Tak was feeling very evil-minded, but he received the suitor for his daughter’s hand with becoming formality. Anything would be better than having this awful daughter in his house, and On Yick found all his proposals most willingly acquiesced in by his prospective father-in-law. Hoo had disappeared without partaking of or preparing any morning meal, and the two men talked and talked, and smoked innumerable pipes of tobacco. The conversation between these two continued in the politest manner possible, and every detail of etiquette was observed by each party. Tak Wo was occupied in delivering a most erudite and polite discourse on the duties of a son-in-law to his wife’s father when On Yick became conscious of a strong smell of burning in the house. Soon he saw a thin snake of flame creep along one of the beams overhead, but still politeness held him silent. It was not for such an insignificant person as himself to interrupt the discourse of Tak Wo and inform him that his honourable house was on fire. The admirable precepts of Tak Wo, however, were suddenly cut short by a burning spark falling on his shaven pate. Forgetful of his dignity he jumped up and rushed from the house, followed by On Yick. The disgraceful sight that met their gaze once outside the door will ever be a reproach to the descendants of Tak Wo. Two large stacks of dry grass were ablaze, as well as the roof of the house, and the crowning horror was Hoo, now evidently possessed of hundreds of devils, dancing with a burning brand in her hand, and shouting most unseemly remarks disparaging her father and all his ancestors. On her father’s appearance Hoo betook herself to the hills, and the efforts of the people of Tai Kok being at once turned on extinguishing the conflagration, her escape was easy. The fire resulted in the loss of two stacks of grass and the house, but most of Tak Wo’s property was in silver, buried some three feet beneath the mud floor of his house, consequently his pecuniary loss was not great; but the disgraceful behaviour of his daughter had caused him such a serious “loss of face” that he decided on having recourse to severe measures. The junk of Man Yuen was lying in the harbour of Tai Kok. Man Yuen carried much of the village’s produce to the larger towns, and in addition was probably, if occasion offered, a pirate. Tak Wo went to the honourable Man Yuen and explained (with the aid of fifteen taels) that he (Man Yuen) was welcome to carry off Hoo and sell her as a slave to whoever would buy her, that Man Yuen could take the purchase money, provided he captured and removed Hoo, who undoubtedly was possessed of devils. Man Yuen’s crew were successful in their search, and Hoo departed from Tai Kok for ever. On Yick possesses now a wife who has never dreamt of frogs or of throwing them at young men, and his mill prospers as his family increases.