Part 37

“No, no!” Masago recoiled, her incredulous eyes fixed as if fascinated on the face of Sado-ko. The princess placed her hands on the shoulders of Masago, and brought her face close to hers.

“Look into the mirror—Sado-ko,” said she.

“Sado-ko! You call me by your name!”

“And pray you, call me—Masago.”

“Oh, no! Oh, no!”

“You will not change with me?”

“Oh, oh!” Masago had become white as death, as though she were about to faint.

“Will you not do so?” still pleaded the now almost despairing voice of Sado-ko.

“I dare not—dare not,” she murmured.

There was silence now in the room. The dim sounds of the world about them did not reach the ears of these two. Masago had reached out a trembling hand to support herself against the framework of the wall. Sado-ko watched her with a yearning, melancholy expression in her face. Suddenly she turned away.

“You were right, Masago,” she said slowly. “It could not be.” She paused, then, sighing, moved with drooping head toward the doors of the corridor.

“Sayonara—sister,” she softly breathed.

That word of farewell broke the tension of the dazed Masago. She sprang with a cry after the departing one. Both of the princess’s sleeves were in her grasp.

“Go not yet!” she cried. “Do not go!”

She fell grovelling upon her knees, still clinging to the long sleeves of the princess, and hid her face in the folds of Sado-ko’s kimono. Then, with her face muffled in the gown, she spoke:—

“I could not grasp the meaning of your words—My heart leaped up and burst—I could not think. I pray you, do not take my joy away while yet I barely grasp it in my hands, Princess Sado-ko!”

“You do consent!” said Sado-ko, bending over her, while a strange light of excitement came into her eyes.

“Consent! On my knees I could pray to you, as to a god, to grant this thing you suggest for a caprice.”

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CHAPTER XV

THE CHANGE

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CHAPTER XV

THE CHANGE

“HUSH! Do not speak so loudly, Masago!”

“How you tremble, Sado-ko.”

“We have once more mistaken our names,” said she who was the Princess Sado-ko.

“Oh, true. Now call me Sado-ko! No, call me noble princess, most divine, exalted, august, royal princess! Call me so!”