break into the conversation of his elders.

The monk continued:

"'As you are so urgent in your desire to know the cause of the strange
proceedings you have witnessed, I will try to tell you. Poverty has
always been a burden upon my family. In my house there has never been
sufficient food for a solid meal, and I have not land enough even for an
insect to rest upon. I cannot even provide food for my poor old father.
This is the reason why my wife, from time to time, has cut off a portion
of her hair and sold it for an amount sufficient to buy a bowl of bean
soup, which she has generously given to my father. This evening she cut
off and sold the last tress of her hair, and thus she is now bald as a
nun.'"

Yung Pak already knew that Korean women who devote their lives to
religious service kept their hair closely clipped, so the monk did not
need to explain his reference to a bald-headed nun.

"'On this account," said the man to Cheng-chong, 'my father broke out
into mourning in these words:

"'"Why have I lived to this age? Why did I not die years ago? Why has
this degradation come to my daughter-in-law?" Tears accompanied his
words. My wife and I tried to console him, and, besides urging him not
to weep, she danced for his amusement. I also danced and sang, and thus
we diverted the old man's thoughts and caused him to smile. That is the
true reason of our queer behaviour. I trust you will not think it
strange, and will now go away and leave us to our sorrow.'