Page:Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan.djvu/212

 and ashamed. Do not suppose that I remain at home because my feeling is shallow.

Her reply:

The Prince came as usual unannounced. The lady did not believe that he would come at all, and being tired out with the religious observances of several days, fell asleep. No one noticed the gentle knocking at the gate. He, on the other hand, had heard some rumours, and suspecting the presence of another lover, quietly retired. A letter came on the morning of the next day:

Then she knew that he had come the night before—carelessly fallen asleep!—and wrote back:

The next night he wanted to come again, yet he was advised against it. He feared the criticism of the Chamberlain and Crown Prince, so his visits became 156