r
lord's retainers could furnish. O'Iwa attracted from the first by her
lack of all physical attraction. His lordship tried to get used to her
with the passage of years--and failed. He could not stomach the
necessary advances. But the girl's admirable temper and even judgment
secured the esteem of all. These latter qualities captivated the whole
household. It was O'Iwa who performed all duties for her ladyship, took
them in charge as her substitute. For the first time in his life Oki no
Kami found something in a woman apart from her sex. When the time came
for O'Iwa to depart, the regret of lord and lady was substantially
expressed in their gifts. But his lordship had to admit failure. Not a
retainer could be found willing to take the daughter of Tamiya as wife.
So far O'Iwa's mission at the _yashiki_ had failed. O'Naka knew this.
Matazaemon never gave it thought; so glad he was to get her back. He
received the honoured words and presents with humble and delighted
thanks. O'Iwa reentered her home, a recovered jewel. She was the
Ojo[u]san, the lady daughter. A first step of hers was gradually to get
rid of a good part of the superfluous train. O'Iwa was a very practical
girl.

Matazaemon was now old and ill. He was nearing his seventieth year. The
one idea in his head was the _muko_, the son to be adopted as husband of
the heir of the House; the mate to be secured for O'Iwa, and the
posterity to be secured for his House. As a little girl O'Iwa had been
much courted--in fun. Watanabe Juzo[u], Natsume Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi
Jinzaemon, many others the growing "sparks" of Samoncho[u] and
roundabout, could not forbear this amusement with the little
"_Bakemono_" (apparition). Of their ill intent O'Iwa knew nothing.
Indeed a short experience with O'Iwa disarmed derision. Most of the
unseemly lovers came genuinely to like the girl, unless inherent malice
and ugliness of disposition, as with Natsume and Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon,
made their sport more than mere pastime. But as grown men they could not
face the results of the final step, and no parent was harsh enough to
graft his unwilling stock on O'Iwa's persimmon trees. The girl was
clever enough to know this. It was Ho[u]ei 6th year (1709) and she was
now twenty-six years old. It was indirectly at her suggestion that
Matazaemon sought the aid of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. This man lived just
behind the large inclosure of the Sainenji, on the hill slope which dips
steeply down to the Same