“Something bad?”

“No, not bad exactly,” said Plum Blossom, who disliked her future sister-in-law. “He has been learning jiu-jitsu.”

It was Summer’s turn to gasp, thus displacing her elaborate headgear.

“What! A baby of ten learn jiu-jitsu?”

“Eleven,” corrected Plum Blossom. “His grandfather was samurai. Ver’ well. That grandfather’s friend teach him jiu-jitsu—a few tricks of jiu-jitsu.”

“What for? Will he, too, fight the Russians?” inquired Miss Summer, sarcastically.

“N-no,” said Plum Blossom, dubiously, “but he says he will fight somebody.”

“And little Juji,” put in Iris, “has a fine present for our dear mother.”

“What is it?”

“A bag of peanuts!”