“Oh, yes, Mr. Campbell,” exclaimed Nancy, a flush spreading over her face.  “I am ashamed that it ever happened.  I’m sure I never meant him to think—­I’m sure I can’t understand his presuming—­”

“Never mind, child.  Men propose the world over without any more grounds than that.  They are all alike, yellow skins and white ones, and red ones, too,” said Miss Campbell.

“Don’t be so hard on us, Madam,” put in Mr. Buxton, seizing the lady’s parasol by force and holding it firmly over her head.  “It’s not our fault if we fall victims to a pair of blue eyes.  You notice I say ‘victims.’  One pair has many, I presume.”

Billie and Nicholas brought up the procession which was now moving slowly toward the pavilion.

“It’s queer that I just learned something about Yoritomo last night,” said Nicholas, “and I was going to tell you to-day.”

“What is it?” asked Billie.

“He’s divorced.  You know they get them here on the slightest provocation—­just change their minds after a few months or years and go to court, and one morning a wife finds herself without a husband, or children either, if he wants to take them.”

“How perfectly outrageous for him to propose to Nancy!” cried Billie.  “You don’t know who his first wife was, do you, Nicholas?”

“No, I didn’t hear.”

“I think I do,” said Billie, after a moment’s pause.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MAGNET AND THE SILVER CHURN.

“Is it your head, dear?  Are you sure nothing else is involved?  No indigestion or pains at the neck or burning at the pit of the stomach?”

“Perfectly certain, Miss Campbell,” answered Nancy, with a wan smile.  “It’s just one of those sick headaches like the one I had when I ate crab salad and peach ice cream that time.  You mustn’t stay at home on my account.  O’Haru will look after me.”

“But you haven’t eaten crab salad and peach ice cream this time, child.  You haven’t eaten anything, in fact.  Your appetite is getting smaller all the time.”

“It’s just the heat,” said Nancy meekly.  “I only want to stay in a darkened room and keep as cool as I can.  I am sure I shall be all right by this evening and I wouldn’t for anything interfere with the picnic to-day.  It would make my head much worse.  Really it would.”

Each of the Motor Maids offered to stay home with Nancy, but she objected and protested so strongly that it looked as if she would work herself into a fever if they persisted.  O’Haru was therefore left in charge of Nancy for the day, while the others, attired for an all-day picnic, gathered on the front piazza.

On the driveway stood the “Comet” and behind him at a respectful distance, like a servant behind his master, stood another car of an undistinguished character, hired in Tokyo.  Into this last climbed Miss Campbell and Mr. Buxton, while Mr. Campbell took the front seat to run the car.