elf, though his mouth continued to open and close for a
further period.

"'As the mountains rise, so the river winds,'" replied Chang Tao, and
with unquenchable deference he added respectfully as he took his
leave, "Fear not, eminence; you will yet remain to see five
generations of stalwart he-children, all pressing forward to worship
your imperishable memory."

In such a manner Chang Tao set forth to defy the Usages and--if
perchance it might be--to speak to Shen Yi face to face of Melodious
Vision. Yet in this it may be that the youth was not so much hopeful
of success by his own efforts as that he was certain of failure by the
elder Chang's. And in the latter case the person in question might
then irrevocably contract him to a maiden of the house of Tung, or to
another equally forbidding. Not inaptly is it written: "To escape from
fire men will plunge into boiling water."

Nevertheless, along the Stone Path many doubts and disturbances arose
within Chang Tao's mind. It was not in this manner that men of weight
and dignity sought wives. Even if Shen Yi graciously overlooked the
absence of polite formality, would not the romantic imagination of
Melodious Vision be distressed when she learned that she had been
approached with so indelicate an absence of ceremony? "Here, again,"
said Chang Tao's self-reproach accusingly, "you have, as usual, gone
on in advance of both your feet and of your head. 'It is one thing to
ignore the Rites: it is quite another to expect the gods to ignore the
Penalties.' Assuredly you will suffer for it."

It was at this point that Chang Tao was approached by one who had
noted his coming from afar, and had awaited him, for passers-by were
sparse and remote.

"Prosperity attend your opportune footsteps," said the stranger
respectfully. "A misbegotten goat-track enticed this person from his
appointed line by the elusive semblance of an avoided li. Is there,
within your enlightened knowledge, the house of one Shen Yi, who makes
a feast to-day, positioned about this inauspicious region? It is
further described as fronting on a summer-seat domed with red copper."

"There is such a house as you describe, at no great distance to the
west," replied Chang Tao. "But that he marks the day with music had
not reached these superficial ears."

"It is but among those of his inner chamber, this being the name-day
of one whom he would honour in a refined and at the same time
inexpensive manner. To that