stories by english authors-orient (Ó¢¹ú×÷¼Ò¹Êʼ¯)-µÚ17½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
And¡¡¡¡¡¡longed¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡P'e¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡pluck¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fragrant¡¡¡¡¡¡fruit¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡
known¡¡tunes¡¡be¡¡newly¡¡set£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡use¡¡to¡¡take¡¡again¡¡the¡¡half¡¡¡
burnt¡¡lute£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Having¡¡copied¡¡these¡¡on¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡silk¡woven¡¡paper£»¡¡she¡¡sent¡¡them¡¡to¡¡
Jasmine¡¡by¡¡her¡¡faithful¡¡attendant¡£¡¡On¡¡looking¡¡over¡¡the¡¡paper£»¡¡Jasmine¡¡said£»¡¡
smiling£»¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡clever¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡mistress¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡be£¡¡¡These¡¡¡¡¡¡lines£»¡¡
though¡¡somewhat¡¡inconsequential£»¡¡are¡¡incomparable¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡55¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡56¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡though¡¡Jasmine¡¡was¡¡partly¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡as¡¡a¡¡joke£»¡¡
she¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡serious¡¡side¡¡to¡¡the¡¡affair£»¡¡more¡¡especially¡¡as¡¡the¡¡
colours¡¡under¡¡which¡¡she¡¡was¡¡sailing¡¡were¡¡so¡¡undeniably¡¡false¡£¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡
well¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡Sung¡¡Yuh¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡read¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡King£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡P'e¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡
name£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡determined£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡to¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡the¡¡philandering¡¡of¡¡
Miss¡¡King£»¡¡which£»¡¡in¡¡her¡¡present¡¡state¡¡of¡¡mind£»¡¡was¡¡doubly¡¡annoying¡¡to¡¡
her¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡deeply¡¡indebted¡¡to¡¡your¡¡young¡¡lady£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡being¡¡
determined¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡plunge¡¡into¡¡the¡¡morass¡¡of¡¡untruthfulness£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡good¡¡
end¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡believed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡added£»¡¡¡¡¡¨and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡disposal£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡
possibly¡¡¡¡venture¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡advances¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡feathery¡¡¡¡peach¡¡¡¡¡¡£§a¡¡¡¡¡¡nuptial¡¡
emblem£§£»¡¡but¡¡let¡¡me¡¡confess¡¡to¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡already¡¡taken¡¡to¡¡myself¡¡a¡¡
wife¡£¡¡Had¡¡I¡¡the¡¡felicity¡¡of¡¡meeting¡¡Miss¡¡King¡¡before¡¡I¡¡committed¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡
another¡¡direction£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡perhaps¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡happier¡¡man¡£¡¡But£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡
if¡¡this¡¡were¡¡so£»¡¡my¡¡position¡¡is¡¡no¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡most¡¡other¡¡married¡¡
men£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡never¡¡met¡¡one¡¡who¡¡was¡¡not¡¡occasionally¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡cry£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡
boys¡¡at¡¡'toss¡¡cash£»'¡¡'Hark¡¡back¡¡and¡¡try¡¡again¡£'¡¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡will¡¡be¡¡sad¡¡news¡¡for¡¡my¡¡lady£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡has¡¡set¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡upon¡¡you¡¡
ever¡¡since¡¡you¡¡first¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inn£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡young¡¡misses¡¡take¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡fancy¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡lose¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡objects¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡love£»¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡bad¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡children¡¡
when¡¡¡¡¡¡forbidden¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡sugar¡plums¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡what's¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡talking¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡
about¡¡a¡¡young¡¡lady's¡¡feelings£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡woman£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vexed¡¡toss¡¡of¡¡her¡¡
head£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡never¡¡knew¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡understood¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡yet¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡extremely¡¡sorry¡¡for¡¡Miss¡¡King£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jasmine£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡suppress¡¡
a¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¨As¡¡you¡¡wisely¡¡remark£»¡¡a¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡is¡¡a¡¡sealed¡¡book¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡
have¡¡always¡¡been¡¡told¡¡that¡¡their¡¡fancies¡¡are¡¡as¡¡variable¡¡as¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡bamboo£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡probably£»¡¡¡¡¡¡therefore£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡King's¡¡¡¡¡¡sky¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡
overcast¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡gloom¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡enjoy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡morrow's¡¡
sunshine¡¡all¡¡the¡¡more¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡woman£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hurry¡¡to¡¡convey¡¡the¡¡news¡¡to¡¡her¡¡
mistress£»¡¡returned¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡this¡¡last¡¡sally£»¡¡but£»¡¡with¡¡curtailed¡¡obeisance£»¡¡
took¡¡her¡¡departure¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡non¡appearance¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡confirmed¡¡Jasmine¡¡in¡¡the¡¡belief¡¡
that¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡bold¡¡¡¡¡¡departure¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡truth¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡previous¡¡¡¡¡¡evening¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡56¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡57¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
curative¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡effect¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡relief¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡great£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡
complications¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡becoming¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡frequent¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡pleasant£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡
reprehensible¡¡though¡¡it¡¡may¡¡appear£»¡¡her¡¡relief¡¡was¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡no¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡
compassion¡¡for¡¡Miss¡¡King¡£¡¡Hers¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡nature¡¡to¡¡sympathise¡¡with¡¡such¡¡
sudden¡¡and¡¡fierce¡¡attachments¡£¡¡Her¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡Tu¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡growth¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡months£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡feeling¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡common¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡lady¡¡
who¡¡could¡¡take¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡liking¡¡for¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡simply¡¡from¡¡seeing¡¡him¡¡
taking¡¡his¡¡post¡prandial¡¡ease¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡with¡¡complete¡¡satisfaction¡¡
that¡¡she¡¡left¡¡the¡¡inn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡her¡¡farewell¡¡visits¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡governor¡¡and¡¡the¡¡judge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡province£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡an¡¡unusual¡¡
interest¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Colonel¡¡¡¡¡¡Wen's¡¡¡¡¡¡case¡¡¡¡¡¡since¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡become¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡personal¡¡
advocate¡£¡¡Both¡¡officials¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡do¡¡all¡¡they¡¡could¡¡for¡¡the¡¡prisoner£»¡¡
and¡¡had¡¡loaded¡¡Jasmine¡¡with¡¡tokens¡¡of¡¡good¡¡will¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡strange¡¡
and¡¡rare¡¡fruits¡¡and¡¡culinary¡¡delicacies¡£¡¡On¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡day¡¡the¡¡governor¡¡
had¡¡invited¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡midday¡¡meal£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡late¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡before¡¡
she¡¡found¡¡her¡¡way¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inn¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡following¡¡morning¡¡she¡¡rose¡¡early£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡start¡¡before¡¡noon£»¡¡
and¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡stepping¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡courtyard¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡directions¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡¡¡¡¡Dragon£»¡¨¡¡
when£»¡¡to¡¡her¡¡surprise£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡accosted¡¡by¡¡Miss¡¡King's¡¡servant£»¡¡who£»¡¡with¡¡
a¡¡waggish¡¡smile¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cunning¡¡shake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡head£»¡¡said£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡can¡¡one¡¡so¡¡young¡¡as¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡¡be¡¡such¡¡a¡¡proficient¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
art¡¡of¡¡inventing¡¡flowers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡imagination£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jasmine¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡last¡¡night¡¡you¡¡told¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡were¡¡married£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡poor¡¡young¡¡
lady¡¡when¡¡she¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡was¡¡wrung¡¡with¡¡grief¡£¡¡But£»¡¡recovering¡¡somewhat£»¡¡
she¡¡sent¡¡me¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡your¡¡servants¡¡whether¡¡what¡¡you¡¡had¡¡said¡¡was¡¡true¡¡or¡¡
not£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡she's¡¡about¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡most¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡both¡¡
with¡¡one¡¡voice¡¡assured¡¡me¡¡that£»¡¡far¡¡from¡¡being¡¡married¡¡you¡¡had¡¡not¡¡even¡¡
exchanged¡¡nuptial¡¡presents¡¡with¡¡anybody¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡imagine¡¡Miss¡¡King's¡¡
delight¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡news¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡cousin¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡
upon¡¡you¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡formal¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡marriage£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡has¡¡now¡¡sent¡¡me¡¡to¡¡
tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡he¡¡will¡¡be¡¡here¡¡anon¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Every¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡knows¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡state¡¡¡¡of¡¡
pleasurable¡¡high¡¡spirits¡¡into¡¡deep¡¡despondency£»¡¡to¡¡exchange¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡57¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡58¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
bright¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mental¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sunshine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡cloud¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gloom¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All£»¡¡¡¡¡¡therefore£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡
sympathise¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡believing¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡road¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡
smooth¡¡and¡¡clear£»¡¡on¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡became¡¡thus¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡a¡¡most¡¡troublesome¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡difficult¡¡¡¡¡¡obstruction¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡scarcely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡finished¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡calling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡
anathemas¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡heads¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡¡¡¡¡Dragon¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡wife£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡cursing¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
own¡¡folly¡¡for¡¡bringing¡¡them¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡than¡¡the¡¡inn¡¡doors¡¡were¡¡thrown¡¡open£»¡¡
and¡¡a¡¡servant¡¡appeared¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡long¡¡red¡¡visiting¡¡¡card¡¡inscribed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡
name¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡wealthy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡inn¡proprietor¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡heels¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡forerunner¡¡
followed¡¡young¡¡Mr¡£¡¡King£»¡¡who£»¡¡with¡¡effusive¡¡bows£»¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡ventured¡¡
to¡¡pay¡¡my¡¡respects¡¡to¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poor¡¡Jasmine¡¡was¡¡so¡¡upset¡¡by¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡affair¡¡that¡¡she¡¡lacked¡¡some¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡courtesy¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡habitual¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡confusion¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡nearly¡¡
seated¡¡her¡¡guest¡¡on¡¡her¡¡right¡¡hand¡£¡¡Fortunately¡¡this¡¡outrageous¡¡breach¡¡of¡¡
etiquette¡¡was¡¡avoided£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pair¡¡eventually¡¡arranged¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
canonical¡¡order¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡son¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Han£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡King£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨would¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡dared¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
intrude¡¡himself¡¡upon¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡not¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡
great¡¡delicacy¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡a¡¡cousin£»¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Vice¡¡¡
President¡¡King£»¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡for¡¡years¡¡he¡¡has¡¡been¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡suitable¡¡
match¡£¡¡The¡¡¡¡position¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡peculiar£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lady¡¡¡¡declares¡¡¡¡¡¡positively¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡
will¡¡not¡¡marry¡¡any¡¡one¡¡she¡¡has¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡and¡¡approved¡¡of¡£¡¡Until¡¡now¡¡she¡¡
has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find¡¡any¡¡one¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡would¡¡care¡¡to¡¡marry¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡
presence¡¡of¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡¡has¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡light¡¡across¡¡her¡¡path¡¡which¡¡has¡¡
shown¡¡her¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡plum¡groves¡¡of¡¡matrimonial¡¡felicity¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡King¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡paused£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡expecting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡reply£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡Jasmine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡
absorbed¡¡in¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡speak£»¡¡so¡¡Mr¡£¡¡King¡¡went¡¡on£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡old¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Han£»¡¡hearing¡¡that¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡¡is¡¡still¡¡unmarried£»¡¡
has¡¡taken¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡proposal¡¡of¡¡marriage¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡
offer¡¡his¡¡cousin¡¡as¡¡your¡¡'basket¡¡and¡¡broom¡£'¡¡£§wife£§¡¡His¡¡interview¡¡with¡¡you¡¡
has£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡¡¡shown¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wisdom¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡cousin's¡¡¡¡¡¡choice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
cannot¡¡imagine¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡better¡¡suited¡¡for¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡or¡¡more¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
happy£»¡¡than¡¡your¡¡Excellency¡¡and¡¡his¡¡cousin¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡dare¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡straightforward¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡worship£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡
Jasmine£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡grateful¡¡for¡¡the¡¡extraordinary¡¡affection¡¡your¡¡cousin¡¡has¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡58¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡59¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
been¡¡pleased¡¡to¡¡bestow¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡she¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
family¡¡which¡¡is¡¡entitled¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡£§a¡¡family¡¡of¡¡
distinction£§£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡my¡¡rank¡¡is¡¡not¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¡my¡¡
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¡¡t