31

It was late in the Tenth Month, and a whole month had gone by since Niou's last visit to Uji. He thought nervously each night of setting forth. But alas, he was,'a small boat caught in reeds,” * and, with the Gosechi dances coming earl y this year,+ there were gay events at court to occupy his time. And so the days went by, and at Uji the wait was increasingly painful. This or that court lady would briefly catch his eye, but his heart remained with the Uji princess.

His mother spoke to him again of Yu~giri's daughter. “When you have made yourself a good, solid marriage, then you can bring in anyone who strikes your fancy and set her up wherever it suits your convenience. But you _must_ build yourself a strong base.”

“Wait just a little longer, please. I'm thinking it over.”

At Uji they could not know that it had never been his intention to hurt them, and each day brought a heavier pall of gloom.