the house. He was so amazed at sight of Billie in the chauffeur's seat
that he could not conceal his feelings.

"Komatsu, we want you to go with us to-day. We want you to show us the
cherry trees in Tokyo and Uyeno Park. I suppose we couldn't get to all
the famous cherry blossom places in one afternoon?"

"Him fast runner. No sakura all same see."

"No, no. We shall go quite slowly. We want to see everything."

In less than an hour the _hanami_, signifying in Japanese a picnic to a
famous place to view certain flowers in season, conducted on the most
modern lines in a red motor car, proceeded on its way. Komatsu, a
strangely incongruous figure, sat on the front seat beside Billie.

On the way to Tokyo the "Comet" created a sensation. All the varied
wayfarers on that picturesque highway paused and stared, pointing and
gesticulating.

The city was a vision of beauty. Most of its broad avenues are lined with
close set rows of cherry trees which were now bursting into blossom in
all the most delicate and exquisite shades of pink known to nature.
Komatsu guided them about the city with a kind of pleased and gratified
delight as if he were showing his own property. Sometimes he stood up and
pointed to the feathery tops of carefully nurtured cherry trees, glimpses
of which could be seen over the high walls surrounding private gardens.

The motorists were fairly bewildered by the beauty of it all. It was like
a vast conservatory with the roof taken off. Nothing could have been more