10

The days passed uneventfully. Tamakazura fretted and came to no decision, and there continued to be importunings from the Reizei emperor.

An extremely friendly letter came from his consort, Tamakazura's sister. “You are behaving as if we were nothing to each other. His Majesty is saying most unjustly that I seek to block his proposal. It is not pleasant of him even if he is joking. Do please make up your mind and let her come to us immediately.”

Perhaps it had all been fated, thought Tamakazura—but she almost wished that her sister would dispel the uncertainty by coming out in opposition. She sighed and turned to the business of getting the girl ready, and seeing too that all the women were properly dressed and groomed.

The lieutenant was in despair. He went to his mother, Kumoinokari, who got off an earnest letter in his behalf. “I write to you from the darkness that obscures a mother's heart.* No doubt I am being unreasonable—but perhaps you will understand and be generous.”

Tamakazura sighed and set about an answer. It was a difficult situa-tion. “I am in an agony of indecision, and these constant letters from the Reizei emperor do not help at all. I only wish—and it is, I think, the solution least likely to be criticized—that someone could persuade your son to be patient. If he really cares, then someday he will perhaps see that his wishes are very important to me.”

It might have been read as an oblique suggestion that she would let him have her second daughter once the Reizei question had been settled. She did not want to make simultaneous arrangements for the two girls. That would have seemed pretentious, and besides, the lieutenant was still very young and rather obscure. He was not prepared to accept the suggestion that he transfer his affections, however, and the image of his lady at the Go board refused to leave him. He longed to see her again, and was in despair at the thought that there might not be another opportunity.