21

Ko~bai's mansion was immediately to the east. Young courtiers had gathered in large numbers to help with the grand ministerial banquet. Niou had declined Ko~bai's invitation to be present, although he had attended the banquet given by the Minister of the Left after the archery meet and the banquet after the wrestling matches, and it had been hoped that he would lend his radiance to this occasion as well. Ko~bai was thinking about the arrangements he must make for his much-loved daughters,* and Niou did not for some reason seem interested. Ko~bai and his wife also had their eye on Kaoru, a young gentleman in whom it would be difficult to find a flaw.

The festivities next door, the rumbling of carriages and the shouting of outrunners, brought memories of Higekuro's day of glory. Tamakazura's house was quiet by comparison, and sunk in memories.

“Remember how people talked when Ko~bai started visiting her and Prince Hotaru was hardly in his grave. Well, it lasted, as you see, and the talk has come to seem rather beside the point. You never can tell. Which sort of lady do you think we should offer as a model?”

Yu~giri's son, newly promoted to captain, came calling that evening, on his way home from the banquet. He knew that the Reizei daughter was at home and he was on unusually good behavior.

“It may be said that I am beginning to matter just a little, perhaps.” He brushed away a tear that may have seemed a trifle forced. “I am no happier for that fact. The months and years will not take away the knowledge that my deepest wish was refused.”

He was at the very best age, some twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

“What a tiresome boy,” said Tamakazura, also in tears. “Things have come too easily, and so you care nothing about rank and promotion. If my husband were still alive my own boys might be permitted that sort of luxury.”

They were in fact doing rather well. The oldest was a guards com-mander and the second a moderator, though it pained her that they did not yet have seats on the council. The youngest, until recently a chamberlain, was now a guards captain. He too was doing well enough, but other boys his age were doing better.

Yu~giri's son, the new captain, had many plausible and persuasive things to say.

{The Lady at the Bridge}