“These are certainly the most hospitable servants I ever saw,” Miss Campbell was saying to Mary and Elinor.  “They make one feel like a guest in one’s own house.  I am sure if I lived here long, I should learn to meet myself at the front door and invite myself to take refreshments in the garden.”

The girls smiled lazily.  They seemed somehow to have entered into a land of unrealities and dream pictures.  The bamboo and rice paper villa was a doll’s house, the lovely garden, a stage setting and the picturesque band of Japanese servants gliding noiselessly about, the chorus.

And while they talked and sipped their tea, a fat, decrepit pug dog came slowly toward them down the walk on spindle legs.  As the aged creature approached, O’Haru paused and made it a profound bow.  The girls choked and sputtered in their tea and Miss Campbell laughed outright.  They learned afterwards that this venerable animal was “Nedda,” the Spears’ pet pug, eighteen years old, and that every servant attached to the household regarded her with great respect because they believed that she was really Mr. Spears’ grandmother.

Old Nedda was very pleased to meet with a little human company of her own social status.  She wagged her twisted tail cordially and when she heard American voices speaking the language of her youth, she gave a little expressive whine of pleasure.

“You poor old lonesome thing,” exclaimed the compassionate Billie.

Just then a maid hurried up with a cushion.  She had evidently been detailed to look after Nedda in the absence of the mistress of the house; to feed and bathe her; to see that she was covered up at night; to guard against her sleeping in damp places.  Nedda stepped gingerly on the mat, moved round and round in a circle several times, even as the most primitive dog might do, and settled herself in a round heap for her late afternoon siesta.  Then O’Sudzu, the little maid, spread a wadded silk cover over the pampered old Nedda and departed, bowing again.

They were still laughing over this absurd incident when Mr. Campbell appeared on the walk with two companions.  One was a good looking young man about twenty-one and the other a Japanese in European clothes, and very handsome, the girls thought him, in spite of his Oriental features and dark complexion.

CHAPTER II.

Tea in the garden.

Nancy Brown instinctively put her hand to her curls when she saw the three approach.  Elinor patted her coronet braids.  Mary blushed and shrank timidly into the depths of her chair, for she was very shy; and Billie, whose candid nature had no coquetry, looked calmly interested and remarked: 

“Dear old Papa, there he is with two visitors.”

“I’m not at all surprised,” said Miss Campbell smiling, “your Papa is one of the most general inviters I ever knew.  He always loved to entertain.”