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father is at present under a cloud； and I am now on my way to Peking to
try to release him from his difficulties。 It is no time； therefore； for me to be
binding myself with promises。〃
〃As to your Excellency's first objection；〃 replied King； 〃you are
already the wearer of a hat with a silken tassel； and a man need not be a
prophet to foretell that in time to come any office； either civil or military；
will be within your reach。 No doubt； also； your business in Peking will be
quickly brought to a satisfactory conclusion； and there can be no objection；
therefore； to our settling the preliminaries now； and then； on your return
from the capital； we can celebrate the wedding。 This will give rest and
composure to my cousin's mind； which is now like a disturbed sea； and
will not interfere； I venture to think； with the affair which calls you to
Peking。〃
As King proceeded； Jasmine felt that her difficulties were on the
increase。 It was impossible that she should explain her position in full； and
she had no sufficient reason at hand to give for rejecting the proposal
made her； though； as the same time； her annoyance was not small at
having such a matter forced upon her at a moment when her mind was
filled with anxieties。 〃Then；〃 she thought to herself； 〃there is ahead of me
that explanation which must inevitably come with Wei； so that； altogether；
if it were not for the deeply rooted conviction which I have that Tu will be
mine at last； when he knows what I really am； life would not be worth
having。 As for this inn…proprietor； if he has so little delicacy as to push his
cousin upon me at this crisis； I need not have any compunction regarding
him； so perhaps my easiest way of getting out of the present hobble will be
to accept his proposal and to present the box of precious ointment handed
me by Wei for my sister to this ogling love…sick girl。〃 So turning to King；
she said：
〃Since you； sir； and your cousin have honoured me with your regard； I
dare not altogether decline your proposal； and I would therefore beg you；
sir； to hand this；〃 she added； producing the box of ointment； 〃to your
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honourable cousin； as a token of the bond between us； and to convey to
her my promise that； if I don't marry her； I will never marry another lady。〃
Mr。 King； with the greatest delight； received the box； and handing it to
the waiting…woman； who stood expectant by； bade her carry it to her
mistress； with the news of the engagement。 Jasmine now hoped that her
immediate troubles were over； but King insisted on celebrating the event
by a feast； and it was not until late in the afternoon that she succeeded in
making a start。 Once on the road； her anxiety to reach Peking was such
that she travelled night and day； 〃feeding on wind and lodging in water。〃
Nor did she rest until she reached a hotel within the Hata Gate of the
capital。
Jasmine's solitary journey had given her abundant time for reflection；
and for the first time she had set herself seriously to consider her position。
She recognised that she had hitherto followed only the impulses of the
moment； of which the main one had been the desire to escape
complications by the wholesale sacrifice of truth； and she acknowledged
to herself that； if justice were evenly dealt out； there must be a Nemesis in
store for her which would bring distress and possibly disaster upon her。 In
her calmer moments she felt an instinctive foreboding that she was
approaching a crisis in her fate； and it was with mixed feelings； therefore；
that on the morning after her arrival she prepared to visit Tu and Wei； who
were as yet ignorant of her presence。
She dressed herself with more than usual care for the occasion；
choosing to attire herself in a blue silk robe and a mauve satin jacket
which Tu had once admired； topped by a brand…new cap。 Altogether her
appearance as she passed through the streets justified the remark made by
a passerby： 〃A pretty youngster； and more like a maiden of eighteen than a
man。〃
The hostelry at which Tu and Wei had taken up their abode was an inn
befitting the dignity of such distinguished scholars。 On inquiring at the
door； Jasmine was ushered by a servant through a courtyard to an inner
enclosure； where； under the grateful shade of a wide…spreading cotton…tree；
Tu was reclining at his ease。 Jasmine's delight at meeting her friend was
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only equalled by the pleasure with which Tu greeted her。 In his strong and
gracious presence she became conscious that she was released from the
absorbing care which had haunted her； and her soul leaped out in new
freedom as she asked and answered questions of her friend。 Each had
much to say； and it was not for some time； when an occasional reference
brought his name forward that Jasmine noticed the absence of Wei。 When
she did； she asked after him。
〃He left this some days ago；〃 said Tu； 〃having some special business
which called for his presence at home。 He did not tell me what it was； but
doubtless it was something of importance。〃 Jasmine said nothing； but felt
pretty certain in her mind as to the object of his hasty return。
Tu； attributing her silence to a reflection on Wei for having left the
capital before her father's affair was settled； hastened to add：
〃He was very helpful in the matter of your honoured father's difficulty；
and only left when he thought he could not do any more。〃
〃How do matters stand now？〃 asked Jasmine； eagerly。
〃We have posted a memorial at the palace gate；〃 said Tu； 〃and have
arranged that it shall reach the right quarter。 Fortunately； also； I have an
acquaintance in the Board of War who has undertaken to do all he can in
that direction； and promises an answer in a few days。〃
〃I have brought with me；〃 said Jasmine； 〃a petition prepared by my
father。 What do you think about presenting it？〃
〃At present I believe that it would only do harm。 A superabundance of
memorials is as bad as none at all。 Beyond a certain point； they only
irritate officials。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Jasmine； 〃I am quite content to leave the conduct of
affairs in your hands。〃
〃Well then；〃 said Tu； 〃that being understood； I propose that you should
move your things over to this inn。 There is Wei's room at your disposal；
and your constant presence here will be balm to my lonely spirit。 At the
Hata Gate you are almost as remote as if you were in our study at
Mienchu。〃
Jasmine was at first startled by this proposal。 Though she had been
constantly in the company of Tu； she had never lived under the same roof
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with him； and she at once recognised that there might be difficulties in the
way of her keeping her secret if she were to be constantly under the eyes
of her friend。 But she had been so long accustomed to yield to the present
circumstances； and was so confident that Fortune； which； with some slight
irregularities； had always stood her friend； would not desert her on the
present occasion； that she gave way。
〃By all means；〃 she said。 〃I will go back to my inn； and bring my
things at once。 This writing…case I will leave here。 I brought it because it
contains my father's petition。〃
So saying； she took her leave； and Tu retired to his easy…chair under
the cotton…tree。 But the demon of curiosity was abroad； and alighting on
the arm of Tu's chair； whispered in his ear that it might be well if he ran
his eye over Colonel Wen's petition to see if there was any argument in it
which he had omitted in his statement to the Board of War。 At first； Tu；
whose nature was the reverse of inquisitive； declined to listen to these
promptings； but so persistent did they become that he at last put down his
book〃The Spring and