noon
As Pao-yü therefore strolled , from place to place , his hands behind his back he heard not so much as the caw of a crow . Issuing out of his grandmother 's compound on the near side , he wended his steps westwards , and crossed the passage , on which lady Feng 's quarters gave . As soon as he reached the entrance of her court , he perceived the door ajar . But aware of lady Feng 's habit of taking , during the hot weather , a couple of hours ' siesta at noon , he did not feel it a convenient moment to intrude . Walking accordingly through the corner door , he stepped into Madame Wang 's apartment . Here he discovered several waiting-maids , dosing with their needlework clasped in their hands . Madame Wang was asleep on the cool couch in the inner rooms .