Eastern Shame Girl | Page 4

help you; but we have only four days more. Above all, do not come too late!"
Astonished and overjoyed, he carried away the bag and went back to Liu, telling him what had happened and showing him the money. Liu exclaimed:
"Surely this woman has a loyal heart! Since she acts so, she must not be allowed to suffer. I am going to act as mediator in your marriage."
Leaving Li in his house, he went himself to ask for loans on all sides. In two days he had amassed a hundred and fifty ounces. He gave them to the young man, saying:
"I have stood guarantor for you, for I am deeply touched by Shih-niang's sentiment."
Li took the silver, as delighted as if the money had fallen from the sky, and ran to see his mistress. It was the ninth day. She asked him: "Has it been very difficult? Have you found the hundred and fifty ounces?"
He then told her what Liu had done; and both, rejoicing, spent a night of pleasure. Next day she said to him:
"When this money is paid, I must follow my Lord. But we have made no preparation for the boats and conveyances of our journey. I have borrowed twenty ounces from my friends. My Lord may take them for travelling expenses."
In his uneasiness concerning these expenses, he had not dared to speak of them. He took the money, and was full of joy.
At that moment there was a knock on the door, and the old woman entered, saying:
"This is the tenth day."
"I thank the ma-ma for recalling the fact to us," he answered. "I was on the point of paying her a visit."
And, taking up the bag, he poured the three hundred ounces on to the table. The old woman had not supposed he could succeed.
She changed color, and seemed on the point of gainsaying her word. So Shih-niang said; "I have stayed in your house for a long time, and 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:
"Where shall we go when we have left the capital? Has my Lord made a decision on this point?"
"My father," he answered, "is still angry with me. If, in addition, he learns that I have married my Little-Sister, and that I am coming back with her, he will doubtless be carried quite away by rage. I have not found a satisfactory plan."
"Your father has feelings from Heaven. He could not break completely with you. Would it not be better for us to go to him, and to keep to our boat while you pray your friends to go and ask for a harmonious reconciliation? After that, leading your slave, you may re-enter your dwelling in peace."
"That is an excellent plan," he answered.
Next day they thanked Yuch-lang again, and went to the house of Liu. On seeing the learned man, Shih-niang knelt