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They did not therefore think it anything out of the way; but Pao-ch'in and the other visitors, inclusive of 'sister-in-law' Li, were filled with intense wonder. T'an Ch'un had, with the help of Li Wan, and her companions, succeeded by this time in choosing the subjects and rhymes. "Just smell that sweet fragrance," T'an Ch'un remarked. "One can smell it even here! I'm also going to taste some."
At the table next to this, the four cousins, Pao-ch'in, Hsiang-yuen, Tai-yue and Pao-yue were told to seat themselves. The various viands and fruits that were brought in were first presented to dowager lady Chia for inspection. If they took her fancy, she kept them at the small table. But once tasted by her, they were again removed and placed on their table.
So saying the two cousins repaired together to their grandmother's suite of apartments; where, in point of fact, Madame Wang had already gone through the ceremony of recognizing Hsueeh Pao-ch'in as her godchild. Dowager lady Chia's fascination for her, however, was so much out of the common run that she did not tell her to take up her quarters in the garden.
He was therefore just giving way to fears lest his grandmother's fondness for Pao-ch'in should be the cause of her feeling dejected.
Chou-yen, Li Wen and Pao-ch'in had, little though it was expected, all three already finished their lines and each copied them out for herself, so the company began to peruse their compositions, subjoined below, in the order of the three words: 'red plum blossom. Verses to the red plum blossom by Hsing Chou-yen. The peach tree has not donned its fragrance yet, the almond is not red.
The wild goose follows in the mud the prints and traces of its steps. Pao-ch'in took up the clue, adding: In the forest, the axe of the woodcutter may betimes be heard. Hsiang-yuen with alacrity annexed the verses: The whole way tortuous winds like a coiled snake. The flowers have felt the cold and ceased to bud. Pao-ch'ai and her companions again with one voice eulogised their fine diction.
Unawares, they caught sight of Pao-ch'in, in a duck down cloak, waiting at a distance at the back of the hill slope; while behind her stood a maid, holding a vase full of red plum blossoms. "Strange enough," they all exclaimed laughingly, "two of us were missing! But she's waiting over there. She's also been after some plum-blossom."
But she was well aware that Pao-yue was going out of doors so having the entrance leading into her bedroom opened she asked Pao-yue to walk in. Pao-yue espied behind the old lady, Pao-ch'in lying with her face turned towards the inside, and not awake yet from her sleep.
Pao-ch'in likewise made haste to add: Betimes, the hymeneal girdle it moistens. Hsiang-yuen eagerly paired it with: Oft, it freezeth on the kingfisher shoes. Tai-yue once more exclaimed with vehemence: No wind doth blow, but yet there is a rush. Pao-ch'in promptly also smiled, and strung on: No rain lo falls, but still a patter's heard.
When Pao-yue came to survey it, he found that the green and golden hues glistened with bright lustre, that the jadelike variegated colours on it shone with splendour, and that it bore no resemblance to the duck-down coat, which Pao-ch'in had been wearing.
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