Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/312

240 "What is your question?" asked the blind girl, as she wiped away her tears.

"Well," said the woman, "I wish to ask if you have not heard of a beautiful young girl of noble bearing roaming about in this neighbourhood companionless."

This question startled Miyuki as she fancied that it might very well refer to herself, but she answered with assumed composure:

"Well, people not a few come and go along this road, you see; and among all these there may be found many girls travelling alone. But tell me the name of this particular girl, and what province she hails from."

"Her name is Akizuki Miyuki, and she is of the Kishido Clan in Aki Province."

Great was the amazement of the blind girl, when she realized from these words that the questioner was none other than her nurse, Asaka, who had come in search of Miyuki herself. Up to this point, owing to her blindness, she had failed to recognize Asaka, though speaking with her face to face; nor, on the other hand, did Asaka recognize her, owing to the great change in her appearance. Her blindness, especially, had