第五十七回　慧紫鵑情辭試忙玉　慈姨媽愛語慰痴顰 Wise Zijuan Tests Baoyu with Feigned Words; The Kind Aunt Comforts Daiyu with Loving Talk

話說寶玉聽王夫人喚他，忙至前邊來，原來是王夫人要帶他拜甄夫人去。The story goes that when Baoyu heard Lady Wang summoning him, he hurried to the front quarters — it turned out Lady Wang wanted to take him to pay a call on Lady Zhen.寶玉自是歡喜，忙去換衣服，跟了王夫人到那里。Baoyu was naturally delighted, and hurried off to change his clothes, then followed Lady Wang there.見其家中形景，自與榮宁不甚差別，或有一二稍盛者。Seeing the state of their household, it was not much different from the Rong and Ning mansions — in one or two respects it was even slightly more lavish.細問，果有一寶玉。On careful inquiry, it turned out there really was a Baoyu in their family too.甄夫人留席，竟日方回，寶玉方信。Lady Zhen kept them for a feast, and it was not until the whole day had passed that they returned home — only then did Baoyu believe it.因晚間回家來，王夫人又吩咐預備上等的席面，定名班大戲，請過甄夫人母女。That evening when they came home, Lady Wang in turn gave orders to prepare a first-rate banquet and engage a famous troupe for a grand opera performance, and invited Lady Zhen and her daughter over.後二日，他母女便不作辭，回任去了，無話。Two days later, mother and daughter took their leave without further ceremony and went back to the father's post — nothing more need be said of that.

话说宝玉听王夫人唤他，忙至前边来，原来是王夫人要带他拜甄夫人去。宝玉自是欢喜，忙去换衣服，跟了王夫人到那里。见其家中形景，自与荣宁不甚差别，或有一二稍盛者。细问，果有一宝玉。甄夫人留席，竟日方回，宝玉方信。因晚间回家来，王夫人又吩咐预备上等的席面，定名班大戏，请过甄夫人母女。后二日，他母女便不作辞，回任去了，无话。

這日寶玉因見湘雲漸愈，然後去看黛玉。On this day, Baoyu, seeing that Xiangyun was gradually recovering, went afterward to see Daiyu.正值黛玉才歇午覺，寶玉不敢驚動，因紫鵑正在回廊上手里做針黹，便來問他：“昨日夜里咳嗽可好了？”紫鵑道：“好些了。”寶玉笑道：“阿彌陀佛！It happened that Daiyu had just lain down for her midday nap, and Baoyu dared not disturb her; since Zijuan was just then in the covered corridor doing needlework, he went over and asked her, "Is the cough better after last night?" Zijuan said, "A little better." Baoyu laughed, "Amitabha Buddha!宁可好了罷。”紫鵑笑道：“你也念起佛來，真是新聞！”寶玉笑道：“所謂‘病篤亂投醫’了。”一面說，一面見他穿著彈墨綾薄綿襖，外面只穿著青緞夾背心，寶玉便伸手向他身上摸了一摸，說：“穿這樣單薄，還在風口里坐著，看天風饞，時氣又不好，你再病了，越發難了。”紫鵑便說道：“從此咱們只可說話，別動手動腳的。May she really get better." Zijuan laughed, "So now even you're chanting to Buddha — that's news indeed!" Baoyu laughed, "As the saying goes, 'when the illness is desperate, one turns wildly to any doctor.'" As he spoke, he noticed she was wearing a thin quilted jacket of ink-splashed silk damask, with only a lined black satin vest over it, and Baoyu reached out and felt her clothing, saying, "Dressed so thinly, and sitting here in a draft besides — the wind these days is fierce and the season none too healthy; if you fall ill again it will be much worse." Zijuan then said, "From now on we may only talk to each other — no more touching with your hands.一年大二年小的，叫人看著不尊重。We're a year older, a year bigger now, and it looks disrespectful for people to see.打緊的那起混帳行子們背地里說你，你總不留心，還只管和小時一般行為，如何使得。What matters most is that those wretched creatures gossip about you behind your back, yet you never pay it any mind and go on behaving just as you did as a child — how can that do?姑娘常常吩咐我們，不叫和你說笑。Our young lady often instructs us not to joke and laugh with you.你近來瞧他遠著你還恐遠不及呢。”說著便起身，攜了針線進別房去了。If you've noticed lately, she keeps her distance from you and still fears it's not distant enough." So saying, she rose, gathered up her needlework, and went off into another room.

这日宝玉因见湘云渐愈，然后去看黛玉。正值黛玉才歇午觉，宝玉不敢惊动，因紫鹃正在回廊上手里做针黹，便来问他：“昨日夜里咳嗽可好了？”紫鹃道：“好些了。”宝玉笑道：“阿弥陀佛！宁可好了罢。”紫鹃笑道：“你也念起佛来，真是新闻！”宝玉笑道：“所谓‘病笃乱投医’了。”一面说，一面见他穿著弹墨绫薄绵袄，外面只穿著青缎夹背心，宝玉便伸手向他身上摸了一摸，说：“穿这样单薄，还在风口里坐著，看天风馋，时气又不好，你再病了，越发难了。”紫鹃便说道：“从此咱们只可说话，别动手动脚的。一年大二年小的，叫人看著不尊重。打紧的那起混帐行子们背地里说你，你总不留心，还只管和小时一般行为，如何使得。姑娘常常吩咐我们，不叫和你说笑。你近来瞧他远著你还恐远不及呢。”说著便起身，携了针线进别房去了。

寶玉見了這般景況，心中忽澆了一盆冷水一般，只瞅著竹子，發了一回呆。Seeing this turn of events, Baoyu felt as though a basin of cold water had suddenly been poured over his heart; he could only stare at the bamboo and fall into a daze for a while.因祝媽正來挖筍修竿，便怔怔的走出來，一時魂魄失守，心無所知，隨便坐在一塊山石上出神，不覺滴下淚來。Just then Mama Zhu came to dig bamboo shoots and trim the stalks, so he walked out in a stupor; for a moment his soul seemed to have left him and his mind knew nothing, and he sat down at random on a garden rock, lost in thought, and without realizing it began to shed tears.直呆了五六頓飯工夫，千思萬想，總不知如何是可。He sat there in a daze for the time it takes to eat five or six meals, turning over a thousand thoughts, ten thousand worries, yet in the end could not tell what was to be done.偶值雪雁從王夫人房中取了人參來，從此經過，忽扭項看見桃花樹下石上一人手托著腮頰出神，不是別人，卻是寶玉。It happened just then that Xueyan, having fetched ginseng from Lady Wang's rooms, passed that way, and turning her neck she suddenly saw someone sitting on a rock beneath the peach trees, chin propped in hand, lost in thought — none other than Baoyu.雪雁疑惑道：“怪冷的，他一個人在這里作什麼？Xueyan wondered, puzzled, "It's quite cold — what is he doing here all alone?春天凡有殘疾的人都犯病，敢是他犯了呆病了？”一邊想，一邊便走過來蹲下笑道：“你在這里作什麼呢？”寶玉忽見了雪雁，便說道：“你又作什麼來找我？In spring anyone with an old ailment tends to have a relapse — could it be his old spell of foolishness has come on him again?" Thinking this, she walked over, crouched down, and said with a laugh, "What are you doing here?" Baoyu, suddenly seeing Xueyan, said, "What have you come looking for me again for?你難道不是女兒？Aren't you a girl too?他既防嫌，不許你們理我，你又來尋我，倘被人看見，豈不又生口舌？Since she's so wary of suspicion and forbids you all to pay any attention to me, and yet here you come looking for me — if someone should see, wouldn't it stir up talk again?你快家去罷了。”雪雁聽了，只當是他又受了黛玉的委屈，只得回至房中。You had better go back at once." Hearing this, Xueyan assumed he had again been wronged in some way concerning Daiyu, and had no choice but to return to the room.

宝玉见了这般景况，心中忽浇了一盆冷水一般，只瞅著竹子，发了一回呆。因祝妈正来挖笋修竿，便怔怔的走出来，一时魂魄失守，心无所知，随便坐在一块山石上出神，不觉滴下泪来。直呆了五六顿饭工夫，千思万想，总不知如何是可。偶值雪雁从王夫人房中取了人参来，从此经过，忽扭项看见桃花树下石上一人手托著腮颊出神，不是别人，却是宝玉。雪雁疑惑道：“怪冷的，他一个人在这里作什么？春天凡有残疾的人都犯病，敢是他犯了呆病了？”一边想，一边便走过来蹲下笑道：“你在这里作什么呢？”宝玉忽见了雪雁，便说道：“你又作什么来找我？你难道不是女儿？他既防嫌，不许你们理我，你又来寻我，倘被人看见，岂不又生口舌？你快家去罢了。”雪雁听了，只当是他又受了黛玉的委屈，只得回至房中。

黛玉未醒，將人參交與紫鵑。Daiyu had not yet woken, so she handed the ginseng to Zijuan.紫鵑因問他：“太太做什麼呢？”雪雁道：“也歇中覺，所以等了這半日。Zijuan then asked her, "What was Madam doing?" Xueyan said, "She too was taking her midday nap, so I waited there half the day.姐姐你聽笑話兒：我因等太太的工夫，和玉釧兒姐姐坐在下房里說話兒，誰知趙姨奶奶招手兒叫我。Sister, let me tell you something funny: while I was waiting for Madam, I sat talking with Sister Yuchuan'er in the servants' quarters, when suddenly Aunt Zhao beckoned me over.我只當有什麼話說，原來他和太太告了假，出去給他兄弟伴宿坐夜，明兒送殯去，跟他的小丫頭子小吉祥兒沒衣裳，要借我的月白緞子襖兒。I thought she had something to say, and it turned out she had asked Madam for leave to go out and sit up through the night with her brother's body, and go to the funeral procession tomorrow; her little maid Xiaojixiang had nothing suitable to wear, so she wanted to borrow my moon-white satin jacket.我想他們一般也有兩件子的，往髒地方兒去恐怕弄髒了，自己的舍不得穿，故此借別人的。I thought to myself, they surely have a jacket or two of their own too, but going somewhere dirty they're afraid of soiling their own and reluctant to wear it, so they borrow someone else's instead.借我的弄髒了也是小事，只是我想，他素日有些什麼好處到咱們跟前，所以我說了：‘我的衣裳簪環都是姑娘叫紫鵑姐姐收著呢。If mine gets soiled from lending it, that's a small matter, but I got to thinking — what good has she ever done us in the past — so I said, 'My clothes and hairpins and jewelry are all kept by Sister Zijuan on our young lady's orders.如今先得去告訴他，還得回姑娘呢。I'd have to go tell her first, and then report to our young lady too.姑娘身上又病著，更費了大事，誤了你老出門，不如再轉借罷。’”紫鵑笑道：“你這個小東西子倒也巧。And our young lady is ill besides, so it would be a great to-do and might make you late going out — better to borrow from someone else instead.'" Zijuan laughed, "You clever little thing, you.你不借給他，你往我和姑娘身上推，叫人怨不著你。You didn't want to lend it to her, so you shifted the blame onto our young lady and me, so no one could hold it against you.他這會子就下去了，還是等明日一早才去？”雪雁道“這會子就去的，只怕此時已去了。”紫鵑點點頭。Is she leaving right away, or waiting until early tomorrow morning?" Xueyan said, "She was going right away — I'm afraid she's already gone by now." Zijuan nodded.雪雁道：“姑娘還沒醒呢，是誰給了寶玉氣受，坐在那里哭呢。”紫鵑聽了，忙問在那里。Xueyan said, "Our young lady still hasn't woken. But someone's upset Baoyu — he's sitting somewhere crying." Hearing this, Zijuan hastily asked where.雪雁道：“在沁芳亭後頭桃花底下呢。”Xueyan said, "Behind Qinfang Pavilion, under the peach trees."

黛玉未醒，将人参交与紫鹃。紫鹃因问他：“太太做什么呢？”雪雁道：“也歇中觉，所以等了这半日。姐姐你听笑话儿：我因等太太的工夫，和玉钏儿姐姐坐在下房里说话儿，谁知赵姨奶奶招手儿叫我。我只当有什么话说，原来他和太太告了假，出去给他兄弟伴宿坐夜，明儿送殡去，跟他的小丫头子小吉祥儿没衣裳，要借我的月白缎子袄儿。我想他们一般也有两件子的，往脏地方儿去恐怕弄脏了，自己的舍不得穿，故此借别人的。借我的弄脏了也是小事，只是我想，他素日有些什么好处到咱们跟前，所以我说了：‘我的衣裳簪环都是姑娘叫紫鹃姐姐收著呢。如今先得去告诉他，还得回姑娘呢。姑娘身上又病著，更费了大事，误了你老出门，不如再转借罢。’”紫鹃笑道：“你这个小东西子倒也巧。你不借给他，你往我和姑娘身上推，叫人怨不著你。他这会子就下去了，还是等明日一早才去？”雪雁道“这会子就去的，只怕此时已去了。”紫鹃点点头。雪雁道：“姑娘还没醒呢，是谁给了宝玉气受，坐在那里哭呢。”紫鹃听了，忙问在那里。雪雁道：“在沁芳亭后头桃花底下呢。”

紫鵑聽說，忙放下針線，又囑咐雪雁好生聽叫：“若問我，答應我就來。”說著，便出了瀟湘館，一徑來尋寶玉，走至寶玉跟前，含笑說道：“我不過說了那兩句話，為的是大家好，你就賭氣跑了這風地里來哭，作出病來唬我。”寶玉忙笑道：“誰賭氣了！Hearing this, Zijuan hastily set down her needlework, and told Xueyan to listen well for any call: "If anyone asks for me, answer that I'll come at once." So saying, she left Bamboo Lodge and went straight to find Baoyu. Coming up to him, she said with a smile, "I only said those couple of words for everyone's good, and you go off in a huff to cry in this windy spot, making yourself sick just to frighten me." Baoyu hastily said with a smile, "Who's in a huff!我因為聽你說的有理，我想你們既這樣說，自然別人也是這樣說，將來漸漸的都不理我了，我所以想著自己傷心。”紫鵑也便挨他坐著。It's only that what you said made sense to me — I thought, if you all say such things, then naturally others must think the same, and little by little in the future everyone will stop paying me any mind, so I got to thinking and feeling sorry for myself." Zijuan then sat down close beside him.寶玉笑道：“方才對面說話你尚走開，這會子如何又來挨我坐著？”紫鵑道：“你都忘了？Baoyu said with a smile, "A moment ago you walked away even while talking to my face — how is it now you come and sit close beside me?" Zijuan said, "Have you forgotten already?幾日前你們姊妹兩個正說話，趙姨娘一頭走了進來，——我才聽見他不在家，所以我來問你。A few days ago, while you two, brother and sister, were talking, Aunt Zhao walked straight in — I just now heard she isn't at home, so I came to ask you.正是前日你和他才說了一句‘燕窩’就歇住了，總沒提起，我正想著問你。”寶玉道：“也沒什麼要緊。It was the other day — you had just said the one word 'bird's-nest' to her and then stopped, and never brought it up again; I was just thinking of asking you about it." Baoyu said, "It's nothing important, really.不過我想著寶姐姐也是客中，既吃燕窩，又不可間斷，若只管和他要，太也托實。It's only that I got to thinking Cousin Bao is a guest here too, and since she's taking bird's-nest broth, it mustn't be interrupted, and yet if she keeps asking her own family for it, it would put too much of a burden on them, relying on them too plainly.雖不便和太太要，我已經在老太太跟前略露了個風聲，只怕老太太和鳳姐姐說了。Though it wasn't convenient for her to ask Madam directly, I had already dropped a hint of it before Grandmother, and I expect Grandmother has spoken to Cousin Feng about it.我告訴他的，竟沒告訴完了他。When I told her about it, I never got to finish telling her the whole of it.如今我聽見一日給你們一兩燕窩，這也就完了。”紫鵑道：“原來是你說了，這又多謝你費心。Now I hear that you're all being given one ounce of bird's-nest a day, so the matter's settled." Zijuan said, "So it was you who spoke of it — then again, my thanks for the trouble you took.我們正疑惑，老太太怎麼忽然想起來叫人每一日送一兩燕窩來呢？We were just wondering how it was that Grandmother suddenly thought to have someone send an ounce of bird's-nest over every day.這就是了。”寶玉笑道：“這要天天吃慣了，吃上三二年就好了。”紫鵑道：“在這里吃慣了，明年家去，那里有這閒錢吃這個。”寶玉聽了，吃了一驚，忙問：“誰？So that explains it." Baoyu said with a smile, "If she gets used to eating it every day, and keeps it up for two or three years, she'll be fine." Zijuan said, "She may get used to eating it here, but once she goes home next year, where will there be spare money for such a thing?" Hearing this, Baoyu was startled, and hastily asked, "Who?往那個家去？”紫鵑道：“你妹妹回蘇州家去。”寶玉笑道：“你又說白話。Go home to what home?" Zijuan said, "Your cousin, going back home to Suzhou." Baoyu laughed, "Now you're talking nonsense again.蘇州雖是原籍，因沒了姑父姑母，無人照看，才就了來的。Suzhou is indeed her ancestral home, but since her father and mother both passed away and there was no one to look after her, that's precisely why she came here to stay.明年回去找誰？If she went back next year, who would she even go to?可見是扯謊。”紫鵑冷笑道：“你太看小了人。So it's plain you're just making it up." Zijuan gave a cold laugh, "You think too little of people.你們賈家獨是大族人口多的，除了你家，別人只得一父一母，房族中真個再無人了不成？Is it only your Jia family that's a great clan with many members? Apart from your household, does everyone else really have nothing but one father and one mother, with truly no one else at all among their kinsfolk?我們姑娘來時，原是老太太心疼他年小，雖有叔伯，不如親父母，故此接來住幾年。When our young lady first came, it was simply that Grandmother felt for her being so young — though she has uncles, they're not the same as her own parents — and so she was brought here to stay for a few years.大了該出閣時，自然要送還林家的。Once she's grown and it comes time for her to marry, she will naturally be sent back to the Lin family.終不成林家的女兒在你賈家一世不成？Surely the daughter of the Lin family isn't meant to stay in your Jia household for her whole life?林家雖貧到沒飯吃，也是世代書宦之家，斷不肯將他家的人丟在親戚家，落人的恥笑。Even if the Lin family were so poor as to have nothing to eat, they are still a family of scholars and officials for generations past, and would never be willing to leave one of their own abandoned in a relative's household, to be laughed at by others.所以早則明年春天，遲則秋天。So at the earliest it will be next spring, at the latest next autumn.這里縱不送去，林家亦必有人來接的。Even if we here don't send her back, someone from the Lin family is bound to come and fetch her.前日夜里姑娘和我說了，叫我告訴你：將從前小時頑的東西，有他送你的，叫你都打點出來還他。The other night our young lady spoke to me, and told me to tell you: whatever playthings from your childhood that she gave you, you're to gather them all up and return them to her.他也將你送他的打疊了在那里呢。”寶玉聽了，便如頭頂上響了一個焦雷一般。She has already packed up and set aside whatever you gave her too." Hearing this, Baoyu felt as though a thunderclap had crashed right over his head.紫鵑看他怎樣回答，只不作聲。Zijuan watched to see how he would answer, but he only remained silent.忽見晴雯找來說：“老太太叫你呢，誰知道在這里。”紫鵑笑道：“他這里問姑娘的病症。Just then Qingwen came looking for him and said, "Grandmother's calling for you — who'd have thought you were here." Zijuan said with a smile, "He was here asking about our young lady's illness.我告訴了他半日，他只不信。I told him about it for the longest while, but he simply wouldn't believe me.你倒拉他去罷。”說著，自己便走回房去了。You'd better just pull him along and take him." So saying, she herself walked back to her room.

紫鹃听说，忙放下针线，又嘱咐雪雁好生听叫：“若问我，答应我就来。”说著，便出了潇湘馆，一径来寻宝玉，走至宝玉跟前，含笑说道：“我不过说了那两句话，为的是大家好，你就赌气跑了这风地里来哭，作出病来唬我。”宝玉忙笑道：“谁赌气了！我因为听你说的有理，我想你们既这样说，自然别人也是这样说，将来渐渐的都不理我了，我所以想著自己伤心。”紫鹃也便挨他坐著。宝玉笑道：“方才对面说话你尚走开，这会子如何又来挨我坐著？”紫鹃道：“你都忘了？几日前你们姊妹两个正说话，赵姨娘一头走了进来，——我才听见他不在家，所以我来问你。正是前日你和他才说了一句‘燕窝’就歇住了，总没提起，我正想著问你。”宝玉道：“也没什么要紧。不过我想著宝姐姐也是客中，既吃燕窝，又不可间断，若只管和他要，太也托实。虽不便和太太要，我已经在老太太跟前略露了个风声，只怕老太太和凤姐姐说了。我告诉他的，竟没告诉完了他。如今我听见一日给你们一两燕窝，这也就完了。”紫鹃道：“原来是你说了，这又多谢你费心。我们正疑惑，老太太怎么忽然想起来叫人每一日送一两燕窝来呢？这就是了。”宝玉笑道：“这要天天吃惯了，吃上三二年就好了。”紫鹃道：“在这里吃惯了，明年家去，那里有这闲钱吃这个。”宝玉听了，吃了一惊，忙问：“谁？往那个家去？”紫鹃道：“你妹妹回苏州家去。”宝玉笑道：“你又说白话。苏州虽是原籍，因没了姑父姑母，无人照看，才就了来的。明年回去找谁？可见是扯谎。”紫鹃冷笑道：“你太看小了人。你们贾家独是大族人口多的，除了你家，别人只得一父一母，房族中真个再无人了不成？我们姑娘来时，原是老太太心疼他年小，虽有叔伯，不如亲父母，故此接来住几年。大了该出阁时，自然要送还林家的。终不成林家的女儿在你贾家一世不成？林家虽贫到没饭吃，也是世代书宦之家，断不肯将他家的人丢在亲戚家，落人的耻笑。所以早则明年春天，迟则秋天。这里纵不送去，林家亦必有人来接的。前日夜里姑娘和我说了，叫我告诉你：将从前小时顽的东西，有他送你的，叫你都打点出来还他。他也将你送他的打叠了在那里呢。”宝玉听了，便如头顶上响了一个焦雷一般。紫鹃看他怎样回答，只不作声。忽见晴雯找来说：“老太太叫你呢，谁知道在这里。”紫鹃笑道：“他这里问姑娘的病症。我告诉了他半日，他只不信。你倒拉他去罢。”说著，自己便走回房去了。

晴雯見他呆呆的，一頭熱汗，滿臉紫脹，忙拉他的手，一直到怡紅院中。Seeing him sitting there in a daze, his head covered in a hot sweat and his face flushed purple, Qingwen hastily took him by the hand and led him straight to Happy Red Court.襲人見了這般，慌起來，只說時氣所感，熱汗被風扑了。Seeing him in such a state, Xiren grew alarmed, thinking it was only that he had caught something from the season's bad air, his sweat having been struck by the wind.無奈寶玉發熱事猶小可，更覺兩個眼珠兒直直的起來，口角邊津液流出，皆不知覺。But it was no small matter that Baoyu was running a fever — worse still, his eyes had gone fixed and staring, and saliva trickled from the corners of his mouth, all without his being aware of it.給他個枕頭，他便睡下，扶他起來，他便坐著，倒了茶來，他便吃茶。Give him a pillow and he would lie down; prop him up and he would sit; pour him tea and he would drink it.眾人見他這般，一時忙起來，又不敢造次去回賈母，先便差人出去請李嬤嬤。Seeing him like this, everyone grew flustered at once, and yet not daring to rashly go and report it to the Lady Dowager, they first sent someone to fetch Nurse Li.

晴雯见他呆呆的，一头热汗，满脸紫胀，忙拉他的手，一直到怡红院中。袭人见了这般，慌起来，只说时气所感，热汗被风扑了。无奈宝玉发热事犹小可，更觉两个眼珠儿直直的起来，口角边津液流出，皆不知觉。给他个枕头，他便睡下，扶他起来，他便坐著，倒了茶来，他便吃茶。众人见他这般，一时忙起来，又不敢造次去回贾母，先便差人出去请李嬷嬷。

一時李嬤嬤來了，看了半日，問他幾句話也無回答，用手向他脈門摸了摸，嘴唇人中上邊著力掐了兩下，掐的指印如許來深，竟也不覺疼。Presently Nurse Li arrived, looked him over for a good while, asked him a few questions to which he gave no answer, felt his pulse with her hand, and then pinched him hard twice on the philtrum above his lip — pinched deep enough to leave fingernail marks — yet he felt no pain at all.李嬤嬤只說了一聲“可了不得了”，“呀”的一聲便摟著放聲大哭起來。Nurse Li only cried out "This is terrible!" and with a wail threw her arms around him and burst into loud weeping.急的襲人忙拉他說：“你老人家瞧瞧，可怕不怕？In her alarm Xiren hastily pulled at her, saying, "You look him over well — is it dangerous or not?且告訴我們去回老太太，太太去。Tell us first, so we can go report to Grandmother and Madam.你老人家怎麼先哭起來？”李嬤嬤捶床搗枕說：“這可不中用了！Why are you crying before anything else?" Nurse Li beat the bed and pounded the pillow, saying, "It's no use now!我白操了一世心了！”襲人等以他年老多知，所以請他來看，如今見他這般一說，都信以為實，也都哭起來。All my worrying over him this whole life has been for nothing!" Xiren and the others, having sent for her precisely because she was old and knowledgeable, now hearing her speak this way, all took it to be true, and they too began to weep.

一时李嬷嬷来了，看了半日，问他几句话也无回答，用手向他脉门摸了摸，嘴唇人中上边著力掐了两下，掐的指印如许来深，竟也不觉疼。李嬷嬷只说了一声“可了不得了”，“呀”的一声便搂著放声大哭起来。急的袭人忙拉他说：“你老人家瞧瞧，可怕不怕？且告诉我们去回老太太，太太去。你老人家怎么先哭起来？”李嬷嬷捶床捣枕说：“这可不中用了！我白操了一世心了！”袭人等以他年老多知，所以请他来看，如今见他这般一说，都信以为实，也都哭起来。

晴雯便告訴襲人，方才如此這般。Qingwen then told Xiren just how it had happened.襲人聽了，便忙到瀟湘館來，見紫鵑正伏侍黛玉吃藥，也顧不得什麼，便走上來問紫鵑道：“你才和我們寶玉說了些什麼？Hearing this, Xiren hurried at once to Bamboo Lodge, and seeing Zijuan just then attending Daiyu as she took her medicine, gave no thought to anything else and went straight up to ask Zijuan, "What did you just say to our Baoyu?你瞧他去，你回老太太去，我也不管了！”說著，便坐在椅上。You go and see to him, you go and report to Grandmother — I won't be responsible for it anymore!" So saying, she sat right down in a chair.黛玉忽見襲人滿面急怒，又有淚痕，舉止大變，便不免也慌了，忙問怎麼了。Daiyu, suddenly seeing Xiren's face full of anxious anger, with traces of tears besides, and her manner so changed, could not help growing alarmed too, and hastily asked what was wrong.襲人定了一回，哭道：“不知紫鵑姑奶奶說了些什麼話，那個呆子眼也直了，手腳也冷了，話也不說了，李媽媽掐著也不疼了，已死了大半個了！Xiren, composing herself a moment, said through tears, "I don't know what Miss Zijuan said to him, but that foolish boy's eyes have gone fixed, his hands and feet have gone cold, he doesn't speak anymore, and when Nurse Li pinched him he didn't even feel it — he's more than half dead already!連李媽媽都說不中用了，那里放聲大哭。Even Nurse Li says it's no use, and she's over there wailing her heart out.只怕這會子都死了！”黛玉一聽此言，李媽媽乃是經過的老嫗，說不中用了，可知必不中用。I'm afraid by now he may already be dead!" The moment Daiyu heard this, she thought: Nurse Li is an old woman who has seen much in her time — if she says it's no use, then it must truly be no use.哇的一聲，將腹中之藥一概嗆出，抖腸搜肺，熾胃扇肝的痛聲大嗽了幾陣，一時面紅髮亂，目腫筋浮，喘的抬不起頭來。With a retch, she brought up all the medicine she had just swallowed, and coughed painfully again and again, a wracking that seemed to shake her very bowels and lungs, to scorch her stomach and fan her liver, until in a moment her face was flushed, her hair disheveled, her eyes swollen and the veins standing out, and she gasped so hard she could not even lift her head.紫鵑忙上來捶背，黛玉伏枕喘息半晌，推紫鵑道：“你不用捶，你竟拿繩子來勒死我是正經！”紫鵑哭道：“我并沒說什麼，不過是說了幾句頑話，他就認真了。”襲人道：“你還不知道他，那傻子每每頑話認了真。”黛玉道：“你說了什麼話，趁早兒去解說，他只怕就醒過來了。”紫鵑聽說，忙下了床，同襲人到了怡紅院。Zijuan hurried up to pat her back, and Daiyu, bent over her pillow, gasped for breath a good while before pushing Zijuan away, saying, "Don't bother patting me — you might as well just fetch a rope and strangle me, that would be the honest thing to do!" Zijuan said through tears, "I really didn't say anything — only a few joking words, and he took them seriously." Xiren said, "You still don't know him — that silly boy is always taking joking words for the truth." Daiyu said, "Whatever you said, go quickly and explain it away — he'll likely come to his senses at once." Hearing this, Zijuan hastily got down from the bed and went with Xiren to Happy Red Court.

晴雯便告诉袭人，方才如此这般。袭人听了，便忙到潇湘馆来，见紫鹃正伏侍黛玉吃药，也顾不得什么，便走上来问紫鹃道：“你才和我们宝玉说了些什么？你瞧他去，你回老太太去，我也不管了！”说著，便坐在椅上。黛玉忽见袭人满面急怒，又有泪痕，举止大变，便不免也慌了，忙问怎么了。袭人定了一回，哭道：“不知紫鹃姑奶奶说了些什么话，那个呆子眼也直了，手脚也冷了，话也不说了，李妈妈掐著也不疼了，已死了大半个了！连李妈妈都说不中用了，那里放声大哭。只怕这会子都死了！”黛玉一听此言，李妈妈乃是经过的老妪，说不中用了，可知必不中用。哇的一声，将腹中之药一概呛出，抖肠搜肺，炽胃扇肝的痛声大嗽了几阵，一时面红发乱，目肿筋浮，喘的抬不起头来。紫鹃忙上来捶背，黛玉伏枕喘息半晌，推紫鹃道：“你不用捶，你竟拿绳子来勒死我是正经！”紫鹃哭道：“我并没说什么，不过是说了几句顽话，他就认真了。”袭人道：“你还不知道他，那傻子每每顽话认了真。”黛玉道：“你说了什么话，趁早儿去解说，他只怕就醒过来了。”紫鹃听说，忙下了床，同袭人到了怡红院。

誰知賈母王夫人等已都在那里了。Who would have thought that the Lady Dowager, Lady Wang, and the others were already there.賈母一見了紫鵑，眼內出火，罵道：“你這小蹄子，和他說了什麼？”紫鵑忙道：“并沒說什麼，不過說幾句頑話。”誰知寶玉見了紫鵑，方噯呀了一聲，哭出來了。The instant the Lady Dowager saw Zijuan, fire seemed to blaze in her eyes, and she scolded, "You little wretch, what did you say to him?" Zijuan hastily said, "I really said nothing — only a few joking words." But then, as soon as Baoyu caught sight of Zijuan, he gave a cry of "Ai-ya!" and burst into tears.眾人一見，方都放下心來。Seeing this, everyone at last felt their hearts settle.賈母便拉住紫鵑，只當他得罪了寶玉，所以拉紫鵑命他打。The Lady Dowager then seized hold of Zijuan, assuming she had offended Baoyu, and so held her fast, ordering that she be beaten.誰知寶玉一把拉住紫鵑，死也不放，說：“要去連我也帶了去。”眾人不解，細問起來，方知紫鵑說“要回蘇州去”一句頑話引出來的。But who would have thought that Baoyu grabbed hold of Zijuan and would not let go for anything, saying, "If she's to go, take me along too." No one could understand this, but on close questioning it came out that it had all been brought on by Zijuan's joking remark about "going back to Suzhou."賈母流淚道：“我當有什麼要緊大事，原來是這句頑話。”又向紫鵑道：“你這孩子素日最是個伶俐聰敏的，你又知道他有個呆根子，平白的哄他作什麼？”薛姨媽勸道：“寶玉本來心實，可巧林姑娘又是從小兒來的，他姊妹兩個一處長了這麼大，比別的姊妹更不同。The Lady Dowager said with tears, "Here I thought it was some great and urgent matter, and it turns out to be nothing but this joking remark." Then she said to Zijuan, "You, child, are usually the cleverest and most sensible of them all — and you well know he has a streak of foolishness in him — why on earth would you tease him so, for no reason at all?" Aunt Xue spoke up to soothe her, "Baoyu has always been simple and true-hearted by nature, and as it happens Cousin Lin came to live here from early childhood too; the two of them, brother and sister, have grown up together all this time, and so it's different between them than between him and his other cousins.這會子熱刺刺的說一個去，別說他是個實心的傻孩子，便是冷心腸的大人也要傷心。To suddenly, so abruptly, speak of her going away — never mind that he's an honest, simple-hearted child, even a cold-hearted grown-up would be grieved to hear it.這并不是什麼大病，老太太和姨太太只管萬安，吃一兩劑藥就好了。”This isn't any serious illness at all — Old Ancestress and Sister-in-law, you may both rest completely at ease; a dose or two of medicine and he'll be well again."

谁知贾母王夫人等已都在那里了。贾母一见了紫鹃，眼内出火，骂道：“你这小蹄子，和他说了什么？”紫鹃忙道：“并没说什么，不过说几句顽话。”谁知宝玉见了紫鹃，方嗳呀了一声，哭出来了。众人一见，方都放下心来。贾母便拉住紫鹃，只当他得罪了宝玉，所以拉紫鹃命他打。谁知宝玉一把拉住紫鹃，死也不放，说：“要去连我也带了去。”众人不解，细问起来，方知紫鹃说“要回苏州去”一句顽话引出来的。贾母流泪道：“我当有什么要紧大事，原来是这句顽话。”又向紫鹃道：“你这孩子素日最是个伶俐聪敏的，你又知道他有个呆根子，平白的哄他作什么？”薛姨妈劝道：“宝玉本来心实，可巧林姑娘又是从小儿来的，他姊妹两个一处长了这么大，比别的姊妹更不同。这会子热刺刺的说一个去，别说他是个实心的傻孩子，便是冷心肠的大人也要伤心。这并不是什么大病，老太太和姨太太只管万安，吃一两剂药就好了。”

正說著，人回林之孝家的單大良家的都來瞧哥兒來了。Just as they were speaking, someone came in to report that both Mrs. Lin Zhixiao and Mrs. Shan Daliang had come to see the young master.賈母道：“難為他們想著，叫他們來瞧瞧。”寶玉聽了一個“林”字，便滿床鬧起來說：“了不得了，林家的人接他們來了，快打出去罷！”賈母聽了，也忙說：“打出去罷。”又忙安慰說：“那不是林家的人。The Lady Dowager said, "It's good of them to think of him — let them come in and see." But at the mere sound of the word "Lin," Baoyu began to thrash about wildly on the bed, crying, "This is terrible — the people from the Lin family have come to fetch her! Drive them out at once!" Hearing this, the Lady Dowager hastily said too, "Drive them out, then." And then she hastened to soothe him, saying, "Those aren't people from the Lin family.林家的人都死絕了，沒人來接他的，你只放心罷。”寶玉哭道：“憑他是誰，除了林妹妹，都不許姓林的！”賈母道：“沒姓林的來，凡姓林的我都打走了。”一面吩咐眾人：“以後別叫林之孝家的進園來，你們也別說‘林’字。Every last one of the Lin family has died out, there's no one left to come fetch her — you may set your mind at ease." Baoyu wept, "Whoever it is, no one is allowed to be surnamed Lin except my cousin Lin!" The Lady Dowager said, "No one surnamed Lin has come — whoever is surnamed Lin I've had driven away." At the same time she instructed everyone, "From now on, don't let Mrs. Lin Zhixiao into the garden, and none of you are to say the word 'Lin' either.好孩子們，你們聽我這句話罷！”眾人忙答應，又不敢笑。Dear children, mind this word of mine!" Everyone hastily agreed, not daring even to laugh.一時寶玉又一眼看見了十錦格子上陳設的一只金西洋自行船，便指著亂叫說：“那不是接他們來的船來了，灣在那里呢。”賈母忙命拿下來。A moment later Baoyu caught sight of a gilt Western clockwork boat displayed on the curio shelf, and pointing at it he shouted wildly, "Isn't that the boat come to fetch them — look, it's moored right there!" The Lady Dowager hastily ordered it taken down.襲人忙拿下來，寶玉伸手要，襲人遞過，寶玉便掖在被中，笑道：“可去不成了！”一面說，一面死拉著紫鵑不放。Xiren hastily took it down; Baoyu reached out his hand for it, Xiren passed it to him, and Baoyu tucked it into the bedding, laughing, "Now it can't go anywhere!" As he spoke, he kept clutching fast to Zijuan and would not let go.

正说著，人回林之孝家的单大良家的都来瞧哥儿来了。贾母道：“难为他们想著，叫他们来瞧瞧。”宝玉听了一个“林”字，便满床闹起来说：“了不得了，林家的人接他们来了，快打出去罢！”贾母听了，也忙说：“打出去罢。”又忙安慰说：“那不是林家的人。林家的人都死绝了，没人来接他的，你只放心罢。”宝玉哭道：“凭他是谁，除了林妹妹，都不许姓林的！”贾母道：“没姓林的来，凡姓林的我都打走了。”一面吩咐众人：“以后别叫林之孝家的进园来，你们也别说‘林’字。好孩子们，你们听我这句话罢！”众人忙答应，又不敢笑。一时宝玉又一眼看见了十锦格子上陈设的一只金西洋自行船，便指著乱叫说：“那不是接他们来的船来了，湾在那里呢。”贾母忙命拿下来。袭人忙拿下来，宝玉伸手要，袭人递过，宝玉便掖在被中，笑道：“可去不成了！”一面说，一面死拉著紫鹃不放。

一時人回大夫來了，賈母忙命快進來。Presently someone reported that the doctor had come, and the Lady Dowager hastily ordered him brought in at once.王夫人，薛姨媽，寶釵等暫避里間，賈母便端坐在寶玉身旁，王太醫進來見許多的人，忙上去請了賈母的安，拿了寶玉的手診了一回。Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Baochai, and the others withdrew for the moment into the inner room, while the Lady Dowager sat composedly at Baoyu's side. Doctor Wang, coming in and seeing so many people present, hastened forward to pay his respects to the Lady Dowager, then took hold of Baoyu's wrist and felt his pulse for a while.那紫鵑少不得低了頭。Zijuan, for her part, could not help lowering her head.王大夫也不解何意，起身說道：“世兄這症乃是急痛迷心。Doctor Wang, not understanding the meaning of this, rose and said, "This young gentleman's condition is one of sudden distress clouding the heart.古人曾云：‘痰迷有別。The ancients once said: 'Phlegm-confusion has its distinctions.有氣血虧柔，飲食不能熔化痰迷者，有怒惱中痰裹而迷者，有急痛壅塞者。’此亦痰迷之症，系急痛所致，不過一時壅蔽，較諸痰迷似輕。”賈母道：“你只說怕不怕，誰同你背藥書呢。”王太醫忙躬身笑說：“不妨，不妨。”賈母道：“果真不妨？”王太醫道：“實在不妨，都在晚生身上。”賈母道：“既如此，請到外面坐，開藥方。There is confusion from deficient and weakened blood and vital energy, where food and drink cannot be transformed and phlegm clouds the mind; there is confusion where phlegm wraps about the heart amid rage and anger; and there is obstruction from sudden distress.' This too is a case of phlegm-confusion, brought on by sudden distress — merely a temporary blockage, and comparatively milder than ordinary phlegm-confusion." The Lady Dowager said, "Just tell me plainly whether it's dangerous or not — who asked you to recite medical texts at me?" Doctor Wang hastily bowed and said with a smile, "No danger, no danger at all." The Lady Dowager said, "Truly no danger?" Doctor Wang said, "Truly none — I stake it entirely on my own responsibility." The Lady Dowager said, "Very well then, please go sit outside and write out the prescription.若吃好了，我另外預備好謝禮，叫他親自捧來送去磕頭，若耽誤了，打發人去拆了太醫院大堂。”王太醫只躬身笑說：“不敢，不敢。”他原聽了說“另具上等謝禮命寶玉去磕頭”，故滿口說“不敢”，竟未聽見賈母後來說拆太醫院之戲語，猶說“不敢”，賈母與眾人反倒笑了。If he recovers, I'll prepare a fine gift of thanks and have him come in person to present it and kowtow to you; but if this is bungled, I'll send someone to go and tear down the great hall of the Imperial Academy of Medicine!" Doctor Wang only bowed and said with a smile, "I dare not, I dare not." He had heard only the part about "preparing a fine gift of thanks and having Baoyu come kowtow," and so kept protesting "I dare not" over and over — never having caught the Lady Dowager's later jest about tearing down the Academy of Medicine, he went on saying "I dare not" all the same, at which the Lady Dowager and everyone else could not help laughing instead.一時，按方煎了藥來服下，果覺比先安靜。Presently, the medicine was decocted according to the prescription and given to him, and indeed he seemed calmer than before.無奈寶玉只不肯放紫鵑，只說他去了便是要回蘇州去了。But there was no help for it — Baoyu simply would not let Zijuan go, insisting that if she left it meant she was going back to Suzhou.賈母王夫人無法，只得命紫鵑守著他，另將琥珀去伏侍黛玉。With no other choice, the Lady Dowager and Lady Wang had to order Zijuan to stay and watch over him, sending Hupo instead to attend Daiyu.

一时人回大夫来了，贾母忙命快进来。王夫人，薛姨妈，宝钗等暂避里间，贾母便端坐在宝玉身旁，王太医进来见许多的人，忙上去请了贾母的安，拿了宝玉的手诊了一回。那紫鹃少不得低了头。王大夫也不解何意，起身说道：“世兄这症乃是急痛迷心。古人曾云：‘痰迷有别。有气血亏柔，饮食不能熔化痰迷者，有怒恼中痰裹而迷者，有急痛壅塞者。’此亦痰迷之症，系急痛所致，不过一时壅蔽，较诸痰迷似轻。”贾母道：“你只说怕不怕，谁同你背药书呢。”王太医忙躬身笑说：“不妨，不妨。”贾母道：“果真不妨？”王太医道：“实在不妨，都在晚生身上。”贾母道：“既如此，请到外面坐，开药方。若吃好了，我另外预备好谢礼，叫他亲自捧来送去磕头，若耽误了，打发人去拆了太医院大堂。”王太医只躬身笑说：“不敢，不敢。”他原听了说“另具上等谢礼命宝玉去磕头”，故满口说“不敢”，竟未听见贾母后来说拆太医院之戏语，犹说“不敢”，贾母与众人反倒笑了。一时，按方煎了药来服下，果觉比先安静。无奈宝玉只不肯放紫鹃，只说他去了便是要回苏州去了。贾母王夫人无法，只得命紫鹃守著他，另将琥珀去伏侍黛玉。

黛玉不時遣雪雁來探消息，這邊事務盡知，自己心中暗歎。Daiyu kept sending Xueyan from time to time to find out how things stood, and having learned every detail of what had happened, sighed quietly to herself.幸喜眾人都知寶玉原有些呆氣，自幼是他二人親密，如今紫鵑之戲語亦是常情，寶玉之病亦非罕事，因不疑到別事去。Fortunately, everyone knew that Baoyu had always had a foolish streak in him, and that the two of them had been close since childhood, so that Zijuan's joking remark was an ordinary enough thing, and Baoyu's falling ill over it nothing so unusual — and so no one's suspicions strayed toward anything else.

黛玉不时遣雪雁来探消息，这边事务尽知，自己心中暗叹。幸喜众人都知宝玉原有些呆气，自幼是他二人亲密，如今紫鹃之戏语亦是常情，宝玉之病亦非罕事，因不疑到别事去。

晚間寶玉稍安，賈母王夫人等方回房去。By evening Baoyu had grown somewhat calmer, and only then did the Lady Dowager, Lady Wang, and the others return to their own rooms.一夜還遣人來問訊幾次。Even so, through the night they still sent people over several times to ask after him.李奶母帶領宋嬤嬤等幾個年老人用心看守，紫鵑，襲人，晴雯等日夜相伴。Nurse Li, together with Nurse Song and a few other elderly women, kept careful watch over him, while Zijuan, Xiren, Qingwen, and the others stayed by his side day and night.有時寶玉睡去，必從夢中驚醒，不是哭了說黛玉已去，便是有人來接。Sometimes when Baoyu fell asleep, he would invariably wake with a start from his dreams, either weeping that Daiyu had already gone, or that someone had come to fetch her.每一驚時，必得紫鵑安慰一番方罷。Each time he startled awake, only after Zijuan had soothed him for a while would he settle down again.彼時賈母又命將祛邪守靈丹及開竅通神散各樣上方秘制諸藥，按方飲服。At this time the Lady Dowager also ordered that Pill for Dispelling Evil and Guarding the Spirit, Powder for Opening the Orifices and Communicating with the Spirit, and various other secret formula medicines of the finest sort be given to him according to their prescriptions.次日又服了王太醫藥，漸次好起來。The next day he also took Doctor Wang's medicine, and little by little began to recover.寶玉心下明白，因恐紫鵑回去，故有時或作佯狂之態。In his heart Baoyu was actually quite clear-headed, but fearing that Zijuan might leave, he sometimes still put on a show of being deranged.紫鵑自那日也著實後悔，如今日夜辛苦，并沒有怨意。Zijuan, for her part, had thoroughly regretted her words ever since that day, and now, toiling day and night, bore not the least trace of resentment.襲人等皆心安神定，因向紫鵑笑道：“都是你鬧的，還得你來治。Xiren and the others, their hearts now all at ease, said to Zijuan with a laugh, "It was all your doing that stirred this up, and it takes you to set it right again.也沒見我們這呆子聽了風就是雨，往後怎麼好。”暫且按下。I've never seen the like — our foolish boy hearing wind and taking it for rain — whatever will become of him from now on." But let us set this aside for now.

晚间宝玉稍安，贾母王夫人等方回房去。一夜还遣人来问讯几次。李奶母带领宋嬷嬷等几个年老人用心看守，紫鹃，袭人，晴雯等日夜相伴。有时宝玉睡去，必从梦中惊醒，不是哭了说黛玉已去，便是有人来接。每一惊时，必得紫鹃安慰一番方罢。彼时贾母又命将祛邪守灵丹及开窍通神散各样上方秘制诸药，按方饮服。次日又服了王太医药，渐次好起来。宝玉心下明白，因恐紫鹃回去，故有时或作佯狂之态。紫鹃自那日也著实后悔，如今日夜辛苦，并没有怨意。袭人等皆心安神定，因向紫鹃笑道：“都是你闹的，还得你来治。也没见我们这呆子听了风就是雨，往后怎么好。”暂且按下。

因此時湘雲之症已愈，天天過來瞧看，見寶玉明白了，便將他病中狂態形容了與他瞧，引的寶玉自己伏枕而笑。Since Xiangyun's illness had already healed by this time, she came over every day to look in on him, and seeing that Baoyu was now himself again, she described to him the mad things he had done while ill, which made Baoyu laugh as he lay against his pillow.原來他起先那樣竟是不知的，如今聽人說還不信。It turned out that at first he simply had not known what he had done, and now, hearing others tell of it, he still did not believe it.無人時紫鵑在側，寶玉又拉他的手問道：“你為什麼唬我？”紫鵑道：“不過是哄你頑的，你就認真了。”寶玉道：“你說的那樣有情有理，如何是頑話。”紫鵑笑道：“那些頑話都是我編的。When no one else was about, with only Zijuan at his side, Baoyu took her hand again and asked, "Why did you frighten me so?" Zijuan said, "It was only to tease you in fun, and you took it seriously." Baoyu said, "What you said was so full of feeling and reason, how could it be mere joking?" Zijuan said with a smile, "All that talk I simply made up.林家實沒了人口，縱有也是极遠的。The Lin family truly has no one left, and even if there were someone, they would be very far away.族中也都不在蘇州住，各省流寓不定。None of the clan even lives in Suzhou anymore; they are scattered and drifting about in various provinces.縱有人來接，老太太必不放去的。”寶玉道：“便老太太放去，我也不依。”紫鵑笑道：“果真的你不依？Even if someone came to fetch her, Old Ancestress would certainly not let her go." Baoyu said, "Even if Old Ancestress let her go, I would not consent." Zijuan said with a smile, "Would you really not consent?只怕是口里的話。I'm afraid that's just talk.你如今也大了，連親也定下了，過二三年再娶了親，你眼里還有誰了？”寶玉聽了，又驚問：“誰定了親？You are grown up now, and your engagement has even been settled — in another two or three years, once you're married, who will be left in your eyes?" Hearing this, Baoyu asked in alarm, "Whose engagement has been settled?定了誰？”紫鵑笑道：“年里我聽見老太太說，要定下琴姑娘呢。Settled with whom?" Zijuan said with a smile, "Earlier this year I heard Old Ancestress say she meant to arrange a match with Miss Qin.不然那麼疼他？”寶玉笑道：“人人只說我傻，你比我更傻。Otherwise, why would she dote on her so?" Baoyu said with a smile, "Everyone says I'm the foolish one, but you're even more foolish than I am.不過是句頑話，他已經許給梅翰林家了。That was only a joke — she's already been promised to the Mei Hanlin family.果然定下了他，我還是這個形景了？If it were really settled that I marry her, would I still be in this state?先是我發誓賭咒砸這勞什子，你都沒勸過，說我瘋的？When I first swore and cursed and smashed that wretched thing, you never once tried to stop me, and said I was mad —剛剛的這幾日才好了，你又來慪我。”一面說，一面咬牙切齒的，又說道：“我只願這會子立刻我死了，把心迸出來你們瞧見了，然後連皮帶骨一概都化成一股灰，——灰還有形跡，不如再化一股煙，——煙還可凝聚，人還看見，須得一陣大亂風吹的四面八方都登時散了，這才好！”一面說，一面又滾下淚來。only these last few days have I gotten better, and now you come to vex me again." As he spoke he ground his teeth, and went on, "I only wish that this instant I could die, that my heart could burst out for you all to see, and then that flesh and bone alike would all turn into a heap of ash — but ash still has a shape, better to turn into a wisp of smoke — but smoke can still gather together and people can still see it, what's needed is a great whirlwind to blow it apart in all directions at once, scattered instantly — that would be best!" As he spoke, tears rolled down again.紫鵑忙上來握他的嘴，替他擦眼淚，又忙笑解說道：“你不用著急。Zijuan hurried over to press her hand against his mouth and wipe his tears, and quickly explained with a smile, "You needn't be so anxious.這原是我心里著急，故來試你。”寶玉聽了，更又詫异，問道：“你又著什麼急？”紫鵑笑道：“你知道，我并不是林家的人，我也和襲人鴛鴦是一伙的，偏把我給了林姑娘使。It was really my own anxiety of heart that made me come and test you." Hearing this, Baoyu was even more astonished, and asked, "What were you anxious about?" Zijuan said with a smile, "You know I am not really of the Lin family — I belong with Xiren and Yuanyang, only I was assigned to wait on Miss Lin.偏生他又和我极好，比他蘇州帶來的還好十倍，一時一刻我們兩個離不開。But as it happens she and I get along extremely well, ten times better than the maid she brought from Suzhou, and not for a single moment can the two of us bear to be apart.我如今心里卻愁，他倘或要去了，我必要跟了他去的。Now in my heart I am troubled — if she should ever have to go away, I would certainly have to follow her there.我是合家在這里，我若不去，辜負了我們素日的情常，若去，又棄了本家。My whole family is here — if I don't go, I would be failing the affection we've shared all this time; if I do go, I would be abandoning my own kin.所以我疑惑，故設出這謊話來問你，誰知你就傻鬧起來。”寶玉笑道：“原來是你愁這個，所以你是傻子。That is why I was troubled, and so made up this lie to test you — who would have thought you'd carry on so foolishly." Baoyu said with a smile, "So this is what was troubling you — that just shows you're the fool.從此後再別愁了。From now on, don't worry about this anymore.我只告訴你一句躉話：活著，咱們一處活著，不活著，咱們一處化灰化煙，如何？”紫鵑聽了，心下暗暗籌畫。Let me just tell you one blanket promise: if alive, we live together in one place; if not alive, we turn to ash and smoke together in one place — how's that?" Hearing this, Zijuan quietly turned it over in her mind.忽有人回：“環爺蘭哥兒問候。”寶玉道：“就說難為他們，我才睡了，不必進來。”婆子答應去了。Suddenly someone came to report, "Master Huan and Master Lan send their regards." Baoyu said, "Just tell them I'm grateful for their trouble — I've just fallen asleep, no need for them to come in." The old woman went off to answer as told.紫鵑笑道：“你也好了，該放我回去瞧瞧我們那一個去了。”寶玉道：“正是這話。Zijuan said with a smile, "You're well now too — you ought to let me go back and see how that one of ours is doing." Baoyu said, "That's exactly right.我昨日就要叫你去的，偏又忘了。I meant to send you yesterday, but it happened to slip my mind.我已經大好了，你就去罷。”紫鵑聽說，方打疊舖蓋妝奩之類。I'm already much better now, so you go ahead." Hearing this, Zijuan then set about packing up her bedding and toilet case and the like.寶玉笑道：“我看見你文具里頭有三兩面鏡子，你把那面小菱花的給我留下罷。Baoyu said with a smile, "I see you have two or three mirrors among your toilet things — leave that small water-caltrop-flower one behind for me.我擱在枕頭旁邊，睡著好照，明兒出門帶著也輕巧。”紫鵑聽說，只得與他留下，先命人將東西送過去，然後別了眾人，自回瀟湘館來。I'll set it by my pillow, good for looking into while lying down, and tomorrow, out and about, it'll be light to carry." Hearing this, Zijuan had no choice but to leave it with him; she first had someone send her things over, then took leave of everyone and returned by herself to the Bamboo Lodge.

因此时湘云之症已愈，天天过来瞧看，见宝玉明白了，便将他病中狂态形容了与他瞧，引的宝玉自己伏枕而笑。原来他起先那样竟是不知的，如今听人说还不信。无人时紫鹃在侧，宝玉又拉他的手问道：“你为什么唬我？”紫鹃道：“不过是哄你顽的，你就认真了。”宝玉道：“你说的那样有情有理，如何是顽话。”紫鹃笑道：“那些顽话都是我编的。林家实没了人口，纵有也是极远的。族中也都不在苏州住，各省流寓不定。纵有人来接，老太太必不放去的。”宝玉道：“便老太太放去，我也不依。”紫鹃笑道：“果真的你不依？只怕是口里的话。你如今也大了，连亲也定下了，过二三年再娶了亲，你眼里还有谁了？”宝玉听了，又惊问：“谁定了亲？定了谁？”紫鹃笑道：“年里我听见老太太说，要定下琴姑娘呢。不然那么疼他？”宝玉笑道：“人人只说我傻，你比我更傻。不过是句顽话，他已经许给梅翰林家了。果然定下了他，我还是这个形景了？先是我发誓赌咒砸这劳什子，你都没劝过，说我疯的？刚刚的这几日才好了，你又来怄我。”一面说，一面咬牙切齿的，又说道：“我只愿这会子立刻我死了，把心迸出来你们瞧见了，然后连皮带骨一概都化成一股灰，——灰还有形迹，不如再化一股烟，——烟还可凝聚，人还看见，须得一阵大乱风吹的四面八方都登时散了，这才好！”一面说，一面又滚下泪来。紫鹃忙上来握他的嘴，替他擦眼泪，又忙笑解说道：“你不用著急。这原是我心里著急，故来试你。”宝玉听了，更又诧异，问道：“你又著什么急？”紫鹃笑道：“你知道，我并不是林家的人，我也和袭人鸳鸯是一伙的，偏把我给了林姑娘使。偏生他又和我极好，比他苏州带来的还好十倍，一时一刻我们两个离不开。我如今心里却愁，他倘或要去了，我必要跟了他去的。我是合家在这里，我若不去，辜负了我们素日的情常，若去，又弃了本家。所以我疑惑，故设出这谎话来问你，谁知你就傻闹起来。”宝玉笑道：“原来是你愁这个，所以你是傻子。从此后再别愁了。我只告诉你一句趸话：活著，咱们一处活著，不活著，咱们一处化灰化烟，如何？”紫鹃听了，心下暗暗筹画。忽有人回：“环爷兰哥儿问候。”宝玉道：“就说难为他们，我才睡了，不必进来。”婆子答应去了。紫鹃笑道：“你也好了，该放我回去瞧瞧我们那一个去了。”宝玉道：“正是这话。我昨日就要叫你去的，偏又忘了。我已经大好了，你就去罢。”紫鹃听说，方打叠铺盖妆奁之类。宝玉笑道：“我看见你文具里头有三两面镜子，你把那面小菱花的给我留下罢。我搁在枕头旁边，睡著好照，明儿出门带著也轻巧。”紫鹃听说，只得与他留下，先命人将东西送过去，然后别了众人，自回潇湘馆来。

林黛玉近日聞得寶玉如此形景，未免又添些病症，多哭幾場。Having heard of late how Baoyu had been carrying on in this fashion, Lin Daiyu could not help but grow somewhat worse in her illness, and wept many times over.今見紫鵑來了，問其原故，已知大愈，仍遣琥珀去伏侍賈母。Now, seeing Zijuan come back, she asked the reason, and learned that he was already much recovered; she then sent Hupo back to wait on Grandmother Jia as before.夜間人定後，紫鵑已寬衣臥下之時，悄向黛玉笑道：“寶玉的心倒實，聽見咱們去就那樣起來。”黛玉不答。At night, after everyone had settled down, just as Zijuan had loosened her clothes and lain down, she said quietly to Daiyu with a smile, "Baoyu's heart is honest indeed — hearing that we might go, he carried on like that." Daiyu made no answer.紫鵑停了半晌，自言自語的說道：“一動不如一靜。After a good while, Zijuan murmured to herself, "Better to stay settled than to stir things up.我們這里就算好人家，別的都容易，最難得的是從小兒一處長大，脾氣情性都彼此知道的了。”黛玉啐道：“你這幾天還不乏，趁這會子不歇一歇，還嚼什麼蛆。”紫鵑笑道：“倒不是白嚼蛆，我倒是一片真心為姑娘。Ours is counted a good household — everything else would be easy, but hardest to find is having grown up together from childhood, so that each knows the other's temperament and disposition through and through." Daiyu spat out, "Aren't you tired even after these past few days — instead of resting now while you have the chance, what nonsense are you still chewing over?" Zijuan said with a smile, "It's not idle nonsense at all — I speak out of a wholly sincere heart, for your sake, Miss.替你愁了這幾年了，無父母無兄弟，誰是知疼著熱的人？I've worried over you these several years now — with no parents, no brothers, who is there to feel for you and care for your warmth and cold?趁早兒老太太還明白硬朗的時節，作定了大事要緊。While Old Ancestress is still of sound mind and in good health, it's most important to settle the great matter early.俗語說，‘老健春寒秋後熱’，倘或老太太一時有個好歹，那時雖也完事，只怕耽誤了時光，還不得趁心如意呢。As the saying goes, 'an old person's vigor is like spring cold or autumn heat' — sudden and not to be counted on — should something happen to Old Ancestress all at once, matters would still get settled somehow, but I fear the right moment would be missed, and things might not turn out to your liking after all.公子王孫雖多，那一個不是三房五妾，今兒朝東，明兒朝西？However many young lords and noble scions there are, which of them doesn't keep three chambers and five concubines, facing east today and west tomorrow?要一個天仙來，也不過三夜五夕，也丟在脖子後頭了，甚至于為妾為丫頭反目成仇的。Even if you got a veritable fairy from heaven, it would last no more than three nights and five evenings before being tossed behind the neck and forgotten, and there are even those who, over concubines and maids, turn into bitter enemies.若娘家有人有勢的還好些，若是姑娘這樣的人，有老太太一日還好一日，若沒了老太太，也只是憑人去欺負了。If your own family had people and power behind you it would be better still, but for someone in your position, Miss, as long as Old Ancestress lives you have one good day after another, but once she is gone, you will simply be left to whatever bullying others choose to give you.所以說，拿主意要緊。That is why I say, making up your mind is the most important thing.姑娘是個明白人，豈不聞俗語說：‘萬兩黃金容易得，知心一個也難求’。”黛玉聽了，便說道：“這丫頭今兒不瘋了？You're a sensible person, Miss — surely you've heard the saying: 'Ten thousand taels of gold are easy to come by, but one true, understanding heart is hard to find.'" Hearing this, Daiyu said, "Has this girl gone mad again today?怎麼去了幾日，忽然變了一個人。How is it that after being away only a few days, she's suddenly turned into a different person?我明兒必回老太太退回去，我不敢要你了。”紫鵑笑道：“我說的是好話，不過叫你心里留神，并沒叫你去為非作歹，何苦回老太太，叫我吃了虧，又有何好處？”說著，竟自睡了。Tomorrow I really must report this to Old Ancestress and send you back — I dare not keep you any longer." Zijuan said with a smile, "What I've said is well meant, only meant to make you keep it in mind — I never told you to go do anything wicked, so why go to the trouble of reporting it to Old Ancestress and getting me into trouble — what good would that do?" So saying, she simply went off to sleep.黛玉聽了這話，口內雖如此說，心內未嘗不傷感，待他睡了，便直泣了一夜，至天明方打了一個盹兒。Hearing these words, Daiyu, though she spoke as she had, could not help but feel sorrowful at heart within; once Zijuan had fallen asleep, she wept quietly the whole night through, and only toward dawn did she manage to doze off for a moment.次日勉強盥漱了，吃了些燕窩粥，便有賈母等親來看視了，又囑咐了許多話。The next day she forced herself to wash and rinse her mouth, and ate a little bird's-nest congee, when Grandmother Jia and the others came in person to look in on her, and gave her much advice besides.

林黛玉近日闻得宝玉如此形景，未免又添些病症，多哭几场。今见紫鹃来了，问其原故，已知大愈，仍遣琥珀去伏侍贾母。夜间人定后，紫鹃已宽衣卧下之时，悄向黛玉笑道：“宝玉的心倒实，听见咱们去就那样起来。”黛玉不答。紫鹃停了半晌，自言自语的说道：“一动不如一静。我们这里就算好人家，别的都容易，最难得的是从小儿一处长大，脾气情性都彼此知道的了。”黛玉啐道：“你这几天还不乏，趁这会子不歇一歇，还嚼什么蛆。”紫鹃笑道：“倒不是白嚼蛆，我倒是一片真心为姑娘。替你愁了这几年了，无父母无兄弟，谁是知疼著热的人？趁早儿老太太还明白硬朗的时节，作定了大事要紧。俗语说，‘老健春寒秋后热’，倘或老太太一时有个好歹，那时虽也完事，只怕耽误了时光，还不得趁心如意呢。公子王孙虽多，那一个不是三房五妾，今儿朝东，明儿朝西？要一个天仙来，也不过三夜五夕，也丢在脖子后头了，甚至于为妾为丫头反目成仇的。若娘家有人有势的还好些，若是姑娘这样的人，有老太太一日还好一日，若没了老太太，也只是凭人去欺负了。所以说，拿主意要紧。姑娘是个明白人，岂不闻俗语说：‘万两黄金容易得，知心一个也难求’。”黛玉听了，便说道：“这丫头今儿不疯了？怎么去了几日，忽然变了一个人。我明儿必回老太太退回去，我不敢要你了。”紫鹃笑道：“我说的是好话，不过叫你心里留神，并没叫你去为非作歹，何苦回老太太，叫我吃了亏，又有何好处？”说著，竟自睡了。黛玉听了这话，口内虽如此说，心内未尝不伤感，待他睡了，便直泣了一夜，至天明方打了一个盹儿。次日勉强盥漱了，吃了些燕窝粥，便有贾母等亲来看视了，又嘱咐了许多话。

目今是薛姨媽的生日，自賈母起，諸人皆有祝賀之禮。It happened just then to be Aunt Xue's birthday, and from Grandmother Jia on down, everyone had gifts of congratulation.黛玉亦早備了兩色針線送去。Daiyu too had early prepared two kinds of needlework to send over as gifts.是日也定了一本小戲請賈母王夫人等，獨有寶玉與黛玉二人不曾去得。That day a short opera troupe was also engaged to entertain Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and the others — only Baoyu and Daiyu, the two of them, were unable to attend.至散時，賈母等順路又瞧他二人一遍，方回房去。When it broke up, Grandmother Jia and the rest, on their way back, stopped by once more to look in on the two of them before returning to their own quarters.次日，薛姨媽家又命薛蝌陪諸伙計吃了一天酒，連忙了三四天方完備。The next day, the Xue household again had Xue Ke accompany the various clerks in a day's drinking, and it took a full three or four busy days before everything was finally settled.

目今是薛姨妈的生日，自贾母起，诸人皆有祝贺之礼。黛玉亦早备了两色针线送去。是日也定了一本小戏请贾母王夫人等，独有宝玉与黛玉二人不曾去得。至散时，贾母等顺路又瞧他二人一遍，方回房去。次日，薛姨妈家又命薛蝌陪诸伙计吃了一天酒，连忙了三四天方完备。

因薛姨媽看見邢岫煙生得端雅穩重，且家道貧寒，是個釵荊裙布的女兒。It was because Aunt Xue had seen that Xing Xiuyan was refined, proper, and steady in bearing, and that though her family was poor, she was a girl of thorn hairpins and cloth skirts —便欲說與薛蟠為妻。that she wished to propose her as a wife for Xue Pan.因薛蟠素習行止浮奢，又恐遭踏人家的女兒。But because Xue Pan had always been frivolous and extravagant in his conduct, she feared he might mistreat another family's daughter.正在躊躇之際，忽想起薛蝌未娶，看他二人恰是一對天生地設的夫妻，因謀之于鳳姐兒。Just as she was hesitating over this, she suddenly recalled that Xue Ke had not yet married, and thought that the two of them would make a perfectly matched couple, ordained by heaven and arranged by earth, and so she took counsel with Xifeng about it.鳳姐兒歎道：“姑媽素知我們太太有些左性的，這事等我慢謀。”因賈母去瞧鳳姐兒時，鳳姐兒便和賈母說：“薛姑媽有件事求老祖宗，只是不好啟齒的。”賈母忙問何事，鳳姐兒便將求親一事說了。Xifeng sighed and said, "Aunt, you yourself well know that our lady has something of a stubborn streak — let me work this out slowly." So it was that when Grandmother Jia went to see Xifeng, Xifeng said to Grandmother Jia, "Aunt Xue has a matter she wishes to ask of you, Old Ancestress, only she finds it awkward to bring up." Grandmother Jia hastily asked what it was, and Xifeng then told her of the matter of proposing the marriage.賈母笑道：“這有什麼不好啟齒？Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "What is there awkward about that?這是极好的事。This is an excellent match indeed.等我和你婆婆說了，怕他不依？”因回房來，即刻就命人來請邢夫人過來，硬作保山。Let me speak to your mother-in-law about it — would she dare not agree?" So saying, she returned to her rooms and at once sent someone to invite Lady Xing over, determined to serve as matchmaker herself, whether asked or not.邢夫人想了一想：薛家根基不錯，且現今大富，薛蝌生得又好，且賈母硬作保山，將机就計便應了。Lady Xing thought it over: the Xue family's standing was good, and they were presently very wealthy besides; Xue Ke, moreover, was fine-looking, and with Grandmother Jia insisting on being the matchmaker, she decided to go along with the scheme and agreed.賈母十分喜歡，忙命人請了薛姨媽來。Grandmother Jia was overjoyed and at once sent someone to invite Aunt Xue over.二人見了，自然有許多謙辭。When the two of them met, there was naturally a great deal of polite deferring back and forth.邢夫人即刻命人去告訴邢忠夫婦。Lady Xing at once sent someone to inform Xing Zhong and his wife.他夫婦原是此來投靠邢夫人的，如何不依，早极口的說妙极。That couple had originally come here to rely on Lady Xing for support — how could they not agree? They at once praised the match to the skies as splendid.賈母笑道：“我愛管個閒事，今兒又管成了一件事，不知得多少謝媒錢？”薛姨媽笑道：“這是自然的。Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "I do love meddling in other people's business, and today I've gone and settled another match — I wonder how much matchmaker's fee I'll get for it?" Aunt Xue said with a smile, "That goes without saying.縱抬了十萬銀子來，只怕不希罕。Even if we carried over a hundred thousand taels of silver, I doubt it would be enough to satisfy you.但只一件，老太太既是主親，還得一位才好。”賈母笑道：“別的沒有，我們家折腿爛手的人還有兩個。”說著，便命人去叫過尤氏婆媳二人來。But there's just one thing — since you, Old Ancestress, are acting as the principal matchmaker, we really ought to have one more person as well." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Nothing else to spare, but we still have two broken-legged, crippled-handed people in our house." So saying, she sent someone to fetch the widow You and her daughter-in-law.賈母告訴他原故，彼此忙都道喜。Grandmother Jia told them the reason, and everyone at once offered hasty congratulations to one another.賈母吩咐道：“咱們家的規矩你是盡知的，從沒有兩親家爭禮爭面的。Grandmother Jia instructed, "You well know all the customs of our household — never has there been a case of the two matchmaking families quarreling over precedence or face.如今你算替我在當中料理，也不可太嗇，也不可太費，把他兩家的事周全了回我。”尤氏忙答應了。Now you are to manage things on my behalf, standing in the middle between the two families — don't be too stingy, and don't be too extravagant either; see the affairs of both families through properly and then report back to me." Madam You hastily agreed.薛姨媽喜之不盡，回家來忙命寫了請帖補送過宁府。Aunt Xue was overjoyed beyond measure, and on returning home at once had invitation cards written up and sent over to the Ning mansion as a supplement.尤氏深知邢夫人情性，本不欲管，無奈賈母親囑咐，只得應了，惟有忖度邢夫人之意行事。Madam You knew Lady Xing's temperament well and had no wish at all to get involved, but since Grandmother Jia herself had given the charge in person, she had no choice but to agree, and could only act with an eye to guessing Lady Xing's wishes at every turn.薛姨媽是個無可無不可的人，倒還易說。Aunt Xue was a person who took things as they came, neither insisting nor objecting, and so was rather easy to deal with.這且不在話下。But this need not be gone into here.

因薛姨妈看见邢岫烟生得端雅稳重，且家道贫寒，是个钗荆裙布的女儿。便欲说与薛蟠为妻。因薛蟠素习行止浮奢，又恐遭踏人家的女儿。正在踌躇之际，忽想起薛蝌未娶，看他二人恰是一对天生地设的夫妻，因谋之于凤姐儿。凤姐儿叹道：“姑妈素知我们太太有些左性的，这事等我慢谋。”因贾母去瞧凤姐儿时，凤姐儿便和贾母说：“薛姑妈有件事求老祖宗，只是不好启齿的。”贾母忙问何事，凤姐儿便将求亲一事说了。贾母笑道：“这有什么不好启齿？这是极好的事。等我和你婆婆说了，怕他不依？”因回房来，即刻就命人来请邢夫人过来，硬作保山。邢夫人想了一想：薛家根基不错，且现今大富，薛蝌生得又好，且贾母硬作保山，将机就计便应了。贾母十分喜欢，忙命人请了薛姨妈来。二人见了，自然有许多谦辞。邢夫人即刻命人去告诉邢忠夫妇。他夫妇原是此来投靠邢夫人的，如何不依，早极口的说妙极。贾母笑道：“我爱管个闲事，今儿又管成了一件事，不知得多少谢媒钱？”薛姨妈笑道：“这是自然的。纵抬了十万银子来，只怕不希罕。但只一件，老太太既是主亲，还得一位才好。”贾母笑道：“别的没有，我们家折腿烂手的人还有两个。”说著，便命人去叫过尤氏婆媳二人来。贾母告诉他原故，彼此忙都道喜。贾母吩咐道：“咱们家的规矩你是尽知的，从没有两亲家争礼争面的。如今你算替我在当中料理，也不可太啬，也不可太费，把他两家的事周全了回我。”尤氏忙答应了。薛姨妈喜之不尽，回家来忙命写了请帖补送过宁府。尤氏深知邢夫人情性，本不欲管，无奈贾母亲嘱咐，只得应了，惟有忖度邢夫人之意行事。薛姨妈是个无可无不可的人，倒还易说。这且不在话下。

如今薛姨媽既定了邢岫煙為媳，合宅皆知。Now that Aunt Xue had settled on Xing Xiuyan as her future daughter-in-law, the whole household soon knew of it.邢夫人本欲接出岫煙去住，賈母因說：“這又何妨，兩個孩子又不能見面，就是姨太太和他一個大姑，一個小姑，又何妨？Lady Xing originally wished to have Xiuyan move out to live with her, but Grandmother Jia said, "What need is there for that? The two young people can't very well be meeting each other anyway — and as for Aunt Xue, she and the girl would simply be aunt and niece by marriage, one older and one younger — what harm could there be in that?況且都是女兒，正好親香呢。”邢夫人方罷。Besides, they're both girls — it's all the more fitting for them to be close and familiar." At this Lady Xing let the matter drop.

如今薛姨妈既定了邢岫烟为媳，合宅皆知。邢夫人本欲接出岫烟去住，贾母因说：“这又何妨，两个孩子又不能见面，就是姨太太和他一个大姑，一个小姑，又何妨？况且都是女儿，正好亲香呢。”邢夫人方罢。

蝌岫二人前次途中皆曾有一面之遇，大約二人心中也皆如意。Xue Ke and Xiuyan had already met once before, in passing, on the road, and it seemed the two of them were on the whole quite content with the match in their hearts.只是邢岫煙未免比先時拘泥了些，不好與寶釵姊妹共處閒語，又兼湘雲是個愛取戲的，更覺不好意思。It was only that Xing Xiuyan had grown somewhat more reserved than before, and was reluctant to sit and chat freely with Baochai and the other sisters; and with Xiangyun besides being one who loved to tease, she felt all the more ill at ease.幸他是個知書達禮的，雖有女兒身分，還不是那种佯羞詐愧一味輕薄造作之輩。Fortunately she was a girl well versed in letters and propriety, and though she had a maiden's natural modesty, she was not of that sort who put on affected shyness and false embarrassment out of sheer coquettish artifice.寶釵自見他時，見他家業貧寒，二則別人之父母皆年高有德之人，獨他父母偏是酒糟透之人，于女兒分中平常，邢夫人也不過是臉面之情，亦非真心疼愛，且岫煙為人雅重，迎春是個有氣的死人，連他自己尚未照管齊全，如何能照管到他身上，凡閨閣中家常一應需用之物，或有虧乏，無人照管，他又不與人張口，寶釵倒暗中每相体貼接濟，也不敢與邢夫人知道，亦恐多心閒話之故耳。Ever since Baochai had first known her, she had seen that her family was poor and humble; moreover, whereas other girls' parents were all elderly and virtuous people, hers alone were a thoroughly dissolute, drink-sodden pair, hardly the sort to reflect credit on a daughter; and Lady Xing too showed her only the barest surface courtesy, not true affection from the heart; and besides, Xiuyan herself was refined and dignified in manner, while Yingchun was a person with no more spirit than a corpse, unable even to look properly after her own affairs, let alone Xiuyan's — so that in all the everyday necessities of a young lady's chamber, whenever something ran short with no one to see to it, and she herself was too proud to ask, Baochai would quietly, time and again, take care of her and help her out, not daring even to let Lady Xing know of it, fearing this too might give rise to suspicious talk.如今卻出人意料之外奇緣作成這門親事。Now, quite beyond anyone's expectation, an extraordinary twist of fate had brought about this match.岫煙心中先取中寶釵，然後方取薛蝌。In her own heart Xiuyan had come to esteem Baochai first, and only afterward come to accept Xue Ke.有時岫煙仍與寶釵閒話，寶釵仍以姊妹相呼。At times Xiuyan would still sit and chat idly with Baochai as before, and Baochai still addressed her as a sister.

蝌岫二人前次途中皆曾有一面之遇，大约二人心中也皆如意。只是邢岫烟未免比先时拘泥了些，不好与宝钗姊妹共处闲语，又兼湘云是个爱取戏的，更觉不好意思。幸他是个知书达礼的，虽有女儿身分，还不是那种佯羞诈愧一味轻薄造作之辈。宝钗自见他时，见他家业贫寒，二则别人之父母皆年高有德之人，独他父母偏是酒糟透之人，于女儿分中平常，邢夫人也不过是脸面之情，亦非真心疼爱，且岫烟为人雅重，迎春是个有气的死人，连他自己尚未照管齐全，如何能照管到他身上，凡闺阁中家常一应需用之物，或有亏乏，无人照管，他又不与人张口，宝钗倒暗中每相体贴接济，也不敢与邢夫人知道，亦恐多心闲话之故耳。如今却出人意料之外奇缘作成这门亲事。岫烟心中先取中宝钗，然后方取薛蝌。有时岫烟仍与宝钗闲话，宝钗仍以姊妹相呼。

這日寶釵因來瞧黛玉，恰值岫煙也來瞧黛玉，二人在半路相遇。On this day Baochai happened to be coming to look in on Daiyu, and it chanced that Xiuyan too was coming to see Daiyu, and the two of them met halfway along the path.寶釵含笑喚他到跟前，二人同走至一塊石壁後，寶釵笑問他：“這天還冷的很，你怎麼倒全換了夾的？”岫煙見問，低頭不答。Baochai called her over with a smile, and the two walked together to behind a rock wall, where Baochai asked her with a smile, "It's still quite cold these days — how is it you've already changed into lined clothes?" At this question, Xiuyan lowered her head and made no answer.寶釵便知道又有了原故，因又笑問道：“必定是這個月的月錢又沒得。Baochai at once knew there must be some reason behind it again, and asked further with a smile, "It must be that this month's allowance hasn't come through again.鳳丫頭如今也這樣沒心沒計了。”岫煙道：“他倒想著不錯日子給，因姑媽打發人和我說，一個月用不了二兩銀子，叫我省一兩給爹媽送出去，要使什麼，橫豎有二姐姐的東西，能著些兒搭著就使了。That girl Feng has really grown careless and thoughtless these days too." Xiuyan said, "Actually she does think to give it on time — it's just that Aunt sent someone to tell me that one tael of silver a month isn't enough to spend, and told me to save one tael out of it to send to my parents, and that whatever I need, since there's Second Sister's things anyway, I could just make do by borrowing a bit here and there.姐姐想，二姐姐也是個老實人，也不大留心，我使他的東西，他雖不說什麼，他那些媽媽丫頭，那一個是省事的，那一個是嘴里不尖的？Think about it, sister — Second Sister is an honest, simple sort who doesn't pay much attention to things either, and though she says nothing when I use her belongings, as for those mothers and maids of hers, is there a single one of them who isn't one to make trouble, not a single one whose tongue isn't sharp?我雖在那屋里，卻不敢很使他們，過三天五天，我倒得拿出錢來給他們打酒買點心吃才好。Even though I stay in that same room, I don't dare make free use of their things — every three or five days I even have to come up with money myself to buy them wine and pastries to keep them sweet, or things won't go well.因一月二兩銀子還不夠使，如今又去了一兩。With only two taels of silver a month, it's already not enough as it is, and now on top of that another tael is gone.前兒我悄悄的把綿衣服叫人當了幾吊錢盤纏。”寶釵聽了，愁眉歎道：“偏梅家又合家在任上，後年才進來。The other day I quietly had someone pawn a padded garment for a few strings of cash to use as spending money." Hearing this, Baochai knit her brows and sighed, "As it happens the Mei family too is all away together at an official post, and won't be coming back until the year after next.若是在這里，琴兒過去了，好再商議你這事。If they were here, once Qin'er had gone over to them, we could then talk over this matter of yours properly.離了這里就完了。Once she's out of this house the matter would be settled.如今不先定了他妹妹的事，也斷不敢先娶親的。As things stand, until his sister's marriage is first settled, he certainly wouldn't dare marry first himself.如今倒是一件難事。So this really has become a difficult matter for now.再遲兩年，又怕你熬煎出病來。And if it drags on another two years, I'm afraid you'll fret yourself into illness.等我和媽再商議，有人欺負你，你只管耐些煩兒，千萬別自己熬煎出病來。Let me talk it over with Mother again — meanwhile, if anyone bullies you, you must just bear with it patiently, and whatever you do, don't fret yourself into illness.不如把那一兩銀子明兒也越性給了他們，倒都歇心。Better still, why not simply go ahead and give them that one tael of silver outright tomorrow — that would put everyone's mind at ease.你以後也不用白給那些人東西吃，他尖刺讓他們去尖刺，很聽不過了，各人走開。From now on, too, there's no need for you to keep giving those people things to eat for nothing — let them be as sharp-tongued as they please, and once it becomes truly unbearable, just walk away from them.倘或短了什麼，你別存那小家兒女氣，只管找我去。If you should ever run short of anything, don't hold on to that petty, small-family pride — just come straight to me about it.并不是作親後方如此，你一來時咱們就好的。And this isn't only because of the coming marriage that I say this — from the very first time you came here, we were already on good terms.便怕人閒話，你打發小丫頭悄悄的和我說去就是了。”岫煙低頭答應了。If you're afraid of people gossiping, just have your little maid come and tell me quietly — that will do just fine." Xiuyan lowered her head and agreed.寶釵又指他裙上一個碧玉珮問道：“這是誰給你的？”岫煙道：“這是三姐姐給的。”寶釵點頭笑道：“他見人人皆有，獨你一個沒有，怕人笑話，故此送你一個。Baochai then pointed to a jade pendant on her skirt and asked, "Who gave you this?" Xiuyan said, "Third Sister gave it to me." Baochai nodded and said with a smile, "She saw that everyone else had one and you alone had none, and was afraid you'd be laughed at, and so gave you one.這是他聰明細致之處。That's just like her — thoughtful and careful in such things.但還有一句話你也要知道，這些妝飾原出于大官富貴之家的小姐，你看我從頭至腳可有這些富麗閒妝？But there's another thing you should know as well — these sorts of ornaments originally belong to young ladies of grand, wealthy official households; look at me, from head to foot, do I wear anything so richly ornamented and elaborate?然七八年之先，我也是這樣來的，如今一時比不得一時了，所以我都自己該省的就省了。Seven or eight years ago, true, I too used to dress that way, but now one time is no longer like another, and so I myself economize on whatever can be economized.將來你這一到了我們家，這些沒有用的東西，只怕還有一箱子。Once you come to be part of our family in the future, I expect you'll find a whole trunk full of such useless things.咱們如今比不得他們了，總要一色從實守分為主，不比他們才是。”岫煙笑道：“姐姐既這樣說，我回去摘了就是了。”寶釵忙笑道：“你也太聽說了。These days we can no longer compare ourselves to how things were — the main thing now must be to keep entirely to what is real and practical and to hold to one's proper place, quite unlike the way it used to be." Xiuyan said with a smile, "Since you put it that way, sister, I'll just go back and take it off." Baochai said hastily with a smile, "You take things far too literally.這是他好意送你，你不佩著，他豈不疑心。This was given to you out of her good will — if you don't wear it, won't she suspect something?我不過是偶然提到這里，以後知道就是了。”岫煙忙又答應，又問：“姐姐此時那里去？”寶釵道：“我到瀟湘館去。I only happened to mention it in passing — from now on just keep it in mind, that's all." Xiuyan hastily agreed again, and then asked, "Where are you off to now, sister?" Baochai said, "I'm going to the Bamboo Lodge.你且回去把那當票叫丫頭送來，我那里悄悄的取出來，晚上再悄悄的送給你去，早晚好穿，不然風扇了事大。You go on back for now and have your maid bring that pawn ticket to me — I'll quietly redeem the item there, and tonight I'll quietly send it over to you, so you'll have it to wear morning and night — otherwise, if you catch a chill from the wind, that would be a serious matter.但不知當在那里了？”岫煙道：“叫作‘恒舒典’，是鼓樓西大街的。”寶釵笑道：“這鬧在一家去了。But I don't know — which pawnshop was it pawned at?" Xiuyan said, "It's called the 'Hengshu Pawnshop,' on Gulou West Street." Baochai said with a smile, "Why, that's landed right in our own family's shop.伙計們倘或知道了，好說‘人沒過來，衣裳先過來’了。”岫煙聽說，便知是他家的本錢，也不覺紅了臉一笑，二人走開。If the clerks there should happen to find out, they might well say, 'The person hasn't come over yet, but her clothes have already come over first.'" Hearing this, Xiuyan realized at once that it was a pawnshop backed by the Xue family's own capital, and could not help blushing and smiling, and the two of them then went their separate ways.

这日宝钗因来瞧黛玉，恰值岫烟也来瞧黛玉，二人在半路相遇。宝钗含笑唤他到跟前，二人同走至一块石壁后，宝钗笑问他：“这天还冷的很，你怎么倒全换了夹的？”岫烟见问，低头不答。宝钗便知道又有了原故，因又笑问道：“必定是这个月的月钱又没得。凤丫头如今也这样没心没计了。”岫烟道：“他倒想著不错日子给，因姑妈打发人和我说，一个月用不了二两银子，叫我省一两给爹妈送出去，要使什么，横竖有二姐姐的东西，能著些儿搭著就使了。姐姐想，二姐姐也是个老实人，也不大留心，我使他的东西，他虽不说什么，他那些妈妈丫头，那一个是省事的，那一个是嘴里不尖的？我虽在那屋里，却不敢很使他们，过三天五天，我倒得拿出钱来给他们打酒买点心吃才好。因一月二两银子还不够使，如今又去了一两。前儿我悄悄的把绵衣服叫人当了几吊钱盘缠。”宝钗听了，愁眉叹道：“偏梅家又合家在任上，后年才进来。若是在这里，琴儿过去了，好再商议你这事。离了这里就完了。如今不先定了他妹妹的事，也断不敢先娶亲的。如今倒是一件难事。再迟两年，又怕你熬煎出病来。等我和妈再商议，有人欺负你，你只管耐些烦儿，千万别自己熬煎出病来。不如把那一两银子明儿也越性给了他们，倒都歇心。你以后也不用白给那些人东西吃，他尖刺让他们去尖刺，很听不过了，各人走开。倘或短了什么，你别存那小家儿女气，只管找我去。并不是作亲后方如此，你一来时咱们就好的。便怕人闲话，你打发小丫头悄悄的和我说去就是了。”岫烟低头答应了。宝钗又指他裙上一个碧玉珮问道：“这是谁给你的？”岫烟道：“这是三姐姐给的。”宝钗点头笑道：“他见人人皆有，独你一个没有，怕人笑话，故此送你一个。这是他聪明细致之处。但还有一句话你也要知道，这些妆饰原出于大官富贵之家的小姐，你看我从头至脚可有这些富丽闲妆？然七八年之先，我也是这样来的，如今一时比不得一时了，所以我都自己该省的就省了。将来你这一到了我们家，这些没有用的东西，只怕还有一箱子。咱们如今比不得他们了，总要一色从实守分为主，不比他们才是。”岫烟笑道：“姐姐既这样说，我回去摘了就是了。”宝钗忙笑道：“你也太听说了。这是他好意送你，你不佩著，他岂不疑心。我不过是偶然提到这里，以后知道就是了。”岫烟忙又答应，又问：“姐姐此时那里去？”宝钗道：“我到潇湘馆去。你且回去把那当票叫丫头送来，我那里悄悄的取出来，晚上再悄悄的送给你去，早晚好穿，不然风扇了事大。但不知当在那里了？”岫烟道：“叫作‘恒舒典’，是鼓楼西大街的。”宝钗笑道：“这闹在一家去了。伙计们倘或知道了，好说‘人没过来，衣裳先过来’了。”岫烟听说，便知是他家的本钱，也不觉红了脸一笑，二人走开。

寶釵就往瀟湘館來。Baochai then went on to the Bamboo Lodge.正值他母親也來瞧黛玉，正說閒話呢。It happened that her mother too had come to see Daiyu, and they were just then chatting idly.寶釵笑道：“媽多早晚來的？Baochai said with a smile, "Mother, when did you get here?我竟不知道。”薛姨媽道：“我這幾天連日忙，總沒來瞧瞧寶玉和他。I had no idea at all." Aunt Xue said, "I've been busy day after day these last few days, and haven't managed to come and look in on Baoyu and her at all.所以今兒瞧他二個，都也好了。”黛玉忙讓寶釵坐了，因向寶釵道：“天下的事真是人想不到的，怎麼想的到姨媽和大舅母又作一門親家。”薛姨媽道：“我的兒，你們女孩家那里知道，自古道：“千里姻緣一線牽’。So today I came to see the two of them — and it seems both are well again now." Daiyu hastily had Baochai take a seat, and then said to her, "Truly the affairs of this world are beyond anyone's guessing — who would ever have imagined that Aunt and Elder Aunt would become in-laws through this marriage?" Aunt Xue said, "My child, how would you girls know of such things — as the old saying goes, 'A thread of red silk binds a marriage fated a thousand miles apart.'管姻緣的有一位月下老人，預先注定，暗里只用一根紅絲把這兩個人的腳絆住，憑你兩家隔著海，隔著國，有世仇的，也終久有机會作了夫婦。There is an Old Man under the Moon who presides over marriage bonds, who fixes them beforehand, and secretly uses nothing more than a single red thread to tie the feet of the two people together — no matter if the two families are separated by seas, separated by nations, or are even sworn enemies for generations, in the end there will still come a chance for them to become husband and wife.這一件事都是出人意料之外，憑父母本人都願意了，或是年年在一處的，以為是定了的親事，若月下老人不用紅線拴的，再不能到一處。This whole affair has turned out quite beyond anyone's expectation — however much the parents and the persons themselves may wish for a match, or however much two people who have been together year after year may take it for granted that theirs is a settled engagement, if the Old Man under the Moon has not tied them with his red thread, they can never in the end come together."比如你姐妹兩個的婚姻，此刻也不知在眼前，也不知在山南海北呢。”寶釵道：“惟有媽，說動話就拉上我們。”一面說，一面伏在他母親怀里笑說：“咱們走罷。”黛玉笑道：“你瞧，這麼大了，離了姨媽他就是個最老道的，見了姨媽他就撒嬌兒。”薛姨媽用手摩弄著寶釵，歎向黛玉道：“你這姐姐就和鳳哥兒在老太太跟前一樣，有了正經事就和他商量，沒了事幸虧他開開我的心。"For instance, the marriages of you two sisters—right now there's no telling whether they're right before our eyes or off at the ends of the earth." Baochai said, "It's only Mother—once she starts talking she has to drag us into it." As she spoke, she leaned into her mother's arms and said with a laugh, "Let's go." Daiyu said with a smile, "Just look at her—grown so big, and yet away from Aunt she's the most sober and proper person, but the moment she sees Aunt she turns into a spoiled child." Aunt Xue stroked Baochai with her hand and said to Daiyu with a sigh, "This sister of yours is just like Brother Feng before the old lady—when there's something serious she talks it over with her, and when there's nothing to do, it's she who cheers up my spirits.我見了他這樣，有多少愁不散的。”黛玉聽說，流淚歎道：“他偏在這里這樣，分明是氣我沒娘的人，故意來刺我的眼。”寶釵笑道：“媽瞧他輕狂，倒說我撒嬌兒。”薛姨媽道：“也怨不得他傷心，可怜沒父母，到底沒個親人。”又摩娑黛玉笑道：“好孩子別哭。When I see her like this, however much sorrow I have just melts away." Hearing this, Daiyu shed tears and sighed, "She has to act like this right here—clearly it's to vex me for having no mother, coming on purpose to prick my eyes." Baochai said with a smile, "Look how giddy she is, Mother, and yet she says I'm the spoiled one." Aunt Xue said, "It's no wonder she's grieved—poor thing, with no father or mother, she really has no family of her own after all." She stroked Daiyu again and said with a smile, "Good child, don't cry.你見我疼你姐姐你傷心了，你不知我心里更疼你呢。Seeing me dote on your sister has made you sad, but you don't know that in my heart I dote on you even more.你姐姐雖沒了父親，到底有我，有親哥哥，這就比你強了。Though your sister has lost her father, she still has me, and she has her own brother—that already puts her ahead of you.我每每和你姐姐說，心里很疼你，只是外頭不好帶出來的。I've often told your sister that in my heart I'm very fond of you, only it isn't something one can show openly on the surface.你這里人多口雜，說好話的人少，說歹話的人多，不說你無依無靠，為人作人配人疼，只說我們看老太太疼你了，我們也洑上水去了。”黛玉笑道：“姨媽既這麼說，我明日就認姨媽做娘，姨媽若是棄嫌不認，便是假意疼我了。”薛姨媽道：“你不厭我，就認了才好。”寶釵忙道：“認不得的。”黛玉道：“怎麼認不得？”寶釵笑問道：“我且問你，我哥哥還沒定親事，為什麼反將邢妹妹先說與我兄弟了，是什麼道理？”黛玉道：“他不在家，或是屬相生日不對，所以先說與兄弟了。”寶釵笑道：“非也。Here people are many and tongues are many, few speak well of you and many speak ill—instead of saying that you're helpless and alone, that you're the kind of person deserving to be loved, they'd only say that seeing the old lady dote on you, we're currying favor by going along with the current." Daiyu said with a smile, "Since Aunt puts it that way, tomorrow I'll acknowledge Aunt as my mother; if Aunt should spurn me and refuse, then her fondness for me would have been false." Aunt Xue said, "If you don't mind having me, then it would be good indeed to acknowledge me." Baochai said hastily, "That won't do." Daiyu said, "Why won't it do?" Baochai asked with a smile, "Let me ask you—my brother's marriage still isn't settled, so why was Cousin Xing promised to my younger brother first? What's the reason for that?" Daiyu said, "He wasn't at home, or perhaps their zodiac signs or birthdates didn't match, and so she was promised to your brother first." Baochai said with a smile, "Not so.我哥哥已經相准了，只等來家就下定了，也不必提出人來，我方才說你認不得娘，你細想去。”說著，便和他母親擠眼兒發笑。My brother has already picked her out and settled on her—he's only waiting to come home to formalize the match, and there's no need to name the person. When I said just now that you couldn't acknowledge Mother, think it over carefully." As she spoke, she winked at her mother and burst out laughing.黛玉聽了，便也一頭伏在薛姨媽身上，說道：“姨媽不打他我不依。”薛姨媽忙也摟他笑道：“你別信你姐姐的話，他是頑你呢。”寶釵笑道：“真個的，媽明兒和老太太求了他作媳婦，豈不比外頭尋的好？”黛玉便夠上來要抓他，口內笑說：“你越發瘋了。”薛姨媽忙也笑勸，用手分開方罷。Hearing this, Daiyu buried her head against Aunt Xue too, saying, "If Aunt doesn't scold her, I won't let it go." Aunt Xue quickly put her arms around her too, saying with a smile, "Don't believe your sister's words, she's only teasing you." Baochai said with a smile, "Truly, Mother, why not ask the old lady tomorrow for her as a daughter-in-law—wouldn't that be better than looking for one outside?" Daiyu reached up to pinch her, saying with a laugh, "You're getting more and more outrageous." Aunt Xue hastily laughed and tried to make peace, pulling them apart with her hands before it stopped.因又向寶釵道：“連邢女兒我還怕你哥哥遭踏了他，所以給你兄弟說了。She then said to Baochai, "Even with the Xing girl, I was afraid your brother might mistreat her, and that's why I promised her to your brother instead.別說這孩子，我也斷不肯給他。Let alone this child here—I would absolutely never give her to him.前兒老太太因要把你妹妹說給寶玉，偏生又有了人家，不然倒是一門好親。The other day the old lady wanted to match your cousin to Baoyu, but as it happened she already had a family in mind for her—otherwise it would have made a fine match.前兒我說定了邢女兒，老太太還取笑說：‘我原要說他的人，誰知他的人沒到手，倒被他說了我們的一個去了。’雖是頑話，細想來倒有些意思。The other day when I settled the match for the Xing girl, the old lady even teased me, saying, 'I originally meant to arrange a match for one of her people, but who'd have thought that before I got hold of her person, she went and got hold of one of ours instead.' Though it was said in jest, thinking it over carefully there's really something to it.我想寶琴雖有了人家，我雖沒人可給，難道一句話也不說。I thought to myself, although Baoqin already has a family arranged, and though I have no one else to offer, surely I needn't say nothing at all about it.我想著，你寶兄弟老太太那樣疼他，他又生的那樣，若要外頭說去，斷不中意。I've been thinking, the old lady dotes on your cousin Bao so, and he's so fine in looks and manner besides, that if we sought a match for him outside, it would surely never satisfy.不如竟把你林妹妹定與他，豈不四角俱全？”林黛玉先還怔怔的，聽後來見說到自己身上，便啐了寶釵一口，紅了臉，拉著寶釵笑道：“我只打你！Better simply to betroth your Cousin Lin to him—wouldn't that make everything fit perfectly on all sides?" At first Lin Daiyu just sat there in a daze, but when she heard the talk turn to herself, she spat at Baochai, blushed red, and pulling at Baochai said with a laugh, "I'm going to hit you!你為什麼招出姨媽這些老沒正經的話來？”寶釵笑道：“這可奇了！Why did you have to draw out all this nonsense from Aunt?" Baochai said with a smile, "Now this is strange!媽說你，為什麼打我？”紫鵑忙也跑來笑道：“姨太太既有這主意，為什麼不和太太說去？”薛姨媽哈哈笑道：“你這孩子，急什麼，想必催著你姑娘出了閣，你也要早些尋一個小女婿去了。”紫鵑聽了，也紅了臉，笑道：“姨太太真個倚老賣老的起來。”說著，便轉身去了。Mother was talking about you—why hit me?" Zijuan hurried over too, saying with a smile, "Since Auntie has this idea in mind, why not go and speak to Madam about it?" Aunt Xue laughed heartily and said, "What a child you are, what's the rush—I suppose once you've hurried your young mistress off to be married, you'll want to find yourself a little husband early too." Hearing this, Zijuan blushed red as well and said with a laugh, "Auntie is really presuming on her age now." So saying, she turned and went off.黛玉先罵：“又與你這蹄子什麼相干？”後來見了這樣，也笑起來說：“阿彌陀佛！At first Daiyu scolded her, "What business is this of yours, you little wretch?" but seeing how things turned out, she laughed too and said, "Amitabha!該，該，該！Serves her right, serves her right, serves her right!也臊了一鼻子灰去了！”薛姨媽母女及屋內婆子丫鬟都笑起來。She's gone off with a face full of shame!" Aunt Xue and her daughter, along with the old women and maids in the room, all burst out laughing.婆子們因也笑道：“姨太太雖是頑話，卻倒也不差呢。The old women laughed too and said, "Though Auntie meant it as a joke, it really isn't a bad idea at all.到閒了時和老太太一商議，姨太太竟做媒保成這門親事是千妥萬妥的。”薛姨媽道：“我一出這主意，老太太必喜歡的。”When there's a free moment, talk it over with the old lady—if Auntie herself acts as matchmaker and brings this marriage about, it would be perfectly right in every way." Aunt Xue said, "The moment I bring up this idea, the old lady is sure to be pleased."

宝钗就往潇湘馆来。正值他母亲也来瞧黛玉，正说闲话呢。宝钗笑道：“妈多早晚来的？我竟不知道。”薛姨妈道：“我这几天连日忙，总没来瞧瞧宝玉和他。所以今儿瞧他二个，都也好了。”黛玉忙让宝钗坐了，因向宝钗道：“天下的事真是人想不到的，怎么想的到姨妈和大舅母又作一门亲家。”薛姨妈道：“我的儿，你们女孩家那里知道，自古道：“千里姻缘一线牵’。管姻缘的有一位月下老人，预先注定，暗里只用一根红丝把这两个人的脚绊住，凭你两家隔著海，隔著国，有世仇的，也终久有机会作了夫妇。这一件事都是出人意料之外，凭父母本人都愿意了，或是年年在一处的，以为是定了的亲事，若月下老人不用红线拴的，再不能到一处。比如你姐妹两个的婚姻，此刻也不知在眼前，也不知在山南海北呢。”宝钗道：“惟有妈，说动话就拉上我们。”一面说，一面伏在他母亲怀里笑说：“咱们走罢。”黛玉笑道：“你瞧，这么大了，离了姨妈他就是个最老道的，见了姨妈他就撒娇儿。”薛姨妈用手摩弄著宝钗，叹向黛玉道：“你这姐姐就和凤哥儿在老太太跟前一样，有了正经事就和他商量，没了事幸亏他开开我的心。我见了他这样，有多少愁不散的。”黛玉听说，流泪叹道：“他偏在这里这样，分明是气我没娘的人，故意来刺我的眼。”宝钗笑道：“妈瞧他轻狂，倒说我撒娇儿。”薛姨妈道：“也怨不得他伤心，可怜没父母，到底没个亲人。”又摩娑黛玉笑道：“好孩子别哭。你见我疼你姐姐你伤心了，你不知我心里更疼你呢。你姐姐虽没了父亲，到底有我，有亲哥哥，这就比你强了。我每每和你姐姐说，心里很疼你，只是外头不好带出来的。你这里人多口杂，说好话的人少，说歹话的人多，不说你无依无靠，为人作人配人疼，只说我们看老太太疼你了，我们也洑上水去了。”黛玉笑道：“姨妈既这么说，我明日就认姨妈做娘，姨妈若是弃嫌不认，便是假意疼我了。”薛姨妈道：“你不厌我，就认了才好。”宝钗忙道：“认不得的。”黛玉道：“怎么认不得？”宝钗笑问道：“我且问你，我哥哥还没定亲事，为什么反将邢妹妹先说与我兄弟了，是什么道理？”黛玉道：“他不在家，或是属相生日不对，所以先说与兄弟了。”宝钗笑道：“非也。我哥哥已经相准了，只等来家就下定了，也不必提出人来，我方才说你认不得娘，你细想去。”说著，便和他母亲挤眼儿发笑。黛玉听了，便也一头伏在薛姨妈身上，说道：“姨妈不打他我不依。”薛姨妈忙也搂他笑道：“你别信你姐姐的话，他是顽你呢。”宝钗笑道：“真个的，妈明儿和老太太求了他作媳妇，岂不比外头寻的好？”黛玉便够上来要抓他，口内笑说：“你越发疯了。”薛姨妈忙也笑劝，用手分开方罢。因又向宝钗道：“连邢女儿我还怕你哥哥遭踏了他，所以给你兄弟说了。别说这孩子，我也断不肯给他。前儿老太太因要把你妹妹说给宝玉，偏生又有了人家，不然倒是一门好亲。前儿我说定了邢女儿，老太太还取笑说：‘我原要说他的人，谁知他的人没到手，倒被他说了我们的一个去了。’虽是顽话，细想来倒有些意思。我想宝琴虽有了人家，我虽没人可给，难道一句话也不说。我想著，你宝兄弟老太太那样疼他，他又生的那样，若要外头说去，断不中意。不如竟把你林妹妹定与他，岂不四角俱全？”林黛玉先还怔怔的，听后来见说到自己身上，便啐了宝钗一口，红了脸，拉著宝钗笑道：“我只打你！你为什么招出姨妈这些老没正经的话来？”宝钗笑道：“这可奇了！妈说你，为什么打我？”紫鹃忙也跑来笑道：“姨太太既有这主意，为什么不和太太说去？”薛姨妈哈哈笑道：“你这孩子，急什么，想必催著你姑娘出了阁，你也要早些寻一个小女婿去了。”紫鹃听了，也红了脸，笑道：“姨太太真个倚老卖老的起来。”说著，便转身去了。黛玉先骂：“又与你这蹄子什么相干？”后来见了这样，也笑起来说：“阿弥陀佛！该，该，该！也臊了一鼻子灰去了！”薛姨妈母女及屋内婆子丫鬟都笑起来。婆子们因也笑道：“姨太太虽是顽话，却倒也不差呢。到闲了时和老太太一商议，姨太太竟做媒保成这门亲事是千妥万妥的。”薛姨妈道：“我一出这主意，老太太必喜欢的。”

一語未了，忽見湘雲走來，手里拿著一張當票，口內笑道：“這是個帳篇子？”黛玉瞧了，也不認得。Before she had finished speaking, Xiangyun was suddenly seen coming in, holding a pawn ticket in her hand, saying with a laugh, "Is this some kind of account sheet?" Daiyu looked at it but did not recognize it either.地下婆子們都笑道：“這可是一件奇貨，這個乖可不是白教人的。”寶釵忙一把接了，看時，就是岫煙才說的當票，忙折了起來。The old women standing about all laughed and said, "Now this is a rare item indeed—this bit of cleverness isn't something learned for nothing." Baochai hastily snatched it up, and on looking saw it was the very pawn ticket Xiuyan had spoken of earlier, and quickly folded it away.薛姨媽忙說：“那必定是那個媽媽的當票子失落了，回來急的他們找。Aunt Xue said hastily, "That must be some old woman's pawn ticket that got lost—when she gets back she'll be in a great rush looking for it.那里得的？”湘雲道：“什麼是當票子？”眾人都笑道：“真真是個呆子，連個當票子也不知道。”薛姨媽歎道：“怨不得他，真真是侯門千金，而且又小，那里知道這個？Where did you get it?" Xiangyun said, "What is a pawn ticket?" Everyone laughed and said, "What a simpleton—she doesn't even know what a pawn ticket is." Aunt Xue sighed and said, "It's no wonder—she truly is a daughter of a noble house, and young besides, how would she know about such things?那里去有這個？Where would she ever have come across one?便是家下人有這個，他如何得見？Even if the servants in her household had such things, how would she ever get to see one?別笑他呆子，若給你們家的小姐們看了，也都成了呆子。”眾婆子笑道：“林姑娘方才也不認得，別說姑娘們。Don't laugh at her for being a simpleton—if it were shown to the young ladies of your own households, they'd all turn into simpletons too." The old women all laughed and said, "Even Miss Lin didn't recognize it just now, let alone the other young ladies.此刻寶玉他倒是外頭常走出去的，只怕也還沒見過呢。”薛姨媽忙將原故講明。Even Baoyu, who often goes about outside, likely has never seen one either." Aunt Xue hastened to explain what it was.湘雲黛玉二人聽了方笑道：“原來為此。Hearing this, Xiangyun and Daiyu both laughed and said, "So that's what it is.人也太會想錢了，姨媽家的當舖也有這個不成？”眾人笑道：“這又呆了。‘天下老鴰一般黑’，豈有兩樣的？”薛姨媽因又問是那里拾的？People really are too clever at thinking up ways to make money. Does Auntie's family's pawnshop have these too?" Everyone laughed and said, "Now that's simple-minded again. 'Crows are black the world over'—how could there be two kinds?" Aunt Xue then asked again where it had been picked up.湘雲方欲說時，寶釵忙說：“是一張死了沒用的，不知那年勾了帳的，香菱拿著哄他們頑的。”薛姨媽聽了此話是真，也就不問了。Just as Xiangyun was about to answer, Baochai hastily said, "It's just a dead, useless one, settled and struck off the books who knows what year—Xiangling had it and was using it to tease everyone for fun." Aunt Xue took this to be the truth and asked no more.一時人來回：“那府里大奶奶過來請姨太太說話呢。”薛姨媽起身去了。Presently someone came to report, "The young mistress from over at that mansion has come to ask Auntie to come speak with her." Aunt Xue rose and went off.

一语未了，忽见湘云走来，手里拿著一张当票，口内笑道：“这是个帐篇子？”黛玉瞧了，也不认得。地下婆子们都笑道：“这可是一件奇货，这个乖可不是白教人的。”宝钗忙一把接了，看时，就是岫烟才说的当票，忙折了起来。薛姨妈忙说：“那必定是那个妈妈的当票子失落了，回来急的他们找。那里得的？”湘云道：“什么是当票子？”众人都笑道：“真真是个呆子，连个当票子也不知道。”薛姨妈叹道：“怨不得他，真真是侯门千金，而且又小，那里知道这个？那里去有这个？便是家下人有这个，他如何得见？别笑他呆子，若给你们家的小姐们看了，也都成了呆子。”众婆子笑道：“林姑娘方才也不认得，别说姑娘们。此刻宝玉他倒是外头常走出去的，只怕也还没见过呢。”薛姨妈忙将原故讲明。湘云黛玉二人听了方笑道：“原来为此。人也太会想钱了，姨妈家的当铺也有这个不成？”众人笑道：“这又呆了。‘天下老鸹一般黑’，岂有两样的？”薛姨妈因又问是那里拾的？湘云方欲说时，宝钗忙说：“是一张死了没用的，不知那年勾了帐的，香菱拿著哄他们顽的。”薛姨妈听了此话是真，也就不问了。一时人来回：“那府里大奶奶过来请姨太太说话呢。”薛姨妈起身去了。

這里屋內無人時，寶釵方問湘雲何處拾的。Once there was no one else in the room, Baochai finally asked Xiangyun where she had picked it up.湘雲笑道：“我見你令弟媳的丫頭篆兒悄悄的遞與鶯兒。Xiangyun said with a smile, "I saw your sister-in-law's maid Zhuan'er quietly hand it to Yingr.鶯兒便隨手夾在書里，只當我沒看見。Yingr just slipped it into a book, thinking I hadn't seen it.我等他們出去了，我偷著看，竟不認得。After they had gone out, I stole a look at it, and found I didn't recognize it at all.知道你們都在這里，所以拿來大家認認。”黛玉忙問：“怎麼他也當衣裳不成？Knowing you were all here, I brought it along for everyone to identify." Daiyu asked hastily, "What, has she been pawning clothes too?既當了，怎麼又給你去？”寶釵見問，不好隱瞞他兩個，遂將方才之事都告訴了他二人。And if it was pawned, how did it come to be given to you?" Baochai, hearing this question, felt she could not well hide it from the two of them, and so told them both everything that had just happened.黛玉便說”兔死狐悲，物傷其類”，不免感歎起來。Daiyu then said, "When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves—each creature mourns its own kind," and could not help sighing with feeling.史湘雲便動了氣說：“等我問著二姐姐去！Shi Xiangyun grew indignant and said, "Just wait, I'm going to go ask Second Sister about this!我罵那起老婆子丫頭一頓，給你們出氣何如？”說著，便要走。I'll give that bunch of old women and maids a good scolding and vent your anger for you—how's that?" So saying, she made to leave.寶釵忙一把拉住，笑道：“你又發瘋了，還不給我坐著呢。”黛玉笑道：“你要是個男人，出去打一個報不平兒。Baochai quickly grabbed hold of her, saying with a laugh, "You're being wild again—sit yourself down for me." Daiyu said with a smile, "If you were a man, you could go out and right this injustice with your fists.你又充什麼荊軻聶政，真真好笑。”湘雲道：“既不叫我問他去，明兒也把他接到咱們苑里一處住去，豈不好？”寶釵笑道：“明日再商量。”說著，人報：“三姑娘四姑娘來了。”三人聽了，忙掩了口不提此事。But what are you doing playing at being a Jing Ke or a Nie Zheng—it's really laughable." Xiangyun said, "Well, if you won't let me go ask her about it, then how about tomorrow we bring her over to live together with us in our garden—wouldn't that be good?" Baochai said with a smile, "We'll talk it over again tomorrow." Just then someone announced, "Third Miss and Fourth Miss have arrived." Hearing this, the three of them quickly held their tongues and said no more about the matter.要知端的，且聽下回分解。To know the outcome, listen to the explanation in the chapter that follows.

这里屋内无人时，宝钗方问湘云何处拾的。湘云笑道：“我见你令弟媳的丫头篆儿悄悄的递与莺儿。莺儿便随手夹在书里，只当我没看见。我等他们出去了，我偷著看，竟不认得。知道你们都在这里，所以拿来大家认认。”黛玉忙问：“怎么他也当衣裳不成？既当了，怎么又给你去？”宝钗见问，不好隐瞒他两个，遂将方才之事都告诉了他二人。黛玉便说”兔死狐悲，物伤其类”，不免感叹起来。史湘云便动了气说：“等我问著二姐姐去！我骂那起老婆子丫头一顿，给你们出气何如？”说著，便要走。宝钗忙一把拉住，笑道：“你又发疯了，还不给我坐著呢。”黛玉笑道：“你要是个男人，出去打一个报不平儿。你又充什么荆轲聂政，真真好笑。”湘云道：“既不叫我问他去，明儿也把他接到咱们苑里一处住去，岂不好？”宝钗笑道：“明日再商量。”说著，人报：“三姑娘四姑娘来了。”三人听了，忙掩了口不提此事。要知端的，且听下回分解。