"Myyounglady，"saidthewoman，"isthedaughterofMr。King，whowasavice-presidentofalowercourt。Herfatherandmotherhavingbothvisitedthe’YellowSprings’[Hades]，sheisnowlivingwithanaunt，whohasbeenblessedbytheGodofWealth，andwhosemainobjectinlifeistofindahusbandwhomherniecemaybewillingtomarry。Theyounggentleman，myyounglady’scousin，isoneoftherichestmeninCh’engtu。Allthelargerinnsbelongtohim，andhisprofitsareasboundlessasthefourseas。Heisasanxiousashismothertofindasuitablematchfortheyounglady，andhaspromisedthatsosoonasshecanmakeachoicehewillarrangethewedding。"
　　"Ishouldhavethought，"saidJasmine，"that，beingtheownerofsomuchwealthandbeauty，theyoungladywouldhavebeenbesiegedbysuitorsfromallpartsoftheempire。"
　　"Sosheis，"saidthewoman，"andfromherwindowyondersheespiesthem，fortheyallputupatthisinn。Hithertoshehasmadefunofthemall，anddescribestheirappearanceandhabitsinthemostamusingway。’Seethisone，’saysshe，’withhisbachelorcaponandhisnewofficialclothesandawkwardgait，lookingforalltheworldlikeabarn-doorfowldressedupasastork;orthatone，withhisroundshoulders，monkey-face，andcrookedlegs;’andsoshetellsthemoff。"
　　"Whatdoesshesayofme，Iwonder？"saidJasmine，amused。
　　"OfyourExcellencyshesaysthathercomparisonsfailher，andthatshecanonlyhopethattheFateswhoguidedyourjewelledchariothitherwardwillnottantaliseherbyanemptyvision，butwillbindyouranklestoherswiththeredmatrimonialcords。"
　　"HowcanIhopeforsuchhappiness？"saidJasmine，smiling。"Butpleasetotellyouryoungladythat，beingonlyaguestatthisinn，I
　　havenothingworthyofheracceptancetoofferinreturnforherbounteousgifts，andthatIcanonlyassureherofmyboundlessgratitude。"
　　Withmanybows，andwithreiteratedwishesforJasmine’shappinessandendlesslongevity，thewomantookherleave。
　　"Trulythisyoungladyhasformedamostpervertedattachment，"saidJasminetoherself。"Sheremindsmeofthemaninthefairytalewhofellinlovewithashadow，and，sofarasIcansee，sheisnotlikelytogetanymoresatisfactionoutofitthanhedid。"Sosaying，shetookupapencilandscribbledthefollowinglinesonascrapofpaper：
　　"Withthoughtsasardentasaquenchlessthirst，Shesendsmefragrantandmostlusciousfruit;
　　Withoutablushsheseeksaphenixguest[abachelor]
　　Whodwellsalonelikecase-envelopedlute。"
　　AfterthismentaleffortJasminewenttobed。Norhadherinterviewwiththewaiting-womanmadeasufficientimpressiononhermindtointerfereinanywaywithhersleep。Shewassurprised，however，oncomingintohersitting-roominthemorning，tomeetthesamemessenger，who，ladenwithadishofhoteggsandabrewoftea，beggedJasmineto"deigntolookdownuponherofferings。"
　　"Manythanks，"saidJasmine，"foryourkindattention。"
　　"Youareputtingthesaddleonthewronghorse，"repliedthewoman。
　　"InbringingyoutheseIambutobeyingtheordersofMissKing，whoherselfmadetheteaofleavesfromPu-erhinYunnan，andwhowithherownfairhandsshelledtheeggs。"
　　"Youryounglady，"answeredJasmine，"isasbountifulassheiskind。
　　WhatreturncanImakeherforherkindnesstoastranger？Stay，"shesaid，asthethoughtcrossedhermindthattheversesshehadwrittenthenightbeforemightproveawholesometonicforthiseffusiveyounglady，"IhaveafewverseswhichIwillventuretoaskhertoaccept。"
　　Sosaying，shetookapieceofpeach-blossompaper，onwhichshecarefullycopiedthequatrainandhandedittothewoman。"MayI
　　troubleyou，"saidshe，"totakethistoyourmistress？"
　　"If，"saidJasminetoherselfasthewomantookherdeparture，"MissKingisabletopenetratethemeaningofmyverses，shewon’tlikethem。Withoutsayingsoinsomanywords，IhavetoldherwithsufficientplainnessthatIwillhavenothingtosaytoher。ButstupidityisashieldsentbyProvidencetoprotectthegreaterpartofmankindfrommanyevils;soperhapsshewillescape。"
　　ItcertainlyinthiscaseservedtoshieldMissKingfromJasmine’sshafts。Shewasdelightedatreceivingtheverses，andatoncesatdowntocomposeaquatraintomatchJasmine’sinreply。Withinfinitelaboursheelaboratedthefollowing：
　　"SungYuhonth’easternwallsatdeepinthought，AndlongedwithP’etopluckthefragrantfruit。
　　Ifallthewell-knowntunesbenewlyset，Whatusetotakeagainthehalf-burntlute？"
　　Havingcopiedtheseonapieceofsilk-wovenpaper，shesentthemtoJasminebyherfaithfulattendant。Onlookingoverthepaper，Jasminesaid，smiling，"Whatacleveryoungladyyourmistressmustbe！Theselines，thoughsomewhatinconsequential，areincomparable。"
　　But，thoughJasminewaspartlyinclinedtotreatthematterasajoke，shesawthattherewasaserioussidetotheaffair，moreespeciallyasthecoloursunderwhichshewassailingweresoundeniablyfalse。
　　SheknewwellthatforSungYuhshouldbereadMissKing，andforP’eherownname;andshedetermined，therefore，toputanendtothephilanderingofMissKing，which，inherpresentstateofmind，wasdoublyannoyingtoher。
　　"Iamdeeplyindebtedtoyouryounglady，"shesaid，andthen，beingdeterminedtomakeaplungeintothemorassofuntruthfulness，foragoodendasshebelieved，added，"and，ifIhadloveatmydisposal，I
　　shouldpossiblyventuretomakeadvancestowardthefeatherypeach[anuptialemblem];butletmeconfesstoyouthatIhavealreadytakentomyselfawife。HadIthefelicityofmeetingMissKingbeforeI
　　committedmyselfinanotherdirection，Imightperhapshavebeenahappierman。But，afterall，ifthiswereso，mypositionisnoworsethanthatofmostothermarriedmen，forInevermetonewhowasnotoccasionallyinclinedtocry，liketheboysat’tosscash，’’Harkbackandtryagain。’"
　　"Thiswillbesadnewsformylady，forshehassetherheartuponyoueversinceyoufirstcametotheinn;andwhenyoungmissestakethatsortoffancyandlosetheobjectsoftheirlove，theyareasbadaschildrenwhenforbiddentheirsugar-plums。Butwhat’stheuseoftalkingtoyouaboutayounglady’sfeelings！"saidthewoman，withavexedtossofherhead;"Ineverknewamanwhounderstoodawomanyet。"
　　"IamextremelysorryforMissKing，"saidJasmine，tryingtosuppressasmile。"Asyouwiselyremark，ayoungladyisasealedbooktome，butIhavealwaysbeentoldthattheirfanciesareasvariableastheshadowofthebamboo;andprobably，therefore，thoughMissKing’sskymaybeovercastjustnow，thegloomwillonlymakeherenjoyto-morrow’ssunshineallthemore。"
　　Thewoman，whowasevidentlyinahurrytoconveythenewstohermistress，returnednoanswertothislastsally，but，withcurtailedobeisance，tookherdeparture。
　　Hernon-appearancethenextmorningconfirmedJasmineinthebeliefthatherbolddeparturefromtruthonthepreviouseveninghadhaditscurativeeffect。Thereliefwasgreat，forshehadfeltthatthesecomplicationswerebecomingtoofrequenttobepleasant，and，reprehensiblethoughitmayappear，herreliefwasmingledwithnosortofcompassionforMissKing。Herswasnotanaturetosympathisewithsuchsuddenandfierceattachments。HeraffectionforTuhadbeenthegrowthofmanymonths，andshehadnofeelingincommonwithayoungladywhocouldtakeaviolentlikingforayoungmansimplyfromseeinghimtakinghispost-prandialease。Itwasthereforewithcompletesatisfactionthatshelefttheinninthecourseofthemorningtopayherfarewellvisitstothegovernorandthejudgeoftheprovince，whohadtakenanunusualinterestinColonelWen’scasesinceJasminehadbecomehispersonaladvocate。Bothofficialshadpromisedtodoalltheycouldfortheprisoner，andhadloadedJasminewithtokensofgoodwillintheshapeofstrangeandrarefruitsandculinarydelicacies。Onthisparticulardaythegovernorhadinvitedhertothemiddaymeal，anditwaslateintheafternoonbeforeshefoundherwaybacktotheinn。
　　Thefollowingmorningsheroseearly，intendingtostartbeforenoon，andwassteppingintothecourtyardtogivedirectionsto"TheDragon，"when，tohersurprise，shewasaccostedbyMissKing’sservant，who，withawaggishsmileandacunningshakeofthehead，said：
　　"HowcanonesoyoungasyourExcellencybesuchaproficientintheartofinventingflowersoftheimagination？"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"saidJasmine。
　　"Why，lastnightyoutoldmeyouweremarried，andmypooryoungladywhenshehearditwaswrungwithgrief。But，recoveringsomewhat，shesentmetoaskyourservantswhetherwhatyouhadsaidwastrueornot，forsheknowswhatshe’saboutaswellasmostpeople，andtheybothwithonevoiceassuredmethat，farfrombeingmarriedyouhadnotevenexchangednuptialpresentswithanybody。YoumayimagineMissKing’sdelightwhenItookherthisnews。Sheatonceaskedhercousintocalluponyoutomakeaformalofferofmarriage，andshehasnowsentmetotellyouthathewillbehereanon。"
　　Everyoneknowswhatitistopasssuddenlyfromastateofpleasurablehighspiritsintodeepdespondency，toexchangeinaninstantbrightmentalsunshineforcloudandgloom。All，therefore，mustsympathisewithpoorJasmine，whobelievingtheroadbeforehertobesmoothandclear，onasuddenbecamethusawareofamosttroublesomeanddifficultobstruction。Shehadscarcelyfinishedcallingdownanathemasontheheadsof"TheDragon"andhiswife，andcursingherownfollyforbringingthemwithher，thantheinndoorswerethrownopen，andaservantappearedcarryingalongredvisiting-
　　cardinscribedwiththenameofthewealthyinn-proprietor。OntheheelsofthisforerunnerfollowedyoungMr。King，who，witheffusivebows，said，"IhaveventuredtopaymyrespectstoyourExcellency。"
　　PoorJasminewassoupsetbythewholeaffairthatshelackedsomeofthecourtesythatwashabitualtoher，andinherconfusionverynearlyseatedherguestonherrighthand。Fortunatelythisoutrageousbreachofetiquettewasavoided，andthepaireventuallyarrangedthemselvesinthecanonicalorder。
　　"ThisoldsonofHan，"beganMr。King，"wouldnothavedaredtointrudehimselfuponyourExcellencyifitwerenotthathehasamatterofgreatdelicacytodiscusswithyou。Hehasacousin，thedaughterofVice-PresidentKing，forwhomforyearshehasbeentryingtofindasuitablematch。Thepositionispeculiar，fortheladydeclarespositivelythatshewillnotmarryanyoneshehasnotseenandapprovedof。Untilnowshehasnotbeenabletofindanyonewhomshewouldcaretomarry。ButthepresenceofyourExcellencyhasthrownalightacrossherpathwhichhasshownherthewaytotheplum-grovesofmatrimonialfelicity。"
　　HereKingpaused，expectingsomereply;butJasminewastooabsorbedinthoughttospeak，soMr。Kingwenton：
　　"ThisoldsonofHan，hearingthatyourExcellencyisstillunmarried，hastakenituponhimselftomakeaproposalofmarriagetoyou，andtoofferhiscousinasyour’basketandbroom。’[wife]Hisinterviewwithyouhas，hemaysay，shownhimthewisdomofhiscousin’schoice，andhecannotimagineapairbettersuitedforoneanother，ormorelikelytobehappy，thanyourExcellencyandhiscousin。"
　　"Idarenotbeanythingbutstraightforwardwithyourworship，"saidJasmine，"andIamgratefulfortheextraordinaryaffectionyourcousinhasbeenpleasedtobestowuponme;butIcannotforgetthatshebelongstoafamilywhichisentitledtopassthroughthegateofthepalace[afamilyofdistinction]，andIfearthatmyrankisnotsufficientforher。Besides，myfatherisatpresentunderacloud，andIamnowonmywaytoPekingtotrytoreleasehimfromhisdifficulties。Itisnotime，therefore，formetobebindingmyselfwithpromises。"
　　"AstoyourExcellency’sfirstobjection，"repliedKing，"youarealreadythewearerofahatwithasilkentassel，andamanneednotbeaprophettoforetellthatintimetocomeanyoffice，eithercivilormilitary，willbewithinyourreach。Nodoubt，also，yourbusinessinPekingwillbequicklybroughttoasatisfactoryconclusion，andtherecanbenoobjection，therefore，tooursettlingthepreliminariesnow，andthen，onyourreturnfromthecapital，wecancelebratethewedding。Thiswillgiverestandcomposuretomycousin’smind，whichisnowlikeadisturbedsea，andwillnotinterfere，Iventuretothink，withtheaffairwhichcallsyoutoPeking。"
　　AsKingproceeded，Jasminefeltthatherdifficultieswereontheincrease。Itwasimpossiblethatsheshouldexplainherpositioninfull，andshehadnosufficientreasonathandtogiveforrejectingtheproposalmadeher，though，asthesametime，herannoyancewasnotsmallathavingsuchamatterforceduponheratamomentwhenhermindwasfilledwithanxieties。"Then，"shethoughttoherself，"thereisaheadofmethatexplanationwhichmustinevitablycomewithWei;
　　sothat，altogether，ifitwerenotforthedeeplyrootedconvictionwhichIhavethatTuwillbemineatlast，whenheknowswhatIreallyam，lifewouldnotbeworthhaving。Asforthisinn-proprietor，ifhehassolittledelicacyastopushhiscousinuponmeatthiscrisis，I
　　neednothaveanycompunctionregardinghim;soperhapsmyeasiestwayofgettingoutofthepresenthobblewillbetoaccepthisproposalandtopresenttheboxofpreciousointmenthandedmebyWeiformysistertothisoglinglove-sickgirl。"SoturningtoKing，shesaid：
　　"Sinceyou，sir，andyourcousinhavehonouredmewithyourregard，I
　　darenotaltogetherdeclineyourproposal，andIwouldthereforebegyou，sir，tohandthis，"sheadded，producingtheboxofointment，"toyourhonourablecousin，asatokenofthebondbetweenus，andtoconveytohermypromisethat，ifIdon’tmarryher，Iwillnevermarryanotherlady。"
　　Mr。King，withthegreatestdelight，receivedthebox，andhandingittothewaiting-woman，whostoodexpectantby，badehercarryittohermistress，withthenewsoftheengagement。Jasminenowhopedthatherimmediatetroubleswereover，butKinginsistedoncelebratingtheeventbyafeast，anditwasnotuntillateintheafternoonthatshesucceededinmakingastart。Onceontheroad，heranxietytoreachPekingwassuchthatshetravellednightandday，"feedingonwindandlodginginwater。"NordidsherestuntilshereachedahotelwithintheHataGateofthecapital。
　　Jasmine’ssolitaryjourneyhadgivenherabundanttimeforreflection，andforthefirsttimeshehadsetherselfseriouslytoconsiderherposition。Sherecognisedthatshehadhithertofollowedonlytheimpulsesofthemoment，ofwhichthemainonehadbeenthedesiretoescapecomplicationsbythewholesalesacrificeoftruth;andsheacknowledgedtoherselfthat，ifjusticewereevenlydealtout，theremustbeaNemesisinstoreforherwhichwouldbringdistressandpossiblydisasteruponher。Inhercalmermomentsshefeltaninstinctiveforebodingthatshewasapproachingacrisisinherfate，anditwaswithmixedfeelings，therefore，thatonthemorningafterherarrivalshepreparedtovisitTuandWei，whowereasyetignorantofherpresence。
　　Shedressedherselfwithmorethanusualcarefortheoccasion，choosingtoattireherselfinabluesilkrobeandamauvesatinjacketwhichTuhadonceadmired，toppedbyabrand-newcap。
　　Altogetherherappearanceasshepassedthroughthestreetsjustifiedtheremarkmadebyapasserby："Aprettyyoungster，andmorelikeamaidenofeighteenthanaman。"
　　ThehostelryatwhichTuandWeihadtakenuptheirabodewasaninnbefittingthedignityofsuchdistinguishedscholars。Oninquiringatthedoor，Jasminewasusheredbyaservantthroughacourtyardtoaninnerenclosure，where，underthegratefulshadeofawide-spreadingcotton-tree，Tuwasrecliningathisease。Jasmine’sdelightatmeetingherfriendwasonlyequalledbythepleasurewithwhichTugreetedher。Inhisstrongandgraciouspresenceshebecameconsciousthatshewasreleasedfromtheabsorbingcarewhichhadhauntedher，andhersoulleapedoutinnewfreedomassheaskedandansweredquestionsofherfriend。Eachhadmuchtosay，anditwasnotforsometime，whenanoccasionalreferencebroughthisnameforwardthatJasminenoticedtheabsenceofWei。Whenshedid，sheaskedafterhim。
　　"Heleftthissomedaysago，"saidTu，"havingsomespecialbusinesswhichcalledforhispresenceathome。Hedidnottellmewhatitwas，butdoubtlessitwassomethingofimportance。"Jasminesaidnothing，butfeltprettycertaininhermindastotheobjectofhishastyreturn。
　　Tu，attributinghersilencetoareflectiononWeiforhavingleftthecapitalbeforeherfather’saffairwassettled，hastenedtoadd：
　　"Hewasveryhelpfulinthematterofyourhonouredfather’sdifficulty，andonlyleftwhenhethoughthecouldnotdoanymore。"
　　"Howdomattersstandnow？"askedJasmine，eagerly。
　　"Wehavepostedamemorialatthepalacegate，"saidTu，"andhavearrangedthatitshallreachtherightquarter。Fortunately，also，I
　　haveanacquaintanceintheBoardofWarwhohasundertakentodoallhecaninthatdirection，andpromisesananswerinafewdays。"
　　"Ihavebroughtwithme，"saidJasmine，"apetitionpreparedbymyfather。Whatdoyouthinkaboutpresentingit？"
　　"AtpresentIbelievethatitwouldonlydoharm。Asuperabundanceofmemorialsisasbadasnoneatall。Beyondacertainpoint，theyonlyirritateofficials。"
　　"Verywell，"saidJasmine;"Iamquitecontenttoleavetheconductofaffairsinyourhands。"
　　"Wellthen，"saidTu，"thatbeingunderstood，Iproposethatyoushouldmoveyourthingsovertothisinn。ThereisWei’sroomatyourdisposal，andyourconstantpresenceherewillbebalmtomylonelyspirit。AttheHataGateyouarealmostasremoteasifyouwereinourstudyatMienchu。"
　　Jasminewasatfirststartledbythisproposal。ThoughshehadbeenconstantlyinthecompanyofTu，shehadneverlivedunderthesameroofwithhim，andsheatoncerecognisedthattheremightbedifficultiesinthewayofherkeepinghersecretifsheweretobeconstantlyundertheeyesofherfriend。Butshehadbeensolongaccustomedtoyieldtothepresentcircumstances，andwassoconfidentthatFortune，which，withsomeslightirregularities，hadalwaysstoodherfriend，wouldnotdesertheronthepresentoccasion，thatshegaveway。
　　"Byallmeans，"shesaid。"Iwillgobacktomyinn，andbringmythingsatonce。Thiswriting-caseIwillleavehere。Ibroughtitbecauseitcontainsmyfather’spetition。"
　　Sosaying，shetookherleave，andTuretiredtohiseasy-chairunderthecotton-tree。Butthedemonofcuriositywasabroad，andalightingonthearmofTu’schair，whisperedinhisearthatitmightbewellifheranhiseyeoverColonelWen’spetitiontoseeiftherewasanyargumentinitwhichhehadomittedinhisstatementtotheBoardofWar。Atfirst，Tu，whosenaturewasthereverseofinquisitive，declinedtolistentothesepromptings，butsopersistentdidtheybecomethatheatlastputdownhisbook——"TheSpringandAutumnAnnals"——and，seatinghimself，atthesitting-roomtable，openedthewriting-casesoinnocentlyleftbyJasmine。Onthetopwereanumberofredvisiting-cardsbearingtheinscription，inblack，ofWenTsunk’ing，andbeneaththesewasthepetition。CarefullyTureaditthrough，andpassedmentaleulogie...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：

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