Kimono Part 54

"Oh yes," said the girl.

"It is a fine country, a n.o.ble country; and you will be happy to see your husband again?"

Asako blushed and held down her head.

"I don't think he is still my husband," she said, "but oh! I do want to see him so."

"I think he wants to see you," said the Count; "My wife has received a letter from Lady Everington which says that he would like you very much to come back to him."

The Count waited for this joyful news to produce its effect, and then he added,--

"Asa Chan, you are going to be a great English lady; but you will always remain a j.a.panese. In England, you will be a kind of amba.s.sador for j.a.pan. So you must never forget your father's country, and you must never say bad things about j.a.pan, even if you have suffered here.

Then the English people will like you; and for that reason, they will like j.a.pan too; and the two counties will stand side by side, as they ought to, like good friends. The English are a very great people, the greatest of all; but they know very little about us in the East. They think that because we are yellow people, therefore we are inferior to them. Perhaps, when they see a j.a.panese lady as one of their peers'

wives and a leader in society, they will understand that the j.a.panese also are not so inferior; for the English people have a great respect for peers. j.a.pan is proud to be England's younger brother; but the elder brother must not take all the inheritance. He must be content to share. For perhaps he will not always be the strong one. This war will make England weak and it will make j.a.pan strong. It will make a great change in the world, and in Asia most of all. Already the people of Asia are saying, Why should these white men rule over us? They cannot rule themselves; they fight among themselves like drunkards; their time is over and past. Then, when the white rulers are pushed out of Asia, j.a.pan will become very strong indeed. It will be said then that England, the elder brother, is become _inkyo_ (retired from active life), and that j.a.pan, the younger brother, is manager of the family.

I think you will live to see these things, Asa Chan. Certainly your children will see them."

"I could never like j.a.pan," Asako said honestly.

The old diplomat shrugged his shoulders.

"Very well, Asa Chan. Just enjoy life, and be happy That will be the best propaganda."