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In a short time, they got ten of them. "Ten don't form a set," Hsiang-yuen went on to smilingly suggest, after reading them over. "We'd better complete them by raising their number to twelve; they'll then also be on the same footing as people's pictures and books." Hearing this proposal, Pao-ch'ai devised another couple of themes, thus bringing them to a dozen.
Pao-chai, upon catching this sneering remark, at once turned her head round, and pretended she had not heard. But as soon as Pao-yue learnt that Shih Hsiang-yuen possessed a similar trinket, he speedily picked up the unicorn, and hid it in his breast, indulging, at the same time, in further reflection.
Here you are with your nonsense again." "Well, never mind about that," added Ts'ui Lue, "But how is it that all things have Yin and Yang, and that we human beings have no Yin and no Yang?" Hsiang-yuen then lowered her face. "You low-bred thing!" she exclaimed. "But it's better for us to proceed on our way, for the more questions you ask, the nicer they get."
"What is it?" vehemently inquired Shih Hsiang-yuen. "I've got a pair of shoes," answered Hsi Jen, "for which I've stuck the padding together; but I'm not feeling up to the mark these last few days, so I haven't been able to work at them. If you have any leisure, do finish them for me." "This is indeed strange!" exclaimed Shih Hsiang-yuen.
"They're full of originality," one and all exclaimed after perusal, "we fear we couldn't write anything on them." Hsiang-yuen then went onto explain to them the reasons that had prompted her not to determine upon any particular rhymes. "Yes, quite right!" put in Pao-yue. "I myself don't fancy hard and fast rhymes!"
"They have over there," observed Ts'ui Lue, "a pomegranate tree, with four or five branches joined one to another, just like one storey raised above another storey. What trouble it must have cost them to rear!" "Flowers and plants," suggested Shih Hsiang-yuen, "are precisely like the human race. With sufficient vitality, they grow up in a healthy condition."
Pao-yue made no reply; but set to work, seeing that the two sides of the dressing table were all full of toilet boxes and other such articles, taking up those that came under his hand and examining them. Grasping unawares a box of cosmetic, which was within his reach, he would have liked to have brought it to his lips, but he feared again lest Hsiang-yuen should chide him.
Pao-ch'ai continued: In whose household is there a flute made of green jade? The fish fears lest the earth from its axis might drop. "I'll go and see that the wine is warm for you people," Li Wan smiled. But when Pao-ch'ai told Pao-ch'in to connect some lines, she caught sight of Hsiang-yuen rise to her feet and put in: What time the dragon wages war, the clouds dispel.
"Lady Secunda," consequently ventured Yuean Yang, "you're in here doing the honours, so may I go and have something to eat?" "You can all go," replied lady Feng; "leave everything in my charge, and it will be all right." While these words were being spoken, Shih Hsiang-yuen resumed her place at the banquet.
"If we made him," Hsiang-yuen resumed, "versify on: 'In search of Miao Yue to beg for red plum blossom, won't it be full of fun?" "That will be full of zest," the party exclaimed, upon hearing the theme propounded by her.
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