English. She seemed to be taking in every detail of the room and its
occupants. Nobody took any notice of her. All the ladies and the servants
were engaged in helping the guests on with their rain coats and
overshoes. Mme. Ito insisted on doing up their hats in paper bundles.

In the midst of a great deal of leave-taking and much smiling and bowing,
Yoritomo found time to say to Nancy:

"You see, chance has favored me to-day. The rain which kept me away from
the bridge has brought you to my home."

Nancy blushed in spite of her efforts not to. She felt half pleased and
half frightened at the earnest manner of the young Japanese. He was
undeniably handsome and graceful, with a self-possession she had never
seen equaled. Just then a dark figure darted across the floor so swiftly
that it was like a flash of brown wings in the air. There was a low
exclamation from the ladies, a bird-like chatter from the servants, and
for one brief moment the surprised Americans beheld old O'Haru on her
knees before little Kenkyo in the act of touching her forehead to the
floor. She drew a beautiful, bright-colored toy from her bosom and gave
it to the solemn-eyed little boy. Then, bowing again with extreme
reverence, she rose and left the house. When they next saw her she was
swinging along in the rain on her wooden clogs. Miss Campbell made
Komatsu stop the 'riksha and invited her to climb in, but she refused
politely but firmly.

"Extraordinary creature," exclaimed Miss Campbell, but Komatsu could
offer no explanation.