ally serious when we finished our long conference. She leaned
over and put her hand on mine. "Nobody but father was ever so kind to
me. I'll truly do my best." As if afraid of growing too serious she
added: "But, Miss Jenkins,"--her voice was low and her eyes sparkled,
proving how hard the old Zura was dying--"I just bet I kick over the
traces some time. I feel it in my system."

"You what?" I reminded.

"Madam, I have a premonition that this process of eliminating the gay
and the festive will be something of a herculean task. In other words,
keeping in the middle of the road is a dull, tough job."

"Oh, Zura!" I cried despairingly.

"Yes'm. But from this minute I am starting down the track on the race
for reformation. Give me time. Even a colt can't get a new character and
a sweet disposition in a week."

* * * * *

As the days passed it proved not a race, but a hard, up-hill battle,
where in gaining one fight she sometimes lost two, and while still
aching with the last defeat had to begin all over again. The vision,
though, of the home-going to America lured and beckoned her to the
utmost effort to conquer not only circumstances, but herself.

Jane and I helped whenever we could, but there were places so dark
through which the girl must pass alone, that not even our fast
increasing love could light the shadows of the struggles.

I realized that a young girl should have young company of her own kind;
but there was none for her. In Hijiyama, and especially in our
neighborhood, were many high-class families. Even members of the royal
line claimed it as residence. With these the taint of foreign blood in
any Japanese marked that person impossible. I dreaded to tell Zura this.
She saved me the trouble by finding it out for herself. Ever afterward,
when by chance she encountered the elect, her attitude caused me no end
of delight and amusement. In courteous snubbing she outclassed the
highest and most conservative to them. In absenting herself from their
presence Zura's queenly dignity would have been matchless, had she been
a little taller.

As much as possible, I made of myself a companion for her and the most
of our days were spent together.

It was a curious pact between young and old. One learning to keep the
law, the other to break it, for in my efforts to be a gay comrade as
well as a wise mother I came as near to breaking my neck as my
well-seasoned habits. Zura had a passi