I had formerly visited Wei Hien, and had many kind friends within its walls. So, some time after our arrival, I sent in my card to one of their houses, in the evening. One of the servants came to me with a return card, and a message from the ladies asking me to excuse them from receiving me, because they were out of health, and their house was not in complete order, and saying that they would be glad if I would visit them on the following day. Early next morning a fine cart drawn by a handsome mule came rattling into the courtyard of the inn. In the cart, as escort, was the personal maid of the Chinese lady at the head of the house. This maid was a shrewd, sensible woman of forty-five. She said that, lest I might not like the jolting of the cart, the lady had sent her sedan-chair for me, and a lictor to clear the way. Which would I have, the cart or the chair? I preferred the cart. From the front of the cart the lictor brought a stool, placed it firmly against the wheel, and so I mounted a conveyance which, in China, takes the place of a private carriage. The maid sat behind, because the front seat is the best.