红楼梦Chapter22_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter22

　　Pao-yue remained standing in such a vacant mood that Tai-yue imagined that he had gone back; but when she came to open the door she caught sight of Pao-yue still waiting in there; and as Tai-yue did not feel justified to again close the door， Pao-yue consequently followed her in.

　　Every thing has， he observed， a why and a wherefore; which， when spoken out， dont even give people pain; but you will rush into a rage， and all without any rhyme! but to what really does it owe its rise?

　　Its well enough， after all， for you to ask me， Tai-yue rejoined with an indifferent smile， but I myself dont know why! But am I here to afford you people amusement that you will compare me to an actress， and make the whole lot have a laugh at me?

　　I never did liken you to anything， Pao-yue protested， neither did I ever laugh at you! and why then will you get angry with me?

　　Was it necessary that you should have done so much as made the comparison， Tai-yue urged， and was there any need of even any laughter from you? why， though you maynt have likened me to anything， or had a laugh at my expense， you were， yea more dreadful than those who did compare me (to a singing girl) and ridiculed me!

　　Pao-yue could not find anything with which to refute the argument he had just heard， and Tai-yue went on to say. This offence can， anyhow， be condoned; but， what is more， why did you also wink at Yuen Erh? What was this idea which you had resolved in your mind? wasnt it perhaps that if she played with me， she would be demeaning herself， and making herself cheap? Shes the daughter of a duke or a marquis， and we forsooth the mean progeny of a poor plebeian family; so that， had she diverted herself with me， wouldnt she have exposed herself to being depreciated， had I， perchance， said anything in retaliation? This was your idea wasnt it? But though your purpose was， to be sure， honest enough， that girl wouldnt， however， receive any favours from you， but got angry with you just as much as I did; and though she made me also a tool to do you a good turn， she， on the contrary， asserts that Im mean by nature and take pleasure in irritating people in everything! and you again were afraid lest she should have hurt my feelings， but， had I had a row with her， what would that have been to you? and had she given me any offence， what concern would that too have been of yours?