FEMININE DIPLOMACY.
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.