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formed a reading…party with two youths of her own age。 These lads； by
name Wei and Tu； had been her school…fellows； and were delighted at
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obtaining her promise to join them in their studies。 So industriously were
these pursued that the three friends succeeded in taking their B。A。 degree
at the next examination； and； encouraged by this success； determined to
venture on a struggle for a still higher distinction。
Though at one in their affection for Jasmine； Tu and Wei were unlike
in everything else； which probably accounted for the friendship which
existed between them。 Wei was the more clever of the two。 He wrote
poetry with ease and fluency； and his essays were marked by correctness
of style and aptness of quotation。 But there was a want of strength in his
character。 He was exceedingly vain； and was always seeking to excite
admiration among his companions。 This unhappy failing made him very
susceptible of adverse criticism； and at the same time extremely jealous of
any one who might happen to excel him in any way。 Tu； on the other hand；
though not so intellectually favoured； had a rough kind of originality；
which always secured for his exercises a respectful attention； and made
him at all times an agreeable companion。 Having no exaggerated ideas of
his capabilities； he never strove to appear otherwise than he was； and
being quite independent of the opinions of others； he was always natural。
Thus he was one who was sought out by his friends； and was best
esteemed by those whose esteem was best worth having。 In outward
appearance the youths were as different as their characters were diverse。
Wei was decidedly good…looking； but of a kind of beauty which suggested
neither rest nor sincerity； while in Tu's features； though there was less
grace； the want was fully compensated for by the strength and honest
firmness of his countenance。
For both these young men Jasmine had a liking； but there was no
question as to which she preferred。 As she herself said； 〃Wei is pleasant
enough as a companion； but if I had to look to one of them for an act of
true friendshipor as a lover；〃 she mentally added〃I should turn at once
to Tu。〃 It was one of her amusements to compare the young men in her
mind； and one day when so occupied Tu suddenly looked up from his
book and said to her：
〃What a pity it is that the gods have made us both men！ If /I/ were a
woman； the object of my heart would be to be your wife； and if /you/ were
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a woman； there is nothing I should like better than to be your husband。〃
Jasmine blushed up to the roots of her hair at having her own thoughts
thus capped； as it were； but before she could answer； Wei broke in with：
〃What nonsense you talk！ And why； I should like to know； should you
be the only one the 'young noble' might choose； supposing he belonged to
the other sex？〃
〃You are both talking nonsense；〃 said Jasmine； who had had time to
recover her composure； 〃and remind me of my two old childless aunts；〃
she added； laughing； 〃who are always quarrelling about the names they
would have given their children if the goddess Kwanyin had granted them
any half a century ago。 As a matter of act； we are three friends reading for
our M。A。 degrees； neither more nor less。 And I will trouble you； my elder
brother；〃 she added； turning to Tu； 〃to explain to me what the poet means
by the expression 'tuneful Tung' in the line：
'The greedy flames devour the tuneful Tung。' 〃
A learned disquisition by Tu on the celebrated musician who
recognised the sonorous qualities of a piece of Tung timber burning in the
kitchen fire effectually diverted the conversation from the inconvenient
direction it had taken； and shortly afterward Jasmine took her leave。
Haunted by the thought of what had passed； she wandered on to the
veranda of her archery pavilion； and while gazing half unconsciously
heavenward her eyes were attracted by a hawk which flew past and
alighted on a tree beyond the boundary…wall； and in front of the study she
had lately left。 In a restless and thoughtless mood； she took up her bow
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
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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 f