d all religions
in a foreign country as idolatrous and contaminating.

I said I intended going.

"Oh, Miss Jenkins," Jane cried, "do be careful! They might ask you to
bow down before one of those heathen idols, and maybe they might make
you offer at its feet a stick of something smelly in one of those insect
burners."

For the first time since I had known Page Hanaford, he shouted with
laughter. "Sweet aroma of incense, that's a blow for you!" he said.
"Come to think of it, I believe I'll happen along and see how it's
done."

X

ZURA GOES TO THE FESTIVAL

On my way to join the festival party at the appointed time I passed
through the streets of the city, brilliant with decorations of flags and
lanterns. Gay crowds sauntered beneath graceful arches of pine and lacey
bamboo. For the time worry and work were laid aside with every-day
dress, and like smiling, happy children on a picnic, the vast throngs
moved toward the temple where the great "Matsuri" was in progress. A man
deaf and blind would have known it was a holiday by the feel in the air.
He would also have felt as I did the change in the atmosphere as he
neared Kishimoto's house.

The maid, who answered my summons, said the family would soon be ready
to start; the hairdresser had finished; the ceremonial obis were being
tied for the madams; the Dana San had about completed his devotions
before the household shrine. Would I bring my most august body into the
living-room and hang my honorable self upon the floor?

I complied with the request and found Zura alone.

Considering the strained relations at our last parting and the solemnity
of the present occasion, she greeted me with a flippancy that was
laughable. "Oh, here's Miss Jenkins! Welcome to our happy home, and I
certainly wish you joy on this jaunt."

"Are you not going with us?" I asked, observing that she carried in her
hand a paint-box as well as her hat.

"Not I," she laughed. "I'd picnic with Mrs. Satan and her family first.
But do come in. The ogre awaits you. One of the two witches has just had
a spell."

"Which one?" I inquired, putting into my question every inviting tone at
my command. I was determined to get on terms of friendliness with this
girl. Had not I in the long ago longed for liberty and for life as I had
never craved orthodox salvation? Not even to myself had I acknowledged
how strong an appeal to my love of fair play, was Zura's frank rebellion
against being reduc