|
In honour of Chia Chings 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 Chings birthday， Chia Chen began by getting ready luscious delicacies and rare fruits， which he packed in sixteen spacious present boxes， and bade Chia Jung take them， along with the servants belonging to the household， over to Chia Ching. Turning round towards Chia Jung： Mind， he said， that you observe whether your grandfather be aGREeable or not， before you set to work and pay your obeisance! My father， tell him， has complied with your directions， venerable senior， and not presumed to come over; but he has at home ushered the whole company of the members of the family (into your apartments)， where they all paid their homage facing the side of honour. After Chia Jung had listened to these injunctions， he speedily led off the family domestics， and took his departure. During this interval， one by one arrived the guests. First came Chia Lien and Chia Se， who went to see whether the seats in the various places (were sufficient)。 Is there to be any entertainment or not? they also inquired. Our master， replied the servants， had， at one time， intended to invite the venerable Mr. Chia Ching to come and spend this day at home， and hadnt for this reason presumed to get up any entertainment. But when the other day he came to hear that the old gentleman was not coming， he at once gave us orders to go in search of a troupe of young actors， as well as a band of musicians， and all these people are now engaged making their preparations on the stage in the garden. | 
