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 every one, it was a trouble to her mind that she did not know how to greet her teacher when he came. She stood up, and rubbed her hands together, which, she understood was the Chinese for a curtsey; but it seemed feeble without a word, so she said, "Koom Shee! Koom Shee!" as she had heard the country people say.
"Oh! you should not say Koom Shee! Koom Shee! Not to a teacher, who comes every day," said a Sinologue.
"He says it is quite right," said she. "I am sure I understand that much. But he said I could also say Tsao!"
"Oh no—no! Not Tsao," said the Sinologue; but he never made any suggestion as to what she should say.
"I could not think what I ought to say when he went away," she continued. "But he says Man man tso."
"Oh no! that is a great deal too much to a teacher who comes every day."
CHINESE MODE OF SALUTATION.
"Well, that is what he says," she repeated rather wearily, after having waited a little to see if he would suggest any polite speech for her. "I do want to say something polite."