on his imagination.

"Let us rest here a while," he suggested presently. "That which you
say, added to what I already know, may, under the guidance of a
sincere mind, put a much more rainbow-like outlook on our combined
future than hitherto appeared probable."

So they composed themselves about the bank of the river, while Lin
questioned her more closely as to those things of which she had
spoken. Finally, he laid certain injunctions upon her for her
immediate guidance. Then, it being now the hour of middle light, they
returned, Mean accompanying her voice to the melody of stringed wood,
as she related songs of those who have passed through great endurances
to a state of assured contentment. To Lin it seemed as though the city
leapt forward to meet them, so narrow was the space of time involved
in reaching it.

A few days later Wang Ho was engaged in the congenial occupation of
marking a few pieces of brass cash before secreting them where Cheng
Lin must inevitably displace them, when the person in question quietly
stood before him. Thereupon Wang Ho returned the money to his inner
sleeve, ineptly remarking that when the sun rose it was futile to
raise a lantern to the sky to guide the stars.

"Rather is it said, 'From three things cross the road to avoid: a
falling tree, your chief and second wives whispering in agreement, and
a goat wearing a leopard's tail,'" replied Lin, thus rebuking Wang Ho,
not only for his crafty intention, but also as to the obtuseness of
the proverb he had quoted. "Nevertheless, O Wang Ho, I approach you on
a matter of weighty consequence."

"To-morrow approaches," replied the merchant evasively. "If it
concerns the detail of the reduction of your monthly adequacy, my word
has become unbending iron."

"It is written: 'Cho Sing collected feathers to make a garment for his
canary when it began to moult,'" replied Lin acquiescently. "The care
of so insignificant a person as myself may safely be left to the
Protecting Forces, esteemed. This matter touches your own condition."

"In that case you cannot be too specific." Wang Ho lowered himself
into a reclining couch, thereby indicating that the subject was not
one for hasty dismissal, at the same time motioning to Lin that he
should sit upon the floor. "Doubtless you have some remunerative form
of enterprise to suggest to me?"

"Can a palsied finger grasp a proffered coin? The matter strikes more
deeply at your very existence, honoured ch