journey Merrit found something inexpressibly
charming in the quiet, picturesque place, and in the silent young girl
who sat so demurely in the shadow. He tactfully ignored her timidity
by talking cheerful nonsense about impersonal things, treating her as
a bashful child who wanted to be friends but hardly dared.

As he talked Yuki San gained courage, and ventured many curious
glances at the broad-shouldered young fellow, whose figure seemed
completely to fill the room. At first she saw only a strange
foreigner, but gradually, as she watched his face and listened to his
unfamiliar speech, she discovered a long-lost playmate.

Through all the years that she had struggled for an education at the
mission-school, English had been invariably associated with a tall,
awkward, foreign boy, whose mouth made funny curves and whose eyes
laughed when he made strange sounds. How big and splendid and handsome
he had grown! How different his clothes from any she had ever seen
before! How white his long hands, whose strong, firm touch she
remembered so well! She looked and looked again, drinking in the tones
of his deep voice, till the throbbing of her heart sent a flood of
crimson to her cheeks.

But gradually her shyness wore away, and when Merrit asked her how in
the world he was to conduct his business with so few Japanese words at
his command, she ventured to answer: "I know; I give you the teach of
Nippon, you give me the wise of dat funny 'Merican tongue."

"That's a go!" said Dick, as he held out his hand to close the
bargain.

But the girl drew back, troubled.

"No, no, you no _go_! You stay. I give you all my intellect of Nippon
speech. Please!" and she looked up pleadingly.

Merrit laughed outright.

"That's all right, Yuki San; I am going to stay, and we will begin
school in the morning."

By this time the mother and father had learned of the guest's arrival
and hurried in to bid him welcome. The unpacking of his steamer-trunk
and the disposal of his possessions in his small apartment was a
matter of interest to the whole family. Each article was politely
examined and exclaimed over, and when Merrit drew out a package of
photographs and showed them his home and family and friends, the
excitement became intense.

That night Yuki San lay once more on her soft _futon_ and watched the
shadow of the night-lamp play upon the screens. Nothing was changed in
the homely room since she had lain there in her babyhood: the