Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/372

296 insect plunging into the fire.' I advise you to escape with Hatsuhana, and await till a good opportunity occurs. Don't do anything rash!"

"I will follow your kind advice," said Katsugorō. "But if I delay, Lord Hōjō will send soldiers against me. I can hardly reconcile myself to leaving you on the eve of your death, but this emergency makes it unavoidable. Forgive my seeming unkindness, and farewell, my dear father and mother."

Under cover of night which by this time had fallen, the young couple stole out of the postern, and fled into the darkness.