Lena came forward, dropped on her knees and kissed the
outstretched hand.

"Come, Margaret," she cried, drawing her little girl of six
toward the stranger, "come and salute the master."

Little Margaret came forward and offered her hand, looking
up with brave shyness into the stranger's face.

"Shame! shame!" said Lena, horrified. "Kneel down! Kneel down!"

"She does not understand how to salute," said her father with
an apologetic smile.

"Aha, so," cried the stranger, looking curiously at the little
girl. "Where did you learn to shake hands?"

"In school," said the child in English.

"In school?" replied the stranger in the same language.
"You go to school. What school?"

"The public school, sir."

"And do they not teach you to kneel when you salute in
the public school?"

"No, sir, we never kneel."