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temper I returned to the place of meeting to find a priest of one of the
lesser orders relating a circumstance whereby he had encountered a wild
maiden in the woods； who had steadfastly persisted that she was one of a
band of seven （this being the luckiest protective number among the
superstitious）。 Though unable to cause their appearance； she had gone
through a most precise examination at his hands without deviating in the
slightest particular； whereupon distrusting the outcome of the strife； the
person who was relating the adventure had withdrawn breathless。
When this versatile lesser priest had finished the narration； and the
applause； which clearly showed that those present approved of the solitary
maiden's discreet stratagem； had ceased； the one who occupied the central
platform； rising； exclaimed loudly； 〃Mr。 Kong will next favour us with a
contribution； which will consist； I am informed； of a Chinese tale。〃
Now there chanced to be present a certain one who had already
become offensive to me by the systematic dexterity with which he had
planted his inopportune shadow between the sublime…souled Helena and
any other who made a movement to approach her heaven…dowered outline。
When this presumptuous and ill…nurtured outcast； who was； indeed； then
seated by the side of the enchanting maiden last referred to； heard the
announcement he said in a voice feigned to reach her peach…skin ear alone；
yet intentionally so modulated as to penetrate the furthest limit of the room；
〃A Chinese tale！ Why； assuredly； that must be a pig…tail。〃 At this unseemly
shaft many of those present allowed themselves to become immoderately
amused； and even the goat…like sage who had called upon my name
concealed his face behind an open hand； but the amiably…disposed Helena；
after looking at the undiscriminating youth coldly for a moment；
deliberately rose and moved to a vacant spot at a distance。 Encouraged by
this fragrant act of sympathy I replied with a polite bow to indicate the
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position； 〃On the contrary； the story which it is now my presumptuous
intention to relate will contain no reference whatever to the carefully…got…
up one occupying two empty seats in the front row；〃 and without further
introduction began the history of Kao and his three brothers； to which I
had added the title； 〃The Three Gifts。〃
At the conclusion of this classical example of the snares ever lying
around the footsteps of the impious； I perceived that the jocular stripling；
whom I had so delicately reproved； was no longer present。 Doubtless he
had been unable to remain in the same room with the commanding
Helena's high…spirited indignation； and anticipating that in consequence
there would now be no obstacle to her full…faced benignity； I drew near
with an appropriate smile。
It is somewhere officially recorded； 〃There is only one man who knew
with accurate certainty what a maiden's next attitude would be； and he
died young of surprise。〃 As I approached I had the sensation of passing
into so severe an atmosphere of rigid disfavour； that the ingratiating lines
upon my face became frozen in its intensity； despite the ineptness of their
expression。 Unable to penetrate the cause of my offence； I made a variety
of agreeable remarks； until finding that nothing tended towards a
becoming reconciliation； I gradually withdrew in despair； and again turned
my face in the direction of that same accommodation which I had already
found beneath the sign of an Encompassed Goat。 Here； by the sarcasm of
destiny； I encountered the person who had drawn the slighting analogy
between this one's pig…tail and his ability as a story…teller。 For a brief space
of time the ultimate development of the venture was doubtfully poised； but
recognising in each other's features the overhanging cloud of an allied
pang； the one before me expressed a becoming contrition for the jest；
together with a proffered cup。 Not to appear out…classed I replied in a
suitable vein； involving the supply of more vessels； whereupon there
succeeded many more vessels； called for both singly and in harmonious
unison； and the reappearance of numerous bright images； accompanied by
a universal scintillation of meteor…like iridescence。 In this genial and
greatly…enlarged spirit we returned affably together to the hall； and entered
unperceived at the moment when the one who made the announcements
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was crying aloud； 〃According to the programme the next item should have
been a Chinese poem； but as Mr。 Kong Ho appears to have left the
building； we shall pass him over〃
〃What Ho？〃 exclaimed the somewhat impetuous one by my side；
stepping forward indignantly and mounting the platform in his affectionate
zeal。 〃No one shall pass over my old and valued friendthis Howhile I
have a paw to raise。 Step forward； Mandarin； and let them behold the
inventor and sole user of the justly far…famed G。 R。 Ko…Ho hair restorer
sent in five guinea bottles to any address on receipt of four penny stamps
as he appeared in his celebrated impersonation of the human…faced Swan
at Doll and Edgar's。 Come on； oh； Ho！〃
〃Assuredly；〃 I replied； striving to follow him； 〃yet with the wary
greeting； 'Slowly； slowly； walk slowly；' engraved upon my mind； for the
barrier of these convoluted stairs〃 but at this word a band of maidens
passed out hastily； and in the tumult I reached the dais and began Weng
Chi's immortal verses； entitled 〃The Meandering Flight；〃 which had
occupied me three complete days and nights in the detail of rendering the
allusions into well…balanced similitudes and at the same time preserving
the skilful evasion of all conventional rules which raises the original to so
sublime a height。
The voice of one singing at the dawn； The seven harmonious colours
in the sky； The meeting by the fountain； The exchange of gifts； and the
sound of the processional drum； The emotion of satisfaction in each
created being； This is the all…prominent indication of the Spring。
The general disinclination to engage in laborious tasks； The general
readiness to consume voluminous potions on any pretext。 The deserted
appearance of the city and the absence of the come…in motion at every
door； The sportiveness of maidens； and even those of maturer age；
ethereally clad； upon the shore。 The avowed willingness of merchants to
dispose of their wares for half the original sum。 This undoubtedly is the
Summer。
The yellow tea leaf circling as it falls； The futile wheeling of the
storm…tossed swan； The note of the marble lute at evening by the pool； The
immobile cypress seen against the sun。 The unnecessarily difficult
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examination paper。 All these things are suggestive of the Autumn。
The growing attraction of a well…lined couch。 The obsequious
demeanour of message…bearers； charioteers； and the club…armed keepers of
peace。 The explosion of innumerable fire…crackers round the convivial
shines； The gathering together of relations who at all other times shun
each other markedly。 The obtrusive recollection of a great many things
contrary to a spoken vow； and the inflexible purpose to be more resolute in
future。 These in turn invariably attend each Winter。
It certainly had not presented itself to me before that the words
〃invariably attend〃 are ill…chosen； but as I would have uttered them their
inelegance became plain； and this person made