9

Going on to his chapel, he ordered bimonthly services in honor of Amita~bha, Sa~kyamuni, and Samantabhadra, and interim services as well, and gave instructions for decorating the chapel and the images. He re-turned to Oi by moonlight.

Memories of similar nights in Akashi must not go unaccompanied. The lady brought out the Chinese koto he had given her. He plucked out a strain as he gave himself up to the memories. The tuning, as when he had given it to her, took him back to those days and to Akashi.

“Unchanged it is when now we meet again.

And do you not see changelessness in me?”

“Your promise not to change was my companion.

I added my sighs to those of the wind in the pines.”

She held her own very well in these exchanges, evidence, he thought, that she had been meant for unusual things. She had improved in looks and in bearing since last he had seen her. He could not take his eyes from the child. And what now? The mother was of inferior birth, and the disability must not be passed on to the daughter. It could be overcome if he were to take her to Nijo~ and see to her needs as he wished. Yet there were the feelings of the mother to be considered and of them he was uncertain. Choking with tears, he tried to bring the matter up.

The little girl, no more than a baby, was shy at first, but soon they were friends, and she was gurgling more happily and prettily all the time. Her mother meanwhile sat in mute gratitude. The future seemed to open limitlessly.