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After a short absence he returned。
〃My cousin is of the opinion；〃 he said； 〃that she cannot enter into any
new engagement until Mr。 Wen has come here himself and received back
the betrothal present which he gave her on parting。〃
〃I dare not deceive you； old gentleman； and will tell you at once that
that betrothal present was not Wen's but was my unworthy friend Wei's；
and came into Wen's possession in a way that I need not now explain。〃
〃Still；〃 said King； 〃my cousin thinks Mr。 Wen should present himself
here in person and tell his own story； and I must say that I am of her
opinion。〃
〃It is quite impossible that Mr。 Wen should return here；〃 replied Tu；
〃but my 'stupid thorn' ＇wife＇ is in the adjoining hostelry； and would be
most happy to explain fully to Miss King Wen's entire inability to play the
part of a husband to her。〃
〃If your honourable consort would meet my cousin； she； I am sure；
will be glad to talk the matter over with her。〃
With Tu's permission； Miss King's maid was sent to the inn to invite
Jasmine to call on her mistress。 The maid； who was the same who had
acted as Miss King's messenger on the former occasion； glanced long and
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earnestly at Jasmine。 Her features were familiar to her； but she could not
associate them with any lady of her acquaintance。 As she conducted her to
Miss King's apartments； she watched her stealthily； and became more and
more puzzled by her appearance。 Miss King received her with civility； and
after exchanging wishes that each might be granted ten thousand blessings；
Jasmine said； smiling：
〃Do you recognise Mr。 Wen？〃
Miss King looked at her； and seeing in her a likeness to her beloved；
said：
〃What relation are you to him； lady？〃
〃I am his very self！〃 said Jasmine。
Miss King opened her eyes wide at this startling announcement； and
gazed earnestly at her。
〃/Haiyah！/〃 cried her maid； clapping her hands； 〃I thought there was a
wonderful likeness between the lady and Mr。 Wen。 But who would have
thought that she was he？〃
〃But what made you disguise yourself in that fashion？〃 asked Miss
King； in an abashed and somewhat vexed tone。
〃My father was in difficulties；〃 said Jasmine； 〃and as it was necessary
that I should go to Peking to plead for him； I dressed as a man for the
convenience of travel。 You will remember that in the first instance I
declined your flattering overtures； but when I found that you persisted in
your proposal； not being able to explain the truth； I thought the best thing
to do was to hand you my friend's betrothal present which I had with me；
intending to return and explain matters。 And you will admit that in one
thing I was truthful。〃
〃What was that？〃 asked the maid。
〃Why；〃 answered Jasmine； 〃I said that if I did not marry your lady I
would never marry any woman。〃
〃Well； yes；〃 said the maid； laughing； 〃you have kept your faith royally
there。〃
〃The friend I speak of；〃 continued Jasmine； 〃has now taken his
doctor's degree； and this stupid husband and wife have come from
Mienchu to make you a proposal on his behalf。〃
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Miss King was not one who could readily take in an entirely new and
startling idea； and she sat with a half…dazed look； staring at Jasmine
without uttering a word。 If it had not been for the maid； the conversation
would have ceased； but that young woman was determined to probe the
matter to the bottom。
〃You have not told us；〃 she said； 〃the gentleman's name。 And will you
explain why you call him your friend？ How could you be on terms of
friendship with him？〃
〃From my childhood；〃 said Jasmine； 〃I have always dressed as a boy。 I
went to a boy's school〃
〃/Haiyah！/〃 interjected the maid。
〃And afterward I joined my husband and this gentleman； Mr。 Wei； in a
reading…party。〃
〃Didn't they discover your secret？〃
〃No。〃
〃Never？〃
〃Never。〃
〃That's odd；〃 said the maid。 〃But will you tell us something about this
Mr。 Wei？〃
Upon this； Jasmine launched out in a glowing eulogy upon her friend。
She expatiated with fervour on his youth； good looks； learning； and
prospects； and with such effect did she speak that Miss King； who began
to take in the situation； ended by accepting cordially Jasmine's proposal。
〃And now； lady； you must stay and dine with me；〃 said Miss King；
when the bargain was struck； 〃while my cousin entertains your husband in
the hall。〃
At this meal the beginning of a friendship was formed between the two
ladies which lasted ever afterward； though it was somewhat unevenly
balanced。 Jasmine's stronger nature felt compassion mingled with liking
for the pretty doll…like Miss King； while the young lady entertained the
profoundest admiration for her guest。
There was nothing to delay the fulfilment of the engagement thus
happily arranged； and at the next full moon Miss King had an opportunity
of comparing her bridegroom with the picture which Jasmine had drawn
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of him。
Scholars are plentiful in China； but it was plainly impossible that men
of such distinguished learning as Tu and Wei should be left among the
unemployed； and almost immediately after their marriage they were
appointed to important posts in the empire。 Tu rose rapidly to the highest
rank； and died； at a good old age； viceroy of the metropolitan province and
senior guardian to the heir apparent。 Wei was not so supremely fortunate；
but then； as Tu used to say； 〃he had not a Jasmine to help him。〃
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THE REVENGE OF HER RACE
BY MARY BEAUMONT
The low hedge； where the creepers climbed； divided the lawn and its
magnificent Wellingtonias from the meadow。 There was little grass to be
seen； for it was at this time one vast profusion of delicate ixias of every
bright and tender shade。
The evening was still； and the air heavy with scent。 In a room opening
upon the veranda wreathed with white…and…scarlet passion…flowers； where
she could see the garden and the meadow； and； beyond all； the Mountain
Beautiful； lay a sick woman。 Her dark face was lovely as an autumn leaf is
lovelyhectic with the passing life。 Her eyes wandered to the upper snows
of the mountain； from time to time resting upon the brown…haired English
girl who sat on a low stool by her side； holding the frail hand in her cool；
firm clasp。
The invalid was speaking； her voice was curiously sweet； and there
was a peculiarity about the 〃s；〃 and an occasional turn of the sentence；
which told the listener that her English was an acquired language。
〃I am glad he is not here；〃 she said slowly。 〃I do not want him to have
pain。〃
〃But perhaps； Mrs。 Denison； you will be much better in a day or two；
and able to welcome him when he comes back。〃
〃No； I shall not be here when he comes back； and it is just as it should
be。 I asked him to turn round as he left the garden； and I could see him； oh；
so well！ He looked kind and so beautiful； and he waved to me his hand。
Now he will come back； and he will be sad。 He did not want to leave me；
but the governor sent for him。 He will be sad； and he will remember that I
loved him； and some day he will be glad again。〃 She smiled into the
troubled face near her。
The girl stroked the thick dark hair lovingly。
〃Don't；〃 she implored； 〃it hurts me。 You are better to…night； and the
children are coming in。〃 Mrs。 Denison closed her eyes； and with her left
hand she covered her face。 〃No； not the children；〃 she whispered； 〃not
my darlings。 I cannot bear it。 I must see them no more。〃 She pressed her
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co