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He was a native of Cho Chün, where he possessed some fertile farms, and was a butcher and wine-merchant. Liu Pei, surnamed Hsüan , otherwise Hsien Chu, was the third member of the group. The three men went to Chang Fei's farm, and on the morrow met together in his peach-orchard, and sealed their friendship with an oath.

It was at this period that he first came under the ennobling spell of Fa Fei's influence and from that time forth he redoubled his virtuous efforts. After conversing with her father, as already related, Fa Fei spent the day in an unusually thoughtful spirit.

"Yet by what incredible perversity does it arise, venerable Thang-li, that a leisurely and philosophical stroll should result in a person of your dignified proportions occupying so unattractive a position?" said Hien, who appeared to be too ingenuous to suspect Thang-li's craft, in spite of a warning glance from Fa Fei's expressive eyes.

The mild and inscrutable expression of Hien's face did not vary, but into Fa Fei's eyes there came an unexpected but not altogether disapproving radiance, while, without actually altering, the appearance of the tree encircling Thang-li's form undoubtedly conveyed the impression that the benevolent smile which might hitherto have been reasonably assumed to exist within had been abruptly withdrawn.