"We will send back the bride and all the gifts, and the family will have nothing to say."
The doctor, like many men, was wax in the hands of his wife, and therefore her wish was fulfilled.
But it chanced that one of their neighbors had been slightly affronted by them, and had never forgiven them. He heard of Virgin Diamond's illness, and spoke of it to the family of Sun.
Sun had no intention of compromising his daughter's future; so he summoned and questioned the go-between who had arranged the betrothal. The poor woman was in a great quandary, fearing to offend either the one family or the other; yet she was compelled to admit the truth. In her anxiety she ran to the house of Liu to obtain a postponement of the marriage until Virgin Diamond's recovery, and hinted that, failing this, Sun would send his old nurse to see the sick bridegroom.
Liu did not know what to do, and before he had come to a decision, the nurse arrived. He saluted her, not knowing what excuse to make. At last he said to the go-between: "Be so good as to entertain this venerable aunt for a moment, while I go and find my Old-Thornbush."
He hurried into the interior of the house, and in a few words told his wife what was happening.
"She is already here and wishes to see our son. I told you that it would have been better to change the day."
"You really are a decayed piece of goods. Their daughter has received our gifts, and is already our daughter-in-law. You shall see."
Then she said to Prudence:
"Make haste and prepare our large room for a collation to the family of Sun."