35

A frequenter of the Suzaku Palace, Kashiwagi had known all about the Third Princess and the Suzaku emperor's worries. He had offered himself as a candidate for her hand. His candidacy had not been dismissed, and then, suddenly and to his very great disappointment, she had gone to Genji. He still could not reconcile himself to what had happened. He seems to have taken some comfort in exchanging reports with women whom he had known in her maiden days. He of course heard what everyone else heard, that she was no great competitor for Genji's affection.

He was forever complaining to Kojiju~, her nurse's daughter. “I am much beneath her, I know, but I would have made her happy. I know of course that she was meant for someone far grander.”

Nothing in this world is permanent, and Genji might one day make up his mind to leave it. Kashiwagi kept after Kojiju~.