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！
65
… Page 66…
STORIES
doubts about my own sex next。〃
〃Yes； Tu； dear； now you know all；〃 said Jasmine； laughing。 But not all
the good news which was in store for him； for scarcely had Jasmine done
speaking when a letter arrived from his friend in the Board of War； who
wrote to say that he had succeeded in getting the military intendant of
Mienchu transferred to a post in the province of Kwangsi； and that the
departure of this noxious official would mean the release of the colonel； as
he alone was the colonel's accuser。 This news added one more chord of joy
which had been making harmony in Jasmine's heart for some hours； and
readily she agreed with Tu that they should set off homeward on the
following morning。
With no such adventure as that which had attended Jasmine's journey
to the capital； they reached Mienchu； and； to their delight； were received
by the colonel in his own yamun。 After congratulating him on his release；
which Jasmine took care he should understand was due entirely to Tu's
exertions； she gave him a full account of her various experiences on the
road and at the capital。
〃It is like a story out of a book of marvels；〃 said her father； 〃and even
now you have not exhausted all the necessary explanations。 For； since my
release； your friend Wei has been here to ask for my daughter in marriage。
From some questions I put to him； he is evidently unaware that you are my
only daughter； and I therefore put him off and told him to wait until you
returned。 He is in a very impatient state； and； no doubt； will be over
shortly。〃
Nor was the colonel wrong； for almost immediately Wei was
announced； who； after expressing the genuine pleasure he felt at seeing
Jasmine again； began at once on the subject which filled his mind。
〃I am so glad；〃 he said； 〃to have this opportunity of asking you to
explain matters。 At present I am completely nonplussed。 On my return
from Peking I inquired of one of your father's servants about his daughter。
'He has not got one；' quoth the man。 I went to another； and he said； 'You
mean the 〃young noble；〃 I suppose。' 'No； I don't；' I said； 'I mean his sister。'
'Well； that is the only daughter I know of；' said he。 Then I went to your
father； and all I could get out of him was； 'Wait until the 〃young noble〃
66
… Page 67…
STORIES
comes home。' Please tell me what all this means。〃
〃Your great desire is to marry a beautiful and accomplished girl； is it
not？〃 said Jasmine。
〃That certainly is my wish；〃 said Wei。
〃Well then；〃 said Jasmine； 〃I can assure you that your betrothal present
is in the hand of such a one； and a girl whom to look at is to love。〃
〃That may be；〃 said Wei； 〃But my wish is to marry your sister。〃
〃Will you go and talk to Tu about it？〃 said Jasmine； who felt that the
subject was becoming too difficult for her； and whose confidence in Tu's
wisdom was unbounded； 〃and he will explain it all to you。〃
Even Tu； however； found it somewhat difficult to explain Jasmine's
sphinx…like mysteries； and on certain points Wei showed a disposition to
be anything but satisfied。 Jasmine's engagement to Tu implied his rejection；
and he was disposed to be splenetic and disagreeable about it。 His pride
was touched； and in his irritation he was inclined to impute treachery to
his friend and deceit to Jasmine。 To the first charge Tu had a ready answer；
but the second was all the more annoying because there was some truth in
it。 However； Tu was not in the humour to quarrel； and being determined to
seek peace and ensue it； he overlooked Wei's innuendos and made out the
best case he could for his bride。 On Miss King's beauty； virtues； and ability
he enlarged with a wealth of diction and power of imagination which
astonished himself； and Jasmine also； to whom he afterward repeated the
conversation。 〃Why； Tu； dear；〃 said that artless maiden； 〃how can you
know all this about Miss King？ You have never seen her； and I am sure I
never told you half of all this。〃
〃Don't ask questions；〃 said the enraptured Tu。 〃Let it be enough for
you to know that Wei is as eager for the possession of Miss King as he
was for your sister； and that he has promised to be my best man at our
wedding to…morrow。〃
And Wei was as good as his word。 With every regard to ceremony and
ancient usage； the marriage of Tu and Jasmine was celebrated in the
presence of relatives and friends； who； attracted by the novelty of the
antecedent circumstances； came from all parts of the country to witness
the nuptials。 By Tu's especial instructions also a prominence was allowed
67
… Page 68…
STORIES
to Wei； which gratified his vanity and smoothed down the ruffled feathers
of his conceit。
Jasmine thought that no time should be lost in reducing Miss King to
the same spirit of acquiescence to which Wei had been brought； and on the
evening of her wedding…day she broached the subject to Tu。
〃I shall not feel； Tu； dear；〃 she said； 〃that I have gained absolution for
my many deceptions until that very forward Miss King has been talked
over into marrying Wei； and I insist； therefore；〃 she added； with an amount
of hesitancy which reduced the demand to the level of a plaintive appeal；
〃that we start to…morrow for Ch'engtu to see the young woman。〃
〃Ho！ ho！〃 replied Tu； intensely amused at her attempted bravado。
〃These are brave words； and I suppose that I must humbly register your
decrees。〃
〃O Tu； you know what I mean。 You know that； like a child who takes a
delight in conquering toy armies； I love to fancy that I can command so
strong a man as you are。 But； Tu； if you knew how absolutely I rely on
your judgment； you would humour my folly and say yes。〃
There was a subtle incense of love and flattery about this appeal which；
backed as it was by a look of tenderness and beauty； made it irresistible；
and the arrangements for the journey were made in strict accordance with
Jasmine's wishes。
On arriving at the inn which was so full of chastening memories to
Jasmine； Tu sent his card to Mr。 King； who； flattered by the attention paid
him by so eminent a scholar； cordially invited Tu to his house。
〃To what；〃 he said； as Tu； responding to his invitation； entered his
reception…hall； 〃am I to attribute the honour of receiving your illustrious
steps in my mean apartments？〃
〃I have heard；〃 said Tu； 〃that the beautiful Miss King is your
Excellency's cousin； and having a friend who is desirous of gaining her
hand； I have come to plead on his behalf。〃
〃I regret to say；〃 replied King； 〃that your Excellency has come too late；
as she has already received an engagement token from a Mr。 Wen； who
passed here lately on his way to Peking。〃
〃Mr。 Wen is a friend of mine also；〃 said Tu； 〃and it was because I
68
… Page 69…
STORIES
knew that his troth was already plighted that I ventured to come on behalf
of him of whom I have spoken。〃
〃Mr。 Wen；〃 said King； 〃is a gentleman and a scholar； and having given
a betrothal present； he is certain to communicate with us direct in case of
any difficulty。〃
〃Will you； old gentleman；〃 ＇a term of respect＇ said Tu； producing the
lines which Miss King had sent Jasmine； 〃just cast your eyes over these
verses； written to Wen by your cousin？ Feeling most regretfully that he
was unable to fulfil his engagement； Wen gave these to me as a testimony
of the truth of what I now tell you。〃
King took the paper handed him by Tu； and recognised at a glance his
cousin's handwriting。
〃Alas！〃 he said； 〃Mr Wen told us he was engaged； but； not believing
him； I urged him to consent to marry my cousin。 If you will excuse me；
sir；〃 he added； 〃I will consult with the lady as to what should be done。〃
After a short absence he returned。
〃My cousin is of the opinion；〃 he said； 〃that s