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Updated: June 4, 2025
"Oh, Komatsu, we will ruin our clothes," cried Miss Campbell in alarm. "You must take us somewhere until the rain is over." They were passing the high walls of a garden, the gate of which stood open. Without an instant's hesitation Komatsu turned in and the three 'rikshas raced up a broad walk toward a Japanese house at the end.
"They may tear us to pieces before we get back. They are like an angry, silent pack of wolves," she thought to herself. "Komatsu," she said aloud, "I believe he has fainted from fright," She put the smelling bottle to the baby's funny snub nose. Presently the boy opened his eyes.
"I think we had better get into the house at once," ordered Miss Campbell, and taking Mme. Ito's arm, she hurried the little lady up the path, calling to the others to follow. Once in the drawing-room, all the windows were ordered closed and the doors locked, while Komatsu was sent to search the premises. "What is your opinion, Mr. Ito?" asked Billie.
It was true she had engaged a masseuse 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.
The girls laughed and O'Kami's silvery note mingled with theirs. "I found something quite new and interesting in the garden the other day," observed Mary. "Or rather not quite new, but quite old. Who wants to see it?" "Lead on, Macduff," ordered Billie. "It's an old shrine," continued Mary. "Komatsu says it's to the Compassionate God, Jizu.
There was a bench on the piazza and Billie sat down to wait. Komatsu stood patiently under his oiled paper umbrella which he always placed in the bottom of the 'riksha in bad weather. Exactly one hour they waited and at last Billie, disconsolate and disappointed, returned to the 'riksha and ordered Komatsu to take her to some of the shops.
Komatsu made a hurried visit to town, bearing notes of invitation to the few acquaintances of the Campbells and returned later in the day accompanied by two men carrying large bales on their backs. That evening when the master of the house returned in time to dress for dinner he scarcely recognized his abode, which had been decorated in a most extraordinary manner.
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.
"Oh, Komatsu, try and reason with them," pleaded Billie. "We don't want to lose the 'Comet, It wasn't his fault. He was going quite slowly. He didn't mean to hurt the little boy. He's the kindest hearted old thing. It wasn't anybody's fault. Can't you tell them that?" Billie was too distracted and unhappy to realize how absurd her words might have sounded to any English-speaking person.
Komatsu regarded her from a distance with respectful sympathy. "Back home," she ordered, and all the way she indulged in the bitterest weeping she had ever known in her life. "Nancy, Nancy, how could you?" she kept repeating to herself. Before she reached the house she dried her eyes and leaning out of the 'riksha let the rain beat against her face.
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