THEN IV. OF FORTUNATE. UNION. CHAPTER XI. TEIHCHUNGYU, URGED BY HIS ATTACHment, goes A HUNDRED LEAGUES TO THE LADY'S SUCCOUR." Deny not that her peril was a case To claim his aid-each thought and energy Was bent to serve her; and his course he hasten'd, For interference-no officious zeal Was his, for if not he, who else had mov'd? WE have seen the vexation of Kwoketsu, when he found that the commissioner, instead of hastening his marriage, had issued a prohibitory notice in favour of Shueypingsin;—as well as his rage at being constantly denied in his calls at the great man's house. Still he was at a loss how to proceed, and accordingly paid a visit to the Chehëen, to see what he could learn from him. That magistrate was startled when he heard of the change in the commissioner's conduct, and exclaimed, What can be the meaning of this !-No doubt," continued he, after a little consideration, "it must be Shueypingsin VOL. II. B Shueypingsin herself who has exerted her supernatural powers, and discomfited his lordship.” 66 could a But by what device," inquired the other, young girl, whose father is exiled, and who has never been out of the female apartments, produce such an effect?" 66 You must not confound her with ordinary characters," said the magistrate : young girl as she is, she possesses the sense and ingenuity of the most extraordinary persons in history. When I went to her the other day with the commissioner's order, she made no objection whatever, but was all compliance; and I even then could not help suspecting she had some scheme in view. At my subsequent visit, when I advised her not to practice any evasions, she replied, 'There is no chance of it on my part; but I fancy his lordship may find it necessary to alter his conduct.' Now since he really has done what she predicted, it must doubtless be in consequence of her own contrivance. Let me advise you, my young friend, to make inquiries at his lordship's office; there must certainly be a reason for it." Kwoketsu took his leave of the magistrate, and proceeded straight to the commissioner's. Now it might be imagined, that as Shueypingsin had appeared openly before the tribunal, the attendants of the court must be acquainted with what had passed, and would readily inform him—but his lordship was so afraid of the matter becoming |