vict class, and where the character of the hotel tap-rooms was such as might be expected in consequence. We felt no doubt that we could succeed in assembling a school of native children, that is, if we fed and clothed them, but to do this we were not rich enough, even had our other avocations left us sufficient time for the exclusive attention that our pupils would have required. However, we thought that we could take one native child to bring up in our own house, more especially as Khourabene often visited us in company with a little niece, and had once asked us as a favour to let "Mingee" which was her name, signifying drought, remain all night at the parsonage whilst he went elsewhere.
The only drawback to poor Mingee was the existence of her mother, of whom the chief good that could be said was that she had a pretty face, since she was encroaching and tiresome, and required to be kept at arm's length. In the meantime the idea of his niece becoming one of our household gave great satisfaction to Khourabene. He could not imagine that his sister would make any difficulties, and undertook to fetch Mingee himself without delay. Accordingly he presented himself one morning, leading her solemnly by the hand in quite an unaccustomed manner, so that it was plain that he intended to go through a little ceremonial of his own getting up in entrusting her to our care. To make the scene more impressive, he accompanied it with a formal farewell, and, having lectured Mingee in our presence on the necessity of obedience and good behaviour, he took his leave at once, instead of remaining all day as usual, with a promise, however, that his absence should be but of short duration.
