ll, if you really insist upon it," said the Princess, "perhaps I
will; but don't expose me too much to the gaze of a stranger."

Having thus cunningly persuaded the Princess, Tayu set the
reception-room in order, into which Genji was soon shown. The Princess
was all the while experiencing much nervousness, and as she did not
know exactly how to manage, she left everything to Tayu, and was led
by her to the room to receive her visitor. The room was arranged in
such a way that the Princess had her back to the light so that her
face and emotions could be obscured.

The perfume which she used was rich, still preserving the trait of
high birth, but her demeanor was timid, and her deportment awkward.

Genji at once noticed this. "Just as I imagined. She is so simple,"
thought he, and then he commenced to talk with her, and to explain how
passionately he had desired to see her. She, however, listened to him
almost in silence, and gave no plain answer. Genji was disconcerted,
and at last said,

"From you I sought so oft reply,
But you to give one would not deign,
If you discard me, speak, and I
Will cease to trouble you again."

The governess of the Princess, Kojijiu by name, who was present, was a
sagacious woman, and noticing the embarrassment of the lady, she
advanced to her side, and made the following reply in such a
well-timed manner that her real object, which was to conceal the
deficiencies of her mistress, did not betray itself--

"Not by the ringing of a bell,
Your words we wish to stay;
But simply, she has nought to tell,
And nothing much to say."

"Your eloquence has so struck me that my mouth is almost closed," said
Genji, smiling--

"Not speaking is a wiser part,
And words are sometimes vain,
But to completely close the heart
In silence, gives me pain."

He then tried to speak of this thing and that indifferently, but all
hopes of agreeable responsiveness on the lady's part being vain, he
coolly took his leave, and left the mansion, much disappointed.

This evening he slept in his mansion at Nijio. The next morning
To-no-Chiujio appeared before he had risen.

"How late, how late!" he cried, in a peculiar tone. "Were you fatigued
last night, eh?"

Genji rose and presently came out, saying, "I have overslept myself,
that is all; nothing to disturb me. But have you come from the palace?
Was it your official watch-night?"[65]

"Yes," repl