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extremities in question are not less small but infinitely less graceful than
the select and naturally…formed pair which this person sees before him。〃
And at the ingeniously…devised compliment （which； not to become large…
headed in self…imagination； it must be admitted was revealed to me as
available for practically all occassions by the really invaluable Quang…
Tsun）； I bowed unremittingly。
〃O； Mr。 Ho！〃 exclaimed the maiden； and paused abruptly at the sound
of her words； as though they were inept。
〃In many other ways a comparison equally irreproachable to the
exalted being at my side might be sought out；〃 I continued； suddenly
forming the ill…destined judgment that I was no less competent than the
more experienced Quang…Tsun to contrive delicate offerings of speech。
〃Their hair is rope like in its lack of spontaneous curve； their eyes as
deficient in lustre as a half…shuttered window； their hands are exceedingly
inferior in colour； and both on the left side； as it may be expressed； their
legs〃 but at this point the maiden drew herself so hastily into herself that
I had no alternative but to conclude that unless I reverted in some way the
enterprise was in peril of being inharmoniously conducted。
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〃Mr。 Ho；〃 said the maiden； after contemplating her inward thoughts for
a moment； 〃you are a foreigner； and you cannot be expected to know by
instinct what may and what may not be openly expressed in this country。
Therefore； although the obligation is not alluring； I think it kinder to tell
you that the matters which formed the subject of your last words are never
to be referred to。〃
At this rebuke I again bowed persistently； for it did not appear
reasonable to me that I could in any other way declare myself without
violating the imposed command。
〃Not only are they never openly referred to；〃 continued the maiden；
who in spite of the declared no allurement of the subject did not seem
disposed to abandon it at once； 〃but among the most select they are； by
unspoken agreement； regarded as 'having no actual existence；' as you
yourself would say。〃
〃Yet；〃 protested this person； somewhat puzzled； 〃to one who has
witnessed the highly…achieved attitudes of those within your Halls of
Harmony； and in an unyielding search for knowledge has addressed
himself even to the advertisement pages of the ladies' papers〃
The maiden waved her hand magnanimously。 〃In your land； as you
have told me； there are many things； not really existing； which for
politeness you assume to be。 In a like but converse manner this is to be so
regarded。〃
I thanked her voluminously。 〃The etiquette of this country is as
involved as the spoken tongue；〃 I said； 〃for both are composed chiefly of
exceptions to a given rule。 It was formerly impressed upon this person； as
a guiding principle； that that which is unseen is not to be discussed； yet it
is not held in disrepute to allude to so intimate and secluded an organ as
the heart； for no further removed than yesterday he heard the deservedly
popular sea…lieutenant in the act of declaring to you； upon his knees； that
you were utterly devoid of such a possession。〃
At this inoffensively…conveyed suggestion； the fire opposite had all the
appearance of suddenly reflecting itself into the maiden's face with a most
engaging concentration； while at the same time she stamped her foot in ill…
concealed rage。
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〃You've been listening at the door！〃 she cried impetuously； 〃and I shall
never forgive you。〃
〃To no extent；〃 I declared hastily （for although I had indeed been
listening at the door； it appeared； after the weight which she set upon the
incident； more honourable that I should deny it in order to conciliate her
mind）。 〃It so chanced that for the moment this person had forgotten
whether the handle he was grasping was of the push…out or turn…in variety；
and in the involvement a few words of no particular or enduring
significance settled lightly upon his perception。
〃In that case；〃 she replied in high…souled liberality； while her eyes
scintillated towards me with a really all…overpowering radiance； 〃I will
forgive you。〃
〃We have an old but very appropriate saying； 'To every man the voice
of one maiden carries further than the rolling of thunder；'〃 I remarked in a
significantly restrained tone； for； although conscious that the circumstance
was becoming more menace…laden than I had any previous intention； I
found myself to be incapable of extrication。 〃Florence〃
〃Oh；〃 she exclaimed quickly； raising her polished hand with an
undeniable gesture of reproof； 〃you must not call me by my christian name；
Mr。 Ho。〃
〃Yet；〃 replied this person； with a confessedly stubborn inelegance；
〃you call me by the name of Ho。〃
Her eyes became ox…like in an utter absence of almond outline。 〃Yes；〃
she said gazing； 〃but thatthat is not your christian name； is it？〃
〃In a position of speakingthis one being as a matter of fact a
discreditable follower of the sublime Confuciusit may be so regarded；〃 I
answered； 〃inasmuch as it is the milk…name of childhood。〃
〃But you always put it last；〃 she urged。
〃Assuredly；〃 I replied。 〃Being irrevocably born with the family name
of Kong； it is thought more reasonable that that should stand first。 After
that； others are attached as the various contingencies demand it； as Ho
upon participating in the month…age feast； the book…name of Tsin at a later
period； Paik upon taking a degree； and so forth。〃
〃I am very sorry； Mr。 Kong；〃 said the maiden； adding； with what at the
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time certainly struck this person as shallow…witted prejudice。 〃Of course it
is really quite your own fault for being so tospy…turvily arranged in every
way。 But； to return to the subject； why should not one speak of one's
heart？〃
〃Because；〃 replied this person； colouring deeply； and scarcely able to
control his unbearable offence that so irreproachably…moulded a creature
should openly refer to the detail； 〃because it is a gross and unrefined
particular； much more internal and much less pleasantly…outlined than
those extremities whose spoken equivalent shall henceforth be an
abandoned word from my lips。〃
〃But； in any case； it is not the actual organ that one infers；〃 protested
the maiden。 〃As the seat of the affections； passions； virtues； and will； it is
the conventional emblem of every thought and emotion。〃
〃By no means；〃 I cried； forgetting in the face of so heterodox an
assertion that it would be well to walk warily at every point。 〃That is the
stomach。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the maiden； burying her face in a gracefully…
perfumed remnant of lace； to so overwhelming a degree that for the
moment I feared she might become involved in the dizzy falling。 〃Never；
by any mischance； use that word again the society of the presentable； Mr。
Kong。〃
〃The ceremonial usage of my own land of the Heavenly Dynasty is
proverbially elaborate；〃 I said； with a gesture of self…abasement； 〃but in
comparison with yours it may be regarded as an undeviating walk when
opposed to a stately and many…figured dance。 Among the company of the
really excessively select （in which must ever be included the one whom I
am now addressing）； it becomes difficult for an outcast of my illimitable
obtuseness to move to one side or the other without putting his foot into
that。〃
〃Oh no；〃 exclaimed the maiden； in fragrant encouragement； 〃I think
you are getting on very nicely； Mr。 Kong； and one does not look for
absolute