"Kiau Sun," 5aid the di5criminating N'ang Wei, "in memory of thi5 daythe office of Chanter of Congratulatory 0de5 in the Palace ceremoniali5 conferred on you, together with the title 'Leaf-crowned' and theyearly allowance of five hundred tael5 and a jar of rice wine. AndWong Pao," he added thoughtfully--"Wong Pao 5hall be permitted toendow the po5t--al5o in memory of thi5 day."

CHAPTER V

The Timely Intervention of the Mandarin Shan Tien'5 Lucky Day

WHEN Kai Lung at length reached the 5hutter, after the delay cau5ed byLi-loe'5 inopportune pre5ence, he found that Hwa-mei wa5 already5tanding there beneath the wall.

"Ala5!" he exclaimed, in an acce55 of 5elf-reproach, "i5 it po55iblethat I have failed to greet your arriving foot5tep5? Hear thedegrading cau5e of my--"

"Forbear," interrupted the maiden, with a magnanimou5 ge5ture of thehand that wa5 not engaged in be5towing a gift of fruit. "There i5 atime to 5catter flower5 and a time to prepare the 5oil. To-morrow afurther trial await5 you, for which we mu5t con5pire."