have brought in several thousands of ounces. To-day I am marrying. If you do not keep your word, I shall commit suicide before you, and you will lose the money and the girl." The old woman could find no words to express her feeling. She took the money in silence, and finally muttered: "If you mean to go away, you go now. But you shall take none of your clothes or jewels with you." Hustling the two young people along, she led them through the door and shot the bolt. It was then the ninth moon, and the weather was cold. Shih-niang had but just risen from bed, and was not dressed; nor was her hair done. Yet she saluted the ma-ma with two genuflexions. La Chia shook his two hands joined together. Thus the married pair left that not too pleasant old woman: Even as a carp escapes the metal hook, Flirts its tail and shakes its head And returns not. In front of the door La Chia said to his mistress: "Wait a moment! I will call a little palankeen to take you to the house of Liu." She answered: "In this very court are my friends, my sisters, who have always been in sympathy with me. "I must take leave of them; and I cannot neglect to thank them for the money they have lent me." Accompanied by her Lord, she went to each pavilion to greet her friends. Now, one of them, Yuch-lang, was a very close friend of Shih-niang, so, seeing that she had not done her hair, she led her to her own toilet-table, and ran to call another friend, Hsu Su-Su. Then she took from her coffers many ornaments of king-fisher leather and bracelets and jasper pins, even embroidered robes and girdles ornamented with phoenix. She gave them to Shih-niang, over-coming her with gratitude. She also ordered a feast of congratulation, to which all their friends were invited, and finally, at the end of day, offered the pair a bed for the night. When she was alone with Li Chia, Shih-niang asked: