Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/357

Rh "O sir!" exclaimed she, returning him the letter, "such a jest is unseemly."

"It is no jest. I am in great earnest, Hatsuhana. I have yearned for you for a long time, and have watched for my chance to lay bare my secret to you. Don't disappoint me. If you consent, you shall at once become my wife."

"Oh, pardon me, sir, but I never dreamed of such a thing."

"Don't say that, my sweet girl," said Kōzuké, catching her by the hand. "Be kind enough to read my letter. All my heart and soul is contained in its pages."

Hatsuhana was filled with indignation, and shaking off his hand, ran away. Kōzuké and his servant tried to catch her, but she and her maids ran to and fro about the temple grounds to keep them off.

At this moment Shinzayémon and his henchman, Michisuké, appeared on the scene. When he saw them, Kozuké suddenly ceased his pursuit of the girls.

Then Shinzayémon purposely cried out to the girls in angry tones: "Go home quickly, girls.