Newbegin shook his head.
"Our answer will be the same. We are very grateful. I am sorry not to seem more hospitable. Have you seen the temple and the pagoda?"
"No," answered the boy. "I suppose I might as well do the town, now I'm here."
"I will show you the temple," said Margaret timidly. "They know me there, I nursed the child of the old priest. I will take you."
"Yes," said Newbegin, "they all like Margaret, and I seem to be unpopular now. Will you not take dinner with us?"
"Thank you," said the boy, "take dinner with me. Perhaps Mrs. Newbegin would like to see the gunboat, and I have some photographs of the new cruisers."
Margaret gazed beseechingly at her.
"Very well," said Newbegin, "if you will stop for us on your way back from the temple we shall be quite ready, but I must return at once after dinner in order to assemble the members of the mission."
The girl led the way to the gate.
"I'm sure you will not need the soldiers," she said; "it is but a short distance." The crowd, observing that the bluejackets had remained inside the compound, crowded close at the boy's heels as they threaded the streets to the temple.