of lips; but one day he walked the floor all
night. Lately he sat by the windows long hours and look fast into
picture scenery. He feared illness for master. Often he forget to sing,
whistle, and eat foods; just sit with hand on head. "One time I say
'Master, have got painful in brain spot? Or have fox spirit got brain?'
He give big laugh; then myself makes many fools to see happy stay with
master."
He wished Hanaford San had some people, but in his room was not one
picture of ancestor. He never had a happy time with many guests, and
samisens and feast drinks, like other young American Dana Sans in
Yokohama. When not teaching he sat alone with only his pipe and heart
for company, sometimes a book.
It was not polite for him to speak of Master's affairs but he hoped the
foreign Sensies could advise him how to make Hanaford San have more
happy thoughts all of time.
I told the boy that Mr. Hanaford had lost his money and all his people,
and probably it was thoughts of these losses that caused his sad hours;
he would be all right in time.
"Time," murmured the unsatisfied man, "time very long for troubled heart
of young."
Then, as if trying to forget that he was powerless to help, he began to
recite the events of a recent visit to the city of a group of Tokio's
famous detectives. They were searching for special fugitives and making
the rounds of all suspicious quarters. It was most exciting and because
of master's absence he had been able to see much. Though he wished Page
had been at home. It might have entertained him. With many thanks for my
"listening ear" the servant left.
Everywhere I looked I seemed to see this question written: Was Page
Hanaford's absence at the time of the detectives' visit accidental or
planned? Try as I would to put the hateful thought away from me, it came
back again and again.
The boy's slow return to health had troubled me more than I could well
say. It was so unnatural. Jane and I did everything that sincere
affection could suggest to ward off the hours of strange dejection, and
he never failed in appreciation; yet we made no headway to a permanent
sunny spot in his life, where he could be always happy and healthy, as
was the right of youth. I gave him every opportunity to tell me what
caused his moods. I showed him by my interest and sympathy that I wanted
to believe in him and would stand by him at any cost. There were times
when he seemed on the verge of making a confidant of
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