The Motor Maids in Fair Japan | Page 8

the streets were too interesting to pursue the subject of
mother-in-law any further. They were passing a row of open-fronted
shops on the edges of which customers were squatted looking at
materials while the proprietor bobbed and smiled and dickered over his
bargains. Red and yellow banners hung in a row from the roof of the

shop, the gay colored hieroglyphics on them indicating what manner of
goods were displayed within.
"Here's a nice little silk shop, Komatsu. Let us stop here," called Miss
Campbell.
But Komatsu only grinned over his shoulder and called:
"Too littleness for gracious big lady."
"But I like the looks of this place, Komatsu," said the gracious big lady
helplessly.
However Komatsu had his own ideas of obedience and he trotted on,
never pausing until he reached a large silk store thronged with clerks
and customers.
Here all the 'rikshas drew up and the girls alighted with Miss Campbell,
who was a little red in the face but determined to overlook the
annoyance of orders disregarded.
The front of the store was screened from the street by dark blue cotton
curtains behind which was a roofed platform carpeted with matting.
Here sat a group of clerks, each with his soroban or adding machine at
his side. Little Japanese boys, their shoulders loaded with bales of rich
materials, staggered about, and through the open doors of the fire-proof
warehouse they caught glimpses of costly stuffs stored away. An
obsequious clerk who spoke excellent English came forward and
presently, when their eyes became accustomed to the busy, brilliantly
colored scene, they began to examine silk materials on their own
account. Miss Campbell made each of her charges a present of crêpe de
chine and still was not very much out of pocket. As they were about to
leave, they were followed by a chorus of shouts.
"What in the world is the matter?" demanded Miss Campbell uneasily.
"Has the place caught fire, or didn't we give the right amount of
change?"

"No, madam," answered the polite English-speaking clerk, who had
accompanied her to the sidewalk. "They are saying farewell. In English
it would mean, 'Thanks for your continued favors.'"
"Don't mention it," said Miss Campbell. "We'll come again."
The clerk smiled and bowed formally and once more they whirled away
in their 'rikshas. They visited many shops in Tokyo that morning. It was
like a fascinating bazaar and it seemed impossible to tear themselves
away, although Komatsu kept always close to their elbows and several
times observed:
"Muchly more time. Come again."
At last, just as an ominous mass of black clouds had spread itself over
the heavens, against which the brilliant colors of the signs and the
people's clothes stood out in bold relief, they started for home. But on
the outskirts of the city great drops of rain pelted them in the face, the
advance scouts of a tremendous downpour.
"Oh, Komatsu, we will ruin our clothes," cried Miss Campbell in alarm.
"You must take us somewhere until the rain is over."
They were passing the high walls of a garden, the gate of which stood
open. Without an instant's hesitation Komatsu turned in and the three
'rikshas raced up a broad walk toward a Japanese house at the end.
Several smiling hospitable persons whom they took to be servants ran
out with large umbrellas made of oiled paper and protected the five
ladies, who hurried unceremoniously into the house just as the heavens
opened and the rain came down in bucketfuls.
Three Japanese ladies, seated on the floor drinking tea, rose quickly and
made low formal bows. The five refugees from the storm returned the
bows with some bewilderment.
"I do hope you will pardon this intrusion," Miss Campbell found
herself saying. "The storm was so sudden and terrible, we fled to the
nearest house."

One of the little Japanese ladies bowed. She was evidently the mistress
of the house, but she spoke no English.
Miss Campbell pointed outside to the rain and made expressive signs
indicative of haste. It was really like being in a deaf and dumb asylum.
Then the little lady smiled again and bowed again, and the others
bowed.
"Good heavens, Billie, what am I to do? Must I continue to smile and
bob and bow forever? Do come to my rescue!"
But the hospitable hostess now hurried from the room and presently
reappeared followed by her maids, each of whom carried a little
lacquered table. It was indicated that the American guests would confer
a favor if they would seat themselves.
"I've never sat on the floor in my life," complained Miss Campbell in a
low voice. "It will kill me. I am certain it will displace a ligament."
"You'll just have to, Cousin. Try sitting on your feet. That's the way