this night would probably be dangerous. Although this hovel is
unworthy of your presence, and although we have not any comfort to
offer, perhaps it were safer to remain to-night under this miserable
roof... We would take good care of your horse."

Tomotada accepted this humble proposal,--secretly glad of the chance
thus afforded him to see more of the young girl. Presently a coarse but
ample meal was set before him; and the girl came from behind the
screen, to serve the wine. She was now reclad, in a rough but cleanly
robe of homespun; and her long, loose hair had been neatly combed and
smoothed. As she bent forward to fill his cup, Tomotada was amazed to
perceive that she was incomparably more beautiful than any woman whom
he had ever before seen; and there was a grace about her every motion
that astonished him. But the elders began to apologize for her, saying:
"Sir, our daughter, Aoyagi, [1] has been brought up here in the
mountains, almost alone; and she knows nothing of gentle service. We
pray that you will pardon her stupidity and her ignorance." Tomotada
protested that he deemed himself lucky to be waited upon by so comely a
maiden. He could not turn his eyes away from her--though he saw that
his admiring gaze made her blush;--and he left the wine and food
untasted before him. The mother said: "Kind Sir, we very much hope that
you will try to eat and to drink a little,--though our peasant-fare is
of the worst,--as you must have been chilled by that piercing wind."
Then, to please the old folks, Tomotada ate and drank as he could; but
the charm of the blushing girl still grew upon him. He talked with her,
and found that her speech was sweet as her face. Brought up in the
mountains as she might have been;--but, in that case, her parents must
at some time been persons of high degree; for she spoke and moved like
a damsel of rank. Suddenly he addressed her with a poem--which was also
a question--inspired by the delight in his heart:--

"Tadzunetsuru,
Hana ka tote koso,
Hi wo kurase,
Akenu ni otoru
Akane sasuran?"

["Being on my way to pay a visit, I found that which I took to be a
flower: therefore here I spend the day... Why, in the time before dawn,
the dawn-blush tint should glow--that, indeed, I know not."] [2]

Without a moment's hesitation, she answered him in these verses:--

"Izuru hi no
Honomeku iro wo
Waga sode ni
Tsutsumaba asu mo
Kimiya tomaran."

["If with my sle