stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第14节
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！
and arrow； and with unerring aim compassed the death of her victim。 No
sooner； however； had the hawk fallen； carrying the arrow with it； than she
remembered that her name was inscribed on the shaft； and fearing lest it
should be found by either Wei or Tu； she hurried round in the hope of
recovering it。 But she was too late。 On approaching the study； she found
Tu in the garden in front； examining the bird and arrow。
〃Look；〃 he said； as he saw her coming； 〃what a good shot some one
has made！ and whoever it is； he has a due appreciation of his own skill。
Listen to these lines which are scraped on the arrow：
'Do not lightly draw your bow； But if you must； bring
45
… Page 46…
STORIES
down your foe。' 〃
Jasmine was glad enough to find that he had not discovered her name；
and eagerly exchanged banter with him on the conceit of the owner of the
arrow。 But before she could recover it； Wei； who had heard the talking and
laughter； joined them； and took the arrow out of Tu's hand to examine it。
Just at that moment a messenger came to summon Tu to his father's
presence； and he had no sooner gone than Wei exclaimed：
〃But see； here is the name of the mysterious owner of the arrow； and；
as I live； it is a girl's nameJasmine！ Who； among the goddesses of
heaven can Jasmine be？〃
〃Oh； I will take the arrow then；〃 said Jasmine。 〃It must belong to my
sister。 That is her name。〃
〃I did not know that you had a sister；〃 said Wei。
〃Oh yes； I have；〃 answered Jasmine； quite forgetful of the celebrated
dictum of Confucius： 〃Be truthful。〃 〃She is just one year younger than I
am；〃 she added； thinking it well to be circumstantial。
〃Why have you never mentioned her？〃 asked Wei； with animation。
〃What is she like？ Is she anything like you？〃
〃She is the very image of me。〃
〃What！ In height and features and ways？〃
〃The very image； so that people have often said that if we changed
clothes each might pass for the other。〃
〃What a good…looking girl she must be！〃 said Wei； laughing。 〃But；
seriously； I have not； as you know； yet set up a household； and if your
sister has not received bridal presents； I would beg to be allowed to invite
her to enter my lowly habitation。 What does my elder brother say to my
proposal？〃
〃I don't know what my sister would feel about it；〃 said Jasmine。 〃I
would never answer for a girl； if I lived to be as old as the God of
Longevity。〃
〃Will you find out for me？〃
〃Certainly I will。 But remember； not a word must be mentioned on the
subject to my father； or； in fact； to anybody； until I give you leave。〃
〃So long as my elder brother will undertake for me； I will promise
46
… Page 47…
STORIES
anything；〃 said the delighted Wei。 〃I already feel as though I were nine…
tenths of the way to the abode of the phenix。 Take this box of precious
ointment to your sister as an earnest of my intentions； and I will keep the
arrow as a token from her until she demands its return。 I feel inclined to
express myself in verse。 May I？〃
〃By all means；〃 said Jasmine； laughing。
Thus encouraged； Wei improvised as follows：
〃 'T was sung of old that Lofu had no mate； Though Che
was willing； for no word was said。 At last an arrow like a herald
came； And now an honoured brother lends his aid。〃
〃Excellent；〃 said Jasmine； laughing。 〃With such a poetic gift as you
possess； you certainly deserve a better fate than befell Lofu。〃
From this day the idea of marrying Jasmine's sister possessed the soul
of Wei。 But not a word did he say to Tu on the matter； for he was
conscious that； as Tu was the first to pick up the arrow through which he
had become acquainted with the existence of Jasmine's sister； his friend
might possibly lay a claim to her hand。 To Jasmine also the subject was a
most absorbing one。 She felt that she was becoming most unpleasantly
involved in a risky matter； and that； if the time should ever come when she
should have to make an explanation； she might in honour be compelled to
marry Weia prospect which filled her with dismay。 The turn events had
taken had made her analyse her feelings more than she had ever done
before； and the process made her doubly conscious of the depth of her
affection for Tu。 〃A horse；〃 she said to herself； 〃cannot carry two saddles；
and a woman cannot marry more than one man。〃 Wise as this saw was； it
did not help her out of her difficulty； and she turned to the chapter of
accidents； and determined to trust to time； that old disposer of events； to
settle the matter。 But Wei was inclined to be impatient； and Jasmine was
obliged to resort to more of those departures from truth which
circumstances had forced upon this generally very upright young lady。
〃I have consulted my father on the subject；〃 she said to the expectant
Wei； 〃and he insists on your waiting until the autumn examination is over。
He has every confidence that you will then take your M。A。 degree； and
your marriage will； he hopes； put the coping…stone on your happiness and
47
… Page 48…
STORIES
honour。〃
〃That is all very well；〃 said Wei； 〃but autumn is a long time hence； and
how do I know that your sister may not change her mind？〃
〃Has not your younger brother undertaken to look after your interests；
and cannot you trust him to do his best on your behalf？〃
〃I can trust my elder brother with anything in the world。 It is your
sister that I am afraid of；〃 said Wei。 〃But since you will undertake for her
〃
〃No； no；〃 said Jasmine； laughing； 〃I did not say that I would undertake
for her。 A man who answers for a woman deserves to have 'fool' written on
his forehead。〃
〃Well； at all events； I will be content to leave the matter in your
hands；〃 said Wei。
At last the time of the autumn examination drew near； and Tu and Wei
made preparations for their departure to the provincial capital。 They were
both bitterly disappointed when Jasmine announced that she was not going
up that time。 This determination was the result of a conference with her
father。 She had pointed out to the colonel that if she passed and took her
M。A。 degree she might be called upon to take office at any time； and that
then she would be compelled to confess her sex； and as she was by no
means disposed to give up the freedom which her doublet and hose
conferred upon her； it was agreed between them that she should plead
illness and not go up。 Her two friends； therefore； went alone； and brilliant
success attended their venture。 They both passed with honours； and
returned to Mienchu to receive the congratulations of their friends。
Jasmine's delight was very genuine； more especially as regarded Tu； and
the first evening was spent by the three students in joyous converse and in
confident anticipation of the future。 As Jasmine took leave of the two new
M。A。's； Wei followed her to the outer door and whispered at parting：
〃I am coming to…morrow to make my formal proposal to your sister。〃
Jasmine had no time to answer； but went home full of anxious and
disturbed thoughts； which were destined to take a more tragic turn than
she had ever anticipated even in her most gloomy moments。 The same
cruel fate had also decreed that Wei's proposal was to be suspended； like
48
… Page 49…
STORIES
Buddha； between heaven and earth。 The blow fell upon him when he was
attiring himself in the garments of his new degree； in preparation for his
visit。 He was in the act of tying his sash and appending it to his purse and
trinkets； when Jasmine burst into the young men's study； looking deadly
pale and bearing traces o
