ious. At sight
of the letter he read the doubting heart learns the truth. Burdensome
the knowledge for one's heart. The mind tastes the bitterness of
adversity. The hair of the head, behind the temples, is affected by the
feelings. To draw out the dressing stand to hand: the little combs of
willow, where are they? Sorrow effects change; as does entanglements of
the heart. The fine-toothed comb which holds the thousand strands of
hair--how now! It has been forgotten."

Again she took up the hair. To get it out of the way she took the front
hair in both hands, making space to see.

_O'Iwa_--"Alas! I fail to understand. To-day the vertigo is more
pronounced than usual; especially with the hair like this. Did sickness
cause the loss?"

As she spoke, she drew the cover from the mirror. Reflected in it was a
face to inspire fear. Ha! Frightened, she rose and drew back. Though she
looked around her--there was no one. Alas! How strange! Thus she stood.
Then leaning forward carefully she scanned the mirror. "Ya! Ya! Since
when has my face been like this? It is completely altered." As if she
could repair the ravages to self and features squint-eyed she stood and
gazed. To sight she seemed a woman of evil. "Hai! Ha!" She fell
prostrate. "How now! How pitiful!" Like one crazed she arose. Her body
writhed in pain, at the pit of the stomach. These stomach pains, of
frequent occurrence, now seized her. Thus long she lay writhing where
she was.

While she twisted in agony; knowing nothing of what has happened, and
hearing the wheedling voice of a crying child, Kosuke had returned and
was at the entrance.

_Kosuke_--"Honoured lady, long have you been kept waiting. The honoured
priest had matter to relate. In Yotsuya I went from this place to that,
in effort to coax supply. But just now.... Is she suckling the child?"
While speaking he drew close--"In the meantime the honoured illness has
developed beyond measure. After retiring for the night you walk in your
sleep. Eh! Deign to be a little prudent."

Softly the child came to her side. On seeing in what agony she was:

_Kosuke_--"Ya! Alas! Alas! Have you again one of those hysterical
attacks, now so frequent? Okusama! I say!"

To restore her from the fit to consciousness he raised her in his arms.
Regarding with attention her frightful appearance:

_Kosuke_--"Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! This face of the Okusama: Ma! What can be the
matter?"

He staggered in bewilderment.

_Kosuke_--"H