neck high. The lower
ranks of young Japan were engaged in a fierce water battle of ducking
and splashing and a trial of endurance, as to who could stay under
longest. Their thin yellow bodies gleamed in the sun of the late
afternoon as they romped and shouted.

The fun growing so boisterous, and a miniature war threatening, the one
attendant, a very old woman, was outclassed. Without invitation Zura
rolled up her sleeves and took part in the fray.

Instantly there was quiet. A bath was strange enough to those waifs, but
to be touched by a foreigner who looked like a princess made them half
fear while they wondered. They soon found she knew their games as well
as their talk; then everybody claimed attention at once.

She scrubbed them one by one playfully but firmly. She stood them in a
row and put them through a funny little drill, commanding them to
salute, and when they finished they were clothed ready to march out to
the street in perfect order.

While this was going on the man who had attached himself to me stood
close by, seemingly much interested. In a detached sort of way he began
talking in broken English. "Miss Jaygray most wonderful of persons," he
observed. "She come to this place of hell and make clean spot. She like
gray owl too. She have see of all bad things. But learning of such stop
right in her eye; it never get to her memory place. All time she talk
'bout one, two very little good thing what are in this street. Low
womans in here give much works also rin and sen for to buy water tubs
for babies. Bad mens give work of hands, for Miss Jaygray. She most
wonderful of females. Maybe because she 'Merican. Hijiyama much honored
by skilful 'Mericans: Jenkins San, Wingate San, Hanaford San too. He
most skilful of all. You know Hanaford San?"

Something in his voice made me look in the man's face. It was as
expressive as biscuit dough. I acknowledged my acquaintance with Page.

The man resumed: "Hanaford San nice gentleman. I give wonder why he stay
this far-away place. I hear some time he have much sadful. Too bad.
Maybe he have the yearn for his country. If this be truthful why he not
give quick return to 'Merica?"

I answered that Mr. Hanaford had lost all his money and his father and
had come to Japan to begin anew. His success in teaching was reason
enough for his remaining.

Apparently indifferent my questioner mused as if to himself: "Him papa
have gone dead. Badful news. And moneys have got los