红楼梦Chapter18_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter18

At the very moment that Chia Se felt unable， along with a company of actresses， to bear the ordeal of waiting on the ground floor of the two-storied building， he caught sight of a eunuch come running at a flying pace. The composition of verses is over， he said， so quick give me the programme; whereupon Chia Se hastened to present the programme as well as a roll of the names of the twelve girls. And not a long interval elapsed before four plays were chosen; No. 1 being the Imperial Banquet; No. 2 Begging (the weaver goddess) for skill in needlework; No. 3 The spiritual match; and No. 4 the Parting spirit. Chia Se speedily lent a hand in the getting up， and the preparations for the performance， and each of the girls sang with a voice sufficient to split the stones and danced in the manner of heavenly spirits; and though their exterior was that of the characters in which they were dressed up for the play， their acting nevertheless represented， in a perfect manner， both sorrow as well as joy. As soon as the performance was brought to a close， a eunuch walked in holding a golden salver containing cakes， sweets， and the like， and inquired who was Ling Kuan; and Chia Se readily concluding that these articles were presents bestowed upon Ling Kuan， made haste to take them over， as he bade Ling Kuan prostrate herself.

the honourable consort， the eunuch further added， directs that Ling Kuan， who is the best actress of the lot， should sing two more songs; any two will do， she does not mind what they are.