The next day NumÈ and Koto visited the American lady. Orito had gone up to Yokohama, NumÈ told her, and would not be back for several days.

"You will be very lonely then, dear."

NumÈ sat in her favorite position, on the floor at Mrs. Davis' knee. Koto trotted about the room, examining with extreme interest and curiosity the American furnishings and decorations.

"No; I nod be lonely," NumÈ said, "because I nod seen Orito many days—so I ged used."

"He must be a very bad boy to keep away from you so many days," Mrs. Davis said, playfully.

"Oh, no! Orito is vaery good boy." She sat still and thoughtful for a while, her feet drawn under her, her little hands clasped in her lap.

"Do the pretty Americazan ladies always luf when they marry?"

"Nearly always, NumÈ."

NumÈ nodded her head thoughtfully. "Japanese girls nod always luf," she said, wistfully. "Koto say only geisha girls marry for luf."

"That must be because they are thrown into contact with men and boys, while Japanese ladies are secluded. Is it not so, dear?"

"Ess. Mrs. Davees, do you lig' that I am goin' to marry Orito?"

"Yes, very much—I am sure you will be very happy with him. He is so good. No one has said anything to you about—about it, have they?" she added, anxiously, fearing perhaps the girl had heard of what Orito had told his father.

"No," she said. "No one talk of luf to NumÈ bud Mrs. Davees; thad is why NumÈ lig' to talk to you."

The American lady smiled.

"Suppose Japanese girl lig' instead some nize, pretty genleman, and she marry with some one she nod like?" She emphasized this question, and threw a charming glance at Mrs. Davis.

"Do you mean the case of a girl betrothed to one man and in love with another?"

"Ess."

"Why, I don't know what she could do then, NumÈ. What put such an idea into your head?"

NumÈ did not reply for a moment. Then she said, very shyly: "NumÈ not lig' the big, ugly Americazan genleman any more. I telling him so."

"NumÈ!"

"Ess, I tell Mr. Sinka I nod lig'—thad you telling me so."

"Well, NumÈ!" Mrs. Davis' voice betrayed her impatience. "What did you do that for?"

The girl half shrugged her little shoulders.

"Oa! I dunno."

"NumÈ, you must be careful how you speak to men. Don't tell them anything. If you like them, keep it to yourself; it's a good thing you told him you disliked him, this time, and did not leave him with the impression that you were in love with him. You know, dear, girls have to be very careful who they like."

"Bud, Mr. Sinka tell me nod to let any one choose for me—thad I lig'"—she paused a moment, and added vaguely, "thad I lig' who I lig'."

"Really, NumÈ, you might take my advice before Mr. Sinclair's," the older lady said, quite provoked.