n almost the entire foreign community of
Foochow, officials, missionaries, and business people, entertained in the
Ahoks' home, sometimes in Chinese fashion, sometimes in foreign. It is, of
course, contrary to Chinese custom for the mistress of the home to appear
before gentlemen outside of her own family. Mrs. Ahok, however, knowing
that it was the custom in England and America for the hostess to dispense
hospitality to her guests, gradually accustomed herself to appearing as
hostess at all gatherings where there were foreign guests; first at small
dinners, and later in larger companies. One who was a frequent guest in the
home says, "It was a constant surprise to me to see this Chinese lady, so
accustomed to seclusion, ever so modestly self-possessed, and in courteous,
ladylike bearing, equal to every occasion."

But although ready to conform to foreign custom when entertaining foreign
guests in her home, it was several years before Mrs. Ahok was willing to
attend similar gatherings in other homes. She frequently called at the home
of her friend, Mrs. Baldwin, but never when there were strangers there. On
one occasion when Mrs. Baldwin was entertaining a few guests at dinner, she
invited Mr. Ahok to dine with them. He accepted readily, and Mrs. Baldwin
went on to say: "We very much desire that Mrs. Ahok should come with you.
We know your customs, but you have known us for a long time. Cannot Mrs.
Ahok make an exception and come on this occasion?" He seemed very much
troubled and replied: "I would very greatly like to have my wife come, and
she would enjoy doing so, and if there were no one here but Mr. Baldwin and
you she would come. But other men will be here, and if she came her chair
bearers would know it and her name be injured."

As has been seen, Mr. Ahok was always very friendly to the missionaries and
in sympathy with their work. The Anglo-Chinese College of the Methodist
Mission, for example, was made possible by his generous gift. But it was
some years before he became a Christian. When the step was finally taken,
however, he proved to be a most ardent worker, giving generously to the
work of several denominations in various parts of China, holding Christian
services in his home, and doing earnest personal work among those with whom
he came in contact in the transaction of his business, both in Foochow and
on his trips to other cities.

Mrs. Ahok was a very devout Buddhist and had no desire at all to learn o