Betrothed to the son of a Imperial Academician surnamed Mei， baoqin staryed in Jia Residence waiting for her wedding date. In the depth of winter， the earth was draped with a cloak of snow. Li Wan invited cousina over to chant poems and enjoy the snowy scene. She told baoyu to fetch some plum blossoms from Miaoyu's place. Baoyu did as

As Xi Ren， the leading service girl who had taken care of Baoyu was away to visit her home， the duties， and the charge of Yihongyuan Court， fell on Qing Wen. A girl anxious to excel in everything， Qing Wen did everything personally. For the special occasion of his uncle's birthday party， baoyu puton a very unique Russian-made cloak woven with threa

    CHAPTER LVI.
    The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses. The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact， by the display of a little intelligence， the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
    But let us pick up the clue of our story. P'i

    CHAPTER LV.
    The stupid secondary wife， dame Chao， needlessly loses her temper and insults her own daughter， T'an Ch'un. The perverse servant-girls are so full of malice that they look down contemptuously on their youthful mistresses.
    We will now resume our narration

    CHAPTER LIV.
    Dowager lady Chia， nee Shih， does away with rotten old customs. Wang Hsi-feng imitates in jest （the dutiful son）， by getting herself up in gaudy theatrical clothes.
    Chia Chen and Chia Lien had， we will now explain， secretly got ready large baskets of ca

    CHAPTER LIII.
    In the Ning Kuo mansion sacrifices are offered to their ancestors on the last night of the year. In the Jung Kuo mansion， a banquet is given on the evening of the 15th of the first moon.
    But to resume our story. When Pao-yue saw that Ch'ing Wen had in

    CHAPTER LII.
    The beautiful P'ing Erh endeavours to conceal the loss of the bracelet， made of work as fine as the feelers of a shrimp. The brave Ch'ing Wen mends the down-cloak during her indisposition.
    But let us return to our story.
    "Quit

  CHAPTER LI.
    The young maiden Hsueeh Pao-ch'in devises， in novel style， odes bearing on antiquities. A stupid doctor employs， in reckless manner， drugs of great strength.
    When the party heard， the story goes， that Pao-ch'in had made the old places of interest she had， in days gone by， vi

    CHAPTER XXX.
    Pao-ch'ai avails herself of the excuse afforded her by a fan to administer a couple of raps. While Ch'un Ling traces， in a absent frame of mind， the outlines of the character Ch'iang， a looker-on appears on the scene.
    Lin Tai-yue herself， for we will no

    CHAPTER XXIX.
    A happy man enjoys a full measure of happiness， but still prays for happiness. A beloved girl is very much loved， but yet craves for more love.
    Pao-yue， so our story runs， was gazing vacantly， when Tai-yue， at a moment least expected， flung her handker

    CHAPTER XXVIII.
    Chiang Yue-han lovingly presents a rubia-scented silk sash. Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai blushingly covers her musk-perfumed string of red beads.
    Lin Tai-yue， the story goes， dwelt， after Ch'ing Wen's refusal， the previous night， to open the door， under the impr

    CHAPTER XXVII
    In the Ti Ts'ui pavilion， Pao-ch'ai diverts herself with the multi-coloured butterflies. Over the mound， where the flowers had been interred， Tai-yue bewails their withered bloom.
    Lin Tai-yue， we must explain in taking up the thread of our narrative， w

    CHAPTER XXVI. On the Feng Yao bridge， Hsiao Hung makes known sentimental matters in equivocal language. In the Hsiao Hsiang lodge， Tai-yue gives， while under the effects of the spring lassitude， expression to her secret feelings.
    After thirty days' careful nursing， Pao-yue， we will now notice

    CHAPTER XXV.
    By a demoniacal art， a junior uncle and an elder brother's wife （Pao-yue and lady Feng） come across five devils. The gem of Spiritual Perception meets， in a fit of torpor， the two perfect men.
    Hsiao Hung， the story continues， was much unsettled in her m

  CHAPTER XXIV.
    The drunken Chin Kang makes light of lucre and shows a preference for generosity. The foolish girl mislays her handkerchief and arouses mutual thoughts.
    But to return to our narrative. Lin Tai-yue's sentimental reflections were the while reeling and ravelling in an intrica