26

It has already been said that the dancers were to stay on in court service. Today, however, they went back to their families. In the recessional the competition was also intense. Yoshikiyo's daughter went off to Karasaki for her lustration, Koremitsu's to Naniwa. The inspector had already arranged for his daughter's return to court. People criticized To~ no Chu~jo~'s brother for having offered a daughter unworthy of the occasion, but she-was received into court service with the others.

There being a vacancy on the empress's staff, Koremitsu asked Genji whether his daughter might not be favored with appointment. Genji said that he would see what could be done. This was disappointing news for Yu~giri. She was being taken beyond his reach. Though the disappointment was not of a really devastating sort, new sorrow was added to old.

The girl had a brother who was a court page. Yu~giri had occasionally made use of his services.

One day Yu~giri addressed him in a friendlier manner than usual.” And when may we hope to see your sister at court?”

“By the end of the year, I am told.”

“I thought her very pretty. I envy you, able to see her whenever you want to. Do you suppose I might ask you to let me see her myself some-time?”

“I am afraid it would be very difficult. I am her brother and even I am kept at a distance. I am afraid it would be very difficult indeed.”

“At least give her this letter.”

The boy had long been under very stern instructions to have no part in such maneuvers, but Yu~giri was insistent.

The Gosechi dancer, perhaps a little precocious, was delighted with the letter, which was on delicate blue paper very tastefully folded with papers of several colors. The hand, though young, showed great promise.

“Were you aware of it as you danced in the sunlight,

The heart that was pinned upon the heavenly sleeves?”

Koremitsu came in as they were admiring it.

“What's this? Who's it from?” They flushed. There had been no time to hide it. “You know very well that I do not permit this sort of thing.”

He blocked the boy's escape.

“The chancellor's son asked me to deliver it.”

“Well, now. What an amusing little prank. You are the same age, and I only wish you had a few of his talents.” His anger having quite left him, he went off to show the letter to his wife. “If he is still interested when he is a little older, she would be better off in his hands than at court. I kno His Lordship well. Once a woman has attracted his attention he never forgets her. This could be a very good thing. Look at the Akashi lady.”

But they could think of little these days except preparations for sending the girl to court.