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wine； and to prepare food for the traveler； whom they ventured to question
in regard to his journey。 Meanwhile the young girl disappeared behind a
screen。 Tomotada had observed； with astonishment； that she was
extremely beautiful； though her attire was of the most wretched kind；
and her long； loose hair in disorder。 He wondered that so handsome a girl
should be living in such a miserable and lonesome place。
The old man said to him：
〃Honored Sir； the next village is far； and the snow is falling thickly。
The wind is piercing； and the road is very bad。 Therefore； to proceed
further this night would probably be dangerous。 Although this hovel is
unworthy of your presence； and although we have not any comfort to offer；
perhaps it were safer to remain to…night under this miserable roof。。。 We
would take good care of your horse。〃
Tomotada accepted this humble proposal； secretly glad of the
chance thus afforded him to see more of the young girl。 Presently a coarse
but ample meal was set before him； and the girl came from behind the
screen； to serve the wine。 She was now reclad； in a rough but cleanly robe
of homespun； and her long； loose hair had been neatly combed and
smoothed。 As she bent forward to fill his cup； Tomotada was amazed to
perceive that she was incomparably more beautiful than any woman whom
he had ever before seen； and there was a grace about her every motion that
astonished him。 But the elders began to apologize for her； saying： 〃Sir； our
daughter； Aoyagi； ＇1＇ has been brought up here in the mountains； almost
alone； and she knows nothing of gentle service。 We pray that you will
pardon her stupidity and her ignorance。〃 Tomotada protested that he
deemed himself lucky to be waited upon by so comely a maiden。 He could
not turn his eyes away from her though he saw that his admiring gaze
made her blush； and he left the wine and food untasted before him。 The
mother said： 〃Kind Sir； we very much hope that you will try to eat and to
drink a little； though our peasant…fare is of the worst； as you must have
been chilled by that piercing wind。〃 Then； to please the old folks；
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Tomotada ate and drank as he could； but the charm of the blushing girl
still grew upon him。 He talked with her； and found that her speech was
sweet as her face。 Brought up in the mountains as she might have been；
but； in that case； her parents must at some time been persons of high
degree； for she spoke and moved like a damsel of rank。 Suddenly he
addressed her with a poem which was also a question inspired by the
delight in his heart：
〃Tadzunetsuru； Hana ka tote koso； Hi wo kurase； Akenu ni otoru
Akane sasuran？〃
＇〃Being on my way to pay a visit； I found that which I took to be a
flower： therefore here I spend the day。。。 Why； in the time before dawn； the
dawn…blush tint should glow that； indeed； I know not。〃＇ ＇2＇
Without a moment's hesitation； she answered him in these verses：
〃Izuru hi no Honomeku iro wo Waga sode ni Tsutsumaba asu mo
Kimiya tomaran。〃
＇If with my sleeve I hid the faint fair color of the dawning sun； then；
perhaps； in the morning my lord will remain。〃＇ ＇3＇
Then Tomotada knew that she accepted his admiration； and he was
scarcely less surprised by the art with which she had uttered her feelings in
verse； than delighted by the assurance which the verses conveyed。 He was
now certain that in all this world he could not hope to meet； much less to
win； a girl more beautiful and witty than this rustic maid before him； and a
voice in his heart seemed to cry out urgently； 〃Take the luck that the gods
have put in your way！〃 In short he was bewitched bewitched to such a
degree that； without further preliminary； he asked the old people to give
him their daughter in marriage； telling them； at the same time； his name
and lineage； and his rank in the train of the Lord of Noto。
They bowed down before him； with many exclamations of grateful
astonishment。 But； after some moments of apparent hesitation； the father
replied：
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
〃Honored master； you are a person of high position； and likely to rise
to still higher things。 Too great is the favor that you deign to offer us；
indeed； the depth of our gratitude therefor is not to be spoken or measured。
But this girl of ours； being a stupid country…girl of vulgar birth； with no
training or teaching of any sort； it would be improper to let her become the
wife of a noble samurai。 Even to speak of such a matter is not right。。。 But；
since you find the girl to your liking； and have condescended to pardon her
peasant…manners and to overlook her great rudeness； we do gladly present
her to you； for an humble handmaid。 Deign； therefore； to act hereafter in
her regard according to your august pleasure。〃
Ere morning the storm had passed； and day broke through a cloudless
east。 Even if the sleeve of Aoyagi hid from her lover's eyes the rose…blush
of that dawn； he could no longer tarry。 But neither could he resign himself
to part with the girl； and； when everything had been prepared for his
journey； he thus addressed her parents：
〃Though it may seem thankless to ask for more than I have already
received； I must again beg you to give me your daughter for wife。 It would
be difficult for me to separate from her now； and as she is willing to
accompany me； if you permit； I can take her with me as she is。 If you will
give her to me； I shall ever cherish you as parents。。。 And； in the meantime；
please to accept this poor acknowledgment of your kindest hospitality。〃
So saying； he placed before his humble host a purse of gold ryo。 But
the old man； after many prostrations； gently pushed back the gift； and
said：
〃Kind master； the gold would be of no use to us； and you will
probably have need of it during your long； cold journey。 Here we buy
nothing； and we could not spend so much money upon ourselves； even if
we wished。。。 As for the girl； we have already bestowed her as a free gift；
she belongs to you： therefore it is not necessary to ask our leave to take
her away。 Already she has told us that she hopes to accompany you； and to
remain your servant for as long as you may be willing to endure her
presence。 We are only too happy to know that you deign to accept her； and
we pray that you will not trouble yourself on our account。 In this place we
could not provide her with proper clothing； much less with a dowry。
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Moreover； being old； we should in any event have to separate from her
before long。 Therefore it is very fortunate that you should be willing to
take her with you now。〃
It was in vain that Tomotada tried to persuade the old people to accept
a present： he found that they cared nothing for money。 But he saw that
they were really anxious to trust their daughter's fate to his hands； and he
therefore decided to take her with him。 So he placed her upon his horse；
and bade the old folks farewell for the time being； with many sincere
expressions of gratitude。
〃honored Sir；〃 the father made answer； 〃it is we； and not you； who
have reason for gratitude。 We are sure that you will be kind to our girl； and
we have no fears for her sake。〃。。。
＇Here； in the Japanese original； there is a queer break in the natural
course of the narration； which therefrom remains curiously inconsistent。
Nothing further is said about the mother of Tomotada； or about the parents
of Aoyagi； or about the daimyo of Noto。 Evidently the writer wearied of
his work at this point； and hurried the story； very carelessly； to its startling
end。 I am not able to supply his omissions； or to repair his fault