Hsiang-yun replied.
When she had done with her part, she drank a cup of wine. "I"ve got another set," Yuan Yang began, "the one on the left is a double three."
"The swallows, pair by pair, chatter on the beams;"
Pao-ch"ai remarked.
"The right piece is a six," Yuan Yang added.
"The marsh flower is stretched by the breeze e"en to the length of a green sash,"
Pao-ch"ai returned.
"The centre piece is a three and six, making a nine spot," Yuan Yang pursued.
"The three hills tower half beyond the azure skies;"
Pao-ch"ai rejoined.
"Lumped together they form: a "chain-bound solitary boat,"" Yuan Yang resumed.
"Where there are wind and waves, there I feel sad;"
Pao-ch"ai answered.
When she had finished her turn and drained her cup, Yuan Yang went on again. "On the left," she said, "there"s a "heaven.""
"A morning fine and beauteous scenery, but, alas, what a day for me!"
Tai-yu replied.
When this line fell on Pao-chai"s ear, she turned her head round and cast a glance at her, but Tai-yu was so nervous lest she should have to pay a forfeit that she did not so much as notice her.
"In the middle there"s the "colour of the embroidered screen, (ten spots, four and six), is beautiful,"" Yuan Yang proceeded.
"Not e"en Hung Niang to the gauze window comes, any message to bring."
Tai-yu responded.
"There now remains a two and six, eight in all," Yuan Yang resumed.
"Twice see the jady throne when led in to perform the court ritual,"
Tai-yu replied.
"Together they form "a basket suitable for putting plucked flowers in,""
Yuan Yang continued.
"The fairy wand smells nice as on it hangs a peony."
Tai-yu retorted.
At the close of her replies, she took a sip of wine. Yuan Yang then resumed. "On the left," she said, "there"s a four and five, making a "different-combined nine.""
"The peach blossoms bear heavy drops of rain;"
Ying Ch"un remarked.
The company laughed. "She must be fined!" they exclaimed. "She has made a mistake in the rhyme. Besides, it isn"t right!"
Ying Ch"un smiled and drank a sip. The fact is that both lady Feng and Yuan Yang were so eager to hear the funny things that would be uttered by old goody Liu, that they with one voice purposely ruled that every one answered wrong and fined them. When it came to Madame w.a.n.g"s turn, Yuan Yang recited something for her. Next followed old goody Liu.
"When we country-people have got nothing to do," old goody Liu said, "a few of us too often come together and play this sort of game; but the answers we give are not so high-flown; yet, as I can"t get out of it, I"ll likewise make a try!"
"It"s easy enough to say what there is," one and all laughed, "so just you go on and don"t mind!"
"On the left," Yuan Yang smiled, "there"s a double four, i.e. "man.""
Goody Liu listened intently. After considerable reflection,
"It"s a peasant!"
she cried.
One and all in the room blurted out laughing.
"Well-said!" dowager lady Chia observed with a laugh, "that"s the way."
"All we country-people know," old goody Liu proceeded, also laughing, "is just what comes within our own rough-and-ready wits, so young ladies and ladies pray don"t poke fun at me!"
"In the centre there"s the three and four, green matched with red," Yuan Yang pursued.
"The large fire burnt the hairy caterpillar;"
old goody Liu ventured.
"This will do very well!", the party laughed, "go on with what is in your line."
"On the right," Yuan Yang smilingly continued, "there"s a one and four, and is really pretty."
"A turnip and a head of garlic."
old goody Liu answered.
This reply evoked further laughter from the whole company.
"Altogether, it"s a twig of flowers," Yuan Yang added laughing.