was the
advice of the wise old Saito[u] Sensei to leave me to myself and time.
"It is her years," said he. "Time will effect the cure; unless she
herself sooner indicates the means." Laughing he departed, as one
convinced that the cure was a simple one. Long had the determination
been held to tell all to the mother; always put off at sight of the
kindly anxious face. With such a lover she would have felt alarmed and
helpless.

Time brought the cure. The summer heats were nearly past; the eighth
month (September) close at hand. One day came a _chu[u]gen_ to the
house, bearing a message. At once all was in confusion. Nakakawachi Dono
was a _fudai daimyo[u]_ of twelve thousand _koku_ income. He was a
new-comer in the district, and known to be held in high favour at the
palace. A goodly portion of the site of the former Yoshida Goten in
Bancho[u] Ko[u]jimachi had recently been assigned to him. With the
removal of the Takata no Kata[6] to quarters closer to the castle the
greater portion of the palace had been removed to build the prior's hall
of the Iinuma Kugyo[u]ji. The villa part (_besso[u]_) of the structure
had been left intact, and with much of the park and garden had been
secured by favour to Nakakawachi Sama. For such a great lord in his
passage to condescend to rest at the humble house of a mere _go-kenin_
caused much disturbance. The limited household staff was put
energetically to work at cleaning and making all preparations for the
honoured visit. Treading with cat's paw my parents went from room to
room, to see that all was befitting. The articles of greatest value were
set forth for his lordship's view. An instinct set dancing my barely
restored nerves. Why did this great lord, so near home in his
progress--his fief was in Ko[u]shu[u]--deign thus to rest? What command
would he urge? His name was Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen. The _samurai_ lover
of the Bancho[u] spoke of himself as Shu[u]zen. Thus was the watching
and waiting, in a flutter of trepidation and newly aroused passion.

Then he came. My parents prostrated themselves on the ground in his
presence. "With your permission--" Haughty he swept on, to be ushered to
the inner rooms. Even the officer in charge remained at a distance.
Prostrate at the sill my father gave thanks for the honour of this
unexpected presence, for his lordship's deigning to halt the palanquin.
On command Shimo served the tea, not daring to raise face from the
_tatami_ under the satisfi