红楼梦Chapter22_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter22

　　This one devised by Mr. Tertius， the eunuch was further heard to say， is not properly done; and as Her Majesty herself has been unable to guess it she commanded me to bring it back， and ask Mr. Tertius what it is about.

　　After the party had listened to these words， they all pressed forward to see what had been written. The burden of it was this：

　　the elder brother has horns only eight; The second brother has horns only two; The elder brother on the bed doth sit; Inside the room the second likes to squat.

　　After perusal of these lines， they broke out， with one voice， into a loud fit of laughter; and Chia Huan had to explain to the eunuch that the one was a pillow， and the other the head of an animal. Having committed the explanation to memory and accepted a cup of tea， the eunuch took his departure; and old lady Chia， noticing in what buoyant spirits Yuean Chun was， felt herself so much the more elated， that issuing forthwith directions to devise， with every despatch， a small but ingenious lantern of fine texture in the shape of a screen， and put it in the Hall， she bade each of her grandchildren secretly compose a conundrum， copy it out clean， and affix it on the frame of the lantern; and she had subsequently scented tea and fine fruits， as well as every kind of nicknacks， got ready， as prizes for those who guessed right.

　　And when Chia Cheng came from court and found the old lady in such high glee he also came over in the evening， as the season was furthermore holiday time， to avail himself of her good cheer to reap some enjoyment. In the upper part of the room seated themselves， at one table dowager lady Chia， Chia Cheng， and Pao-yue; madame Wang， Pao-chai， Tai-yue， Hsiang-yuen sat round another table， and Ying-chun， Tan-chun and Hsi Chun the three of them， occupied a separate table， and both these tables were laid in the lower part， while below， all over the floor， stood matrons and waiting-maids for Li Kung-tsai and Hsi-feng were both seated in the inner section of the Hall， at another table.