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most important transactions of existence。
Shortly after his arrival in the Island； this person was initiated by
the widely…esteemed Quang…Tsun into the private life of one whose
occupation was that of a Law…giver； where he frequently drank tea on
terms of mutual cordiality。 Upon such an occasion he was one day
present； conversing with the lesser ones of the householdthe head
thereof being absent； setting forth the Law in the Templewhen one of
the maidens cried out with amiable vivacity； 〃Why； Mr。 Kong； you say
such consistently graceful things of the ladies you have met over
here； that we shall expect you to take back an English wife with you。
But perhaps you are already married in China？〃
〃The conclusion is undeviating in its accuracy；〃 replied this person；
unable to evade the allusion。 〃To Ning； Hia…Fa and T'ain Yen； as the
matter stands。〃
〃Ning Hia…Fa An T'ain Yen！〃 exclaimed the wife of the Law…giver
pleasantly。 〃What an important name。 Can you pardon our curiosity and
tell us what she is like？〃
〃Ning； Hia…Fa AND T'ain Yen；〃 repeated this person； not submitting to
be deprived of the consequence of two wives without due protest。
〃Three names； three wives。 Three very widely separated likes。〃
At this in no way boastfully uttered statement the agreeably outlined
surface of the faces around variated suddenly； the effect being one
which I have frequently observed in the midst of my politest
expressions of felicity。 For a moment； indeed； I could not disguise
from myself that the one who had made the inquiry stretched forth her
lotus…like hand towards the secret spring by which it is customary to
summon the attending slaves from the underneath parts； but restraining
herself with the manner of one who would desire to make less of a
thing that it otherwise might seem； she turned to me again。
〃How nice！〃 she murmured。 〃What a pity you did not bring them all with
you； Mr。 Kong。 They would have been a great acquisition。〃
〃Yet it must be well weighed；〃 I replied； not to be out…complimented
touching one another； 〃that here they would have met so many fine and
superior gentlemen that they might have become dissatisfied with my
less than average prepossessions。〃
〃I wonder if they did not think of that in your case； and refuse to
let you come；〃 said one of the maidens。
〃The various persons must not be regarded as being on their all
fours；〃 I replied； anxious that there should be no misunderstanding on
this point。 〃They； of course； reside within one inner chamber； but
there would be no duplicity in this one adding indefinitely to the
number。〃
〃Of course not； how silly of me！〃 exclaimed the maiden。 〃What splendid
musical evenings you can have。 But tell me； Mr。 Kong （ought it not to
be Messrs。 Kong； mamma？）； if a girl married you here would she be
legally married to you in China？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 replied this person positively。
〃But could you not； by your own laws； have the marriage set aside
whenever you wished？〃
〃Assuredly；〃 I admitted。 〃It is so appointed。〃
〃Then how could she be legally married？〃 she persisted； with really
unbecoming suspicion。
〃Legally married； legally unmarried；〃 replied this person； quite
distressed within himself at not being able to understand the
difficulty besetting her。 〃All perfectly legal and honourably
observed。〃
〃I think； Gwendoline〃 said the one of authority； and although the
matter was no further expressed； by an instinct which he was powerless
to avert； this person at once found himself rising with ceremonious
partings。
Not desiring that the obstacle should remain so inadequately swept
away； I have turned my presumptuous footsteps in the direction of the
Law…giver's house on several later occasions； but each time the word
of the slave guarding the door has been that they of the household；
down even to those of the most insignificant degree of kinship； have
withdrawn to a distant and secluded spot。
With renewed assurances that the enterprise is being gracefully
conducted； however ill…digested and misleading these immature
compositions may appear。
KONG HO。
LETTER IV
Concerning a desire to expatiate upon subjects of
philosophical importance and its no accomplishment。 Three
examples of the mental concavity sunk into by these
barbarians。 An involved episode which had the outward
appearance of being otherwise than what it was。
VENERATED SIRE （whose genial liberality on all necessary occasions is
well remembered by this person in his sacrifices； with the titles
〃Benevolent〃 and 〃Open…sleeved〃）；
I had it in my head at one time to tell you somewhat of the Classics
most reverenced in this country； of the philosophical opinions which
prevail； and to enlighten you generally upon certain other subjects of
distinguished eminence。 As the deities arranged； however； it chanced
that upon my way to a reputable quarter of the city where the
actuality of these matters can be learnt with the least evasion； my
footsteps were drawn aside by an incident which now permeates my
truth…laden brush to the exclusion of all else。
But in the first place； if it be permitted for a thoroughly
untrustworthy son to take so presumptuous a liberty with an
unvaryingly sagacious father； let this one entreat you to regard
everything he writes in a very wide…headed spirit of looking at the
matter from all round。 My former letters will have readily convinced
you that much that takes place here； even among those who can afford
long finger…nails； would not be tolerated in Yuen…ping； and in order
to avoid the suspicion that I am suffering from a serious injury to
the head； or have become a prey to a conflicting demon； it will be
necessary to continue an even more highly…sustained tolerant
alertness。 This person himself has frequently suffered the ill effects
of rashly assuming that because he is conducting the adventure in a
prepossessing spirit his efforts will be honourably received； as when
he courteously inquired the ages of a company of maidens into whose
presence he was led； and complimented the one whom he was desirous of
especially gratifying by assuring her that she had every appearance of
being at least twice the nine…and…twenty years to which she modestly
laid claim。
Upon another occasion I entered a barber's stall； and finding it
oppressively hot within； I commanded the attendant to carry a
reclining stool into the street and there shave my lower limbs and
anoint my head。 As he hesitated to obeydoubtless on account of the
trivial labour involvedI repeated my words in a tone of fuller
authority； holding out the inducement of a just payment when he
complied； and assuring him that he would certainly be dragged before
the nearest mandarin and tortured if he held his joints stiffly。 At
this he evidently understood his danger； for obsequiously protesting
that he was only a barber of very mean attainments； and that his
deformed utensils were quite inadequate for the case； he very
courteously directed me in inquire for a public chariot bound for a
quarter called Colney Hatch （the place of commerce； it is reasonable
to infer； of the higher class barbers）； and； seating myself in it；
instruct the attendant to put me down at the large gates； where they
possessed every requisite appliance； and also would； if desirable；
shave my head also。 Here the incident assumes a more doubtful guise；
for； notwithstanding the admitted politeness of the one who spoke；
each of those to whom I subsequently addressed myself on the subject；
presented to me a face quite devoid of encouragement。 While none
actually pointed out the vehicle I sought； many passed on in a state
of inward contemplation without replying； and somechiefly the
attendants of other chariots of a similar kindreplied in what I
deemed to be a spirit of elusive metaphor； as he who asserted that
such a conveyance must be sought for at a point known intimately as
the Aldgate Pump； whence it started daily at half…past the thirteenth
gong…stroke； and another； who maintained that I had no prospect of
reaching the desired spot until I secured the services of one of a
class of female attendants who wear flowing blue robes in order to
indicate that they are prepared t