MRS. TIEN—I still had my doubts, so I sent for the best fortune-teller in this city. MR. TIEN—Ahem! You have broken another promise to me. MRS. TIEN—I know it, but you see this is the greatest event in Ah-may’s life, and I want to clear up every little doubt in my mind. MR. TIEN—But, for heaven’s sake, why did you create the doubt by going to the Goddess? Why didn’t you come to me? MRS. TIEN—Don’t be blasphemous. Well, the fortune-teller said exactly the same thing as the Goddess of Mercy. Wasn’t that wonderful? MR. TIEN—Oh, come. Don’t be foolish. You have no confidence in your own eyes, so you go and put complete confidence in those who have no eyes at all! MISS TIEN—I quite agree with you, father. I knew you would be on our side. MRS. TIEN—(_To her daughter_) How dare you talk in that manner about your own marriage? “Our” side? Whose side is “our” side? For shame! You all conspire against me! (_Putting her face into her handkerchief and sobbing_) Have I no right to decide my own daughter’s greatest event in life? MR. TIEN—Just because this is our daughter’s greatest event in life, we must go about it in a sane and intelligent manner. We must not be deceived by wooden images and clay idols,—and blind fortune-tellers. Am I not right, Ah-may? MISS TIEN—You are quite right, father. I knew you would not believe in all this. MR. TIEN—Now, let us talk seriously. (_To Mrs. Tien_) Don’t cry. No more childish superstitions! (_To Miss Tien_) Sit down and we’ll have a serious talk. (_She seats herself on the sofa. A pause_) MR. TIEN—Ah-may, I don’t want you to marry Mr. Chen. MISS TIEN—(_Greatly agitated_) Oh, father, you don’t mean it! MR. TIEN—Yes, I do mean it. This union is impossible. I am sorry. MISS TIEN—Have you found anything against him? MR. TIEN—No, I like him very much. I could not possibly choose a better son-in-law. So much the more I am sorry. MISS TIEN—(_Puzzled and grieved_) And you don’t believe in the gods and fortune-tellers? MR. TIEN—Oh, no. MRS. TIEN AND MISS TIEN—(_At the same time_) What is it then? MR. TIEN—(_To Miss Tien_) My child, you have been abroad for so long that you have forgotten our own custom and etiquette. You have even forgotten the law of our ancestors. MISS TIEN—What is the law of our ancestors that forbids our marriage? MR. TIEN—Let me show you. (_Goes out by the dining-room door_) MRS. TIEN—What could it be? But I am glad that he is opposed to this union. MISS TIEN—(_Reflecting, then suddenly showing determination_) I know what to do. MR. TIEN—(_Enters with a set of big folio volumes_) Here is our genealogy. (_Turning over the leaves_) Look at this long line of our ancestors and see if there has been any marriage between the Chens (陈) and the Tiens (田). MISS TIEN—Why couldn’t there be any marriage between the two families? MR. TIEN—Because it is the custom of the country to forbid intermarriage between persons bearing the same family name.