第28章 A CHINESE GIRL GRADUATE BY R.K.DOUGLAS(11)

"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 allowedto 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 Iknew 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.