MRS. DAVIS'S NERVES.
The next day Sinclair brought Cleo to call on Numè. It was the first
time the two girls had ever really talked with each other. At first Numè
declared she would not see the American girl, whom she held responsible
for her father's, Sachi's and Orito's deaths, but after Sinclair had
talked to her for a while and had told her how the other girl was
suffering, and how she, after all, really loved Orito, the girl's tender
little heart was touched, and she was as anxious to see Cleo as Cleo was
to see her.
She went herself down the little garden path to meet Cleo, and held her
two little hands out with a great show of cordiality and almost
affection.
"Tha's _so_ perlite thad you cummin' to see me," she said.
Cleo smiled, the first time in days, perhaps. It pleased Numè. "Ah!" she
said, "how nize thad is--jus' lig' sunbeam in dark room!"
She was very anxious to please the American girl and make her feel at
her ease, and she chatted on happily to her. She wanted Cleo to
understand that in spite of her father's death she was not altogether
unhappy, for she had talked the matter over very solemnly with Koto and
Matsu only the previous night, and they had all agreed that Cleo's
desire to see her (Numè) was prompted by remorse, which remorse Numè
wished to lessen, to please Sinclair.
Sinclair left them alone together, and strolled over to Mrs. Davis's
house. She had been kept in ignorance of this proposed visit. Sinclair
found her busily engaged in packing, preparatory to leaving. Mrs. Davis
was in despair over some American furniture that she did not want to
take with her.
"Can't you leave it behind?"
"No; the new landlord won't let me. Says the Japanese have no use for
American furniture--unpleasant in the houses during earthquakes, etc."
"Well, I'll take care of them for you," Sinclair volunteered,
good-naturedly.
"Oh, will you? Now, that _will_ be good of you. That settles that, then.
And now about this stuff--come on, Tom," she began crushing things into
boxes and trunks, in her quick, delightful fashion, scarce noting where
she was placing them. She paused a moment to ask Sinclair if he had been
over to Numè's.
"Yes," he smiled a trifle. "Cleo is there now."
She dropped a piece of bric-a-brac and sat down on the floor.
"Cleo! _there--with Numè!_ Well!"
"Yes, she wanted to _know_ Numè, she said, before going away," Sinclair
told her.
"She will never cease surprising me," Mrs. Davis said, plaintively. "She
ought not to excite herself. I never know _what_ to expect of her,
which way to take her. I used to think my nerves were strong; now--my
nerves are--are nervous."
"Cleo is not herself lately," Tom said, quietly, without looking up.
"We'd better humor her for a little while still. Besides--Numè will do
her good, I believe."