“Our friendship is not yet deep enough.  I fear that you may consider my words both strange and too outspoken.”

“When I have the good fortune to receive your learned and enlightening counsel, how could I fail to respect it?”

“Your honorable and noble father, being of stern character, is certainly still angry at your conduct in Peking.  And now my Elder-Brother marries in the face of convention.  How could your prudent relatives and valuable friends fail to share the views of your honorable father?  When you rashly ask them to act on your behalf, they will certainly refuse.  Then will not the temporary residence of your Honorable Favor become a permanent one?  In your position, it will be as difficult to advance as to retire.”

Li Chia knew that he had only fifty ounces in his purse, and that half this sum would very soon have vanished.  He could not help hanging his head.  His companion added: 

“I have yet another thing to say, and it comes from my heart.  Will you hear it?”

“Having already received your sympathetic advice, I shall be most happy to listen.”

“Since earliest time,” said Sun, “the hearts of women have been as changeable as the waves of the sea.  And among the Flowers-in-the-Mist especially there are few who are found faithful.  Since the present case concerns a famous singing girl, who knows the whole earth, it is probable that she has some former associate in the regions of the South.  She has consequently availed herself of your help to conduct her to the land where this other lives.”

“I beg to say that that is not certain,” protested Li.

“Even if it is not, the men of the South are very adroit and very active.  You leave a beautiful woman to live there all alone:  can you guarantee that none will climb her wall or penetrate her dwelling?  After all, the relations between father and son are from Heaven and cannot be destroyed.  If you abandon your family for the sake of a singing girl, you will wander until you become one of those incorrect Floating-on-the-Wave individuals.  A woman is not Heaven.  You must ponder this matter seriously.”

Hearing this, Li Chia felt as if he were swept away by a torrent.  At last he answered:  “What, in your enlightened opinion, ought I to do?”

“Your servant has a plan which should be very profitable to you.  But I fear lest, weakened by die soft pillow of your love, you will not be able to put it into execution, and that my words will therefore be wasted.”

“If you have a really good suggestion, I shall be forever your debtor.  Why do you fear to speak?”