As soon as they had determined on their course, Ya-nei slid under the bed, and made himself a place among the baggages.  The curtain fell into place in front of him, and the young girl was still in bed when her mother came in, saying: 

“Aya!  Why are you resting like this?”

“I do not feel very well.  I must have taken cold.”

“Cover yourself well, my daughter, if that be so.”

At this moment a slave entered, asking if she should bring breakfast.

“My child,” said her mother, “if you are not well, you would do better not to take any solid nourishment.  I am going to make you an occasional small rice broth until you are recovered.”

“I am not very fond of broth.  Give me some rice.  Let them bring it to me here.  I shall eat it by and by.”

“I will keep you company.”

“Aya!  If you do not go and look after this rabble of women, they will do their work most incontestably wrong.”

Without understanding, the mother did indeed go to the next cabin at that moment when the breakfast was brought in.  As soon as she had turned her back, Elegant told the slave to set down the dish on the table.

“You may go away.  I shall call you when I have finished.”

Ya-nei was watching, and came out from his hiding.  On the dish there were only two small bowls of vegetables mixed with meat, a bowl of cooked green-stuff, and a little rice.  Naturally, the young girl was not in the habit of taking large quantities of food; but for her lover, with his three bushels of rice a day, the matter was otherwise.  After their meal, he again glided under the bed, nearly as hungry as before.  She called the slave, and told her to bring in two more bowls of rice.

Her mother heard this, and entered, saying: 

“My child!  You are not well.  How is it that you want to eat all that?”

“The reason is not far to seek,” she answered.

“I am hungry, that is all.”

And her father, who had come to see the invalid, said: 

“Let her be.  She is growing, and needs nourishment.”

When night came, and the evening meal was finished, she shut the door and told her lover he could get into the bed again.  But the poor young man was suffering cruelly from hunger.

“Our stratagem,” said he, “is admirable.  But it is in one respect also grievous.  I cannot conceal from you that my appetite is considerable.  The three meals which I have had to-day seem scarcely a mouthful.  On such a diet, I shall starve before we come to Ch’i-Chow.”

“Why did you not say so?  I shall make them bring me more to-morrow.”

“But are you not afraid of rousing suspicion?”

“That is nothing.  I shall see to it.  But how much would you need?”

“We shall never be able to obtain quite that.  Ten bowls of rice at each meal would not be enough.”

Next day, when her parents came to see her, Elegant complained.