【五四遺事】英文版 文 / 張愛玲

    STALEMATES-AShortStorySetintheTimeWhenLoveCametoChina

    Twomenandtwogirlsinaboatsatfacingeachotheronwhickerseatsundertheflatblueawning.Cupsofteastoodonthelowtablebetweenthem.Theywereeatingling,waterchestnutsaboutthesizeandshapeofaCupid』s-bowmouth.Theshellsweredarkpurplishredandthekernelswhite-

    issChouisverystylishtoday,」oneofthemensaid.Itwasalsostylishtoaddressgirlsas「Miss.」

    MissChouglaredathimthroughhernewspectaclesandthrewalingshellathim.Herglasseshadroundblackrimsandperfectlyflatlenses,asshewasnotnear-sighted.Theyearwas1924,wheneyeglasseswerefashionable.Societygirlsworethem.Evenstreet-walkersaffectedglassesordertolooklikegirlstudents.

    Eachofthemensatwithhisowngirlbecausethelittleboatbalancedbetterthiswaythanifthetwogirlssatsidebyside.Thepalegreenwaterlookedthickandjustalittlescummy,andyethadasuggestionoflingeringfragrancelikeabasinofwaterinwhichafamouscourtesanhadwashedherpaintedface.

    Thegirlswerearoundtwenty-youngforhighschoolinthosedayswhenprogressivewomenofallagesflockedtotheprimaryschools.MissChouwasmuchadmiredforherviva-cityandboldnessasbeingtypicaloftheNewWoman,whileMissFan』swasthebeautyofastilllife.

    Shesatsmilingalittle,herfaceaslimpointedoval,herlonghairdoneintworoundglossyblacksideknobs.Sheworelittlemake-upandnoornamentsexceptagoldfountainpentuckedinherlightmauvetunic.Hertrumpetsleevesendedflaringjustundertheelbow.

    TheyoungmenwereLoandWen.Lowastallandthin.Hispaleturquoiselonggownhungwellonhiminamoreliteralsensethanwhenthephrasewasappliedtowesterner』sclothes.HetaughtinthesameschoolasWen.TheybothownedlandintheirhomevillageandtaughtschoolinHangchowmerelyasanexcusetolivebytheWestLake,whereeveryscenicspotwasassociatedwiththememoryofsomepoetorreigningbeauty.

    Thefourhadbeenmeetingalmostdailyformorethanayear.Theywouldgooutonthelake,havedinneratoneoftherestaurantsalongthestore,andgoboatingagainiftherewasamoon.SomebodywouldreadShelleyaloudandthegirlsheldhandswitheachotherwhentheywerefourofthem,sometimessixbutnevertwo.Themenwerealreadymarried-auniversalpredicament.Practicallyeverybodywasmarriedandhadchildrenbeforeeverhearingoflove.WenandLohadtobecontentwithdiscussingthegirlsinterminablybetweenthemselves,showingeachotherthegirls』carefullytheircalligraphy,analyzingtheirpersonalitiesfromthehand-writing.LovewassuchanewexperienceinChinathatalittleofitwentalongway.

    Thesailedintoapatchofyellowinglotusleaves,thelargegreenplatescrunchingnoisilyagainsttheboat.Thentherewassilence.Theboatmanandhislittledaughterwererestingontheiroars,lettingtheboatdrift.Nowandthenthewatermadeasmallswallowingsoundasifithadapieceofcandyinitsmouth-

    oinghomethisweekend?」MissFanasked-

    supposeIcan』tgetoutofitthistime,」Loansweredsmiling.「Mymotherhasbeencomplaining.」

    Shesmiled.Thementionofhismotherdidnotalterthefactthathewasgoingbacktohiswife.

    LatelyLohadbeenfellingincreasinglyguiltyaboutgoinghome,whileMissFanhadallowedherresentmenttobecomemoremanifestbeforeandaftereachvisit-

    havemadeadecision,」hesaidinalowvoice,lookingather.Then,whenshedidnotaskhimwhatitwas,hesaid,「MissFan,willyouwaitforme?Itmighttakeyears.」

    Shehadturnedaway,herheadbent.Herhandsplayedwiththelowerleftcornerofherslittedblouse,furlingandunfurlingit.

    Actuallyshedidnotagreetohisgettingadivorceuntildayslater.Butthatevening,whenthefourofthemdinedatarestaurantfamousforitslakefish,Loalreadyfeltpledgedanddedicated.Allthewinehedranktastedlikethelastcupbeforesettingoutonalonghardjourneyonacoldnight.

    TherestaurantwascalledtheHouseBeyondHouse.Itleanedoverthelakeonthreesides.Despitetheviewanditspoeticnameitwasanonchalantlyuglyplacewithgreasyoldfurniture.Thewaitershoutedorderstothekitcheninasingsongchant.Whentheglassdomewasliftedfromtheplateofliveshrimp,someoftheshrimpjumpedacrossthetable,inandoutofthesaucedish,andlandedonMissFan,tailingsoyasaucedownthefrontofherblouse.MissChousquealed.InthedingyyellowelectriclightMissFanlookedflushedandhappyanddidnotseemtomindatall.

    LodidnotgohomeuntiltheSaturdayafterthat.Thejourneytooktwohoursbytrainandwheelbarrow.Hiswifelookedsheepishashermother-in-lawloudlyandostentatiouslyexcusedherfromvariousdutiesbecauseherhusbandwashome.Shewaswearingashortblueoverallwiththeredsatinbindingofasilktunicshowingunderneathit.Shehadnotbeensurethathewouldbecoming.

    Hespoketoherthatnightaboutdivorce.Shecriedallnight.Itwasterrible,almostasifajudgeweretosleepinthesamebedwithacondemnedman.Saywhathemight,heknewhewasconsigninghertodishonorablewidowhoodfortherestofherlife.

    Hismotherflewintoarageonbeingtold.Shewouldnothearofit.LowentbacktoHangchowandstoppedcominghomealtogether.HismothergothisuncletogouptoHangchowandtalkhimoutofhisfoolishness.Heinturnmanagedtopersuadeacousintogoandtalktohisfamily.Ittookinfernallylongtonegotiatethroughrelativeswhowere,furthermore,unreliabletransmittersofharshwords,beingpeacemakersatheart,especiallywherematrimonywasconcerned.Tobreakupamarriageisacardinalsinthatautomaticallytakestenyearsoffaman』sgivenlifespan.

    Logotalawyertowritehiswifeanalarminglywordedrequestfordivorce.Hiswife』sfamily,theChangs,boiledoverwithrage.Didhethinkhiswifewasanorphan?NotalltheChangsweredead.True,theycouldnotrevengethemselvesonthefaithlessmanunlesshiswifeweretohangherselfonhislintel.Thatwouldplacehislifeandpropertyentirelyattheirmercy.Butitwasnotforthemtorecommendsuchasteptoher.

    TheheadoftheLoclanwasmovedtospeak.TheoldmanthreatenedtoinvitetheFamilyLawoutofitsnicheandbeattheyoungrascalintheancestraltemple.「FamilyLaw」wasaeuphemismfortheplankusedforflogging.

    MissFanandLocontinuedtoseeeachotherinthecompanyofWenandMissChou.Theirfriendsweredelightedandexhilaratedbythecourageofthisundertaking-thoughitdidputWeninadifficultposition,evenifMissChouwasneveropenlyreproachful.Itnowappearedasthoughthewistfulnessthatwaspartofthebeautyoftheirrelationshipwasnotoneofthosethingsthatcouldn』tbehelped.

    Lowasonlyhomeonceintwoyears.Theyweredifficultyearsforboththemotheranddaughter-in-law.Theybegantogetoneachother』snerves.Therewasanunwrittenlawthatawifecouldneverbedivorcedonceshehadwornmorningwhiteandtheramiescarfofmourningforaparent-in-law.Sotheoldladygottheideathatherdaughter-in-lawwishedforherdeath.Itwouldcertainlysettlethedivorceproblem.Buttheoldladysworeshewouldseetheyoungerwomanoutofthehouseverticallybeforeshemadeherownexithorizontally.

    Outwardlythedivorcenegotiationshadnotgainedmuchgroundinsixyears.MissFan』sfamilyneverdidapprove.Nowtheykeptremindingherthatattwenty-sixshewasbecominganoldmaid.Soonshewouldnotevenqualifyfort』ien-fang—roomfiller,awifetofillupawidower』semptyroom.ItseemedtoherfamilythatLowasonlywaitingtohaveheronhisownterms.Itwasdoubtfulwhetherhewasseriouslytryingtogetadivorce.Possiblyalimonywasthestumblingblock.Therewerethosewhosaidhewasactuallyquitepoor.Whatlittlehehadmusthavedwindledawaythroughhislongabsencefromhome,withhisestateleftinthehandsofanestrangedwife.Therehadbeensomeunpleasantnessoverthedivorcequestionattheschoolwherehewasteaching.Ifhedidn』tdependonhisjobforaliving,whydidn』theresign?

    MissChoutoldWenconfidentiallythatMissFanhadbeenouttodinnerwithapawnbroker,chaperonedbymembersofherfamilyandaladymatchmaker.WenwasnottotellLo.

    InhisindignationWentoldLoanyway,thoughofcourseheadded,「It』sallherfamily』sdoing.」-

    heydidn』ttieherupwitharopeanddraghertotherestaurant,didthey?」Losaidsardonically.Hepromisednottotakeupthematterwithherimmediatelyasthatwouldbetraythesourceofhisinformation.

    ButthateveningLodranktoomuchricewinewhentheydinedattheHouseBeyondHouseswhichhadthelakeonthethreesides.「Congratulations,MissFan!」hesaid.「Ihearyouaregoingtoinviteustoyourweddingfeast.」Hedrainedhiscupandstrodeoffangrily.

    MissFanrefusedtojointhemthenextday.Lo』sletterswerereturnedunopened.AweeklaterMissChoureportedthatMissFanhadagainbeendiningwiththepawnbroker.Everythingwassettled;themanhadgivenherabigdiamondengagementring.

    Lo』sdivorceactionhadreachedthepointwhereitbegantomovethroughitsownmomentum.Thereweresignsthathiswife』ssidewasnowmorereadytolistentoreason.Hewouldbealaughingstockfortherestofhislifeifheweretoreturntohiswifeatthisstage.Sohewentaheadwiththedivorce,givinghiswifeageneroussettlementashehadpromised.AssoonasthedecreewasfinalhegotaprofessionalmatchmakertoapproachtheWongsofthedyeworksonhisbehalf.TheeldestWonggirlwasreportedtobetheprettiestgirlintown.

    Afteranexchangeofphotographsanddueinvestigation,theWongsacceptedhim.LosoldagreatpartofhislandandboughtMissWongadiamondringevenbiggerthantheoneMissFanwassaidtohavegot.Hewasmarriedafterthreemonths.

    ForsomereasonsMissFan』smatchdidnotcomeoff.MaybethepawnbrokerhadhisdoubtsaboutmoderngirlsandhadheardsomethingofMissFan』slongattachmenttoLo.AccordingtotheFansitwasbecausetheyhadfoundoutthatthepawnbrokerhadfalsifiedhisage.Somemalicioustongueshaditthatitwastheotherwayaround.

    InthenaturalcourseofthingsLowouldhaverunintoMissFansoonerorlater,livinginthesametown.Buttheirfriendswerenotcontenttoleaveittochance.Somehowtheyfeltitwasimportantforthemtomeetagain.ItcouldnotbethattheywantedLotosavorfullyhisrevenge;theyhaddisapprovedofthewayhehadhitbackatherattheexpenseofhisownideals.Maybetheywantedhimtorealizethemistakehehadmadeandfeelsorry.Butperhapsthemostlikelyexplanationwouldbethattheyjustthoughtitwouldbesadandbeautiful—andthereforeagoodthing—forthetwotomeetonceagainonthelakeunderthemoon.

    Itwasarrangedwithouttheknowledgeofeitherofthem.OnenightLowasoutonaboatwithWen—MissChouwasnowmarriedandnotseeingthemanymore.Somepeopleshoutedatthemfromanotherboat.Itwasacoupletheyusedtoknow.MissFanwaswiththem.

    Whenthetwoboatsdrewnear,Wensteppedovertotheotherboat,urgingLotocomewithhim.LofoundhimselfsittingacrossthesmalltablefromMissFan.Theteainthecupsshonefaintly,ineachcupafloatingsilverdiskswayingslightlywiththemovementoftheboat.Herfaceandwhit-cladshoulderswereblue-rimmedwithmoonlight.Itstunnedhimhowshecouldlookjustthesamewhensomuchhadhappened.

    Theywentthroughtheamenitiesasiftherewerenothingamiss,butwithoutdirectlyaddressingasingleremarktoeachother.NoreferencewasmadetoLo』snewmarriage.Thetalkwasmostlyaboutthegovernment-sponsoredWestLakeExhibitionanditsuglymemorialthatdominatedthevistaalongthebank-

    t』saneyesore.Spoilseverything,」Losaid.「Itwillneverbethesameagain.」

    Hereyesmethis,waveredalittle,andlookedaway.

    Aftergoingroundthelaketheylandedandseparated.Thedayafter,LoreceivedaletteraddressedtohiminMissFan』shandwriting.Hetoreitopen,hisheartpounding,andfoundasheetofblankpaperinside.Heknewinstantlywhatshemeant.Shehadwantedtowritehimbutwhatcouldshesay?

    Soonitwasnosecretamongtheirfriendsthattheywereagainseeingalotofeachother.Loagainstarteddivorceproceedings.Thistimehehadveryfewsympathizers.Henowlikedlikeascoundrelwherehehadoncebeenapioneer.Itwasanotherlongstruggle.OnherpartMissFanwasalsoengagedinastruggle.Herswasagainsttheforcesoftheyears,againstmen』sverynaturewhichtiressoeasily.AndinherstruggleshehadnobodytostandbyhersideasshestoodbyLo.Sheremainedquietlypretty.Hercoiffureandclothesweremaster-piecesofsubtlecompromisebetweenfashionandmemory.Heneverwantedhertolikeanydifferentfromthewayshedidwhenhehadfirstknownher.Yethewouldhavebeendistressedifithadsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatshelookeddated.Shefellinwithallhismoodswithoutbeingmonotonouslypliant.ShereadallthebookshegaveherandwasdevotedtoShelley.

    Hefinallyhadtofightitoutinthecourtswithhiswife』sfamily.TheWongswereadamantagainstdivorce.Lawsuitswereexpensive,especiallywhenjudgesprovedtobetractable.Logothisdivorceattheendoffiveyears.Thoughinreducedcircumstances,hehadbuiltasmallwhitehouseexactlythewayMissFanandhehadplannedit,onasitetheyhadchosenlongage.Hehadcloseddownhisoldhouseinthecountryafterhismother』sdeath.Theirnewhomewasonstilts,leaningoutofthegreenhillsrightoverthelake.Climbingrosesandwisteriatrailedoverthemoonwindow.

    Thenewlywedspaidroutinevisitstorelatives.Theywereusuallypressedtostayfordinnerandplaymah-jongg.Lohadneverknownhertobefondofthegame.Hetoldhiswifeitwasgoodofhertocomplybuttherewasnoneedtokeepitupallnightandpromisetocomebackformorethenextday.Sheansweredthatpeopleteasedherintoit,sayingshecouldnotbeartobeawayfromherbridegroomasingleminute.

    Shecomplainedoflivingsofarout.Whenshecamebacklatefromhermahjonggpartiessheoftenhaddifficultyfindingarick-shapullerwillingtotakeherhome.Whenshewasnotoutplayingmah-jonggsheloungedaboutinsoiledoldgownswithtornslitsandfrayedfrogs.Halfthetimeshelayinbedcrackingwatermelonseeds,spittingtheshellsoverthebed-clothesandintoherslippersonthefloor.Hishintsattakingmoreinterestinherappearancewereatfirstignored.Thensheflaredupandsaidhisfussinesswasunmanly.「Nowonderyounevergetanywhere.」

    Lodidhisbesttokeepupagoodfront.Stillhesupposedthatnewsoftheirquarrelsgotabout,becauseonedayarelativementionedcasuallytohimthatMissWonghadnotyetremarried.「Whydon』tyouaskhertocomeback?」

    Loshookhisheadsadly.Heneededsomepersuasion,butofcourseheknowthattheWongswouldagreethatthiswasthebestwayout,muchastheyhatedhim.Thefamily』sgoodnamewouldsufferiftheirdaughtertookasecondhusband.

    Hiswife,theformerMissFan,didnothearofthematteruntilallarrangementshadbeenmade.Despitescenesandthreatsofsuicide,thedayMissWongreturnedtohimescortedbymembersoftheWongfamilyshewastheretoreceivethemandplayhostessatthesmallinformalcelebration.SheaddressedMissWong』sbrotherandsister-in-lawas「Brother」and「Sister-in-law」.Sheapologizedforthedinner.「It』sdifficultforustogetagoodcook,livingsofarawayfromthemarket.Terriblyinconvenient.ElseIwouldhavemadehimfetchbackyouryoungladylongago.Ofcoursesheoughttocomeandlivehere.Onecan』tbestayingwithparentsallthetime.」MissWongdidnotspeak,sinceshewasalmostabride.

    Noagreementhadbeenreachedastothemodeofaddressbetweenthetwowomen,whowereunderstoodtobeofequalstatus.Theyweremerelyreferredtoas「ThatoftheHouseofFan」and「ThatofthehouseofWong」behindeachother』sback.

    NotlongafterwardanelderofLo』sclanspoketohim.「Iseenoreasonwhyyoushouldn』taskyourfirstwifetocomeback.Itwouldonlybefair.」

    Locouldnotthinkofanyvalidobjectioneither.Hewentdowntothecountrywhereshewaslivingwithherfamily,andbroughtherbacktotherose-coveredlittlehousebythelake.

    Bothofhisex-wivesweremuchricherthanhewasafterthedivorcesettlements.Buttheyneverhelpedhimout,nomatterwhatstraitshegotintofromprovidingforthreewomenandtheirchildren.Hecouldnotreallyblamethem,takingeverythingintoconsideration.Hewouldnothavemindeditsomuchif「ThatoftheHouseofFan」didnottaunthimcontinuallyabouttheothers』lackoffeelingforhim.

    Andnowthathehadliveddownthescandalandridicule,peopleenviedhimhisYengfu,glamorousblessings-extraordinaryinanagethatwasatleastnominallymonogamous,foritwasalready1936—livingwiththreewivesinarose-coveredlittlehousebythelake.Ontherareoccasionswhenhetriedtotellsomebodyhewasunhappy,thelistenerwouldguffaw.「Anyhow,」thefriendwouldsay,「therearefourofyou—justrightforanicegameofmah-jongg.」

    THEEND