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. "I do not know what is the matter with me," she said. "I am dying of hunger." But her mother began to laugh: "That is not a very serious affair. I will have more rice brought to you." But when the young girl said that she needed about ten bowls, the good woman was startled. She again wished to remain near her daughter. "If you stay here, mama, I shall not be able to take anything. Leave me alone, and I shall eat more comfortably." Everybody indulged her caprice. When the cabin was empty, she shut the door and Ya-nei came out. Hungry as he was, he made the ten bowls vanish like a shooting star, and did not leave a single grain. Elegant watched him with astonishment, and asked him in a low voice: "Is that still too little?" "It will suffice," answered the other, drinking a cup of tea. He hastened back to his hiding-place, while the young girl ate some vegetables. Then she called the slaves, who came running up, wondering whether she had been able to eat all that food. They looked at the empty bowls and at their mistress's slim figure, and murmured as they went away: "What a terrible illness!"