ds himself face to face with
an arduous and dangerous undertaking, followed, perhaps, by hasty and
immediate flight. Yet if the adorable Hiya will prove the unchanging
depths of her constantly expressed intention by accompanying him as
far as the village of Hing where suitable marriage ceremonies can be
observed without delay, the exile will in reality be in the nature of
a triumphal procession, and the emotions with which this person has
hitherto regarded the entire circumstance will undergo a complete and
highly accomplished change."

"Oh, Yang!" exclaimed the maiden, whose feelings at hearing these words
were in no way different from those of her lover when he was on the
point of opening the folded paper upon which Tung Fel had written; "what
is the nature of the mission upon which you are so impetuously resolved?
and why will it be followed by flight?"

"The nature of the undertaking cannot be revealed by reason of a
deliberately taken oath," replied Yang Hu; "and the reason of its
possible consequence is a less important question to the two persons who
are here conversing together than of whether the amiable and graceful
Hiya is willing to carry out her often-expressed desire for an
opportunity of displaying the true depths of her emotions towards this
one."

"Alas!" said Hiya, "the sentiments which this person expressed with
irreproachable honourableness when the sun was high in the heavens and
the probability of secretly leaving an undoubtedly well-appointed home
was engagingly remote, seem to have an entirely different significance
when recalled by night in a damp orchard, and on the eve of their
fulfilment. To deceive one's parents is an ignoble prospect;
furthermore, it is often an exceedingly difficult undertaking. Let the
matter be arranged in this way: that Yang leaves the ultimate details
of the scheme to Hiya's expedient care, he proceeding without delay
to Hing, or, even more desirable, to the further town of Liyunnan,
and there awaiting her coming. By such means the risk of discovery and
pursuit will be lessened, Yang will be able to set forth on his journey
with greater speed, and this one will have an opportunity of getting
together certain articles without which, indeed, she would be very
inadequately equipped."

In spite of his conscientious desire that Hiya should be by his side
on the journey, together with an unendurable certainty that evil would
arise from the course she proposed, Yang was