The sideways eye glance is a widespread expression combining a lowered head and the eyes looking sideways, thus taking advantage of boldness and shyness at the same time.

The main character, Chao Hsing-te, has gone to K'ai-feng to take his Palace Examination.

The spleenful Pigeons never could create A prince more proper to revenge their hate: Indeed, more proper to revenge, than save; A king, whom in his wrath the Almighty gave: For all the grace the landlord had allow'd, But made the Buzzard and the Pigeons proud; Gave time to fix their friends, and to seduce the crowd.

I'm leasing a small apartment in Runcorn for a month while I'm there for work.