42

Toward the end of the month, following the initiation ceremonies, Kaoru took the Second Princess for his bride. There were private evening rites at the palace.

Some complained. “Everyone has been talking about what a fuss he makes over her—and now he gives her to a commoner! She must have expected something better. It would have been all right, perhaps, to give his august permission _eventually_—but why did he have to rush things so?”

But the emperor, once he had made a decision, was a man to carry it out with alacrity. Provision would eventually have to be made for the princess, and he was prepared to go against precedent in making it now. Yet it must be said that though princesses are always marrying, few daughters of emperors so young and vigorous can have been rushed so precipitously into marriage with commoners.

“What a singular esteem for him our sovereign shows, and how singu-larly lucky he is,” said Yu~giri to his own Second Princess. “Your late father bestowed your sister upon my father only when he was in his last years and about to retire from the world. And just look at me, if you will, picking up a princess without a by-your-leave.”

It was true, she thought, flushing. She did not answer.*

On the third night after the wedding, the emperor had gifts presented to all those who had been of service to his daughter, her maternal uncles and the rest. Quietly and without display, he took notice too of Kaoru's guards, outrunners, grooms, and footmen. The stiffness of court etiquette was avoided in all these attentions.