conversation would have ceased; but that young woman was determined to
probe the matter to the bottom.

"You have not told us," she said, "the gentleman's name. And will you
explain why you call him your friend? How could you be on terms of
friendship with him?"

"From my childhood," said Jasmine, "I have always dressed as a boy. I
went to a boy's school--"

"_Haiyah!_" interjected the maid.

"And afterward I joined my husband and this gentleman, Mr. Wei, in a
reading-party."

"Didn't they discover your secret?"

"No."

"Never?"

"Never."

"That's odd," said the maid. "But will you tell us something about this
Mr. Wei?"

Upon this, Jasmine launched out in a glowing eulogy upon her friend.
She expatiated with fervour on his youth, good looks, learning, and
prospects, and with such effect did she speak that Miss King, who
began to take in the situation, ended by accepting cordially Jasmine's