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"We also don't excel in versifying; what's the use consequently of giving us names, all for no avail?" Ying Ch'un said. "In spite of this," argued T'an Ch'un, "it would be well to likewise find something for you!" "These will do very well!" Li Wan cried.
"Well, in that case," laughed Wu Hsin-teng's wife, "I'll go and look up the old accounts. I can't recollect anything about them just at this moment." "You're quite an old hand in the management of affairs," T'an Ch'un observed with a significant smile, "and can't you remember, but come instead to perplex us?
"'Resident-scholar or master' is, in fact, not to the point. It's clumsy, besides," Pao-yue interposed. "The place here is full of dryandra and banana trees, and if one could possibly hit upon some name bearing upon the dryandra and banana, it would be preferable." "I've got one," shouted T'an Ch'un smilingly. "I'll style myself 'the guest under the banana trees."
T'an Ch'un was at the moment seated cross-legged, on a low wooden couch, so the maid with the basin had, when she drew near, to drop on both her knees and lift it high enough to bring it within reach. The other two girls prostrated themselves next to her and handed the towels and the rest of the toilet things, which consisted of a looking-glass, rouge and powder.
"'The whole pond is covered with rush." "Now find the name of the rush?" Li Wan proceeded. "This must certainly be the cat-tail rush!" hastily again replied Hsiang-yuen. "Can this not be right?" "You've succeeded in guessing it," Li Wan smiled. "Li Wen's is: "'Cold runs the stream along the stones; "bearing on the name of a man of old." "Can it be Shan T'ao?" T'an Ch'un smilingly asked.
Madame Wang laughed, and pointed at lady Feng with her finger; but as for saying a word, she could not. Mrs. Hsueeh had much difficulty in curbing her mirth, and she sputtered the tea, with which her mouth was full, all over T'an Ch'un's petticoat.
"This is just another plagiarism, I fear," observed T'an Ch'un, with an ironic smirk. "It's because he has a jade himself," Tai-yue forthwith reasoned within her mind, "that he asks me whether I have one or not. No; I haven't one," she replied. "That jade of yours is besides a rare object, and how could every one have one?"
But P'ing Erh noticed that Shih Shu was not in the room, and approaching T'an Ch'un with hasty step, she tucked up her sleeves for her and unclasped her bracelets. Seizing also a large towel from the hands of one of the maids, she covered the lapel on the front part of T'an Ch'un's dress; whereupon T'an Ch'un put out her hands, and washed herself in the basin.
To-day, they're going into the palace to offer their congratulations. But they've now sent messengers ahead to come and bring presents and pay their respects." While she spoke, she produced the list of presents and handed it up. T'an Ch'un took it over from her.
Pao-yue had no help but to assent, and descending from the hall, he went off all alone to give himself up to reflection. Of the three Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, and Hsi Ch'un, T'an Ch'un must be considered to have also been above the standard of her sisters, but she, in her own estimation, imagined it, in fact, difficult to compete with Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and Lin Tai-yue.
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