话说尤氏从惜春处赌气出来,正欲往王夫人处去,跟从的老嬷嬷们因悄悄的道:“回奶奶:且别往上屋里去。
When You-shi swept angrily out of Xi-chun's apartment, it had been her intention to visit Lady Wang, but one of the old women in her suite whispered in her ear to advise her against going there.
才有甄家的几个人来,还有些东西,不知是作什么机密事,奶奶这一去恐不便。”
‘Some people from the Zhen family have just arrived there, madam, with a lot of things.
I think it's something secret they've come about.
尤氏听了道:“咋日听见你老爷说看见抄报上甄家犯了罪,现今抄没家私,调取进京治罪。
“Only yesterday your master told me that, according to the Court Gazette, the Zhens have been charged with crimes,” said Madam You. “Their house has been raided, their property confiscated, and they've been fetched to the capital to stand trial.
怎么又有人来?”
What can any of them be doing here?”
老嬷嬷道:"正是呢。
“Why indeed?” answered the nurses.
才来了几个女人,气色不成气色,慌慌张张的,想必有什么瞒人的事情也是有的。”
It was some of the womenfolk we saw there.
They were in a terrible state, very worried and frightened.
I expect they are doing something they ought not to be.”
恰好太医才诊了脉去。
The court physician treating her had just left,
因见尤氏进来不似往日和蔼可亲,只呆呆的坐着。
She soon noticed, however, that Madam You was not her usual amiable self, simply sitting there lost in thought.
跟来的丫头媳妇们因问:"奶奶今儿中晌尚未洗脸,这会子趁便可冼一洗好?”
The attendants who had come with her suggested. “You didn't wash at noon, madam.
Would you like to freshen up now?”
素云一面取来,一面将自己的脂粉拿来,笑道:"我们奶奶就少这个。
and with it the girl brought some of her own rouge and powder. “Our mistress doesn't use cosmetics,
奶奶不嫌脏,这是我的,能着用些。”
so please make do with these of mine if you don't think them dirty, madam,” ^-1she said with a smile.
李纨道:"我虽没有,你就该往姑娘们那里取去,怎么公然拿出你的来。
“The idea!”scolded Li Wan. “Although I haven't got such things, you should have fetched some from one of the young ladies, instead of producing your own.
幸而是他,若是别人,岂不恼呢。”
You're lucky it's her and not anybody else or they'd have taken offence at your impudence.”
一面说,一面就将这碗笋送至桌上。
She brought the bowl of sliced bamboo-shoot over and put it down on the table.
银蝶上来忙代为卸去腕镯戒指,又将一大袱手巾盖在下截,将衣裳护严。
while Yindie took off her bracelets and rings, then spread a large handkerchief on her lap to protect her clothing.
小丫鬟炒豆儿捧了一大盆温水走至尤氏跟前,只弯腰捧着。
A large basin of warm water was brought in by Chaodou, one of the younger maids, who stooped to hold it out for Madam You.
奶奶不过待咱们宽些,在家里不管怎样罢了,你就得了意,不管在家出外,当着亲戚也只随便罢了。”
Because our mistress is lenient and not particular about etiquette at home, you get the idea you can be equally casual in a relative's house, carrying on in public the way you do in private.”
尤氏笑道:"我们家上下大小的人只会讲外面假礼、假体面,究竟作出来的事都够使的了。”
“In our family,” went on Madam You with a smile, “high and low alike all observe the outward forms of etiquette but actually carry on in a scandalous way.”
李纨听如此说,便知他已知道昨夜的事,因笑道:"你这话有因,谁作事究竟够使了?”
Li Wan realized that she must be referring to the events of the previous night. ‘Why do you say that?” she asked smilingly.
尤氏忙擦脸起身让坐,因问:"怎么忽然一个人走来,别的姊妹都怎么不见?”
You-shi, hurriedly wiping the water from her face, got up to welcome her and made her sit down with her at the side of the bed. ‘On your own?” she asked her. ‘Where are all the others?”
宝钗道:"正是,我也没有见他们。
“I haven't seen them,”said Baochai.
只因今日我妈妈身上不自在,家里两个女人也都因时症未起炕,别的靠不得,我今儿要出去伴着老人家夜里作伴儿。
“I've come because mother's unwell, and our only two reliable maids are ill in bed; so I must go back to keep her company tonight.
要去回老太太、太太,我想又不是什么大事,且不用提,等好了,我横竖进来呢。
I meant to ask leave from Their Ladyships, but then I thought that as it's not really serious there's no need to mention it;
一时尤氏盥沐已毕,大家吃面茶。
Presently, when You-shi had finished her toilet, the three of them each had a bowl of wheatmeal tea.