3

He was beginning to fear that he had overreached himself. What a pleasure, he thought wistfully as he went to Genji's rooms, if even through curtains he might hear the voice of the lady more beautiful even than Tamakazura.

“I rather think,” said Genji, “that Prince Hotaru was making progress. He is a very experienced man and he seems to have pleaded his case very eloquently. In any event, she had not been enthusiastic about going to court. And so he is to be disappointed? A pity; but that glimpse of His Majesty seems to have changed her mind completely. A glimpse is enough be so when I made these arrangements for her.”

“Which of the two solutions would best fit her temperament? I won-der. Her Majesty has no real competition for His Majesty's affections, and the other lady is in a very strong position because of her father. I really doubt very much that Tamakazura can make enough of an impression on His Majesty to join in the competition. Prince Hotaru does seem to be very much drawn to her, and people are saying what a pity it would be if anything were to come between two brothers as close as you and he. They expect him to be very disappointed indeed even if she does not become one of the ladies of the bedchamber.” These were very mature remarks from so young a gentleman.#

“It is very difficult. Higekuro seems to be annoyed with me too, quite as if her arrangements were mine to make. Her life is very complicated and I thought I should do what I could for her. And the result is that I am unjustly reproached by both of them. I should have been more careful. I could not forget her mother's last request, and one day I heard that she was off in the far provinces. When she said that her father refused to listen to her troubles, I had to feel sorry for her and offer to help her. I think her father is finally beginning to treat her like a human being because of the interest I have taken in her.” It was a consistent enough account of what had happened.

“I think she might make my brother a good wife,” he continued. “She is a lively, modern sort of girl, much too clever to make any serious mistakes. They would get on very well together, I am sure. And on the other hand she seems beautifully qualified for service at court. She is pretty and efficient and even-tempered and well informed in matters of ceremony and precedent—exactly what His Majesty is looking for.”

Yu~giri wished to probe further. “People seem a little curious about your reasons for being so good to her. Even her father hinted to a messenger from General Higekuro at what he thought might be your deeper reasons.”

Genji smiled. “People imagine too much. I shall defer entirely to her father's wishes. I shall be quite happy if he sends her to court, and if he finds a husband for her that will be splendiettoo. A woman must obey three men in her life, and it would not do for her to get the order wrong.” *

“Someone I know was saying the other day that To~ no Chu~jo~ is filled with secret admiration at the way you have arranged things. You have several ladies whose place in your life cannot be challenged, he seems to be thinking, and it would not do to add to their number at this late date; and so you mean to get her an appointment at court and still keep her for yourself.” He could not have been accused of indirection. he So matters would doubtless seem to To~ no Chu~jo~. Genji was sorry that it should be so.

“He has a suspicious sort of mind, probably because it is at the same time such a thorough mind. But he will see the truth soon enough if we let things take their course. Yes, a very thoroughgoing sort of man.”

Though his father's manner was cheerfully open, Yu~giri still had doubts. Genji himself could not dismiss the problem quite as easily as he pretended. It would serve neither Tamakazura's interests nor his own to play the role which rumor had evidently assigned him. He must find an opportunity to assure To~ no Chu~jo~ of his real intentions. And he was uncomfortable that To~ no Chu~jo~ had guessed certain of his reasons for leaving Tamakazura's position at court somewhat equivocal and badly defined.