try and its people is my faith
in my God. I was old fashioned enough to believe every man his brother's
keeper. There was nothing more for me to say.

For him, intense loyal patriot that he was, his devotion to crumbling
old standards was making his fight against the new a bitter and hopeless
struggle. But I had never seen the man so stirred as he was this day. He
went on:

"What of the teachings for your young? They may do for your country, but
not for mine! So far as I can see, your boys and girls are left to grow
as weeds. They are as free as the foxes and learn their cunning without
their wisdom. They are without filial piety. They reverence neither
ancestors, the law, nor the great gods. Neither do they fear their own
devil, nor the evil spirits."

"How do you know this?" I inquired.

"I know because I have seen their comings and goings. I have heard their
free speech before the face of their parents and mothers-in-law. And I
have seen them as visitors in the temples. Because"--the man's voice
shook with feeling--"I have in my house a girl with the blood of the
East in her veins and the influence of the West in her life. She is
rebellious, rude and irreverent. Only this morning, when I gave warning
what vengeance the great Buddha would send upon her for impiety, did she
not toss her red head and laughingly scoff in my face." At this point I
arose and rang for tea and my visitor continued: "Ah, I tremble at her
daring. It is her foreign blood, her training. It will curse us yet."

I cheerfully assured him that I thought it would unless he could bring
himself to see that the girl was entitled to a few rights as well as
himself. I inquired how things had gone since Zura's visit to me. He
said she had not often referred to her visit; when she did it was in
pleasant terms. But her attitude to him and his household was as
disrespectful as ever and, he thought, more defiant.

He then spoke of a great Buddhist festival that had begun that week and
was to continue for several days. It was very important that each member
of his family should attend and take part in every service. So far Zura
had refused to go. With sketch-book in hand she disappeared from the
house every morning. While he had not seen or heard of her being with
the young officer man, he had no doubt she spent her time in his
company.

In as few words as possible I told Kishimoto of my interview with Mr.
Chalmers, and his promise not to come again nor