Miss Campbell took out her purse and gave the mother of the boy some
money. Being still quite ignorant of Japanese coinage she did not pause
to make any laborious calculations, but poured all the money in the purse
into the woman's outstretched hand. It must have been an undreamed-of
sum, for the mother's face was wreathed in delighted smiles. She bowed
until her forehead almost touched the ground, as did the witnesses of
this princely generosity.

"It's all over now," said Mme. Fontaine, stepping down from the seat and
smiling at Billie. "You had a bad quarter of an hour, though, I fear."

"I don't know how we can ever thank you," exclaimed Billie. "You not only
saved the car from destruction, but you may have saved us, too. There's
no telling how far they would have gone once they got started."

"No, no, they would not have harmed you, but they might have injured the
car. They are a good deal like children, but they are not butchers. I
think they admired your courage, too, for not deserting the sinking
ship."

Miss Campbell now approached and held out her hand gratefully.

"You are heaping coals of fire on my head, Mme. Fontaine," she said.
"Yesterday I refused to grant you a favor and to-day you are placing us
everlastingly in your debt."

"No, no, you must not put it that way," said the other woman, with a
graceful movement of protest. "You were quite right not to be interviewed
if you did not wish it. Some Americans do not object to publicity, you