Chap. XVIL 



HOW T PERFORM MY PART ! 



357 



and, if possible, were more astonished than their 

 audience. In vain the prompter and leader of 

 the band urged them to go on ; their " occupation 

 was gone " until the greater attraction was re- 

 moved. Prudence now suggested that, having 

 thus come unexpectedly upon the scene and played 

 my part, it would be as well to withdraw while 

 there was time. I now bowed very politely to the 

 most respectable of the people who were standing 

 near me, and expressed my delight and thanks for 

 what I had seen. I then edged quietly out of the 

 crowd, a few of whom followed me, while the 

 greater part remained to enjoy the rest of the 

 performance, which I have no doubt was con- 

 cluded in a most satisfactory manner. 



The day was now far advanced, and as I 

 had been surrounded by noisy, although good- 

 humoured, crowds since the morning, I was exces- 

 sively tired. I therefore made the best of my 

 way back to the southern suburbs, where I had 

 left my boat in a retired creek surrounded on all 

 sides by mulberry-trees. But even here I could 

 not get the quiet I wished for. Numbers followed 

 me to where my boat was moored, and pestered 

 me with all sorts of questions. It was generally 

 believed by them that I had come from Shanghae 

 for the sole purpose of buying silk, nor could my 

 assurances to the contrary convince them they 

 were mistaken. 



In order to get rid of inquisitive crowds I now 

 gave orders to my boatmen to leave our moorings 



2 B 2 



