M. F. Hutchinson

“ O Yuki, O Totmai, cleverest geisha could not rival your excellence.
Yuki (bowing) . Exalted praise is too great for us. May we speak of august entertainment for powerful foreigner?
Princess (laughing) . How strange he is and big, his words so different to honorable Japanese. Sometimes I think I have heard those sounds before. There are, in truth, more barbarian foreigners than in old venerated days. My uncle, all-powerful Son of Heaven, smiles at their coming. All love them not, Sakara—Truly, O dear little Mimosa (bends over Mimosa, who has touched her sleeve) , I will forget cruel words. ”

“ Ito. The beautiful lady! I would she knew Ito is the most excellent play-actor. She did not like game of Sakara.
Mimosa. Dear treasure-flower, beautiful lady will indeed love excellent play-acting. When the powerful sun travels higher in the sky, if little Ito returns to the garden he shall do excellent play-acting, the venerated Princess will like rarely.
Ito. Ito wants neither money nor books, but smiles from the beautiful, exalted lady.
Mimosa. O dear kind one, the Princess will give smiles. All will love honorable, kind little Ito. Make leave-taking, and return, Ito, the comfort-bringing! ”

“ Mimosa. Yuki thinks the exalted Princess will happily forget. I know that her heart is breaking; when our hearts break we laughter-loving die. I remember well the fear-bringing words of Sakara. Those who speak and laugh with barbarian devils bring curses on themselves and those they love. Have a care, O Kiku, lest you droop like one of the noble chrysanthemums they named you from. To her honorable dwelling I will go with pleasant, courteous words, and presents in my hand. There is no standing without stooping. ”

“ Play-acting of doctor or funeral exalted lady would have liked.
Sakara. Fear not, O little Ito; all good comes to the friends of Sakara! Keep close mouth (child starts) lest.... Here hangs honorable sword, fear nothing, O little Ito (child draws nearer) , the words on excellent blade, “There’s naught ’twixt heaven and earth a man need fear who carries this single blade!” Soon, O little Ito, manhood will come, strong, powerful manhood, and Sakara will fasten this sword herself to girdle of wise Ito. ”

“ Little treasure-flower! I will give blossom or two—bring him hither, O Totmai. O Haru, he will like gay colors. Here, O little man, shall I give excellent flowers? (Ito bows three times.) Come, take them, giving worthy name. (Ito advances, bowing; as the Princess touches him he starts and cries: “O Amairu, mercy! mercy! I am blind! blind!” Repeats twice, then rushes L. All remain motionless with fear.)
Princess (flinging up arms and turning and staggering up stage) . The curse—the awful curse has fallen! My touch brings evil—oh, horrible evil to a little child! ”

“ She thinks and speaks of the evil barbarian—it is she who persuades august Son of Heaven to set aside honorable customs of exalted land. They sit on foreign chairs. Oh, evil be to them! Can I steal her charms? A sudden call when soul journeys in land of Sleep, we know it means danger. Shall I call loudly here? O foolish Sakara, sentries have ears, though they cannot see in the dark! ”

“ Sakara (speaking impressively) . Do my bidding and you shall never be trampled like a dead, forgotten flower. Neither shall you grow old, and love will never leave you! Death by drowning, or long, pain-giving illness shall not be yours. At a venerated age you shall fall asleep in the embracing arms of the gods. I know, O Mimosa San, that the most worshipful Toko has fastened the sprig of lime to thy father’s door and woos thee; the gods, the all-powerful, shall smile upon him also. (Rises slowly.) The terrible destroying earthquake, the swift-moving [Pg 27] fire shall never touch you! ”

“ The Japanese are notably and effusively polite in their deportment. Japanese girls are especially kind-hearted and obliging. Their religion denies them immortality, and they believe that their paramount duty in life is to please.
Their education imbues them with an intense love of flowers, bright colors and all that is beautiful; it inculcates the extreme of social etiquette in every-day deportment; it adds words of compliment in the commonest phrases of conversation, and, moreover, teaches them to rely on signs, omens and tutelary gods, both good and evil. ”

“ Totmai. Do excellent eyes see honorable visitors, O Yuki?
Yuki. From the threshold I see only great lofty head of Fuzi—from the village there are sounds of music. O Totmai and O Haru (takes Japanese umbrella) , let us forth to the spreading garden to hear honorable laughter. There is no need to be gloomy and sad, for the sun shines—and the gods hear prayers! Come! ”

“ Mimosa. O most exalted Sakara, I come with honorable presents in humble hands. Deign to accept, O most powerful. Tell me of noble health since last I worshipped thy eyebrow. (Sakara sits motionless. Mimosa bowing.) I regret humble and unworthy feet should soil venerated chamber, and that one so poor, so foolishly weak, should cross excellent threshold! ”

“ Mimosa (drawing nearer, though avoiding box) . Nay, the small fox may borrow strength and wisdom from the powerful tiger. I came to sit humbly at thy feet——
Sakara (twanging bow, laughs) . Would foolish fox enter the tiger’s den? (Mimosa shrinks.) After the swallowing, scalding is forgotten. (Turns to Mimosa, who struggles to appear brave.) What think you, O Mimosa San, of poor, unworthy dwelling of the wise woman? Ignorantly speaking of bringing charms to one who makes charms—charms of long life, happiness, love, lasting beauty! ”

“ Do come away, Cecil, do!
Cecil. There, you have moved and no catastrophe occurs. (Miss P. starts and returns to original position.) So sit down. Well, if you are so in love with that spot, move just an inch or two. I will put three or four of these charming cushions together. You will be so comfortable! (Miss P. sits reluctantly.) Do be a darling and like explorations as much as excavations. If it is the Princess, think what news for Arthur!
Miss P. If the gossip Fuyijama tells us correctly, the Princess is a dangerous young woman.
Cecil (sitting) . I shall sit real Japanese fashion. ”

“ The German Emperor does not call himself Son of Heaven and you talk to this——
Princess (sadly) . Is this most exalted lady with excellent hair as white as Fuzi afraid? Afraid of the curse?
Cecil (aside) . Now, G., be nice! If you are not I will tell Arthur.
Miss P. (advancing hurriedly) . No, my dear, I’m not afraid. Give me your hand. (Shakes heartily, then drops it hurriedly, glancing at Cecil.)
Princess. The English ways are strange, yet I like them. Still, O kind ones, Kiku’s heart is breaking!
Mimosa (aside to Cecil) . Deign to beg august one to return to the Palace. ”

“ Was it, think you, O maidens, when my soul wandered in another body I heard the strange speech of the foreigner?
Mimosa. Truly, O most exalted, the world gathers at august Court. Condescend to remember this is honorable hour when the Son of Heaven impatiently awaits you. (EXEUNT all R., girls carrying flowers.)
ENTER Lady Cecil Cavendish and Miss Prendergast, L.
Lady C. This is too exciting for anything! (Walks about inquisitively.) I feel just like Alice in Wonderland. If anybody called out “Off with her head,” I shouldn’t be in the least astonished. Should you, G., dear? ”

“ ENTER Sakara L., with Ito.
Sakara. Hear, O little Ito, the wise woman sees excellencies! (Child bows.) At house of honorable mother, Sakara heard clever proverbs, saw play-acting. I love wise little boys, therefore would give happiness, O Ito! (Child bows.) This is the chrysanthemum garden of august Princess; here are beautiful blossoms for the flower-viewing. Say, little Ito, would you have worthy coins to spend? (Child bows three times.) Sit here, recite true proverbs. (Sits L. C., Ito C.)
Ito (quickly) . Many words, little sense. For woman to rule is as for a hen to crow in the morning! ”

“ Cecil (smiling) . In our land the people have white hair when they are—quite—young.
Totmai. Oh, they are funny in your land—jolly little things! (Laughs.)
Cecil. Now, I wonder who taught you that?
Haru. O most worshipful, the great barbarian Englishman.
Cecil. There, G., that’s your beloved Arthur. Do you mean the very tall Englishman, my brother?
Totmai. The Princess has spoken of you, O most excellent. You are the lady who came with the most worshipful foreigner to the Palace. O Yuki will run instantly and tell O Mimosa San that you are here with the most venerated Ancient One. ”

“ EXEUNT Totmai and Haru R.
Mimosa. Trouble has crossed the threshold—the gods permit the evil spells of Sakara. She, the wise woman, is jealous; she belongs to the Imperial house, and thinks exalted thoughts of the noble Society for the Preservation of Ancient Excellencies. There was anger in her heart when she heard of the festival for the Englishman. Listen, O Yuki! Let us take presents in our hands and with humble courtesies visit Sakara. ”

“ Princess EXITS R., Mimosa follows.
Yuki. If I had my way the whole trouble-bringing story should be laid before the august Emperor and truth threshed forth.
Totmai. How, O Yuki?
Yuki. The police, if I were Emperor, should bind Sakara!
Haru (by curtain C.) . The bird again!
Totmai (back to first place) . It must speak honorable truth; let us adorn our hair better. Sit here, O Haru. I will arrange beautiful fans.
Yuki (crosses to veranda) . Friends come not in the wilderness. The great white mountain, sacred though it be, I weary of it! ”

“ Cecil, my dear, I have dropped my needle.
Cecil. It is sticking aggressively in that sock. I am jealous. Arthur has his man, and I have no maid; you don’t trouble about my wardrobe.
Miss P. A woman should be at home with her needle. Ar—his lordship cannot darn socks, and though Maitland is as handy as all old soldiers, I could not trust him with silk ones.
Cecil. Nobody knits me anything, I—am only a girl. (Turns L.) G., dear, I smell (Miss P. starts) —I smell a whiff of real English tobacco; his lordship, having wearied of running coolies off their legs, has returned. ”

“ New play-acting done, money shall obtain them. Listen, O little Ito. There are thorns on every rose-tree. Even Sakara has heart-tormenting troubles; little wise Ito may help. Would have me for friend? (Ito bows.) In the morning I will wait for Ito at the gate yonder, but I shall [Pg 14] not accompany wise, clever play-actor. A lady in scarlet kimono will walk here, and augustly speak, calling to Ito. So, after honorable courtesies, he will draw near, when she touches him, for this lady loves treasure-flowers. Ito will play-act thus: (Sakara stands C., clasps hands tragically.) ”

“ Princess. It is the cry of the child—that terrible cry! (Mimosa claps hands, runs L., returns with Ito. General astonishment.) The little one! Mimosa (excitedly) his eyes—his eyes!
Ito (solemnly) . I grieve, most excellent, that play-acting gave [Pg 39] not happiness. It was play-acting of Sakara. Those who are too grave and wise cannot play-act. I will be——
Princess. O joy too great! O little treasure-flower, my touch harmed thee not?
Ito. It was play-acting—but it was grief-bringing that play-acting brought no honorable hand-clapping. ”

“ Great is my folly, I fear the curses of wise Sakara.
Yuki. O Mimosa, go not forth to meet trouble. Yonder I see swift-flying butterfly, chase it with honorable laughter (turns and runs up stage.) The Princess!
ENTER Totmai and Haru L. Princess ENTERS R. Girls bow to the ground.
Mimosa (R.) . August lady, do you walk for benefit of exalted health?
Princess (taking flowers from Yuki, who is up stage C., then coming half way down stage to L. C.) . The honorable chrysanthemums are all gathered. The Englishman, in his cold land, will not have seen such beautiful blossoms. O fair and rare! ”

“ Really, Cecil——
Cecil (coming behind chair) . My language was sufficiently correct to please even you. What are you doing in this untidy boy’s room? I suppose, like me, he has nowhere to keep his things, only a chair and a table obligingly supplied by the Police Station. (Coming R. of table.) Now, what is he doing with a dead chrysanthemum? Look at the stalk of it. Did you give it to him, G., dear? (Miss P. examines through glasses.) If you are engaged in a general tidying-up, I think this might be [Pg 23] thrown away. (Drops flower in front of table. Miss P. picks it up.) ”

“ Mimosa. I will not buy happiness at the cost of another’s. Nay (Sakara steps toward her) thou shalt not touch me or my charms! I am Mimosa, the swift-footed. (Springs back to door R.) Remember, O most wise, wicked one (stands with outstretched hand) , he who curses must look out for two graves!
CURTAIN.
SCENE V.—A room made with screens in a Japanese house, opening, if possible, on to a veranda, up stage C. L. 1 E. and R. 1 E. Plenty of cushions, rugs and little low stools about the room. Yuki (down L.) , Totmai (R. of entrance to veranda) , Haru (L. of entrance to veranda) , recline lazily. ”

“ No? I remember, you prefer excavations. Didn’t Professor Anstruther discourse eternally on the excavation of antiquities? Think what a lovely day we have had! I contemplate taking my dear little [Pg 31] rickshaw man and his carriage back to London to be the sensation when we go home.
Miss P. (sighing) . To England? We shall never see our native land again—and you promised that we should be at home in time for the Sales!
Cecil. So I did, but you wouldn’t like to leave poor Arthur lamenting alone, searching for the lost heiress? The Princess has left the Palace. ”