than she had ever done before, and the process made her doubly conscious
of the depth of her affection for Tu. "A horse," she said to herself,
"cannot carry two saddles, and a woman cannot marry more than one man."
Wise as this saw was, it did not help her out of her difficulty, and
she turned to the chapter of accidents, and determined to trust to time,
that old disposer of events, to settle the matter. But Wei was inclined
to be impatient, and Jasmine was obliged to resort to more of those
departures from truth which circumstances had forced upon this generally
very upright young lady.

"I have consulted my father on the subject," she said to the expectant
Wei, "and he insists on your waiting until the autumn examination is
over. He has every confidence that you will then take your M.A. degree,
and your marriage will, he hopes, put the coping-stone on your happiness
and honour."

"That is all very well," said Wei; "but autumn is a long time hence, and
how do I know that your sister may not change her mind?"

"Has not your younger brother undertaken to look after your interests,
and cannot you trust him to do his best on your behalf?"

"I can trust my elder brother with anything in the world. It is your
sister that I am afraid of," said Wei. "But since you will undertake for
her--"

"No, no," said Jasmine, laughing, "I did not say that I would undertake
for her. A man who answers for a woman deserves to have 'fool' written
on his forehead."