When he had given the call a few moments thought, he went into the kitchen to ask Mrs. Yamata to prepare tea and sushi for the visitors, using the formal English china and the silver tea service which had been donated to the mission, then he went outside to inspect the grounds. Fujimoto had a pile of cuttings near one side of the lawn. Rector asked him to move it for the time being; he wanted the mission compound to be effortlessly spotless. A good initial impression would be important now. He went into the print shop, where Fletcher had just finished cleaning the press.

``How many pamphlets do we have in stock?'' Rector said.

``I should say about a hundred thousand,'' Fletcher said. ``Why?''

``I would like to enact a little tableau this afternoon,'' Rector said, He explained about the visit and the effect he wished to create, the picture of a very busy mission. He did not wish to deceive Kayabashi exactly, just to display the mission activities in a graphic and impressive manner. Fletcher nodded as he listened to the instructions and said he would arrange the things Rector requested.

Rector's next stop was at the schoolroom, where Mavis was monitoring a test. He beckoned to her from the door and she slipped quietly outside. He told her of the visitors and then of his plans. ``How many children do you have present today?'' he said.

She looked back toward the schoolroom. ``Fifteen,'' she said. ``No, only fourteen. The little Ito girl had to go home. She has a pretty bad cold.''