that when once he had
succeeded in passing the examination for the second degree and thereby
become entitled to an inferior mandarinship he would abandon his
former life forever. From this resolution the entreaties of his
devoted followers could not shake him, and presently they ceased to
argue, being reassured by the fact that although Hien presented
himself unfailingly for every examination his name appeared at the
foot of each successive list with unvarying frequency. It was at this
period that he first came under the ennobling spell of Fa Fei's
influence and from that time forth he redoubled his virtuous efforts.

After conversing with her father, as already related, Fa Fei spent the
day in an unusually thoughtful spirit. As soon as it was dark she
stepped out from the house and veiling her purpose under the pretext
of gathering some herbs to complete a charm she presently entered a
grove of overhanging cedars where Hien had long been awaiting her
footsteps.

"Rainbow of my prosaic existence!" he exclaimed, shaking hands with
himself courteously, "have you yet carried out your bold suggestion?"
and so acute was his anxiety for her reply that he continued to hold
his hand unconsciously until Fa Fei turned away her face in very
becoming confusion.

"Alas, O my dragon-hearted one," she replied at length, "I have indeed
dared to read the scroll, but how shall this person's inelegant lips
utter so detestable a truth?"

"It is already revealed," said Hien, striving to conceal from her his
bitterness. "When the list of competitors at the late examination is
publicly proclaimed to-morrow at the four gates of the city, the last
name to be announced will again, and for the eleventh time, be that of
the degraded Hien."

"Beloved," exclaimed Fa Fei, resolved that as she could not honourably
deny that her Hien's name was again indeed the last one to appear she
would endeavour to lead his mind subtly away to the contemplation of
more pleasurable thoughts, "it is as you have said, but although your
name is the last, it is by far the most dignified and
romantic-sounding of all, nor is there another throughout the list
which can be compared to it for the ornamental grace of its flowing
curves."

"Nevertheless," replied Hien, in a violent access of self-contempt,
"it is a name of abandoned omen and is destined only to reach the ears
of posterity to embellish the proverb of scorn, 'The lame duck should
avoid the ploughed fie