This elaborate, rather mixed apology, the Americans took very good-naturedly, telling Numè to assure Koto that they bore her no malice whatever, and that, in fact, they owed her an apology for not having remembered that she was a stranger to their food. Besides, the Americans were just as foolish when they had eaten Japanese food.
After dinner Numè resumed her seat by Mrs. Davis, while her husband took Koto through the house, glad of an opportunity to air his limited knowledge of Japanese; for Numè seldom permitted them to address her save in English, pretending to make great fun of their Japanese in order to make them speak English to her. They, on the other hand, always praised her English extravagantly.
"I want you to promise me, Numè, that you will never tell any man you care for him again, unless it is Orito."
"Because it is not the right thing to say to any one."
"Nonsense; you are not going to love except as all good Japanese girls do--after your marriage."
"But you say one time thad is _shame_ for me thad I only luf _after_ I marry."
"Well, I have been thinking it over," the other answered, a trifle rattled--"and--and really, you are all so happy with things that way I wouldn't advise your changing the custom."
"Bud Japanese girl luf a _liddle_ before they marry. After marriage big bit. Koto say geisha girl luf _big_ bit _before_ they marry. Koto luf vaery much Japanese boy in Tokyo----"
"That is good, and are they to be married?"
"Ah, no; because he worg _vaery_ hard to mag' money, but Koto say mag' _vaery_ liddle money, so she come worg' for me, and save--_afterward_ they marry _vaery_ habby."
Numè looked at the American lady with eyes full of wistful wondering: "I thing' I lig' vaery much thad I luf and be habby too. Numè nod know thad she luf Orito _vaery_ much--Ess, she luf him _vaery_ much, bud--sometimes I thing' I nod _luf_ him _too_ much; sometimes I thing' mebbe Orito nod luf _me_ too much."
"Of course, you do love him, goosie. Now, don't begin thinking you don't, because one often convinces oneself of things that are not actually so."
"Bud I do _nod_ thing' much of Orito," the girl contradicted; and added, shyly: "I thing', instead, of Mr. Sinka--but I not lig'--No! Numè nod lig' Mr. Sinka;" she shook her head violently.