wished to do with a picture,
and the picture would not allow it. I should like a draught like that
to-night."

"Kashikomarimashita. I recall it," said old Mata, grimly, "and I shall
make it strong, for you have something worse than pictures to deal with
now."

"Thanks. I was sure you would remember," smiled the old man, and Mata,
disarmed of her cynicism, could say no more.

Ume remained in her chamber. She had not been seen since the dance.
All her fusuma and shoji were closed. Mata, in leaving her master,
looked tentatively toward this room, but after an imperceptible pause
kept on down the central passageway of the house to the bathroom, at
the far end. The place smelled of steam, of charcoal fumes, and cedar
wood. With two long, thin iron "fire-sticks," Mata poked, from the
top, the heap of darkening coals in the cylindrical furnace that was
built into one end of the tub. For the protection of the bather this
was surrounded with a wooden lattice which, being always wet when the
furnace was in use, never charred. The tub itself was of sugi-wood.
After years of service it still gave out unfailingly its aromatic
breath, and felt soft to the touch, like young leaves. Sighing
heavily, the old servant bared her arm and leaned over to stir the
water, to draw down by long, elliptical swirls of motion the heated
upper layers into cold strata at the bottom. She then wiped her arm on
her apron and went to the threshold of the guest-room to inform the
waiting occupant. "In ten minutes more, without fail, the water will
be at right heat for your augustness."

Now, in the kitchen, a great searching among jars and boxes on high
shelves told of preparation for the occasional brew. Again she thought
of calling Ume. Ume could reach the highest shelf without standing on
an inverted rice-pot, or the even more precarious fish-cleaning bench.
And again, for a reason not quite plain to herself, Mata decided not to
call. She threw a fresh handful of twigs and dried ferns to the
sleeping ashes of the brazier, set a copper skillet deep into the
answering flame, and began dropping dried bits of herbs into the
simmering water. Instantly the air was changed,--was tinged and
interpenetrated with hurrying, spicy fumes, with hints of a bitter
bark, of jellied gums, of resin, and a compelling odor which should
have been sweet, but was only nauseating. The steam assumed new colors
as it rose. Each sprite of aromatic perfume wh