红楼梦Chapter22_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter22

　　Chia Chen failed to see Chia Lan， and he therefore inquired： How is it I dont see brother Lan， whereupon the female servants， standing below， hastily entered the inner room and made inquiries of widow Li. He says， Mrs. Li stood up and rejoined with a smile， that as your master didnt go just then to ask him round， he has no wish to come! and when a matron delivered the reply to Chia Cheng; the whole company exclaimed much amused： How obstinate and perverse his natural disposition is! But Chia Cheng lost no time in sending Chia Huan， together with two matrons， to fetch Chia Lan; and， on his arrival， dowager lady Chia bade him sit by her side， and， taking a handful of fruits， she gave them to him to eat; after which the party chatted， laughed， and enjoyed themselves.

　　Ordinarily， there was no one but Pao-yue to say much or talk at any length， but on this day， with Chia Cheng present， his remarks were limited to assents. And as to the rest， Hsiang-yuen had， though a young girl， and of delicate physique， nevertheless ever been very fond of talking and discussing; but， on this instance， Chia Cheng was at the feast， so that she also held her tongue and restrained her words. As for Tai-yue she was naturally peevish and listless， and not very much inclined to indulge in conversation; while Pao-chai， who had never been reckless in her words or frivolous in her deportment， likewise behaved on the present occasion in her usual dignified manner. Hence it was that this banquet， although a family party， given for the sake of relaxation， assumed contrariwise an appearance of restraint， and as old lady Chia was herself too well aware that it was to be ascribed to the presence of Chia Cheng alone， she therefore， after the wine had gone round three times， forthwith hurried off Chia Cheng to retire to rest.