8

A letter came from Yu~giri. A woman who knew nothing of what had happened took it. “From the general,” she said, “for Kosho~sho~.”

How unfortunate, thought Kosho~sho~. Very deferentially, the mother asked what might be in it. Resentment was giving way to anticipation and a hope that Yu~giri might again come visiting. Indeed, the possibility that he might not was emerging as her chief worry.

“You really must answer him,” she said to the princess. “You may proclaim to the world that you are clean and pure, but how many will believe you? Let him have a good-natured answer and let things go on very much as they are. That will be the best thing. You will not want him to think you an ill-mannered flirt.”

Reluctantly Kosho~sho~ gave up the letter.

“You may be sure that evidence of your unconscionable hostility will have the effect of arousing me further.

“Shallow it is, for all these efforts to dam it.

You cannot dam and conceal so famous a flow.”

It was a long letter, but the old lady read no more. It seemed to her the worst sort of sophistry, and the implied reason for his failure to visit seemed pompous and wholly unacceptable. Kashiwagi had not been the best of husbands, but he had behaved correctly and never made the princess feel threatened or insecure. The old lady had not been happy with him —and Yu~giri's behavior was far worse. What would To~ no Chu~jo~ and his family be thinking, what would they be saying?

But she must try to learn more of Yu~giri's intentions. Drying her tears and struggling to quiet her thoughts, she set about composing a letter. The hand was like the strange tracks of a bird.

“When she came inquiring about my health, which is in a sorry state, I urged that she reply to your letter. I could see that she was not at all well herself, and I felt that some sort of reply was required of someone.

“You stay a single night. It means no more,

This field of sadly fading maiden flowers?”

It was a much shorter note than she would have wished. She folded it formally and lay down, suddenly worse. Her women were greatly alarmed. The evil spirit had lulled her into a moment of inattention and taken advantage of it. The more famous healers were put to work again and the house echoed with their prayers and incantations. The princess must return at once to her rooms, insisted the women. She refused abso-lutely. If her mother was to die she wished to die also.