15

The whole court was in attendance, including several of Tamakazura's suitors. It struck them as odd that To~ no Chu~jo~ should stay so long behind her curtains. Of his sons, only Kashiwagi and Ko~bai had some glimmering of the truth. They were disappointed and pleased, disappointed because they had themselves had certain designs upon the girl.

“I certainly am glad that I did not give myself away,” whispered Ko~bai.

“Genji has his own way of doing things,” said someone else. “Do you suppose he means to do for her what he did for the empress?”

“We must be careful that we do not emerge in an unfavorable light?” said Genji, overhearing. “People who are unencumbered with rank and office do all manner of strange things, I am sure, but we are vulnerable. We must let matters take their course until people are prepared to accept them for what they are.”

“I shall follow your wishes unquestioningly,” replied To~ no Chu~jo~. “There must have been some bond between the two of you from another life, that you should have found her and taken care of her with no help at all from me.”

He was of course richly and imaginatively rewarded for his services. As for the other gifts, Genji managed to add original touches to what precedent and regulation demanded. They were very splendid indeed. Because of Princess Omiya's illness the concert after the ceremonies was simple.

Prince Hotaru so descended from his dignity as to plead his case openly. “The excuses which you have made,” he said, “would no longer seem to hold.”

“We have had overtures from His Majesty. We shall let you have an answer when we know what his reaction has been to our having felt constrained to decline so august an invitation.”

To~ no Chu~jo~ was consumed with curiosity and impatience. He had had a glimpse of his daughter and he wanted a good, clear look at her. He was sure that if she had any serious defects Genji would not have gone to troubles that seemed almost exaggerated. In any event, that strange dream was now explained.