Page:Leaves from my Chinese Scrapbook - Balfour, 1887.djvu/190

 flowers. It was a bluish shadow, and it appeared to be advancing stealthily, as if afraid of being seen. The philosopher strained his eyes and rubbed them, to make sure that it was not a dream. Suddenly the figure of a woman, dressed in a long robe of pale blue, emerged from among the flowery thicket, and moved slowly towards him. By this time the good man was transfixed to the spot with awe. Collecting his senses as best he could, he gasped out an inquiry as to who his mysterious visitor was; but still on she came, silently and noiselessly, saluting him courteously with her graceful head as she approached.

"Who are you?" burst out the philosopher at last. The spell was broken, and he was himself again.

"My dwelling is not very far from yours," replied the Lady of the Azure Robe, opening a pair of vermilion lips and disclosing two rows of teeth as white and glistening as jade. "As I was passing on with my attendants to visit a relative, I felt a longing to rest a while in this beautiful garden of yours; but," added the maiden demurely, "I did not feel quite sure whether you would permit me to do so."

Hsuän-wei thought that it was altogether the most extraordinary thing that had ever happened to him; but such was the fascination of his visitor that he consented with delight. The princess—for such she seemed to be—overwhelmed him with thanks and retired; and in a few minutes returned, bringing with her a bevy of the loveliest girls that ever blessed the eyes of sinful man. The philosopher looked attentively at them in the pale, bright moonlight. Some were carrying flowers, others willow-boughs; all were of the most exquisite and