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follow her own pursuits and to give rein to her fancies without let or
hindrance。 From her earliest childhood one of her lonely amusements had
been to dress as a boy； and so unchecked had the habit become that she
gradually drifted into the character which she had chosen to assume。 She
even persuaded her father to let her go to the neighbouring boys' school。
Her mother had died before the colonel had been posted to Mienchu； and
among the people of that place； who had always seen her in boy's attire；
she was regarded as an adopted son of her father。 Hyacinth was only too
glad to get her out of the way as much as possible； and so encouraged the
idea of allowing her to learn to read and write in the company of their
neighbours' urchins。
Being bright and clever； she soon gained an intellectual lead among
the boys； and her uncommon beauty； coupled with the magnetism
belonging to her sex； secured for her a popularity which almost amounted
to adoration。 She was tall for her age； as are most young daughters of Han；
and her perfectly oval face； almond…shaped eyes； willow…leaf eyebrows；
small； well…shaped mouth； brilliantly white teeth； and raven…black hair；
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completed a face and figure which would have been noticeable anywhere。
By the boys she was worshipped； and no undertaking was too difficult or
too troublesome if it was to give pleasure to Tsunk'ing； or the 〃Young
Noble；〃 as she was called； for to have answered to the name of Jasmine
would have been to proclaim her sex at once。 Even the grim old master
smiled at her through his horn spectacles as she entered the school…house
of a morning； and any graceful turn in her poetry or scholarly diction in
her prose was sure to win for her his unsparing praise。 Many an evening
he invited the 〃young noble〃 to his house to read over chapters from
Confucius and the poems of Le Taipoh； and years afterward； when he died；
among his most cherished papers were found odes signed by Tsunk'ing； in
which there was a good deal about bending willows； light； flickering
bamboos； horned moons； wild geese； the sound of a flute on a rainy day；
and the pleasures of wine； in strict accord with the models set forth in the
〃Aids to Poetry…making〃 which are common in the land。
If it had not been for the indifference with which she was treated in her
home； the favour with which she was regarded abroad would have been
most prejudicial to Jasmine； but any conceit which might have been
engendered in the school…house was speedily counteracted when she got
within the portals of the colonel's domain。 Coming into the presence of her
father and his wife； with all the incense of kindness； affection； and； it must
be confessed； flattery； with which she was surrounded by her school…
fellows； fresh about her； was like stepping into a cold bath。 Wholesome
and invigorating the change may have been； but it was very unpleasant；
and Jasmine often longed to be alone to give vent to her feelings in tears。
One deep consolation she had； however： she was a devoted student；
and in the society of her books she forgot the callousness of her parents；
and； living in imagination in the bygone annals of the empire； she was able
to take part； as it were； in the great deeds which mark the past history of
the state； and to enjoy the converse and society of the sages and poets of
antiquity。 When the time came that she had gained all the knowledge
which the old schoolmaster could impart to her； she left the school； and
formed a reading…party with two youths of her own age。 These lads； by
name Wei and Tu； had been her school…fellows； and were delighted at
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obtaining her promise to join them in their studies。 So industriously were
these pursued that the three friends succeeded in taking their B。A。 degree
at the next examination； and； encouraged by this success； determined to
venture on a struggle for a still higher distinction。
Though at one in their affection for Jasmine； Tu and Wei were unlike
in everything else； which probably accounted for the friendship which
existed between them。 Wei was the more clever of the two。 He wrote
poetry with ease and fluency； and his essays were marked by correctness
of style and aptness of quotation。 But there was a want of strength in his
character。 He was exceedingly vain； and was always seeking to excite
admiration among his companions。 This unhappy failing made him very
susceptible of adverse criticism； and at the same time extremely jealous of
any one who might happen to excel him in any way。 Tu； on the other hand；
though not so intellectually favoured； had a rough kind of originality；
which always secured for his exercises a respectful attention； and made
him at all times an agreeable companion。 Having no exaggerated ideas of
his capabilities； he never strove to appear otherwise than he was； and
being quite independent of the opinions of others； he was always natural。
Thus he was one who was sought out by his friends； and was best
esteemed by those whose esteem was best worth having。 In outward
appearance the youths were as different as their characters were diverse。
Wei was decidedly good…looking； but of a kind of beauty which suggested
neither rest nor sincerity； while in Tu's features； though there was less
grace； the want was fully compensated for by the strength and honest
firmness of his countenance。
For both these young men Jasmine had a liking； but there was no
question as to which she preferred。 As she herself said； 〃Wei is pleasant
enough as a companion； but if I had to look to one of them for an act of
true friendshipor as a lover；〃 she mentally added〃I should turn at once
to Tu。〃 It was one of her amusements to compare the young men in her
mind； and one day when so occupied Tu suddenly looked up from his
book and said to her：
〃What a pity it is that the gods have made us both men！ If /I/ were a
woman； the object of my heart would be to be your wife； and if /you/ were
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a woman； there is nothing I should like better than to be your husband。〃
Jasmine blushed up to the roots of her hair at having her own thoughts
thus capped； as it were； but before she could answer； Wei broke in with：
〃What nonsense you talk！ And why； I should like to know； should you
be the only one the 'young noble' might choose； supposing he belonged to
the other sex？〃
〃You are both talking nonsense；〃 said Jasmine； who had had time to
recover her composure； 〃and remind me of my two old childless aunts；〃
she added； laughing； 〃who are always quarrelling about the names they
would have given their children if the goddess Kwanyin had granted them
any half a century ago。 As a matter of act； we are three friends reading for
our M。A。 degrees； neither more nor less。 And I will trouble you； my elder
brother；〃 she added； turning to Tu； 〃to explain to me what the poet means
by the expression 'tuneful Tung' in the line：
'The greedy flames devour the tuneful Tung。' 〃
A learned disquisition by Tu on the celebrated musician who
recognised the sonorous qualities of a piece of Tung timber burning in the
kitchen fire effectually diverted the conversation from the inconvenient
direction it had taken； and shortly afterward Jasmine took her leave。
Haunted by the thought of what had passed； she wandered on to the
veranda of her archery pavilion； and while gazing half unconsciously
heavenward her eyes were attracted by a hawk which flew past and
alighted on a tree beyond the boundary…wall； and in front of the study she
had lately left。 In a restless and thoughtless mood； she took up her bow
and arrow； and with unerring aim compassed the death of her victim。 No
sooner； however