Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/106

102 to be left out, and the chanting of Sutras from the shrine on the hill in front of us.

Five days or so later the defilement passed and I returned to the temple….

Then, after a time, I got several letters from the city. They all said the same thing; it appeared that the Prince was starting out to see me again, and that if I did not go back with him this time public opinion would label my behavior completely outrageous; that this was surely the last time he would come after me, and that if, after he had thus done everything possible to move me, I should come weakly back to the city by myself, I would be publicly laughed at.

My father had just that day come back from the provinces, and he hurried up to see me. “I had thought it would not be unwise for you to go away for a little while by yourself,” he said, “but now that I see how the boy has wasted away I think it would be best for you to return. I can take you back today or tomorrow, whichever would be better. I shall come for you whenever you say.”

It was clear that he was ordering me home. I felt quite drained of strength.

“Well, tomorrow then,” he said, and started for the city.

My mind jumped about like the fisherman’s job in the poem—what could I do? And then came the usual shouting, and I knew the Prince had arrived. This time there was no hesitation. He marched straight in. I pulled up a screen to hide behind, but it was no use.

“Terrible,” he exclaimed, as he watched me burning incense and fingering my beads, the Sutras spread out in front of me. “Worse even than I had expected. You really do seem to have run to an extreme. I thought you might be ready to leave by this time, but I now suspect that it would be a sin and a crime to take you back.” And, turning to my son, “How about it? Do you feel like staying on?”

“I don’t like the idea at all,” the boy answered, his eyes on the floor, “but what can we do?”

“Well, I leave it to you. If you think she should go back, have the carriage brought up.”

And almost before he had finished speaking, the boy began