to acquit me. But my difficulty is that I have no one whom I can send to
look after the business."

"Let _me_ go," said Jasmine. "When Tu and Wei were leaving, they begged
me to follow them to consult as to the best means of helping you, and
with them to depend on I have nothing to fear."

"I quite believe that you are as capable of managing the matter as
anybody," said her father, admiringly; "but Peking is a long way off,
and I cannot bear to think of the things which might happen to you on
the road."

"From all time," answered Jasmine, "it has been considered the duty of
a daughter to risk anything in the service of her father; and though the
way is long, I shall have weapons to defend myself with against injury,
and a clear conscience with which to answer any interrogatories which
may be put to me. Besides, I will take our messenger, 'The Dragon,' and
his wife with me. I will make her dress as a man--what fun it will be
to see Mrs. Dragon's portly form in trousers, and gabardine! When that
transformation is made, we shall be a party of three men. So, you see,
she and I will have a man to protect us, and I shall have a woman to
wait upon me; and if such a gallant company cannot travel from this to
Peking in safety, I'll forswear boots and trousers and will retire into
the harem for ever."

"Well," said her father, laughing, "if you can arrange in that way, go
by all means, and the sooner you start the sooner I hope you will be
back."

Delighted at having gained the approval of her father to her scheme,