"women doctors." Some of them were heard to say, "Why, these girls are
receiving more honour than was shown to our commandant when he arrived!" As
the company slowly proceeded up the Bund, the missionaries were besieged
with eager questions: "Are they Chinese women?" "Is it true they have been
studying for four years in a foreign land?" "Can they heal the sick?" "Will
they live in Kiukiang?" When all these questions were answered in the
affirmative there was a vigorous nodding of heads, and "_Hao! Hao! Hao!_"
(Good, good!) was heard on every side. It seemed remarkable that in so
dense a crowd the universal expression of face and voice indicated only
favourable interest.

Shortly before the doctors arrived one of the missionaries wrote, "We are
expecting 'our doctors' back this fall, and after they have several months
of hospital practice in other mission hospitals in China, we hope to have a
place ready for them to begin work." The doctors had expected, too, a
little time for resting, and visiting with the friends whom they had not
seen for so many years. Moreover it was thought that some time would have
to elapse before they could gain the confidence of the people sufficiently
to begin practice. But on the third day after their arrival four patients
appeared and asked for treatment; on the following day the same four
returned and six newcomers arrived; and so it went on, until dispensary
quarters had to be hurriedly rented and regular work begun.

They had been back only about a month when they were sent for one evening
to visit a woman who was in a very serious condition. On arriving at the
house they found there the best known native doctor in the city, richly
dressed in satin and silk, and accompanied by four chair-bearers. He had
told the woman's family that he could do nothing for her, and after
welcoming the young women physicians very pleasantly, he took his leave,
advising the family to put the patient into their hands, saying, "They have