the hawk, but what the box of precious ointment means I don't know."

Confronted with this overwhelming evidence, poor Jasmine remained
speechless, and dared not even lift her eyes to glance at Tu. That young
man, seeing her distress, and being in no wise possessed by the scorn
which he had put into his tone, crossed over to her and gently led her
to a seat by him.

"Do you remember," he said, in so altered a voice that Jasmine's heart
ceased to throb as if it wished to force an opening through the finely
formed bosom which enclosed it, "on one occasion in our study at home I
wished that you were a woman that you might become my wife? Little did
I think that my wish might be gratified. Now it is, and I beseech you to
let us join our lives in one, and seek the happiness of the gods in each
other's perpetual presence."

But, as if suddenly recollecting herself, Jasmine withdrew her hand from
his, and, standing up before him with quivering lip and eyes full of
tears, said:

"No. It can never be."

"Why not?" said Tu, in alarmed surprise.

"Because I am bound to Wei."

"What! Does Wei know your secret?"

"No. But do you remember when I shot that arrow in front of your study?"