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Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law， Chia Cheng， recommending Yue-ts'un， his daughter's tutor， to his consideration. Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter， out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.
But to proceed with our narrative.
Yue-ts'un， on speedily turning round， perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei， an old colleague of his， who had been denounced and deprived of office， on account of some case or other； a native of that district， who had， since his degradation， resided in his family home.
Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial， presented in the capital， that the former officers （who had been cashiered） should be reinstated， had received the imperial consent， he had promptly done all he could， in every nook and corner， to obtain influence， and to find the means （of righting his position，） when he， unexpectedly， came across Yue-ts'un， to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations. The two friends exchanged the conventional salutations， and Chang Ju-kuei forthwith communicated the tidings to Yue-ts'un.
Yue-ts'un was delighted， but after he had made a few remarks， in a GREat hurry， each took his leave and sped on his own way homewards.
Leng Tzu-hsing， upon hearing this conversation， hastened at once to propose a plan， advising Yue-ts'un to request Lin Ju-hai， in his turn， to appeal in the capital to Mr. Chia Cheng for support.
Yue-ts'un accepted the suggestion， and parted from his companion.
On his return to his quarters， he made all haste to lay his hand on the Metropolitan Gazette， and having ascertained that the news was authentic， he had on the next day a personal consultation with Ju-hai.
"Providence and good fortune are both alike propitious！" exclaimed Ju-hai. "After the death of my wife， my mother-in-law， whose residence is in the capital， was so very solicitous on my daughter's account， for having no one to depend upon， that she despatched， at an early period， boats with men and women servants to come and fetch her. But my child was at the time not quite over her illness， and that is why she has not yet started. I was， this very moment， cogitating to send my daughter to the capital. And in view of the obligation， under which I am to you for the instruction you have heretofore conferred upon her， remaining as yet unrequited， there is no reason why， when such an opportunity as this presents itself， I should not do my utmost to find means to make proper acknowledgment. I have already， in anticipation， given the matter my attention， and written a letter of recommendation to my brother-in-law， urging him to put everything right for you， in order that I may， to a certain extent， be able to give effect to my modest wishes. As for any outlay that may prove necessary， I have given proper explanation， in the letter to my brother-in-law， so that you， my brother， need not trouble yourself by giving way to much anxiety."
As Yue-ts'un bowed and expressed his appreciation in most profuse language，——
"Pray，" he asked， "where does your honoured brother-in-law reside？ and what is his official capacity？ But I fear I'm too coarse in my manner， and could not presume to obtrude myself in his presence."
Ju-hai smiled. "And yet，" he remarked， "this brother-in-law of mine is after all of one and the same family as your worthy self， for he is the grandson of the Duke Jung. My elder brother-in-law has now inherited the status of Captain-General of the first grade. His name is She， his style Ngen-hou. My second brother-in-law's name is Cheng， his style is Tzu-chou. His present post is that of a Second class Secretary in the Board of Works. He is modest and kindhearted， and has much in him of the habits of his grandfather； not one of that purse-proud and haughty kind of men. That is why I have written to him and made the request on your behalf. Were he different to what he really is， not only would he cast a slur upon your honest purpose， honourable brother， but I myself likewise would not have been as prompt in taking action."
When Yue-ts'un heard these remarks， he at length credited what had been told him by Tzu-hsing the day before， and he lost no time in again expressing his sense of gratitude to Lin Ju-hai.
Ju-hai resumed the conversation.
"I have fixed，" （he explained，） "upon the second of next month， for my young daughter's departure for the capital， and， if you， brother mine， were to travel along with her， would it not be an advantage to herself， as well as to yourself？"
Yue-ts'un signified his acquiescence as he listened to his proposal； feeling in his inner self extremely elated.
Ju-hai availed himself of the earliest opportunity to get ready the presents （for the capital） and all the requirements for the journey， which （when completed，） Yue-ts'un took over one by one. His pupil could not， at first， brook the idea， of a separation from her father， but the pressing wishes of her grandmother left her no course （but to comply）。
"Your father，" Ju-hai furthermore argued with her， "is already fifty； and I entertain no wish to marry again； and then you are always ailing； besides， with your extreme youth， you have， above， no mother of your own to take care of you， and below， no sisters to attend to you. If you now go and have your maternal grandmother， as well as your mother's brothers and your cousins to depend upon， you will be doing the best thing to reduce the anxiety which I feel in my heart on your behalf. Why then should you not go？"
