he
House of Tamiya. As they walked along--"Congenial surroundings." This
was with a grin and a wave of the hand toward the long line of temple
buildings and graveyards they were passing. "Not much savour of present
lodging in Hanagawado[u]. Eh! Kazuma Uji, even Cho[u]bei notes the
difference." He stopped opposite the Gwansho[u]ji and looked across the
way. The fruit was already formed on the trees of Matazaemon's garden.
"Persimmons of a hundred momme (375 grammes) each; twenty cartloads for
the profit of the house at the fall of the year." As they passed in the
entrance on Samoncho[u] he pointed to a store-house. "Stuffed with rice,
from the farms of Tamiya in Kazusa. No husks to be found in it."--"Who
said there were?" said Kazuma testily. His eyes were taking in the wide
proportions of the garden, the spreading roof and eaves of a stately
mansion. As they passed along the _ro[u]ka_ to a sitting room Cho[u]bei
called his attention to the fret work (_rama-sho[u]ji_) between the
rooms, the panelled ceilings, the polished and rare woodwork of
_tokonoma_ (alcoves). A _kakemono_ of the severe Kano school was hung in
the sitting room alcove, a beautifully arranged vase of flowers stood
beneath it. Matazaemon could not use his legs, but his hands were yet
active. Of his visitors he knew nothing; least of all of Cho[u]bei.
Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. With him was an old lady. O'Naka bowed
to the ground before the proposed son-in-law. She was in a flutter over
the beautiful man destined for O'Iwa. The admirable courtesy of his
manners, the tender softness of voice, robbed her of what little
judgment she had. Her only fear was that the candidate for honours and
the Tamiya would escape.

Said Cho[u]bei--"Asakusa is a long distance; the occasion exceptional.
Cannot the Ojo[u]san favour us by pouring the wine?" The old woman
hummed and hawed. Kondo[u], too, seemed put out. "As a matter of fact
O'Iwa is not presentable. She has taken cold, and just now is in bed.
Perhaps the Obasan will urge her further, now that Yanagibara Uji is
present." O'Naka at once rose, like to an automaton, the spring of which
has been pressed. She disappeared, to return and repeat her lesson.
"Wilful as a child! One would suppose her such. Illness she would
disregard, but her hair is not made up. She cannot think of appearing
before company. Truly she is vexing."--"Not so," defended Cho[u]bei.
"She could not show higher regard than by refusing to appe