13

He stayed at home that day and the next morning went again to be in attendance upon the empress. Niou was also at Rokujo~. He had on a thin saffron singlet and over it an informal blue robe, in the very best of taste. No less well favored than his sister, he was handsomer for the pallor and loss of weight. Yes, the resemblance was extraordinary, sighed Kaoru. Remembering himself, he sought to control these wayward thoughts, and found the effort very considerable. Niou had brought along a number of pictures, most of which he sent off to his sister's quarters. He followed shortly himself. Kaoru congratulated the empress upon the faultless handling of the ceremonies, and they exchanged reminiscences of old times.

“My princess at Sanjo~,” he said, taking up the pictures that had been left behind, “is rather despondent at having, as they say, descended from the clouds. I feel very sorry for her. She thinks her sister has dropped her now that things have been arranged so unsatisfactorily for her. It would be nice if she had pictures to look at from time to time, but of course it would not be the same if I were to take them to her myself.”

“Why should her sister do any such thing? They had rooms very near each other in the palace, and I believe they exchanged notes. No, it is just that they live farther apart now. I shall see that she writes. And there is no need for your own princess to hold back.”

“No, I suppose not. You have not been very friendly yourself, you know, but after all she is now your own sister-in-law, and it would please me enormously if you might find it possible to favor her with a little of your attention. The two of them were once so close. It would be a pity if they were to drift apart.”

The empress did not guess his motives.

He passed in front of the main hall and went on to the west wing, thinking to call on Kosaisho~. Hidden behind blinds, the women looked out upon a most stately and graceful figure. Even the gallery walls, he was thinking, might somehow bring comfort.

Yu~giri's sons seemed to be in possession of the gallery. Kaoru came up to a side door.

“I am of course often in attendance upon Her Majesty,” he said to the women, looking off towards the assembly of nephews. “But it seems that I do not see you as often as I would like. And so time has gone by, and here I am feeling like an old man. I thought this might be a good chance for a talk, though I'm sure you are wishing the old man would go away.”

“Oh, we'll take years off your age, just give us a chance.” Even when they were far from serious, they did not take leave of the peculiar refinement that was their lady's. Talking of this and that (he had no real business), he began to feel rather close to them, and stayed longer than he had planned.