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      When she was next on duty at Rokujo~, Ukon looked for a chance to tell Genji a little of what had happened. As her carriage was pulled inside the gate she had a sudden feeling of vast spaces, and all the grand carriages coming and going made her marvel that she too was in attendance at the jeweled pavilion. No occasion presented itself that evening. She went restlessly to bed with her problem. The next day he summoned her by name. It was a great honor, for numbers of women, old and important and young and obscure, had the evening before come back from vacation.

“And why did you stay so long? But you have changed. The old stiffness has given way to a more yielding quality, might we say? Some-thing interesting has surely happened.”

“I was gone for about a week, just wasting my time. But I did come on someone rather interesting off in the hills.”

“Yes?”

She preferred that Murasaki hear, lest she later be taxed with secretiveness.

Other women came up. Lamps were lighted, and Genji and Murasaki were pleasing indeed as they settled down for a quiet evening. Now in her late twenties, Murasaki was at her best. It seemed to Ukon that even in the brief time she had been away her lady had improved. And Tamakazura was almost as beautiful—and perhaps it was only Ukon's imagination that there was a small difference to be observed between the more and the less fortunate.

Ukon was summoned to massage Genji's legs.

“The young ones hate to do it,” he laughed. “We oldsters get on best.”

“Really, sir, who would hate to do anything for you?” said one of the younger women. “You do make the worst jokes.”

“Even we oldsters must be careful. There is jealousy abroad. We are in danger.” He could be very amusing.

Having relieved himself of the heavier business of government, he was able to relax with the women. Even an aging woman like Ukon was not ignored.

“Now, then, who is this interesting person in the hills? A well-endowed hermit you have come to an understanding with?”

“Please, sir, someone might hear you. I have found a lady who is not unrelated to those evening faces. Do you remember? The ones that faded so quickly.”

“Ah, yes, memories do come back. Where has she been all this time?”

Ukon did not know how to begin. “She has been very far away. Some of the people who were with her then are still with her. We talked about the old days. It was so sad.”

“Do remember, please, that we have an uninformed audience.”

“You needn't worry,” said Murasaki, covering her ears. “Your audi-ence is too sleepy to care in the least.”

“Is she as pretty as her mother?”

“I wouldn't have thought she could possibly be, but she has grown into a very beautiful young lady indeed.”

“How interesting. Would you compare her with our lady here?”

“Oh, sir, hardly.”

“But you d em confident enough. Does she look like me? If so, then I can be confident too.”

He was already talking as if he were her father.