26


O-HEART-SAN


With  long  handled  ladles  they
poured  hot  water  into  small  cups
of  blue  and  white  porcelain,  drop-
ping into  each  cup  a  pinch  of  tea
leaves  and  stirring  the  mixture
with  bamboo  wisps.  The  rest  of
the  luncheon  wras  put  up  in  a
beautiful  round  box,  lined  with
green  leaves,  and  butter,  which  O-
Heart-San  had  never  seen  before;
pepper,  salt,  and  mustard  were
discovered  in  a  tower  of  smaller
boxes,  united  by  thongs  of  wood,
each  condiment  having  its  sepa-
rate box.
The  prince  talked  merrily  as  he
sipped  cup  after  cup  of  fragrant
tea,  but  O-Heart-San,  overcome
by  the  unaccustomed  splendor,
nibbled  her  little  rice  cakes  in

silence.
27


O-HEART-SAN


"You  must  come  to  the  palace
often,  honorable  child.  You  must
come  for  the  festival  of  the  fire-
flies, and  I  will  catch  a  hundred
Princess  Splendors  for  you  to  wear
that  night.  I  shall  begin  to-night
to  collect  them,  and  I  shall  have
so  many  by  the  night  of  the
festival  that  your  whole  gown  will
be  covered  with  them,  and  you
will  look  like  the  moon  child  her-
self."

As  the  prince  spoke  these  words
there  was  a  sudden  clicking  sound
on  the  flagged  walk  and  a  high,
thin  little  voice  called  out  in  very
poor  Japanese:

"Oh,  honorable  prince,  what
will  you  gather  ?  And  who  is  the
little  girl  who  will  look  like  the

moon  child  ?"

28


O-HEART-SAN


The  next  instant  a  vision  in  pale
blue  and  white  burst  from  the
bower  of  wistaria  near  by  and
courtesying  prettily  to  O- Heart-
San  held  out  a  slender  hand  to
Prince  Haru.
