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64 

on a second storey porch with a boy and a coolie who were very much disgruntled because we had not let them know we were coming. Nevertheless they gave us rooms and supper, and we sat on the porch under the stars for a time before going to bed. 

My work starts on the 28th, and before that it would be nice to have a little time to get our house settled. Although we took over all the furniture the girls had before we have still some pieces to get. Also we have been having some painting done, and the furniture needs to be set in place. Then, too, my books and papers are all in boxes, and I will need to get them out and in some sort of order before we can get to work. I do not know when I have felt less ready for my work than this year. By that I mean that both of my new jobs carry responsibility and call for training and experience for which I feel myself not entirely prepared. Had I had a month to get ready for them it would not have been too much, and now I am getting restless and begrudging every unnecessary delay, or necessary but unexpected delay. The work will, however, be challenging by the very fact that it will force me to achievements I have never before attained to. It is good to have that bit of hope anyway. 

Saturday, 22 August 

Dorothy and I went out before breakfast this morning, and after going to the office of the Kuling Estate to [[strikethrough]] [unreadable]] [[/strikethrough]] make certain that the girls' trunks had arrived safely we went down to the hulk to see about the boat. A caretaker told us not boat would come [[strikethrough] [[unreadable]]  [[/strikethrough]] until tomorrow.
"What boat will come then?"
"The Ningshao."
"How about the Feng Pu? That is due today."
"That only went up yesterday." 
"Yesterday was Friday. Do you mean that the Feng Pu went up on Friday?" 
"Oh no, not Friday." 
"Have you an office on the hulk?"
"No, on shore; up there." (pointing to the concession.) 

So back to the concession we hiked, but no policeman had heard of the San Peh office, and they decided it must be in the Chinese city. Back to the Chinese bund we went, but there was no office. Finally we found a man in the custom house who told us