Yoritomo looked at Nancy with polite though evident interest which gradually developed into a cautiously veiled admiration. He was about to speak, when he was interrupted by the troop of little maids headed by Onoye with tea and refreshments. It was Onoye who served the young Japanese. First she bowed before him until her forehead almost touched the ground. Then she placed a mat for him to sit upon and a low lacquer tray containing tea and rice cakes. But Yoritomo, ignoring these humble services, sat himself in a chair next to Nancy and little Onoye hastened to rectify her mistake.
In the meantime, Nicholas Grimm was talking to Billie and Elinor.
"Are you from Holland?" they asked him.
"Several hundreds of years ago I was. Kinterhook, New York, has been my home for the last generation."
"Good," exclaimed Billie, "I thought you were a Dutchman and it's lots nicer to be an American, don't you think so?"
"I wouldn't care to change," answered Nicholas solemnly. "America's good enough for me."
"Are you one of the engineers on the new railroad they are building?" asked Billie.
"I'm going to lay a few ties," he answered.
"Are you going to build those little funny openwork bridges over all the streams?" demanded Elinor.
"Something like it. Everything is picturesque in this country from beggars to railroad bridges, and, speaking of bridges, have you explored the garden yet? There's a ripping little bridge down there. When Mrs. Spears gave garden parties that was one of the strolling places."