按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
promptings； but so persistent did they become that he at last put down his
book〃The Spring and Autumn Annals〃and； seating himself； at the
sitting…room table； opened the writing…case so innocently left by Jasmine。
On the top were a number of red visiting…cards bearing the inscription； in
black； of Wen Tsunk'ing； and beneath these was the petition。 Carefully Tu
read it through； and passed mental eulogies on it as he proceeded。 The
colonel had put his case skilfully； but Tu had no difficulty in recognising
Jasmine's hand； both in the composition of the document and in the
penmanship。 〃If my attempt；〃 he thought； 〃does not succeed； we will try
what this will do。〃 He was on the point of returning it to its resting…place；
when he saw another document in Jasmine's handwriting lying by it。 This
was evidently a formal document； probably connected； as he thought； with
the colonel's case； and he therefore unfolded it and read as follows：
〃The faithful maiden； Miss Wen of Mienchu Hien； with burning
incense reverently prays the God of War to release her father from his
present difficulties； and speedily to restore peace to her own soul by
nullifying； in accordance with her desire； the engagement of the bamboo
arrow and the contract of the box of precious ointment。 A respectful
petition。〃
62
… Page 63…
STORIES
As Tu read on； surprise and astonishment took possession of his
countenance。 A second time he read it through； and then； throwing himself
back in his chair； broke out into a fit of laughter。
〃So；〃 he said to himself； 〃I have allowed myself to be deceived by a
young girl all these years。 And yet not altogether deceived；〃 he added；
trying to find an excuse for himself； 〃for I have often fancied that there
was the savour of a woman about the 'young noble。' I hope she is not one
of those heaven…born genii who appear on earth to plague men； and who；
just when they have aroused the affections they wished to excite； ascend
through the air and leave their lovers mourning。〃
Just at this moment the door opened； and Jasmine entered； looking
more lovely than ever； with the flush begotten by exercise on her
beautifully moulded cheeks。 At sight of her Tu again burst out laughing； to
Jasmine's not unnatural surprise； who； thinking that there must be
something wrong with her dress； looked herself up and down； to the
increasing amusement of Tu。
〃So；〃 said he at last； 〃you deceitful little hussy； you have been
deceiving me all these years by passing yourself off as a man； when in
reality you are a girl。〃
Overcome with confusion； Jasmine hung her head； and murmured：
〃Who has betrayed me？〃
〃You have betrayed yourself；〃 said Tu； holding up the incriminating
document； 〃and here we have the story of the arrow with which you shot
the hawk； but what the box of precious ointment means I don't know。〃
Confronted with this overwhelming evidence； poor Jasmine remained
speechless； and dared not even lift her eyes to glance at Tu。 That young
man； seeing her distress； and being in no wise possessed by the scorn
which he had put into his tone； crossed over to her and gently led her to a
seat by him。
〃Do you remember；〃 he said； in so altered a voice that Jasmine's heart
ceased to throb as if it wished to force an opening through the finely
formed bosom which enclosed it； 〃on one occasion in our study at home I
wished that you were a woman that you might become my wife？ Little did
I think that my wish might be gratified。 Now it is； and I beseech you to let
63
… Page 64…
STORIES
us join our lives in one； and seek the happiness of the gods in each other's
perpetual presence。〃
But； as if suddenly recollecting herself； Jasmine withdrew her hand
from his； and； standing up before him with quivering lip and eyes full of
tears； said：
〃No。 It can never be。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Tu； in alarmed surprise。
〃Because I am bound to Wei。〃
〃What！ Does Wei know your secret？〃
〃No。 But do you remember when I shot that arrow in front of your
study？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 said Tu。 〃But what has that to do with it？〃
〃Why； Wei discovered my name on the shaft； and I； to keep my secret；
told him that it was my sister's name。 He then wanted to marry my sister；
and I undertook； fool that I was； to arrange it for him。 Now I shall be
obliged to confess the truth； and he will have a right to claim me instead of
my supposed sister。〃
〃But；〃 said Tu； 〃I have a prior right to that of Wei； for it was I who
found the arrow。 And in this matter I shall be ready to outface him at all
hazards。 But；〃 he added； 〃Wei； I am sure； is not the man to take an unfair
advantage of you。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 asked Jasmine。
〃Certainly I do；〃 said Tu。
〃ThenthenI shall bevery glad；〃 said poor Jasmine； hesitatingly；
overcome with bashfulness； but full of joy。
At which gracious consent Tu recovered the hand which had been
withdrawn from his； and Jasmine sank again into the chair at his side。
〃But； Tu； dear；〃 she said； after a pause； 〃there is something else that I
must tell you before I can feel that my confessions are over。〃
〃What！ You have not engaged yourself to any one else； have you？〃
said Tu； laughing。
〃Yes； I have；〃 she replied； with a smile； and she then gave her lover a
full and particular account of how Mr。 King had proposed to her on behalf
of his cousin； and how she had accepted her。
64
… Page 65…
STORIES
〃How could you frame your lips to utter such untruths？〃 said Tu； half
laughing and half in earnest。
〃O Tu； falsehood is so easy and truth so difficult sometimes。 But I feel
that I have been very； very wicked；〃 said poor Jasmine； covering her face
with her hands。
〃Well； you certainly have got yourself into a pretty hobble。 So far as I
can make out； you are at the present moment engaged to one young lady
and two young men。〃
The situation； thus expressed； was so comical that Jasmine could not
refrain from laughing through her tears； but； after a somewhat lengthened
consultation with her lover； her face recovered its wonted serenity； and
round it hovered a halo of happiness which added light and beauty to
every feature。 There is something particularly entrancing in receiving the
first confidences of a pure and loving soul。 So Tu thought on this occasion；
and while Jasmine was pouring the most secret workings of her inmost
being into his ear； those lines of the poet of the Sung dynasty came
irresistibly into his mind：
'T is sweet to see the flowers woo the sun； To
watch the quaint wiles of the cooing dove； But sweeter far to hear
the dulcet tones Of her one loves confessing her great love。
But there is an end to everything； even to the 〃Confucian Analects；〃
and so there was also to this lovers' colloquy。 For just as Jasmine was
explaining； for the twentieth time； the origin and basis of her love for Tu； a
waiter entered to announce the arrival of her luggage。
〃I don't know quite；〃 said Tu； 〃where we are to put your two men。 But；
by…the…bye；〃 he added； as the thought struck him； 〃did you really travel all
the way in the company of these two men only？〃
〃O Tu；〃 said Jasmine； laughing； 〃I have something else to confess to
you。〃
〃What！ another lover？〃 said Tu； affecting horror and surprise。
〃No； not another lover； but another woman。 The short； stout one is a
woman； and came as my maid。 She is the wife of 'The Dragon。' 〃
〃Well； now have you told me all？ For I am getting so confused about
the people you have transformed from women to men； that I shall have
65
… Page 66…
STORI