Naturally Ya-nei was waiting for the signal; as soon as he heard it, his body was as if it had been shaken to pieces. However, he softly opened his shutter, stepped from one ship to the other, and glided into the cabin where the maiden awaited him. She gave him formal greeting, which he returned; but they looked at each other under the lamp, and their passion already raged like fire. They could hardly exchange a word, and Ya-nei's trembling hands were undoing. She offered but very feeble resistance. He ardently embraced her, and with his arms joined himself to the fresh breast that lighted him. At last they were able to speak. She told him of her dream, and of her astonishment on recognizing, in his poem, the verses which she had heard him sing in dream. He turned pale and sat down: "My dream was exactly yours. Before these omens are fulfilled, I shall speak to my father to arrange our marriage." But, even as they talked, they silently fell asleep arm in arm. Now about the middle of the night, the wind fell and the river became calmer. At the fifth watch the sailors untied their moorings and began to haul their anchors, singing at their work. The noise awakened the lovers, who heard the men say: "The ship catches the wind rarely. We shall not be long in getting to Ch'i-Chow." They looked at each other in dismay: "What are we going to do now?" "Hush!" said she. You must remain hidden for the moment. We will at last find a plan." "It is our dream come true." Remembering that the slaves had seen her lover's feet in her dream, Elegant leaned forward and covered them carefully with an ample blanket. At last she said: "I have a plan. During the day you must hide under the couch, and I shall pretend to be ill, and keep in bed, or in the cabin. When we reach Ch'i-Chow, I will give you a little money, and you must escape in the confusion of the disembarkation. You shall rejoin your parents, and we will arrange for our marriage. If, by any chance, my parents were to refuse, we should tell the truth. My family has always loved me excessively; they will certainly accede." 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."