She was not long out from England and a compradore order was yet an unnatural phenomenon to her. She supposed it was something like a cheque upon bank, or a circular note, with which continental travel had made her intimately acquainted. What is the value of a dollar in English money she had asked before starting on her tour from Shanghai. Oh, yes, I understand it depends upon the exchange. I used always to keep myself in gloves on what one gained in Italy. "Now it is so horrid "ne gains nothing, I don't quite know why it is, But how much about is the dollar worth, Then she had had such long speeches made when exchange is—is—nothiug particular?"
her, and heard so much rather conflicting information, she felt deafened, but ulti mately arrived at the conclusion, that there were about—yes! about six dollars in an English pound, and there ought not to be so many. Now somewhat to her consternation she discovered that her compradore orders had taels printed upon them, so she made out the order in taels, secretly wondering what they were. She had never seen them. Do you think I got the right exchange?" se asked of her Boy, then trying to suit herself to his needs, and speak English as it is spoke," "He givee me right money 2"
"My no savoy what. tael worth in—ow, said the Boy with flippancy but decision. He came from—ow.
She felt abashed, and supposed she must just take her money, hoping it was right Next time she would be wiser. Arrived at—ing she scratched out taels and was about to write in dollars. Dollars, Dollars aren't known at—ing," said the Captain.
"What had I better do," she asked of the oldest resident. Again she was overwhelmed in words. But she gathered she ought to ask for taels. Taels don't exist," said the Cay "I never saw a tael, did you. He'll bring you your money in lumps of silver if you don't take care." "Yes," said the old resident, you had better not get lumps of silver."
"They vary in value according to the quality of the silver," persisted the Captain.
You won't know what to do with them. You can't break them up. You'll have to weigh them. And what can you pay for in lumps of silver! Nobody will take them for anything you want to buy."
wished for solid, uncoined lumps of silver.
aby, actually both talked yo her, as if she She felt confounded! But determined to preserve her calm, she said, '*I had better write that I want so many strings of cash! Ten thousand cash? Twenty thousand cash? Ican't carry them, you know. I don't know where I can keep them.. But I must have at least so much money in hand if it is only to pay for my washin, "Pay fervour washing!"—they both buret out, as if that were 'a most superfluous proceeding. "I wouldn't write for cash, I think," began a third adviser. "I would ite how many taels you require, and say, you'd take it in cash."
"Then I shall never know if I get the right amount."
"Ach" they all said, waving their hands, as ino one ever did know if he got the right amount in China, "Tt varies. It varies from day to day," said the oldest resident.
Needless to relate she never saw those cash, never heard how many she had got, nor where they were stowed. The Boy said he had them, it was all right, Ho said also that at—ing it was very bad how few cash they gave for the tael.
She was determined she would learn Chinese, of course—was she not just out, from home and being just out from home and anxious to be polite to everyone, it was a trouble to her mind that she did not know how to greet her teacher, when he came. Shestood up, and rubbed her hands together, which understood was the Chinese for emed feeble without "Koom Shee! Hoon Shee!" og she heard the country people Oh! you should not say Koom Shee! Koum Shee! to a teacher-—who comes every day," said a Sinologue.
*"He says it is quite righ said she. "Tam sure I understood that much, But he said I could also say Tsao."
"Oh no! Not Tsao," said the Sinologw but he never made any suggestion, as to what she ought to say.
""T could not think what I ought to say when he went away," she continued. "But he says Man man fs0.""
"Oh no, that is a great deal too much to a teacher—who comes every day."
Well, that is what he says," she pored, after having waited a little to sev if he would suggest any polite speech for her.
want to sny something polite."
"It is very difficult to be polite in Chinese," said that Sinologue solemnly. That seemed final. But she asked another Sinologue, No, I should not say Man man tso. "Not Man man tso," said he dreamily. "Not to a teacher—who comes every day."
"But what would you say asked she in desperation.
"Well, it is very polite to say Shao pei, I don't go to the door with you, you know. I only go a few steps with you. That the polite thing to say after a call from a "But surely it would be proper to go to the door?"
"Oh yes,—in China—it would."
"Well, I think anywhere it would be polite."
"Yes, but not—not from a lady. It would not be expected.""
"Ach! yes! then I can say Shao po However she did not feel quite satisfied, and she watched her opportunity.
Next time she heard a Sinologue converse with a Chinaman she listened to hear what he would say in parting, Alas! it
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.