pathetically small, since there was no charge for tea and sweetmeats.

"How do we give the tip?" she asked.

"I know," answered Billie, "Papa taught me about that the other day." She
consulted her note book. Tearing out a leaf, she wrapped up what would
amount to about a dollar in American money, then with her little silver
pencil she wrote on the package "On chadai." "That means 'honorable money
for tea,'" she explained.

Next she clapped her hands. All through the house voices could be heard
calling "Hai! Hai!"

Presently the maid appeared hanging her head humbly. Billie motioned to
her that she wished the proprietor, who, indeed, was close at hand. With
an expression of much surprise he received the chadai and bowing to the
ground murmured something which Komatsu explained meant honorable thanks
for poor insignificant service.

Each guest on departing received a fan as a souvenir; because, as they
were to learn before they left Japan, no Japanese ever receives a present
without giving another in return. Every person attached to the tea house
went out to see the departure of the car, and the old woman clutched her
husband's arm fearfully when she heard the vibrations of the machinery
and saw Billie turn the "Comet" down the hillside to the main road.

At last, fortified by strange if not unpalatable food and thoroughly
enjoying themselves, they arrived at the entrance to the magnificent
avenue called Arakawa Ridge, along each side of which, as far as the eye
could see, ran two rows of cherry trees in full bloom.