lso, and had sent over her own
dressing box--such a beautiful large one--fitted up with everything
they could need, powders, paints, and all complete. The ladies were
quite charmed and delighted to find such a thing in a foreign
house, and adjourned upstairs with great delight to beautify
themselves. We heard them telling each other that it was just as
if they had been at home...."

"At length they said they must go, and we had great leave-taking,
bowing and scraping, and thanks, and apologies for having troubled
us so much, and assurances on our part that it was all pleasure;
and finally off they went, and we sat down to cool ourselves, and
drink tea, and chat with Mrs. Ahok. She was very glad and thankful
that all went off so well, but quite tired after her exertions, and
sat holding her poor little bound feet in her hands, saying they
did ache so."

III

A JOURNEY TO ENGLAND

One day when Mrs. Ahok went to call on one of her English friends, Miss
Bradshaw, she was startled to find that the physician had ordered her to
leave for England on the next steamer, sailing three days later. "I wish
you could go with me, Mrs. Ahok," Miss Bradshaw said, when she had told her
of the physician's decision. This was a very remarkable suggestion to make
to this little Chinese woman, whose life had been such a secluded one that
a few years before she would not even accept an invitation to dinner with
the Baldwins, since there were to be foreign gentlemen present. Only a
short time before, when the Baldwins were returning to America and Mrs.
Ahok had gone with them, on her husband's launch, to the steamer anchorage,
twelve miles away, they had considered it a great honour, since this
Chinese friend had never been so far from home before. But Mrs. Ahok's
response was even more remarkable than Miss Bradshaw's proposition; for in
three days her little Chinese trunks packed and ticketed, "Dublin,
Ireland." Mr. Ahok had heartily consented to his wife's going; and she,
unwilling to have her sick friend take the long journey alone, and mindful
of the service she might perform for her people in England, by telling of
their need and pleading for workers, quickly decided to go.

A letter from a friend who was with her the day she sailed shows the spirit
with which she took this remarkable step: "I was impressed with two things;
her implicit confidence in her missionary friend,