"My dearest girl," began Sue, "why are you so awfully sad? What has been weighing down your heart for days? No longer the form of Loe is most conspicuous in the dance; no longer her voice is sweetest in the song. Yet you should be happiest of the happy, for you are favored beyond us all."

"I care nothing for Ching's favor," said Loe.

"The idea!" cried Sue; "that shows that you are sure of it. Ah, is n't he too extremely glorious! I can think of nothing but him from morning till night."

Loe was silent; and Sue, discouraged by having her pet subject received in so cool a manner, changed the conversation. "Have you seen the arrivals?" she asked.

"What arrivals?"

Sue was in her element when she could give information. "The great philosopher, Muag Big, to be sure," said she, "and his daughter. He is, they say, the greatest thinker alive. He has an idea that his daughter will be the mother of a great race, and he is looking for a young ape who shall be a fit husband for her. Is n't that a suffocatingly queer idea? I am going to see his daughter, Tue Swe, to-morrow; won't you go with me?"

Loe gave a non-commital answer.

"The best of it is," continued Sue, "the philosopher has made the acquaintance of our friend Yung Thing, and takes quite an interest in him. The youth is to be at their hut to-morrow morning, and I am just dying to see how he will behave. Oh Loe! do you suppose the philosopher will choose Yung for his daughter?" Sue laughed at the absurdity of her thought

"What!" exclaimed Loe, at last interested, "will Yung be there?"

"Yes. Do come, and see what the poor boy will do. But oh!" in excitement, "O Loe! here comes Ching."

"I must get out of the way before he comes," cried Loe, starting up. "Sue," in a parting whisper, "will you call for me on your way to-morrow morning?"

Sue waited the approach of Ching. He came up, breathless.

"Where is Loe? I thought she was here."

Sue was all in a flutter. "She is - she has just gone away - gone home," she said, her voice becoming soft and her blood tingling as she spoke to the great youth. "Did you wish to see her?"

She lifted her face to his appealingly; she was fascinated. But, not deigning to notice the girl, Ching strode off in the direction Loe had taken.