“Gracious lady, warn-ings,” she began slowly, as if she had just learned the words from a book.

“What on earth?” Nancy asked.

“Gracious lady, warn-ings,” repeated Onoye, in a monotonous voice.

“What do you mean, Onoye?” demanded Billie.  “Don’t kneel.  Stand up and tell us all about it.”

“No explaining words to make understanding.  Make prayer to honorable Mees Nancee.”

“But what about?” asked Nancy, puzzled and troubled at the same time.

“Dee-vorce,” answered Onoye, and then touching her forehead to the ground, she rose quickly and glided away.

It was so absurd that they were obliged to laugh, and yet they felt that the Japanese girl was entirely serious in what she was trying to tell.

“Can’t we call her back and ask her some more questions?” suggested Elinor.

“We might, but I doubt if she would say another word,” answered Billie.  “They never will tell more than they have to, you know, and I daresay she thinks she’s told all that is necessary.”

“I think she’s got hold of the wrong words,” put in Mary.  “Do you remember how she called Miss Campbell ’the honorable old maid’?”

“She has had something on her mind a long time,” said Billie thoughtfully.  “She’s a queer little soul.  You don’t think she could be a bit daffy, do you?”

“I never saw any signs of it,” said Nancy.  “But I do wish she had explained why I was to be warned.  Perhaps she’s got that word wrong, too.”

“The truth is, the Japanese use synonyms instead of the words themselves.  That’s why their English is so queer,” remarked Mary, better trained in English than any of the others and with a remarkably good vocabulary when she could be persuaded to talk.  “Now a synonym of ‘to warn’ is ’to summon.’  Maybe Onoye wanted to tell you that some one wished to see you.”

Nancy was silent.  She vaguely connected Onoye’s visit with Mme. Fontaine and the note, because her thoughts constantly dwelt on those disquieting subjects.

The girls lingered for some time in the garden until they saw the Japanese gentleman in fancy dress riding away in his ’riksha, preceded by his two runners.  Once more Onoye approached them down one of the shady garden walks.  Once more she paused in front of Nancy and prostrating herself, announced: 

“The honorable master in libraree to Mees Brown.”

Nancy turned as white as a sheet.

“Why, Nancy, don’t be frightened.  I am sure it’s nothing serious,” said Billie, putting her arm around her friend’s waist.

Except for that first greeting when Billie had returned after her search for Nancy, it was the first time the two girls had stood thus since the letter episode, and it was too much for poor, contrite Nancy, who burst into tears.

“She thinks it’s bad news from home,” said Mary, leaning a cheek sympathetically against Nancy’s shoulder, while Elinor pressed her hand and exclaimed: