authorize your marriage, in lieu of my kinsman, the Lord of Noto; and your
wedding shall now be celebrated before me. The guests are assembled;-- the
gifts are ready."


At a signal from the lord, the sliding-screens concealing a further
apartment were pushed open; and Tomotada saw there many dignitaries of the
court, assembled for the ceremony, and Aoyagi awaiting him in brides'
apparel... Thus was she given back to him;-- and the wedding was joyous and
splendid;-- and precious gifts were made to the young couple by the prince,
and by the members of his household.

* * *



For five happy years, after that wedding, Tomotada and Aoyagi dwelt
together. But one morning Aoyagi, while talking with her husband about some
household matter, suddenly uttered a great cry of pain, and then became
very white and still. After a few moments she said, in a feeble voice:
"Pardon me for thus rudely crying out -- but the paid was so sudden!... My
dear husband, our union must have been brought about through some
Karma-relation in a former state of existence; and that happy relation, I
think, will bring us again together in more than one life to come. But for
this present existence of ours, the relation is now ended;-- we are about
to be separated. Repeat for me, I beseech you, the Nembutsu-prayer,--
because I am dying."


"Oh! what strange wild fancies!" cried the startled husband,-- "you are