as 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 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:

"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