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violating the imposed command。
〃Not only are they never openly referred to；〃 continued the maiden；
who in spite of the declared no allurement of the subject did not seem
disposed to abandon it at once； 〃but among the most select they are；
by unspoken agreement； regarded as 'having no actual existence；' as
you yourself would say。〃
〃Yet；〃 protested this person； somewhat puzzled； 〃to one who has
witnessed the highly…achieved attitudes of those within your Halls of
Harmony； and in an unyielding search for knowledge has addressed
himself even to the advertisement pages of the ladies' papers〃
The maiden waved her hand magnanimously。 〃In your land； as you have
told me； there are many things； not really existing； which for
politeness you assume to be。 In a like but converse manner this is to
be so regarded。〃
I thanked her voluminously。 〃The etiquette of this country is as
involved as the spoken tongue；〃 I said； 〃for both are composed chiefly
of exceptions to a given rule。 It was formerly impressed upon this
person； as a guiding principle； that that which is unseen is not to be
discussed； yet it is not held in disrepute to allude to so intimate
and secluded an organ as the heart； for no further removed than
yesterday he heard the deservedly popular sea…lieutenant in the act of
declaring to you； upon his knees； that you were utterly devoid of such
a possession。〃
At this inoffensively…conveyed suggestion； the fire opposite had all
the appearance of suddenly reflecting itself into the maiden's face
with a most engaging concentration； while at the same time she stamped
her foot in ill…concealed rage。
〃You've been listening at the door！〃 she cried impetuously； 〃and I
shall never forgive you。〃
〃To no extent；〃 I declared hastily （for although I had indeed been
listening at the door； it appeared； after the weight which she set
upon the incident； more honourable that I should deny it in order to
conciliate her mind）。 〃It so chanced that for the moment this person
had forgotten whether the handle he was grasping was of the push…out
or turn…in variety； and in the involvement a few words of no
particular or enduring significance settled lightly upon his
perception。
〃In that case；〃 she replied in high…souled liberality； while her eyes
scintillated towards me with a really all…overpowering radiance； 〃I
will forgive you。〃
〃We have an old but very appropriate saying； 'To every man the voice
of one maiden carries further than the rolling of thunder；'〃 I
remarked in a significantly restrained tone； for； although conscious
that the circumstance was becoming more menace…laden than I had any
previous intention； I found myself to be incapable of extrication。
〃Florence〃
〃Oh；〃 she exclaimed quickly； raising her polished hand with an
undeniable gesture of reproof； 〃you must not call me by my christian
name； Mr。 Ho。〃
〃Yet；〃 replied this person； with a confessedly stubborn inelegance；
〃you call me by the name of Ho。〃
Her eyes became ox…like in an utter absence of almond outline。 〃Yes；〃
she said gazing； 〃but thatthat is not your christian name； is it？〃
〃In a position of speakingthis one being as a matter of fact a
discreditable follower of the sublime Confuciusit may be so
regarded；〃 I answered； 〃inasmuch as it is the milk…name of childhood。〃
〃But you always put it last；〃 she urged。
〃Assuredly；〃 I replied。 〃Being irrevocably born with the family name
of Kong； it is thought more reasonable that that should stand first。
After that； others are attached as the various contingencies demand
it； as Ho upon participating in the month…age feast； the book…name of
Tsin at a later period； Paik upon taking a degree； and so forth。〃
〃I am very sorry； Mr。 Kong；〃 said the maiden； adding； with what at the
time certainly struck this person as shallow…witted prejudice。 〃Of
course it is really quite your own fault for being so tospy…turvily
arranged in every way。 But； to return to the subject； why should not
one speak of one's heart？〃
〃Because；〃 replied this person； colouring deeply； and scarcely able to
control his unbearable offence that so irreproachably…moulded a
creature should openly refer to the detail； 〃because it is a gross and
unrefined particular； much more internal and much less
pleasantly…outlined than those extremities whose spoken equivalent
shall henceforth be an abandoned word from my lips。〃
〃But； in any case； it is not the actual organ that one infers；〃
protested the maiden。 〃As the seat of the affections； passions；
virtues； and will； it is the conventional emblem of every thought and
emotion。〃
〃By no means；〃 I cried； forgetting in the face of so heterodox an
assertion that it would be well to walk warily at every point。 〃That
is the stomach。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the maiden； burying her face in a gracefully…perfumed
remnant of lace； to so overwhelming a degree that for the moment I
feared she might become involved in the dizzy falling。 〃Never； by any
mischance； use that word again the society of the presentable； Mr。
Kong。〃
〃The ceremonial usage of my own land of the Heavenly Dynasty is
proverbially elaborate；〃 I said； with a gesture of self…abasement；
〃but in comparison with yours it may be regarded as an undeviating
walk when opposed to a stately and many…figured dance。 Among the
company of the really excessively select （in which must ever be
included the one whom I am now addressing）； it becomes difficult for
an outcast of my illimitable obtuseness to move to one side or the
other without putting his foot into that。〃
〃Oh no；〃 exclaimed the maiden； in fragrant encouragement； 〃I think you
are getting on very nicely； Mr。 Kong； and one does not look for
absolute conformance from a foreignerespecially one who is so
extremely foreign。 If I can help you with anythingof course I could
not even speak as I have done to an ordinary stranger； but with one of
a distant race it seems differentif I can tell you anything that
will save you〃
〃You are all…exalted；〃 I replied； with seemly humility； 〃and virtue
and wisdom press out your temples on either side。 Certainly； since I
have learned that the heart is so poetically regarded； I have been
assailed by a fear lest other organs which I have hitherto despised
might be used in a similar way。 Now； as regards liver〃
〃It is only used with bacon；〃 replied the maiden； rising abruptly。
〃Kidneys？〃 suggested this person diffidently； really anxious to detain
her footsteps； although from her expression it did not rest assured
that the incident was taking an actually auspicious movement。
〃I don't think you need speak of those except at breakfast；〃 she said；
〃but I hear the others returning； and I must really go to dress for
dinner。〃
Among the barbarians many keep books wherein to inscribe their deep
and beautiful thoughts。 This person had therefore provided himself
with one also； and； drawing it forth； he now added to a page of many
other interesting compositions： 〃Maidens of immaculate refinement do
not hesitate to admit before a person of a different sex that they are
on the point of changing their robes。 The liver is in some intricate
way an emblem representing bacon； or together with it the two stand
for a widely differing analogy。 Among those of the highest
exclusiveness kidneys are never alluded to after the tenth gong…stroke
of the morning。〃
With a sincerely ingrained trust that the scenes of dignity； opulence；
and wisdom； set forth in these superficial letters； are not unsettling
your intellect and causing you to yearn for a fuller existence。
KONG HO。
LETTER VI
Concerning this person's well…sustained efforts to discover
further demons。 The behaviour of those invoked on two occasions。
VENERATED SIRE；In an early letter I made some reference to a variety
of demon invoked by certain of the barbarians。 As this matter aroused
your congenial interest； I have since privately bent my mind
incessantly to the discovery of others； but this has been by no means
easy； for； touching the more intimate details of the subject； the
barbarians frequently maintain a narrow…minded suspicion。 Many whom I
have approached feign to become amused