No need to give such a command to O'Haru. Refreshments are always given to persons who come in for a day's work in a private place in Japan.
The next amusing incident was the appearance of the old gardener, Saiki, who came running around the house grasping a bunch of roses.
Giving Mr. Campbell the largest and most beautiful, he divided the others among the ladies.
"Honorable flower for looking on train," he said, with his inimitable smile.
And so, at last they started. All the servants lined up to bid them a respectful farewell. Billie, turning around, saw them gathered in a group on the piazza, fading into spots of bright color in the distance, with the old grass-cutters' robes making a splash of sky blue on the lawn.
"Oh, Nancy," she exclaimed, "there never were such people as the
Japanese, so simple and adorable."
Nancy, engaged in pinning a rose on the lapel of her coat and looking at the effect with her pocket mirror, made no reply.
At the railroad station they were met by Reggie, Nicholas and Mr. Buxton. Everybody was in the wildest spirits because of the change in the weather, and as they crowded, laughing and jostling each other, into the train, the Japanese travelers smiled good-naturedly. They liked to see Americans enjoying the country.
Scarcely had they settled themselves in the train when they became aware that two Japanese women were smiling and bowing repeatedly in the most cordial manner.
"Why, it's Mme. Ito," exclaimed Miss Campbell.