°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡65¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡66¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
doubts¡¡about¡¡my¡¡own¡¡sex¡¡next¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡Tu£»¡¡dear£»¡¡now¡¡you¡¡know¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jasmine£»¡¡laughing¡£¡¡But¡¡not¡¡all¡¡
the¡¡good¡¡news¡¡which¡¡was¡¡in¡¡store¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡scarcely¡¡had¡¡Jasmine¡¡done¡¡
speaking¡¡when¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡arrived¡¡from¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Board¡¡of¡¡War£»¡¡who¡¡
wrote¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡succeeded¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡getting¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡military¡¡¡¡¡¡intendant¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
Mienchu¡¡¡¡¡¡transferred¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡post¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡province¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Kwangsi£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
departure¡¡of¡¡this¡¡noxious¡¡official¡¡would¡¡mean¡¡the¡¡release¡¡of¡¡the¡¡colonel£»¡¡as¡¡
he¡¡alone¡¡was¡¡the¡¡colonel's¡¡accuser¡£¡¡This¡¡news¡¡added¡¡one¡¡more¡¡chord¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡
which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡making¡¡harmony¡¡in¡¡Jasmine's¡¡heart¡¡for¡¡some¡¡hours£»¡¡and¡¡
readily¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡agreed¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡¡¡homeward¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
following¡¡morning¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡no¡¡such¡¡adventure¡¡as¡¡that¡¡which¡¡had¡¡attended¡¡Jasmine's¡¡journey¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡capital£»¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡Mienchu£»¡¡and£»¡¡to¡¡their¡¡delight£»¡¡were¡¡received¡¡
by¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡yamun¡£¡¡After¡¡congratulating¡¡him¡¡on¡¡his¡¡release£»¡¡
which¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡care¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡understand¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡due¡¡¡¡¡¡entirely¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu's¡¡
exertions£»¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡full¡¡account¡¡of¡¡her¡¡various¡¡experiences¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
road¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡capital¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡like¡¡a¡¡story¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡book¡¡of¡¡marvels£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡her¡¡father£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡even¡¡
now¡¡you¡¡have¡¡not¡¡exhausted¡¡all¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡explanations¡£¡¡For£»¡¡since¡¡my¡¡
release£»¡¡your¡¡friend¡¡Wei¡¡has¡¡been¡¡here¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡for¡¡my¡¡daughter¡¡in¡¡marriage¡£¡¡
From¡¡some¡¡questions¡¡I¡¡put¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡evidently¡¡unaware¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡my¡¡
only¡¡daughter£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡therefore¡¡put¡¡him¡¡off¡¡and¡¡told¡¡him¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡until¡¡you¡¡
returned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡impatient¡¡¡¡¡¡state£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡doubt£»¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡
shortly¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡colonel¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wrong£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡immediately¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Wei¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
announced£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who£»¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡expressing¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡genuine¡¡¡¡¡¡pleasure¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡seeing¡¡
Jasmine¡¡again£»¡¡began¡¡at¡¡once¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡which¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡glad£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡opportunity¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡asking¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
explain¡¡¡¡¡¡matters¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡present¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡completely¡¡¡¡¡¡nonplussed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡return¡¡
from¡¡Peking¡¡I¡¡inquired¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡your¡¡father's¡¡servants¡¡about¡¡his¡¡daughter¡£¡¡
'He¡¡has¡¡not¡¡got¡¡one£»'¡¡quoth¡¡the¡¡man¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡another£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'You¡¡
mean¡¡the¡¡¡¨young¡¡noble£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡suppose¡£'¡¡'No£»¡¡I¡¡don't£»'¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡'I¡¡mean¡¡his¡¡sister¡£'¡¡
'Well£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡daughter¡¡I¡¡know¡¡of£»'¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡your¡¡
father£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡I¡¡could¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him¡¡was£»¡¡'Wait¡¡until¡¡the¡¡¡¨young¡¡noble¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡66¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡67¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
comes¡¡home¡£'¡¡Please¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡all¡¡this¡¡means¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Your¡¡great¡¡desire¡¡is¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡and¡¡accomplished¡¡girl£»¡¡is¡¡it¡¡
not£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jasmine¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡certainly¡¡is¡¡my¡¡wish£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Wei¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jasmine£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡assure¡¡you¡¡that¡¡your¡¡betrothal¡¡present¡¡
is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡whom¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡is¡¡to¡¡love¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Wei£»¡¡¡¨But¡¡my¡¡wish¡¡is¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡your¡¡sister¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Will¡¡you¡¡go¡¡and¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡Tu¡¡about¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jasmine£»¡¡who¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡the¡¡
subject¡¡was¡¡becoming¡¡too¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡whose¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡Tu's¡¡
wisdom¡¡was¡¡unbounded£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡he¡¡will¡¡explain¡¡it¡¡all¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu£»¡¡¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡somewhat¡¡¡¡¡¡difficult¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡explain¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine's¡¡
sphinx¡like¡¡mysteries£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡certain¡¡points¡¡Wei¡¡showed¡¡a¡¡disposition¡¡to¡¡
be¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡satisfied¡£¡¡Jasmine's¡¡engagement¡¡to¡¡Tu¡¡implied¡¡his¡¡rejection£»¡¡
and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡disposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡splenetic¡¡and¡¡disagreeable¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡His¡¡pride¡¡
was¡¡touched£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡his¡¡irritation¡¡he¡¡was¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡impute¡¡treachery¡¡to¡¡
his¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡deceit¡¡to¡¡Jasmine¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡first¡¡charge¡¡Tu¡¡had¡¡a¡¡ready¡¡answer£»¡¡
but¡¡the¡¡second¡¡was¡¡all¡¡the¡¡more¡¡annoying¡¡because¡¡there¡¡was¡¡some¡¡truth¡¡in¡¡
it¡£¡¡However£»¡¡Tu¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡humour¡¡to¡¡quarrel£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡
seek¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡ensue¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡overlooked¡¡Wei's¡¡innuendos¡¡and¡¡made¡¡out¡¡the¡¡
best¡¡case¡¡he¡¡could¡¡for¡¡his¡¡bride¡£¡¡On¡¡Miss¡¡King's¡¡beauty£»¡¡virtues£»¡¡and¡¡ability¡¡
he¡¡¡¡¡¡enlarged¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡wealth¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡diction¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡power¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡imagination¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡
astonished¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡Jasmine¡¡also£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡afterward¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡
conversation¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡artless¡¡¡¡¡¡maiden£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨how¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡
know¡¡all¡¡this¡¡about¡¡Miss¡¡King£¿¡¡You¡¡have¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡
never¡¡told¡¡you¡¡half¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡¡¡¡¡ask¡¡¡¡¡¡questions£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡enraptured¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Let¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡
you¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡Wei¡¡is¡¡as¡¡eager¡¡for¡¡the¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡Miss¡¡King¡¡as¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡sister£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡promised¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡best¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡
wedding¡¡to¡morrow¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡Wei¡¡was¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡his¡¡word¡£¡¡With¡¡every¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡ceremony¡¡and¡¡
ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡usage£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡marriage¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡celebrated¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡
presence¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡relatives¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡friends£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who£»¡¡¡¡¡¡attracted¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡novelty¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
antecedent¡¡¡¡¡¡circumstances£»¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡parts¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡witness¡¡
the¡¡nuptials¡£¡¡By¡¡Tu's¡¡especial¡¡instructions¡¡also¡¡a¡¡prominence¡¡was¡¡allowed¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡67¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡68¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
to¡¡Wei£»¡¡which¡¡gratified¡¡his¡¡vanity¡¡and¡¡smoothed¡¡down¡¡the¡¡ruffled¡¡feathers¡¡
of¡¡his¡¡conceit¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡no¡¡time¡¡should¡¡be¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡reducing¡¡Miss¡¡King¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡same¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡acquiescence¡¡to¡¡which¡¡Wei¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
evening¡¡of¡¡her¡¡wedding¡day¡¡she¡¡broached¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡Tu¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡feel£»¡¡Tu£»¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡gained¡¡absolution¡¡for¡¡
my¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡deceptions¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡forward¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡King¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡talked¡¡
over¡¡into¡¡marrying¡¡Wei£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡insist£»¡¡therefore£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡added£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡amount¡¡
of¡¡hesitancy¡¡which¡¡reduced¡¡the¡¡demand¡¡to¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡a¡¡plaintive¡¡appeal£»¡¡
¡¨that¡¡we¡¡start¡¡to¡morrow¡¡for¡¡Ch'engtu¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡young¡¡woman¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ho£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ho£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡replied¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu£»¡¡¡¡intensely¡¡¡¡¡¡amused¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡attempted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bravado¡£¡¡
¡¨These¡¡are¡¡brave¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡humbly¡¡register¡¡your¡¡
decrees¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨O¡¡Tu£»¡¡you¡¡know¡¡what¡¡I¡¡mean¡£¡¡You¡¡know¡¡that£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡child¡¡who¡¡takes¡¡a¡¡
delight¡¡in¡¡conquering¡¡toy¡¡armies£»¡¡I¡¡love¡¡to¡¡fancy¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡command¡¡so¡¡
strong¡¡a¡¡man¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are¡£¡¡But£»¡¡Tu£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡absolutely¡¡I¡¡rely¡¡on¡¡
your¡¡judgment£»¡¡you¡¡would¡¡humour¡¡my¡¡folly¡¡and¡¡say¡¡yes¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡subtle¡¡incense¡¡of¡¡love¡¡and¡¡flattery¡¡about¡¡this¡¡appeal¡¡which£»¡¡
backed¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡by¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡tenderness¡¡and¡¡beauty£»¡¡made¡¡it¡¡irresistible£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡arrangements¡¡for¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡were¡¡made¡¡in¡¡strict¡¡accordance¡¡with¡¡
Jasmine's¡¡wishes¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡arriving¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡inn¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡full¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡chastening¡¡¡¡¡¡memories¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
Jasmine£»¡¡Tu¡¡sent¡¡his¡¡card¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡King£»¡¡who£»¡¡flattered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡paid¡¡
him¡¡by¡¡so¡¡eminent¡¡a¡¡scholar£»¡¡cordially¡¡invited¡¡Tu¡¡to¡¡his¡¡house¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡¡¡¡¡what£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu£»¡¡¡¡¡¡responding¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡invitation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡entered¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
reception¡hall£»¡¡¡¨am¡¡I¡¡to¡¡attribute¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡receiving¡¡your¡¡illustrious¡¡
steps¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mean¡¡apartments£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡heard£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨that¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡beautiful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡King¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡your¡¡
Excellency's¡¡¡¡¡¡cousin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡friend¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡desirous¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡gaining¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
hand£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡come¡¡to¡¡plead¡¡on¡¡his¡¡behalf¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡regret¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡King£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡¡has¡¡come¡¡too¡¡late£»¡¡
as¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡¡¡received¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡engagement¡¡¡¡¡¡token¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Wen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡
passed¡¡here¡¡lately¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Peking¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Wen¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡friend¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡mine¡¡¡¡¡¡also£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Tu£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨and¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡because¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡68¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡69¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡troth¡¡was¡¡already¡¡plighted¡¡that¡¡I¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡come¡¡on¡¡behalf¡¡
of¡¡him¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡have¡¡spoken¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Wen£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡King£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡¡and¡¡a¡¡scholar£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡given¡¡
a¡¡betrothal¡¡present£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡certain¡¡to¡¡communicate¡¡with¡¡us¡¡direct¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡
any¡¡difficulty¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Will¡¡you£»¡¡old¡¡gentleman£»¡¨¡¡£§a¡¡term¡¡of¡¡respect£§¡¡said¡¡Tu£»¡¡producing¡¡the¡¡
lines¡¡which¡¡Miss¡¡King¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡Jasmine£»¡¡¡¨just¡¡cast¡¡your¡¡eyes¡¡over¡¡these¡¡
verses£»¡¡¡¡¡¡written¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Wen¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡cousin£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Feeling¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡regretfully¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡fulfil¡¡his¡¡engagement£»¡¡Wen¡¡gave¡¡these¡¡to¡¡me¡¡as¡¡a¡¡testimony¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡what¡¡I¡¡now¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡King¡¡took¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡handed¡¡him¡¡by¡¡Tu£»¡¡and¡¡recognised¡¡at¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡his¡¡
cousin's¡¡handwriting¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Alas£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Mr¡¡Wen¡¡told¡¡us¡¡he¡¡was¡¡engaged£»¡¡but£»¡¡not¡¡believing¡¡
him£»¡¡I¡¡urged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡my¡¡cousin¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡will¡¡excuse¡¡me£»¡¡
sir£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡consult¡¡with¡¡the¡¡lady¡¡as¡¡to¡¡what¡¡should¡¡be¡¡done¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡a¡¡short¡¡absence¡¡he¡¡returned¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡cousin¡¡is¡¡of¡¡the¡¡opinion£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡s