d
mother. She appeared as if standing in front of a tansu, or chest of
drawers, that still contained her ornaments and her wearing-apparel.
Her head and shoulders could be very distinctly seen; but from the
waist downwards the figure thinned into invisibility;--it was like an
imperfect reflection of her, and transparent as a shadow on water.

Then the folk were afraid, and left the room. Below they consulted
together; and the mother of O-Sono's husband said: "A woman is fond of
her small things; and O-Sono was much attached to her belongings.
Perhaps she has come back to look at them. Many dead persons will do
that,--unless the things be given to the parish-temple. If we present
O-Sono's robes and girdles to the temple, her spirit will probably find
rest."

It was agreed that this should be done as soon as possible. So on the
following morning the drawers were emptied; and all of O-Sono's
ornaments and dresses were taken to the temple. But she came back the
next night, and looked at the tansu as before. And she came back also
on the night following, and the night after that, and every night;--and
the house became a house of fear.

The mother of O-Sono's husband then went to the parish-temple, and told
the chief priest all that had happened, and asked for ghostly counsel.
The temple was a Zen temple; and the head-priest was a learned old man,
known as Daigen Osho. He said: "There must be something about which she
is anxious, in or near that tansu."--"But we emptied all the drawers,"
replied the woman;--"there is nothing in the tansu."--"Well," said
Daigen Osho, "to-night I shall go to your house, and keep watch in that
room, and see what can be done. You must give orders that no person
shall enter the room while I am watching, unless I call."

After sundown, Daigen Osho went to the house, and found the room made
ready for him. He remained there alone, reading the sutras; and nothing
appeared until after the Hour of the Rat. [1] Then the figure of
O-Sono suddenly outlined itself in front of the tansu. Her face had a
wistful look; and she kept her eyes fixed upon the tansu.

The priest uttered the holy formula prescribed in such cases, and then,
addressing the figure by the kaimyo [2] of O-Sono, said:--"I have come
here in order to help you. Perhaps in that tansu there is something
about which you have reason to feel anxious. Shall I try to find it for
you?" The shadow appeared to give assent by a slight motion o