红楼梦Chapter23_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter23

But remembering likewise that Pao-yue had from his infancy grown up among that crowd of female cousins， and was such a contrast to the rest of his male cousins that were he not allowed to move into it， he would， she also apprehended， be made to feel forlorn; and dreading lest his grandmother and his mother should be displeased at heart， she thought it imperative that he too should be permitted to take up his quarters inside， so that things should be put on a satisfactory footing; and directing the eunuch Hsia Chung to go to the Jung mansion and deliver her commands， she expressed the wish that Pao-chai and the other girls should live in the garden and that it should not be kept closed， and urged that Pao-yue should also shift into it， at his own pleasure， for the prosecution of his studies. And Chia Cheng and madame Wang， upon receiving her commands， hastened， after the departure of Hsia Chung， to explain them to dowager lady Chia， and to despatch servants into the garden to tidy every place， to dust， to sweep， and to lay out the portieres and bed-curtains. The tidings were heard by the rest even with perfect equanimity， but Pao-yue was immoderately delighted; and he was engaged in deliberation with dowager lady Chia as to this necessary and to that requirement， when suddenly they descried a waiting-maid arrive， who announced： Master wishes to see Pao-yue.

Pao-yue gazed vacantly for a while. His spirits simultaneously were swept away; his countenance changed colour; and clinging to old lady Chia， he readily wriggled her about， just as one would twist the sugar (to make sweetmeats with)， and could not， for the very death of him， summon up courage to go; so that her ladyship had no alternative but to try and reassure him. My precious darling she urged， just you go， and Ill stand by you! He wont venture to be hard upon you; and besides， youve devised these excellent literary compositions; and I presume as Her Majesty has desired that you should move into the garden， his object is to give you a few words of advice; simply because he fears that you might be up to pranks in those grounds. But to all he tells you， whatever you do， mind you acquiesce and it will be all right!