Princess (laughing). How strange he is and big, his words so different to honorable Japanese. Sometimes I think I have heard those sounds before. There are, in truth, more barbarian foreigners than in old venerated days. My uncle, all-powerful Son of Heaven, smiles at their coming. All love them not, Sakara—Truly, O dear little Mimosa (bends over Mimosa, who has touched her sleeve), I will forget cruel words. Was it, think you, O maidens, when my soul wandered in another body I heard the strange speech of the foreigner?
Mimosa. Truly, O most exalted, the world gathers at august Court. Condescend to remember this is honorable hour when the Son of Heaven impatiently awaits you. (EXEUNT all R., girls carrying flowers.)
ENTER Lady Cecil Cavendish and Miss Prendergast, L.
Lady C. This is too exciting for anything! (Walks about inquisitively.) I feel just like Alice in Wonderland. If anybody called out “Off with her head,” I shouldn’t be in the least astonished. Should you, G., dear?
Miss P. (who has stayed near L. 1 E. while Cecil has gone round stage and finished up and down C., nervously). I have had so many shocks since I left the blessed security of home that——
Cecil. Don’t talk of shocks. It makes me remember the earthquakes. I do hope they won’t have one for us. I should not like all the dear little houses to go rocking about. One comfort is, if you were buried under a Japanese house it wouldn’t hurt.
Miss P. Your levity, Cecil, is unbecoming. I certainly dread an earthquake, though it is not the worst evil I apprehend. I should hate to be tortured.
Cecil (going toward summer-house). You dear old goose, they don’t torture in Japan. You are thinking of China. I must just peep inside here.
Miss P. (crossing to up stage, C.). Do not, I beg of you, be so rash. (Sighs with relief as Cecil descends.) In the geography book from which it was my pleasure to instruct you when you were a child, China and Japan were treated under one chapter.
Cecil. As to geography, I have forgotten all I ever learned. Sit down there. See, is this (goes to summer-house) a table or a stool? I will make myself comfortable on the ground (sits on ground by summer-house, L. C.). Let us discuss the situation. (Miss P. hesitates.) Do, G. Nobody can object to our sitting down. You see, the voyage is safely over and you were not drowned.