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