红楼梦Chapter31_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter31

Hearing this， Pao-yue and Tai-yue waxed more uncomfortable than ever. So much so， that Pao-chai， who meant to continue the conversation， did not think it nice to say anything more when she saw how utterly abashed Pao-yue was and how changed his manner. Her only course was therefore to smile and hold her peace. And as the rest of the inmates had not the faintest notion of the drift of the remarks exchanged between the four of them， they consequently followed her lead and put on a smile.

In a short while， however， Pao-chai and lady Feng took their leave.

Youve also tried your strength with them， Tai-yue said to Pao-yue laughingly. But theyre far worse than I. Is every one as simple in mind and dull of tongue as I am as to allow people to say whatever they like.

Pao-yue was inwardly giving way to that unhappiness， which had been occasioned by Pao-chs touchiness， so when he also saw Tai-yue approach him and taunt him， displeasure keener than ever was aroused in him. A desire then asserted itself to speak out his mind to her， but dreading lest Tai-yue should he in one of her sensitive moods， he， needless to say， stifled his anger and straightway left the apartment in a state of mental depression.

It happened to be the season of the GREatest heat. Breakfast time too was already past， and masters as well as servants were， for the most part， under the influence of the lassitude felt on lengthy days. As Pao-yue therefore strolled， from place to place， his hands behind his back he heard not so much as the caw of a crow. Issuing out of his grandmothers compound on the near side， he wended his steps westwards， and crossed the passage， on which lady Fengs quarters gave. As soon as he reached the entrance of her court， he perceived the door ajar. But aware of lady Fengs habit of taking， during the hot weather， a couple of hours siesta at noon， he did not feel it a convenient moment to intrude. Walking accordingly through the corner door， he stepped into Madame Wangs apartment. Here he discovered several waiting-maids， dosing with their needlework clasped in their hands. Madame Wang was asleep on the cool couch in the inner rooms. Chin Chuan-erh was sitting next to her massaging her legs. But she too was quite drowsy， and her eyes wore all awry. Pao-yue drew up to her with gentle tread. The moment， however， that he unfastened the pendants from the earrings she wore， Chin Chuan opened her eyes， and realised that it was no one than Pao-yue.