Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/356

340 selves against the Genii without the aid of charms.

When he was twenty, Pin-Too said he could not teach him any more, and told him to go back to his parents, and comfort them in their old age.

Pei-Hang was his favorite pupil, and Pin-Too looked very sorry when he said this.

"I will start to-morrow, Master, and will leave the city by the Golden Bridge," replied Pei-Hang obediently.

"No, you must go by the Indigo Bridge," said Pin-Too, "for there you will meet your future wife."

"I was not thinking of a wife," observed Pei-Hang, with some dismay.

Pin-Too just wrinkled up his eyes and laughed.

"So much the better!" said he. "When you have once seen her, you will be able to think of nothing else."

It was very hot, and Pei-Hang intended to start in the cool of the early morning, but he sat so long over his books the night before his journey that he wakened late, and when he opened his eyes the sun was blazing down