The next day, a new search was conducted and the results were not much better. On the third day, Oliver and Mr. Roseberry went up to town, hoping to see or hear anything about the men, but the effort was equally fruitless. After a few days, the incident was forgotten, and like most things, strange things often fend for themselves if they are not given new nourishment.

At the same time, Jin Xiu was getting better, she was out of the ward, and she was able to go out for a walk, and she was once again with the rest of the family, bringing joy to everyone's heart.

Yet, despite the obvious effect of this welcome change on the little world, and despite the laughter and joy that resounded in the villa, some people, even Jin Xiu himself, were at times unusually restrained, and Oliver could not have been unaware of it.

Mrs. May and her son often talk behind closed doors. The golden embroidery appeared more than once with tear stains on his face. After Mr. Qian confirmed the date of return, these signs increased. Something was clearly going on, breaking the peace of mind of the girl and the others.

Finally, one morning, Jin Xiu was the only one in the room where the breakfast was placed, and Young Master Mei walked in. With some hesitation, he begged for permission to speak to her for a moment.

"A few minutes—only a few minutes—will be enough, Golden Embroidery," the young man dragged his chair before her, "and I have to spit it out, for you have understood these words in themselves, and you are not ignorant of the most cherished hope in my heart, though you have not yet heard them come out of my mouth. ”

As soon as he entered, Jin Xiu's face turned pale, but this could also be a reaction to her recent illness. She just nodded, and leaned down towards the pots of flowers next to her, silently waiting for him to speak.

"I—I—should have left here a long time ago." Young Master Mei said.

"You should, really," replied Jin Xiu, "forgive me for saying that, but I want you to leave." ”

"I have been brought here by the most terrible and troubling anxieties," said the young man, "and the fear of losing my only sweetheart, on whom my every wish and every expectation is pinned." You're almost dead, and you've been oscillating between the earthly and the heavenly. We know – God forbid – that the kindest and loveliest of our kind often die young. ”

As these words poured out, the demure girl's eyes welled up with tears, and a teardrop fell on the flower she looked down on, and in the corolla shone with a sparkling brilliance, making the flower even more charming, as if the tears that poured out of her beautiful, young heart were naturally on a par with the most delicate flowers in heaven and earth.

"A man," said the young man impulsively, "a girl as beautiful and as innocent as a bodhisattva, oscillating between life and death. Oh! The distant world to which she was close had been half uncovered before her eyes, and who could have expected her to return to the sorrow and misfortune of this world! Knowing that you are departing like the soft shadows cast by the light of the Heavens, and having no hope of begging the Heavens to leave you behind for the sake of those who linger here, and not knowing at all any reason why you should stay, feeling that you belong to that land of light, where so many of the most beautiful and kindest people have flown in, and though there are many ways to comfort you, and to pray that you will be returned to those who love you. I've been in this way day and night. Fear, apprehension, and selfish remorse rushed at me like a rushing torrent, fearing that once you died, you would never know how faithful my love for you was, and this torrent almost washed away my consciousness and reason together. You recovered, and day by day, I watched you survive with eyes that had become almost blind with longing and affection. Would you say to me that you want me to put aside this affection? You know, it was this affection that softened my heart and changed my attitude towards life. ”

"I don't mean that," said Jin Xiu, with tears in her eyes, "I just hope that when you leave here, you can turn again to a noble cause, to a cause worthy of your pursuit." ”

"Nothing, not even the noblest pursuits, can be compared to winning a heart like you," said the young man, taking her hand, "Jin Xiu, for so many years—how many years—I have always loved you, longed for the glory of returning to my hometown after becoming famous, and told you that everything is pursued only for the sake of sharing with you—I have daydreamed and fantasized about how I could remind you of the affection of a child that I used so many symbols of silence in that joyous momentI'm going to propose to you to replace the tacit understanding between us. That moment has not yet come, but now, the fame has not yet been achieved, and the fantasies of my youth have not yet been realized, I still have to present to you this heart that has long belonged to you, and pin everything I have on the words you use to answer my request. ”

"Your conduct has always been kind and noble," said Jin Xiu, trying to control her agitated feelings, "and since you believe that I am not insensitive or ungrateful, then listen to my answer." ”

"Your answer is that I can try to be worthy of you, yes, Jin Xiu?"

"My answer is," replied Jin Xiu, "you must do your best to forget me, and I do not want you to forget that I am your former companion, because that would pierce my heart deeply, but to forget that I am the one you are in love with." Take a good look at the world and think about how many hearts there are, and you will be proud to have won those hearts. If you wish, you can confide in me, and I will be your sincerest, warmest, and most faithful friend. ”

Jin Xiu paused when she said this, covered her face with one hand, and let tears come out of her eyes, but Young Master Mei still held her other hand. "Your reason, Jin Xiu," he whispered with difficulty, "your reason for this decision?" ”

"You have the right to know why," replied Jin Xiu, "and you can't change my resolve no matter what you say." This is an obligation that I have to fulfill. For my own sake and for the sake of others, I have to do it. ”

"For yourself?"

"Yes, I can only do this, I, a helpless girl without a dowry, with only an unknown reputation, I should not give your friends reason to suspect that I have accepted your first love out of despicable motives, and has turned myself into a burden, imposing on all your hopes and plans. For your sake, for the sake of your loved ones, it is my duty to prevent you from acting with the zeal of your generous nature and from erecting such a great obstacle to your future. ”

"If your mind and your sense of responsibility are aligned—" Young Master Mei started again.

"Not consistently." Jin Xiu's face turned red.

"Then you love me too?" Young Master Mei said, "I just need you to say this, as long as you say this, to solve the bitter fruit of this disappointment." ”

"If only I could do it without causing the harm to my loved ones," replied Jin Xiu, "I would—"

"Will you accept my heart with a completely different attitude?" Young Master Mei said, "At least, Jin Xiu, don't hide this from me. ”

"I will," said Jinxiu, "and so on." She pulled the hand out, "Why are we going to let this painful conversation continue?" This conversation was extremely painful for me, but at the same time it produced lasting happiness. Knowing that I once held such a lofty position in your heart as I am now, and that every victory you have achieved in life will give me new perseverance and make me more determined, and that is happiness. Goodbye, we will never see each other again like today. But we can have another relationship, not the kind of relationship that today's conversation will lead us to, and we will all be very happy with each other. There is a sincere and fervent heart praying for you, and may every blessing from all the sources of sincerity and honesty bring you joy and success. ”

"Let me say one more thing, Jin Xiu," said Young Master Mei, "tell me the reasons in your own words, and let me listen to the reasons that come out of your mouth." ”

"You have a brilliant future," replied Jin Xiu firmly, "and all the honors, all the glory and riches that can be achieved in society by virtue of outstanding talents and powerful relatives are waiting for you." But those relatives are very proud, and I am not willing to deal with those who might look down on my natural mother, nor to inflict humiliation or frustration on the son of the man who takes my mother's place, in a word," said the maiden, turning her face away, her momentary firmness beginning to waver, "and there is a stain on my name, and the world will use it against the innocent." I will never let anyone else do it for me, and I will bear all the blame. ”

"One more sentence, golden embroidery, and one more sentence!" Young Master Mei shouted loudly and rushed in front of her, "If I weren't—not so lucky, that's what the world says—if I were destined to live a quiet and quiet life—if I were poor, sick, and helpless—would you reject me?" Or is it because I may enjoy all the glory and wealth in the future, I will definitely be careful about my birth? ”

"Don't force me to answer," replied Jin Xiu, "the question does not exist now, and never will be. It is unfair to be strong, let alone goodwill. ”

"If your reply is in line with what I almost dared to expect," retorted Young Master Mei, "it will cast a blissful glow on my lonely journey and illuminate the path ahead of me." Your simple words are essential for someone who loves you more than anything else, and it's not a nice-to-have. Oh, the golden embroidery! Answer me this question for my burning and abiding affection, for the sake of all the pain I have endured for you and for all the pain you must have for me. ”

"If, then, your fate had been otherwise," replied Jin Xiu, "if your position had been only a little above mine, and not far superior to me—if I had been able to help you and comfort you in any leisurely and indifferent life, and not be a stain or a stumbling block to you among a band of ambitious celebrities—I would not have to endure this ordeal." I have every reason to be happy right now, great happiness. But on the other hand, Harry, I admit, I deserve more happiness. ”

Jin Xiu poured out this heartfelt feelings, a long time ago, when she was a little girl, she treasured some of her past wishes in the bottom of her heart, at this moment, these long-cherished wishes with the memory have come to her heart, just as the wish to relive the withering will inevitably lead to tears, tears also bring her comfort.

"I can't restrain this weakness, but it always makes my heart stronger," Jin Xiu stretched out his hand and said, "Now I have to leave you, really." ”

"I beg you to promise one more thing," said Young Master Mei, "one more talk, just one more time—not more than a year, but perhaps much earlier—and allow me to speak with you one last time on this subject." ”

"Don't force me to change my right decision," Jin Xiu replied with a melancholy smile, "and it's no good. ”

"No," said Young Master Mei, "I'll hear you say it all over again, if you will—one last time." Whatever status or wealth I will achieve in the future, I will put it all at your feet. If you still insist on your current decision, I will never try to change it in words or deeds. ”

"So be it," replied Jin Xiu, "it will only be one more pain, and by that time I may be able to bear it better." ”

She stretched out her hand again, but the young man took her into his arms, kissed her on the delicate forehead, and hurried out of the room.