10

And so the night sped past. Outside, an attendant coughed to warn of the approach of dawn. Ukon came out. Niou did not want to leave, for he had had far from enough of the girl's company—and it _would_ be difficult to come again. Very well: let them raise any sort of commotion they wished. He would not go back today. One loved while one lived. Why go back and die of longing?

He summoned Ukon. “You will think it unwise, I am sure, but I propose to spend the day here. Have my men hide somewhere not too far away, and send Tokikata to the city with good excuses—maybe he can say I'm busy praying at a mountain temple.”

Ukon was aghast. Why had she not been more careful? But she was soon in control of herself once more. What was done was done, and there was no point in antagonizing him. Call it fate, that he should have gone on thinking about Ukifune after that strange, fleeting encounter. No one was to blame.

“Her mother is sending for her today. What do you intend to do? I know that some things have to be, and there is nothing anyone can do about them; but you've really picked a very bad day. Suppose you come again, if you still feel in the mood.”

An able woman, thought he. “No, I've been wandering around in a daze all these weeks. I haven't cared what they might be saying about me. A man in my position doesn't go sneaking off into the night, you know, if he's still worried about appearances. Just tell her mother there's been a very unfortunate defilement, and send them back again. Don't give them a hint that I'm here. For her sake and for mine. I don't think that's asking a great deal, and I won't settle for less.”

He did seem so infatuated with the girl that he no longer worried about the reproaches he might call down upon himself.

Ukon went out to a man who had been nervously seeking to get Niou on his way, and informed him of these new intentions. “Go tell him, please, that this will not do. He is behaving outrageously. I don't care what he may be thinking, what your men are thinking is more important. Are you children, bringing him out into these wilds? Country people can be unruly, you know, and they don't always respect rank.”

The secretary had to agree that things might be difficult.

“And which of you is Tokikata?” She passed on Niou's orders.

“Oh, but of course,” laughed Tokikata. “Any excuse to get away from that tongue of yours. But seriously: he seems very fond of her, and I intend to do what I can, even if it means, as you say, taking childish risks. Well, I'm off. They'll soon be changing the guard.”

Ukon was in a quandary. How was she to keep Niou's presence a secret?

“The general seems to have had reasons for coming incognito,” she said when the others were up. “Something rather awful happened to him along the way. He's having fresh clothes sent out tonight.”

“Mount Kohata is a dreadful place. That's what happens when you go around without a decent guard. How really dreadful.”

“Don't shout about it, if you please. Give the servants a hint and they'll guess everything.”

Ukon did not like it at all. She was not a natural liar. And what would she find to say if a messenger were to come from Kaoru?” Please,” she prayed, bowing in the direction of Hatsuse. “Please let this day pass like all the others.”

Ukifune and her mother were to go on a pilgrimage to Ishiyama. The women had been through all the necessary fasting and purification. For nothing, it now became apparent. How very unfortunate!

The sun had risen, the shutters were open. Ukon stayed near her mistress. Blinds were lowered to darken the main hall and bills posted announcing a retreat. Should Ukifune's mother ask to come in, Ukon would have to say that there had been forbidding dreams in the night. She brought water to Niou and her mistress. The morning ablutions were in no way out of the ordinary, but it seemed infinitely strange to him that this new girl should be waiting on him. He invited her to wash first. Used to Kaoru's quiet ways, she now found herself with a gentleman who proclaimed himself incapable of tolerating a moment's separation. This must be the sort of thing people meant when they spoke of love. But what if word of this new shift in her destinies—strangest of destinies—were to get abroad? What, before anything, of Nakanokimi?

He still did not know who she was. “You are being very unkind, and I can tell you that I am not at all happy. Tell me everything, everything. There's no need to be shy. I'll only like you better, I vow it, whatever you tell me. Tell me your family doesn't amount to a thing, and I'll still like you better.”

She remained silent despite his importunings, but on other subjects she answered with a pleasing openness. He was delighted to see that she was not ill disposed toward him.

The sun was high when a retinue from the city—two carriages, seven or eight mounted warriors, rough East Country people, as always, and numbers of foot soldiers as well—arrived to escort her back. Embarrassed at their uncouth speech and manners, the women of the house shooed them out of earshot. What could she possibly say to them? Ukon was asking herself. That Kaoru was on the premises? But the lie would be transparent. Everyone knew the whereabouts of someone so prominent.

Confiding in none of the other women, she got off a letter to the girl's mother: “Night before last her monthly defilement came on, and, to compound her unhappiness at having to cancel the pilgrimage, she had a bad dream last night. Complete retirement has seemed necessary. We are very sorry indeed—no doubt some evil spirit has been at work.”

She fed the guards and sent them on their way, and, again offering the monthly defilement as her excuse, informed the nun that they would not after all be going to Ishiyama.