Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/88

40 in the midst of a clandestine but sweet love affair. How I envy her!"

"Hush, U-noha!" said Komachi blushing. "I see that I must confess the truth to you, but I must ask you to promise not to tell your brother. The man you saw hiding in the carriage is Lord Arihira."

She then told all that had passed between herself and her lover.

"Lord Arihira has promised to come secretly every night to my gate, during my hundred days of fasting and prayer." As she continued her face became wreathed with smiles. "So the man in the carriage must have been he. He is a very kind and trustworthy man. The period of fasting and prayer is nearly at an end. The day will soon come when Lord Arihira will openly ask my father for my hand in marriage. Be thankful, dear girl; when I am Lady Arihira, I will find you a handsome husband."

"You must indeed be happy," said U-noha, her brow suddenly darkening. "I congratulate you! Your intentions are kind, but it is not suitable for a girl to choose for herself a handsome husband. I must put up with an ill-favoured man. I don't