f October, and was anticipated to be a grand affair. Ladies were not expected

o-Chi?ji? for his partner. They stood and danced together, forming a most pleasing contrast-one, so to speak, like a bright flower; the other, an everlasting verdure beside it. The rays of the setting sun shone over their heads, and the tones of the music rose higher and higher in measure t

ds, the bands, which were divided into two divisions on the right and left, under the direction of two Ministers and two Yemon-no-Kami, played. With this music different dances, including Chinese and Corean, were performed, one after another, by various dancers

he danced, and a Sadaishi?, plucking a bunch of chrysanthemums from in front of the Royal stand, replaced the lessened maple leaves. The sun was by this time descending, and the sky had become less glaring, while the face of Nature seemed as if it were

the principal interest of the day being over, as these dances were finished, the fête ended. This very evening Genji was invested with th

at Niji?, and she lived with him. The more care he took of her the more amiable

changed. As she, however, had been always brought up under the care of her grandmother, her indebtedness to the latter was not to be held lightly; c

to leave his mansion to attend the New Year's levée. Jus

dish now?" said he, with a smile to the

it when he was playing what he called 'dr

please," said Genji, and he went off, the maidens who attended on Violet ac

oy prince, whom she called Genji, at the Court of

s the Prince told you. How very childish! a g

first time, to have become aware that she was

him but little. She was older than Genji by four years, and was as cold and stately in her mien as ever. Her father, howeve

its, when Sadaijin entered the room, and officiously assisted him in putting on his dress, except, perhap

a Royal banquet, or the like." But Sadaijin insisted on his putting it on, tel

health, for she was approaching her confinement. Many people, who thought that they might have heard of the event in December, now began to say, "At least we shall receive the intelligence this month," and the Emperor himself became impatient; but the month pa

without being startled, would slowly open her eyes, and murmur: "Sad like the weed in a creek," and then put her hand on her mouth deprecatingly. On this he would remark, "How knowing you are! Where did you learn such things?" He would then call for a koto, and saying "The worst of the soh-koto is that its middle chord should break so easily," would arrange it for a Hi?ji? tune, and when he had struck a few chords on it, would offer it to her, asking her to play, and would presently accompany her with his flute. They would then play some difficult air, perhaps Hosoroguseri, a v

r that Genji was not going out that evening. Then she would manifest the greatest delight, and would

that his father-in-law always took great interest in him and great care from his earliest childhood, and saying that he hoped that he would surely

ociety of the fair sex. And his Court was full of ladies who were well versed in the ways of the world. Some of these

her. She used to attend on the Emperor while his hair was being dressed. One day, after he had retired into his dressing-room, she remained in the other room, and was smoothing her own hair. Genji happened to pass by. He stole unperceived into the room, and slyly tugged the skirt of her robe. She started, and instinctively half concealed her fa

old, 'neath

l browse or

al that gr

good for fo

one might write on fans," thought he; "what ma

, 'its summer shade is s

what people might say if anyone happened to see him flirting with s

th that f

uld come or s

ancient f

food, and s

retort

d should ve

'd find a

steed full

these past

tted th

d into it, after he had finished his toilet

this. It happened on a cool summer evening that Genji was sauntering round the Ummeiden in the palace yard. He heard the sound of a biwa (mandolin) proceeding from a veranda. It was played by th

his one," and he stood still and listened. Slowly he approached near the veranda, humming slowly

ieve you're

really wish

once re

you may be

stand outsi

thought, "This is too abrupt!" and

rceived by him, when he saw this. He contrived a plan to frighten h

coming very indifferent. Choosing this moment T?-no-Chi?ji

en. T?-no-Chi?ji?, suppressing a laugh, advanced to the side of the screen, and began to fold it from one end to the other, making a crashing noise as he did so. The lady was in a dilemma, and stood aloof. Genji would fain have run out, and concealed himself elsewhere, but he could not get on his Naoshi, and his head-dress was all awry. The Chi?j

as that was there; so he suddenly rushed out, and catching hold of T?-no-Chi?ji?'s sword-arm, pi

ji, jestingly-"but first let me put on my Naoshi." But T?-n

i?'s sash, and beginning to unfasten it, while the latter resisted. T

ied T?-n

Naoshi t

s all disco

replie

t if so wel

ow disturb

oom without much noticing t

his own apartment. The sash and other things which they had le

"T?-no-Chi?ji?, I suppose, has carried it off, but I have him also, for here is his sash!" A page boy from T?-no-Chi?ji?'s office hereupon entered, carrying a packet in which the missing s

e was more official business than on other days; T?-no-Chi?ji? (who being chief of the Kurand, which office has to receive and despa

"Have you not been a little scared in your private expedition?" when Genji replied, "No, why so

reet about the matter, which became after

ys prepared to dispute with him on any subject, and did not yield to him in any way. He was the only brother of the Lady Aoi by the same Royal

them, therefore, were often very amus

Heir-apparent and of making the son of the Princess Wistaria the Heir-apparent to the new Emperor, but there was no appropriate guardian or supp

or wished to make the pos

at another being proclaimed Empress. Indeed she was the mother of the Heir-apparent, and had been so for more

TNO

ng holy birds in Paradise, to whose s

d throw them about the rooms, saying, "Avaunt, Devil, avau

is presented to him only when it

om an o

f ?araki for

ome there, the s

pun referring to her still b