CHAPTER XXX.

FEMININE DIPLOMACY.

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

"You will be very lonely then, dear."

Nume 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," Nume 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, Nume."

Nume 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 Nume bud Mrs. Davees; thad is why Nume 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, Nume. What put such an idea into your head?"

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

"Nume!"

"Ess, I tell Mr. Sinka I _nod_ lig'--thad you telling me so."

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

The girl half shrugged her little shoulders.

"Oa! I dunno."

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