红楼梦Chapter24_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter24

the waiting-maid smiled as she handed him the tea. I was in the back court， she replied， and just came in from the back door of the inner rooms; and is it likely that you didnt， sir， hear the sound of my footsteps?

Pao-yue drank his tea， and as he simultaneously passed the servant-girl under a minute inspection， he found that though she wore several articles of clothing the worse for wear， she was， nevertheless， with that head of beautiful hair， as black as the plumage of a raven， done up in curls， her face so oblong， her figure so slim and elegant， indeed， supremely beautiful， sweet， and spruce， and Pao-yue eagerly inquired： Are you also a girl attached to this room of mine?

I am， rejoined that waiting-maid.

But since you belong to this room， how is it I dont know you? Pao-yue added.

When the maid heard these words， she forced a laugh. There are even many， she explained， that are strangers to you; and is it only myself? Ive never， before this， served tea， or handed water， or brought in anything; nor have I attended to a single duty in your presence， so how could you know me?

But why dont you attend to any of those duties that would bring you to my notice? Pao-yue questioned.

I too， answered the maid， find it as difficult to answer such a question. Theres however one thing that I must report to you， master Secundus. Yesterday， some Mr. Yuen Erh or other came to see you; but as I thought you， sir， had no leisure， I speedily bade Pei Ming tell him to come early to-day. But you unexpectedly went over again to the mansion of the Prince of Pei Ching.