requests to ‘walk slowly, slowly,’ we reached our chairs, alternately calling our thanks, and requests to them to be seated.  It is a great thing, going with Mrs. Ahok, for one has a good opportunity of learning many little customs which please them greatly.”

“We then proceeded to another house, where we went through much the same etiquette.  We were received by a very pleasant old lady and her daughter-in-law, a nice young woman with four dear little children, three of them boys.  The old lady is a widow; her husband when living was a mandarin, and her eldest son is now at Peking, preparing to be a mandarin also.  We were obliged to drink tea again, and after some time the old lady invited us into her own bedroom, a very much cleaner room than one sees generally, with white matting on the floor and some good furniture.  She was very proud of it, but according to Chinese fashion kept exclaiming that it was such a dirty bad room, that she could hardly ask us into it, but we must excuse it, as it was ‘an old woman’s room.’  We had the concertina brought in again and sang several hymns to which they listened very quietly.  One of us read a verse and explained it before singing it, and Mrs. Ahok joined heartily, most bravely acknowledging herself to be a Christian, and telling her friends how happy she was.  We then went through the house, and about the middle of the establishment we came on a little enclosure where trees were growing, and a pond of water with a rookery behind it looked quite pretty....  When we left they begged us to come again, and Mrs. Ahok is so pleased with the reception we received that she is anxious, if possible, to arrange for us to go again next week.”

Even more formidable than ceremonious social calls in wealthy Chinese homes, is the thought of entertaining the aristocracy in one’s own home.

“I want to tell you about our grand feast,” one lady writes.  “We had been entertained at several houses, and wished to try to get on more friendly terms with some of the rich city ladies.  We feared that they would never be willing to come so far, they so seldom leave their houses for anything.  However, through our unfailing friend, Mrs. Ahok, we sent invitations asking them to come and dine with us....  Sixteen ladies promised to come.  The day before, we had to remind them of the day and hour; but according to Chinese etiquette we only sent our cards, and the messenger explained his errand....”

“Well, at last the day arrived, and we were busy all the morning making the house look as bright as we could, and getting chairs put about in the verandas and passages.  Mrs. Ahok came first, very kindly, and advised us how best to set the tables, etc.  She ordered the feast for us, as the Chinese always do, from a shop.  So much is paid for a table and everything is provided.  Mrs. Ahok lent us all her own pretty things for the table, lovely little silver cups, ornamented