Onoye tried to smile when she saw the three young ladies of the house looking at her with great concern. She ran to Billie and fell on her knees.
"Forgive, gracious lady," she said, endeavoring to compose her expression to its usual tranquility.
"Why, you poor dear, what have I to forgive?" exclaimed Billie, trying to raise Onoye to her feet.
"Why are you so unhappy, Onoye? Is there anything we can do for you?" asked Elinor.
"Do tell us and let us help you," put in Mary.
But Onoye was silent.
"O'Kami San, will you not ask her?" said Billie. "Perhaps she would tell you in Japanese when she can't in English."
At the words "O'Kami San," Onoye jumped to her feet in subdued excitement.
"O'Kami San," she repeated.
The two Japanese girls confronted each other. They spoke in low, rapid voices and their faces were so calm and unemotional they might have been two Japanese dolls wound tip to move the lips and occasionally make a slight gesture with one hand. Presently Onoye slipped from her obi a small package done up in crÍpe paper and gave it to O'Kami, who concealed it in the voluminous folds of her own kimono. They exchanged low, ceremonious bows and Onoye hurried away, while O'Kami turned to the mystified young-Americans with an apologetic smile.