11

The nun came forward to converse briefly with the boy. “Some evil powers may be at her again. She is seldom herself and she goes on feeling unwell, and so she has taken vows. I have feared all along that if someone were to come looking for her we would be in trouble, and here we are. It is all very sad and very disturbing. I must apologize for what has happened and admit that it is a great waste. She has never been strong. Today she is less in control of herself than usual, and I fear we cannot expect even the sort of inadequate response we usually get.”

A most elegant lunch of mountain delicacies was brought in; but the boy's young thoughts were elsewhere. “My lord sent me all this way,” he said, “and what am I to take back? Let me have a word from her, please, just a word.”

“What you say is entirely reasonable.” The nun relayed the appeal, but Ukifune was silent.

“All I can suggest,” said the nun, coming forward again, “is that you remind him of our vulnerability. The mountain winds may blow, but we are not separated from the city by so fearfully many banks of clouds, and I am sure that you will find occasion to visit again.”

Nothing more was to be done, clearly, and the boy feared that he was beginning to look ridiculous. Saddened and chagrined at his failure to exchange even a word with his so grievously lamented sister, he started for the city.