雨了，快避雨去罢。’你说可笑不可笑？时常没人在跟前，就自哭自笑的，看见燕子，就和燕子说话，河里看见了鱼，就和鱼说话，见了星星月亮，不是长吁短叹，就是咕咕哝哝的。且是连一点刚性也没有，连那些毛丫头的气都受的。爱惜东西，连个线头儿都是好的，糟踏起来，那怕值千值万的都不管了。”两个人一面说，一面走出园来，辞别诸人回去，不在话下。

如今且說襲人見人去了，便攜了鶯兒過來，問寶玉打什麼絡子。Now to speak of Xiren: seeing the visitors gone, she brought Yingr over and asked Baoyu what sort of netted cord he wanted made.寶玉笑向鶯兒道：“才只顧說話，就忘了你。Baoyu said to Yingr with a smile, "I was so caught up talking just now that I forgot all about you.煩你來不為別的，卻為替我打幾根絡子。”鶯兒道：“裝什麼的絡子？”寶玉見問，便笑道：“不管裝什麼的，你都每樣打幾個罷。”鶯兒拍手笑道：“這還了得！I troubled you to come for nothing else but to have you knot a few netted cords for me." Yingr asked, "Cords for holding what?" Hearing the question, Baoyu said with a smile, "Never mind what they're for — just make me a few of every kind." Yingr clapped her hands and laughed, "That'll never do!要這樣，十年也打不完了。”寶玉笑道：“好姐姐，你閒著也沒事，都替我打了罷。”襲人笑道：“那里一時都打得完，如今先揀要緊的打兩個罷。”鶯兒道：“什麼要緊，不過是扇子，香墜兒，汗巾子。”寶玉道：“汗巾子就好。”鶯兒道：“汗巾子是什麼顏色的？”寶玉道：“大紅的。”鶯兒道：“大紅的須是黑絡子才好看的，或是石青的才壓的住顏色。”寶玉道：“松花色配什麼？”鶯兒道：“松花配桃紅。”寶玉笑道：“這才嬌艷。At that rate, it'd take ten years and still not be finished." Baoyu laughed, "Dear sister, you've nothing else to do anyway, so just make them all for me." Xiren said with a smile, "How could they all be finished in a moment? Better pick the important ones and make two of those for now." Yingr said, "What's so important — nothing but fan-cords, scent-sachet cords, and sash-cords." Baoyu said, "A sash-cord would be just the thing." Yingr asked, "What color is the sash?" Baoyu said, "Bright red." Yingr said, "For bright red, a black cord would look best, or else a stone-blue one, to hold the color down." Baoyu asked, "What goes with pine-blossom green?" Yingr said, "Pine-blossom green goes with peach-pink." Baoyu laughed, "Now that would be lovely and bright.再要雅淡之中帶些嬌艷。”鶯兒道：“蔥綠柳黃是我最愛的。”寶玉道：“也罷了，也打一條桃紅，再打一條蔥綠。”鶯兒道：“什麼花樣呢？”寶玉道：“共有幾樣花樣？”鶯兒道：“一炷香，朝天凳，象眼塊，方胜，連環，梅花，柳葉。”寶玉道：“前兒你替三姑娘打的那花樣是什麼？”鶯兒道：“那是攢心梅花。”寶玉道：“就是那樣好。”一面說，一面叫襲人剛拿了線來，窗外婆子說姑娘們的飯都有了。What I'd really like is something with a touch of brightness within a plain, elegant look." Yingr said, "Scallion-green and willow-yellow are my favorites." Baoyu said, "Very well then — make one in peach-pink, and another in scallion-green." Yingr asked, "What pattern shall it be?" Baoyu asked, "How many patterns are there altogether?" Yingr said, "There's the single-incense-stick, the facing-heaven stool, elephant-eye blocks, the double-lozenge, linked rings, plum blossom, and willow leaf." Baoyu said, "That pattern you knotted for Third Miss the other day — what was that one?" Yingr said, "That was the clustered-heart plum blossom." Baoyu said, "That very one will do nicely." Even as he spoke, Xiren had just brought the thread over when an old woman outside the window announced that the young ladies' meals were all ready.寶玉道：“你們吃飯去，快吃了來罷。”襲人笑道：“有客在這裡。Baoyu said, "You two go and eat — hurry back once you're done." Xiren said with a smile, "There's a guest here.我們怎麼好意思去的！”鶯兒一面理線，一面笑道：“這話又打那里說起，正經快吃了來罷。”襲人等聽說方去了，只留下兩個小丫頭聽呼喚。How could we possibly go off and leave her!" Yingr, sorting out the threads, said with a laugh, "Now where does that idea come from — just go and eat properly, and come straight back." Only then did Xiren and the others go, leaving just two young maids behind to answer any calls.

如今且说袭人见人去了，便携了莺儿过来，问宝玉打什么络子。宝玉笑向莺儿道：“才只顾说话，就忘了你。烦你来不为别的，却为替我打几根络子。”莺儿道：“装什么的络子？”宝玉见问，便笑道：“不管装什么的，你都每样打几个罢。”莺儿拍手笑道：“这还了得！要这样，十年也打不完了。”宝玉笑道：“好姐姐，你闲著也没事，都替我打了罢。”袭人笑道：“那里一时都打得完，如今先拣要紧的打两个罢。”莺儿道：“什么要紧，不过是扇子，香坠儿，汗巾子。”宝玉道：“汗巾子就好。”莺儿道：“汗巾子是什么颜色的？”宝玉道：“大红的。”莺儿道：“大红的须是黑络子才好看的，或是石青的才压的住颜色。”宝玉道：“松花色配什么？”莺儿道：“松花配桃红。”宝玉笑道：“这才娇艳。再要雅淡之中带些娇艳。”莺儿道：“葱绿柳黄是我最爱的。”宝玉道：“也罢了，也打一条桃红，再打一条葱绿。”莺儿道：“什么花样呢？”宝玉道：“共有几样花样？”莺儿道：“一炷香，朝天凳，象眼块，方胜，连环，梅花，柳叶。”宝玉道：“前儿你替三姑娘打的那花样是什么？”莺儿道：“那是攒心梅花。”宝玉道：“就是那样好。”一面说，一面叫袭人刚拿了线来，窗外婆子说姑娘们的饭都有了。宝玉道：“你们吃饭去，快吃了来罢。”袭人笑道：“有客在这里。我们怎么好意思去的！”莺儿一面理线，一面笑道：“这话又打那里说起，正经快吃了来罢。”袭人等听说方去了，只留下两个小丫头听呼唤。

寶玉一面看鶯兒打絡子，一面說閒話，因問他“十幾歲了？”鶯兒手里打著，一面答話說：“十六歲了。”寶玉道：“你本姓什麼？”鶯兒道：“姓黃。”寶玉笑道：“這個名姓倒對了，果然是個黃鶯兒。”鶯兒笑道：“我的名字本來是兩個字，叫作金鶯。Baoyu watched Yingr knotting the cords and chatted idly with her, asking, "How old are you?" Yingr, her hands still busy, answered, "Sixteen." Baoyu asked, "What's your family name?" Yingr said, "Huang." Baoyu laughed, "Well, the name suits you perfectly — a golden oriole indeed." Yingr said with a smile, "My name was originally two characters, Jinying, 'Golden Oriole.'姑娘嫌拗口，就單叫鶯兒，如今就叫開了。”寶玉道：“寶姐姐也算疼你了。My young lady thought it awkward to say, so she just calls me Yingr for short, and now that's what everyone calls me." Baoyu said, "Sister Bao must really be fond of you.明兒寶姐姐出閣，少不得是你跟去了。”鶯兒抿嘴一笑。When Sister Bao marries someday, you're sure to go along with her." Yingr pressed her lips together and smiled.寶玉笑道：“我常常和襲人說，明兒不知那一個有福的消受你們主子奴才兩個呢。”鶯兒笑道：“你還不知道我們姑娘有幾樣世人都沒有的好處呢，模樣兒還在次。”寶玉見鶯兒嬌憨婉轉，語笑如痴，早不胜其情了，那更提起寶釵來！Baoyu said with a smile, "I often say to Xiren, I wonder who will be lucky enough someday to enjoy the two of you, mistress and maid together." Yingr laughed, "You still don't know all the ways our young lady has good qualities that no one else in the world has — and her looks are the least of it." Seeing Yingr so charmingly artless, so winsome in her talk and laughter, Baoyu was already quite overcome with feeling — how much more so, then, once the talk turned to Baochai!便問他道：“好處在那里？So he asked her, "What are these good qualities of hers?好姐姐，細細告訴我聽。”鶯兒笑道：“我告訴你，你可不許又告訴他去。”寶玉笑道：“這個自然的。”正說著，只聽外頭說道：“怎麼這樣靜悄悄的！”二人回頭看時，不是別人，正是寶釵來了。Dear sister, tell me all about it in detail." Yingr said with a smile, "I'll tell you, but you mustn't go and tell her I did." Baoyu laughed, "Of course not." Just as he spoke, they heard a voice outside say, "Why is it so quiet in here!" The two of them turned to look, and it was none other than Baochai, arriving just then.寶玉忙讓坐。Baoyu hurriedly asked her to sit.寶釵坐了，因問鶯兒“打什麼呢？”一面問，一面向他手里去瞧，才打了半截。Baochai sat down and asked Yingr, "What are you making?" and as she asked, she leaned over to look at what was in her hands — only half finished so far.寶釵笑道：“這有什麼趣兒，倒不如打個絡子把玉絡上呢。”一句話提醒了寶玉，便拍手笑道：“倒是姐姐說得是，我就忘了。Baochai said with a smile, "What's the fun in that — you'd do better to knot a net-cover for the jade instead." Her remark reminded Baoyu at once, and he clapped his hands and laughed, "Sister's quite right — I'd completely forgotten about that.只是配個什麼顏色才好？”寶釵道：“若用雜色斷然使不得，大紅又犯了色，黃的又不起眼，黑的又過暗。But what color would go with it best?" Baochai said, "Mixed colors certainly won't do at all; bright red would clash with the jade's own color, yellow wouldn't stand out, and black would be too dark.等我想個法兒：把那金線拿來，配著黑珠兒線，一根一根的拈上，打成絡子，這才好看。”Let me think of a way — take that gold thread and pair it strand by strand with black bead-thread, twisting them together and knotting them into a cord. That would look lovely."

宝玉一面看莺儿打络子，一面说闲话，因问他“十几岁了？”莺儿手里打著，一面答话说：“十六岁了。”宝玉道：“你本姓什么？”莺儿道：“姓黄。”宝玉笑道：“这个名姓倒对了，果然是个黄莺儿。”莺儿笑道：“我的名字本来是两个字，叫作金莺。姑娘嫌拗口，就单叫莺儿，如今就叫开了。”宝玉道：“宝姐姐也算疼你了。明儿宝姐姐出阁，少不得是你跟去了。”莺儿抿嘴一笑。宝玉笑道：“我常常和袭人说，明儿不知那一个有福的消受你们主子奴才两个呢。”莺儿笑道：“你还不知道我们姑娘有几样世人都没有的好处呢，模样儿还在次。”宝玉见莺儿娇憨婉转，语笑如痴，早不胜其情了，那更提起宝钗来！便问他道：“好处在那里？好姐姐，细细告诉我听。”莺儿笑道：“我告诉你，你可不许又告诉他去。”宝玉笑道：“这个自然的。”正说著，只听外头说道：“怎么这样静悄悄的！”二人回头看时，不是别人，正是宝钗来了。宝玉忙让坐。宝钗坐了，因问莺儿“打什么呢？”一面问，一面向他手里去瞧，才打了半截。宝钗笑道：“这有什么趣儿，倒不如打个络子把玉络上呢。”一句话提醒了宝玉，便拍手笑道：“倒是姐姐说得是，我就忘了。只是配个什么颜色才好？”宝钗道：“若用杂色断然使不得，大红又犯了色，黄的又不起眼，黑的又过暗。等我想个法儿：把那金线拿来，配著黑珠儿线，一根一根的拈上，打成络子，这才好看。”

寶玉聽說，喜之不盡，一疊聲便叫襲人來取金線。Hearing this, Baoyu was overjoyed beyond measure and called out again and again for Xiren to fetch the gold thread.正值襲人端了兩碗菜走進來，告訴寶玉道：“今兒奇怪，才剛太太打發人給我送了兩碗菜來。”寶玉笑道：“必定是今兒菜多，送來給你們大家吃的。”襲人道：“不是，指名給我送來的，還不叫我過去磕頭。Just then Xiren came in carrying two bowls of dishes and told Baoyu, "It's odd today — Madame Wang just had someone send me these two bowls of food." Baoyu said with a smile, "There must have been extra dishes today, so she sent them for all of you to share." Xiren said, "No, they were sent expressly for me by name, and I wasn't even told to go and kowtow in thanks.這可是奇了。”寶釵笑道：“給你的，你就吃了，這有什麼可猜疑的。”襲人笑道：“從來沒有的事，倒叫我不好意思的。”寶釵抿嘴一笑，說道：“這就不好意思了？Now that really is strange." Baochai said with a smile, "If they were given to you, then just eat them — what is there to be suspicious about?" Xiren laughed, "It's never happened before, so it does make me feel rather embarrassed." Baochai pressed her lips together and smiled, saying, "This already makes you feel embarrassed?明兒比這個更叫你不好意思的還有呢。”襲人聽了話內有因，素知寶釵不是輕嘴薄舌奚落人的，自己方想起上日王夫人的意思來，便不再提，將菜與寶玉看了，說：“洗了手來拿線。”說畢，便一直的出去了。There'll be things to come, later, that will embarrass you far more than this." Xiren, catching that there was some meaning behind these words, and knowing well that Baochai was never one to mock others with idle, biting remarks, then recalled Madame Wang's implication from the other day, and so said no more about it. She showed the dishes to Baoyu and said, "Wash your hands and come get the thread." With that, she went straight out.吃過飯，洗了手，進來拿金線與鶯兒打絡子。After eating and washing her hands, she came back in with the gold thread for Yingr to knot the cord.此時寶釵早被薛蟠遣人來請出去了。By this time Baochai had already been called away, someone having been sent by Xue Pan to fetch her.

宝玉听说，喜之不尽，一叠声便叫袭人来取金线。正值袭人端了两碗菜走进来，告诉宝玉道：“今儿奇怪，才刚太太打发人给我送了两碗菜来。”宝玉笑道：“必定是今儿菜多，送来给你们大家吃的。”袭人道：“不是，指名给我送来的，还不叫我过去磕头。这可是奇了。”宝钗笑道：“给你的，你就吃了，这有什么可猜疑的。”袭人笑道：“从来没有的事，倒叫我不好意思的。”宝钗抿嘴一笑，说道：“这就不好意思了？明儿比这个更叫你不好意思的还有呢。”袭人听了话内有因，素知宝钗不是轻嘴薄舌奚落人的，自己方想起上日王夫人的意思来，便不再提，将菜与宝玉看了，说：“洗了手来拿线。”说毕，便一直的出去了。吃过饭，洗了手，进来拿金线与莺儿打络子。此时宝钗早被薛蟠遣人来请出去了。

這里寶玉正看著打絡子，忽見邢夫人那邊遣了兩個丫鬟送了兩樣果子來與他吃，問他“可走得了？Here Baoyu was watching the cord being knotted when suddenly two maids sent over by Madame Xing arrived with two kinds of fruit for him to eat, and asked whether he was able to walk yet.若走得動，叫哥兒明兒過來散散心，太太著實記挂著呢。”寶玉忙道：“若走得了，必請太太的安去。"If you're able to get about, our mistress asks that young master come over tomorrow to enjoy himself a little — she's been thinking of you constantly and with great concern." Baoyu said quickly, "If I'm able to walk, I'll certainly come pay my respects to Madame.疼的比先好些，請太太放心罷。”一面叫他兩個坐下，一面又叫秋紋來，把才拿來的那果子拿一半送與林姑娘去。The pain is much better than before, so please tell Madame not to worry." He had the two of them sit down, and at the same time called Qiuwen over to take half of the fruit that had just arrived and send it to Miss Lin.秋紋答應了，剛欲去時，只聽黛玉在院內說話，寶玉忙叫“快請”。Qiuwen assented, and just as she was about to go, they heard Daiyu's voice speaking out in the courtyard, and Baoyu hastily called out, "Ask her in quickly!"要知端的，且聽下回分解。If you want to know what happened, you must listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

这里宝玉正看著打络子，忽见邢夫人那边遣了两个丫鬟送了两样果子来与他吃，问他“可走得了？若走得动，叫哥儿明儿过来散散心，太太著实记挂著呢。”宝玉忙道：“若走得了，必请太太的安去。疼的比先好些，请太太放心罢。”一面叫他两个坐下，一面又叫秋纹来，把才拿来的那果子拿一半送与林姑娘去。秋纹答应了，刚欲去时，只听黛玉在院内说话，宝玉忙叫“快请”。要知端的，且听下回分解。