"Then we shall meet often, I hope," he said, and returned to his game.
"A very decent fellow; quite human," Reggie commented.
"Yes, isn't he?" said Geoffrey; and then he asked suddenly,—
"Do you think he would take his wife to see the Yoshiwara?"
"Probably not; but then they are Japanese people living in Japan. That alters everything."
"I don't think so," said Geoffrey; and he was conscious of having scored off his friend for once.
Miss Yaé Smith had arrived on her daily visit to the courts. She was already surrounded by a little retinue of young men, who, however, scattered at Reggie's approach.
Miss Yaé smiled graciously on the two new-comers and inquired after
Mrs. Barrington.
"It was so nice to talk with her the other day; it was like being in
England again."
Yes, Miss Yaé had been in England and in America too. She preferred those countries very much to Japan. It was so much more amusing. There was so little to do here. Besides, in Japan it was such a small world; and everybody was so disagreeable; especially the women, always saying untrue, unkind things.