话说宝钗叫袭人问出原故，恐宝玉悲伤成疾，便将黛玉临死的话与袭人假作闲谈，说是：“人在世上，有意有情，到了死后，各自干各自的去了，并不是生前那样的人死后还是那样。
Bao-chai, having extracted from Aroma a detailed account of what had happened in the Garden, feared that a fresh bout of grief might indeed cause Bao-yu to fall ill again.
In an attempt to avert this she deliberately alluded to Dai-yu's dying moments, in the course of an apparently casual conversation with Aroma. ‘Human beings have certain feelings towards each other while they are alive,' she went on to say. ‘But after death a person enters a separate realm and becomes a different entity.
活人虽有痴心，死的竟不知道。
Even if the one still living remains fond, the one who is dead can't know it.
况且林姑娘既说仙去，他看凡人是个不堪的浊物，那里还肯混在世上？
Besides, if Miss Lin has become a fairy, she must take a very dim view of lesser mortals and would hardly deign to mingle with them on this earthly plane.
只是人自己疑心，所以招出些邪魔外祟来缠扰。”
To start imagining such things is to invite trouble and to lay oneself open to possession by evil spirits.”
宝钗虽是与袭人说话，原说给宝玉听的。
Aware that these remarks were intended for Baoyu's ears,
袭人会意，也说是：“没有的事。
Xiren chimed in, "That's true, her corning back is out of the question.
若说林姑娘的魂灵儿还在园里，我们也算相好，怎么没有梦见过一次？”
I was on good terms with her too, so if her spirit were still in the Garden how is it I've never seen her once in my dreams?”
想必他到天上去了，瞧我这凡夫俗子不能交通神明，所以梦都没有一个儿。
She must have gone up to Heaven, I suppose, and because I'm too vulgar to have any communication with the divine I've not once dreamed of her.
我如今就在外间睡，或者我从园里回来，他知道我的心，肯与我梦里一见。
Well, tonight I'll sleep in the outer room and maybe, now that I've visited the Garden, she'll know my heart and let me dream of her.
若是果然不理我这浊物，竟无一梦，我便也不想他了。”
If she'll really have nothing to do with a lout like me and won't let me dream of her, then I'll stop thinking about her."
主意已定，便说：“我今夜就在外间睡，你们也不用管我。”
His mind made up, he announced, "Tonight I'm going to sleep in the outer room, and you can just let me be."
你没瞧见太太因你园里去了，急的话都说不出来？
Didn't you see how worried your mother was too worried to speak because you went to the Garden?”
你这会子还不保养身子，倘或老太太知道了，又说我们不用心。”
You must be sensible and look after yourself.
If you go and do something silly again and Grandmother finds out, it's us she'll blame for not taking proper care of you.”
宝玉道：“白这么说罢咧，我坐一会子就进来。
‘I wasn't being serious,' said Bao-yu. ‘I'd just like to sit here for a while and then come in.
宝钗料他必进来的，假意说道：“我睡了，叫袭姑娘伺候你罢。”
Believing him, Baochai prevaricated, "I'll go to bed and let Xiren wait on you.
等宝钗睡下，便叫袭人、麝月另铺设下一副被褥，常叫人进来瞧二奶奶睡着了没有。
After Baochai had retired he told Xiren and Sheyue to make up a bed for him outside, then sent them in several times to see whether she was sleeping yet or not.
宝钗故意装睡，也是一夜不宁。
She pretended that she was, but in fact stayed awake all night.
你若不信，你就伏侍我睡了再进去，只要不惊动我就是了。”
If you don't believe me you can wait till I've dropped off before going inside, but mind you don't disturb me.
袭人果然伏侍他睡下，预备下了茶水，关好了门，进里间去照应了一回，各自假寐，等着宝玉若有动静再出来。
Xiren helped him to bed, made his tea then went inside, closing the door behind her, to attend to other things, after which she lay down fully dressed, ready to go out if summoned.
宝玉见袭人进去了，便将坐更的两个婆子支到外头。
As soon as she had gone, Baoyu dismissed the two matrons who were sitting up to keep watch.
他轻轻的坐起来，暗暗的祝赞了几句，方才睡下。
and when he was alone he sat up very quietly, said a silent prayer and then lay down again.
起初再睡不着，以后把心一静，谁知竟睡着了，却倒一夜安眠。
At first sleep eluded him, but gradually his mind grew more peaceful and eventually he nodded off and slept soundly the whole night through.
便叹口气道：“正是‘悠悠生死别经年，魂魄不曾来入梦’！”
Nothing whatsoever had occurred.He sighed. ‘As the poet once said,' he mused out loud:‘Since death's parting, slow and sad the year has been;Even in my dreams, her soul has not been seen.”
宝钗反是一夜没有睡着，听见宝玉在外边念这两句，便接一道：“这话你说莽撞了。
Baochai who had passed a sleepless night herself heard this from the inner room. "That's a wild way to talk!" she called out.