A Japanese Nightingale

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... VI THE ADVENTURESS THE man in the hammock was not asleep, for in spite of the lazy, lounging attitude, and the hat which hid the gray eyes beneath, he was very much awake, and keenly interested in a certain small individual who was sitting on a mat a short distance removed from him. He had invited her several times to reduce that distance, but up to the present she had paid no heed to his suggestions. She was amusing herself by blowing and squeezing between her lower lip and teeth the berry of the winter cherry, from which she had deftly extracted the pulp at the stem. She continued this strange occupation in obstinate indifference to the persuasive voice from the hammock. "I say, Yuki, there's room for two in this hammock. Had it made on purpose." She continued her cherry - blowing without so much as making a reply, though one of her blue eyes looked at him sideways, and then solemnly blinked. "What's the matter, Yuki? Got the dumps again, eh?" No reply. "Look here, Mrs. Bigelow, I'll come over and elope forcibly with you if you don't obey me." She dimpled scornfully. "Ah, that's right! Smile, Yuki. You're so pretty, so bewitching, so irresistible when you smile." Yuki nodded her head coolly. "How you lige me smiling forever?" she suggested. "That wouldn't do," he said, grinning at her from beneath his tipped hat. "That would be tiresome." "Tha'swhv I don'smiling to-dav." "Why?" "All yistidy I giggling." He shouted with laughter at her. "Move your mat here, Yuki," indicating a spot close to his hammock. "I want to talk to you." "My ears are--" "Too small to hear from that distance," finished her husband. "Come." "Thangs," with great dignity, "I am quide comfor'ble. I don' wan' sit so near vou, excellency." "Why, pray?" "Why? Hm! I...