19

Though Prince Hotaru had come for the carols, his attention was chiefly on Tamakazura. Unable to restrain himself, he got off a message. Higekuro was on duty in the guards quarter. It was from his offices, said the women, that the note had come. She glanced at it.

“You fly off wing to wing through mountain forests,

And in this nest of mine it is lonely spring.

“I hear distant, happy singing.”

She flushed, fearing that she had not been kind to the prince. And how was she to answer? just then the emperor came calling. He was unbelievably handsome in the bright moonlight, and the very image of Genji. It seemed a miracle that there should be two such men in the world. Genji had been genuinely fond of her, she was sure, but there had been those unfortunate complications. There were none in the emperor's case. Gently, he reproved her for having gone against his wishes. She hid her face behind a fan, unable to think of an answer.

“How silent you are. I would have expected you to be grateful for these favors. Are you quite indifferent?

“Why should I be drawn to lavender

So utterly remote and uncongenial?

“Are we likely to be treated to deeper shades of purple?”

She found his good looks intimidating, but told herself that he was really no different from Genji. And her answer—is it to be interpreted as thanks for having been promoted to the Third Rank before she had done anything to deserve the honor?.

“I know not the meaning of this lavender,

Though finding in it marks of august grace.

“I shall do everything to show that I am grateful.”

He smiled. “Suppose I summon a qualified judge to tell us whether it is not perhaps a little late to be donning the colors of gratitude.”

She was silent. She did not wish to seem coy, but she was confused at evidences that he shared certain tendencies with lesser men. She did not seem very friendly, he was thinking, but doubtless she would change as time went by.