girdles to the temple, her spirit will probably find rest."


I was agreed that this should be done as soon as possible. So on the
following morning the drawers were emptied; and all of O-Sono's ornaments
and dresses were taken to the temple. But she came back the next night, and
looked at the tansu as before. And she came back also on the night
following, and the night after that, and every night; -- and the house
became a house of fear.



The mother of O-Sono's husband then went to the parish-temple, and told
the chief priest all that had happened, and asked for ghostly counsel. The
temple was a Zen temple; and the head-priest was a learned old man, known
as Daigen Osho. He said: "There must be something about which she is
anxious, in or near that tansu." -- "But we emptied all the drawers,"
replied the woman; -- "there is nothing in the tansu." -- "Well," said
Daigen Osho, "to-night I shall go to your house, and keep watch in that
room, and see what can be done. You must give orders that no person shall
enter the room while I am watching, unless I call."



After sundown, Daigen Osho went to the house, and found the room made
ready for him. He remained there alone, reading the sutras; and nothing
appeared until after the Hour of the Rat. [1] Then the figure of O-Sono
suddenly outlined itself in front of the tansu. Her face had a wistful
look; and she kept her eyes fixed upon the tansu.