按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
trinkets； when Jasmine burst into the young men's study； looking deadly
pale and bearing traces of acute mental distress on her usually bright and
joyous countenance。
〃What is the matter？〃 cried Tu； with almost as much agitation as was
shown by Jasmine。 〃Tell me what has happened。〃
〃Oh； my father； my poor father！〃 sobbed Jasmine。
〃What is the matter with your father？ He is not dead； is he？〃 cried the
young men in one breath。
〃No； it is not so bad as that；〃 said Jasmine； 〃but a great and bitter
misfortune has come upon us。 As you know； some time ago my father had
a quarrel with the military intendant； and that horrid man has； out of spite；
brought charges against him for which he was carried off this morning to
prison。〃
The statement of her misery and the shame involved in it completely
unnerved poor Jasmine； who； true to her inner sex； burst into tears and
rocked herself to and fro in her grief。 Tu and Wei； on their knees before
her； tried to pour in words of consolation。 With a lack of reason which
might be excused under the circumstances； they vowed that her father was
innocent before they knew the nature of the charges against him； and they
pledged themselves to rest neither day nor night until they had rescued
him from his difficulty。 When； under the influence of their genuine
sympathy； Jasmine recovered some composure； Tu begged her to tell him
of what her father was accused。
〃The villain；〃 said Jasmine； through her tears； 〃has dared to say that
my father has made use of government taxes； has taken bribes for
recommending men for promotion； has appropriated the soldiers' ration…
money； and has been in league with highwaymen。〃
〃Is it possible？〃 said Tu； who was rather staggered by this long
catalogue of crimes。 〃I should not have believed that any one could have
ventured to have charged your honoured father with such things； least of
all the intendant； who is notoriously possessed of an itching palm。 But I
49
… Page 50…
STORIES
tell you what we can do at once。 Wei and I； being M。A。's； have a right to
call on the prefect； and it will be a real pleasure to us to exercise our new
privilege for the first time in your service。 We will urge him to inquire into
the matter； and I cannot doubt that he will at once quash the proceedings。〃
Unhappily； Tu's hopes were not realised。 The prefect was very civil；
but pointed out that； since a higher court had ordered the arrest of the
colonel； he was powerless to interfere in the matter。 Many were the
consultations held by the three friends； and much personal relief Jasmine
got from the support and sympathy of the young men。 One hope yet
remained to her： Tu and Wei were about to go to Peking for their doctor's
degrees； and if they passed they might be able to bring such influence to
bear as would secure the release of her father。
〃Let not the 'young noble' distress himself overmuch；〃 said Wei to her；
with some importance。 〃This affair will be engraven on our hearts and
minds； and if we take our degrees we will use our utmost exertions to wipe
away the injustice which has been done your father。〃
〃Unhappily；〃 said the more practical Tu； 〃it is too plain that the
examining magistrates are all in league to ruin him。 But let our elder
brother remain quietly at home； doing all he can to collect evidence in the
colonel's favour； while we will do our best at the capital。 If things turn out
well with us there； our elder brother had better follow at once to assist us
with his advice。〃
Before the friends parted； Wei； whose own affairs were always his first
consideration； took an opportunity of whispering to Jasmine； 〃Don't forget
your honoured sister's promise； I beseech you。 Whether we succeed or not；
I shall ask for her in marriage on my return。〃
〃Under present circumstances； we must no longer consider the
engagement；〃 said Jasmine； shocked at his introducing the subject at such
a moment；〃 and the best thing that you can do is to forget all about it。〃
The moment for the departure of the young men had come； and they
had no time to say more。 With bitter tears； the two youths took leave of the
weeping Jasmine； who； as their carts disappeared in the distance； felt for
the first time what it was to be alone in misery。 She saw little of her
stepmother in those days。 That poor lady made herself so ill with
50
… Page 51…
STORIES
unrestrained grief that she was quite incapable of rendering either help or
advice。 Fortunately the officials showed no disposition to proceed with the
indictment； and by the judicious use of the money at her command
Jasmine induced the prison authorities to make her father's confinement as
little irksome as possible。 She was allowed to see him at almost any time；
and on one occasion； when he was enjoying her presence as in his
prosperous days he had never expected to do； he remarked：
〃Since the officials are not proceeding with the business； I think my
best plan will be to send a petition to Peking asking the Board of War to
acquit me。 But my difficulty is that I have no one whom I can send to look
after the business。〃
〃Let /me/ go；〃 said Jasmine。 〃When Tu and Wei were leaving； they
begged me to follow them to consult as to the best means of helping you；
and with them to depend on I have nothing to fear。〃
〃I quite believe that you are as capable of managing the matter as
anybody；〃 said her father； admiringly； 〃but Peking is a long way off； and I
cannot bear to think of the things which might happen to you on the road。〃
〃From all time；〃 answered Jasmine； 〃it has been considered the duty of
a daughter to risk anything in the service of her father； and though the way
is long； I shall have weapons to defend myself with against injury； and a
clear conscience with which to answer any interrogatories which may be
put to me。 Besides； I will take our messenger； 'The Dragon；' and his wife
with me。 I will make her dress as a manwhat fun it will be to see Mrs。
Dragon's portly form in trousers； and gabardine！ When that transformation
is made； we shall be a party of three men。 So； you see； she and I will have
a man to protect us； and I shall have a woman to wait upon me； and if such
a gallant company cannot travel from this to Peking in safety； I'll forswear
boots and trousers and will retire into the harem for ever。〃
〃Well；〃 said her father； laughing； 〃if you can arrange in that way； go by
all means； and the sooner you start the sooner I hope you will be back。〃
Delighted at having gained the approval of her father to her scheme；
Jasmine quickly made the arrangements for her journey。 On the morning
of the day on which she was to start； the results of the doctors'
examination at Peking reached Mienchu； and； to Jasmine's infinite delight；
51
… Page 52…
STORIES
she found the names of Tu and Wei among the successful candidates。
Armed with this good news； she hurried to the prison。 All difficulties
seemed to disappear like mist before the sun as she thought of the
powerful advocates she now had at Peking。
〃Tu and Wei have passed；〃 she said； as she rushed into her father's
presence； 〃and now the end of our troubles is approaching。〃
With impatient hope Jasmine took leave of her father； and started on
her eventful journey。 As evening drew on she entered the suburbs of
Ch'engtu； the provincial capital； and sent 〃The Dragon〃 on to find a
suitable inn for the couple of nights which she knew she would be
compelled to spend in the city。 〃The Dragon〃 was successful in his search；
and conducted Jasmine and his wife to a comfortable hostelry in one of the
busiest parts of the town。 Having refreshed herself with an excellent
dinner； Jasmine was glad to rest from the fatigues and heat of the da