按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
carry the first part of my well…intentioned surprise into effect。
The matter now involves one named Herbert； who having exchanged
gifts of betrothal with a maiden staying at the house； was in the habit of
presenting himself openly； when he was permitted to see her； after the
manner of these barbarians。 （Yet even of them the more discriminating
acknowledge that our customs are immeasurably superior； for when I
explained to the aged father of the Maidens Blank that among us the
marriage rites are irrevocably performed before the bride is seen unveiled
by man； he sighed heavily and exclaimed that the parents of this country
had much to learn。）
The genial…minded Herbert had already acquired for himself the
reputation of being one who ceaselessly removes the gravity of others；
both by word and action； and from the first he selected this obscure person
for his charitable purpose to a most flattering extent。 Not only did heon
the pretext that his memory was rebelliousinvariably greet me as 〃Mr。
Hong Kong；〃 but on more than one occasion he insisted； with mirth…
provoking reference to certain details of my unbecoming garments； that I
must surely have become confused and sent a Mrs。 Hong Kong instead of
myself； and frequently he undermined the gravity of all most successfully
by pulling me backwards suddenly by the pigtail； with the plea that he
imagined he was picking up his riding…whip。 This attractive person was
always accompanied by a formidable dogof convex limbs； shrunken lip；
and suspicious demeanourwhich he called Influenza； to the excessive
amusement of those to whom he related its characteristics。 For some
17
… Page 18…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
inexplicable reason from the first it regarded my lower apparel as being
unsuitable for the ordinary occasions of life； and in spite of the low hissing
call by which its master endeavoured to attract its attention to himself； it
devoted its energies unceasingly to the self…imposed task of removing
them fragment by fragment。 Nevertheless it was a dog of favourable size
and condition； and it need not therefore be a matter for surprise that when
the intellectual person Herbert took his departure on the day in question it
had to be assumed that it had already preceded him。 Having accomplished
so much； this person found little difficulty in preparing it tastefully in his
own apartment； and making the substitution on the following day。
Although his mind was confessedly enlarged at the success of his
venture； and his hopes most ornamentally coloured at the thought of the
adorable one's gratified esteem when she discovered how expertly her
wishes had been carried out； this person could not fail to notice that the
Maiden Blank was also materially agitated when she distributed the
contents of the dish before her。
〃Will you； of your enlightened courtesy； accept； and overlook the
deficiencies of； a portion of rabbit…pie； O high…souled Mr。 Kong？〃 she
inquired gracefully when this insignificant person was reached； and；
concealing my many…hued emotion beneath an impassive face； I bowed
agreeably as I replied； 〃To the beggar； black bread is a royal course。〃
〃WHAT pie did you say； dear？〃 whispered another autumnal maiden；
when all had partaken somewhat； and at her words a most consistently
acute silence involved the table。
〃II don't quite know；〃 replied the one of the upper end； becoming
excessively devoid of complexion； and restraining her voice she forthwith
sent down an attending slave to inquire closely。
At this point a person of degraded ancestry endeavoured to remove the
undoubted cloud of depression by feigning the nocturnal cry of the
domestic cat； but in this he was not successful； and a maiden opposite；
after fixedly regarding a bone on her plate； withdrew suddenly； embracing
herself as she went。 A moment later the slave returned； proclaiming aloud
that the dish which had been prepared for the occasion had now been
accidentally discovered by the round…bodied cook beneath the cushions of
18
… Page 19…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
an arm…chair （a spot by no means satisfactory to this person's imagination
had the opportunities at his disposal been more diffuse）。
〃What； then； is this of which we have freely partaken？〃 cried they
around； and； in the really impressive silence which followed； an
inopportune person discovered a small silver tablet among the fragments
upon his plate； and； taking it up； read aloud the single word； 〃Influenza。〃
During the day； and even far into the uncounted gong…strokes of the
time of darkness； this person had frequently remained in a fascinated
contemplation of the moment when he should reveal himself and stand up
to receive the benevolently…expressed congratulations of all who paid an
agreed sum at fixed intervals； and； particularly； the dazzling though
confessedly unsettling glance…thanks of the celestially…formed maiden who
had explicitly stated that she was desirous of having a little dog。 Now；
however； when this part of the enterprise ought to have taken place； I
found myself unable to evade the conclusion that some important detail of
the entire scheme had failed to agree harmoniously with the rest； and； had
it been possible； I would have retired with unobtrusive tact and permitted
another to wear my honourable acquirements。 But； for some reason； as I
looked around I perceived that every eye was fixed upon me with what at
another time would have been a most engaging unanimity； and； although I
bowed with undeterred profusion； and endeavoured to walk out behind an
expression of all…comprehensive urbanity that had never hitherto failed me；
a person of unsympathetic outline placed himself before the door； and two
others； standing one on each side of me； gave me to understand that a
recital of the full happening was required before I left the room。 *
It is hopeless to expect a display of refined intelligence at the hands of
a people sunk in barbarism and unacquainted with the requirements of true
dignity and the essentials of food preparation。 On the manner of behaving
of the male portion of those present this person has no inducement
whatever to linger。 Even the maiden for whom he had accomplished so
much； after the nature of the misunderstanding had been made plain to her；
uttered only a single word of approval； which； on subsequently consulting
a book of interpretations； this person found to indicate： 〃A person of weak
intellect； one without an adequate sense of the proportion and fitness of
19
… Page 20…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
things； a buffoon； a jester； a compound of gooseberries scalded and
crushed with cream〃； but although each of these definitions may in a way
be regarded as applicable； he is still unable to decide which was the
precise one intended。
With salutations of filial regard； and in a spirit seven times refined by
affliction and purified by vain regrets。
KONG HO。 （Upon whose tablet posterity will perchance inscribe the
titles； 〃Ill…destined but Misjudged。〃）
20
… Page 21…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
LETTER III
Concerning the virtuous amusements of both old and young。 The sit…
round games。 The masterpiece of the divine Li Tang； and its reception by
all； including that same Herbert。
VENERATED SIRE （whose breadth of mind is so well developed as
to take for granted boundless filial professions； which； indeed； become
vapid by a too frequent reiteration）；
Your amiable inquiry as to how the barbarians pass their time； when
not employed in affairs of commerce or