'What are the Barnies?' asked George, puzzled at Mrs Penruthlan's evident pleasure and excitement. 'Oh, they're travelling players that wander round the countryside and play and act in our big barns,' said Mrs Penruthlan

Was he the reason for the bitterness that seemed to marble her character?

Steam navigation is in its infancy: four small 600-ton steamers ply between Hankow, Changsha, and Siangtan; and there are also perhaps a score of launches plying in and out of the province.

The bishops were ever cursing them, but they cared nought therefor, for they were all forcursed and forsworn and forlorn …