红楼梦Chapter31_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter31

I did not strike you intentionally just now， retorted Pao-yue.

Who ever said， rejoined Hsi Jen， that you did it intentionally! It has ever been the duty of that tribe of servant-girls to open and shut the doors， yet theyve got into the way of being obstinate， and have long ago become such an abomination that peoples teeth itch to revenge themselves on them. They dont know， besides， what fear means. So had you first assured yourself that it was they and given them a kick， a little intimidating would have done them good. But Im at the bottom of the mischief that happened just now， for not calling those， upon whom it devolves， to come and open for you.

During the course of their conversation， the rain ceased， and Pao Kuan and Yue Kuan had been able to take their leave. Hsi Jen， however， experienced such intense pain in her side， and felt such inward vexation， that at supper she could not put a morsel of anything in her mouth. When in the evening， the time came for her to have her bath， she discovered， on divesting herself of her clothes， a bluish bruise on her side of the size of a saucer and she was very much frightened. But as she could not very well say anything about it to any one， she presently retired to rest. But twitches of pain made her involuntarily moan in her dreams and groan in her sleep.

Pao-yue did， it is true， not hurt her with any malice， but when he saw Hsi Jen so listless and restless， and suddenly heard her groan in the course of the night， he realised how severely he must have kicked her. So getting out of bed， he gently seized the lantern and came over to look at her. But as soon as he reached the side of her bed， he perceived Hsi Jen expectorate， with a retch， a whole mouthful of phlegm. Oh me! she gasped， as she opened her eyes. The presence of Pao-yue startled her out of her wits. What are you up to? she asked.