I had gone down to dinner on this first evening in a soft yellow silk, with long flowing sleeves trimmed with dragons, I know I looked well in it. Governess always said I did. It was partly Chinese and partly European in design. Governess planned it herself, and she said the French were born with a knowledge how to dress artistically; she boasted that she made it to suit my peculiar style. "Did you notice that China silk she had on at dinner?" said Aunt Gwendolin; "there must be an end to all that; a ban must be put on everything Chinese." "It was rather becoming I thought," said Uncle Theodore, "in harmony with the clear yellow of her skin. Let her dress alone, she seems to know how to put it. That is a born gift with some women, and if it is not, they never seem to acquire it. There is great elegance in the straight lines of the Oriental dress." "Let her alone," said Aunt Gwendolin scornfully, "and let the whole city know we have introduced the Yellow Per----" "Gwendolin, dear," interrupted grandmother, "do not speak so." "Those Chinese silks, of which she seems to have gowns galore--I was at the unpacking of her trunks--must be tabooed," said my aunt. "Her father has evidently intended her to dress like an European or American; she has _some_ waist line, and does not wear the sacque the women wear in China; but her sleeves are _years_ old." "The dear child may object to having her attire changed at once," said my grandmother. "She is used to those soft clinging silks, and may not want to give them up. And sleeves are of little consequence. Let her alone for awhile." "Let her alone!" again retorted Aunt Gwendolin, "and let Professor Ballington see her? He'd know her nationality at once in that yellow silk covered with sprawling dragons, as almost anybody might. I cannot have anything so mortifying occur when the girl is calling me 'aunt'!" "Ballington is a curious kind of a chap, and values people on their own merits; _he'd_ think none the less of the girl because she has some Chinese blood in her," returned Uncle Theodore. "I'll take her out to-morrow," continued my aunt, "and buy her some taffeta silks and French muslins, and dress her up as a Christian _should_ be dressed." Grandmother said no more. The mother is not the head of the house in America as she is in dear old China. I suppose it is the daughter who rules in this country. I am so sleepy I cannot listen any longer, even to talk about myself. My governess has taught me that eavesdropping is not honourable, but I cannot avoid hearing so long as I stay in my room, and I have nowhere else to go. I will turn out the electric light, throw myself on the bed, yellow silk and all, and cry myself asleep. I wonder is that an American or a Chinese act? My governess was continually tracing my actions to one or other of the nations. _March 2, 1----_