But one day a great event happened in the little home. Yuki San was
called before her father and told, in ceremonious language, that a
marriage had been arranged for her with Saito San, a wealthy officer
in the Emperor's household. She laid her head upon the mats and gave
thanks to the gods. Now her father and mother would live in luxury for
the rest of their lives!

Saito San was to her only a far-away, shadowy being, whom she was to
obey for the rest of her life and whose house she was to keep in
order. He was a means to an end, and entered into her thoughts merely
as one to whom she was deeply grateful. Youth and all its joys were
strong within her, and the pressure of poverty gone, her whole nature
rebounded with delight.

Many times had marriage been proposed for her, for the story of her
beauty and obedience had spread, but her father guarded his treasure
zealously, and it was not until an offer came, suiting his former rank
and condition, that he gave his consent.

Now, when he saw the happy light in the eyes of his child, and saw the
color come into her cheeks, he laid his hands upon her head and
blessed her. When Yuki San was by herself she clapped her hands
joyfully. "I make happy like 'Merican," she whispered. "Hooray,
hooray! now my troublesome make absence," and she hurried away to put
a thank-offering before the household god.

Having arranged all preliminaries and instructed the mother to sell
every household treasure that his child's clothes might do honor to
the rich man's house, the father went back once more to his pipe and
his dreams.