CHAPTER XXIII.
    Pao-yue and Tai-yue make use of some beautiful passages from the Record of the Western Side-building to bandy jokes. The excellent ballads sung in the Peony Pavilion touch the tender heart of Tai-yue.
    Soon after the day on which Chia Yuan-ch'un honour

    CHAPTER XXII.
    Upon hearing the text of the stanza， Pao-yue comprehends the Buddhistic spells. While the enigmas for the lanterns are being devised， Chia Cheng is grieved by a prognostic.
    Chia Lien， for we must now prosecute our story， upon hearing lady Feng observe

    CHAPTER XXI.
    The eminent Hsi Jen， with winsome ways， rails at Pao-yue， with a view to exhortation. The beauteous P'ing Erh， with soft words， screens Chia Lien.
    But to resume our story. When Shih Hsiang-yuen ran out of the room， she was all in a flutter lest Lin Tai-

  CHAPTER XX.
    Wang Hsi-feng with earnest words upbraids Mrs. Chao's jealous notions. Lin Tai-yue uses specious language to make sport of Shih Hsiang-yuen's querulous tone of voice.
    But to continue. Pao-yue was in Tai yue's apartments relating about the rat-elves， when Pao-ch'ai entered un

  CHAPTER XIX.
    In the vehemence of her feelings， Hua （Hsi Jen） on a quiet evening admonishes Pao-yue. While （the spell） of affection continues unbroken， Pao-yue， on a still day， perceives the fragrance emitted from Tai-yue's person.
    The Chia consort， we must now go on to explain， returned

  CHAPTER XVIII.
    His Majesty shows magnanimous bounty. The Imperial consort Yuan pays a visit to her parents. The happiness of a family gathering. Pao-yue displays his polished talents.
    But let us resume our story. A servant came， at this moment， to report that for the works in course of

  CHAPTER XVII.
    In the Ta Kuan Garden， （Broad Vista，） the merits of Pao-yue are put to the test， by his being told to write devices for scrolls and tablets. Yuan Ch'un returns to the Jung Kuo mansion， on a visit to her parents， and offers her congratulations to them on the feast of lanterns， on the fifteenth of the

    CHAPTER XVI.
    Chia Yuan-ch'un is， on account of her talents， selected to enter the Feng Ts'ao Palace. Ch'in Ching-ch'ing departs， in the prime of life， by the yellow spring road.
    But we must now return to the two lads， Ch'in Chung and Pao-yue. After they had passed，

    CHAPTER XV.
    Lady Peng， nee Wang， exercises her authority in the Iron Fence Temple. Ch'in Ching-ch'ing （Ch'ing Chung） amuses himself in the Man-t'ou （Bread） nunnery.
    But we shall now resume our story. When Pao-yue raised his eyes， he noticed that Shih Jung， Prince of

    CHAPTER XIV.
    Lin Ju-hai dies in the City of Yang Chou. Chia Pao-yue meets the Prince of Pei Ching on the way.
    When Lai Sheng， be it noticed in continuing our story， the major-domo in the Ning Kuo mansion， came to hear that from inside an invitation had been extended

    CHAPTER XIII.
    Ch'in K'o-ch'ing dies， and Chia Jung is invested with the rank of military officer to the Imperial Body-guard. Wang Hsi-feng lends her help in the management of the Jung Kuo Mansion.
    Lady Feng， it must be added， in prosecuting our narrative， was ever s

  CHAPTER XII.
    Wang Hsi-feng maliciously lays a trap for Chia Jui， under pretence that his affection is reciprocated. Chia T'ien-hsiang gazes at the face of the mirror of Voluptuousness.
    Lady Feng， it must be noticed in continuation of our narrative， was just engaged in talking with P'ing

    CHAPTER XI.
    In honour of Chia Ching's birthday， a family banquet is spread in the Ning Mansion. At the sight of Hsi-feng， Chia Jui entertains feelings of licentious love.
    We will now explain， in continuation of our story， that on the day of Chia Ching's birthday， Ch

  CHAPTER X.
    Widow Chin， prompted by a desire to reap advantage， puts up temporarily with an insult. Dr. Chang in discussing Mrs. Chin's illness minutely exhausts its origin.
    We will now resume our story. As the persons against Chin Jung were so many and their pressure so great， and as， w

    CHAPTER IX.
    Chia Cheng gives good advice to his wayward son. Li Kuei receives a reprimand. Chia Jui and Li Kuei rebuke the obstinate youths！ Ming Yen causes trouble in the school-room.
    But to return to our story. Mr. Ch'in， the father， and Ch'in Chung， his son， only