宝钗的人生与宝玉的人生因婚姻而永久地紧紧联系在一起，而黛玉的人生与宝玉的人生因恋爱而紧密地联系在一起。宝黛之恋被扼杀，造成了黛玉之死和宝玉决定削发为僧，终成令人心碎的爱情悲剧。宝钗与宝玉的婚姻用偷梁换柱之计婚配得天衣无缝。尽管宝玉被迫与宝钗结了婚，但他与她志不同，道不合，最后抛弃了她而出了家，造成了他们没有爱情的婚姻悲剧。这就是为什么宝玉、黛玉和宝钗的人生在“红楼梦十二支歌词”的第一歌（除“红楼梦引子”外）“终生误”中都有反映——“都道是金玉良缘，俺只念木石前盟。空对着，山中高士晶莹雪；终不忘，世外仙姝寂寞林。叹人间，美中不足今方信：纵然是齐眉举案，到底意难平。”

baochai’slifeispermanenlyboundupwihbaoyu’sbymarriagewhiledaiyu’slifeiscloselyreedwihbaoyu’sbylovehelovebeweendaiyuandbaoyuissrangledodeahandendsinahearbreakingragedy，includinghedeahofdaiyuandbaoyu’sdecisionobeonsuredobecomeamonkhemarriagebeweenbaochaiandbaoyuiswellmachedbyapnofoboffadifferenbrideonbaoyualhoughbaoyugesmarriedobaochaibyforce，hehaslileincommonwihherandfinallydecidesoforsakeherandonsurehimselfobecomeamonkconsequenly，heirmarriagewihouloveendsupragicallyha’swhyhelivesofbaoyu，daiyuandbaochaiarereflecedinhefirssong(excep“prologueohedreamofredmansions”)alifemisspenof“hedreamofredmansionssongs”—wellmached，allsay，hegoldandhejade；ialonerecallhepledgebeweenpnandsonevainlyfacinghehermiinsparklingsnowcdhillsiforgenohefairyinlonewoodsbeyondheworldisigh，learninghanoman’shappinessiscomplee：evenapairhoughwellmachedmayfinddisappoinmen

史湘云：史湘云是贾母史家的侄孙女，忠靖侯史鼎的侄女。襁褓中，父母双亡。纵居那绮罗丛，谁知娇养？宝钗说：“湘云在家里一点儿做不得主。他们家嫌费用大，竟不用那些针线上的人，差不多儿的东西都是她们娘儿们动手：为什么这几次她来了，她和我说话儿，见没人在跟前，她就说家里累的慌？我再问她两句家常过日子的话，她就连眼圈儿都红了，嘴里含含糊糊，待说不说的。看她的情景儿，自然从小儿没了父母是苦的。”“上次她告诉我，说在家里做活做到三更天，要是替别人做一点半点儿，那些奶奶太太们，还不受用呢。”

shixiangyun：shixiangyunishedydowager’sgrandniece，ofheshifamilyandhenieceofshiding，marquisofzhongjingsheissillinhercradlewhenherparensdiealhoughlivinginluxurywhowilldoeonher？“xiangyunisanobodyahome”baochaisaid，“osaveexpense，herpeoplenolongeremploysewingwomenbumakepracicallyeveryhingheyneedhemselvesha’swhy，duringhersfewvisis，she’sconfidedomewhennobodywasabouhashegesquieiredouahomeandwheniaskedabouheirdailylife，hereyesfilledwihearsandshemadesomeevasiveanswersoigahershe’shavingahardimeofibecauseshelosherparenssoearlyon”“simeshedidellmeshehasoworkillmidnighahome，andifshedoesheleasbiofworkforoherpeoplehediesofhehousedon’likei”

湘云住在她叔父史鼎家，但她婶母对她不好。难怪她总想到贾府作客。每当她离开贾家时，湘云都是眼泪汪汪，并叫宝玉到跟前悄悄地嘱咐道：“就是老太太想不起我来，你时常提着，好等老太太打发人接我去。”只要湘云一回到贾府大观园，便如鱼得水，就恢复了她那天真活泼、心直口快、无拘无束、古道热肠的天性。

xiangyunliveswihheruncleshidingbuheraunisnoverykindoherha’swhyshealwayswansovisihejiafamilywheneversheleaveshejias，hereyesarebrimmingwihearsandbeckonsbaoyuoherside“ifheolddyforgesme，”shewhispers，“doremindherosendsomeoofechmeback”solongasxiangyunreurnsohegrandviewgardenofhejiafamily，juslikeafishinwaer，sherecovershernaureofbeingi

ocenandlively，frankandouspoken，freeandeasy，consideraeandwarmheared

湘云在大观园有很多表兄弟、表姐妹和宝钗、袭人等朋友，常在一起过得很愉快。因此，当她叔父史鼎又迁委外省大员，不日要带家眷去上任，贾母因舍不得湘云，便留下她，接到家中，原要命凤姐儿另设一处与她住时，她却执意不肯，只要和宝钗一处住。在宝钗、黛玉来荣府之前，湘云曾在贾家寄居过一些时期，和宝玉、袭人已成了儿时好友。黛玉因湘云佩有金麒麟，今忽见宝玉也有麒麟，便恐借此生隙，同湘云也做出那些风流佳事来，因而悄悄走来，见机行事，以察二人之意。不想刚走进来，正听见湘云说“经济”一事，宝玉又说：“林妹妹不说这些混帐话，要说这话，我也和他生分了。”这才解除了黛玉的误解。

xiangyunhasmanycousinsandfriends，suchasbaochai，xiren，ecinhegrandviewgarden

heyareofenhavingagoodimeherehus，whenheruncleshidingwasransferredoaprovincialgovernorshipandwouldbeakinghisfamilyohisnewposinafewdaysandhedydowagerwouldnowanoparwihxiangyunandwouldkeepherandhaveherfechedoheirhouse，direcingxifengogiveheraseparaeesablishmen，xiangyunresoluelydeclined，andaherinsisenceheylehermoveinwihbaochaiinseadxiangyunhadsayedwihhejiasforsomeperiodsofimeandmadegoodchildrenfriendswihbaoyuandxirenbeforedaiyuandbaochaicameosayinherongmansiondaiyuwasmuchworriedabouhefachabaoyu’spossessionofagoldunicornasxiangyun’smighleadoaromancebeweenhem

sosheslippedoveroseewhawashappeningandjudgeofheirfeelingsforeachoher，arrivingjusasxiangyunwasspeakingof“worldlyaffairs”，andinimeohearbaoyuanswer，“misslinneveralkssuchdisgusingnonsenseifshedid，i’dhavesoppedhavinganyhingodowihher”hishasreleaseddaiyufrommisundersanding

湘云和黛玉处境相同，都父母双亡，寄居贾母门下（贾母是湘云的伯祖母，是黛玉的外祖母），两个都是才女，年轻漂亮，很会写诗，她俩联写的诗“寒塘渡鹤影（湘云写），冷月葬诗魂（黛玉联）”已成了人们不能忘却的千古绝句。但她们对人生的态度和性格特点不同：湘云对人生乐观坚强，黛玉对人生悲观失望。湘云性格开朗，潇洒自如，爱说爱笑，古道热肠，追求一种“是真名士自风流”的人生；黛玉生来体弱多病，素多猜忌，好弄小性儿，多愁善感，说话直率尖刻，追求高于一切（包括她生命）的自由纯洁的爱情。

xiangyunanddaiyuarepcedinhesameposiion—heirparensdiedearlyhey’relivingwihhedydowager(whoisxiangyun’sgrandaunanddaiyuu’sgrandmoher)bohofhemarealenedgirls，youngandbeauiful，verygoodawriingpoemshepoemwrienbyhemogeher“asork’sshadowflisacrosshechillypool(wrienbyxiangyun)，hepoe’sspiriisburiedincoldmoonligh”(machedbydaiyu)hasbecomeherepuedlinesformyriadyears，whichpeoplecanneverforgebuheiraiudesowardsheirlivesandheircharacerisicsarequiedifferen：xiangyun’saiudeowardsherlifeisopimisicandsaunchwhiledaiyu’sispessimisicanddespondenxiangyunhasabrighandcheerfuldisposiion，isalwaysnauralandunresrained，alkaiveandughing，consideraeandwarmheared，seekingforalifeha“arealschorcanaffordobeeccenric”budaiyuisbornweakandofenillshe’sraherjealousandpeyminded，oversensiiveandspeakingcandidlyandcarpinglyshe’sbeenseekingforafreeandpurelovewhichisconsideredaboveeveryhing，includingherlife

湘云因她女婿病着，贾母死后，只来的一次，屈指算是后日送殡，不能不去。又见她女婿的病已成痨症，暂且不妨，只得坐夜前一日过来。想起贾母素日疼她；又想到自己命苦，刚配了一个才貌双全的男人，性情又好，偏偏的得了冤孽症候，不过捱日子罢了；于是更加悲痛，直哭了半夜。宝玉瞅着也不胜悲伤，又不好上前去劝。见她淡妆素服，不敷脂粉，更比未出嫁的时候犹胜几分。至于湘云的婚姻，那是她叔父的主意，头里原好；如今丈夫死于痨病，她立志守寡，也就苦了。

sincexiangyun’shusbandwasill，shehadvisiedonlyonceaferheolddy’sdeah；bushefelshemusaendhefuneralwhichshereckonedwouldbeheldinwodays’imeinanycase，herhusband’sillnesshadprovedobeconsumpion，sohahewasinnoimmediaedangershehereforecameoverhedaybeforehewake，whensherecalledheolddy’sgoodnessoher，henhoughofherownwrechedfaeshehadonlyjusmarriedaalened，handsomehusbandwihacheerfuldisposiion，buhenhehadconracedhisfaalillnesswhichmighanydaycarryhimoffindisressshewephalfhenighbaoyu，seeinghis，grievedforheroobuwasinnoposiionocomforherhenoicedhainherwhiemourning，herfacebareofrougeandpowder，shelookedevenlovelierhanbeforehermarriageasforhermarriage，hawasheruncle’sideaandallwenwellosarwih，bunowherhusband’sdiedofconsumpionandshe’smadeuphermindneveromarryagain，poorhing

湘云很年轻就守寡的说法在她《咏白海棠诗》“自是霜娥偏爱冷”句中得到了印证。

她很会写诗，正如黛玉、宝钗一样。据说她最后又嫁给了贾宝玉，听起来很合情合理，在她《对菊》《供菊》的诗句中也有一些暗示。例如《对菊》中，“别圃移来贵比金”暗示她的再婚。诗行“数去更无君傲世，看来惟我有知音”中，是谁如此傲世？倘是宝玉，也就是雪芹，知音之人自是湘云（黛玉已死）。“秋光荏苒休辜负，相对原宜惜寸阴”，正是“黄昏恋”者的共同心声，共同祈盼！在《供菊》中，“弹琴酌酒喜堪俦”暗示他们的幸福生活。

“抛书人对一枝秋。霜清纸帐来新梦，圃冷斜阳忆旧游。”“抛书人”是谁？“新梦”是什么？“旧游”何处？我们认为指的是曹雪芹与《红楼梦》。曹雪芹正是通过写《红楼梦》来“忆”出他们的“旧游”——他们先前的生活（经历），来做出“新梦”——他们的新思想、新追求。“傲世也因同气味”暗指宝玉与湘云共同的“气味”——“傲世”！

heviewhaxiangyuniswidowedwhenshe’squieyounghasbeenconfirmedbyheline“likehegoddessoffroswholoveshecold”fromherpoemsongofwhiebegoniaxiangyunisverygoodawriingpoems，jusasdaiyuandbaochaidoiissaidhashe’sfinallyremarriedojiabaoyu—caoxueqinisoundsquiereasonableherearealsosomeindicaionsinhelinesofherpoemsfacinghechrysanhemumanddispyinghechrysanhemumforinsance，inherpoemfacinghechrysanhemum：heline“broughfromanoherplo，moreprecioushangold”indicaesherremarriage

inhelines“none，surely，inheworldasproudasyou；ialone，iseems，knowyourworh”，who’ssoproudinheworld！noneoherhancaoxueqin！ifiisbaoyu，iecaoxueqin，whosebosomfriendisnaurallyxiangyun(sincedaiyu’sbeendead)i’sjusheagedlovers’hearfelwishesandexpecaionsha“weshouldmakehemosofauumn，gonesosoon，andfacingyouireasureeverymomen”inherpoemdispyinghechrysanhemum：heline“musicandwinegdlyaccompany”indicaesheirhappylife

inhelines“ossingmybookasideifaceasprayofauumnfreshdreamsperaehecuraininclearfros，sunseinchillgardenrecallsaformervisi”，who’s“ossingmybookaside”？whaare“freshdreams？”where’s“aformervisi？”inhewayofourhinking，heyindicaecaoxueqinandadreamofredmansionsbywriingadreamofredmansionscaoxueqin“recallsaformervisi”—heirformerlives(experience)andhas“freshdreams”—heirnewideasandaspiraionsheline“youoodisdainheworld，forwesharehesamease”indicaeshaxueqinandxiangyun“sharehesamease”—bohofhemdisdainheworld！

妙玉：妙玉本是苏州人氏，祖上也是读书仕宦之家，因自幼多病，买了许多替身，皆不中用，到底这姑娘入了空门，方才好了，所以带发修行。年方十八岁，法名妙玉。如今父母俱已亡故，身边只有两个老嬷嬷，一个小丫头服侍，文墨也极通，经文也不用学了，模样又极好。因听说“长安”都中有观音遗迹，并贝叶遗文，去年随了师父上来，现在西门外牟尼院住着。他师父极精演先天神数，于去年冬圆寂了。遗言说她：“不宜回乡，在此静候，自有结果。”所以未曾扶灵回去。王夫人听了报告并问道：“这样我们何不接了他来？”林之孝家的回道：“若请他，他说：‘侯门公府，必以贵势压人，我再不去的。’”王夫人道：

“他既是宦家小姐，自然要性傲些。就下个请帖请他何妨？”因此，妙玉被邀请作了大观园内栊翠庵住持。

miaoyu：miaoyucomesfromasuzhoufamilyofschorsandofficialsshewasdelicaeasachild，andalhoughheyboughmanysubsiuenovicesforher，iwasnouse—herhealhdidn’improveunilshejoinedhebuddhisorderherselfha’showshebecameaysisershe’seigheenhisyearandhernameinreligionismiaoyuherparensaredeadnowandsheonlyhaswooldnursesandonemaidolookaferhershe’swidelyreadandwellversedinhesuras，besidesbeingverygoodlookingshecameohecapialsyear，havingheardherewererelicsofguanyinhereandcanonsinscribedonparaleavesshe’sbeenlivinginhesakyamuniconvenousidehewesgaeheruorwasanexcellendiviner，bushepassedawayswinermiaoyuhadmeanoescorhecoffinbackohernaivepce；buasheruorydyingsheoldhegirlnoogobackhomebuowaiquielywhereshewasforsomehingforunehadinsoreforhersoshedidn’accompanyhecoffinback“inhacase，whynoaskherhere？”dywanglisenedohereporandasked“she’drefuse，”objecedlinzhixiao’swife“she’dbeafraidofbeinglookeddownoninanoblehousehold“ayoungdyfromanofficialfamilyisboundoberaherproud，”agreeddywang“whynosendherawrieninviaion？”husmiaoyuwasinviedobeabbessofgreenicenu

eryingrandviewgarden

贾母带了刘姥姥至栊翠庵来。妙玉相迎进去。然后她亲自捧了一个海棠花式雕漆填金“云龙献寿”的小茶盘，里面放了一个成窑五彩小盖钟，捧与贾母，并说：“这是‘老君眉’。”贾母接了，又问：“是什么水？”妙玉道：“是旧年蠲的雨水。”贾母便吃了半盏，笑着递与刘姥姥，说，“你尝尝这个茶。”刘姥姥便一口吃尽。上茶后妙玉便把宝钗黛玉的衣襟一拉，二人随她出去。宝玉悄悄的随后跟了来。只见妙玉让他们在耳房内，她自向风炉上煽滚了水，另泡了一壶茶。她刚要去取杯，只见道婆收了上面茶盏来，妙玉忙命：

“将那成窑的茶杯别收了，搁在外头去罢。”宝玉会意，知为刘姥姥吃了，她嫌腌罥，不要了。又见妙玉另拿出两只极好的杯来，斟了一杯给宝钗，另一杯给了黛玉，仍将前番自己常日吃茶的那只绿玉斗来斟与宝玉。黛玉因问：“这也是旧年的雨水？”妙玉冷笑道：“你这么个人，竟是大俗人，连水也尝不出来！这是五年前我在玄墓蟠香寺住着，收的梅花上的雪，统共得了那一鬼脸青的花瓮一瓮，总舍不得吃，埋在地下，今年夏天才开了。我只吃过一回，这是第二回了。——你怎么尝不出来？隔年蠲的雨水，那有这样清淳？如何吃得！”

黛玉知她天性怪僻，不好多话，亦不好多坐，吃过茶，便约着宝钗走出来。宝玉和妙玉陪笑说道：“那茶杯虽然腌罥了，白撩了岂不可惜？依我说，不如就给了那贫婆子罢，他卖了也可以度日。你说使得么？”妙玉听了，想了一想，点头说道：“这也罢了。幸而那杯子是我没吃过的；若是我吃过的，我就砸碎了也不能给他。你要给他，我也不管，你只交给他，快拿了去罢。”宝玉道：“自然如此。你那里和他说话去？越发连你都腌罥了。只交给我就是了。”妙玉便命人拿来递给宝玉。宝玉接了，又道：“等我们出去了，我叫几个小么儿来河里打几桶水来洗地如何？”妙玉笑道：“这更好了。只是你嘱咐他们，抬了水，只搁在山门外头墙根下，别进门来。”宝玉道：“这是自然的。”说着，便袖着那杯，递给贾母屋里的小丫头拿着，说：“明日刘姥姥家去，给他带去罢。”交代明白，贾母已经出来要回去，妙玉亦不甚留，送出山门，回身便将门闭了。正如歌“世难容”所说：“却不知好高人愈妒，过洁世同嫌。”

hedydowagerookgra

yliuogreenicenu

erymiaoyupromplyusheredheminohecouryardhenshebroughouinherownhandsacarvedcquerearayinheshapeofcrabappleblossom，inidwihagoldendesignofhe“clouddragonofferinglongeviy”onhiswasacoveredgildedpolychromebowlmadeinhechenghuaperiod，whichsheofferedohedydowager，andsaidsmilingly：“hisispariarch’seyebrows”“whawaerhaveyouused？”askedheolddy“rainwaersavedfromsyear”repliedmiaoyusmilinghedydowagerdrankhalfhebowlandpassedhereswihawinkleogra

yliu，urgingheroaseheeaheoldwomandrankisraighoffhavingservedea，miaoyupluckedahepelsofbaochai’sanddaiyu’sclohesandheywenouwihher，followedsurrepiiouslybybaoyumiaoyuinviedheminoasideroom，whilesheherselffa

edhesoveandwhenhewaerboiledbrewedsomefresheashewasjuslookingforcupswhenanoldnuncameinbringingheusedbowls“don’puawayhachenghuabowl，”criedmiaoyuhasily“leaveiouside”baoyuknewhabecausegra

yliuhadusedi，shehoughioodiryokeephenhesawmiaoyuproducewoexcellencupsandfillhem，oobaochai，heoherodaiyusheofferedbaoyuhegreenjadebeakerhashenormallydrankfromherself“ishismadewihsyear’srainwaeroo？”askeddaiyumiaoyusmileddisdainfully“canyoureallybesovulgarasnoevenoellhedifference？hisissnowigaheredfromplumblossomfiveyearsagowhilesayingincurlyfragrancenu

eryonmounxuanmuimanagedofillhawholedarkblueporceinpo，buiseemedoopreciousousesoi’vekepiburiedinheearhallheseyears，noopeningiillhissummerodayisonlyhesecondimei’veusedisurelyyoucanasehedifference？howcouldsyear’srainwaerbeaslighandpureashis？”daiyu，knowinghereccenriciy，didnolikeosayoomuchorsayoolongaferfinishinghereashesignalledobaochaiandhewogirlslef，followedbybaoyuashewasleavinghesaidwihasmileomiaoyu，“habowlmayhavebeenconaminaed，busurelyi’sapiyohrowiaway？ihinkyou’ddobeerogiveiohapoorwoman，who’dmakeenoughbysellingiokeepherforsomeimedon’youagree？”aferalilereflecionmiaoyunodded“allrigh，”shesaid“i’sagoodhingi’dneverdrunkouofi，ori’dhavesmashedibuican’giveiohermyselfifyouwanogiveioher，i’venoobjeciongoaheadandakei”“ofcourse，”hechuckled“howcouldyouspeakohelikesofher？you’dbeconaminaingyourselfjuslemehavei”miaoyusenforhebowlandhadihandedohimasheookihesaid，“aferwe’vegone，shallisendafewpageswihsomebuckesofwaerfromhesreamowashyourfloors？”“ha’sagoodidea”shesmiled“onlymakehemleavehebuckesbyhewallousidehegaeheymusn’comein”“ofcourseno”hewihdrew，hebowlinhissleeve，andenrusediooneofhisgrandmoher’ssmallmaidswihheinsrucion，“givehisogra

yliuoakehomeomorrow”byhisimehedydowagerwasreadyoleave，andmiaoyudidnopressherhardosaybusawhemouandclosedhegaebehindhem

jusashesongspurnedbyheworldreads：“sheknowsnohasuperioriyfosershared，forheworlddespisesoomuchpuriy”

妙玉在宝玉生日那天打发个妈妈送来贺卡，上面写着：“槛外人妙玉恭肃遥叩芳辰。”

宝玉竟不知回帖上回个什么字样才与“槛外人”相配。当他看见岫烟时，忙问：“姐姐那里去？”岫烟笑道：“我找妙玉说话。”宝玉听了，诧异说道：“他为人孤癖，不合时宜，万人不入他目，原来他推重姐姐，竟知姐姐不是我们一流俗人！”岫烟笑道：“他也未必真心重我，但我和他做过十年的邻居，只一墙之隔：他在蟠香寺修炼，我家原来寒素，赁房居住，就赁了他庙里的房子，住了十年，无事到他庙里去作伴，我所认得的字，都是承他所授；我和他又是贫贱之交，又有半师之分。因我们投亲去了，闻得他因不合时宜，权势不容，竟投到这里来。如今又两缘凑合，我们得遇，旧情竟未改易，承他青目，更胜当日。”宝玉听了，恍如听了焦雷一般，喜得笑道：“如今遇见姐姐，真是天缘凑合，求姐姐指教。”说着便将拜帖取与岫烟看。岫烟笑道：“他这脾气竟不能改，竟是生成这等放诞诡僻了。从来没见拜帖上下别号的：这可是俗语说的‘僧不僧，俗不俗，女不女，男不男，成个什么理数！”宝玉听说，忙笑道：“姐姐不知道，他原不在这些人中里……因取了我是个些微有知识的，方给我这帖子。”岫烟听了宝玉这话，方笑道：“怪道俗话说的，‘闻名不如见面’，又怪不的妙玉竟下这帖子给你，又怪不的上年竟给你那些梅花。既连他这样，少不得我告诉你原故。”他常说，古人中，皆无好诗，只有两句好：“纵有千年铁门槛，终须一个土馒头。”所以他自称“槛外之人”。你如今只下“槛内人”，便合了他的心了。“嗳哟”了一声，宝玉方笑道：“姐姐就请，让我去写回帖。”宝玉在帖上只写“槛内人宝玉熏沐谨拜”几字，亲自拿了到栊翠庵，只隔门缝儿投进去，便回来了。

onbaoyu’sbirhdaymiaoyusenanoldservanwihagreeingcardobaoyuwhoread：“miaoyu，heoneousidehehreshold，sendsrespecfulgreeingsonheyoungmaser’sbirhday”bayoudidn’knowhowowordareplymachinghaphrase“ousidehehreshold”whenhesawxiuyan，heinquired：“whereareyougoing，cousin？”“ohaveachawihmiaoyu，”washeanswerinsurpriseheremarked，“she’ssoaloofandunconvenionalhashelooksdownoneverybodyifshehinkssohighlyofyou，hisshowsyou’renovulgarlikeheresofus”“shemaynoreallyhinkhighlyofme，”repliedxiuyanwihasmile，“buwewerenexdoorneighboursforenyearswhenshewaspracicingasceicismincurlyfragrancenu

ery

myfamilywaspoor，andwelivedforenyearsinahouserenedfromhenu

ery；soiofenweninoseeherwheniwasfree，andshe’sheonewhoaughmeallhecharacersiknowaparfrombeingfriendsinpovery，shewashalfmyeacherooaferwehadlefhenu

eryojoinourreives，iheardhabecauseshe’doffendedcerainpowerfulpeoplebyhereccenricwaysshehadocomehereforproecionoosoasluckwouldhaveiwemeagain，andouroldfeelingforeachoherhadn’changed—infacshe’sevenkinderomehanbefore”muchimpressedbyhisaccounbaoyusaidwihdeligh，“meeingyouisaheavensenchanceyoumusellmewhaodo”henheshowedhecardoxiuyan“shehasn’changedinheleas，”observedxiuyanwihasmile“shewasbornlikehis—headsrongandeccenrici’veneverseenoherpeopleuseappelionslikehisingreeingcardswhy，his，ashesayinggoes，isneiherfish，fleshnorfowl！idoesn’makesense”“buyouseeshe’snooneofus，”baoyupuin“she’sonlysenmehisgreeingbecauseshehinksihavesomeslighdiscernmen”hearinghis，xiuyansaidcheerfully，“asheproverbsays，‘oknowsomeonebyrepueisnoasgoodasmeeingfaceoface’nowondermiaoyusenyouhisgreeingcard；nowondershegaveyouhaplumblossomsyearasevensheshowsyouspecialconsideraion，ishallhaveoexpinhisoyou”sheofensayshaheonlygoodpoerywrienbyheancienswashewolines：

forahousandyearsyoumayhaveanironhreshold，buheendmusbeamoundofearh”

hisiswhyshecallsherself“heoneousidehehreshold”ofallinwihheryoushouldcallyourself“heoneinsidehehreshold”“aiya！”baoyuexcimed“well，cousin，iwon’holdyouupanylongerimusgoandwrieareply”baoyuwroeonhecard：“wihhedeepesrespecsofbaoyu，heoneinsidehehreshold”akinghishimselfohenu

ery，heslippedihroughacrackinhegae，henwenback

宝玉轻轻地掀帘进去时，妙玉和惜春正在下棋。宝玉一面与妙玉施礼，一面又笑问道：

“妙公轻易不出禅关，今日何缘下凡一走？”妙玉听了，忽然把脸一红，也不答言，低了头，自看那棋。惜春还要下子，妙玉半日说道：“再下罢。”便起身理理衣裳，重新坐下，痴痴地问着宝玉道：“你从何处来？”宝玉想道：“或是妙玉的机锋。”转红了脸，答应不出来。惜春也笑道：“二哥哥，这什么难答的？你没有听见人家常说的，‘从来处来’么？

这也值得把脸红了，见了生人的似的！”妙玉听了这话，想起自家，心上一动，脸上一热，必然也是红的，倒觉不好意思起来。因站起来说道：我来得久了，要回庵里去了。惜春知妙玉为人，也不深留，送出门口。妙玉笑道：“久已不来这里，弯弯曲曲的，回去的路头都要迷住了。”宝玉道：“这倒要我来指引指引。何如？”妙玉道：“不敢，二爷前请。”于是二人别了惜春，走近潇湘馆，忽听得叮咚之声。妙玉道：“那里的琴声？”宝玉道：“想必是林妹妹那里抚琴呢。咱们去看他。”妙玉道：“从古只有听琴，再没有看琴的。”宝玉笑道：“我原说我是个俗人。”说着，二人走至潇湘馆外，在山子石上坐着静听，甚觉音调清切。当黛玉又歇了歇，妙玉道：“刚才‘侵’字韵是第一叠，如今‘扬’字韵是第二叠了。

咱们再听。”他们听了另一节后，妙玉道：“何忧思之深也！”宝玉道：“我虽不懂得，但听他声音，也觉得过悲了。”里头又调了一回弦。妙玉道：“君弦太高了，与无射律只怕不配呢。”妙玉听了，呀然失色道：“如何忽作变徵之声！音韵可裂金石矣！只是太过。”宝玉道：“太过便怎么？”妙玉道：“恐不能持久。”正议论时，听得君弦“嘣”的一声断了。妙玉站起来连忙就走。宝玉道：“怎么样？”妙玉道：“日后自知，你也不必多说。”

竟自走了。弄得宝玉满肚疑团，没精打采的归至怡红院中。

miaoyuandxichunwerepyingdraughswhenbaoyusoflyraisedheporiereandweninhegreeedmiaoyuandsaidoherwihasmile，“i’srarelyhayouleaveyoursainlyabodewhyhaveyoudescendedodayohemundaneworld？”miaoyuflushedupbusaidnohing，loweringherheadokeephereyesonheboardxichunwanedofinishhegame，buaferawhilemiaoyusaid，“le’spysomeoherime”shesooduposmoohdownherclohes，buhensadownagainandaskedbaoyufauously，“wheredidyoucomefrom？”ioccurredobaoyuhashemighbeesinghisundersanding

hereddenedandcouldnoanswer“ishasohardoanswer，secondbroher”chuckledxichun“haveyouneverheardhesaying，‘icamefromwherei’vebeen’？whyblushlikehaasifshewereasranger？”miaoyuookhisdigpersonallyherhearmisgaveherandhercheeksburned—sheknewshemusberedinhefaceooinherembarrassmenshesoodupandsaid，“i’vebeenheresolongimusbegeingbackomynu

ery”asxichunknewherways，inseadofpressingherosayshesawherohedoor“i’ssolongsincesiwashere，”saidmiaoyu，“imaynobeableofindmywaybackwihallhosewissandurns”“whynolemeshowyouheway？”baoyuvoluneered“hankyou，sir

pleaseleadon！”akingheirleaveofxichun，heyfollowedawindingpahwhichookhemnearbamboolodgesuddenlyheyheardawanging“wheredoeshaluingcomefrom？”miaoyuasked“imusbecousinlinpyinghelue”baoyusaid“le’scallonher”“onecanonlylisenoluing，nolookai—ha’salwaysbeenherule，”sheobjeced“i’mavulgarperson，iknow，”hesaidwihagrinbeingousidebamboolodgenow，heyseaedhemselvesonanarificialhillolisenquielyoheclearmusic

asdaiyupausedagain，miaoyuremarked，“hefirssanzausedheqinrhymehesecondheyangrhyme

le’shearwhafollows”aferheyheardanohersanza，miaoyucommened，“howmournful！”“houghidon’undersandmusic，idoessoundoosad，”baoyuagreedinside，heyheardhesringsbeingreuned“hemainsringisoohigh！”miaoyuexcimed“imaynofihascale”hecolourdrainingfromherfacemiaoyuexcimed，“whydidshesuddenlypysuchahighnoe？i’senoughocrackmealorsone！hisisooexreme”“whadoyoumean？”“idoubifshecankeepiup”evenasshesaidhis，heyheardhemainsringsnapmiaoyusoodupandhasilysaredoff“wha’shemaer？”baoyuasked“you’llknower；don’alkaboui”wihhashelef，andbaoyuwenbackohappyredcourfeelingpuzzledanddepressed