marriage until after my Lord's return. She must be given her desire;
there is no other way of saving her."

"If the young man is as desirable as all that ..." the mother murmured
uneasily. "But how shall we bring the thing about?"

"I am going to speak to his elder brother. I will keep you informed."

Without further delay, the venerable go-between went straight to The
Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, where she found Fan behind his counter,
and saluted him:

"Ten thousand happinesses!"

"You come at the right time," he answered with a bow. "I was about to
send to beg you to do so. For some days, I assure you, my brother has
not been able to take a morsel of food. He says that his whole body is
aching, and now he stays in bed. Will you, please, feel his pulse?"

"I will see him. But it is better for me to be alone with him."

"Then I shall not come with you."

So the old woman went up into the sick man's room, and he said to her
feebly:

"Mother Wang, it is very long since I saw you. Alas! You come too
late! My life is finished!"

"In what special way are you so seriously ill?" she asked, sitting