Such a cry of delight as went up when Persis discovered her sister. “Why, Lisa! Lisa! Lisa!” she exclaimed, her voice rising with each reiteration. “When did you come? How did you get here? Oh, you dear old thing! Let me see if your eyes have a slant upward, and if you wear bodkins stuck in your hair. No, you look quite, quite natural.” And the hugging that followed left scarce breath for utterance to either of them.
“Didn’t I surprise you nicely?” said Lisa, at length. “I sent a despatch from ’Frisco, but you were away, and Mell begged mamma not to let you know, and I am glad she didn’t. Yes, I am safe and sound. I had a chance to come with some friends as far as New York and the rest of the way was nothing. Let me look at you, Perse. You haven’t grown as much as Melly. I believe she is as tall as you.”
“Yes, she is, and a wee bit taller,” confessed Persis. “Now tell me all about yourself. Oh, my, but we shall have to talk all night for a week, to catch up. Aunt Esther didn’t come with you?”
“No; the captain is there for three years, you know. I just had to come home, although I have had a perfectly lovely time. Oh, Persis, how you would enjoy seeing that interesting Japan! Aunt Esther did everything in the world to make it pleasant for me, and—well, altogether it has been a great experience.”
Persis’s eyes were roving over her sister, dwelling on her beauty and taking in every detail of her face and figure. Presently she darted forward and caught Lisa’s hand. “Lisa,” she cried, “where did you get that ring? Did Aunt Esther give it to you?” And Lisa blushed up to her eyes.
“That?” she answered, trying to look unconcerned. “No, Aunt Esther didn’t give it to me. Oh, Persis, I shall have to tell you. I am engaged.”
Persis dropped the hand on which the diamond shone, and looked as if she were ready either to laugh or cry. “Not to a Japanese!” she said, quizzically.
“You ridiculous girl. No; although one might go farther and fare much worse.”
“You couldn’t go much farther,” answered Persis.
“Well, he isn’t a Japanese. He is a bonâ fide stars-and-stripes American; so much so that he is in the United States navy,—a lieutenant, Perse, and his name is Richard Griffith.”