"But you say one time thad is shame for me thad I only luf after I marry."
"Well, I have been thinking it over," the other answered, a trifle rattled—"and—and really, you are all so happy with things that way I wouldn't advise your changing the custom."
"Bud Japanese girl luf a liddle before they marry. After marriage big bit. Koto say geisha girl luf big bit before they marry. Koto luf vaery much Japanese boy in Tokyo——"
"That is good, and are they to be married?"
"Ah, no; because he worg vaery hard to mag' money, but Koto say mag' vaery liddle money, so she come worg' for me, and save—afterward they marry vaery habby."
Numè looked at the American lady with eyes full of wistful wondering: "I thing' I lig' vaery much thad I luf and be habby too. Numè nod know thad she luf Orito vaery much—Ess, she luf him vaery much, bud—sometimes I thing' I nod luf him too much; sometimes I thing' mebbe Orito nod luf me too much."
"Of course, you do love him, goosie. Now, don't begin thinking you don't, because one often convinces oneself of things that are not actually so."
"Bud I do nod thing' much of Orito," the girl contradicted; and added, shyly: "I thing', instead, of Mr. Sinka—but I not lig'—No! Numè nod lig' Mr. Sinka;" she shook her head violently.
Mrs. Davis called all the argument she could to her aid.
"You ought not to think of him, Numè; that is wicked, because he belongs to some one else."