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THE NESANS AT THE HOISHIGAOKA

The master was much pleased at having four foreign pupils. and all the hill side took an interest in our visits. We followed the etiquette strictly, first taking off our shoes—for one would as soon think of walking hobnailed across a piano-top, as of marring the polished woods of Japanese corridors, or the fine, soft mats of their rooms with heel-marks— and sitting on our heels, as long as our unaccustomed and protesting muscles and tendons permitted.

First, bringing in the basket of selected charcoal, with its pretty twigs of charred azalea coated with lime, 93