cle which left O'Kiku lame, and thus
victim in other derelictions of duty. This so pleased the _okugata_ that
it became a favourite pastime, whenever the girl was at hand and her own
arm had rested. She would have starved her, but the rest contributed of
their store out of mere fellowship. Her ladyship recognized the
uselessness. She did not dare deface her beauty. Believing in
Shu[u]zen's love her vengeance was confined in its exercise. With
despair she regarded her bloated disfigured person, the wan faded aspect
due to her advanced pregnancy. Ah! If she could but fasten some offence
upon her. She would bring about this interloper's death. With delight
she noted the signs of dislike and malice in Shu[u]zen. Surely the tales
were true that the beauty was holding out for the price of her charms.
It should be a case where beauty would not secure pardon.

It was at this time that, with Shu[u]zen's consent, she put O'Kiku in
charge of ten plates condescended in trust to the House by the
To[u]sho[u]gu[u] (Iyeyasu). It was a bid of Shu[u]zen, the mark of the
conferrence of position as _koshimoto_ in his household. Only in the
madness of love--or lust--would he have risked such impropriety. The
regular time for counting had arrived. O'Kiku carefully replaced the
beautiful objects, marked with holly hock crest, into their lacquered
box. Again Shu[u]zen importuned her with his suit. Then in
vexation--"Ah! Truly a rebellious and wicked grudge is held by this
Kiku. Attempt at denial is useless, it is not only rebellion against the
master, but against the decree of the master of all. Decide at once.
Either be the concubine of Shu[u]zen; or suffer the sword cut." Again
she plead with him, and Shu[u]zen's eyes opened wide with astonishment.
"Condescend the honoured hearing. Kiku has plead as one no longer of
this world. 'Tis true. But before now she has already taken the vow of
two worlds."--"What!" said Shu[u]zen in amazement. His mind lighted up
as she proceeded--"It is true. Under guise of farm hand at the village
lived Wataru Sampei, a _samurai_ and _ro[u]nin_ of the Takeda House of
Kai. By him there is a child--now three years old. Alas! The father
lives in direst poverty. Twice in the month--the 15th day when the
festival of the Ichigaya Hachiman shrine is held, the 25th day when that
of the Hirakawa Tenjin Sama is held--with the child Jumatsu he is to
pass. A wave of the hand--'Is it Kiku?... Is it mother?' The
relationship lo