Alicia smiled and began, in a very musical tone, a song set to the air of “The Fine Old English Gentleman.” After the first stanza Harold’s manly voice joined in the chorus, as he beat time with his foot. MISSION RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Mission Miss Sahibas must never complain; The Mission Miss Sahibas must temper restrain When sust [lazy] pankahwalas won’t pull at the cane; Must never be fanciful, foolish, or vain. Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules! The Mission Miss Sahibas must furnish the brain, Of two or three languages knowledge obtain, When weary and puzzled must “try, try again,”— We cannot learn grammar by legerdemain. Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules! The Mission Miss Sahibas should know every lane, Climb ladder-like stairs without fearing a sprain; Must rebuke and encourage, exhort and explain; Dark babies should fondle, dark bibis should train. Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules! Let Mission Miss Sahibas from late hours refrain, For they must rise early, and bear a hard strain, Like vigorous cart-horses drawing a wain, That pull well together when yoked twain and twain. Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules! “Just as you and I are yoked together, Harold,” said Alicia, pausing for a merry little laugh. “_I_ may be a cart-horse, but you are rather like a white fawn,” was Harold’s rejoinder. “Pray go on with your song; we have not yet discovered the whole range of the ladies’ duties.” “The next verse is a funny one,” observed Alicia: “I hope that the formidable warning with which it closes is not needed by me.” The Mission Miss Sahibas in dress must be plain; The Mission Miss Sahibas must work might and main, And therefore good nourishment should not disdain, Or danger is great of their going insane! Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules! The Mission Miss Sahibas must topis [sun-hats] retain To guard against sunstroke, to health such a bane; ‘Midst flies and musquitoes must patient remain; By Mission Miss Sahibas snakes should be slain. Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules! The Mission Miss Sahibas should sow well the grain, To bibis and begums [princesses] should love entertain; Should smile and should soothe, but not flatter or feign, And to usefulness thus they may hope to attain. Oh, listen ye, Miss Sahibas; These are the Mission rules!