红楼梦Chapter9_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter9

there were， it is true， a large number of pupils in this school， but these consisted of the sons and younger brothers of that same clan， and of several sons and nephews of family connections. The proverb appositely describes that there are nine species of dragons， and that each species differs; and it goes of course without saying that in a large number of human beings there were dragons and snakes， confusedly admixed， and that creatures of a low standing were included.

Ever since the arrival of the two young fellows， Chin Chung and Pao-yue， both of whom were in appearance as handsome as budding flowers， and they， on the one hand， saw how modest and genial Chin Chung was， how he blushed before he uttered a word， how he was timid and demure like a girl， and on the other hand， how that Pao-yue was naturally proficient in abasing and demeaning himself， how he was so affable and good-natured， considerate in his temperament and so full of conversation， and how that these two were， in consequence， on such terms of intimate friendship， it was， in fact， no matter of surprise that the whole company of fellow-students began to foster envious thoughts， that they， behind their backs， passed on their account， this one one disparaging remark and that one another， and that they insinuated slanderous lies against them， which extended inside as well as outside the school-room.

Indeed， after Hsueeh Pan had come over to take up his quarters in madame Wangs suite of apartments， he shortly came to hear of the existence of a family school， and that this school was mainly attended by young fellows of tender years， and inordinate ideas were suddenly aroused in him. While he therefore fictitiously gave out that he went to school， [he was as irregular in his attendance as the fisherman] who catches fish for three days， and suns his nets for the next two; simply presenting his school-fee gift to Chia Tai-jui and making not the least proGREss in his studies; his sole dream being to knit a number of familiar friendships. Who would have thought it， there were in this school young pupils， who， in their greed to obtain money， clothes and eatables from Hsueeh Pan， allowed themselves to be cajoled by him， and played tricks upon; but on this topic， it is likewise superfluous to dilate at any length.