待要回去，里面已知，又见王夫人接了出来，少不得进来，先与贾母请安，贾母一声儿也不言语，自己也觉得愧悔。
but it was too late to retreat now that her arrival had been announced and Lady Wang had come out to meet her.She had no choice but to go in and pay her respects.
The old lady received her without a word, to her great mortification.
凤姐早指一事回避了；鸳鸯也自回房去生气；薛姨妈、王夫人等恐碍着邢夫人的脸面，也都渐渐的退了。
1Fearing that their presence might add to Lady Xing's embarrassment, Aunt Xue, Lady Wang and the rest also, one after another, withdrew.
贾母见无人，方说道:"我听见你替你老爷说媒来了。
Once they were alone the Lady Dowager sneered, “I hear you've been doing some matchmaking for you husband.
凡百事情，我如今都自己减了。
So I don't make too many demands on them,
他们两个就有一些不到的去处，有鸳鸯，那孩子还心细些，我的事情他还想着一点子，该要去的，他就要了来；该添什么的，他就度空儿告诉他们添了。
and when the two of them overlook certain things, that child Yuanyang is thoughtful enough to attend to my wants.She sees I get what I need, and tells them in time what wants replenishing.
鸳鸯再不这样，他娘儿两个，里头外头，大的小的，那里不忽略一点半点，我如今反倒自己操心去不成?
Think of all the hundreds and thousands of things there are to be done in this household.
If I hadn't got Faithful, how could the other two avoid overlooking something once in a while?”
我这屋里有的没有的剩了他一个，年纪也大些，我凡做事的脾气性格儿，他还知道些。
Should I have to start calculating what I needed every day and go running off to the other two to ask them for it?” Of all the girls I've ever had, Faithful is the only one left me now who is a bit older and more responsible than the rest―who understands my little ways and knows how I like things done.
二则他还投主子们的缘法，他也并不指着我和这位太太要衣裳去，又和那位奶奶要银子去？
There's a genuine bond between us―for example, she would never take advantage of our relationship, as some girls would, to ask other people for clothes or money for herself.
所以这几年一应事情，他说什么，从你小婶和你媳 妇起，以至家中大大小小，没有不信的。
So during the last few years the whole household old and young, starting with your sister-in-law and daughter-in-law, all trust her.
所以不单我得靠， 连你小婶和你媳妇也都省心。
It means that quite apart from the fact that I have someone I can rely on, Feng and -your sister-in-law are saved a great deal of worry;
我正要打发人和你老爷说去，他要什么人，我这里有钱，叫他只管一万八千的买去，我只要这个丫头。
“I was just on the point of sending to tell your husband: I've money here for him if he wants to buy someone, and I don't care if it costs eight or even ten thousand taels; but he can't have this girl.
但能留下他伏侍我几年，就比他日夜伏侍我尽了孝的一样。
Tell him that if he wants to be a dutiful son, he'll be doing more for me by leaving me my Faithful, to serve me during the few years that yet remain, than if he were to come over and wait on me in person, morning, noon and night.
说毕，命人来:"请了姨太太和你姑娘来。
She called for her maids then and told them, “Ask Madam Xue and the young ladies to come back.
才高兴说个话儿，怎么又都散了！"
We were having fun together, why have they all left?”
丫头们忙答应着去了。
The maids, with answering cries, went off to look for the others.
那丫头道:"好亲亲的姨太太，姨祖宗!
‘Have a heart, Mrs Xue I' said the maid.
我们老太太生气呢，你老人家不去，没个开交了，只当疼我们罢。
“Our old lady's in a bad temper.If you won't go, we shall never manage to soothe her.Just do it for our sake.
只当疼我们罢，你老人家怕走，我背了你老人家去。”
If you're tired, madam, I'll carry you there on my back.”
说着，只得和这小丫头子走来。
She went with the maid nevertheless.
贾母忙让坐，又笑道:"咱们斗牌罢。
The Lady Dowager made her sit down and suggested, “What about a game of cards?”
姨太太的牌 也生，咱们一处坐着，别叫凤丫头混了我们去。”
Come and sit by me, Mrs Xue.
You haven't had much practice.
If the two of us sit together, there will be less chance of Feng confusing us.”
就是咱们娘儿四个斗呢，还是添一两个人呢？”
“Shall we have a foursome or rope in one or two others?”
王夫人笑道:"可不只四个人。”
“Yes, there are just four of us,” observed Lady Wang.
贾母道:"叫鸳鸯来，叫他在这下手里坐着。
‘Go and call Faithful, someone,' said Grandmother Jia. ‘She can sit below me.