oked into the Temple of Fame, but am not yet what I hope to be;
but the truth is, I haven't written any books, _as_ books, yet. It
wounded me to say so, but truth is a jewel that I have resolved shall
shine, like a railroad man's diamond, in my bosom, forever.

"Your High Excellency," says I, with brave self-control, "my humble
efforts have not yet been bound in covers, but they will soon increase
to that extent. Have you no female authors in that Japanee country of
yours?"

When the young man expounded these questions to Mr. Iwakura, the eyes of
his High Excellency began to sparkle from one sharp corner to the other,
and he smiled blandly--

"Oh yes! we have ladies who write in Japan; but not lines of wisdom,
like yourself; they write poems."

"Love poems?" says I.

"Mostly," says he; and his little eyes lighted up from corner to
corner--"love poems, home poems, and such things as ladies understand by
heart."

"The Japanese language is so sweet," says I, "the ladies cannot be very
strong-minded that write it."

"Strong-minded--what is that?" says he.

"Manly, strong; sometimes fierce," says I.

"His Highness does not quite comprehend," says the young man.

"Then I must illustrate," says I. "For instance, if an American woman
were to dress as near like a man as--well, I beg pardon--as his High
Excellency and his friends dress like women, we should call them
high-minded."

"But do they? Shall we see any ladies like that?"

"You will no doubt see females like that," says I, with dignity.

XLI.

THE DINNER.

There was no more conversing just then, for the tall fellow in gloves
was so busy, opening and shutting the out-doors, and gentlemen came
pouring in so thick and fast that we all had to attend to them. I was
sorry for this, as the conversation was taking a turn that would have
been of interest to us as a Society. I was just going to ask about the
marriage relations among the Japanese, and intended to enter into a
delicate investigation regarding the present company. But a smart,
handsome, bright-looking gentleman came in, dressed up to the nines; and
before I could say another word to Mr. Iwakura, this gentleman was
bowing to me, and I was making my best curtsey to him. I was just
delighted, for he looks a soldier, every inch of him, standing up
straight as an arrow, but bowing so graceful and easy.

Then others came pouring in, and we ladies were busy as bees doing the
honors.

There wa