17

To~ no Chu~jo~ laughed merrily when he heard of it.

“How would it be if we were to summon our Omi friend?” he said one day, in the course of a conversation with her sister.

“Oh, just fine,” said the lady herself, emerging noisily.

“I can see that you work hard and I think you would be a valuable addition to any office. Why did you not tell me of your wish to become wardress?”

He said it most solemnly. The lady was delighted. “I did want to feel you out. I was sure I could count* on Sister here. But they say somebody else might get it. When I heard about it I felt like somebody that got rich and then found out it was a dream. But I have my fingers crossed.” + There was no suggestion that she lacked confidence.

“As always, you are too self-effacing.” He tried not to smile. “If you had only told me, I would have made certain that your candidacy came first to His Majesty's ears. It is true that the chancellor has a daughter, but I feel certain that His Majesty would not turn away a warm recommendation from me, whatever fine ladies might be in the running. It is still not too late. You must compose your formal application, making sure that it is in the most exalted language. In verse, perhaps. He could not possibly ignore a long poem, and he holds accomplished verse in the highest esteem.”

He was not being a very good father.

“I'm not much of a poet but I'll give it a try. Just tell me in a general way what to put into it. I'll put the meat on the bones.# We'll be partners, you and me. “ She brought her hands together by way of concluding the contract.

The women behind the curtains were choking and strangling. Some had to withdraw lest they disgrace themselves. The sister flushed scarlet.

“We can always count on our Omi lady to drive away the gloom,” said To~ no Chu~jo~.

People suspected that he was trying to conceal his discomfiture over the affairs of yet another daughter.

{Purple Trousers}