"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 silver spoons, red china tea cups with silver stands,
and ivory chopsticks mounted with silver; so we were very grand. We
had two tables, ten at each. We were twenty in all, counting
ourselves."

"At last they began to arrive, and we were kept busy receiving, and
conducting them to their seats in the drawing-room. Tea had to be
offered at once, and that was hard to manage as none of our men
servants might come into the room; so Tuang had to do it all. I do
wish you could have peeped in and seen them all sitting about our
drawing-room. To us it was a sight that made our hearts dance for
joy--and it was a pretty sight too. Some dresses were quite lovely,