Her mother at once thought of calling in a doctor; but, in the absence of the master of the house and his servant, there was no man to go on the errand. But an old female attendant, named Kind-Welcome, was present and observed: "The ancient woman Wang lives, as you know, quite close at hand. She has helped more than a hundred children into the world. She can sew, and she can act as go-between; but she can also feel a pulse and diagnose an illness. Everybody calls her as soon as there is anything the matter." "That is true. Go and fetch her quickly." Some few moments later the healer came and the mother began a long explanation. But the woman interrupted her: "I shall know all about it when I have examined the patient." The sick girl put out a wasted hand, and the woman felt her pulse for a long time. At last she said: "You have pains in the head, and all your body aches. You are in continual agony, and the earth is hateful to you." "That is exactly the case," she answered from her bed. "Also I cough a little." "But what has caused this illness?" As the girl did not answer, this wise old visitor turned to the mother and the attendant, and signed them to go away. They dared not refuse, and left the room. "Now we are going to cure you. The illness lies in your heart, and nowhere else." "In my heart?" questioned the sick girl. "You have seen a handsome young man, and he pleases you. Your suffering rises from that; is it not so?" "There is nothing of the sort," denied the other. "Come, come! Tell me the truth, and I will soon find a means to save your life." Seeing a chance to reach to her desire, little Victorious-Immortal decided to tell everything. When she had finished, the very old woman said: "Do not be troubled. I know one of his relations who has spoken to me of him. He is intelligent and level-headed. I shall go and see his brother, to make arrangements for your marriage, if you finally wish to marry him." "You know very well that I do," said the sick child with a smile. "But will my mother consent?" "Do not be uneasy. I have my methods." She was already out of the room, and saying to the mother: "I know what is the matter with your daughter. If you would like me to make it clear to you, have two cups of wine brought in." Kind-Welcome made haste to arrange all on the table. The healer drank a draught of burning wine and, turning to the mother, repeated word for word what the girl had confessed to her, adding: "And now there is nothing for it but to marry her to Erh-lang, for otherwise her death is certain." "My husband will be away for a long time yet. I cannot decide without him." "You have only to make the arrangements. You need not celebrate the 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?"