CHAPTER VI.

CHERRY BLOSSOMS.


A few hours of brilliant sunshine and all the dampness had been sucked up
from the earth; the air was warmed and dried and the mists rolled back
from the garden, revealing a fairy-land too exquisite to be real.

Something especially wonderful had happened that morning. The faces of
the little maids had been filled with a joyous expectancy as they hurried
from room to room on their household duties. A mysterious smile hovered
on the lips of Komatsu when he appeared to receive his orders. Even old
O'Haru was secretly immensely pleased about something, but they all had
evidently agreed among themselves to keep the great news secret until the
psychological moment had arrived when the ladies of the house and Mr.
Campbell had assembled on the piazza just before breakfast.

When this occurred word was swiftly and silently conveyed over the
household and all persons belonging to the domestic staff instantly
gathered in the hall and doorway.

"Why, what on earth is the matter with them?" Miss Campbell asked
uneasily. "Will you please look: the entire household collected in the
front hall."

Mr. Campbell was as much at a loss as his cousin.