Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/408

330 "Your commands shall be obeyed, sir," was his reply.

Then Yoshi-oki summoned his officers and men, and after bidding his brother farewell, set out for Musashi.

Yoshiminé was left alone, arrows in hand, gazing ruefully in the direction of the advancing troops, until they had disappeared from sight. While he stood thus gazing vacantly into space, suddenly there arose the sound of loud laughter and animated conversation. Presently, to his surprise and pleasure, his sweetheart Utena appeared, attended by some girls and buffoons. She ran up to him.

"How glad I am to see you, Lord Yoshiminé!" said she, her face beaming with joy. "I heard that you were starting for battle to-day, so I came here some time ago, with my people, to bid you farewell. We hid ourselves behind the hedges and saw what happened. You can imagine my joy when I heard that you were to remain here in the Capital! How glad I am!"

"Allow us to congratulate you on your mutual happiness, Lord Yoshiminé, and fair Utena," cried all the buffoons and girls, with one voice.

"We will drink to your health!"