"I feel," said Mr. Campbell, "that we have all been suffering from certain states of mind that about match the "Comet"s" disguise, and it occurred to me that a change of air would be beneficial."
"And will the "Cornet" go, too?" asked Billie.
"I"m afraid the "Comet" is not built for mountain roads in j.a.pan, little daughter," answered her father. "We"ll go by train and then by jinrikshas, much as I regret to leave your gasoline pet behind."
"But where are we going?" asked Miss Campbell, in a tone of n.o.ble resignation, so chastened were her high spirits by the pains of rheumatism.
"I am going to take you to Nikko to spend a few days, and in order to liven up things a bit the boys are coming, too, even old Mr. Buxton."
"Is--" began Nancy, and checked herself.
"Well, Miss Nancy, "is" what?" asked Mr. Campbell, smiling.
Billie knew perfectly well that Nancy was going to say: "Is Yoritomo going?" but had changed her mind, when she asked instead:
"Is Nikko a town?"
"It"s a number of things. It"s considered by some people to be the most beautiful place in the world, for one thing. It"s a small town; it"s a magnificent forest of cryptomerias; and it"s a sacred mountain, and a collection of marvelous old temples and tombs and statues of Buddha.
But first and foremost it is a cool, green, lovely spot with good, dry, pine-scented air for certain persons feeling in need of such."
If Mr. Campbell had a fault it was that when he decided to do a thing he wanted to do it at once. Having been a man of camps and considerable lonely wanderings about the world, he had been able to gratify this tendency to decide and act quickly. But it was not so simple with a party of women, and when he announced that they were to start next morning early there was some silent consternation among them.
However, such was the force of Mr. Campbell"s personality when he announced a decision that not even that fearless and redoubtable woman, Helen Campbell, had the courage to raise any objections. It was true she had engaged a ma.s.seuse at eleven o"clock; the laundry had not been finished; certain persons had planned to shampoo heads, and Mme. Fontaine had asked permission to call in the afternoon.
"All of which things must be postponed and overlooked," thought Miss Campbell.
Mr. Campbell had hired a villa for their short stay. Komatsu was to go along as cook and to carry excess luggage. And they were to take a train at the unearthly hour of eight o"clock a.m., which meant rising at an even more unearthly hour; all of which to a great engineer was a mere trifle.
But who could be in a bad humor on such a glorious morning? Moreover, several funny things happened which set them all laughing as they started off. Komatsu appeared, strung with cooking utensils like a tin man.
"Not muchly good in a renting-house. Komatsu take honorable saucepan," he explained.
In his arms, beside the luncheon hamper, he bore also a beautiful bunch of lilies.
As they climbed into their "rikshas they were aware of the sound of clipping, and glancing toward the summer-house, beheld twelve old women cutting the gra.s.s with large shears. Most of them were widows, as could readily be seen by their short hair. Their worn old faces were wreathed in smiles, when they presently touched their foreheads to the gra.s.s in profound obeisances.
"The dear old things," cried Miss Campbell. "O"Haru, do see that they have a good lunch."
No need to give such a command to O"Haru. Refreshments are always given to persons who come in for a day"s work in a private place in j.a.pan.
The next amusing incident was the appearance of the old gardener, Saiki, who came running around the house grasping a bunch of roses.
Giving Mr. Campbell the largest and most beautiful, he divided the others among the ladies.
"Honorable flower for looking on train," he said, with his inimitable smile.
And so, at last they started. All the servants lined up to bid them a respectful farewell. Billie, turning around, saw them gathered in a group on the piazza, fading into spots of bright color in the distance, with the old gra.s.s-cutters" robes making a splash of sky blue on the lawn.
"Oh, Nancy," she exclaimed, "there never were such people as the j.a.panese, so simple and adorable."
Nancy, engaged in pinning a rose on the lapel of her coat and looking at the effect with her pocket mirror, made no reply.
At the railroad station they were met by Reggie, Nicholas and Mr. Buxton.
Everybody was in the wildest spirits because of the change in the weather, and as they crowded, laughing and jostling each other, into the train, the j.a.panese travelers smiled good-naturedly. They liked to see Americans enjoying the country.
Scarcely had they settled themselves in the train when they became aware that two j.a.panese women were smiling and bowing repeatedly in the most cordial manner.
"Why, it"s Mme. Ito," exclaimed Miss Campbell.
"And O"Kami San," finished Mary, who remembered names for everybody.
"Are you going to Nikko, too, O"Kami San?" asked Billie, sitting beside the pretty little j.a.panese.
O"Kami San looked much embarra.s.sed and hung her head.
"Make honorable journey to husband"s home," she said in a low voice.
"Have you been getting married?" demanded Billie, astonished.
"Yesterdays pa.s.sing four," answered O"Kami San.
"You mean four days ago?"
"Yes, honorable Mees Cam-el."
Both j.a.panese women were beautifully dressed and it came out during the conversation that the young bride was wearing no less than five elaborate kimonos.
"But why?" demanded Billie.
O"Kami San explained that it was to avoid the inconveniences of luggage.
They were going to a little town in the hills and it would be difficult to carry trunks.
Around her head the bride wore a broad band of pink silk, almost covering her hair, to keep the horns of jealousy from growing.
Billie looked at her pityingly.
"Poor little thing," she thought. "Why doesn"t that good-for-nothing brother teach her something? It doesn"t seem to me that his schooling did him any good. He"s so fanatical and bigoted."
"I hope you will be very happy, O"Kami San," said Mary. "I believe you said there was no mother-in-law."
"Not no mother-in-law," answered the bride, in the tone of one describing a great blessing. "Honorable husband of age like mother-in-law."
"You mean your husband is not young?"
O"Kami San nodded.
"Verily old," she said, with just the faintest quiver at the corners of her mouth.