coming to my relief, and rescuing me from violence, hath made Kwo-khé-tzu very much his enemy: that he and the Che-bien have juggled together to do him mischief: and that they only carried it fo civilly towards him, left he fhould prefent the counterfeit order to the Viceroy. Not daring to affault him openly, they have put fomething in his wine or his rice to kill him and if he is not careful of what he eats or drinks farther, to-morrow he may be a dead man." Siew-tan liftened

with great attention. "Your ladyfhip, faid he, is certainly right; for if there hath been no foul play, why fhould he receive no benefit from the phyfic he took laft night, but on the contrary hath been a great deal worse?

And

And yet the Bonzee would force him to take it. Nay as I was coming away, he was preparing more physic for him to drink. But I will go and prevent it, and set my mafter to fcold at him, and teach him not to bring any more of his stuff." By no means, replied the lady; only tell your mafter, to throw away unperceived whatever they give him. The Bonzee's part in this affair, is not of his own feeking: he must have been hired to it with money. Should your mafter quarrel with them now, what will he be in their hands? as a fheep in the claws of a tyger. He must for the prefent have patience. Haften home therefore, and inform him, that when it is night, I will order a chair to be fet down quietly at C 3

the

the door of the convent: affift your mafter to get into it, and come with him to my house: a good apartment fhall be prepared for him; and when he hath recovered his health, then he may repay those people the injury they have done him." Siow-tan bowed in token of obedience. When he was gone a little way, fhe called him back: "There is one thing yet, faid fhe; your mafter, being a gentleman of good reputation, and one of ftrict honour and virtue, perhaps may not think well of coming to the houfe of a young woman, and and may be afraid of giving

room for cenfure: but tell him to wave his fcruples on this preffing occafion; and remind him, that it was formerly the custom for women and men to

con

converfe together without blame and even should there arife any on this occafion, he is a man of fo much refolution and fpirit, as to be immoveable to any thing of that kind, as a tree that hath taken root is to a boisterous wind: he is one that can hold fast the helm in the greatest storm. Go now, faid fhe, and remember all I told you." He promifed not to forget a fyllable.

When he returned, he found his master asleep. He waited till he awoke, and then looking round to fee that nobody was near, acquainted him where he had been, and of all that had past. Tieb-chung-u was furprized. "How, faid he, could I be fo bereaved of

my understanding, as not to perceive the fituation I was in ?" Then calling for his cloaths, he would have gone to the Che-bien. "By no means, faid his fervant; the young lady advised the contrary on account of your present weakness but stay a little longer, and a chair will come and carry you to her house, where you will be taken care of." Tieb-chung-u was overjoyed at this offer. "And yet, faid he, I am a young man, and fhe a young maid; how can I go to her house, without occafioning fcandal? Rather than that, I would even die here; then I fhould leave no reflection behind me." On this Siowtan reported to his master what he had faid to him at parting; which made fuch an impreffion on his mind, that

he