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Presentation of artificial flowers made in the Palace. Chia Lien disports himself with Hsi-feng. Pao-yue meets Chin Chung at a family party. To resume our narrative. Chou Juis wife having seen old goody Liu off， speedily came to report the visit to madame Wang; but， contrary to her expectation， she did not find madame Wang in the drawing-room; and it was after inquiring of the waiting-maids that she eventually learnt that she had just gone over to have a chat with aunt Hsueeh. Mrs. Chou， upon hearing this， hastily went out by the eastern corner door， and through the yard on the east， into the Pear Fragrance Court. As soon as she reached the entrance， she caught sight of madame Wangs waiting-maid， Chin Chuan-erh， playing about on the terrace steps， with a young girl， who had just let her hair grow. When they saw Chou Juis wife approach， they forthwith surmised that she must have some message to deliver， so they pursed up their lips and directed her to the inner-room. Chou Juis wife gently raised the curtain-screen， and upon entering discovered madame Wang， in voluble conversation with aunt Hsueeh， about family questions and people in general. Mrs. Chou did not venture to disturb them， and accordingly came into the inner room， where she found Hsueeh Pao-chai in a house dress， with her hair simply twisted into a knot round the top of the head， sitting on the inner edge of the stove-couch， leaning on a small divan table， in the act of copying a pattern for embroidery， with the waiting-maid Ying Erh. When she saw her enter， Pao Chai hastily put down her pencil， and turning round with a face beaming with smiles， Sister Chou， she said， take a seat. | 
